Plan B

Plan B

Finally

praying pays off and

precious Cara

arrives.

The most beautiful Gerber Girl

with wise blue eyes that take in

everything.

And because we have prayed

so hard

eighteen months later

extra overflow blessing

baby Christopher,

prized BOY with

the best bald head

perfect for hugging.

A piece of dot grid paper with a drawing of a Fisher-Price Little People toy. It has a round head with a simple smiley face and bangs on top of two cylinders. The top cylinder is slightly larger than the bottom. Beneath the paper is the cover of a book. It is titled The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: La Leche League International. A person with long hair breastfeeding a baby is above the text.

Mom is a three-headed creature,

a baby on each side,

tiny fists holding soft unwashed hair

fat baby feet kicking one another

dividing our mother in two.

Cara and Christopher

bring chaos joy

transform our peaceful days

with constant noise

giggles, wails

toys that talk and honk!

and constant smells.

Diaper check!

I play proud errand girl,

racing in with wipes

when Mom shouts,

“Oh my God—poop up to the neck!“

Hold my nose hauling

overburdened diapers outside,

fetch teethers and blankies,

climb inside cribs and playpens,

make up zany stories,

read picture books using all the voices.

The resident goofball entertainer,

I’m told I am the best big sister ever

which is an easy thing

since I love my job.

Two adults and three children pose together. From the top going clockwise: A child with shaggy mid-length hair is behind the adults and wears a vertical striped top with a ruffled collar. An adult with short, dark hair with bangs and a mustache wears a long-sleeve collared shirt with sparse polka dots. They hold a toddler that wears a bonnet and short-sleeve dress. The toddler’s hands are clasped in front of them. A person with long hair wears a flowy long-sleeve top and holds a baby in a collared onesie.