More Babies

No I am not pregnant. Nor will I be again. We were at the doctor's office yesterday (Nature Girl ear infection) and the nurses (who love to see us) asked if it was time for number five.

Of course I have been thinking a lot about this lately. Truth be told, if everything were just perfect, I would like to have another baby. But, as I have mentioned before, daddy is good with four. Then, last night, as I was up for the second night in a row with a crying 16 month old, I realized I am old and I am tired and I really, really can't imagine doing this all over again.

Now, if I were younger and daddy was on board, I would be all for it. I love to see pregnant women and I love to look at new born babies. And knowing I am done makes me sad. But not for very long.

When I wanted baby number four, I remember thinking in the shower, I can do it again, I want to do it again, I will survive doing it again. At this point, I can not say any of those things. Probably because I haven't slept in two days. I really have no desire to be sleep deprived, ever again. Have I mentioned I am too old?

Anyway, I am more than content with the four blessings I have. And am excited about getting on with our new stage in life . . .

What To Do?

This wasn't my original idea for a post today. Daddy's phone call has changed my original idea.

He called this morning wanting to know what I wanted to do with our baby car seat. Now, he knows in the back of his brain that I am not really willing to part with it at this point. This is how it works around here.

Right after the baby is born, for about six to nine months, I get rid of everything as soon as I am through with it. There might be a few things I keep for sentimental purposes but for the most part I am more than willing to pass my stuff on to people who need it. I usually just give it away. I have done this with Little Mama, Boop and now EG. (I did bring a bucket or two to a consignment shop when I found out baby number three was a boy but honestly it wasn't worth all the work.)

But, then I hit the honeymoon stage, usually around 10 to 15 months. That is the stage where I just can't imagine not having a baby in the house. To me (and to Daddy too) it is one of the best times being a parent. They are mobile and want to explore and they are expressive and for the most part happy just cruising around. They are glad to see you and haven't really learned how to throw a tantrum yet. (Although EG is getting the hang of it.)

So, back to the phone call this AM. Daddy knows someone in need of an infant car seat. And asked me what my plans were for the seat. The thought of giving it away brought tears to my eyes and choked me up. He told me that he said to the lady asking him for help "My wife hasn't given up on number five, so I will have to check with her."

Now, in my head I know that we will not be having any more babies, my heart is a different story. If Daddy was on board I would definitely have more. But I know he is ready to move on. And I love him enough to respect and honor his decision (most days :)

This morning he did not pressure me in any way. He asked me to think about it and I told him I would let him know this afternoon. I just had one question "Do they really need it?" And he said "Yes." I am pretty sure I know what my answer will be. I think it would be selfish for me at this point not to consider giving it away. We have been blessed in so many ways so many times over.

Time for me to pass the blessing along . . .

The Tub

One of my favorite pieces of baby equipment has been this little blue tub. Hubby and I were discussing the other night whether or not this is the original tub we used with Nature Girl or not. By the shape it is in it is very possible. Although we have vague memories of having to buy a new one when Boop was born. Regardless, it has been an invaluable pieces of baby stuff. I remember each child getting their first bath in it. For Nature Girl, Little Mama and EG, it was in the kitchen sink. For Boop, it was our bathroom sink. (I guess I was afraid Boop would keep the girls awake if I bathed him in the kitchen sink.) I always got a picture of their first bath in the blue tub. Bath time with babies is so cool.

Up until then it was a "sponge bath" with a baby washcloth on my handy dandy yellow sponge. (Pictured as well.) The big yellow sponge came from one of my SILs. I have never seen one in a store and that is unfortunate because I would buy it for every pregnant woman I know. It has come in soooo handy. It was used for the nightly sponge bath. Then when the little guys moved up to the little blue tub, I would set the big yellow sponge on the counter with the bath towel over it. When the little guys would get out of the tub, I would lay them on it and wrap them up. It was soft and safe.

Now, the little blue tub is on its way out. I have this great desire to give it to someone but honestly it is in horrible shape. I just can't bare to put it out in the garbage. So, for now, it sits in our bedroom. Unused. Just sitting there awaiting its fate. It is the first major piece of baby equipment I will be getting rid of. (There have been other pieces but nothing I have been attached to or has served me so well.) I will be hanging on to the big yellow sponge for a little while longer. I put it on the bathroom floor with a baby towel over it right now. When I get EG out of the tub it is a safe, soft place for me to put her while I wrestle with Boop in the tub. ;)

I am seriously contemplating giving the big yellow sponge to the neighbor I barely know who is pregnant with her first child . . .

Teething

We can't be there already. Actually I am a little surprised it took this long. EG has been working on her fingers for months it seems like. And teeth are one of those great unknowns. Little Mama had teeth at four months. I found out when she bit me while nursing. Nature Girl didn't get teeth until she was a year old. And then got her back molars first. Some nurse when she was born saw something white in her mouth and told me she already had teeth. I since found out that it was actually a ulcer type thing. Not really a tooth at all. So, yesterday, as EG was putting my finger in her mouth for the umpteenth time, I felt a sharp hard thing. A TOOTH! That could explain a little grumpiness and the instinct to shove EVERYTHING in her mouth. We have been talking about instinct in school. We are reading Pagoo, the story of the whole life of a hermit crab, and how his Old Pal Instinct guided him to eat and swim for survival. EG has been a great example of human instinct. On Sunday, she had stuck both fists in her mouth. The pictures are of her efforts to relieve her instinct to chew . . .

More Babies?

On our way home from ballet yesterday Nature Girl asked "Mommy, our we going to have more babies?" She asks this pretty frequently. She would like to have 9 other brothers and sisters. Where she gets that number from is beyond me. We have a friend who has 10 kids in their family maybe that is it. Who knows. We have told her that we probably are not going to have any more children in our family. I do believe that God intends for us to let Him decide how many children are in our family. I have envisioned myself in Heaven saying "I know God. I limited Your blessings but I gotta tell ya, I am not sure I could have handled anymore." "Yes, I know perfectly well it was a lack of faith in You." But, most of it right now is obedience to my husband. God has put him in charge of our family and he would rather our family not get any bigger. He loves the children he has right now and does not desire to have anymore. Most days I am in agreement with him. But, there are days that I desire more. If hubby was on board, I would definately have more. It is a constant struggle as I try to obey God . . .

"Making" Baby Food

I know this isn't a new concept but it is to me. After four kids you would have thought I would have tried just about everything by now but that is just not so. I had heard of making baby food before but I thought "why." It comes in cute little jars already done. Why take the time. Plus, I thought it would be something that would be really hard. I was wrong. Yes, you heard me I was wrong. About a month ago when I contacted the lactation consultant about my latest nursing dilemma she suggested giving EG sweet potato. Not the kind in the baby food jar but actually baking it, pureeing it and feeding it to her. Ugh, that was just what I needed. Something else to do in my already overwhelming life! I had been given that advice once before. Little Mama had a weight issue when she was about 5/6 mos. Someone gave me the advice to feed her avocado. Needless to say I didn't take that advice but now wished I would have. Anyway, the lactation consultant suggested the sweet potato as an alternative for formula so to speak. Well, I have come along way since Little Mama's weight issue so I thought "what the heck." I baked some sweet potatoes about a week or so ago, mashed them up and gave them to her. She loved them. I froze the left overs in little chunks and pull one out and let it thaw everyday for dinner. For breakfast I buy extra bananas so they get ripe and every morning I mash one of those. Yesterday we tried avocado for the first time. I just cut it in half and mashed the "meat." She had that for lunch. I have since bought a butternut squash and pears. I baked the squash, pureed it and froze it in ice cube trays. That will be our next food to try. The pears I need to steam and freeze but I think they need to ripen more. It really has been kind of cool to do this. It makes me feel so domestic! We went out for dinner the other night and I wasn't sure what I would do about the baby food. I ended up just bringing a banana and a little chunk of sweet potato and when the time came just mashed it up and gave it to her. It worked out beautifully. I plan to add baby cereal in a couple days as well. Just to have a back up. I guess there are three main reasons I have chosen to make the baby food this time around: 1) I like the idea of the least processed the better, 2) it helps me deal with the fact that I am not the greatest nursing mom and 3) it is WAY cheaper. Who knows how long it will last. But for now I feel it is the best choice for EG and me . . .