Thoughts from home ...

I am currently expecting my third child. And, yes, we already know that we are not having twins. My life has always been a barrage of the number 3. I was born at 3:33 a.m., my birth date adds up to the number 3, I’m the third child in my family, and if I’m never quite sure how many onions, tomatoes, or garlic I need at the store, I always get three.

Three kids works for me!

When I was at the hospital with my first child, I was afraid I would do everything wrong. I was afraid to change the first diaper, to burp her, and I never knew why she was crying. I could not believe the hospital would trust me to take my daughter home. I had no idea what I was doing!

With my son, I was much more relaxed in the hospital, and I wasn’t anxious about going home. I knew my son was durable, and I was not bothered as much by his cries because I recognized the “I’m hungry” cries, from the “I’m uncomfortable” cries right away. I felt much more confident as a mom.

I can only imagine how I will feel the third time around.

I might just beg to stay a few extra days for the room service to continue. I have to admit; asking for something to drink and having it appear in moments, is very appealing. I am looking forward to the smell of a newborn, tiny fingers and toes, little baby clothes, and seeing my squished up post-birth baby evolve into a child with it’s own personality.

Going from two to three children changes everything. Planning everything will become much more important. Having only two queen size beds in a hotel will no longer work — someone will now be sleeping on a cot. No more one-on-one, with one-child-per-parent in public places. As a friend of mine shared, with three or more you have to use a zone defense to corral your kids in public. No more renting a typical car since we will now have to accommodate three car seats.

Thank God for our mini-van.

Recently, we told the kids that soon they will have another brother or sister, and my 4-year-old daughter said, “It will be just like my baby” (the doll she plays with). I tried to explain how it wasn’t the same, but she was more interested in her stuffed animals.

She was only 20 months when her brother was born, so she doesn’t really remember what a real baby is like. I have showed the kids their baby pictures, but they don’t quite get the concept that they are the babies in the pictures. Maybe when my belly gets bigger and they can feel the baby move, they will understand.

With my second child, I enjoyed going back through all of the baby clothes in storage. I look forward to doing that again. I have a set of boy and girl clothes, and since this will be our last child, I look forward to getting rid of all of the baby clothes as this last one grows up. It’s always nice to lighten the load. It’s also comforting to know that with this child we are completing (if I may be so bold) this “baby-making” phase of my life. Most importantly, as you mothers out there understand, after this one, I get my body back, all to myself!

And so, yet another adventure in our lives begins … wish us luck.

Jeanne Sterwerf is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Silverdale. Her column appears the second Saturday of every month.

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