I pulled out 6-9 month clothes for Isabelle today.  And my throat tightened and tears came to my eyes as I held up the still-tiny dresses and sweaters and pants.  It wasn’t only because Isabelle is growing too fast, though.  It was seeing those clothes and feeling like Ava was just wearing them.  Isn’t she still my baby girl?  Honestly, I’m not sure I’m entirely ready to be passing them on to our newest baby girl, yet.  This is a first for me.  I’ve not had two girls (or two boys) so close together.  Elijah and Nathanael were more than two years apart.  Isabelle and Ave are eight months closer together.  And Isabelle is longer than Ava was, and so is growing into clothes at a faster pace.  I feel like both of them are getting the short end of the stick…Ava with far less attention than I would like to give her at only two years, Isabelle with divided attention as I try to read books or help with meals or get extraneous things done while holding her, when she is clearly wanting someone to just sit and smile at her for long stretches of time.  Everyone always says that there’s enough time and attention to accommodate as many children as God gives.  My heart doesn’t agree.  Every direction I turn, I feel like there is one of my children missing out on my attention and affection and direction.  God help me.