Because I have one....Fourth baby expected in early June. NIPT blood test came back good on health stuff, and showed it’s our 3rd boy in a row 😬 Prior babies’ heart defects weren’t discovered till anatomy scan at 18 weeks, so we’re not out of the woods yet, but I’m almost through the first tri. I’m sure we’re insane to do this again.
Because I have one....Fourth baby expected in early June. NIPT blood test came back good on health stuff, and showed it’s our 3rd boy in a row 😬 Prior babies’ heart defects weren’t discovered till anatomy scan at 18 weeks, so we’re not out of the woods yet, but I’m almost through the first tri. I’m sure we’re insane to do this again.
Ohhhhh mg! Wow! That’s great news, congratulations! Are you going to continue working? I can’t remember what you do or whether it’s full time but I’m so intrigued!
campermom, yep, I work full time (investment industry) and travel a decent amount. No plans to change. Work is going to be thrilled about another maternity leave, but I’ve been there 12 years and I’m a partner, so hopefully they’ll take the long view. Not sharing the news with them till after my year end review/comp discussion.
We have a pretty good childcare infrastructure set up - with a few reliable babysitters (current or former daycare/preschool teachers so used to lots of kids at once). We haven’t shared the news with our families yet, but I’ve already told our baby daycare provider. Our house will definitely start to feel a little small, but no way I’m moving since we have the elementary school and baby in-home daycare on our street. DH may finally convince me to get minivan. We’ll see.
sdlaura, it sounds like you have an amazing set up. One of the reasons, not the only, for us not having more kids was the childcare. I was thankful to have a private sitter for both DD and DS. Super flexible, took care of them like they were her own. By the time DD was in preschool half days, she let me know that once DD was in full time K she would be taking on more elder care instead babysitting. I hated the thought of not being able to provide the same care if I had another. I am sure I could have looked around and maybe have found someone, but she was pretty special, and private sitters here are hard to find The best daycares very rarely have open slots.
rere childcare makes such a difference! We’re lucky to live in an area with good options for daycare and preschool. We’ve never ended up going the nanny/private sitter route- as babies our kids have all gone to an in home daycare, which I feel like is a happy medium between a big center and one on one care (sickness and cost wise too). There are a few licensed in-homes in our neighborhood.
Our babysitters help with lots of other stuff besides during the day care - some drop offs, pick ups, when school or daycare is closed for whatever reason, and so DH and I can have date nights. Also I imagine with more kids we will be using babysitters for one or two kids here and there - so we don’t have to take all four to every soccer game and school event and that sort of thing. I can probably find some cheaper teenagers if the person doesn’t have to watch all of them at once!