Top Five Questions About Baby #5

Q1. Was it a surprise?  Variations: Were you trying?  Was it an accident?
A: Depending on who is asking and the spirit in which they ask, this is either simple curiosity or the Rudest Question Ever.  Either way, it's a bit personal, don'tcha think?  Even my doctor asked this question at my first prenatal visit.  He phrased it this way, "Was this God's plan, or your plan?"  The answer to that is, "both."  No, we were not surprised.  And that's all I have to say about that.


Q2.  Is this the last one?  Variations: Are you done now?  Will there be any more?
A: I don't know.  We take that one baby at a time (unless in the case of twins, of course). ;) To think too far into the future is overwhelming.  But we believe children are a blessing, and, even though we often fall short, it is our goal to take one day at a time.  One day at a time is never as overwhelming as years of the big wide unknown spread out ahead of us.


Q3. Are you getting a bigger house?
A: Nope.  At least, not that we are planning on.  For now we fit comfortably and cozily in this one.  We'd like to get rid of a lot of STUFF, and keep the house.  But I think we'd do that anyway, new baby or not.  And even if we did decide to move to a bigger house, it isn't quite that simple, now is it?  Not quite the same as going out for a new pair of shoes.
(Side note: a much more relevant question would be about a bigger vehicle.  But for now our soon-to-be family of 7 will all be buckled safely in our same ol' 7 passenger mini-van.)


Q4. What do the boys think?
A:  The boys are thrilled.  They ask question #2 sometimes, and to them I always answer "It could be. Or there could be more.  But this might be all."  To which they always respond with something along the lines of, "I hope it's not the last!!  I want lots of kids to live in this house!"  And by 'them' & 'they' I mean Dale & Alan.  They all three adore Brooklyn and love helping take care of her.  For this baby they are hoping for a sister for their little sister. 


Q5. You must have so much patience.
A: Ummm... no.  Child training goes a long way into helping manage any number of kids, but I am no supermom.  Far from it.  Unfortunately, I have plenty of faults.  Want to know (one of) my dirty little secret(s)?  Nothing unnerves me more or faster than a crying baby.  Really.  I can't. take. the crying.  Not the best scenario for any mama, much less one that's about to have 3 under 3.  This is where you plug in the Bible verses about "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13) and "when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10), and abiding in Christ to allow the Spirit to bring forth fruits like gentleness and patience.  Those, along with lots and lots of prayer, will answer almost all our parenting faults and weaknesses.  But I'm not gonna preach it, because I'm still learning. I've got the concept much better than the execution. :)


Q: A Bonus, since #5 wasn't technically a question: Are you Catholic?
A: I laughed as soon as I was asked this, not because there is anything hilarious about Catholics or their family size, but because I have heard many moms-of-many bloggers say they have been asked this.  And there it was.  "Are you Catholic?"  I suppose I have now 'arrived' on the large family scene.
And no, we aren't Catholic (or Mormon). ;)