There's something special about a fourth

Little girl turned 15 on the weekend and I am again reminded that parenting doesn't necessarily get easier just because they are growing up. Where one child might demand nothing for their Birthday, another might wish for the moon. Heather is proof that we must not limit ourselves by the thoughts of others or by what we think we can do. She is proof that, as a wise, young woman in my life reminds me; time is not limited, we are limited. When Heather came along, her Dad was still in university and because of this, we felt limited by all kinds of things. I was in a phase of my life where I felt that our decision to have another child would be questioned and perhaps judged because of our limitations. But I knew in my heart that this baby knew me already, that "he" (by declaration of an ultrasound) was meant to be our last child and that I better take extra special care of myself. One way that I did this was by not engaging the ideas of others in the process. This meant that I became very private about my pregnancy. I didn't share it with very many people and I made a point of moving and eating well. I was very healthy for this baby. Of course, having 3 others under the age of 6 kept me busy and I worked through a Life Skills Contract while carrying her, not to mention she was born just before the end of a semester so her Dad was also pretty busy. Either way, when I think back I often wonder how we did it.

The results - an amazing, lovely girl? Another girl meant a name other than the one we had chosen (Levi after her Grandfather). It was so close to St. Patrick's Day that I thought a good, Irish name was needed. Heather's birth was my most gentle and calm birth but it took some effort to maintain gentle and calm while my body was behaving like a warrior. Truly a mix of strength and weakness was needed to bring this little (big) girl into the world. We went home with our little Kaighley and by noon realized that she was just too soft to carry that hard K around. Being spring in Vancouver, there was Heather growing outside and this name just fit her. This child attached to me in a way that I hadn't expected and has been my shadow her whole life. There is just something so precious about you as a person my girl. Welcome to another year of being wonderful you!