The Secret Is Out

Awhile back I read an editorial in the newspaper by a man who had 13 children. He talked about the challenges and surprises and how people were amazed at the decision to have so many children. His standard response was to say that parenting is one of the few things you stop doing once you get good at it.

So, in an effort to put our ever-improving (?) parenting skills to use, Bryon and I are having another child. I'm thrilled and terrified.

Although I'm almost 3 months along I kept it under wraps for awhile since some of my coworkers and some of Bryon's coworkers read this blog.

But there it is. Out in the open. Baby Romine #3 coming your way this January.

(From now on be prepared for updates about ultrasounds, morning sickness, weight gain and cravings. Since this will be my last time I want to make sure it's well documented.)

Musical Beds, Act 2

10 p.m. Big Bed: Ann and Sam
10 p.m. Crib: Jake

12 a.m. Big Bed: Sam and Bryon
12 a.m. Sam's Bed: Ann
12 a.m. Crib: Jake

1:30 a.m. Big Bed: Sam and Bryon
1:30 a.m. Sam's Bed: Ann and Jake
1:30 a.m Crib: Empty

2:30 a.m. Big Bed: Sam and Bryon
2:30 a.m. Sam's Bed: Empty
2:30 a.m. Crib: Jake (awake)
2:30 a.m. Couch: Ann

4 a.m. Big Bed: Bryon, Sam and Jake
4 a.m. Sam's Bed: Empty
4 a.m. Crib: Empty
4 a.m. Couch: Ann

4:15 a.m. Big Bed: Bryon and Jake
4:15 a.m. Sam's Bed: Sam
4:15 a.m. Crib: Empty
4:15 a.m. Couch: Ann

5 a.m. Big Bed: Bryon
5 a.m. Sam's Bed: Sam
5 a.m. Crib: Empty
5 a.m. Couch: Ann and Jake

Co-Sleeping

Bryon's out of town so Sam has been sleeping in the big bed with me. I have to say I enjoy it. It not only makes bedtime easier but he's so sweet to watch when he sleeps. All the things that are annoying when done by a 40-year-old man (sorry, honey, 38-year-old man) are less so when done by a 4-year-old. The throat clearing, flopping and occasional punch in the face are somehow endearing. He sleeps more like a person now, not a little kid, in that he doesn't end up whopperjawed, upside down, perpendicular anymore, although once last night I did find him kind of tangled in the slats of the headboard. He was as confused as I was. He'll roll over, pull up the covers, check the clock now and again. All at the same time he looks grown up and very small.

Sam spent a lot of time in our bed as a baby. I don't know if it was because he was the first or because he had a penchant for waking up at 3 a.m. and the only way I could get him back to sleep was to cuddle and breathe loudly in his ear. Most of the time he occupied about 80% of the bed. Bryon and I clung to the edges like human bed rails, sleeping with one eye open.

I don't think Jake has spent one night in our bed. Not that I wouldn't let him, but he's a better sleeper and maybe we realized co-sleeping didn't pay off for us. Sam was in and out of our bed for two years.

We're thinking about getting bunkbeds for Sam and Jake when Sam turns 5. Maybe then Jake will toddle out of the bed when he wakes up at night and shuffle into our bed. I hope so.