Yes. It's true. We are pregnant again.
Well, I'm pregnant again. But my husband's going to have a fourth kid too. So we're both "expecting" a baby. I mean, at this point, I've seen an ultrasound. So I'm pretty confident it's a baby. I have joked that we're hoping for a unicorn. That would be pretty neat. But again, two ultrasounds in I think it's pretty much a baby. It's due the first of November, but already measuring ahead. So who knows.
Most people are surprised. So far, no one has been rude about it. But I'm barely showing, still in that "she needs to lay off the cupcakes" phase. I can still wear my jeans, I just can't button them. My shirts fit, but I'm awfully busty and look like I need to go up a size. Once I'm out and about with three kids and am obviously pregnant is when I expect the ugly looks and snide comments. It's interesting how much differently people treat you when you have one or two kids with you versus three. I'm sure four will be all that much worse. Why are so many anti-big families these days? Argument for another day.
People have a lot of questions when they find out. Are you excited? Are you nervous? Are you hoping for a boy this time? I think a lot of people really want to ask why, but are a little afraid to.
Well, to answer those questions. Yes, we are excited about having another kid. Who wouldn't be? Kids are wonderful blessings and so much fun. They're amazing little miracles. How could we not be excited? However, I hate being pregnant. Who wouldn't? I hate getting fat and not being able to do any of the things I'm used to doing. I miss spicy foods and beer and wine and sushi. I miss jogging and riding a bike. I miss seeing my toes! And I really miss beer. Ha! So, while I'm not necessarily stoked about the whole not being in charge of my body for nine months (plus the restrictions post-partum while breast feeding), I'm super stoked about another baby.
Are we nervous? Well, that one's complicated. I think with every pregnancy, you worry that you have been too fortunate in the previous ones and THIS one will have problems. And of course, you can't open Facebook without seeing horror stories about moms or babies or siblings. And I'm a born worrier. Am I nervous about having a fourth child? No. Do I worry about the things all parents worry about, like health, safety, labor and delivery etc.? Yes, of course. I wouldn't be me if I didn't.
As far as gender, I'm not being one of those people who just say this, but I just really, really want a healthy, happy baby. I am not someone who feels like I need to have a baby of each gender to be happy. I will be perfectly content with four girls. I absolutely love having three girls and I know a fourth will be that much more fun. However, it would be kinda neat to get to shop for a boy for once. It will be a learning experience for sure to have a boy. And I will really feel sorry for him growing up with three older sisters. It'll be a rough time with lots of dress up, lots of tea parties and lots of Barbies. Still, we did not get pregnant in hopes of having a boy. When Josh and I were discussing having another kid, I very specifically told him that we had a nearly 90% chance of having a girl. And he agreed that it was perfectly alright with him. Not every man feels like he needs a male progeny to be happy. Really, we just want a healthy baby.
We are very happy and appreciative of the warm wishes from family and friends. I'm excited about having another winter baby, although a lot of pregnancy will be in the summer. Still the worst of my pregnancy it will be cooler. So maybe it won't be too bad. Baby's birthday is expected to be around the time of two grandmother's birthdays. One the end of October and one the beginning of November. So they'll both have their fingers crossed for a shared birthday. That'll be fun. Hopefully. And then there is the awesome realization that due to the baby's birth and my maternity leave I will get to spend the holidays with my family for the first time since I had my own family. We can do Thanksgiving on Thursday and Christmas on Friday. It'll be awesome!
And this year there will be another little person to celebrate with. I'm sure he or she will be too little to care of course. But it will be a prequel of the wonderful, fun-filled years to come. A house full of noise and laughter and little feet. Siblings playing and fighting and loving as they go through their every day life. I can't wait to see all the wonderful adventures that they will have together. The adventures we will all have together.
So, the final and potentially most complicated question. Why?
First, I absolutely love children. I have so much fun going on little adventures with my little people, talking with them about their lives, teaching them about the world and just watching them interact. They are an immeasurable blessing. And they have without a doubt changed my life (and me) for the better. They have taught me life lessons that I would have thought I was too old to learn. And I have become a much better, stronger, wiser person than I would have imagined was possible six years ago.
Second, I want my children to have a lot of branches in their tree to fall back on.
