Abundance

As much as I remember the details and feelings of each birth, I can recount how the sibling introductions went as well. To me, that introduction is just as magical as watching life enter this world. After my friend's second child was born, I asked her what it felt like to have more than one. She thought for a while and all she said was abundance. Words can often fail our large emotions, but Abundance expresses it perfectly. 

At the hospital Burl fell in love. Nothing stopped him from holding and admiring Ridge. His captivation rivaled that of the doting grandmothers. Fern, however, had a hard time with the setting. It took a three visits for her to feel comfortable, and she didn't want to hold him until we got home. Here are the First Holds:

There was a special moment at the hospital that pretty much made my heart explode 1,000 times over. Burl was sitting in the hospital bed by himself holding Ridge and Fern was off in the distance. He went into complete big brother mode. While holding Ridge, he started to help Fern as well, giving her little ways to interact with the new baby. "Fern, you could bring him his lovie." "Fern, do you want to touch his feet." "Fern, you can come look at him and stand by the bed, but you don't have to get on the bed." It was then that Fern started to feel comfortable enough to approach Ridge. She climbed on the side of the bed and looked onto her new baby brother as her older brother encouraged her. Burl was playing his role so well and being so sweet to both Ridge and Fern, knowing just how to help her when we could not. 

That was the special moment that I won't forget. We love our three children.