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"You’re pregnant"

She had been so busy with her six boys that she suddenly realized she’d ns this time around Now she could see that her brsts were fuller, her waist slightly thicker

Jack splayed his hands over her belly "You’ve always glowed during pregnancy, but this time you’re ainst her lips, with utter certainty, "We’re finally going to have a girl" It was crazy, but she swore she felt it, too--the slightly different energy inside of her compared to the six boys she’d carried

But there weretwins! And what lucky little girls Lori and Sophie were to have six older brothers to protect and care for theht Mary back to the present Realizing she was still holding Lori’s wrapped ornaht when she finished opening it

Dozens of plastic goggle eyes stared out at her fro eyeballs all over an ornarapher, Lori was always inMore often than not, she was the oneexpert advice Neither her twin sister nor her older brothers escaped her notice Her intuitive comments were always delivered in her typically sassy way, of course

Mary hung Lori’s ornament on the tree, thenSophie--aka "Nice," as Chase had christened her so ht into her ornaments Sophie was now a librarian, but even as a s tih that people so her But Mary never had Sophie was incredibly sweet, extreentle patience that Mary still worked hard to attain most days

She remembered the day Sophie had asked to be taken to the local sewing shop, right before Christmas Mary had tried to teach all of her kids to sew, but the only tho had any interested in needles and thread had been Sether costumes for plays, musicals and dance recitals Of all her kids, Sophie had had the least interest in sewing, so when Sophie hter could have had a sudden change of heart

The minute they walked into the store, Sophie made a beeline for the button drawers One by one, she carefully studied the buttons beforeher choices

Mary loved to sit back and watch her children’s ht her Keeping an eye on her daughter as she chose new fabric for bedroom curtains, Mary watched Sophie take her pile of buttons to the counter to pay When the woister asked what they were for, Sophie told her, "They’re a Christhed out loud at the confusion on the wo out buttons for Christmas presents Mary couldn’t wait to discover Sophie’s plans

When they returned ho of buttons and Mary’s sewing kit For the rest of the day, Mary was so busy baking treats and wrapping presents in preparation for Christmas Eve that she was surprised when Sophie stood up after dinner and announced, "I’ve made a special Christ into a little bag she’d made out of white felt to hold the buttons, Sophie walked slowly around the table and placed one button on a string in each of her siblings’ hands

Marcus was the first to hold his up The large black button with flecks fro Sophie had threaded through one of the holes Sht the eye at every angle Chase’s was a sirinned at the way his button had been painted to look like a baseball Zach’s button was sleek black, like one of the race cars he drea Gabe’s button had flames etched onto the front of it Lori’s was the flashiest of all, covered in sparkles and glitter The button Sophie had chosen for herself was a rectangle that looked like a miniature hardcover book

"What a fantastic surprise," Mary said as she ed to brilliantly capture each of her siblings’ personalities with buttons, of all things Each of the kids agreed as they headed over to the tree to hang up the ornaments

Sophie slid onto Mary’s lap "This one’s for you, Mommy"

Sophie had placed a heart-shaped button in Mary’s palm Her eyes were already full when Sophie took one

"I made one for Daddy, too" This final button was covered in brown corduroy and arm and solid in Mary’s hand "Do you think he’d like it?"

Mary hadn’t been able to prevent two tears fro down her cheeks "He would have loved it"

As a burst of wind shook the tall pines outside the log cabin and Mary ca in the ainst her chest, over her heart Moving back over to the tree, she carefully hung each of the buttons in a group on the thick green branches, then placed the bag back into the box

Only two ornaiven each other as a young married couple She lifted them out and went to sit in the chair by the fire After unwrapping them carefully, she placed theers over the familiar contours