Baby #3, a blessing...

The McGrews have procreated again. :) As I type this I am 14 weeks pregnant with our 3rd sweet baby with an estimated arrival of Jan 1, 2012.

I will be honest in saying that we were a little surprised by the realization that there was a baby on the way. We had decided that a third child was in store for us, but it just happened much sooner than we anticipated. We obviously know how it happens, clearly. Anyway, once the shock wore off and the realization that we are going to have to find a place to put this kid both in a home and a vehicle, we are excited.

When Brandon and I found out, we knew that there would probably be some interesting responses regarding us having another baby so close to the first two. (Sawyer will be 3 and Eden will be 19 months when baby is born.) Responses we expected were. "You know how that happens, right?"; "Didn't you just have a baby?"; etc...

What surprised me was there was not as many "congratulations". Responses were more shocked than excited. I find this interesting and confusing. I felt like we were exceeding our quota. The world seems to think that once you have two children, especially if they are a boy and a girl, then you should be done. Be sure this is a wordly standard, not a heavenly one. Some people reacted like we were the Duggers or something and just said baby #20 was on the way. The Duggers may have figured things out better than most. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying we are in for 20 children, for both Brandon and I 3 kids feels like a pretty big family. But we want the Lord to dictate the size of our family, not the world.

Brandon and I both felt our family was not complete. I did not want to look back in 15 years and still feel like someone was missing. I want big family dinners and lots of laughter and hugs and even a houseful of moody, rowdy, hungry teenagers.

I can only assume that this may be the last baby we have, my body says it is the last one it will carry, but only the Lord knows what the future has for our family. We have been seeking to follow His lead in the area and will continue to do so.

The response that I have found that I like the least is, "You are going to have your hands full." Don't get me wrong this is true, having 3 kids 3 and under is busy! I know we will be tired and stretched and at times on the brink of losing our minds, and there are days now when I think, "what have we done?". But "my hands are going to be full" of sweet, loving, beautiful babies! This is amazing!

The best thing I have heard came from a family that I admire greatly, who have 5 beautiful children, that often gets called crazy themselves - "You will feel more blessed than burdened." Beautiful. Thank you Jesus for your blessings!

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127: 3-5