why have three crazy kids when you can have four?

Just because moving house, renovating and planning an extension wasn't enough for us, we went and got knocked up too. This was not a total accident - we always wanted a fourth child, but kind of let fate decide when it should come along. I guess it felt now is the right time. And I suppose it is - Immy will be just three when s/he is born and that will be the biggest gap between our children; and I don't want the gap to be much bigger than that. I'll try not to think about all that we'd like to achieve between now and then! I'll wait until next week to freak out.

So we're due mid-March. That makes me 8 weeks tomorrow (Friday). I'm not one to keep this kind of news quiet (my own news anyway, I CAN keep other people's secrets!) The kids are very excited - though Immy goes in-between loving the baby and hating the baby. She tells me so, too. When we told her there was a baby in mummy's tummy she looked at us blankly then pointed to some toy just beyond her reach and said "I want that orange thing". She's kind of warmed up a bit now! Layla draws the new baby in all her pictures now and Zak is quite concerned about the fact that we'll need a new car. Ugh, I don't even want to think about that just yet - if only my CX7 would grow another seat... And while the miracles are happening, I'd like a few extra arms please, a whole bunch more patience and maybe even three pairs of listening ears which I'd SUPERGLUE to those children of mine.

What's one more, right?! Ha! It's not TWO more. Which I had a feeling it would be (weird, though, I've always expected there to be two babies in all of my ultrasounds!). And the lady who did the dating ultrasound thought there were two at first too. And that would have been fine - after a little freaking out, I'm sure!

We're very excited and feel blessed. Four children! When we struggled for years to get one! We might fall pregnant easily now, but it took two and a half years of actively trying to get Zak! It's quite a horrifying thing being labelled "infertile" even when there is no explanation for you to be (which they automatically did after a full year of actively trying to conceive). But he was totally, totally worth the wait and through him, my body seemed to work out the whole having babies thing.

As for the sex, we're considering finding out this time. I kinda don't want to, but so want to at the same time. The other three were surprises and I loved that, but we haven't known what it's like to know and so maybe we will do it this time. I'm also hoping I get lucky yet again and have no morning sickness. I barely felt pregnant with the others until the huge bump got in the way, but already I'm doubting this will be the same. I'm exhausted. Totally. And I kind of feel nauseous part of the day (never the morning though!). We'll see. Fingers crossed! Just don't heat up leftover Chinese food near me. Eww.

Got more than three? How's that going for you? Or do I not want to know?!?! :) And what did you prefer - finding out the sex or waiting until delivery day? I'd love to hear

PS: Continuing our rice-related nicknames, this baby has been named "Pop". Zak was (rice) Paddy; Layla was (rice) Pud(ing) and Imogen was (rice) Bubble. This all originated from the day we found out we were pregnant, I looked up what stage of growth the baby was at and it said "your baby is the size of a single piece of rice".

PPS: I recently discovered a great blog via Instagram written by a mother of five (including identical twin boys!) Jodi Mockabee. Perfect timing, as she not only had some great tips for living with a large family, but also this post, which couldn't have come at a better time. Often I wonder how the older kids will react to another sibling - have I already spread myself too thin? Layla never really got any time to us by herself - Zak started preschool three weeks before Immy was born and so it's been the two of them at least ever since. I can't help but think she's missed out a little (especially seeing as Immy has me all to herself for several days a week). And then I read Jodi's post on a similar thing - she says giving a child a sibling is "the greatest gift." After reading her little reminders, below, I tend to agree.

"These children are learning the greatest lessons in how to be social beings.

These children were born with best friends.

These children are challenged, entertained, and loved on all in the same day.

These children have natural survival skills.

These children arrived knowing that the world does not revolve around them."

You can read the rest of the post here. I'm still going through her archives - it's a lovely read.