Emeline couldn't help but chuckle at the comment about breasts.  "Well, you only need enough for her to latch onto, and you'll find that she will ask for her meals!"  With a laugh, she added, "Fussing usually indicates she wants to eat or she needs changing.  Oh, dear, we'll have to go over diapering and all that.  I imagine you will figure out laundering, although there will be times that you just want to bury the diaper!"

She watched to make sure little Em caught on, and nature being a great thing, the infant knew what to do.  "There might be some irritation, but you need to let Dr. Danforth know if your breasts, however tiny, become red, hard, hot or very painful.  That's called...mast...mastitis, I think, and it can make you quite ill.  My mother experienced it, but it was seen to quickly, so it wasn't a problem."

Yes, it was as Emeline said. The baby latched on to the nipple with very little hesitation. Now even Clara had to smile, it was all so sweet. Of course Emeline had to go and mention diapers.

"Yes, I know. A most unpleasant part of caring for babies. But I shall manage. And hopefully even get used to it. Somehow I doubt Jacob will be much help on that front," Clara sighed.

Emeline had more, "There might be some irritation, but you need to let Dr. Danforth know if your breasts, however tiny, become red, hard, hot or very painful. That's called...mast...mastitis, I think, and it can make you quite ill. My mother experienced it, but it was seen to quickly, so it wasn't a problem."

"Just wonderful. Well, hopefully I will not have it. Least our town has a doctor and a good one," Clara nodded, not taking her eyes off little Em suckling away now.

"And by the way, I did not use the word 'tiny'," he glanced to Emeline with a frown but then could not keep up the act and smiled.

Emeline chuckled.  "I suppose that is one of the good sides to breast feeding, at least until they go back to normal."  She grinned, but inside, she was having a hard time shaking the feeling of losing a child, and she earnestly hoped Clara would never experience that.

"You'll be a wonderful mother," she murmured with a sad smile, "and your children will be lucky."  She brightened then.  "Our children will grow up together, get into mischief together..."  She laughed.  "I'm sure there will be plenty of mischief!  But, of course, they will all be the best children in the world!"

She could hardly wait to see the child she carried, to know if it was a boy or a girl, not that it mattered...she just hoped for good health and a long life.

"You'll be a wonderful mother," she murmured with a sad smile, "and your children will be lucky."

"Oh thank you, I have big shoes to fill considering my own mother," Clara replied.

Emily brightened then. "Our children will grow up together, get into mischief together..." She laughed. "I'm sure there will be plenty of mischief! But, of course, they will all be the best children in the world!"

"Are you implying my child will ever be naughty? I simply will not allow it," Clara declared in her deadpan fashion. No, she didn't believe that for a minute though.

"So then, have you given it any thought? Are you hoping for a boy or a girl? I would imagine Pike wants a boy to eventually take over the ranch?" Clara asked, curious.

"Healthy, of course."  That was the obvious answer for any parent, first and foremost.  "But if I had my choice, I'd like a little girl.  But you're right, I think Barnabas is hoping for a boy." 

Smiling wistfully, she shrugged.  "Perhaps a boy first would be best, so he can be the oldest and look after his younger brothers and sisters, right?  But I do think it would be nice to have a little girl to dress in fancy clothes, long hair to braid..."  Laughing, she added, "I suppose I have my namesake for that!"

Emeline's first answer did not surprise Clara, wanting a girl baby. Secretly Clara had wished for a girl too but would have been just as pleased had it been a boy. Naturally both women hoped for a healthy baby most importantly of all.

"I understand but in the end it makes no difference. God, in his infinite wisdom, will decide," Clara smiled.

Em wasn't quite finished yet though, "Perhaps a boy first would be best, so he can be the oldest and look after his younger brothers and sisters, right? But I do think it would be nice to have a little girl to dress in fancy clothes, long hair to braid..." Laughing, she added, "I suppose I have my namesake for that!"

"I do not know, I was the oldest and I think I did a fine job taking care of Wyatt. Do not ask him for an opinion on that one though," she declared.

"And yes, I give you my permission to spoil little Emeline all you wish," she added with another smile. It seemed Clara smiled more while with Emeline than any other person...well, maybe her husband.

"She's a lucky girl."  Reaching over, Emeline gently caressed the infant's head, smiling at the soft fluff of hair.  "And she's beautiful...and I suppose she's the eldest, so it will fall on her to make sure all the others stay in line!"

And, as Clara's daughter, she had no doubt that Em would strong and confident, and would take good care of her siblings. 

"Would you like me to diaper her while you clean up>  I can change the sheets for you, too."  That way Clara would have a nice, clean bed for the rest she no doubt needed.  "Oh, and Barnabas knows I'll be here a few days, so I can help out while you recover."