Lavinia May

It's hard to imagine how unique each of your children will be. As Edmund grew and I got to know his personality, it just made sense that he is the way he is. I couldn't imagine how my future children would be different, but Lavinia is very much her own person.


She is much more cuddly and clingy to me than Edmund ever was. Sometimes I am tempted to feel tired or inconvenienced when she wants me and no one else, but then I remind myself that this is such a short time, and how wonderful it is to be loved so deeply by this little girl. Unlike her brother, she is a thumbsucker, especially when she is tired or holding something soft! Several months ago, I bought her a teddy bear "lovey" as a sleep aid, and boy does it work! As soon as she holds the bear, in pops her thumb and she's off in happy land.

Lavinia loves to eat a lot more than Edmund did at this age, too, but she is more picky about her foods. She is still not walking at nearly thirteen months, though Edmund was walking at ten months. She is strongly opinionated about her wants, but at the same time, is deeply sensitive. Douglas or I can tell her, "No, no, Lavinia" in the most gentle tones, and she will take a moment to process it, then purse up her face and burst into tears as if we had brutally wounded her feelings.

Lavinia adores Edmund, and he genuinely loves his little sister, too. Edmund likes to make Lavinia laugh; he talks to her and takes a lot of notice of her. Some of my happiest moments as a mother are seeing the two of them enjoying each other. Other happy times are when Lavinia throws her tiny, soft arms around my neck, or, out of the blue, Edmund says something sweetly thoughtful and beyond his years. Thanks and praise to my Heavenly Father for the chance to be a mama to these two precious individuals.