Levi – There’s something in a name

Victoria Kamau agrees with Elizabeth Stone who said, ‘Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body “She tells Baby Love’s Rebecca Njoki more about it.

Tough times
My nipples flattened after birth. So breastfeeding Levi was a complex affair. But after two days or so, I became master in the game. Now that’s my most favourite pass time.

Bathing little delicate Levi was the other challenge. Again with fumbling with it time and again, 1 got used to it.

He had colic the first few days after birth as most boys do. Shortly after, when he was three weeks old, he contracted pneumonia but with the supervision of competent physicians, we sailed through.

The biggest most trying time was when he was nine months old. He got a terrible Rotavirus infection. It was so bad I could not go to work for two weeks. We were constantly in and out of hospital and all he could take was breast milk.

Best moments
Picking out the greatest moments is a little tricky because they have been all too many—if not all. Well for the sake of mentioning, the ones that spring to mind are:

When Levi turned one. The big celebration first happened in my heart. For a keepsake, I did a 32 page journal with pictures about him.

The other significant moment was when he took his first steps towards me. I was so excited tears sprang to my eyes.

Like I mentioned, breastfeeding is also another special time. He looks straight into my eyes and rubs my hand gently, almost as if he is trying to tell me something. I love it.

Then, each day I get home, Levi bursts into laughter—just at seeing me. It is so beautiful—especially because the boy has a wonderful smile. Of course this does not happen if I am late. He ‘punishes’ by ignoring me until I apologise.

Back to work
First days of being back in the office made me want to cry. I could not believe many mothers did this worldwide. It seemed so unfair and unnatural that my house-help’s phone kept ringing off the hook. However, like all the other challenges, I slowly got used to it. And being with my mother, most of the time, I surely worry less.

Hopes for Levi
I pray that he grows up to be godly, a good father, an amazing husband, a good friend, a great big brother and all. I also want to bring him to be confident. If he ends up in God’s ministry, all the better! My gut feeling is that he is destined for greatness. I wonder if every mother feels this way. I have heard it professed about him over and over again—once by a drunkard who said that Levi will grow up to be a leader. I claim these words over his life. To practically propel him in that direction, he already has a mentor.

His outstanding qualities
When Levi can concentrate on something. He does not like being distracted. Actually, it is very difficult to sidetrack him. And if he decides he wants something, he wants it there and then. He is strong willed.

Levi is also a sort of gentle giant. Giant—I think because he feeds with no fuss. This makes him quite strong for his age but, thankfully, not a bully. If another child takes something away from him, Levi simply looks for something else to play with. That tells me he has an ‘abundance mentality’.

There are times though that he gets agitated and fights for something. Given his physical strength, that can be a rough mess.

About the elusive perfect house-help
It is extremely hard to nail a competent house help who will stay for the longest time. Some are good, others average and some down-right horrible. I keep praying about it and I know the ideal nanny will one day walk in. I run with Psalms 127:3—Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.

So, what is it in the name?
Levi is a Biblical name. The Biblical Levi was one of Jacob’s sons. This is the tribe where priests were drawn from. It means to ‘unite or bring together’. I picked this name because I want him to have a strong relationship with God. I understand it also means ‘set aside’ or ‘chosen’. Someone also said Levi means ‘the one who will bring me a husband’ which is—well, exciting—because I am a single mum.

END:BL27/14