Children & How They Came To Be

We always knew we wanted children. We began praying about the timing of when to begin this adventure. It's funny. I often hear (or overhear) discussions about being "ready" for children. I can't help but smile and think, "Are you ever really ready?" You could have all your ducks in a row from a material stand point, but there is no preparing one's heart & soul for the roller coaster of human emotions to come. It does give you a sense of appreciation for those who have dared to go before-your own parents. Deep thoughts aside, we came to the conclusion, we were in the wrong tax bracket to travel the world, so... let's have kids. I was blessed with three wonderfully, uncomplicated pregnancies, worked up until the days I gave birth, and recovered more or less by the book. However, my deliveries were all quite different, just like the personalities of my three, now that I think about it...

• Child #1-Our steadfast, loyal, passionate Braden, who carries the weight of the world (classic first born) came into this world via a C-section. After 22 hours of option A (letting body naturally progress ) and B (pushing with drugs) not working, we had no choice-surgery-my FIRST ever! It's funny, we often refer to Braden as our "Option C" child (because of his own idea of how things are to be... we present him with A & B, then he picks C) and amazingly his entrance to the world parallels that. Everyone called him the "Little Man". He always looked grown-up. The irony is, in the here & now, he is beginning to become a little man. Really... already? I'm not ready:)
• Child #2-Our sweet surprise of a son, Ethan, who is ever keeping the peace (while trying to be the law), keeping up with his brother, and attempting perfection (doesn't like to make mistakes), came by VBAC with only 3 pushes. In retrospect, it seems fitting that he would attempt a textbook delivery. I can picture his little baby face with dimpled smile saying (in his present voice though), "Don't worry, I already knew how to do it." And he usually does. I have to remind him that I enjoy helping... Mr. Independent.
• Child #3-Our beautiful & fearless Olivia, who has a set agenda for each day, loves her "boys" more than life, and has one volume, came all by herself via VBAC. Yep, after pushing once, the doctor told me not to push, sat back and said "she's coming out on her own". One of her first phrases was " I do myself". Who knew? I can't imagine life with out her. We joked that she was "the softer side of the Neumanns"-human equivalent of a Sears commercial. In reality, she was. Our edges were softened and our family complete.