So here's the deal.
My husband and I very carefully planned our first two children. We were blessed with two easy pregnancies, healthy babies, and were delighted to have a boy and a girl.
We have been on and off the fence about having a third (and FINAL) baby about a thousand times. I think we both really wanted to eventually have one more child, but many factors kept us from actively TRYING to make it happen anytime soon:
1. We have no maternity coverage on our insurance right now.
2. I'm not working...money is fairly tight.
3. We made $500 at our garage sale this summer by selling, you guessed it, baby clothes and accessories.
4. I need to lose about 50 pounds and get my blood pressure down.
5. In just the last few months, I found a great combo of anti-anxiety medications that brought me back to feeling good and normal again...something I hadn't really felt since the birth of my FIRST child.
6. We've got fun stuff on our calendar next year - 30th birthday parties for close friends, weddings, hockey games - and I wanted to feel and look my best for those events.
7. Garrett and Laura are so challenging at times, we have doubted our ability to take care of another child, especially on NO SLEEP. See, we KNOW what comes with a new baby - and it scares us.
8. We're THISCLOSE to being done with cribs, Pull-Ups, and sippy cups. And G and L are finally old enough that their grandparents are willing to keep them for a few days at a time.
So, in case you're wondering what in the heck happened, here's the short version.
Once upon a time, there was a Mommy, a Daddy, a whiny and cranky four year old, and an overdramatic two year old. On Thanksgiving night, the Mommy begged HER Mommy to take the children overnight. The Nana said, "I'll take them for TWO nights!". The Mommy and Daddy cheered for happiness and packed the children's bags. The end.
So, uh, my mom's response to our little surprise was, "I'm never keeping the kids overnight AGAIN!" Yeah, mom? The damage has kind of already been done. Oops.
I've been to the doctor for a blood test, and have scheduled my first prenatal appointment for January. I'm off caffeine and back on the prenatal vitamins. I feel slightly nauseated ALL.DAY.LONG. but haven't been officially sick. However, the nauseated feeling intensifies by one hundred when I let myself really ponder the reality of having THREE CHILDREN.
I can already tell how different this pregnancy will be from my first two. With Garrett, I announced it to my husband in a very special way. With Laura, I though the test was negative, threw it away, and my husband had to dig it out of the trash and tell ME it was positive. This time? I took the test in the Wal-Mart bathroom (how appropriate for a woman who spends approximately 58 percent of her time at Wal-Mart), called my husband on the cell phone, and proceeded to do the grocery shopping.
I'm not telling my kids until it becomes really obvious (which may be sooner than later, as my pants won't button...damn you, stretched out stomach muscles), but I've asked them some hypothetical questions just to feel them out on the subject. Garrett would like a girl baby. Laura would like a boy. Garrett wants bunk beds, and Laura wants to "HOLD dat baby".
I know all the "if's" and "what will we do's" will work themselves out.
I'm pretty nervous, but there's nothing I can do now but embrace this pregnancy as I did the others and pray for the best. I'm excited, my husband is excited, my family is at least pretending to be excited.
And even more than the nervousness, I am tired. Like, I-Might-Fall-Asleep-While-I'm-Eating-Tired (when I was pregnant with the first two, my husband used to video tape me sleeping, because that's all I did for the first three months). Combined with Christmas preparations, that is leaving me very little time to check my email, read blogs, or do any writing myself. So if my blogs are sporadic for the next few weeks, you'll know why.
This is a pretty good excuse for LOTS of things, don't you think? I'm off to convince my husband to please mop the floor for me.
My husband and I very carefully planned our first two children. We were blessed with two easy pregnancies, healthy babies, and were delighted to have a boy and a girl.
We have been on and off the fence about having a third (and FINAL) baby about a thousand times. I think we both really wanted to eventually have one more child, but many factors kept us from actively TRYING to make it happen anytime soon:
1. We have no maternity coverage on our insurance right now.
2. I'm not working...money is fairly tight.
3. We made $500 at our garage sale this summer by selling, you guessed it, baby clothes and accessories.
4. I need to lose about 50 pounds and get my blood pressure down.
5. In just the last few months, I found a great combo of anti-anxiety medications that brought me back to feeling good and normal again...something I hadn't really felt since the birth of my FIRST child.
6. We've got fun stuff on our calendar next year - 30th birthday parties for close friends, weddings, hockey games - and I wanted to feel and look my best for those events.
7. Garrett and Laura are so challenging at times, we have doubted our ability to take care of another child, especially on NO SLEEP. See, we KNOW what comes with a new baby - and it scares us.
8. We're THISCLOSE to being done with cribs, Pull-Ups, and sippy cups. And G and L are finally old enough that their grandparents are willing to keep them for a few days at a time.
So, in case you're wondering what in the heck happened, here's the short version.
Once upon a time, there was a Mommy, a Daddy, a whiny and cranky four year old, and an overdramatic two year old. On Thanksgiving night, the Mommy begged HER Mommy to take the children overnight. The Nana said, "I'll take them for TWO nights!". The Mommy and Daddy cheered for happiness and packed the children's bags. The end.
So, uh, my mom's response to our little surprise was, "I'm never keeping the kids overnight AGAIN!" Yeah, mom? The damage has kind of already been done. Oops.
I've been to the doctor for a blood test, and have scheduled my first prenatal appointment for January. I'm off caffeine and back on the prenatal vitamins. I feel slightly nauseated ALL.DAY.LONG. but haven't been officially sick. However, the nauseated feeling intensifies by one hundred when I let myself really ponder the reality of having THREE CHILDREN.
I can already tell how different this pregnancy will be from my first two. With Garrett, I announced it to my husband in a very special way. With Laura, I though the test was negative, threw it away, and my husband had to dig it out of the trash and tell ME it was positive. This time? I took the test in the Wal-Mart bathroom (how appropriate for a woman who spends approximately 58 percent of her time at Wal-Mart), called my husband on the cell phone, and proceeded to do the grocery shopping.
I'm not telling my kids until it becomes really obvious (which may be sooner than later, as my pants won't button...damn you, stretched out stomach muscles), but I've asked them some hypothetical questions just to feel them out on the subject. Garrett would like a girl baby. Laura would like a boy. Garrett wants bunk beds, and Laura wants to "HOLD dat baby".
I know all the "if's" and "what will we do's" will work themselves out.
I'm pretty nervous, but there's nothing I can do now but embrace this pregnancy as I did the others and pray for the best. I'm excited, my husband is excited, my family is at least pretending to be excited.
And even more than the nervousness, I am tired. Like, I-Might-Fall-Asleep-While-I'm-Eating-Tired (when I was pregnant with the first two, my husband used to video tape me sleeping, because that's all I did for the first three months). Combined with Christmas preparations, that is leaving me very little time to check my email, read blogs, or do any writing myself. So if my blogs are sporadic for the next few weeks, you'll know why.
This is a pretty good excuse for LOTS of things, don't you think? I'm off to convince my husband to please mop the floor for me.
16 Comments:
I have plenty of friends with three, and they all say the same, it is easier to go from two to three than from one to two.
I just don't plan on doing it :).
Good luck and CONGRATS!! I can't wait for the pregnant blogging!
Sweetie....EVERYTHING happens for a reason. You guys will be FINE I have NO DOUBT. You are agreat momma to G and L and you will be just fine with one more in the mix. Stop stressing. There's nothing you can do now except enjoy the next 9(ish) months and prepare for another. If you need ANYTHING, you let us know. Hell.....memphis isn't THAT far away from Missouri.....
Your family is going to be fine...and you're right, all of the little things will work themselves out. You can even get all new baby gear by having an "Oops" baby shower. :) I've heard the same thing as Amy W.---going from two to three isn't all that tough (just one more act in the circus, according to my sister-in-law). Again, congratulations!!
I have to disagree w/ going from one to two and two to three being easier. IT'S NOT!!!! I have 3 I know. See it's like this, w/ 2 it's man to man defense, w/ three it's zone all the way baby. Stace, you know what it is like in my household....freakin crazy. Maybe it is me?.............Anyway you are way more organized than I am and you will do just fine. I will advise you to keep a giant bottle of margarita's, (Jose Cuervo is a friend of mine)(a VERY good friend) chilling in the fridge at all times. Get the kind w/ the alcohol already in there. Just kidding, not about the Jose though!
Erica
YAY! Congratulations!!! :)
Don't worry, things will work out just fine. I agree with margarita that everything does happen for a reason. Just take it one day at a time. And remember at least you got to experience having one child then two...when I get pregnant with my first we will then have three children!!!
Ah see, it's a well known fact that selling the baby stuff is a very powerful anti-birth control method. We are in a very similar situation. Sold the baby and maternity stuff (see? I thought I was DONE), high deductible/catastrophic only insurance, I'm not working, still breastfeeding a baby, we have a challenging/special needs child, etc....
I was three days late and the digital test was negative. I even was so brave as to blog about it. HAH! Guess what, EPT is not error proof. Clear Blue said Positive a few days later. Um, crud...baby #4 is on the way. Are we insane? Yup!
I wish I could say that the worries all melt away as the pregnancy progresses. They don't though the anxiety does diminish a little. But I'm only half way. I'll probably hit major freak out mode again as I near term.
One thing I can say - having 3 children is wonderful.
Congrats again on the pregnancy. My first daughter was a huge surprise, but everything worked itself out!
I think I might wait until I'm 90 years old to have THAT garage sale.
I think I remember when we first "met" talking about a 3rd child and you told me I was going to have to try it and tell you how it went and I was all, no way, you do it and tell ME how it goes.
So yeah, can't wait to see how it goes.
For extra money? Charge more for those cakes girl. They are totally worth it.
Good luck and congrats again! I can't wait to read along as you document this pregnancy.
Silly Hily
Stacy, I can't imagine the broad range of emotions you're having right now. Everything will be fine once things settle down, and you'll look back and wonder why you thought life with two was ever hard. (That doesn't help, eh?)
Congrats! again! And I can't wait to read all about it.
And, some day, maybe even before that baby is born, I will remember to put the E in your name.
(Nearly a year later and my pregnancy brain has still not worn off.)
hey, congrats! I'm really excited for you. Jean 1
OH. MY. GOSH!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm just catching up, and hooray!!
*hugs* and congratz!!
The things that happen when you don't read a blog for a few days! Congrats! My number 4 was a total shock with very bad timing...but, I'd not give her up for the world. I suppose they all turn out like that.
For a habitual list maker this must be very painful. I remember being hysterical when I found out with both my boys. God has a way of forcing you into his plans doesn't he?
~I can't wait to hold this new baby while you scrapbook~
:) :) :P YAY! CONGRATS!!! :):):)
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