I get asked all the time- When are you going to try for that baby girl? Are you definitely finished now? Do you think you will have more kids? It is constant. And the one thing I can say is I am very conflicted with my answer. I wish I was one of those moms that "just knew" when their family was complete. That is confident in knowing I am done having kids. I was so hopeful to feel that way. But I don't. The idea of being done makes me sad. I still dream about another baby and doing through it all one more time. I am sad to think that this stage of my life is done and that as Thomas is getting older, I won't ever have that baby again.
Don't get me wrong, I am also excited about parts of the future. The traveling with older kids, not buying diapers, not being a slave to breastfeeding, working on really building my career. That all sounds fun and exciting, but it doesn't outweigh the sadness just yet.
But even though I am not convinced our family is complete, I am pretty sure it is. Because Mike and I are way to logical and calculated to have another. And mainly because of MONEY.
If I didn't have to work and I could just stay home with the baby. If we didn't have to stress about the extra financial cost associated with having a baby (Thomas's birth alone cost $10,000 and that is worth good insurance!1). If our monthly budget had more wiggle room for the extra diapers. If we could not worry about the extra fees associated with 4 kids playing sports and activities. If we could still travel and buy 6 plane tickets and the larger suite rooms on all vacations. If the idea of buying a larger SUV was an option. If I could afford to hire some help when needed, or have cleaners come to the house to ease the work load. If college wasn't so darn expensive....if these topics where not an issue, then we would definitely have one more. The decision really all comes down to money.
So with that decision being made, and knowing we are blessed with 3 beautiful boys, it is time to start getting rid of the baby stuff. I can sell the gear and donate the clothes. I can make plans for when the baby is older to do things we have been waiting to do. I can start working out more and get my body back because for the first time in 7 years I won't be preparing to get pregnant, currently pregnant, nursing, or preparing to get pregnant again :)
It is bitter sweet. Getting rid of the baby clothes is heartbreaking. I have memories of all 3 kids in those outfits. But it is time. The silly green bouncy chair was all 3 boys favorite thing to sit and play in as newborns. I don't want to give it away. But again, it's time. So wish me luck as I transition through this stage. I can tell you one thing, I am enjoying every minute of nursing him, and I cuddle longer in the middle of the night, and I try to spend more time sitting on the floor and playing with him because boy I know it goes fast and I know I'm gonna miss it.
The Taynors
Monday, January 15, 2018
Saturday, January 13, 2018
5 and 6 months of Fun
The 5 and 6 month milestones were soooo exciting, that I just didn't even have enough time to post about them :)
Not really, life just gets busy and before you know it the month is over. So here is my attempt to write about 5 and 6 months in the life of Thomas before we actually hit 7 months in 2 weeks (I can't believe we are nearing the 7 month mark WTF)!
The big thing that happened at 5 months is he finally started to roll. He pretty much figured out going from his belly to back and back to belly at the same time. And once he figured out this cool new skill, he wanted to show it off by rolling all over the place. He can officially get anywhere he wants by rolling.
At 5 months he also had no sleep patterns yet. He got a terrible head cold and congestion and was not sleeping, so we moved him back into the rock n play so he was propped up which helped. Unfortunately it also got him comfy back in the RNP and has lead to lots of crib issues. In short, at the 5 month mark I would describe him as unpredictable. Some naps are over an hour and great, some are 29 minutes exactly. Some nights he goes right to sleep (in the Rock N Play of course) and other nights he cries and fusses for hours. Some nights he wakes up every hour, and other nights he wakes for one quick feeding and goes back to bed. Unpredictable. And very hard to get a babysitter for date night!
At this mark he was still 100% breastfed, no solids or substitutes. I am waiting on those teeth.
He still remains a happy, go with the flow baby.
He is starting to practice sitting up by himself, but definitely needs support.
Then he hit 6 months, which fell the day after Christmas. 6mo old babies are sooo much fun and it was happening during a super fun time of year! Every where I go people comment on how beautiful of a baby he is. His smile and eyes just melt right through people. I can literally just stare at him for hours. Freakin cute!!!
By 6 months he was sitting well unassisted, and log rolling around.
Still not teeth!
He is practicing noises but nothing more than uh uh uh uh over and over again.
He is still breastfed exclusively, but we did introduce some solid foods. I am going with the Food for Fun concept right now. He has had peas, then carrots, and then some smushed bananas... all that I made him. He kind of likes it, but also thinks its kind of weird. I am not on any kind of regular feeding schedule right now. If we are home and I have something ready and he seems interested in the foods we eat, I let him try something. If we go a few days without solid food, that's okay too. I also introduced a sippy cup of water. Right now that is much more play than actual drinking but he really likes it.
We had a great first Christmas, Santa brought him some fun presents like diapers and glass bottles and a new push car for outside. Thomas liked the paper more than the gifts of course. His big brothers are totally in love. They want to make him laugh and be by him and help me in anyway they can. They really are so helpful and so sweet.
He is my little love bug for sure. He loves to be held and cuddle and make people laugh. He has these huge chubby thighs that are super ticklish. He is just amazing. My only real challenge is the sleep. It is still not going well. See above notes. Not much has changed. We attempted to crib train again this week for sleeping.... and guess what, he got the stomach virus and threw up crazy amounts. So back to sleeping in my arms and then the rock n play again because he couldn't be on his flat back. Anyway, I will try again soon. As I keep saying, we are in survival mode. Whatever gets him and I the most sleep wins. I know well enough now that everything is just a phase and he won't sleep in the RNP forever.
I have some great pictures of him, and I promise to post them later. But for now I am happy with the accomplishment of getting this blog up!
Not really, life just gets busy and before you know it the month is over. So here is my attempt to write about 5 and 6 months in the life of Thomas before we actually hit 7 months in 2 weeks (I can't believe we are nearing the 7 month mark WTF)!
The big thing that happened at 5 months is he finally started to roll. He pretty much figured out going from his belly to back and back to belly at the same time. And once he figured out this cool new skill, he wanted to show it off by rolling all over the place. He can officially get anywhere he wants by rolling.
At 5 months he also had no sleep patterns yet. He got a terrible head cold and congestion and was not sleeping, so we moved him back into the rock n play so he was propped up which helped. Unfortunately it also got him comfy back in the RNP and has lead to lots of crib issues. In short, at the 5 month mark I would describe him as unpredictable. Some naps are over an hour and great, some are 29 minutes exactly. Some nights he goes right to sleep (in the Rock N Play of course) and other nights he cries and fusses for hours. Some nights he wakes up every hour, and other nights he wakes for one quick feeding and goes back to bed. Unpredictable. And very hard to get a babysitter for date night!
At this mark he was still 100% breastfed, no solids or substitutes. I am waiting on those teeth.
He still remains a happy, go with the flow baby.
He is starting to practice sitting up by himself, but definitely needs support.
Then he hit 6 months, which fell the day after Christmas. 6mo old babies are sooo much fun and it was happening during a super fun time of year! Every where I go people comment on how beautiful of a baby he is. His smile and eyes just melt right through people. I can literally just stare at him for hours. Freakin cute!!!
By 6 months he was sitting well unassisted, and log rolling around.
Still not teeth!
He is practicing noises but nothing more than uh uh uh uh over and over again.
He is still breastfed exclusively, but we did introduce some solid foods. I am going with the Food for Fun concept right now. He has had peas, then carrots, and then some smushed bananas... all that I made him. He kind of likes it, but also thinks its kind of weird. I am not on any kind of regular feeding schedule right now. If we are home and I have something ready and he seems interested in the foods we eat, I let him try something. If we go a few days without solid food, that's okay too. I also introduced a sippy cup of water. Right now that is much more play than actual drinking but he really likes it.
We had a great first Christmas, Santa brought him some fun presents like diapers and glass bottles and a new push car for outside. Thomas liked the paper more than the gifts of course. His big brothers are totally in love. They want to make him laugh and be by him and help me in anyway they can. They really are so helpful and so sweet.
He is my little love bug for sure. He loves to be held and cuddle and make people laugh. He has these huge chubby thighs that are super ticklish. He is just amazing. My only real challenge is the sleep. It is still not going well. See above notes. Not much has changed. We attempted to crib train again this week for sleeping.... and guess what, he got the stomach virus and threw up crazy amounts. So back to sleeping in my arms and then the rock n play again because he couldn't be on his flat back. Anyway, I will try again soon. As I keep saying, we are in survival mode. Whatever gets him and I the most sleep wins. I know well enough now that everything is just a phase and he won't sleep in the RNP forever.
I have some great pictures of him, and I promise to post them later. But for now I am happy with the accomplishment of getting this blog up!
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