Immunity to Wanting Another Newborn

I held a newborn baby boy this weekend that was absolutely adorable. He is the third in the family and he is a little snuggle bug.  He has a little perfectly formed pout and and the most perfect little hands and teeny tiny toes.  He's an angel.  Eleven years ago, that would have made my uterus skip a beat.  I would have taking in his newborn scent and longed for when my little ones were that small.  I would have marveled at his tiny fingers and toes and thought of when mine were tiny.  And then I had my fourth child.....

Ironically enough, my youngest was a very easy baby.  The problem is that she was the fourth child born in just over five years.  My body was screaming, "For the love of God, woman!  Can I please just get a break!?!"  The last two of my kids were only seventeen months apart.  My sanity was hanging by a thread and I was absolutely exhausted.  I love my kids and I have loved them every single day but, man, is motherhood exhausting.  It's particularly exhausting when you have that many that quickly. (and no, I'm not looking for sympathy.  Yes, I DO know how pregnancy happens.  I'm just being brutally honest).

The great news is that I got through all the diapers at once.  I got through the terrible two's in very quick succession.  My kids are incredibly close and can just hang out and giggle (especially the youngest two).  I will still be quite young when my youngest heads off to college and I am very grateful for these and a million other fantastic things.

I also received my immunization.  Which one?  The one that makes you take in that newborn scent and want another one.  I'm completely immune.  Now, instead of having to reason with my uterus every time I hold a newborn and wishing my kids were that young, I can fully embrace their older ages and independence.  I don't desire to have another baby at all.   I love the chaos of my four (and usually extra kids over) but love that I can tell them to clean up their mess.  I love holding the sweet little babies and then giving them back.  It's a beautiful thing.

"How do I get that immunization?"  I wish I could answer that.  For me, it was just time.  It was God's way of saying, "You've had enough babies."  Some moms get there after two and some get there after eight.  Some moms never develop this immunity and end up having procedures done to prevent any further pregnancies, which they usually regret on the regular.  Some moms decide to have more babies when their kids are teenagers, or even when they're out of the house.  I can't answer HOW you get the immunity.  I just know that it truly does happen.

So if you're reasoning with your uterus every time you have a newborn, hold out hope.  Remember 18-life...keep your focus