No more babies!

Not long after Bryony was born we decided that our family was complete so yesterday, as a birthday treat, Mark had a vasectomy.  Although I don’t regret our decision, I do feel a little sad.  Mark says he feels sad too but surely there is a big difference between feeling sad and feeling sorry for yourself? 

Mark said it’s the end of a chapter, I said it’s the beginning of a new one.  Either way, there definitely won’t be any more babies in this family.  At 32 I consider myself young to have three children, especially as Jamie is nearing 9 years of age, so to close a door on that part of my life seems a little drastic but to move on with Mark and three children is very exciting if not a little daunting.  A friend recently said that I was made for babies – fair comment I thought, but I’m not made for any more.  I also had a brief conversation with a friend about how we sometimes hide behind the things that we are good at.  I’ve put everything into being a mum and like to think that I’m doing ok at it and I suppose that when the kids are still young then I’m still Mummy.  What will I do when they find their own independence? 

Life is hectic.  With an eight year old Robbie Williams impersonator and a six year old drama queen there is never a dull moment but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I’m teaching Carys to play the harmonica and Jamie to play the ukulele – it sounds bloody awful but they are enjoying it so who cares…..other than the neighbours?  Jamie and I are ‘writing a book’, I’m the author and Jamie is the illustrator.  I don’t always have time to sit down and think of another ‘Tale from Great Oak National Park’ but he enjoys drawing, he’s not bad at it and, although only 8,  he says he wants to be an animator so if writing stories together is going to improve his drawing and help him achieve his goals then its time well spent as far as I’m concerned.

Jamies Pooh Bear, drawn about 18 months ago - my favourite to date

 

 We are fortunate enough to be able to spend loads of time together and with two animal mad kids there are plenty of options to choose from come the weekend.  All Jamie wanted for Christmas was to be a zoo keeper for the day and to help the South American Tapir so Father Christmas brought Bristol Zoo membership, a zoo keeper experience and a small percentage of Noah Ark Zoo Farms tapir.  Carys particularly likes birds and reptiles so is the proud owner of WWT membership and is looking forward to her zoo keeper experience in the Reptile House at Noah’s Ark – odd child!  We talked last night about what we will do with our time when going to the zoo with your parents becomes really un-cool.  Our relationship is stronger now than it ever has been and we really do enjoy the very rare moments of ‘childlessness and togetherness’ but how, regardless of how much love we share, will we appreciate each other in the same way when the kids are older and it’s just the two of us for the majority of the time?

Having said how much I love and appreciate Mark, he really does need to man up!  I’m not normally one for the ‘poor old female’ nonsense but surely his 15 minute procedure doesn’t compare to the major surgery involved in delivering Bryony.  In the two hours that it took to deliver Bryony,  and ‘close up’ as they call it on Holby City, I lost 1350mls of blood.  Mark lost 4mls……that’s not even a teaspoon!!  Its tradition on a Friday evening to do ‘our best part of the week’.  Carys’ was getting a gold award in school.  Jamie’s was a piece of work, about a Cheetah, that got top marks.  I will admit that when it was my turn I grinned a pathetically childish grin, looked at Mark and left the room………I never did find out what Marks best bit was!