Sunday, October 10, 2010

Gifts

A few nights ago as I was lying in bed mulling over Little Man #4, I said to Ryan, "Hmm, I guess someone else wants to come to our family. I didn't see it coming, but well, I can't blame him."  :)  Truthfully though, every time I go to the grocery store with all three in a cart I can guarantee there will be another little kid sitting alone in his shopping cart who stares and looks longingly at our cart full of kids. And as we pass by and his little neck is craning to look after us, I say, "Party in our cart!"  The few little kids that have lived in our building always seem to like coming to our house too - there is just something about walking into a house full of kids that really feels like instant fun - even if my kids aren't necessarily playing right with them.

 But the truth is, Ryan and I just love having siblings.  I can't imagine either of us having having less. I love it when we're all together and I it feels incomplete when anyone is missing. I guess I'm happy our kids will have that, although having a big family is terrifying. Especially since I sort of feel now like we're probably not done. I really have felt a little girl since before I was married. So I thought Cash would be a girl. When I was pregnant with the twins I had mentioned one time before we knew what (or how many) we were having that if this wasn't a girl she was really going to be waiting a long time. When we found out there were multiples in there I couldn't believe one of them wasn't a girl! And this time I said kind of jokingly before we got pregnant that God would probably give me a boy just to make me keep going. (It didn't mean I wasn't still shocked when I found out it wasn't actually a girl though!)  Maybe it's just been the carrot before the horse to get me to keep going and I'll never actually have a girl. Who knows. But I had a blessing one time that said children would be given to me. I thought great, I'm going to have kids, but when I was pregnant with the twins it totally took on new meaning to me. I really was being given children. I had asked for one but got gifted a second. This time around it's another one I didn't see coming. Exciting. A huge blessing. And still a little scary.

I'm sure Ryan will read this with a quizzical look on his face at the part about having more.  :)  It might take some convincing. I actually admitted to him after we found out this one was a boy that when I was a teenager and we used to do that string test to see how many kids you were having it always said I was having four boys. But seriously, who ever put any stock in that?  Weird. And then I told him- um, yeah, it said four boys...and two girls. Yikes. I really don't know that I have six in mind...and he definitely doesn't!

But yes, you better believe I was pretty relieved there was only one in there.

Now our real fear is that with three older brothers only 20 months apart this poor little guy is going to be seriously ganged up on. Always running after them, trying to keep up and getting doors slammed in his face. :)  I guess he'll learn to be tough.  And hopefully he'll have some stellar qualities to help himself stand out in a family of 4 brothers. 

Sometimes I really wish I was pregnant in Utah though where people are used to seeing pregnant women toting around 3, 4, 5 other kids. Nobody even bats an eye. Trust me, people here bat an eye. Many eyes. I almost wet my pants laughing so hard at Costco the other night when the twins were throwing such an enormous and voluminous tantrum getting in the cart after we ate that literally everyone in the food court, everyone in the huge lines at the checkout registers and everyone walking out were all staring at our circus and my pregnant belly. Maybe there would be fewer batting eyes if I could get this brood to be a little more discreet.  :)

Now if anyone hears of a boys name that sounds like he could possibly be a rock star, I'm clean out of ideas.

18 comments:

SuburbiaMom said...

My sister-in-law just named her son Remington.

I doubt your belly looks very pregnant, yet!!! ;)

Ty and Trista Swartzlander said...

It was so fun to see you too. Going along with suburbiamom, I know a kid named Remmi. Super spunk name.

todd & nicole said...

Too fun. Hailee wishes she was from a family like yours. Ours is just a little too boring. When I was pregnant with James I asked her how many kids she wanted in our family...her answer was 10. I told her to start praying for octuplets the next time around.

lindsy said...

I grew up with 8 kids in my family. ben had 7 in his. and yep, I wouldn't trade it for anything now. I think we were lucky to grow up with so many brothers and sisters

Goeb Life said...

Jen,

I come from six kids and I LOVE having a big family. I couldn't agree with you more about siblings. I think our third baby was meant to be. I couldn't imagine having a holiday with only two kids. From your descriptions of your boys out in public it sounds a lot like my family! And just so you know, we had FOUR boys and two girls! :) Congrats again.

Anonymous said...

I like Ashby Isom from LeJeune's husband's family tree (which also connects to Andrea's, we found out last night). Also Layne is a family favorite from your ancestry.

Love Grammy

Krista said...

the best come back..not that we should need one, But is when some makes a comment like "you have your hands full with all those kids"

You just reply with "better full than empty"

How hard they can be, but your right, life is so much better with siblings and family.

(and just so you know...You still get looks in Utah believe it or not. I couldn't believe how embarrassed I felt going into the store with Darren and holding two kids hands, and Darren holding two carseats...we both felt so wierd that we got so many looks ;)

H. said...

I just got a chance to catch up on your blog--I just had to see your pix of Ireland! It looks like you had such a great time. I loved reminiscing as I saw your pix. Wow, I can't believe that fairytale wedding! That's something from a completely different world than I live in.

Congrats on your baby, too! That is so exciting. Isn't that wierd how we can just "KNOW" our babies are girls, and then be so wrong! I called my 4th "she" and "her" that whole first half of my pregancy, but he's as boy as boy can be so...whatever! I'll watch for you guys in the BYU mag. That's fun!

Angie said...

We have a neighbor across the street who's the same age as my oldest son. He is an only child being shuttled back and forth between his dad and his mom and (much older) step dad. He rarely wants to play at his house, only our house. He looks so wistful on the occasions when I have to tell him that no one can play. Life in the middle of your very own play date (at least from his perspective) must be grand.

We have friends whose sons names are Talon and Justice.

Melanie said...

speaking as an only child - I loved loved loved being at homes with lots of kids! I think thats why I love being with Jed's family.
As for names - Not much of a rock star name but one that I love and am happy to share with you, Lincoln.
Or Axel (very rockerish).

Lewis Family said...

Funny, I felt "done" after Alyssa and Ben had to convince me that I will be sad if I don't have more. But I didn't really feel that way. Then we agreed to a second even though neither of us really wanted one right now, but we did feel that it was time. Then, I told him that I really am done, unless it is a girl. I know that sounds weird but I didn't want a house full of girls and I would have preferred to adopt a boy rather than risk three girls. I truly believe that God understands us and gives us the push we need to press forward. I was SHOCKED this baby is a boy! But now that I know I am willing and excited for a third. Weird. I was laying in bed the other night and said..."I can do one more pregnancy" it was kind of a pep-talk outloud to myself but ben responded "yep, there is one more". Nice to know that "someone" out there truly gets me, and luckily He is the one in charge!

Lewis Family said...

Oops..in my ranting I realized I meant to say that I was really done unless it was a boy. If I was having another girl I would have closed up the baby making factory and adopted a boy.

Susan said...

The youngest spends his life competing with his stronger, taller brothers and ends up being the cream of the crop. (Don't tell my older sons.)

Shannon said...

Clare is my carrot that makes me want even more.

Shannon said...

Enjoy the novelty of having three and everyone staring at your pregnant belly.

Judy said...

Congratulations! I haven't read for a while and didn't know you are pregnant, and another boy! We're both good at making boys I guess. I've told Dave I'm not done and I would like a girl too, but it's going to take some major bribery or something I think. Your boys are so adorable. I really enjoy reading about your crazy life! Hope you're feeling well.

Corinne said...

I like this post. I've been thinking lately (as I have for a long time) about how I got to this place where I'm "only" the mother of three. I just always assumed there would be a larger brood. I'm okay with things the way they are and I don't anticipate us ever adopting, but it's strange to me that Heavenly Father is having me be done. Whenever I am at a gathering with my family, I feel a sad twinge that someday when my children get together, it will be a smaller, less chaotic experience. I LOVE the chaos of my 7 siblings and me. I can't imagine my life without any of them either, so I sort of feel like I have cheated my children. But yet, we're really happy (for the most part :) and we still have a pretty dang chaotic time of it. So who knows. We'll be fine of course. It's really late. I should go to bed :)

Tania said...

Someone in our ward just had a baby & named him Van. Pretty "rockstarish."