Number 3 and Beyond, Where's the Celebration?

I was having a phone conversation with someone the other day and the following was said,"Oh guess who got herself knocked up, again..."  I thought for a few moments about the mutual people we know and was stumped about who could possibly deserve such harsh words.  "It's So and So, what the Hell was she thinking?  It hasn't even been 6 months since the last one and she already has 2."

It struck me at this very moment that we no longer celebrate large families. Once you get past baby number 2 everyone thinks you are crazy and there is no need for more.  Its a VERY common topic brought up in a private pregnancy and birth group I have been part of for some time.  Women are announcing pregnancies 3 and beyond to a bunch of semi anonymous people before their families.  Why?  Because of the reaction.  No one is excited.  No one really offers help anymore.  I guess they figure you've had 2, you must be able to manage.

And Lord help you if you find yourself "knocked up" before the end of the first year after your last!  You can bet the comments about birth control and being bored are gonna by flying faster than the speed of light! You will get looked at like you are nuts, people will flat out call you crazy. The best part is you will here these things before you are congratulated. I think that's so very sad.

Every pregnancy and baby counts.  From number one to however many each woman becomes blessed with. Yes, maybe some pregnancies come at bad times or maybe the mother TRULY cannot and perhaps should not have more, but its not the fault of the child.  Regardless, she is still pregnant and is STILL going thru the same things as 1 and 2.  Her body is still be torn apart by hormones, her body is still undergoing the most massive changes that it can in a short 40 weeks to prepare to bring forth life again.  She still deserves respect and support.

There was a time when families were bigger, incomes were less, food was not so abundant and homes were half the size or less of our modern mansions.  The 2.5 kid household of today is not the norm.  So smile for larger families.  Offer your support and encouragement and show these women they aren't losers for having more than 2 kids.  It hurts to be criticized over something so profound in life.  She may not need a baby shower, but she could use a girls get together to celebrate together. Children are worth every second of it.

30 Days

Well Husband left last nite for the National Training Center in California for 30 days.  Sucks, not even going to lie.  Once he is home from this we have just over 90 days before the next deployment hits.  I could have used this 30 days to be with him. But hey!! Lets jump up and down with excitement because they are training at the "Best training facility in the world!!" according to the commander.  Insert eye roll here.

In any case, no point in moping around I guess.  I am going to spend the next 30 days purging my house of junk we aren't using. I am not real sure where to start, but I have a few closets and cabinets that could use some thinning out.  I know I have some crazy cleaning to do in the garage.  It has boxes of stuff that haven't been unpacked simply because it's stuff not being used.  Hoping I can make a small fortune on craigslist this month.  That would rock!

I need to do the kid's fall photos this week while its still decent.  Going to pick up some pumpkins and haul them to the park.  Also need to make a couple of light reflectors.

Still up in the air about posting to Facebook while Skip is gone.  I did purge my friend list when I stopped, so I know everyone on there now.  I miss it, but then again I don't.  So I dunno.

If you are bored anytime in the next 30 days call me, come on down or bring the kids and we can hit the park!