Not all things are just instinctive.

Miss making her first birdhouse.

Remember the doves I told you about? The ones building their delightful springtime nest along the eves at the front walk?

Well, the nest fell one day. Ray was sweet enough to find the empty little nest and stuff it back up there. The next day the {less than maternally instinctive} momma dove knocked half the nest down again. This time the bird just stayed there perched on its pathetic pile of sticks.

A few days later I noticed the bird and the sticks were gone. Down in the flowerbed I found the sticks and a broken little egg. I was sad for this little dove and her nesting attempt gone wrong. I always figured that nest building was something that a bird just did naturally.

Today I was thinking about the dove again.

I was thinking about instincts and nesting.

I was thinking about myself and how funny it is that I seem to lack that stereotypical need to nest-

to scrub and disinfect our "nest" for our impending little one. Maybe these maternal things are not all that instinctive. Maybe having a perfect nest is just not that important. Maybe the time I spend enjoying the dynamics of my beautiful trio is more important than preparing for our amazing quartet.

Good thing my little nest is located low to the ground- I have to admit I feel pretty content sitting on my pile of sticks.