Lola Palooza's 100 Bebe Challenge: it's a...

I wasn't due for over a month! I wasn't ready! I hadn't even so much as glanced the birthing book I'd checked out from the library!

I didn't consider myself any better prepared than last time, but hey, at least I'd been through it once before. What could be worse about birthing at home, anyway?

As it turns out, not much. I had the passing thought to call Hal and let him know he was about to be a father. But this labor was definitely progressing much faster. Like bullet train fast. And anyway, he probably knew. If he'd been keeping tabs on me previously, it wasn't much of a stretch.

I got through it by praying to whomever was listening:

Please don't let this child look like him!

Welcoming...

It's a girl! Her name is Arden, and she rolled the Genius and Light Sleeper traits. I stared down at her tiny features, thankful she had my hair. And then she opened her eyes. Her father's blue-gray eyes.

But I didn't have time to dwell, because the contractions started up again!

Another girl! My third daughter, Aurelia, with the Disciplined and Absent-Minded traits, and much like her sister, with my hair and her daddy's eyes.

And a third! Please let me be done, please let me be done. I didn't know whether to hope for another girl or a little boy. I wanted a boy. Hal's boy, but I was terrified of raising a child who looked just like his father.

It's a boy! Sticking with the A theme for the final time, I named him August, and he rolled the Easily Impressed and Disciplined traits. He doesn't look like Hal, and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I have no idea where his eye color comes from. Must be Hal's side of the family, as my side has had violet eyes for generations.

My first set of triplets, and I had nothing for them! I listed the dresser from the second bedroom in the paper, and it sold the same morning, giving me enough funds to buy two more swings.

* * *

Later that morning I cried when Adelaide rode on the bus for her first day at school.

My firstborn was growing way too fast!

To take my mind off how grown up she looked, I harvested the produce in my garden and discovered I had finally grown the five great quality fruits and vegetables requested by the owner of the bistro. I desperately needed the money, so I packed up the babies and we headed out to meet her at the park. I earned $360 and a celebrity level!

And guess who else happened to be there?

This time Dallas came onto me, and feeling good about myself, I led the way up to the tree house for some harmless fun.

Only it wasn't so harmless, because despite my reputation for "exploring my options", Dallas seemed to think I was interested in something more.