I’ve spent the day in a Santy hat…of course it’s only 11am or so, I really shouldn’t be complaining. We put up the tree last night and now suddenly it’s Christmas. The word tree can be a bit misleading. It’s a crappy 3ft piece of plastic pretending to be a tree. It looks pretty though…if the lights are off. Not because you can’t see it but because the fibre optics, lights and decorations look really well in the dark. They do. *nods sagely*
December is really having a wierd effect on us. We argued over what tree to get yesterday. What size, what colour, what price and we weren’t even in the same building. He kept asking me what I wanted, I kept telling him what I wanted and he kept disagreeing with what I wanted. “Get whatever the fuck you want then!” I shouted at him before hanging up the phone. He got the one I wanted. *looks sheepish*
Is it just me or does December make everything irritating? I think he’s worried I’m pregnant I’m so hormonal at the moment. I just want to get a move on with everything and he’s all lacksy daisy about it. I don’t want to do everything on Christmas Eve this year!! Speaking of being pregnant, I want to be. He doesn’t want me to be. Hmm…that’s never happened before so I’m not quite sure what to do about that.
This time last year I was around 6/7 months pregnant and I was huge. Nobody thought I’d make it past Christmas, I was seriously ginormous. Before I gave birth, my skin was starting to wear very, very thin it was so stretched. Christmas four years ago, I was going through unbelievably bad morning sickness and I spent Christmas day alone. I couldn’t keep down water at that stage, it was horrible. So I’m not really sure why I want to be pregnant again when I think about things like that. Although I’m very sure when I look at my children play together. Another one would fit in nicely. I can see Mr. Claire buying me a puppy instead. He doesn’t like how I look at babies on the telly. Not my fault I’m permanently broody. I actually think there is something wrong with me. I’ve been broody since I was 12…:)
With that thought….have a great day 😉 I know, I really have to stop talking about Christmas…and babies…and Christmas. I keep planning on talking about other things but it always comes back to “see above”. Okay, I want a baby for Christmas. A puppy would be nice but a poor second. What is it you want during the holidays this year??
Mad House 
Guilty Secret said,
December 5, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
I’ve been broody since I was BORN! This was interesting though, because I always imagined it would feel less strong once I had one or two kids but it sounds like not.
How old are your kids now? How old are you too if you don’t mind me asking?
Does Mr C not want any more kids now or not ever do you know? Sorry if I seem nosy, just interested…
bluesleepy said,
December 5, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
I would like another kid. Grace is already 3; I should have been pregnant a while ago! 😉
Last Christmas Kurt was gone on deployment, and I couldn’t afford to fly home (I was living across the country from all my family). Of course, no one came to visit me either. So we had a quiet Christmas at home. My neighbor invited me to Christmas dinner and that was awesome.
This year we’ll stay here for Christmas. I know Kurt wants to go home to Arizona, but I just don’t want to go. I want to spend it just the three of us.
clairec23 said,
December 5, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
lol @ guilty…trust me so did I!! I thought once I had one, the feeling would calm down a little but it got worse because there was always a reminder of how cute they are! The older they get, the more stages you remember fondly! After two, I was like ah, that’ll be perfect especially if I have one boy and one girl. But nope, doesn’t look like the broodiness ever leaves!!
I’m 24. My son was three in July and my daughter will be ten months in a fortnight. He says he wants more, just not yet. But I want to have all of my children pretty much close together while I’m young so he had better hurry up 😉
Blue – I tried to get pregnant for a year before I got pregnant with my daughter. It was so annoying because I got pregnant pretty much straight away with my son. But at least it happened. I’d rather stay home too. It’s a lot of hassle getting everyone ready to go out and leaving the new toys behind!
bluesleepy said,
December 5, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Oh, Claire — you’re only 24?? Wow. I’ll be 29 on my next birthday, but most of my friends are much older than I am. I got tired of being referred to as “the infant” most of the time, since when I was born most of my friends were in high school.
You sure don’t act 24 (and I mean that as a compliment)… or maybe Irish women are more mature than American women. Most women my age are so full of drama that I have no desire to hang out with them. Let’s talk about important things, not just about who won the latest round of American Idol, or who’s sleeping with whom in what soap opera.
I met a girl here I thought I was going to be friends with, and I was excited that she was my age (she’s somewhere around 26), instead of much older. But then the drama began, and I realized all she’s interested in is drinking (even though she has an 18-month-old baby), and so I sort of just stopped calling her.
PS — I love how y’all say “fortnight.” We don’t use it here in America, and I remember reading authors from the UK and wondering what the heck a fortnight was. I actually had to look it up. When is her birthday? My sister’s birthday is 8 Dec, my best friend’s is 13 Dec, my brother’s is 15 Dec, and my stepmom and my brother-in-law’s birthdays are 19 Dec. December makes me broke. 😀
clairec23 said,
December 5, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
I’ll be 25 in March though 😉 I don’t think age matters a whole lot, you’re going to be interested in something or your not whether it’s babies or drinking! Most of the girls I went to school with are majorly into drinking and going out. Some of them have more kids than I do. I did all that when I was younger, it’s out of my system now. I have more lasting fun with my children. On my deathbed, I’m not going to remember the night I got thrashed on vodka, I’m going to remember the moments I spent with my babies.
I’m pretty immature too though blue, I like my fair share of meaningless rubbish and I can be a spoiled brat when I want to be. But my priorities are things that are important to me.
I didn’t realise you don’t say fortnight 🙂 That’s another one I must remember! She will be one in February. February and March are the months that make me broke, it seems like nearly the whole family gave birth in Spring!!
MilitaryMom said,
December 5, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
So, how long is a fortnight anyway? I guess I’m the old lady of the group, I’ll be 34 in 2 weeks! Everyone should get what they want for Christmas, but how do you do that when you both want the exact opposite? Good luck with that. Have a great week, Claire!
clairec23 said,
December 5, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
It’s two weeks. 34 isn’t old!! Maybe this christmas he’ll get what he wants and next christmas I’ll get what I want 😉 Same to you Military Mom!
bluesleepy said,
December 5, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
My birthday’s in February! The 20th, to be precise. And my husband’s is 7 March. We usually just do something halfway between, since it’s only two weeks (fortnight!) in between.
Hey, we’re all immature to some degree. But you seem to have a really good head on your shoulders, and you seem to have your priorities straight.
I don’t mind mindless rubbish — we all have our little vices. It’s the people whose only interests are mindless rubbish that I wonder about. I never did a whole lot of drinking; my real mom is a borderline alcoholic, and I just don’t want to put my kids through what I had to deal with at too young an age. Kurt got his drinking out of his system when he was a single sailor — which is the best time to do it! 😉
melbs1969 said,
December 5, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
i’m butting my nose in yours and bluesleepy’s conversation…you do seem a bit older than, almost, 25. i’m almost 39…old enough to be your mom…kind of…but, i think bluesleepy is on to something…european women seem more mature than us americans . i still feel like i’m in my 20’s, or teens but…my body doesn’t seem to…
anyway, i’m going to come back later because my son is pestering me so, i can’t leave my comment, properly
xoxoxox
cardiogirl said,
December 5, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
I got y’all beat, even melbs1969, but just by a smidge. I’ll be 40 on February 1, baby! And, I have a 2 year old! I NEVER thought I’d have a baby (a kid under 5 years old) when I was 40.
Not in a million years.
Shows what I know.
Guilty Secret said,
December 6, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Very interesting chat here today, Claire and co!
So, I’m the baby… but only by a year. I’ll be 24 at the end of February, just before you turn 25, Claire. I want to have kids young and close together too.
Psst… I left something for you over at my place 😉
clairec23 said,
December 6, 2007 @ 11:18 am
I do have an impression that American women always think they’re old and you lot are reinforcing it for me now 😉 Age is just a number ladies, it’s how you feel that counts. Mel, you’re not old enough to be my momma 😉
Blue – Isobel’s is on the 18th and I have two half brothers on the 12th and the 19th! That’s a nice idea about celebrating halfway together. So strange that you said that about a borderline alcoholic, I made a draft post yesterday (to be used today) and I got into that a little bit. And yeah, it’s definitely best to get that out of your system when you’re young, free and single. We drink a lot in our teens here, by the time I got to 20, I was fed up with the whole thing.
Funny you should say that Mel too, last night I said to Mr. Claire that I felt sexy but then I look down and my body just doesn’t agree. I don’t feel the way I look. But if I heard another woman say the same thing I’d be like pfft, what are you on about!!
Cardiogirl – Life begins at 40!!My ma always says that she didn’t start enjoying life til she got to that age. Lots of women have children in their 30’s and 40’s. I wasn’t going to wait that long because a couple of women in my family went through the menopause in their 20’s and early 30’s so just in case it’s hereditary, I always planned to be a young Mammy.
Ah, guilty, the baby 😉 I didn’t think this post would get any response at all, I’m disappointed I arrived on the tail end of the conversation!! I’ve been strict with myself about going online at night because I’ve been using it so much! I don’t mind having all the nappies in the one go. I’ve laid down a few rules, I don’t want to wait until I’m 30 to have the next one and I don’t want a giant gap between them. But it doesn’t always work that way. If things went according to plan, Isobel would be nearly two and I’d be pregnant or have a new baby right now! Ooh, sounds interesting guilty 😀
Max said,
February 4, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Well i feel ancient. I’m 40 with a 13 year old and i just keep thinking baby, baby, baby. Am I going mad, because my husband wants none of it. I can’t understand why. Yes, there’s the expense, yes there’s the sleepness nights, yes, there’s the fact that I’ll be an old mum and this could raise the risk factor, but despite all that intelligence, my bodies crying out for one.
I don’t want this to spoil my relationship with my husband, but i don’t want to get to 50 and regret not having a chance to have another one. I miscarried last year, which makes things worse and to make things even worse he went ‘ape sxxt’ when he found out i was pregnant last year.
A 40 year old women’s blues.
Help!
clairec23 said,
February 4, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
Your body is telling you that time is running out. My mother was the same at your age, I’m going to be the same too. Her husband wouldn’t have another baby either and it still sort of eats at her a little. It doesn’t ruin their relationship but she brings it up every now and then. The way I see it is that it will make you really happy, you have a teenager on hand to help out a little and you are more mature than the first time round so it should be easier. Maybe your husband says no because he thinks that you two will be alone together again in a few years when your 13 year old grows up and moves out but if you have another baby it will be a long time before you get that freedom again.
Broodiness doesn’t go away – it isn’t fair but it’s true. It’s learning to live with it without going crazy that’s the hardest part. I really hope things work out for you.
Max said,
February 6, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Claire
Many thanks. You have a wise head on your shoulders. The weird thing is yesturday I was in a shop and there was a women with a young child and she was shouting at the child who was crying and screaming and I thought, is this what having a baby/toddler is really like! My next thought was, I really don’t need that stress and maybe my husband’s seeing things from a practical point of view and I’m just seeing things from a magazine glossy/ ‘Hello’ view of motherhood, where every things peachy.
Today I don’t want one, but tomorrow I’ll want one so much until I’m in tears. You’re right broodiness doesn’t go away does it, but how do you stop it from driving you mad, or driving you to nagging your husband until he packs his bags an moves out, or goes on strike!- If you know what I mean.
clairec23 said,
February 6, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
I haven’t figured that one out yet 🙂 Just try and distract yourself with other things – do stuff that you know you wouldn’t be able to do if there was a baby around and maybe you’ll think hmm, not today (every day). It’s not our faults, it’s just something in the way we are made that has us like this. Animals reproduce until they can’t any more – we have a similar instinct too. Even when you have a baby the broodiness doesn’t go away. If they do something cute you just get a pain and think you have to have another one. I swear it’s a chemical imbalance or something 😉 It’s not the same for men so your hubby doesn’t know what it feels like to NEED a baby!
I’m just hoping I have grandchildren one day – might make the menopause a bit easier for me cos I know I’ll be likely to go loopy.