As my daughter approaches her first birthday, naturally I've started thinking...about having another baby.
I'm nuts, right? We have a three year-old boy, and a one year-old girl. The million dollar family, or so I'm told. My husband is more than happy to be "done." I've never seen someone so eager to have a sharp blade near their genitals.
He's waiting for me to give him the thumbs up. The go ahead. The green light. He's already planned himself a vasectomy party. (Which basically involves him watching sports and drinking beer.)
In many ways, I'd be glad to be done with the baby years and just move on. It would be nice to have weekends away with my husband, and actually sleep in the same bed again. Imagine? And as much as I love babies, let's be honest: babies are pretty useless. Toddlers are pretty awesome (except for when they're not.)
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It would also be nice to finally get some sleep (which certainly wouldn't happen anytime soon if we had another baby). I haven't slept more than five consecutive hours in three years. Most nights, I get three consecutive hours if I'm lucky.
So why oh why would I want to torture myself with another baby who doesn't sleep? Couldn't I just give myself papercuts and pour vinegar over them instead? Or jab needles in my eye? Am I that much of a glutton for punishment?
I guess it has something to do with the exploding amount of love in my heart and my desire to bury myself in the kisses and hugs of my own sweet children. More kids to kiss. More kids to love. More kids to laugh with.
But with that comes more kids to feed, more kids to dress, and more kids to shuffle around to activities.
Two children is practical. Three children is...less practical?
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But here's the thing: I'm not an overly practical person. I am chronically underdressed on cold days, and overdressed on hot ones. I don't care about that kind of stuff. Life has a way of figuring itself out. It's called survival. Right? Plus, we already have a mini-van, so...fuck it. We should probably just fill it up.
I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see. I'm not ready to be pregnant again right now anyway. Plus - we've lucked out with two super adorable children, what if the third one is ugly? This is a legitimate concern. I can just imagine the whispers, "Did you see their third baby, Bertha? Yeah. They probably should have stopped at two."
Put your pitchforks down, I'm joking. Mostly.
So...will the Warmberger's make another little slider? If you ask my husband? It's a firm no. If you ask me? It's a firm...maybe that leans towards the side of yes.
Only time will tell. Keep reading my blog for the next three years, and we'll see what happens. In the meantime, I have a first birthday party to plan!
Most of the time, I write blogs about my experience as a parent. Today, I'm writing a blog post specifically for my daughter...
Maeve, today you are one.
So of course I'm going to say things like, "Where has the time gone?" and "My baby is growing up." And all of it is true. This last year has been incredible, and I've loved watching you grow.
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To be honest, bits of it are a blur thanks to the fact that you're a non-sleeper (like your big brother) but that's why I'm doing my best to write, take pictures, and make videos: so I won't forget.
I never want to forget these early years. I never want to forget how I felt when I first held you in my arms, one year ago today. When I looked down and saw your high cheekbones, and your faint dimple as you laid on me, skin to skin, in the hospital. I never want to forget what it was like to have you sleeping on my chest in those early days. I never want to forget that I was your favourite blankie for the first year, and you'd grab my shirt and suck your thumb - holding me close.
Even though you wake several times a night, and I've taken to just sleeping in bed with you, I must admit: I love our slumber parties. I love seeing you beside me, bum in the air, mouth agape. I love knowing that every couple of hours you're going to call out for me to snuggle you close so you can fall back asleep.
This past year I've loved watching your brother and you play and laugh together. He has so much love for you, it brings tears to my eyes and fills me with so much joy. No one brings a smile to your face like Cole can. I hope you always know that you have one another, and know how lucky you are. My two little loves.
In this past year, you've learned to walk at 10 months old, and you're quite the little climber. You like to get into cupboards, and you're definitely going to be my "throw everything into the toilet" child. You're super-over-the-top affectionate (which we all love) and you are very determined to get what you want, when you want it. I'm sure this quality will serve you well later in life, but right now - it's exhausting.
"No, you can't play with the knives."
So far, you have many words. You say Mama, Dada, Nana, Maeve, dog, Paw Patrol (Cole's favourite TV show), bubbles, Babar, and ribbit (while you try to jump like a frog). When you're feeling needy, you cry for me and call me "Meems."
You are an excellent eater, and consume about three avocados a week. You also love broccoli, and can already feed yourself with a spoon (this is very exciting from a parenting perspective). You are also impossible to change, because you always flip over and have been able to take off your own diaper for months now. It's a UFC match every time we need to change you. Usually, you win.
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Maeve, you are exhausting, and adorable, and oh-so-kissable. You are funny, sweet, determined, and have the most infectious laugh. You fill our hearts with so much love, and I hope you always know how loved you are.
Happy first birthday Maevey Bean!!!
As my daughter's first birthday approaches, I find myself re-living the day she came into this world. I look back at the photos of her birth and my eyes instantly fill with happy tears. It was truly one of the most amazing days of my life.
When I watched the video earlier today about Kate and David Ogg's birth experience, I instantly got a lump in my throat.
Kate Ogg went into labour with her twins when she was only 26 weeks pregnant. That alone is terrifying. Then, moments after their babies were born, doctors told Kate and David that their little boy - to be named Jamie - had died.
In a devastated state, Kate and David took the baby from the doctor's hands and crawled into bed with their lifeless little boy. They bawled hysterically as they held him, skin-to-skin, in an effort to keep him warm. They spoke to him, and told him that he had a twin sister. They asked him to watch over her.
And then...the most amazing thing happened. Their little boy began to move, and breathe. Eventually, he grabbed his father's finger.
Today, Jamie and his sister Emily are five years-old, but not a day goes by that his parents don't remember the miraculous day he was born.
Get your tissues ready, and check out Kate and David's extraordinary story in the video below. I'll certainly be doling out some extra kisses at bedtime tonight. Life is so very precious.
Image Source: YouTube
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Maeve's Birth Story