Half a year has already passed since Alice joined our family. We’re well into the rhythm of making space for her presence. There’s a not insignificant corner of the living area dedicated to all things Alice (Why are baby things so unwieldy? And why are they so garish?), our table now sports a high chair where she can join us for meals, and our arms are rarely empty. As always, our newest person simply filled a hole we didn’t know existed, and we are so grateful God has given us the privilege of being her family.
People often act like new babies are old hat to large families. There’s this odd assumption that maybe we’ve been there, done that so many times that our world doesn’t really stop spinning to allow that new someone to join the ride. I think I was guilty of this false train of thought at one point as well, so don’t worry— I’m not judging. But it is funny to think that there is a point where you no longer feel growing pains, or that each child is interchangeable in the mix. I’m here to tell you, it’s just not true. Every baby is an adjustment. And frankly, every baby is a unique individual.
But here, at the six month mark, things feel settled and somehow less stretched. Alice has revealed more and more of her personality every day, and yes, we needed her in this crazy amalgam of passions that make up our crew. She is one of ours, through and through. But oh, is she a little individual… in every sense of the word.
If it tells you anything at all, Christopher recently quipped, “Oh, she’s a sweetheart,” and I nearly spit out my coffee. A conversation ensued, in which we agreed that what he really meant was that she is adorable and precious and his heart melts just looking at her. But is she sweet? Um, no.
Alice is not sweet. She is feisty. She is bold. She is strong. I don’t think holding her own will be a problem, and as one of her older brothers already admitted, she looks to be one of those women who makes certain men very uncomfortable. You know— the Biblical femininity that nails tent pegs through the temples of enemies. I’m pretty sure that is our Alice.
The first six months of this little lady’s life have been rocky, to say the least. We’ve been sleep deprived, dealt with what has felt like a never-ending parade of home and vehicle repairs, had an ongoing ebb and flow of adult children coming and going and coming back again, battled illness, and more. But Alice? She’s just rolled with it all. This is the background music God is writing for her childhood, this crazy season here inside our own four walls and beyond. Surely He has created her for a time such as this and you know, it shows. Alice is made of some tough stuff. She’s got something in there that I can’t wait to see develop. It’s going to be rough, I can tell you that. Those character traits that so often are the most difficult to shape are never easy in the beginning. But oh, the things they accomplish when wielded for God’s glory.
So is Alice sweet? No. But is she exactly who she needs to be? For sure.