Daddy Daughter Valentine's Date!

Saturday night, Steve took the girls to Chick-fil-A for their Valentine's event. They had so much fun!

 

The girls loooooooove dressing up for their dates! Even when he takes them to Cabela's or the park, they ask to wear their fanciest dresses. These dates are one of the few times that I don't regulate their outfits at all. (Okay, I do style their hair. If they'll let me.)

 

 

 

The girls came home, so excited about the limousine and their ice cream! Bella was amazed that the limo had a built-in cooler with drinks! (Including Coke! No way!)

 

Life Through Instagram

Some "life" shots from my phone the last few weeks! 

 

Steve feeding Henry while I was at the salon. 

 

 

Pictures taken at our church's tea party!

 

 

Bella draped her purple boa over Henry's plaything to entertain him, but he only cared about her computer games!

Smooches!

Bella had her own turn with Miss Suzanne!

Suzanne cut about five inches off and thinned it out a little bit!

Henry's taking naps in his crib during the day!

Evelyn reading to her baby.

 

Steve and Henry talking...Henry is "talking" like crazy lately!

 

The Decision To Be Done

We know (we KNOW!) that we are done having kids. We both come from families of three, and we both just sort of knew that three was our limit. We didn't have a third just to "try" for a boy - if Lily had survived full-term, we would have been done then. Probably a little disappointed at not having a boy, but still sure about our number.

There's a huge difference, though, between knowing you're done having kids, and making it impossible to have any more. We're at the point where Steve and I are discussing options for our future, and honestly, a permanent option makes the most sense for us. Birth control pills make me screwy, and we just don't like some of the other choices. (I'm trying not to be too detailed for the sake of our mothers. Because...well...I don't want their heads to explode.)

But when I imagine the moment where I won't be able to have any more children, it gets really emotional for me. The thought of never falling asleep with a newborn tucked up against me, never having that moment where a little human being comes out of you or when you feel a baby kicking inside of you. That's just hard to accept, even though I know it's what we want.

So, my two options right now are an IUD (I found one that is non-hormonal and lasts for ten years) and a product called Essure. The Essure device is completely permanent, meaning that, once it's in, there is no chance of changing your mind or going back. The funny thing is, the thought of a surprise pregnancy makes me physically ill. I am a planner and a control freak; I do not react well to surprises that major. I am absolutely certain that I don't want more children, and I'm even more certain that I don't want to get pregnant while Henry's still a baby. But I'm 32...what if I change my mind?

 

Which brings us back to an IUD. An IUD gives me the assurance of "permanence" (and it starts working right away!), but it also gives my emotions a chance to catch up with the idea of you're never doing this again. The only negative of an IUD is that I keep reading about how they make you have really intense periods for the first 6 months or so. That, and a really vivid memory of a Law & Order episode where an IUD perforated a girl's stomach and killed her. (Good times.)

 

Pray for us as we move forward! We want to make the best decision for our family, and weigh the options without driving ourselves crazy!