Reflections on an impending birth

Even before Angel and I found out we were going to have a third child a friend mentioned that, "it gets a little harder when your kids outnumber you." Since we've learned about Roo's arrival it we've thought a lot about what it will be like with three kids.

The first thing that came to mind is that we will have to move at some point because our house isn't big enough for three kids. We might have been able to get by with two, but when they get to be pre-teens and teens I'm sure it will start to feel very cramped. This is a big bummer because: 1 - I hate moving, and 2 - we really love our house and yard. Just yesterday we put up 9.5 pints of peach jam from our tree and still have peaches for cobbler and freezing. We're probably going to stay in Brigham City and would love to stay in our neighborhood. But luckily that's a ways down the road.

The second thought was that it would mean diapers, night feedings, potty training and reliving the chores and excitements of an infant again. I really like little kids and don't mind the responsibilities that come with them. I remember when Kanga was an infant having to cope with those same things and gagging at times as I changed her diaper and cleaned up her messes. Angel laughs at me (usually after the fact) but I have gotten pretty calloused about it over the years. By the time Tigger came on the scene I had gotten poop on myself several times and that seems to have desensitized me to a lot (not all, but a lot) of it. Although I do hope that Roo potty trains faster than Tigger.

Third was a reflection on the gap between our children. Kanga and Tigger are just over two years apart (27 months) and Tigger and Roo will be over four years apart (about 51 months). This is not a huge gap as there is a seven year gap between the youngest and the next oldest of my own siblings. It still makes us think about if Roo and Tigger will get a long and be good friends even though they won't ever attend school together. My own brother an I have a six year gap and while we get a long great now there were times he was the annoying younger brother and I was the domineering older brother. That is liable to happen at any age, but I know that I, growing up, I had a better relationship with my two sisters (one two years older and the other two years younger) then I did with my younger brother (6 years). One very positive thing about the four year gap is that if our boys both serve religious missions it is unlikely that they will both be out at the same time. Not that this couldn't happen with Kanga and Tigger though.

Fourth was how blessed we are. While we were happy with our two children Angel always felt that there would be more. However, her family history is not good when it comes to childbirth. Her mother experienced massive difficulties with her third pregnancy and Angel was worried enough that she was on a long time birth control when she got pregnant. Figuring that natural childbirth was too dangerous we looked into adoption through foster care and other agencies and were either rejected or found it far too expensive. Ultimately, we looked at our situation and said, "Lord, we have looked at everything we can think of and found ourselves wanting. If we are to have another child you will need to provide the way." It wasn't that much later when we learned of Angel's pregnancy. It came right after we had sold our house in Price and been able to pay off some debt. Angel was scheduled for some heart tests, but those had to be put on hold, but her condition hasn't been a factor. She has remained physically fit and healthy during the whole time and, as far as we can tell, Roo has always been a very active and healthy child. All in all, the process could have been a lot worse and really couldn't have been much better than what it has been.

I'll let you know how it goes.