If you've read my blog for any length of time, then you know Baby C's conception was a surprise to me and DH. We had just decided that G was going to be an only child when that second pink line appeared on my home pregnancy test. For us, one was enough, and two is definitely enough.
For some people, I know this isn't the case. For some, two isn't enough; maybe three is, or four, or five. But there are some families whose procreative ambitions plainly baffle me.
One of these families goes to our church. I first noticed them when I was pregnant with G; she was pregnant as well, but that's not what stood out to me. No, it wasn't her belly, but her two daughters under the age of three. DH & I looked at each other in awe; here we were, panicked over the arrival of ONE child, and it appeared this woman had mastered motherhood enough to parent three children under the age of three.
For some reason, DH & I continued to keep tabs on this family, whom we'll call the "X Family." Both she and I gave birth to baby girls about six weeks apart in the fall of 2008; by the next spring, she was noticably pregnant again.
"Must be trying for a boy," DH guessed when he saw her expanding belly. "Must be trying to beat the Duggars," I replied.
But the X Family's fourth child was another brown-haired girl. Neither of us was surprised when Mrs. X was sporting a baby bump once again in the summer of 2010 -- that was baby #5 if you're counting.
Another girl.
This past Sunday at mass, it looked like Mrs. X was pregnant yet again. It's hard to tell these days. In the three years that I've been church-stalking her, she's been pregnant for roughly two of them. I honestly don't know what she looks like not pregnant; maybe after five pregnancies, her belly has just lost the ability to shrink back to its standard size (something, after just two pregnancies, I can definitely sympathize with).
I think the X Family is bound and determined to have a boy; I think that's got to be the reason why she keeps popping out babies every 12 to 18 months. Either that, or they're fabulously wealthy and can afford such a large family -- a luxury I will never know.
But the X Family has got me thinking...
Personal preference?
Finances?
Desire to have (at least) one of each gender?
God's call?
Honestly, I have no clue. Isn't that bizarre? Chris and I have never had a set number of kids we want. We've been anywhere from 2 to 5 ... and now that we have ONE, we're thinking just 2 ... or maybe 3. HAHA! I think time will tell and I'm hoping God makes it really clear as to what plan He has for us in this department.
For me this is a hard subject..for some reason I have always wanted three kids. Financially and space wise (a three bedroom house) our family is complete at two kids (boy and girl) yet when I was asked if I wanted my tubes tied during my second c-section I just couldnt' say yes. I do know in my heart my family is complete but I do hate that if money were no object I do think that in a few years I would consider number three
We said either 4 or 6...We are done with 5. It's just the right number for us. I don't think that there was a "magic number" we just know that this is enough for us.
Your Mrs. X sounds a lot like my Mom. There are 7 kids in our family and 5 of us were born within a 7 year time period. I really don't know when enough is enough. I'd like to think that 2 or 3 would be our limit... but Jason seems to think that 2 is enough. When you come from a larger family the thought of having 3 to 4 kids really isn't overwhelming. But, since he is the oldest of 2 kids, I can understand his apprehension. Then, there's that whole money thing....
It's such a personal matter, but I don't know how women can just continue to be pregnant and have babies one after another after another. We have 3 and I've honestly wanted one more. But we have had some complications in that area and think sometimes you just have to be thankful for what you have and let it be a God thing. I think you know when your heart is full and that is sometimes based on finances and sometimes based on what you can handle. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Hopefully Mrs. X isn't just trying for a boy because that would just be sad.