Sir, May I Have Another?  

I have a 10 month old daughter, a three year old dog, and a husband who at times behaves like a toddler, too.

But I want another baby.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Before we even starting trying to have one baby, I'd already determined that was it. I grew up a spoiled-rotten only child, who is almost unnaturally close to both my parents. Being an only child allowed me to do so many things my parents wouldn't have been able to afford if I'd had siblings; dance, swim, play the flute, go to summer camp, take great vacations with my family, go to the college of my dreams, have my Cinderella fairy-tale wedding. I wanted to give my child the same opportunities. C'mon, I'm a journalist-- I don't exactly bring in the big bucks, and while DH's career in law enforcement does have great retirement benefits, his current salary isn't a windfall. So before G even entered our world, we were sure she would be our one, our only, our whole world.

But within minutes-- and yes, I do mean minutes-- of giving birth, I knew unequivocally that I would have a second child. Maybe it's because I missed that moment I'd craved-- the moment when the doctor plopped a still dirty newborn on my chest and proclaimed "It's A Girl!" as DH & I held hands, gazed into her eyes, and cried tears of joy. Maybe it's because I knew I still had more love to give. Maybe because I knew, deep down, that although my parents loved me wholly and completely, that had they been able to, they would have had more children. But for me, the question of another child had become a matter of when, not if.

DH was supposed to be the person who told me when when it was time to expand our family. After all, he comes from a big, happy family, and he grew up with three siblings. While we were still dating, he extolled the virtues of a large family: kids to play with, shared experiences, a source of support when times got tough. He'd done a good job of convincing me our family was not complete with just G.

So I was shocked to learn that I, too, had done a good job of convincing him. Here we are, with a nearly-11-month-old, and I think I am ready to start thinking, at least, about another child. But DH isn't sure he's ready. In fact, he's pretty sure G is all he needs. It's an interesting-- and unexpected-- change of heart for a man who had always wanted a big family.

So now our rolls are reversed. Interesting, indeed.