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I’ve read that three years is the ideal spread between siblings. My first two are just slightly closer than that: 2 years and eight months, to be exact. The space felt small eight years ago, when I had a crazy toddler to chase around and a nocturnal infant to feed all night long.

Now, here I am almost eleven years after giving birth to my oldest son, expecting my third and last child. Now that my husband and I have finally reached a sense of freedom; our boys are fairly independent and we haven’t had to watch them closely (for fear of them running in the street, getting hurt, etc) for several years, here we go again…

Of course, I was secretly (or maybe not so secretly) hoping for a little girl this time. But after a long stretch of not wanting any more kids, then a change of heart and two miscarriages last year including dnc surgery, I am expecting…my third little boy! And you know what? After some initial disappointment, I’m okay with that. If I had done this a few years ago, my disappointment in not having a daughter would have been greater. Now, I feel grateful to be expecting one last healthy baby. I am way older than when I started this whole “mommy” thing (let’s just say I was almost thirty when I had my first little guy and it is now almost eleven years later).

Many women have fertility problems, especially “at my age” and the risk of having a Downs Syndrome baby at this age is very high. I’ve had amino and my baby is fine. I’ve had a Level II ultrasound and everything–all of his little “parts”–are normal. What more can I ask for?

To be honest, we weren’t even “trying” when I got pregnant this time (one night of throwing caution to the wind and boom! I was pregnant.). So I am convinced that the newest little man about to enter our lives was truly meant to be here.

I’m up to my eyeballs in sports with my older boys, so you won’t see any baseball- or soccer ball decor in this baby’s room (if I ever clear all of my craft supplies and other odds and ends out of his future room). He probably won’t wear much powder blue; I plan to dress him in fun, bright colors, sort of that European baby look, if you know what I mean. He won’t be my girly doll but I’ll still have fun dressing him up.

And when he gets older, I can only hope that he’ll be as funny, thoughtful and affectionate as my other two boys are. Sure, being a mom is a lot of work…but when my second grader whispered to me, “Mom…you’re my angel”, as I tucked him in the other night, I was reminded of why the rewards of parenting make this job so worth it.

As for deciding when to have a baby, or baby #2, or #3…I have learned that each family is unique and the only strict requirements for success are providing our children with love, a safe home environment and plenty of support.

Tags: "older" mom. parenting, Baby, Pregnancy, siblings