Thoughts About Three

Leo is almost seven months old, and I still get questions about how we are adjusting to having three boys. How everyone is getting along. If we plan to have more kids, maybe shoot for that girl.

Anytime I read about people questioning having a third, or people asking me about my thoughts on having a third - my first response, always, is three kids is so much fun! A lot of work? Yes - but fun. I was completely overwhelmed with two kids at first. Like crazy overwhelmed. I'm sure it had a lot to do with what was going on with my brother and whatnot - but in general two was kind of a slap in the face. Three is obviously more challenging than two in the sense that you have a whole other person to take care of raise. But the older kids are older. And Jack and Finn have been nothing short of amazing with Leo.

I found that when Finn was about 18 months, he turned a corner and stopped being so fussy and whiney and out of control (for the record, I'd like to state that we are back to being fussy, whiney and out of control as of lately at the ripe old age of 3). I found myself twiddling my thumbs a lot and being somewhat of a selfish mom. Like getting mad at the kids when I couldn't do what I wanted to do. Having Leo has completely changed my outlook on mothering and how I go about my day and getting tasks done and just having a feeling of accomplishment. With three kids under the age of 5, I have to make every single minute of the day count. With the older kids not napping anymore and rest time not lasting nearly as long as their naps used to, I'm short on "me" time. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I am getting more things done around the house then I ever have before. With Leo turning a corner with everything at 6 months (schedules, naps, eating real food, laughing, scooting, etc), I just am feeling so much more in control of things. With three kids, I'm not overwhelmed by the outnumbering - but I do think it will be awesome when Leo becomes more self sufficient, but I'm in no rush.

I am sure things would have been easier had we decided to just have two kids. But everything is relative. Just like when you only have one kid and you think this is so hard (it IS hard), then you have your second kid and you are like wow I had it easy with just one kid. Or like when people without kids tell you they are thinking about having kids and you're like don't do it! haha. Just kidding. You just don't realize how much your life will change for better or for worse once kids come along. I'm sure we would have been extremely happy with a family of four. But I'm also sure that when our kids became older and when I got more me time and when my kids became less physically demanding I would have somewhat regretted not having a third. I would have always wondered "what if" or what would our life look like with three boys, or a little girl? And I would have been a little sad. Leo has added so much joy and happiness into our family. What am I going to do when these boys are all taller than me, because lets face it - that will be sooner rather than later.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is three is fun. Three is a lot of work, but it's also that much more rewarding. Obviously both parents have to be on the same page when deciding if they want more kids, but if you are throwing around the idea of having another baby someday, then chances are you probably aren't done quite yet!

Oh and PS - we will not be having anymore children (well at least that's OUR plan). I think three is plenty. I think four would send me straight to AA.

Leo at Jack and Finn's birthday party this year.