three stockings

There are three stockings hanging by the fireplace this year.

Well technically four, if you count Lola's...but let's not.

I had to get new ones because our old set didn't have a third (besides the tiny one that has become Lola's). Replacing stockings (or anything) because you have a baby is not the worst thing ever. Because now there are three. Where there used to be two- and a two that felt incomplete, a two that wanted more- now there are three. My mantel and my heart are so full and happy.

I realized after sending these to the embroiderer that I possibly didn't plan ahead very well. There are three- and only three. The colors of the embroidery thread mix and match perfectly with three. And they look awesome and I'm thrilled with how they turned out- but I immediately thought (and had a friend quickly voice the same opinion) that it wouldn't be easy to add a fourth, should the need arise. Oops?

But you know what? I just don't care. I don't know if we'll ever need a fourth stocking. I don't know at what emotional and/or physical and/or financial expense a fourth stocking may come. I don't know what the future holds for us or whether one day I'll be anxious and crying for lack of a fourth stocking, or whether a fourth stocking will just appear on our proverbial doorstep and be welcomed in with open arms. I really have no idea.

But right now I am just too happy, too content, too complete to think about it much. We have three stockings- an infinite improvement over two. My heart is so full that I can't imagine ever needing anything else. And so I just can't get myself too worked up over imagining what the future might or might not bring. I spent too many years already living in an uncomfortable state of 'well, next year maybe ______' and 'I can't commit to _____ because what if ______.' I can't do it now. So maybe I could have given a little more thought to Christmases of the future and bought an extra stocking or had the embroidery all done in one color, to make future stocking additions a little more seamless. But I didn't. And it's okay. Our three stockings are perfect- especially this one:

And if we were to ever need a fourth stocking someday, or a fifth, or a twelfth (ummmm...), then I'm sure I'll be all too happy to make a return trip to Target and find a new set for all of us. 

But for now, I am totally and completely and beyond happy with my three stockings.

(Stockings are from Target; embroidery was done locally.)