I Got the Feevah!
It's happening. And I'm powerless to stop it. It's infecting my mind, spreading like wildfire, taking up more and more space in my consciousness. It's ...
I know. What am I thinking? I'm not, I guess. My brood of boys keeps me busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. But it never fails: every time my youngest starts talking plainly and being all-around less infant-y, I get that itch. Once I get a squirming toddler, my arms ache for the peaceful weight of a sleeping newborn. And suddenly, it seems like I revert back to my infertility days, when it seemed that everyone around me was pregnant, and strangers were saying, "So when are you going to have a baby?" (or presently, "So when are you going to have a girl?"). Like last night, I was getting my daily dose of pop culture over at People.com when I came across this:
Seriously?
As you can imagine, Curtis isn't as "feverish" as I am. He's perfectly satisfied to put our reproductive years behind us, and can't wait until our boys are teenagers and play sports and eat and do whatever else teenage boys do (I shudder to think). He doesn't get my need for another baby. The other night we were in bed talking (okay, I was jabbering while he tried to sleep) and I said, "If we were to get pregnant now, there'd be two years and one month between Coby and the new baby. That's a good distance, isn't it?"
"I'm tired of diapers," was all he said.*
*As if he changes more than one a week.
Oddly enough, the one thing that diminishes my baby fever is the thought of having a girl. I'm sure that seems backwards, especially since everyone and their dog feels the need to comment on how I'm overrun with testosterone. And it's true - I am - but I've come to like it that way. I wouldn't know what to do with a girl.
Still, girl or boy, a baby's a baby. And though I honestly believed I'd feel "done" after Coby was born ... I'm not sure about that any more.
What about you? Are you finished having kids, and if so, was it your choice or your spouse's, or both? Am I waiting on an "all done" feeling that's never gonna happen?
Don't forget to click on the "Giveaways & Reviews" tab for the $50 EdenFantasys giveaway - all you've got to do is comment! Ends Monday, January 17th!
Oh Rita, I love it! You've done great so far ( I mean, have you SEEN your kids?! Gorgeous!), might as well keep going! :-P With Emmi only being 9 months, I can't really relate QUITE yet, although there are little things I already miss as she's gotten WAY more squirmy...
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it ever happens. I thought I was done after my second child so I got my tubes tied. Now I'm really regretting that decision. I may get them untied one day but I'm 31 so I don't know. I want another baby, then I think about going through the terrible toddler years (Jaiden at 5 is still in them) and I think that in a few short years I won't have to find a babysitter or anything. If I didn't have myself fixed, I probably would have another one. :)
ReplyDeleteI have the fever too except I still need to get married to my Fiance! I agree, it seems like EVERYONE is pregnant--including my Future Sister-in-law. Oh well, I've got ice on those regions.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I had my tubes tied after #4 and I STILL feel baby fever. And my youngest is 4 months!!! I know it's crazy. There is no logical explanation. But it's still there. I really *thought* I'd feel done by now, but I don't. So... good luck with that!
ReplyDeleteI had three- 2 girls and then a boy. My husband and I always say we wish we would have had a few more. Family is what life is all about. And...babies are wonderful gifts from Heaven!
ReplyDeleteWe have bad baby fever in our house. It's terrible. My youngest is 4, so it's completely understandable.
ReplyDeleteI'm having my second child in April and I'm still up in the air about whether we'll have anymore after his arrival. There will be a 4 year age gap between my kids so I've had a break from diapers and the baby stuff for a little while now. I think there will be at least that long of an age gap if we do decide to have more as well. I like that I'm still young though and have the ability to space out my kids like that. I definitely want it to be a mutual decision between my husband and I though, so if he says he's done than I would want to take that into consideration. I'd probably have a sit-down and talk/write down the pros and cons of having another child and come to an agreed upon decision. It's really a personal thing and I don't know if that 'done' feeling ever comes. I haven't had a chance to feel it yet. Good luck with your decision though! I don't think you can go wrong either way. :)
ReplyDeleteI want 2, and that's what we have... except he wants 3, or 4! I say I'm done and I mean it. EXCEPT! I've got the fever too! Maya is only 4 months now. Yikes!!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I just need some more cowbell - that should cure it!
My Peanut is 5 now and was very unplanned so now I have been power crazy and suddenly I am finding myself really ready for some baby love. We are going to start trying soon. Hubby has been on the baby train since we got married a little less than three years ago, so he is really thrilled for me to be back on the train. Hope all goes well, I do always have a list of names ready though, I think I did a post on it awhile ago. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt's wierd because I don't really FEEL baby fever. But, I do know that I think I'd like one more. Jer has been pushing for another one for well over a year (which in and of itself is a HUGE miracle) but my body isn't cooperating. SO, IF we can get pregnant in the next year then I'm good with one more. If not, then NO. I refuse to be having any kids when I'm 40. I just would like to have at least one more cause 2 is a lonely little number. But then again, I love the 2 I have and I can be happy with what I have been blessed with.
ReplyDeleteI had two and thought I was done. But then the second hit 4 and I really wanted another. Husband thought it was fine. If I had to do it all over again though, I'd not wait til the youngest is 4 before I had another. It was like reinventing the wheel. And, it's like I have a family of 2 kids and then a family with an only child as there are almost 9 and almost 6 years between the older two and the youngest now.
ReplyDeleteI've had baby fever ever since having Frederick, my one and only and he'll be ten. It was decided for us by an unseen hand that we are finished. We have tried everything to have the large family we wanted but I guess it wasn't in the cards for us. It's one of the biggest reasons I love your blog; I get to live vicariously through you and your experiences. So, I say if you are wanting more then jump on it because you never know if that decision to stop will be made for you. Good luck!! : )
ReplyDeleteAs an accidental mother of 4, I thought I was done after Mr.4 (who is the third) was born. And then I was pregnant with Miss 2 (who is fourth) She was as unexpected as a comet to Earth collision, but oh so worth it. And now I KNOW I'm done. I just feel it. I say, have at it. 4 really isn't that much different than 3.
ReplyDeleteI was so done having babies (pop out 3 in under 3 years and things get... stretched... in a most unpleasant manner) that I gave away all my maternity clothes within two weeks of delivery. Two weeks after that (two weeks of oogling my sweet baby girl who was literally the easiest, best, most beautiful baby girl EVER) and I was jonesing for another. Fast forward to now, and that sweet little 3rd baby is almost 2 years old and my baby fever is burning so hot I'm practically spontaneously combusting!
ReplyDeleteI WANT A BABY!!!
I say we make a pregnancy pact and get ourselves with #4.
ps: my husband TOTALLY doesn't want anymore (something about they cost money or something?), but he also hasn't made an appointment with the urologist, if you catch my drift. Not getting snipped is like written permission in my opinion.
As the mom of five kiddos (4 boys and a girl) I obviously had baby fever for quite some time! I thought I would be through after #4 but couldn't stand it and decided just one more. Everyone said I would know when I was through and I knew! I say go for it. By the way, #4 was a girl.
ReplyDeleteIn case it matters, I'm not finished with YOU having kids. You make cute kids, therefore you're not allowed to stop. Yet.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm perpetually dealing with baby fever.
I think some of us will never feel "done". I was 34 & 35 when I had my 1st 2 (they're 17 months apart). 2 sweet girls - we were done. We got a late start on things (didn't meet Mr. Wonderful until I was almost 32) and I had pre-eclampsia with both pregnancies. So more babies MADE NO SENSE. I'm edging into my late 30's and I LONG for another baby??? Crazy talk!! But DH still hadn't gotten snipped...hhmmmm.
ReplyDeleteWell then it gets worse - I'm diagnosed with high BP and have to go off BCP & on BP meds. 6 months later, my oldest is 3, my youngest just turned 2 we had an oops. One time - one night and that's all it took. It was about 3 weeks before I turned 38 that the stick turned pink.
It was a hard pregnancy with Pre-E and BP issues but gosh I wouldn't trade that 3rd little girl for anything!! She just turned 3 at Christmas (she was a preemie) so our baby days are past but gosh if I was younger I'd have another in a heartbeat!! But I made DH get snipped while I was pregnant in case insanity took over again!!
I never got over having baby fever. Practicality just finally kicked in and I decided it was too hard on my health and too expensive. I would have had lots more if circumstances had been different and my body would have been more cooperative. You have to love being a mom more than anything else, because those cute little babies turn into active, adventurous, amazing, and sometimes argumentative creatures who require your constant attention for about 20 years. And as I look back, those were some of the most wonderful years of my life!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have another one. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, because I have a 17 year old, a 14 year old, and a 12 year old now. I would have had more, but my ex-husband was not on board. (He got a vasectomy 'for me' just to make sure.) I've been married to my current husband now for six years, and he has no children of his own. We'd love to have one that's ours (he loves my kids and they love him, but he missed out on the whole baby phase), but I'm afraid time is not on our side. I'm old enough for fertility to be fairly unlikely at this point. Most of me has accepted this, but admittedly not all.
ReplyDeleteThey're awfully cute when they're little, but remember they grow up and become teenagers. Are you sure you want FOUR teenagers? Ever?
ReplyDeleteOMG - I am sooo done! Hubby got snipped shortly after Baby was born 5-1/2 yrs ago. But I know if it had been GUARANTEED that I would have a girl, I prob would have wanted #4.
ReplyDeleteI finally got over my baby fever after my 4th boy. I was very wishy-washy after #3, and when I got pregnant with #4 it felt soooo good to have the decision behind me! Now there are a lot of people around me who are pregnant and I don't envy them at all. I'm so glad to be done! (My oldest is 7 and the youngest is 16 mos, in case you're wondering)
ReplyDeleteOh, and I should also tell you I love, love, LOVE having 4 boys! I guess I thought I wanted a girl in the mix somewhere, but now that I have all four the same I just LOVE it!
ReplyDelete