Sole Sister

The rumours (like you've heard any) are true. There's another person crazy enough to be joining our family this coming June.
Unexpected? Pretty much.
Insane? Yes, yes it is.
Kind of awesome anyway? Absolutely.

With six prior pregnancies (4 with happy outcomes, 2 not so much), I am not one to be blase about the whole process. It's astonishing that anybody ever gets here with all that can go wrong. It blows me away every time, every ultrasound, birth, squinty wrinkly brand new face- there is nothing that I find more amazing, fascinating or wonderful.

I worry about those things that can go wrong. A lot. I try not to worry. It never works.

That's the reason I wait as long as humanly possible before letting anyone know what's going on. In some weird way, it lessens my stress, just not having to talk about it, answer questions, etc, when the whole time I'd just be thinking, "Yeah, we'll see...".

So here we are, 21 weeks in. I had an ultrasound today. On Valentine's Day, which historically has not been a good day for that. But today was happy. Baby looks great, healthy, active, and as 2-D as the picture was, awfully cute.

And we're going back to blue. That surprised everyone. Duncan is not thrilled about this latest development. He had staunchly maintained that he was having another sister, and today's news just would not do. He kept saying, "But why is it a boy?", and then would explain with great confidence that there will be another baby, and it will be a girl. I kept my thoughts about that to myself.

My one momentary pang of sadness comes from the fact that Marley won't have a sister. I know girls everywhere survive this every day, but it's hard for me to imagine. I have a sister. I love having a sister (it helps that mine is exceptionally awesome), and I so wanted that for my little girl. But she's meant to be dainty and dirty, pushing dolly strollers while making loud motor revving sounds, mingling Strawberry Shortcake dolls with trains. She'll probably be the coolest girl ever.

My to-do list is a little longer than it was this morning. This boy can't wear the flowery newborn gowns I have stored in a bin in the attic, and I gave away all my baby boy gear once Marley was here because we thought that was it, and someone else needed that stuff more than we did. The online searching and shopping begins. And I'd love it if he had a name. We've used so many boy names we really like already, I don't want to name him something lame because it was all we could come up with. (Ideas are welcome)

So Marley's the sole sister, and one more brother will surprise us with just how unique and amazing he is, even though he's the fourth one. And I get to sit and sniff one more heavenly baby head. Mmmm.

Moved to Tears at Church

Yesterday I was at church. We were on time. That was a good start.

A prayer was started, we all sat quietly, listening.

A few words in, Noah leaned over against me. Aaw, I thought, he's snuggling his mom! A rare thing indeed.

That thought was gone in less than one second when he let rip the loudest toot I think I have ever heard, then quickly shifted and returned his left cheek to the chair.

At least somebody got their hallelujah moment.