Picture
Many people in blogland know that Heather Armstrong from Dooce.com recently had a baby. She named her Marlo. All over her blog are incredible photos like the one above showing this face of beauty so exquisite you could just die with longing.

In fact, I do. EVERY TIME I see one.

People, I'll be 40 in February. And Rex not only doesn't want any more kids, he... we... took medical steps to ensure it wouldn't happen.

This didn't keep me from bursting out crying the day he came back from surgery, all limping with his ice pack of peas. I might have been a wee bit dramatic, what with the "I'm barren!" and "You're nothing but a sterile shooter now, babe!"

I thought five years later I'd be over it, but I'm not. In my mind, a third is insane. Emotionally it would take me down quicker than a Jonas brother by a paparazzi.

But in my heart, I just want one more chance. To really get it right this time. To savor every leg kick and night feeding and smell of baby head. To see Pip and Stink love on their little brother or sister and embrace all the new stories and adventures that life brings with it.

This is where you come in to tell me that I'm being selfish, what with world population. And that the two kids I have right now are just enough. And I'll say you're right. And I'll nod my head.

And then I'll cry when Dooce puts up a new photo of that stinking beautiful Marlo.

* Photo from Dooce.com (If I've done some sort of copyright infringement could you let me know? I really don't want the Queen of blogland up my arse.)

 


Comments

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:13:31

I SO hear you.

 

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:24:52

I think you are fine - you appropriately gave credit where credit was due! My littlest is almost two, but I can already see in another 2 years wanting, REALLY wanting to have a chubby, squishy soft, sweet baby to hoard all to myself. I got my tubes tied. So..... I will probably just have to resign myself to blog stalking new mom's! ;) Or I am holding out hope that my sister will provide some nieces/nephews for me to borrow!

 

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 07:26:43

Look on the positive side, getting the big snip snip is quite liberating. You can enjoy your fabulous man that much more now. And, it might be a good idea to stop reading dooce for a while - she has a way of making us all feel a little less about our ho hum lives.

 

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:43:57

Mines cuter. ;)

If it makes you feel any better, I don't think there's any "getting it right" in parenting.

 

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:20:48

Having taken steps to limit our family only recently, I feel you more than u might realize. If u think Rex has an inkling of having any of the same longing, it might be appropriate to discuss some "undoings".

However, it's also okay & very normal in my book to have one of those nostalgic/what if days.

 

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:08:25

Sorry, I'm in the same boat. I want another one badly and while John has finally jumped on board with my wishes, he still thinks life would be just fine with our one.

 

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:48:43

Fluter - I know you hear me. I saw your post! I should have linked it. Tomorrow I will.

Brooke - I would have gotten my tubes tied also, but I told Rex, "You do it. Why should I? It's not fair to my next husband."

DAria - I know... the bright side. Sheesh.

Arwen - Your baby is adorable - for sure!

Gretchen - I have talked to Rex about undoing it. If we talk much more it will be the undoing of our marriage! He is sooooooooooo against it. That's part of my irritation. I want to honor him so badly on this. But I'm just unsettled.

Sprite - Well, with your blogging ways, I'll just have to live through the zillion in a half posts you do on #2. Much luck to you.

 

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:49:12

I think *most* anyone who has "taken steps" feels that way. My youngest is almost two (and I'm 43) and when they were in there for the c-section they tied my tubes.

I immediately regretted it and still do. I can't complain one bit, though, I have three great boys and I'm so lucky. But there's part of me that wishes I either had fit some more in there earlier or hadn't done it.

 

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:27:31

Sorry, but I can't tell you your are selfish or wrong for feeling this way! My hubby too has taken "medical steps" to ensure we don't have more. I can't regret it but it does make me sad sometimes to know there would be no more! I mean my youngest would be such a great big brother! I so hear you too!

 

Filmgeek

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:33:37

If it's any consolation, having had the big V myself, there are always going to be the "what if" questions. Even with a bag of frozen peas on my, a-hem, lima beans, I was thinking "what if we hadn't just done that?" But, you come to live with your decisions over time and learn not to focus on the regret. Enjoy what you got b/c it's what you got.

Oh, and The Dooce is definitely full of herself...

 



Leave a Reply