After giving birth to Little Miss we thought two was enough. Mini Mister needed surgery to correct his kidney reflux. Little Miss was born slightly premature and needed to stay in the NICU for a bit to keep her temperature up. She had a heart murmur and a cranial hematoma both of which slowly went away on their own. Mini Mister had sensory issues and speech issues. Little Miss needed physical therapy and now is in speech therapy. Along the way I created quite a business card collection from all the doctors we visited.

We thought we’d been through a lot. We thought we had our share of stresses. We gave away all of our baby things to relatives, friends and charity, and saved a few for my brother in law and his wife for when they start their family. We  though we were done growing our family. That was until we asked God. We prayed about whether or not to have another child and we wondered if it would be the right thing to do to try. As you probably can guess He blessed us with another little soul who was born this May. Little Pie Pie is simply that; a blessing.

Pie Pie is an easy baby. (For this I am particularlly grateful as I still have stamped in my brain vivid memories of colick. Those long hours in the evenings holding a screaming Little Miss seemed to stretch into a blurry infinity.) Pie Pie has led us to new people and acquaintances who have helped our family and our faith grow tremendously. He has taught us new things about the power of God’s grace and love, and what is possible when you let the Lord into your life without conditions.

A couple of weeks ago I was changing Pie Pie’s clothes. Our relatives generously lent us the infant clothes their own twin boys out grew. (Many of these tiny outfits were once Mini Mister’s which we gave to them.) Pie Pie is a swiftly growing baby boy and is quickly growing out of all of his outfits. Fat little wrists are popping out. Chubby neck rolls fold over his collars. And we began to ask God where we were going to get all of the items you need to cloth and care for a growing baby? Help again blessed us from everywhere.

One friend loaned me a nursing cover. A family member sent us a cash gift we used to buy the baby carrier/wrap I use almost daily. Another friend let us borrow her boys’ clothing. A full wardrobe through 12 months…what a blessing. The feelings of gratitude humble me.

Pie Pie taught us how to receive. You always hear that giving is better than receiving. And usually it is. But to feel God’s love shining down on you through the kind actions of those close to you is simply wonderful. All this receiving certainly inspires the giving spirit too. I just hope that we can give back the kind of love we’ve been so lucky to receive.