Babies, Babies Everywhere!

If you've never dealt with infertility (and yes, I realize that perhaps intimating that I've "dealth with" infertility is a stretch, since no matter how much I'd like to think I have, I clearly have not dealt with it - at least not to the point of being over it. No one is more annoyed with this fact than I am, believe me. Well, Tim is possibly more annoyed than I am. Because in my misguided attempt to try and spare the Internet from my rambling whines again and again, he has had more to listen to of late than he really probably wanted. Of course, if I never brought up the subject again, it would still be too much. Cause, you see, Tim's a "let go, and let God" kind of guy when it comes to this whole thing. And while it's admirable from that side of the screen, it's mildly annoying when you're wallowing in a morass of despair to have a husband assure that you God will provide when the time is right. True, certainly. But probably also crossing the line over into trite-ville.), you may not have noticed the ebbs and tides of family expansion in your particular group of friends. If you have experienced infertility, then you know exactly what I mean (provided, of course, you waded through the parenthetical. Sorry about that.)

We seem to be in a high-tide for baby booms these days over in the Sleepy circle of influence. It began with my annoying friend. I love her dearly, but she's annoying. She took two months of "really trying" - which in their world means not taking birthcontrol - to conceive her second child. And those two months, according to her, showed her exactly how I feel. I didn't bother trying to explain that two months is not ten years. I just smiled and wished her well. Because annoying or not, she's still my friend and I am happy for her. Most days. She's due any moment and I'm expecting lots of comments regarding how glad I should be that I don't have a newborn to deal with.

Then came my other friend Michelle, now pregnant with her third. Unlike the first friend, I am unequivocably happy (and elated and thrilled and delighted) for her and her hubby. I don't know if it's because I know they're incredible parents or because I know they love and adore and cherish their children. It just never ceases to amaze me how differently I react to these things.

Then last week came another friend who is now pregnant with her fourth. She had to actually go through treatment for her 2nd and 3rd, so this 4th one is a little "all natural" miracle. And again I find myself just geniuinely elated for them. Probably same reasons as with Michelle, since she adores her 3 kiddos now and is just simply jazzed about this new addition coming along.

Last night, after pawing through the mail, I went for the hand addressed envelope with a return address I didn't recognize but it was the size and shape of some sort of announcement. Seeing as how it's graduation time, I figured that might be what it was. Turns out it's a shower invitation for an old high school friend and his wife who are expecting. They live kinda close (as in within the general DC area) but we don't really keep in touch at all.

I figure we need at least one or two more in the next month or so to round out this iteration of the known-to-us population explosion. So we'll see what happens.

In the meantime...anyone know if you don't go to a shower if you still have to send a gift?