Having a big family
Matt and I have always talked about having a big family. Before we ever had our first child, we talked after a party in our apartment about having four kids. FOUR. I don’t know what kind of millionaires we expected to be, but I think that was our “if money was no object hoop dreams” situation. Colour us surprised when we found out that we were expecting our third baby – and it was happening at least six months before we’d wanted to even start trying for another baby.
So as it stands, I’m due to deliver our third child the day after Lauchie’s second birthday. Our doomed to be middle child will also have to share his birthday! As someone who’s an obsessive planner, and as someone who’s methodically planned both of my children, this update came as a real shocking surprise.
It’s also caused some serious angst in a way I wasn’t quite expecting.
We always knew we wanted more than two kids, so I don’t know if it’s because this was unplanned, or it’s happening earlier than we wanted or what, but there have been definite shocking sleepless “what-the-hell-are-we-doing?” nights. And that’s not to say we aren’t really excited (Matt’s especially hopeful that we’ll have a girl, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be mom to three boys), because we are, but man. Three. Three kids under four by summer 2015.
I can’t tell if we’re heroes or morons.
What I can tell you is that I feel like we’ve got this. The jump from one to two kids was far more difficult for us than being first time parents, and I think we’ve relaxed and are far more capable three years in than we were back then. We’ve also really been able to step up (me especially) and be parents and not pushovers (guilty). While I was away in Texas a few weeks ago, Matt instituted a 7pm sharp bed time, and the kids go to sleep with barely a fuss and sleep all night (not really L, but he’s still teething and now he’s got a cold) and are therefore better behaved and happier.
So, here we are, about to embark on a crazier ride than we ever expected, well in advance of when we wanted it to happen, but we’re ok with it. We’ve slowly started telling people (because I’ve been showing since week three basically), and the reactions have mostly been scrunched faces and negative comments, but there has been some real happiness and excitement from our dearest friends and family.
Hopefully, we’ll get through the next six months relatively stress free and have another happy and healthy baby to add to our rag-tag group. And I can tell you, unequivocally, that once this baby is born, I know I’ll be done. I knew it the moment I found out I was pregnant: that this was it for me. I’d heard women mention that feeling in the past, but found it odd because after both my kids I immediately wanted another. This time, I know in my heart that barring any unforeseen anything, that this will be it for us.
What about you? Do you have a big family? Do you want a big family? What’s holding you back?
