So on Sunday, we pulled every piece of baby gear out and gave it all to some friends of ours expecting their first baby. Two Jeep Cherokee carloads later, our friends were well on their way to having everything they needed to prepare for their impending arrival. And we celebrated taking back our rooms and being clear of big bulky equipment that gets used for five minutes at a time.
Well, I celebrated for a minute anyway. Then I had a moment of sadness I wasn't expecting. We've pretty much been in baby mode for 2.5 years now. We are at the cusp of having no more babies, only toddlers that seem to growup by months at a time in just one night of sleep. No more new baby smell, no more swaddling, no more nighttime rockings, no more bottles. Just girls that want to take on the world and be older than their little bodies will allow.
While the door has not been 100% closed on more children in our future, it is unlikely I'll ever carry another. My uterus ruptured with Bailey and to have another carries great risk and danger. We may consider adoption in the future, but that would be much further down the road and is just a remote thought.
I've been very happy with our two girls and content that our family was complete. That was, until the baby gear drove away and it really sunk in there really may never be another. I hated the baby stage--the crying, the sleep deprivation, the colic, the acid reflux, the crying, the late night feedings, the sleep deprivation, the crying, the sleep deprivation, the crying. Did I mention sleep deprivation and crying? Yet as the bassinet and bumbo headed down the road, I suddenly felt sad. I wanted the stuff back. I didn't want to be done with it all.
But we are done with it all. The gear has all gone on to be used and loved by a new family. And our baby era has come to an end.
13 comments:
I know EXACTLY how you feel. We still have much of our stuff because I can't *quite* give it away even though I know we're finished with it.
And someday... if you're able, I would be really interested in hearing about your experience with Bailey. Mister Man was a c-section after 19 hours of labor. My doctor forced me to do a c-section with Little Miss because of the previous c, and I never felt right with that decision and still don't....
In the meantime, enjoy all your new space!
((Hugs)) I'm feeling the same way now that Kylee s walking. Our baby days are over. :(
I know how you feel. Even though we knew we are having no more kids, I seem to cherish EVERYTHING Katie does now, knowing she is my last.
I am sure your friends were THRILLED!
Sigh, sniff, sniff. I know just what you mean. That's why my basement, my dad's attic, and my mom's storage unit are filled with tons of baby stuff. I just can't get that .01% that maybe will have another.
Believe it or not, I actually still use the changing table and changing pad. We are starting to work on potty training though.
I have almost the same exact picture when we loaded up a van to take everything (times two) to my best friend. I also took a picture of Jon in the mountains of stuff. It felt so final and I really needed time to grieve the end of the phase.
I would never ever go back to the newborn phase but something about the new baby smell is so appealing.
It's heartbreaking when it finally sinks in that you are (probably) done. I'm sorry and HUGS. That was so sweet of you to just give your stuff away :)
Well now you can look forward to be a grandma =)
I so know how you feel. Except I LOVE the baby/newborn phase. I am already missing it and Cole is only 6 mos. I am already saying that there is no way we are done even though mark wants to be. I just love it too much and it is so sad when there is no more baby. (at least I think it WILL be!)
Awww that is sad. Thanks for reminding me what it is like to have a newborn!! lol!!! I am not a fan of the stage either!
Just think of the new stuff you can do with your house now!!!
I know how you feel. I felt the same way when we got rid of all of baby stuff. I have always said that I did not want Ethan to grow up. He is last.
I'm one of those people who are probably just going to have a dozen or so kids because I'll never want to be done with the newborn stage. Ok, maybe not a dozen, but we are already talking about baby #3 and #2 isn't even here yet! How sweet of you to just give away all your stuff like that! :)
wow...I cried just reading that post. K-man turns one on December 5th and I often think of how a year ago I was pregnant and miserable and unable to work (by this time). And then how hard it was recovering from surgery and having the newborn...and how I never would have made it if it weren't for my husband. There are days I wouldn't make it except there are two of us and we are a constant team. Yet even in those moments of wishing the baby would just take a nap so we'd have a few moments of peace, I miss those sweet weeks of being home along with him (even though I was going batty). He will most likely be our only one...and I savor every minute.
OMG, I feel the same way everytime I give/sell something that Mariska has outgrown. I know we're done, but there is definitely something so final and sad about getting rid of all the baby stuff.
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