That is the question. I get asked on almost a daily basis if we are done having kids or if we want one more. Let me just say--we have no idea! We have one girl and one boy and they are both beautiful, well mannered, great sleepers and healthy. I feel like having a third might just be tempting fate. What if it's one of those kids that doesn't sleep through the night until they're three? Or what if they are a complete monster? Or what if they have some kind of horrible condition or illness? It's probably smarter to stop while we are ahead. I'm about 65% sure I'm done, and Jon is probably 90% sure.
I am one of those crazies who LOVES being pregnant, thinks giving birth (with an epidural) and nursing babies is magical, and can't get enough of newborns. The smell, the tiny toes, the way they curl up to nap on your chest...everything about them just melts me to the core. It's sad to think I'll never hold another newborn that's my own, or feel their fluttering kicks in my belly again. Most days I'm ok with it. My heart and our home is definitely full.
Honestly, if money wasn't a factor and we could run out and get a bigger house and car right now, I think we'd want another one soon. But it's never ending expenses with kids. Not just talking diapers and possibly formula, but doctor visits, birthday parties, extracurricular activities and a new wardrobe every few months. Then there's cars, college and weddings in the future. It's a lot to think about!
Not that I was underprivileged as a kid, but I am the youngest of 6, so I didn't grow up with family vacations or birthday parties, which is something I love being able to do for my kids. I would hate to sacrifice those things for Avery and Jonah if we were to have another child. Speaking of sacrifices, I would also hate for them to have to split their attention, too. Right now we have man to man coverage, and with a third kid, Jon and I would be outnumbered. Everyone I know with 3 kids, although they say they wouldn't have it any other way, never fails to mention how chaotic it is, at all times.
Then there's three times to potty train (hell on earth), three times the chaos, toddler tantrums, and teenage drama. But also it's three times the love! It's one more little person to completely make your heart burst out of your body, and it's one more forever friend for our other kids.
But with three kids, isn't one always left out? Avery and Jonah are already so close, where would number 3 fit in? Avery wants a little sister so bad, but is she got one, how would little Jonah feel? And what if it's another wild little guy? And if we have another one in a couple years, what about the age gap between Avery and #3? See the dilemma? There's no perfect answer and no perfect timing.
Our family is already so symmetrical too. Jon's birthday is 6 months and 6 days before mine, and ironically Avery's is 6 months and 6 days before Jonah's, and their birthdays are perfectly spaced between ours. We have a birthday in each season, one every three months! The OCD in me finds great joy in this, but the baby loving part of me wouldn't care to mess it up too much.
So the bottom line, no baby number three right now. My heart says yes, but my brain and wallet say no. Jonah is still such a baby anyway and I want to just soak up all his squishy adorableness before thinking about adding another mouth to feed, which sounds crazy since Avery was only his age when we started trying for baby #2. Nothing permanent has been done if we change our minds in a year or two, but we are most likely done.
So for now we have decided to get a puppy. Everyone, meet Lyla Mercer!
