THank you all so much for your stories!!
We are extremely laid back people and live a very gentle life. DD has sort of slid right into that mode of being and is a really happy, laid back person...so, we're hoping that our boy cub will also be this way!!
I think personalities are SO interesting...what really makes them? Is a person bound to be who they are, due to genetics...or are there chemical-environmental factors...like maternal hormonal conditions in utero that also have effects? How much does home/nurture environment effect a persons personality once they are born?? All very interesting.
The bottom line is...not matter who this little guy is, or what his level of need is, etc...we love him already and are prepared to give him whatever he needs...as much as he needs of it!
As for all these people who can't help but to fill a mothers head with horrific images of things to come...well, I will put them in the same category as people who told me that labor would be the worst thing that ever happened to me....that I would hate BFing more than anything in the world, as it would be a huge PITA, that my relationship with my DH would go South QUICK once we had kids and that I would long for the days before our children were born.....
The truth is...
Labor, in all it's intensity, was the brightest moment of my life...my favorite memory...the best and most wonderful thing I've ever done. Breastfeeding was so challeging at times and felt like "work"....but got easier and easier and I'm so glad I stuck with it and was so supported by my immediate and extended family. My husband and I are closer EVERY DAY that we parent our amazing DD together and can't wait to add this boy of ours to the pack....and though I do sometimes daydream about days spent in bed reading, finishing a full cup of coffee before it got cold, or DH and I picking up and leaving whenever we wanted to go hiking or fishing....I don't for a moment remember those days more fondly than I remember the great memories we have made and continue to enjoy with our awesome, amazing DD. I loved my life before kids, just me and DH and the lady dogs....but I love it MORE now, with our amazing child. I never could have dreamed of how enriching having children would be!
So. Even if we do have a more challenging child next time around...I know that our life will still be great and refuse to let these nay-sayers ruin my excitement!!
