Don't You Know What Causes That?

Nice title huh!  What gives?

Well, my dear wife and I are expecting child number four in October!  Yes we are excited.  We actually like kids!  It will be quite an adventure for a couple of years, but the future will be exciting. 

It has been quite comical when it come to the different reactions when we tell people that we are expecting our third child in as many years.  Some are ecstatic.  Some are shocked.  Some are scared for us.  Some seemed confused.  Some seem disappointed. 

I was talking with a friend of mine who was excited to hear of Baby #4.  Then she brings up a very interesting observation.   It seems everyone have a rather strange take on children, especially when it comes to numbers.  Think about the questions that are asked:

When you are first married:  "When are you having children?"

After child #1:  "When are you having another?"

Then the attitude changes after the second:

After child 2:  {With a perplexed look}  "Are you planning on having anymore?" 

After child 3: " Ok, well good luck.  It must be tough.  I don't know how you do it."

Announcing child 4:  "Do you know what causes it??"

Me:  "No.  We have been forming theories and hypothesis.  We've been wrong so far.  We now have a new theory.  

OR

Me:  "Yes, I'm just really good at it."

I have to admit, this child was not planned, but neither were any of the other three.  I have come to the conclusion that though I have things I want to accomplish and do, God has something much greater in store and these kids are a big part of it.  

It's pretty awesome being a father of one.  It is even better to be a father of two.  I promise you it gets no worse when three or four are around.  I love every one of them dearly and can't imagine life without the first one.

We do not know if this child is a girl or a boy.  Frankly, I don't care which it is.  I have wanted a girl the last two time and both have been boys.  I could imagine it any other way.  So I will take what is given to me.  

What about your wife??  

She is slightly stressed about how are we going to arrange rooms.  If you know her well you will certainly know that she is concerned about how she is going to get all of the cleaning done.  She was concerned the same at two children and then again at three.  She has done awesome with all of them.  I have complete faith in her.

She will eventually employ my grandmother's tactic.  People would ask how she kept her sanity.  She would reply, "I send them outside everyday for one hour.  That is my time to drink a cup of coffee, read the paper, or work on puzzles."  Then she would be asked "What happens if it rains?"  "Well" she said, "None of them have melted yet!"