Nine year ago I was driving our new Oldsmobile Alero in Houston traffic. Alan and I had longed for a family, but it wasn't happening. As I glanced in the rearview mirror to check the traffic behind me, I had a glimpse of the backseat. Empty. Would we ever see it filled with car seats and children?
Fast forward six and a half years. Bethany was very new, and we took a trip with our three children. The Ford F250 quad cab we bought so many years ago in anticipation of our family was full. Car or booster seats were spread door-to-door in the back seat. If we had one more child, there wouldn't be room. We didn't want the size of our vehicle to dictate the size of our family. Alan and I talked about what type of vehicle would give us room to grow. Then he started the search. Within 24 hours he found exactly what we were looking for...in California. A used, but in good condition, brown, 4x4, diesel Suburban. "A real South Dakota kind of truck," as one friend put it. A deal was made, travel arrangements booked, and Alan and 2-year-old Nathan were off on a cross-country adventure to bring it home. Just being able to spread out our three children would be a relief. Everyone would have a little breathing room, and Mom and Dad would have some peace.
Fast forward another two and a half years to our first outing as a family of six. Amanda was a 
month old. It was a trip to Sioux Falls in late July; a day-long excursion involving extra diapers, packed lunches and snacks, extra water, and a change of clothes for "just in case." This particular trip was for stocking up on supplies and returning Auntie Kristy to the airport. A bitter-sweet trip because we were saying good-bye to my best friend and the kids' Godmother after a wonderful week-long visit. As we were leaving the airport, I glanced in the rear-view mirror to make sure everyone was secure. Bethany and Nathan were arguing over a toy in the far back. Zac and Amanda were in the middle seat, Zac having just graduated from a booster seat and Amanda asleep in her infant seat. A far cry to the empty backseat of the Alero 9 years ago.
month old. It was a trip to Sioux Falls in late July; a day-long excursion involving extra diapers, packed lunches and snacks, extra water, and a change of clothes for "just in case." This particular trip was for stocking up on supplies and returning Auntie Kristy to the airport. A bitter-sweet trip because we were saying good-bye to my best friend and the kids' Godmother after a wonderful week-long visit. As we were leaving the airport, I glanced in the rear-view mirror to make sure everyone was secure. Bethany and Nathan were arguing over a toy in the far back. Zac and Amanda were in the middle seat, Zac having just graduated from a booster seat and Amanda asleep in her infant seat. A far cry to the empty backseat of the Alero 9 years ago. 
The youngest child in our family has always been the one to predict the gender of the expected baby. Twenty month old Zac was absolutely determined that the baby Mommy was carrying was a boy. An ultrasound confirmed his prediction. Toddler Nathan was just as successful in predicting what an ultrasound confirmed; baby number three would be his little sister. With baby number four, the ultrasound could not verify the gender. Baby was asleep and wouldn't budge no matter how much it was poked and prodded. We have always gone into the later half of pregnancy and labor knowing the gender of the baby. There are usually too many surprises along the way for that detail to be one of them. But not this time. Would we be a family with three boys an a girl, or two of each? Bethany predicted another girl. 
