There's been much debate (already) about what gender the newest baby will be.
Mainly because our one opportunity to find out came and passed, and now we are legitimately not finding out the gender until the birth (no backsies!).
In discussing the pros and cons with various people of having another boy versus having a girl, I've come to the conclusion that it would be easier to have another boy.
The reason?
Simple.
We are already members of the boys' club.
If you have given birth to or raised a baby and toddler boy, you understand exactly what I'm talking about.
There's a certain kind of initiation into the world of boys that moms go through, and once you're in the club you're a lifetime member.
You've passed the test, nothing surprises you anymore, and you're ready to face life with a little boy head-on.
I know some of these "boy issues" transfer over into girls, and I also know that some boys don't fit into all of these categories.
From day one we have always known that we had a boy. Not just a boy physicially, but a boy to the heart and soul.
Here's what I'm talking about....
Mainly because our one opportunity to find out came and passed, and now we are legitimately not finding out the gender until the birth (no backsies!).
In discussing the pros and cons with various people of having another boy versus having a girl, I've come to the conclusion that it would be easier to have another boy.
The reason?
Simple.
We are already members of the boys' club.
If you have given birth to or raised a baby and toddler boy, you understand exactly what I'm talking about.
There's a certain kind of initiation into the world of boys that moms go through, and once you're in the club you're a lifetime member.
You've passed the test, nothing surprises you anymore, and you're ready to face life with a little boy head-on.
I know some of these "boy issues" transfer over into girls, and I also know that some boys don't fit into all of these categories.
From day one we have always known that we had a boy. Not just a boy physicially, but a boy to the heart and soul.
Here's what I'm talking about....
BOY PARTS
From the moment of your little boy's birth, their "parts" as I will refer to them, are always in the forefront of your mind.
To circumcise, or not to circumcise.
We chose the former, which meant that I had to learn early on how to care for those "parts" as though they were precious china.
Screaming during diaper changes, vaseline coming out of my ears, you get the picture.
Then they discover their "parts" and it's like God gave them the greatest toy ever built into their body.
You have to constantly remind your child not to touch their "parts", because they will want to...all of the time.
"Mason! Please don't play with your peepee" has come out of my mouth at home, at friends' and families' homes, in public, it knows no boundaries.
Don't let yourself believe that a diaper can create a steel barrier between those little hands and those parts because there is a built in magnent that toddler boys are born with that can get through any layers of clothing and diapering.
To circumcise, or not to circumcise.
We chose the former, which meant that I had to learn early on how to care for those "parts" as though they were precious china.
Screaming during diaper changes, vaseline coming out of my ears, you get the picture.
Then they discover their "parts" and it's like God gave them the greatest toy ever built into their body.
You have to constantly remind your child not to touch their "parts", because they will want to...all of the time.
"Mason! Please don't play with your peepee" has come out of my mouth at home, at friends' and families' homes, in public, it knows no boundaries.
Don't let yourself believe that a diaper can create a steel barrier between those little hands and those parts because there is a built in magnent that toddler boys are born with that can get through any layers of clothing and diapering.
URINE TROUBLE
Boys like to pee...on stuff.
They'll start with you.
They don't even know how to aim, yet somehow they will always make it into your face, hair, and generally on your clothing as well during those baby diaper changes.
Then, they figure out how to pee on stuff. Not the toilet, silly. Everything that's NOT meant for pee.
I still remember hearing the sound of water dripping onto our hardwood floors, and looking over to see that Mason had ripped off his diaper and was peeing through the baby gate on his bedroom door out into our hallway. Awesome.
Then, when potty training starts, they just see it as an excuse to sit on a plastic chair and play with their "parts" some more.
Peeing in the bathtub is the best though, really. Then they can create a fountain of urine that splashes back into the tub water.
They'll start with you.
They don't even know how to aim, yet somehow they will always make it into your face, hair, and generally on your clothing as well during those baby diaper changes.
Then, they figure out how to pee on stuff. Not the toilet, silly. Everything that's NOT meant for pee.
I still remember hearing the sound of water dripping onto our hardwood floors, and looking over to see that Mason had ripped off his diaper and was peeing through the baby gate on his bedroom door out into our hallway. Awesome.
Then, when potty training starts, they just see it as an excuse to sit on a plastic chair and play with their "parts" some more.
Peeing in the bathtub is the best though, really. Then they can create a fountain of urine that splashes back into the tub water.
MESSY, MESSY
Boys are a MESS. There's no getting around this one.
Dirt is fun. Mud is even more fun. Food is for smearing on faces, hair, clothing and furniture.
Anything that can be made dirty or messy is automatically more fun to play with when it is more dirty or messy then how they found it.
Mason's favorite dinnertime activity right now is to purposely spill food or beverages onto the dining room table and then smear it around as far as his little arms can reach in all directions. He then yells out "Yucky!" and laughs.
Dirt is fun. Mud is even more fun. Food is for smearing on faces, hair, clothing and furniture.
Anything that can be made dirty or messy is automatically more fun to play with when it is more dirty or messy then how they found it.
Mason's favorite dinnertime activity right now is to purposely spill food or beverages onto the dining room table and then smear it around as far as his little arms can reach in all directions. He then yells out "Yucky!" and laughs.
OUCH!
Little boys are the definition of the phrase "balls to the wall".
Everything they do, they do at full force.
They sit on a tricycle that they have no idea how to ride, and you turn around and suddenly they are flying down the driveway (sans helmet of course) into the street (where a car is probably about to drive by) and laughing the whole way, until they fall off.
Mason has had more injuries in his life than I care to admit, and I'd like to think that Steven and I are very observant and careful parents.
The reality is, he's a boy, and there's nothing we can do aside from wrapping him in bubble wrap that can prevent him from getting all of his amassed bumps, bruses and scrapes.
Caution is not a word that is built into their natural vocabulary.
Boys are not cautious by nature, they are not even cautious after they do something that hurts them.
I think they technically fit the definition of insanity where by they are constantly hurting themselves by doing something, and then get back up and do the exact same thing again (and get hurt again), because they have no sense of self-control.
Now not all of the requirements to be a part of the boys' club have a negative connotation. Here's a big one that fits the bill as well...
Everything they do, they do at full force.
They sit on a tricycle that they have no idea how to ride, and you turn around and suddenly they are flying down the driveway (sans helmet of course) into the street (where a car is probably about to drive by) and laughing the whole way, until they fall off.
Mason has had more injuries in his life than I care to admit, and I'd like to think that Steven and I are very observant and careful parents.
The reality is, he's a boy, and there's nothing we can do aside from wrapping him in bubble wrap that can prevent him from getting all of his amassed bumps, bruses and scrapes.
Caution is not a word that is built into their natural vocabulary.
Boys are not cautious by nature, they are not even cautious after they do something that hurts them.
I think they technically fit the definition of insanity where by they are constantly hurting themselves by doing something, and then get back up and do the exact same thing again (and get hurt again), because they have no sense of self-control.
Now not all of the requirements to be a part of the boys' club have a negative connotation. Here's a big one that fits the bill as well...
MOMMY LOVE
Boys love their moms.
I don't know why, but I was told that many times before Mason was born, and it's 100% true.
Mason is the most snuggly, cuddly, lovey little monster in the world.
His (and my) favorite part of the day is snuggling on the couch before bedtime.
He always requires that I kiss every boo-boo, and when I ask if it's all better afterwards he always giggles and yells" Yes!" as loud as he can (before scurrying off and hurting himself again).
There is something about a mom and her little boy that cannot be defined.
It's magical.
So there you have it.
The initiation into the boys' club is clearly not always an easy road.
But once you're in, you're in.
I expect children to want to pee on stuff (that isn't a toilet) and to constantly find them with their hands down their diapers, and to make a giant mess of our house, and to require multiple trips to the urgent care for injuries based on spontaneous decision making by a toddler.
This is what I know, so to have a repeat would be easy.
Because we are proud members of the boys' club.
XOXO
Laurel
I don't know why, but I was told that many times before Mason was born, and it's 100% true.
Mason is the most snuggly, cuddly, lovey little monster in the world.
His (and my) favorite part of the day is snuggling on the couch before bedtime.
He always requires that I kiss every boo-boo, and when I ask if it's all better afterwards he always giggles and yells" Yes!" as loud as he can (before scurrying off and hurting himself again).
There is something about a mom and her little boy that cannot be defined.
It's magical.
So there you have it.
The initiation into the boys' club is clearly not always an easy road.
But once you're in, you're in.
I expect children to want to pee on stuff (that isn't a toilet) and to constantly find them with their hands down their diapers, and to make a giant mess of our house, and to require multiple trips to the urgent care for injuries based on spontaneous decision making by a toddler.
This is what I know, so to have a repeat would be easy.
Because we are proud members of the boys' club.
XOXO
Laurel