fourth & final

Before Lori had little Hayzel people would look at her with a bit of incredulity when realizing it was her fourth.  In a few instances Lori engaged in conversation with these people and told them that this was it, our last child.  Their countenances usually softened, as if to say, "Good.  Because four is pushing it.  And five is just gross*."

Some of our friends who have come to the end of the procreation stage express a sense of loss; sadness with the finality of it all. One hilarious friend, a mother of four, often talks of her uterus beginning to twitch when she walks into a nursery or sees a new baby.  Baby fever.  Hayzel turns six weeks this Friday.  And while I think she is pretty adorable, I'm glad she is the last.  Interrupted sleep.  Exhausted wife.  Distraction.  Disruption.  Spit up.  Blood.  Doctors.  Diapers.  These are a few of my least favorite things.  I can't imagine my uterus ever twitching.

And yet.

Seeing Zoe and Ava calm her down.  Watching Brennan take her out of the swing and put her back to sleep.  Watching Lori figure her out.  Seeing her smile for the first time.  This loud little disruption brings along so much sweetness.  And the inconvenience is so short-lived.  So maybe...

Just kidding.

Lori is--although completely exhausted--in her element with newborns.  And while Hayzel is a little particular, Lori's figuring her out.  To give you insight into my 'baby whispering' abilities and Hayzel's temperament, last week Lori said, "Hayzel's been amazing today.  She's let me put her down, has calmed herself on her own.  Did you drop her yesterday?"

Hayzel's presence has also prompted some great reactions in the home.  After explaining the supply and demand of breast milk production (i.e., Boobinomics) to Zoe, she responded, "Boobs are awesome."  Yes, Zoe.  Indeed they are.

Ava spoke in barks for a few days after Hayzel was born.  I'm sure it had something to do with having the role of 'baby' ripped from her little paws.  Ava, like the rest of us, was uncomfortable taking on a new role.  "If I'm not baby, then I'm not human!"  But she got over it and now has taken on a new role: she can routinely be found by herself in the toy room breast-feeding various toys.  It's cute with the baby dolls, but a little creepy when it's a Barbie or toy soldier.  I secretly hope she begins putting toys in the oven again very soon.

The "fascination with boobs" theme among our children ends here.  For now.  I'm sure that Brennan will enter that realm in a few short years

Brennan's been a champ.  Now the only boy in a sea of sisters, he's handling the ratio very well.  His being a boy is made more salient through his behaviors, but I sense an increasing sensitivity and an acceptance of his role as the leader of this little clan of cuteness.  He still teases, still provokes, but he loves his sisters.  And he loves that they love him.  Accordingly, he's informed me that he now has a song: "Amazing" by Kanye West.  I'll admit it, I love the song as well.  Ever into subjecting my children to conduct comparative analysis, I asked him to think about the song "Amazing" as it relates to a children's song we often sing at Church, "I am a Child of God."  His response?  "They're pretty much saying the same thing, Dad."  Touché.

So, here's to you, lucky little Hayzel.  Your sibling predecessors have set the bar high.  Don't disappoint.  Otherwise we might have to do this again.  And that'd just be gross.

Just kidding.  Don't sneer at me.  I'm sure you'll be great.

That's more like it.

* We know lots of families with 5 kids that aren't gross.  For example, the Duncan family from "Good Luck Charlie."