Chapter 2 - Is Three a Crowd?

 

I decided to break the news on Christmas. 

 

"Our family is going to be getting bigger soon," I said. "I'm going to have a baby. You guys are going to be a big brother and big sister. What do you think of that?"  

"You mean you're going to adopt another kid like us?" asked Jude. He seemed very curious, not upset. Isla, on the other hand, just glared at me.

"No, dummy," she said. "She's going to have her own baby that she's going to love more than us."

My heart broke as Jude looked up at me with fear in his eyes. "Is that true?"

"Absolutely not," I said. "Yes, the baby will be biologically related to me, but it doesn't mean I will love the baby more than you. I love both of you very much."

Isla continued to look skeptical.

 

In my heart I knew I was making the right choice. I could only hope that Isla would come around. I made my appointment at the hospital. I would be doing this on my own as I have so far with Jude and Isla. Things haven't worked out for me on the dating scene, but that's okay. I know I'm meant to be a mom, and that's all that matters. It doesn't matter how you get there. 

 

It wasn't long before it was time for Jude's birthday. I couldn't believe he was already going to be a young man. It felt like just yesterday that I brought him home. I wasn't worried at all. He was such a sweet boy. I knew he would be a great young man. 

 

Jude grew into a handsome young man. I couldn't be more proud as a mom. He continued to do so well in school. His teachers were always saying he was gifted and that he would do well in university one day. 

 

Even with so much else going on, I never forgot about my passion. This time I adopted a senior horse in order to give her a good home. I knew she didn't have much time left, but at least she would get to spend it in a loving home. 

 

There were some times early in my pregnancy that I almost thought I had made a mistake. I'd never felt so sick in my life before, and it really affected my training with Baxter. I was not allowed to take part in competitions in my condition. I get it, but it was still really hard. 

 

Even though I couldn't ride, I still made sure to spend a lot of time with the horses to let them know that they were still loved. Looking back now, I should have been spending more time with Isla. I know that now. I've made mistakes. I can only try harder from now on. 

 

Jude really stepped up when it came to the horses. I couldn't help but laugh sometimes because he was so inexperienced as a rider, but I realized I was once a beginner too. I just appreciated all the help he's been giving around the house. 

 

Speaking of the house, we now had enough money to build an extension. Soon this house will be something to be really proud of, especially knowing that I built it up from nothing with just the funds from competing with Baxter and training horses like Blossom to sell later. 

 

During this time, Isla really did her best to ignore me. I can't say I even blame her. I was too preoccupied with the pregnancy and taking care of the horses. At least she had friends to hang out with and apparently complain about me to.

 

"It's so cool your mom is a professional equestrian."

 

"She's better with horses than people," said Isla scornfully. 

 

If I'd known how hard pregnancy could be, I might have just adopted again. By the end of it, you really feel like a blimp, and it's so hard to do little things you take for granted like tying your shoes or even picking things up from the ground! In this picture I feel just like the snowman, my middle a huge round ball. 

 

I'm trying to be better at spending quality time with the kids. Part of that is making sure we sit down to family meals together. Slowly but surely I feel like I am making progress with Isla. 

 

And yet it's her friend who asks for a bedtime story instead of her. :( He's such a sweet kid though that I couldn't say no! 

 

I wasn't prepared when the time finally came to the hospital. Was I  ready for this? I had adopted Jude and Isla as children. Was I ready to care for an infant, a toddler? 

 

It was too late to back out now! And as soon as I laid eyes on my little Hazel, I knew then I had definitely made the right choice. I was shocked at her skin tone though. I had chosen a donor from Dragon Valley, and apparently he is an elf. I was not expecting this at all, but I will love Hazel no matter what she looks like. I wonder if she'll inherit the pointed ears like Jude has? 

 

Hazel is such a sweet little girl. She loves being held all the time. I can't wait to see her grow, what she'll be like, what she chooses to do with her life. 

 

Speaking of life, before I knew it, it was time for Isla to grow  up. I was more nervous this time around. Isla and I have been at odds so much, and she was only a child. Would she be even worse as a teen? 

 

Her best friend had already grown up and was excited that soon they would be the same age again. 

 

Isla stepped  up to the cake, and I could tell she was making a wish. She closed her eyes tight and didn't move for almost a whole minute before blowing out the candles. I wish I knew what she was thinking. 

 

"Thanks for the birthday party, Mom."

 

"What? I mean, of course, sweetie."

 

I was not ready for that. With Isla it's usually a snarky comment of some sort. Hopefully this is a good sign of things to come. 

 

Isla grew up into a beautiful young woman. She hasn't said much since I brought Hazel home from the hospital, but I've noticed a change in her personality. It was like she was expecting to hate the baby, but I don't think she does. She spends more and more time with her baby sister. I don't even have to ask her to do it. She just does it.

 

Maybe I didn't need to worry so much after all.