and now he is one

It was only a month or so after Rilla was born that I had a dream about giving birth.

I'd had plenty of those before Rilla was born, of course, in those weeks and months leading up to the delivery of our dear girl, when despite all my research I had no idea what was ahead of me. But this dream was different.

I dreamed that I gave birth to Rilla and then immediately afterward, my midwife (or somebody) asked if I'd like to go ahead and give birth again. I thought it sounded like a good idea to go through the trial of birth right away so that I could have two babies after just one pregnancy. A sort of two-for-the-price-of-one thing. So I went ahead and gave birth to a little boy.

I don't view that dream as particularly prophetic, but it was humorous to me at the time, especially as God was already preparing our hearts to have another child right away. We decided that we would let Him guide the timing of our next little one. And I am so glad that we did.

I have pondered for years what the "perfect distance" between children is, as if there was some kind of special formula and if you hit it exactly right, then your kids turn out perfect. Now I am positive that it is having a girl and then a boy and having them be sixteen and a half months apart. But of course, I am pretty sure I would feel that way no matter what the combination was or distance between them! And it was God, not me, who came up with that combination, just as He has come up with so many other "perfect" combinations throughout all of history.

Today our little son turned one year old. I am still trying to process that it has been a full year since he was born to us. It has gone so quickly. I don't know if I have been as awake to every moment of it as I wanted to be. But it has been a good year, probably my favorite yet. I can't imagine that it is going to keep getting better.

I am so thankful for this son that God has given us, and for this gracious life.