Kipp is 4 and 1/2 months old now and I have just realised I have not yet shared the photo shoot that my cousin Sarah did when he was just a week old!!
Kipp, our baby number four is a much loved and much wanted member of our family! Ever since I had Lexi 5 years ago I was sure that we needed to have another little person in our family. I always pictured 4 lunch boxes on the bench, 4 school bags hanging up and another little face in the back seat of the car! Matt took a little more convincing that we needed to add more chaos into the family, that losing his drawers in the back of Peter Prado to make way for a seat in the back would be ok, and the fact that we would be doing the nappies, mess and sleep deprived thing for another few years, made Bub No 4 a pretty hard sell!!!!! For a while there it was tough for Matt and I, being at odds over what was right for our family, it was not a decision that could be easily compromised on.
But, a couple of months of stress free, quality family time travelling on the road (yes – no TV!), puts lots of things into perspective and it was easy to see that another little person to grow our family was just right for us!
Fast forward to April 2014 and the arrival of Kipp Matthew Fealy! 
Now it is hard to imagine our family without him! He has four mothers – all the kids constantly worry about whether he is hungry, cold, happy and what is wrong if he is crying! He is kissed, cuddled and talked to more than any other baby I know – which could spell trouble over the next year or so!
And Matt? He thinks it took us four goes to get this baby making just right!!!
Its a funny thing, deciding how many kids is just right for a family. No matter if you have 1, or 2, or 3 or more – there are all sorts of arguments for not enough, too many, ‘are you crazy – that’s a circus’ kind of comments for how many children you have. It’s such a personal decision, different for every family and decisions made for all sorts of reasons. Something that is always the same though, with every family, is that we are grateful for what we have – 1 or 2 or 20 kids – we love them all (most of the time!).
I’m still waiting for that hormone or whatever it is, to kick in and tell me ‘we are done’, that our family is complete, that we don’t need any more chubby thighs, chest snuggling sleeping newborn, baby giggles or first morning smiles in the Fealy Family. Matt is worried that will never happen! In the meantime, we’re enjoying seeing all four of our little faces around the dinner table and looking forward to seeing them all there for many years to come.
Did you know how many kids you wanted right from the start? How did you know when your family was complete? I’d love to know how to put the ‘baby need’ to rest – tell me your tips!
I just knew. Delivering my second (and last) baby felt like an enormous relief! I knew I was DONE! I have friends like you who never really get that feeling and who only stop to keep their marriage together 😉 There are some women around the world who go on to have vast tribes… could be you?
PS. how ridiculously ADORABLE are those photos? I love them.
They (almost) make me clucky…
Gorgeous photos!
/Ahh Jess, these photos are too cute!! Can you just post him over for a cuddle?? Rod and I absolutely knew we were done after Corey….don’t you spoil that youngest!! (Says me with possibly the most spoilt youngest ever!!). My tip for getting over that clucky family is to have the Campbell cousins come and stay for a while. Happy Birthday too!!
Such amazing photos! What a gorgeous tiny human you’ve made!!
What a gorgeous little man you have there, and the other three are just as good looking. You and Matt are perfectly matched and have done well with your family. Xo
I loved this so much and just adore the photos – i so wish I had images like this of my two. Even whilst I was pregnant with my youngest, I knew I wanted a third. Both hubby and I came from a family of three and we just wanted another. Alas, it wasn’t to be and am now very happy with my pigeon pair but there is an awful lot to be said for a large family. Well done and again, such beautiful photos. xx
Stick a newborn ian front of me, or a pregnant belly for that matter, and I never feel like I’m done! Four is it in this camp though. I’ve been told I’ll need to get a new husband if I want any more babies, and I quite like the husband that I’ve got! They say you know when you know though, so good luck with it!
hehhehe – I quite like the husband that I’ve got too so better behave! Thanks for stopping by!
I dream of another. But it will never be.
I know exactly what you mean Jess! I do feel sad looking at Daniel with those chubby legs and that gummy smile knowing that he is our last. I think we could have another child in our house but know I have pushed my body far enough. Thankfully I have some more nieces or nephews on the way to snuggle instead!
Nieces and nephews are nearly as good Liz – perhaps I will have to hit the siblings up for some more then hehehehe!!
I love this post, and reading it has made me even more clucky. We are expecting baby #2 in January and I am so excited about expanding our family. We have always said that we would only ever have two children, however when I see large families there is part of me that could continue on. Let’s just wait and see how we go in January and maybe I might change my mind! Children are wonderful, their innocent minds, their laughs and the way they learn, by travelling and spending time with Zac every day I really appreciate every learning moment. Congratulations on having such a beautiful family x love the photos and love your posts!
Thank you Kellie! I am super excited for the arrival of your hub no 2 – enjoying seeing your baby belly grow in your photos!!
Firstly – those pictures are just beauuuuuwdaful. Thanks for sharing. I hadn’t ever given the number of kids I wanted much thought. Sam was one of 4, and always wanted 4. I said I’d start with 2 and see how we went. Now we have 4! The first time Sam went back to work (he’s a fifo) Rupert was only 2 weeks old. We had 3 trips to emergency, one overnight stay in the children’s ward and 17 trips to the gp. In a fortnight. While I made it through it meant I was pretty keen not to have any more…now that he is about to turn one though I do think it a shame Ingrid didn’t get a sister…Sam said no bloody way and that’s that!! Besides, wouldn’t it be my luck to end up with twin boys!!
Oh Cat – I take my hat off to FIFO wives – such a tough job! My sister is doing the FIFO out thing with her 4 littlies this year and I can see how tough it is not to mention – if you add some trips to emergency in there like you had – eeeek! Thanks for stopping by – I owe you an email – I’m struggling to stay on top of everything at the moment but it was so nice to hear from you!!! Looking forward to finding out what has been happening in your world!!
WoW. 4 is a biggie. I still can’t believe I made it to 2!! (I never thought i was going to have any – true story). And what a beautiful bubba – photographer Sarah has captured that moment beautifully. Congrats & I look forward to following your adventures along the way……..
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