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Jessica Simpson has two beautiful babies -- emphasis on the word babies, as Maxwell is 2 and Ace is just 13 months old. Two under 3. Two in diapers. Are you exhausted just thinking about it?
The 34-year-old singer announced something on her Instagram that doesn't surprise me in the least: while posing with her adorable friend's son, Jack, she wrote, "I love you Jack, but I do not want another!!" The star makes truly beautiful children -- um, with a little help from her husband, Eric Johnson, of course -- but in this case, I do not blame her one bit for only wanting two children.
Like Simpson, I had two children within three years of one another. My daughter just turned 3 and my son just turned 3 months old. As my baby quickly outgrows his clothing, I have been bagging his onesies and adorably impractical vests and button-down shirts in order to donate them to Good Will. But my mother keeps warning me to save them "for just a little bit longer," and the wistful look on her face says it all: she thinks I might just gift her with another grandson or granddaughter.
Sorry -- I love you, mom -- but not for all the tea in China. Not happening. Nope. No way.
I understand why some of my friends, whose children are older and further apart in age, begin thinking about having another baby -- just as they begin being able to have date nights again and sleep through the night (every night, not three out of seven nights). They miss the newborn baby smell. The newborn baby cuddliness. The newborn baby inability to scream in your face that he or she wants a cookie right now "or else."
They want to coo again. They see this as their last opportunity to create a family that won't fit comfortably in your average car, but that will enjoy one hell of a fun Christmas.
But when you have children really close in age -- and when those children share similar baby qualities at the same time -- you kind of get your "fill" of the baby years. You feel so tired and preoccupied at ALL times -- with the constant feeding, breastfeeding, washing bottles, making formula, changing diapers, potty training, playing, teaching, coloring, taking to doctor appointments, giving time-outs, etc, etc. -- that you feel too zonked to contemplate having a third.
Where would you even find time to give birth to another baby with all you have to do?
I won't lie. I've had moments where I've thought: this is the LAST time I'll ever have a 3-month-old. This is the LAST time I'm ever going to breastfeed any baby, ever (because Salma Hayek, I am not). And these are sad thoughts that make me want to cling to my son and keep him a baby just a little bit longer.
But these thoughts are quickly interrupted by a crying infant. An adorable toddler who wants to play princess tea party with me.
And I can't imagine a third baby in the cards any time soon. But never say never, right?
Right, Jessica?!
How did you know when it was time to stop having more babies?
Image via Jessica Simpson/Instagram
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