Tuesday, July 21, 2009

new babies


on sunday, we welcomed a brand new member to our family. my sister-in-law gave birth to my new nephew, aidan james, who may be the most prompt person i have ever met, being born on his due date, with no induction or anything (the promptness is DEFINITELY something he gets from his mother, by the way). he's perfect. his birth has been making me realize a few things.

i don't feel that i am an overly sentimental person, especially when it comes to babies. i don't feel any burning need to hold them and snuggle with them. in fact, it is a running joke in the family that when someone sees me holding a baby, they ask me what i am doing. i think, no...i know, that this is a result of having so many babies of my own so close together. you see, i had four babies in a span of twenty-eight months. i'll repeat that for you...FOUR children in TWO YEARS and FOUR MONTHS. that means i was essentially pregnant from approximately september 2004 to september 2006. it's kinda made me feel like i am just "over" the whole baby thing. in addition to eternal pregnancy, i had a constant baby on my hip, or my shoulder, or my lap, etc. it gets to be overwhelming.

however, with the birth of aidan, i realize that...gasp...i am a little sad that i'll never have that brand new baby of my own. (don't get me wrong. i would probably have to be committed if i found out i was going to have another child, but...) i really, truly believe that the days in the hospital and immediately after the baby is born are the best days in a person's (read woman's) life. it seems like the whole world stops and focuses on this new life. it doesn't matter what time it is or what was originally planned. nothing else is as important as this new person's (and to some extent, his mother's) comfort and happiness. there is a certain peacefulness about bringing home a new baby that you can never quite achieve at any other time.

i wish at this point that i had spread my children's births out a little so that i was better able to appreciate this time in our lives (something you should know...i never "tried" to get pregnant. it was more an issue of not trying hard enough NOT to get pregnant). i hope that my brother and sister-in-law are able to fully appreciate how great this time in their lives are and enjoy the overall newness of aidan. and, i hope that at some point, i am able to borrow a little of his peaceful newness for myself.

19 comments:

  1. wow, I could not even imagine having that many kids in 2 years. I couldn't even imagine have 4 kids actually lol. I can't wait for my sister to have babies! I'll finally be able to enjoy one.

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  2. wow, 4 kids in 2 years? that is impressive. while i would love to have kids one day, i have never been the kind of person that turns to jello at the sight of a baby or HAS to be the one who holds a new baby. i am fine taking a look from a distance.

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  3. I have 2 friends with new babies!!! So wonderful to hold a new baby. Enjoy.

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  4. The hubs wants only two kids. I told him I will not take a third one off the table because I know I'll have that same feeling. I'm already missing my little baby now that he is on his way to toddlerhood!

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  5. Awww, congrats to your sister-in-law. I got 7 nieces and nephews, but being only 21 I have yet to have a child. (Not having one for a long time, but I really want to be a mommy one day). So I'll take your lesson and apply it to myself: Spread them apart.

    (The kids, not my legs).

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  6. Aww, congrats!

    I sometimes get wistful when I see a small baby but then I remember that I like my sleep.

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  7. he is beautiful, and so new. there is something about new babies. i too love the hospital days and the home from the hospital days, i even get sentimental about thomas' birth. i must be nuts, because i am sitting here writing this at 4:29 a.m. after trying to get thomas back to sleep for an hour and a half, and i still think it is worth it!

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  8. Awe congrats to your SIL...isn't amazing how babies can bring powerful emotions out in us and make us change our minds?
    BTW I don't know how you did and are doing what you do! Seriously! I DO NOT!

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  9. Congrats to you as an AUNT (which means you get to send the crying bundle of joy back to mom) and to your SIL. I hear you there on the baby issue. I only felt pure bliss with my children and then shortly after I was like "I am not having ANY MORE children" so we are in the same boat for sure! Now, same boat too....trying NOT to get pregnant. Ugh...now if DH will just get that vasectomy.

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  10. "there is a certain peacefulness about bringing home a new baby that you can never quite achieve at any other time." - i hope-ity hope hope hope you are right about that... ;)

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  11. even though i know i'm done with kids, my uterus screams slightly when i see a baby...it just brings back such tender memories. and you're absolutely right...following birth it does feel that nothing could be of more importance than this new little being...dang it, you got me all sappy!

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  12. Welcome Little Rockstar Aidan! I am right there with you on this subject. Love babies, the hubs vasectomy was a bittersweet decision, but really? No thanks! I'm done.
    Also? I bow down to your 4 bambino's in 28 months...you rawk!

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  13. Beautiful post.

    I am currently expecting my second and it's a lovely reminder.

    And I'm very impressed with the 4 babies that close. I think I might have lost it.

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  14. Ok, have an award for you...come grab it in a few...I am SLLLOOOOOWWWWWW to post!!

    Karie

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  15. awwwhhh Miss! Congratulations on beig a new Aunt!! I totally looooovved being all tucked away in the hospital with my newborn....and those first few days at home just snuggling.....there is nothing better!!!!!

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  16. Congrats on the new addition. Being an aunt is fun, you can spoil them and send them home!

    Beautiful post by the way. I know exactly what you are talking about in reference to the first days with a new baby. I loved those days and didn't even want any visitors. I would be so jealous when someone would come to see the baby and hold her, I just wanted her back. Of course now she's almost 2 and I'm begging people to take her for an hour!

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  17. I agree about the wasting bread!!! I hate cutting out shapes that leave behind food. Just wasteful.

    Come back to my blog to get the link to blog hop with us.

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  18. I am sure she knows that it went the tape went viral. It had about 400,000 hits on youtube. She probably thinks that she is famous.

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  19. Hey, Mrs. MIA- I have an award over at my place for you! Please come pick it up when you have a moment

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