My pregnancy with Evan wasn’t exactly. . . planned. Lily was a tough three year old and Ben was still a little baby himself. I wasn’t sure I even wanted a third, and certainly not when the others were still so young. But along came those two lines and the decision had been made for me. I spent my entire pregnancy fretting over the situation and convincing myself that my third born would be the easy one. He or she would be mellow. A good sleeper and eater. Happy to sit back and let the others run the show. A piece of cake. And that’s how I naively got through those endless nine months.
Evan was born and I fell instantly in love. All of my fears were gone and I was thrilled to meet him. And he was easy. For the first few months, he was the best baby ever. He would watch the others with his big brown eyes just taking everything in. He ate, he slept and he smiled. It was wonderful.
And then he started crawling. And climbing. And walking. And jumping. And getting into everything. Long gone are the days of my docile little baby. He’s actually turned out to be the toughest of the kids. The most physical by far, I can’t leave the room for three seconds without a major disaster ensuing. Toilets, trash cans and dog food provide great entertainment for him. We literally have no children’s bowls left, because Evan thinks it’s hilarious to shatter them on the kitchen floor.
Yesterday, I went to Borders and skimmed through a book on birth order personalities. What had happened to make my third such a wild animal? This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Had I consumed too many caffeine free Dr. Peppers in the womb? Too much spicy Thai food? I needed to find an answer. But, low and behold, in the chapter on third children, I learned that Evan is exactly what he should be. A risk taker. Great sense of humor. Attention seeking. Outgoing. LOUD. And apparently, these traits are here to stay. If I’d done my research before, (and used proper birth control,) perhaps I wouldn’t have ended up with my crazy little monster. I could never have prepared myself for this. But I can’t imagine life without him, broken bowls and all.
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{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
For me thats my second child syndrome…almost to a T!
Isnt it funny how you grow to love those very attributes that were a little scary at first?
He is a DOLL!
Minxy Mimi’s last blog post..Fantastic Friday!
The easy low-key one is supposedly the middle one. Youngest is the crazy one and the oldest is the most driven, responsible one.
It’s fascinating when it’s accurate and even more when it is totally wrong.
Haha, sounds just like my ‘surprise’ third child! I wouldn’t swap him either!
xxx
Daisie’s last blog post..A Week In Pictures
look at the head of hair on that little guy! geeez!
to be honest (and yes you already know this), but he is going to be a very handsome man someday. all those bitc*** will be lining up, I swear, I can see it in his face/bone structure: he has it.
dawn’s last blog post..artichoke bread & spicy hummus
Now someone tells me!!! I surprisingly got pregnant with my third who is now 2. She’s got 2 older brothers and is rough and tumble and LOUD. All of my kids were easy babies and slept through the night after a short period of time but she was by far the easiest. I had a c-section and she came out SCREAMING. The drs said I was in trouble with this one. So needless to say I was SCARED!!! She had a permanent smile on her face until she turned 18 months and could walk really well. I used to be able to take her anywhere and everywhere without so much as a fuss for hours and hours. Now she has a permanent screetch which pierces my eardrums and makes me want to lose it. The moment I walk into a store she starts to fuss. I keep telling her to wait until she gets older and wants me to take her shopping for clothes! She is into anything & everything and I simply can’t keep up with her and yet I wouldn’t trade her for the world. Apparently my Mom said I was just like her so this is my payback. She made our family complete when I didn’t know it wasn’t. 3 is the new 2 I hear!!
Much love from NJ,
Sue
xoxo
3 Peas in a Pod’s last blog post..Extreme Makeover–Me Edition Weekly Update #3
Love this post! The Dr Pepper comment made me laugh out loud. I sweat that is what created Bram’s wild issues!
Evan reminds me so much of a dear friend’s unplanned third. Calvin is her crazy wild man, who we all adore!
courtney’s last blog post..Not so random Good Friday pictures….
That is hilarious. And such a nice post.
Give that little monster a hug from me. He just looks so adorable
Christina’s last blog post..BED, BATH & BEYOND
he’s a gorgeous kid. big brown eyes and long eyelashes!
JuliaA’s last blog post..new etsy store
You’ll love this then… my surprise third child was identical twins :0 And I feel exactly the same way. We’ve got the birth control thing resolved now!
KathyB!’s last blog post..Welcome to Chick Chat!
Those curls! How adorable! And I can see the mischief in his eyes. So cute! :)
Robin’s last blog post..Girl’s Night Out: I Want Candy!
that’s why i was an only… so i could run the show :) ha ha
he is such a cutie pie!
Lizzie’s last blog post..Saturday Q-Shot: Atlantis & VGNO
life would be so boring with out him.
Jen, buried with children’s last blog post..Blog Farts
That totally sounds like Ryerson. Sigh.
Sammanthia’s last blog post..A Squirrel Is Just A Rat With A Cuter Outfit
Oh, what a cutie he is! I am still on the fence about having a third baby. My husband is all but decided that he doesn’t want another child, because he thinks I have a hard enough time taking care of our two boys already, but still… baby fever has not altogether left me yet!
And as of right now, the way you described your third child – risk taker. Great sense of humor. Attention seeking. Outgoing. LOUD – that’s basically my second son! He gets into everything and always keeps me on my toes!
Loukia’s last blog post..5 reasons I love being a MOM!
Look at that sweet face!
Jenni Jiggety’s last blog post..Good Aloha Friday!
Seriously!!! I feel your pain with the whole “can’t turn your back for a minute”. My child is so like that! He can create chaos out of nothing. THen he’ll look at me and LAUGH!
While my daughter is a twin – she is technically the third. And hey – they were unplanned! So that’s another similarity. She’s my risk taker – but she’s got that girl drama streak to keep things *really* interesting.
You are right – could never go back to life without her (or any of them). But I do get a pang every once in a while when I seem a mom out and about with her ONE baby. Those were the days…No tantrums (babies cry – who calls that a tantrum?), no mediating when they fight, no stealing cookies (MY cookies no less – the nerve). I just can’t imagine why I thought my one baby days were so hard. I guess it was because it was new, but when I see my neighbor sitting outside on a blanket reading a book while her 7 month old placidly sits and watches the world go by, I get physical pangs for the good old days..
Kate Coveny Hood’s last blog post..Counting Blessings (Alternately Titled: Our Lives Really Don’t Suck)
Oh holy crap my third-born is exactly the same. WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THAT???? Except… my third born was NEVER the easy one, not for one second. Immediately after birth he had jaundice so I trekked back to the doctors office every other day for 2 weeks to get his heel pricked or blood drawn from his arm. His teensy weensy baby arm. Then he had thrush. And colic. And reflux. And trouble gaining weight (6 oz in the first 6 weeks. Yes you read that right.) And, he topped it all off with RSV when he was 3.5 months. So, easy? Uh, not so much for me. At least his follow up performance has been no big shocker after what we started off with. I guess he was just warming us up for what was to come.
BTW – uh, I have a now 6-year-old Evan in my house, if you ever want to know what the future holds.
Oh, but he is SOOO cute! How can you ever get mad at him??!!
I like a little spunk! :)
Caitlin’s last blog post..Friday Favorites and Not-so Favorites
What did I tell you?! This post is the perfect example of one that is honest, hilarious and heartwarming! ;)
Shannon’s last blog post..Who cut the cheese?
Love this post! And I totally believe in birth order personalities. I’m the 3rd, so I have pretty much your whole list, but I also came along long after my 2 older siblings, so I have a lot of 1st/only traits. Wait…is that why I’m so complex?? HAHA! Anycase….LOVED this. You have a beautiful family!
ViolinMama’s last blog post..GOOD
Best of all, no one will ever call him ‘boring.’ (Those big brown eyes are show-stoppers.)
I really don’t have anything to say on this matter. I only have one kid.
And I am almost certain that my ovaries will be all dried and shriveled up before I meet my Mr. Right-For-Me, so I think having one or two more prolly isn’t in the cards.
But he is so freaking cute!
Blissful Babe’s last blog post..Scripture
Love the posting.
I’m the third. Not sure if I share all the same traits but my mom does like to tell the tale about how I once took all the labels off the canned goods – this, of course, when I was little. She said it reflected me because I was her surprise and eating those canned goods was like opening a new surprise every time she ran the can opener.
He sure does seem to be a pretty cute and sweet third child! Enjoy him while you can.
T Rex Mom’s last blog post..Grandpa’s Pre-Birthday…
My son was like that: he was quiet at first, taking everything in..
But then he hit two and he would never hold still. I remember getting phone calls from his preschool teacher telling me that she couldn’t get him to sit at circle time, that instead he wanted to do a dance across the classroom…
My daughter, well, she was loud from the get-go. And bossy. She refused to sleep unless someone was holding her for the first two months of her life…
Your son is adorable!
Amber’s last blog post..On Cutting Back
my god – those lashes!!! maybe he’ll be a symphony orchestra conductor when he’s older and he’s getting used to the smashing and crashing sounds now!!!
scrappysue’s last blog post..what a difference a day makes
I know my first one was a gentle trick – to get me to have number two. My number two sounds like your number three. It seems like the babies are getting more potent. That’s why they’re made that stinkin cute – so we will keep them! I mean look at those eyes! He looks like an ornery little cherub!
Jamaise’s last blog post..PEVONIA – ooh la la *Review & Giveaway*
What an absolutely gorgeous set of eyes. And I would love to have that beautiful hair.
shelley’s last blog post..
OMG. When I read your description of Evan I HAD to laugh! My THIRD (Golden BOy) is EL DESTRUCTO!!! He broke everything in sight- until he got old enough to take everything in sight apart. He’s also LOUD and by God he STINKS.
However, I love him to death, and wouldn’t change him for all the tea in china. I’m sure you feel the same way………
What a wonderful post! I have 4 kids, my 2nd is the animal!
Rebecca’s last blog post..Breakfast of Champions!
That was a great post… and he is sooooo adorable!!! I must admit if I had my ‘monster’ 3rd child first I don’t think I would have jumped in for another… having said that he is now almost 16 and is the most lovable, kind, fun and gorgeous young man… absolute turnaround to the tiny terror that he once was…. wouldn’t change him for the world!!
Maddie’s last blog post..The Search For A Snoring Solution
Hmm, I’m the oldest, and I have to agree with Jess’s comment that the oldest is the “most driven, most responsible” one. That would be me!
Evan is SUCH a cutey-pie, love that crazy mop of hair, so adorable. My hat’s off to you for getting through everyday with 3 kids (I only had one and I thought THAT was crazy sometimes!) AND blogging AND everything else you’ve got your hands into. KUDOS!
(You must be the oldest amongst your siblings…)
Oz Girl’s last blog post..Bloggyville on My Mind…
Nice. Thanks for this, really. Exactly what I want to hear when I’m mere weeks away from meeting my surprise #3.
I stick my tongue out at you :-p
Tiffany’s last blog post..Tracy Joy Diaper/Camera Bag GIVEAWAY!
my darling: please go watch my webisode “born stupid” http://www.bernthis.com, I am now positive you will get a laugh, a good laugh
I am the youngest and I will tell you from my own experience that your son and I are two pees in pod.
jessica’s last blog post..That’s a Wrap
Those eyes…that face! You can just see the “third child” peeking out of there!
Jenners’s last blog post..The Obligatory 100th Post 100 Things Post
Your 3rd sounds like my first! Well minus the getting into everything…
My second (&probably last) is just 7 mo old and she is a complete ANGEL…. Sleeps wonderfully, smiles, only cries when she’s hungry or tired… But I so know I’m in for it when she starts crawling.. Already when ages on the floor she always stratigally (and purposely) rolls her way over to my cable box to pull out the wires —- no matter how far I place her from the box! LOL
Any kid that adorable can break bowls at my house! And isn’t it weird how kids fall into those categories and do it so well. Although my last TWO were third children lol
nikkicrumpet’s last blog post..Something Sweet ♥ and Icky fingers
He’s an adorable wild child. Too cute.
the mama bird diaries’s last blog post..9 reasons why I am ending my crusade against the use of lol
Just voted for you under QBall, one of Vodka’s friends on her email today!
Did I mention I have ADD?
Suzy’s last blog post..Jesus Voted For Me
Curiosity, drive, and ambition will serve him well in this world. So tell me why no one has invented the indestructible bowl for toddlers?
Damon’s last blog post..Ju Ju Art
What’s his astrological sign?
San Diego Farmgirl’s last blog post..Volunteer mushroom
@Damon, I don’t think anything would be indestructible in his hands!
@San Diego Farmgirl, Sagittarius.
That explains it. I’ve got a typical #3 too. SO right there with ya. But what I want to know is, what number is the one that relishes giving massages or detests whining or loves doing dishes or something. Cuz I’m thinkin’ I might be willing to go for a #5, #6 or #7 if I knew there was one like that comin’ down the pike. In any case, as I always say, it’s a darn good thing they’re so adorable, otherwise someone might have gotten thrown outta the window a long time ago! :)
Amy Andrews’s last blog post..The key to life
I think you and I may have the same third child. That picture is breathtaking, truly.
3boys1mommy’s last blog post..Maddie
I’ve two little terrors and love them dearly. We keep thinking maybe a third, and I keep thinking that surely this time we’d get an easy one – who slept (note well second child) and ate (note well first child) and was calm and peaceful. Still don’t know if we’ll go for it – suspect our minds will be made up for us – but it is great to read a post talking all about a lovely third child. even one with .. um … shall we say .. spirit. Love the blog, will be returning. Found you through the 31 DBBB site.
Brit in Bosnia’s last blog post..Of chocolate, eggs and sunshine
How did you get SO freaking funny? I have tons of work to do, but I can’t do it because YOU, Jill, are the funniest Mommy in America : ).
Life with Kaishon’s last blog post..How many eggs did you find?
Right after I wrote that comment, I was like, Gosh, I hope her name is Jill : ). And yes, yes it is! PHEW!
Life with Kaishon’s last blog post..How many eggs did you find?
My third son is exactly the same way!
My third is LOUD too! I haven’t taken away the pacifier because of the noise. Will he every quiet down?
My first kiddo was not planned, but we tried for quite some time to have our second. Hubby asked repeatedly “Are you sure you want my demon seed??” Sure, how bad could it be? So, when the oldest was around 6 and the little one was 2 we decided to try for another one.
I had been keeping up with my cycles so maybe we could get prego pretty easily. Then one night the girls were HORRENDOUS and I changed my mind.. I didn’t want ANY MORE KIDS!
It wasn’t one of the fertile days, so I told hubby: “it’s not one of those nights, go ahead”.. Lo and behold, within a week I learned that I was pregnant AGAIN..
Sometimes I think I should have stopped with the girls, because my son is a little demon child most days.. I love him and wouldn’t change a thing, however when he is having his devil days, I am reminded that “it wasn’t one of those nights”.. Wish the hubby would take some responsibility since it was part my fault and part his “demon seed” that caused all this turmoil.. LOL
He is toooo cute :D you know that saying the third is a charm, well now you know! Third borns are charismatic to the tenth power.