". . .you knit me together in my mother's womb"

So, as you can tell, I am pretty obsessed with babies right now. (Psalms 139:13) I went to the hospital to see Tarah from church and their new baby, Mariah Brooke. She was adorable, and tiny, and so miraculous that I can't believe that I will be having another! What it got me thinking about though, is that this teeny, tiny, little baby is a person who will grow up to have a job, a family, a legacy, a history. Where does it all come from? The classic, "nature vs. nurture" debate, I suppose. Unfortunately, back when I had to really debate it in college, I had very little life experience. Now, I don't know the answers, except that it does seem to be a balance. This picture of Zoey is very indicative of her personality. The joy that she exudes is different from anything I have ever been around. She is emotional--like both Matty and me--but so quick to move on from it, unlike us. I see Matty and me in her--his sense of humor, my love for books and information, our love of storytelling, my impatience doing things that I am not good at, Matty's skepticism. The thing is this: we don't teach her these things. Is she born with them? Or, are children astute observers of the humans around them?

This of course, leads me to wonder if Ollie will be like us? Will he be different? What combinations will emerge? Afterall, he could have Matty's temper, my optimism, our love of words, our hatred of math, and our athletic talent--and he'd be very different than Zoey! It is crazy to think of the combinations of traits that could emerge.

I picked this post title because I have always thought it interesting. I obviously know that "knit" is not really implying with knitting needles, but I have imagined it that way. Knitting--tieing together--in elaborate and intricate ways. Which, in my "nature vs. nurture" debate leads me to the "in my mother's womb" part. This definitely suggests that all those strands, or traits, are tied together before birth. Maybe, like most people, I tend to want to take the credit for the amazing parts of Zoey and say "she was born like that" when it comes to her stubbornness, etc.

Hmmm... going to bed. I keep dreaming that my water breaks. Now I will dream of cosmic knitting needles--an improvement, I assure you.

Good night.
Amber