You should see Heath and the boys light up when a baby enters the room. Or my face when I get to hold onto one of the tiny miracles of God. So why don't we have another baby?
Here's the thing. They grow up... I absolutely love babies. I even love being pregnant. And there is nothing better than snuggling, smiles, and the miracle of little lips...even as a sleep deprived mommy, smelling of sweet baby vomit, and unshowered for 30+ hours! But the demands of parenthood change with the growing child... There is homework, peer pressure, "opportunities" for volunteering, desperate pleas for involvement from teachers, field trips, and the children begging to join extracurricular activites, have "wheelies" and the "PS2"...All the while you, as a parent, are juggling, struggling, and anticipating the needs (physical, emotional, spiritual, educational, etc.), ideas, meltdowns, challenges for each of the kids...trying desperately to be fair, discipline, love, establish lifelong true relationships based in trust, teach God-centered perspective, give each child personal time (the list never ends)!
The thing is, for me, I never got tired of the baby thing...but the changing demands helped me to decide to look forward at what I have, not dwell on what might have been, and enjoy each phase of growth as a gift from God...The decision itself brought with it contentment. And when our friends and acquaintances have babies, Heath and I still can't wait to get our hands on them and snuggle with them, take in their awesome baby smell, and at times briefly long for those days again. There is comfort in the known - we know and love babies - but we don't know anything about what lies in store for us as the kids grow up...we are learning as we go and looking forward to the fun and challenges that come with each step of the process! Ultimately we know that God has blessed us three-fold, and at the moment, that feels like all we can responsibly take on as they grow up...Not to mention life is different when you surgically close the factory and open up the entertainment center.
Don't get me wrong. I don't even pretend to know what is right for anyone's family but mine. I would never say what decision will ultimately be the best for YOUR family, regardless of what it right for us or anyone else that may offer their two cents. I advocate families of all sizes and shapes! For those of you in love with the baby time I say cherish each moment...but don't dwell on the thought that it could be your last baby...as I tell my boys daily, "no matter how big you get, you will always be my baby!"
And in 20 years or so, I look forward to a grandbaby to snuggle...
Here's the thing. They grow up... I absolutely love babies. I even love being pregnant. And there is nothing better than snuggling, smiles, and the miracle of little lips...even as a sleep deprived mommy, smelling of sweet baby vomit, and unshowered for 30+ hours! But the demands of parenthood change with the growing child... There is homework, peer pressure, "opportunities" for volunteering, desperate pleas for involvement from teachers, field trips, and the children begging to join extracurricular activites, have "wheelies" and the "PS2"...All the while you, as a parent, are juggling, struggling, and anticipating the needs (physical, emotional, spiritual, educational, etc.), ideas, meltdowns, challenges for each of the kids...trying desperately to be fair, discipline, love, establish lifelong true relationships based in trust, teach God-centered perspective, give each child personal time (the list never ends)!
The thing is, for me, I never got tired of the baby thing...but the changing demands helped me to decide to look forward at what I have, not dwell on what might have been, and enjoy each phase of growth as a gift from God...The decision itself brought with it contentment. And when our friends and acquaintances have babies, Heath and I still can't wait to get our hands on them and snuggle with them, take in their awesome baby smell, and at times briefly long for those days again. There is comfort in the known - we know and love babies - but we don't know anything about what lies in store for us as the kids grow up...we are learning as we go and looking forward to the fun and challenges that come with each step of the process! Ultimately we know that God has blessed us three-fold, and at the moment, that feels like all we can responsibly take on as they grow up...Not to mention life is different when you surgically close the factory and open up the entertainment center.
Don't get me wrong. I don't even pretend to know what is right for anyone's family but mine. I would never say what decision will ultimately be the best for YOUR family, regardless of what it right for us or anyone else that may offer their two cents. I advocate families of all sizes and shapes! For those of you in love with the baby time I say cherish each moment...but don't dwell on the thought that it could be your last baby...as I tell my boys daily, "no matter how big you get, you will always be my baby!"
And in 20 years or so, I look forward to a grandbaby to snuggle...
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