Baby Lemon

Just the other day, Isaiah walked over to me in the kitchen and said, "Hi Baby Lemon!" to my belly, and it stuck. He was a Baby Appleseed when in the womb, so it seemed appropriate to make this child a fruit as well. Funnily enough, when I looked prenatal development up on Babycenter.ca, I found out at 14 weeks gestation, this baby's current age, he or she is actually the size of a lemon! What a funny coincidence!

I also think it's appropriate because I can't get enough lemon-water, at Little Lemon's constant request. Better yet, Perrier water with a slice or two of lemon. Little Baby Lemon, your requests are already so refined!

Sidebar: if you feel like amusing yourself immensely 

via the Internet, 

look up "baby lemon" on Google images, and find gems such as this.

Poor, poor little baby.

In any case, while this child will be born into a house of wildness and noise, our little family is already full of love for the child we have never met. Noah is constantly asking me if he can talk to the baby, or simply rest his head on my growing belly. He simply can't wait to hold his new sibling, kiss him or her, and even help change diapers.

Isaiah loves Baby Lemon deeply, too. Of course the mystery of a baby actually growing inside my body doesn't make nearly as much sense to him at 23 months old as it does to Noah, but he loves his brother or sister very much, too. He loves to shout "Hi Baby!" at his sibling through my belly button, then occasionally try to jump on my stomach while shouting "drivethecar, drivethecar!". He loves playing with dolls, or admiring babies when we are out shopping, so I can imagine he will be a lovely big brother to our growing Baby Lemon.

And of course Patrick is over the moon! He was the one I insisted on taking a pregnancy test what seems like forever ago. My period was late, but only by a few days, and since I had had false negatives with both boys, I thought there was no point taking one. Either I wasn't pregnant, and so it would be negative, or I was, but it would still be negative. Right? So my reaction, hanging out in the bathroom that morning when I saw two pink lines, was just shock. Joyful shock, to be sure, but shock nonetheless. Patrick, however, was beaming, because he "knew" already.

I simply can't wait to see him with our new baby. Babies are his specialty, if you will (well perhaps children in general are, but he does have a certain Baby Whisperer gene that I never inherited). He calms them immediately in his strong arms, and moons over them in a way that is so manly and adorable. The sight of him with one of our babies in a ring sling is beautiful!

I am so grateful for his gentleness with our children, his supportiveness towards me during the post-partem period, and his tender love for our babies. Both Noah and Isaiah recognized his voice soon after birth -- how amazing to see their eyes searching the room for where a familiar, beloved noise was coming from. I am sure it's because Patrick talks to our babies directly, leaning in close to my belly and asking them how they're doing and telling them how much he loves them. He has already started bonding with Baby Lemon and it brings me so much joy.

I am so grateful for this baby. I have no explanation as to why God keeps entrusting His souls to me and Patrick, sinners that we are, but each of these children are helping us to grow closer to Him. They are such gifts. I am already seeing what a blessing Baby Lemon is to his or her siblings, and to our extended family. Our joy is growing.