6 weeks!

6 week old cuteness


Last Friday was Sabine's 40th day, and then Sunday we hit the 6 week mark. pretty awesome!

40 days is a significant and somewhat magical time that is celebrated in many cultures. think about it, Jesus spent 40 days wandering in the desert, Buddha spent 40 days under the bodhi tree in deep meditation before reaching enlightenment. 40 days of Lent, 40 days of rain, 40 days to build the ark, 40 days of ramadan. 40 days is apparently how long it takes for your body to renew all the blood cells in your blood streatm. 40 days is somehow better than a month, it is more solid and serious. it represents completion.
so many cultures keep the mother and baby inside and safe until the 40 days are up. then the mother is welcomed back with her beautiful child with much celebration. i read somewhere that in one african culture the woman is adorned and celebrated much like a warrior returning from battle. and in mayan rituals the woman is bathed and massaged and cared for carefully during these first 40 days. yogis, too, say women should remain in and be cared for for the first 42 days.. 6 weeks.

then TA-DA! the big reveal, mom and baby back out into the world. a new, celebrated, role and status for mom, and a new member of the community in baby.

i SO wish that was how it was here in america. we are deeply devoid of traditions for celebrating new motherhood and babyhood outside of baby showers. oh well.

but in our own way i guess we will be doing much of the same thing... rejoining our community, our family. tomorrow we will leave the little nest of our house and will travel to visit family for thanksgiving. sabine will be included for the first time in a family celebration and max and i will be welcomed to the table in our new role as parents. of course, this only happens because she was born 6 weeks before thanksgiving. but i am happy for the opportunity to gather with family around the table. and happy for the opportunity to express my gratitude for all that is good in this life. (sweet baby, sweet life)
so to everyone, happy thanksgiving!