on babies. Part {dos} 2.

If you recall, we are contemplating having a forth {and most definitely our last} child.
As we have three boys, we will most likely be going for the forth...hoping for a girl, rejoicing if it is another boy.

OH, MERCY.
As I mentioned in "on babies. part 1.", the arrival of our firstborn was quite complicated and exhausted.
However, as most parents, we seem to forget the sleepless nights and constant attention and care newborns need, and have another.
We had 2 more.
I will say it did get easier with each one, even though the number of children I had to take care of was larger in number, the newborn stage each time was less painful.

The thing about babies is,
THEY CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER.

I don't mean this in a bad way, but your life forever changes when you have children.

I'm thankful we waited a couple of years to have kids. Time for just me and him. Once the kids roll around, it becomes all of us. NOT that that is a bad thing, it's just a lot different.

I won't lie, I miss being selfish, doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Your freedom DOES become more limited when kids enter the scene...just the way it is. I also miss it being just Justin and I. We don't have as much time alone, and "date nights" are much less frequent.

There are things that having kids has done for me that makes me a better person.
Things like:
1. GROWTH in my relationship with Christ.
2. Realizing HOW selfish I was. Not that I'm not selfish anymore, but parenting does require sacrifice.
3. Growth in my relationship with Justin. Even though our relationship has shifted and changed, I have a GREATER love for him. Recently we have had some amazing conversations and I've never felt more connected to or in love with my husband.
Seeing him as a Father is amazing too.
4. A NEW appreciation for MY parents. My Dad {who was still in medical school when I was born} and my Mom who stayed home with me and my 3 younger brothers, they are two of the hardest workers I know. We did so much fun stuff growing up, much of which I'm sure we complained about most of the time, but now I appreciate all they did for us.
5. The joy of laughing, playing and enjoying our boys.

So, while having babies forever changes your life, it is the best thing that can ever happen to you. At times you ask yourself what you were thinking having kids, and there will be times you want to rip your hair out.
But, when your sitting at Panera, having lunch like you did so many times with co-workers, friends, and your husband. Surrounded by students with laptops, businesspeople with newspapers and friends meeting for lunch, you look at your three {well behaved...this time} sons when your 3 year old son looks at you and says;
"Mom, Panera is my best."
"Mine too, Evan. Mine too."

It's nice to have the young company who can appreciate good food as much as you do. :)