Two and through?

So with this new development of ours, the little bean, BL and I have come upon a new topic of discussion: will we be done after two? Way back before marriage and especially before babies we both agreed that we wanted three kids. Of course it is easy to throw out a number before you truly enter the reality of parenthood and experience all that follows. BL comes from a family with three kids, I come from one with just two. From my own personal experience, I thought I wanted three because between just me and my brother there didn't seem to be enough. So I thought about the concept of three, and when BL deemed this his ideal number I assumed that this must just be how it was meant to be. After having the mister I knew that I wanted another one. True, there were some days where I wondered if I could truly embrace the concept of another child (and starting it all over again), but I knew deep down that I wanted him to at least have one sibling. I wanted him to have more to his family than just me and his dad. So here we are, things willing, beginning down the road to give him that. Which has brought us back to revisit this topic. I had started to think it over inside my own head this past week, and apparently so too had BL as he brought it up last night. Frankly, I think I could be content with two. We really will need to reconsider what, if any, deep reasons we had for wanting three in the first place.



One important reason for us to really be having this discussion is because the way that this current pregnancy culminates will have a lot to do with our future family planning. MR was a c-section baby, due to my gestational diabetes and his large size. I am already actively working to try and avoid another round with the diabetes, though my genetics may have more to say about it than I do. Having a big baby will probably be inevitable, BL himself was 11 lbs and his siblings were all no less than 10 themselves. I was a puny 7 lbs, but considering that MR was nine it seems our children are destined to fall somewhere in the middle ground. I am not gunning for a VBAC, if it happens it does, but I won't cling to the hope of one. I will wait to see where we are at as things progress and we will make a decision based on what is best for the baby. If things end in another c-section and we are certain that we will only want two children, then there is nothing barring my getting my tubes tied while they are in there. This, however, is a very permanent decision. Surprisingly, considering his prior vociferous objections, BL has willing volunteered to get snipped himself if we come to that decision, seeing as his could always possibly be reversed. This is a lot to think about.

What is everyone else's opinion? Are you one and done, or do you hope to add one or more to the family? I know how I am feeling, I am just wondering what other people's reasoning for adding, or not, to their numbers. Thoughts?

Pumpkin patch, the marathon

We went to the pumpkin patch with some friends on Saturday and had a lot of fun, and a lot of exercise. This was our first true experience with a highly mobile toddler in a busy public space. It was exhausting. There was so much to see and do, the MR was just buzzing with energy as he moved from the goats to the haystacks to the pumpkins- and back to the goats. He loves goats apparently. It was definitely a fun trip and we really enjoyed getting together with our friends and our kiddos, but we are really coming to recognize the full force that is The Toddler. BL and I had to tag team who would follow/chase the kiddo as he bounced around the wide open spaces. We are starting to work on having him hold our hands in public, but with the combination of fresh air and livestock- it hasn't exactly stuck yet. By the end of it I was really dragging because it had been far too long between snacks, I forgot just how quickly I become unpleasant if not regularly dosed with food when pregnant. We finally wrangled MR and our oversized pumpkin into the car and no sooner were we out of the parking lot the little guy zonked. He had a full day, and I couldn't blame him. Here's the pictures from the day.

Some clarity

That definitely looks positive to me, right?! So I am so excited, and scared, and excited by this new development. We were trying for this, so it really didn't come as any surprise, but it is still just so shocking. I remember being unable to comprehend that my body was actually capable of such a thing the first time around, the disbelief apparently doesn't lessen the second time .

I really knew that I was for about the past two weeks. The signs have hit me early and many this time. I am soooo much hungrier lately, mah boobs have definitely gotten bigger (they aren't much to start with, so it's noticeable), and I have had a touch of nausea here and there. Luckily no major sickness yet, but then with MR I didn't really start getting morning sickness until about 11-12 weeks. By my estimate I am not quite a month along right now. Funny thing about having a c-section, it has left me incredibly aware of when my body is entering it's monthly progress. I start to feel crampy and bloated about a two weeks prior to my period, after so many months of this new activity I realized it must be when I am ovulating. This never happened prior to the section, I think it is just a result of my scar tissue flaring up with all the extra hormones when that happens.

I do still need to go to a doctor for actual medical confirmation, but I am thinking the sticks (and my body) don't lie. I know that all the emotions I am feeling now are only going to play out more and more so through these next nine months, but right now I am just going to grab onto the strongest one and be excited. Excited for me and my family adding another little one, for MR having a baby brother or sister, and for all the things that I know are to come in this process. Hooray for little bean!

P.S. Please ignore the dirtiness of my bathroom mirror and my bralessness. It's a picture for posterity, not a demonstration of hygiene.

Do you see what I see?

It's very faint, but then I am also very impatient and took these today which is still about four days or so prior to when I should be expecting the monthly visitor. I was right, I knew this time around too. I just was waiting for some sticks to confirm it. Making a doctor's appointment tomorrow to check up and make it official. Number two just might be on the way!

In the meantime

We have been continuing to move at a pretty frenetic pace around here with the house stuff, having a housewarming in the wings just a few weeks from now we are back to working on projects in an attempt to pull even more together before everyone sees it. We have already accomplished a lot, so it doesn't seem as pressing to finish these few more tasks- it would really just be the icing on the cake.

This past weekend we had some really exciting tasks, organizing the garage and cleaning out the spare bedroom which had quickly become the junk room. Though it wasn't as fun as decorating or painting a room, the results were definitely rewarding. Having a functional and organized garage space really helps life feel more manageable. I am not reminded of the mess that waits everytime I take the trash out, and now all of MR's old baby stuff is tidily organized in tupperware containers just awaiting it's future use.

Unfortunately having chosen so many of our paint colors already, as well as having painted so many rooms, we are now really starting to get down to the nitty gritty with filling in the remaining spaces. BL has been kind enough to give a pretty liberal amount of leeway in directing this process, but now that the spaces are fewer it seems that the decision process is a little more heated. I am trying to come to terms with this, in my realization that he has a say too... I just haven't been very good at it just yet. Ultimately we will figure something out, at the moment we just need to take a step back and try to find some common ground.

In kiddo related news, following his little stomach bug he had a little relapse in his eating habits. He generally would try anything we would give him, at least once. After he was sick he staunchly refused anything that wasn't in puree form, and even that was a battle. We finally put our foot down and left it at, he will eat when he is hungry. So we went through a week long process of putting food in front of him and then waiting. And often being rejected. Finally, in the last few days, our happy eater seems to have returned. BL made a yummy lemmongrass chicken soup the other night and MR slurped that right up. He has continued to resume his willingness to consume since then (knock on wood). I am beginning to understand how some toddler's palates become so limited, they are picky little buggers sometimes.

Finally, and most exciting, there's some good news over in the Soupbowl household! Go over and congratulate Carrie and family on their exciting development(s).

Uno y medio

One and a half! MR is eighteen months old today, meaning six months ago he was just turning one year old and in six months from now he will turning two. Every day his little boy body reminds me that he is getting bigger, smarter, and grander in every proportion. He runs with gleeful abandonment of one who has yet to learn that running can be tiresome, he uses two word sentences regularly, he works to figure out how things work and is a credit and a joy to us.

He is a strong willed and determined little boy, BL says he is very particular like his mother. He likes to put things where they belong and use items as he knows they are supposed to be used. This doesn't mean that he doesn't enjoy tossing things and making a mess too. He is really starting to understand the art of conversation, especially the correct context of words. He frequently says thank you (day too) when we give him something he wanted, or take away something he didn't. He recognizes so many objects, and likes to point them out to us with relish. He dances like a fiend, climbs like a little monkey, and sings like an out of tune jukebox. Another thing inherited from me, but definitely from BL as well.

We are so proud and amazed at what a little person he has become. He is sweet and thoughtful, and unfailingly personable. We are so lucky to have such a healthy and happy boy. He gives us kisses at night and always welcomes each day with open arms. Happy one and a half bug bear.

Wordless Wednesday: Hershey kisses