Amalia’s Growing Quiver

After Aaron, it didn’t take long for Adam to reclaim his right. The three-day "nakedness rule" following the first purification was strictly observed, and so I became pregnant again almost exactly by Aaron's first birthday.

Over the next ten years, my body became a map of fertility. Aaron was followed by Britanny, Claude, Damien, and the twins Eva and Ella. My B-cup, which had grown to a C during the first pregnancy, now remained a permanent, heavy D, and my hips widened to make room for the constant burdens.

Every birth took place at home, while Adam stood at the head of the bed reciting psalms. My daily life now consisted of the endless cycle of breastfeeding, washing diapers, and working in the garden. The addition to our house—the actual "Quiver"—was extended twice to provide space for the boys' bunk beds and the girls' cribs.