Mighty Baby Zed

What a morning! As usual, I awoke (the 6th time) to my lovely Baby Zed screaming from his crib. I dragged my sorry butt from my bed and went across the hall to get him. He was holding his hand up to show me something! Poop. Poop all over my beautiful baby and his crib. Off to the showers and then the bleach.
Pretty typical stuff around here, especially with this almost 2 year old monkey. He spends his entire day looking for the next mess to make! Breakfast is not even over yet and I have cleaned up a path of chocolate milk from the table, through the kitchen and all the way up the stairs, as well as a path of egg shells from a hard boiled egg he helped himself to. He can not be left unattended for even a moment.
He sure has his redeeming moments though. He is just starting to string 2 words together and really gain confidence in his speech. Two nights ago, as Daddy was taking him to his bed and they were going through the usual blowing kisses and waving and 'night, night' routine, Daddy told Zed to tell Mommy, 'Love you!"
So baby Zed tried whispering, "Love you," in the teensiest voice. His 'trying it out' voice. Well last night, he said, "Love you," to me, right out loud. Again and again. My mommy heart turned instantly to mush. sigh.
It doesn't matter how many children I have, all these little firsts never lose their novelty. I treasure each moment and hold them all in my heart. I absolutely love watching my children discover their world, trying new things, succeeding or failing and trying again.
I derive endless amusement watching him play make-believe. He makes me tea and serves it, "Mom, Tea," he stirs a pot and then carefully uses tongs to pick something up and place it on a tray. For hours. The concentration on his teensy face amazes me.
Baby Zed is no longer an appropriate monicker for my boy. He will turn 2 in two weeks time! He is no longer a baby. And, in fact, he is no longer our last baby. In January, a few days before my husband's scheduled vasectomy, we found out that we are expecting Mighty baby #7! Now when we made that appointment, I prayed hard. I told God that I was hesitant to end our baby making days even though I could not imagine having any more, but I knew that He could do anything and if He was not done blessing us with children, that I knew that no vasectomy would get in His way.
Apparently God's plans are not our plans, and thankfully so. It took me a while to accept that I could possibly raise another child,  but I could hear God whispering in my ear, "Not your strength, but mine, you are not alone." I knew that all I had to do was surrender to the blessings He wants to pour out on our life, and lean on Him each day. Sounds simple, hey?
So we are excitedly awaiting the birth of our next child in October! I can't wait to meet him (or her), discover his quirks and abilities, snuggle and nurse him and introduce him to his incredible brothers and sisters. God has blessed us abundantly, beyond our greatest imaginings. I can't wait to discover what is around the next corner.