Just one kiddo.

look at those daffodils! consider me jealous! mine are finally starting to peek through - hoping that the colder weather this week won't stunt their growth...

beautiful daffodils! My husband bought me some today and can't wait until they bloom!

I'm an 'onlie' or in french: je suis une fille unique- a unique girl. I like that one better!

they look lovely!

Those are gorgeous!

Your daffodils are lovely! I am definitely planting some this year.

I'm an only child and we have had our only child now (he's 1). But sometimes I do think about another-

Beautiful! The blooms are stunning-so happy and full of life. Have a great week!

Having a child was by far my most life altering experience. Your daffodils, sigh. Spring is still so far away here. Thanks for brightening my day. :)

Interesting article since you are going through it-
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6994474/site/newsweek/

I am reading a book right now- The Seven Common Sins of Parenting An Only Child : A Guide for Parents and Families . Very interesting read. It's such a tough and personal decision. My husband and i are struggling with it right now too. Life never turns out the way you think it will.

Ali, One is perfect! I am thankful that we have the freedom to choose and the love to respect other people's choice. I never imagined I would have as many as I do!
Your flowers are beautiful!

One is good...I love that you have Eminem added to your listen list. I watched VH1s 30 years of hip hop and decided i need to listen to WAY more hip hop music.
Way more...
It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how i keep from going under.
uh huh huh huh.
c

Ali, if your Grandparents chose only one, your Mom and I would not have been born and we would not have been blessed with you. As you know they lived through the depression when hope was about shelter and food. Comfort was scarce. If we had chose only one, your siblings cease to exist. Faith is the key to our experiences. Trust in God and His Love!

growing up, being an only was tough. I had always wished for a sibling (I did later get one, but that's a whole different story...I consider myself an only still) Now that I am a grown woman, I am so grateful for being who I am. The relationship that I have with my mother is strengthened by the fact that it was just her and I for so long (another story that you don't have to hear :) ). Basically, what I am saying is that in time I came to terms with the decisions of my parents and thank them for making the choice (conscious or not) to only have one child. Perhaps I would have had and amazing sibling. Or perhaps we would have fought endlessly and hated eachother. No one will ever know. There may be room in your hearts for another child and there may not. You are a full and complete family either way. These are choices for you and Chris, very personal choices indeed. Believe in yourselves and in your faith.

it is such a difficult decision, isn't it? whether to have more children or not. i didn't expect it to be so hard. i go back & forth everyday. i had read that article you linked & it helped me to think that one will be ok. my parents are pushing us really hard to have another. they keep telling me what they would have missed out on if they hadn't had my brother. but i keep thinking about how my life would change with the responsibility of another, & i'm not sure that it's all good. i dunno...
i will defintitely be checking out that book that was recommended by someone else here.

Ali, you and I have chatted about this in the past. I am an only child, as are all my cousins (freaky, huh?). I had the most WONDERFUL childhood, and now my mom and I are so close. I loved being an only. :)

My husband and I have a 13 month old and we are almost certain that she will be an only. We knew that going into parenthood that physically, emotionally, energy wise, we would like to have just 1 ~ but what a 1 she is. I have the energy to pour my heart and soul into her and it feels right. good luck in your decision.

Due to various reasons my husband and I had decided that our 3 yo daughter woudl be it for us. We were very lucky to have our daughter due to both of us being over 40. Our decision haunted me every day for over 2 years particularly because by the time our daughter is raised, my husband and I will be 60 and 65. I grew up in a large family and I was very sad at the idea that our daughter would not have the close connection that is shared with siblings. (Ali I noted in one of your LO that Simon's birthday is very close to my daughter's birthday of 1/19/02). Anyway, I finally played "what if" we had another child with myself and I instantly felt peace. I decided to go with my feelings, talked to my husband, we changed our minds and just had a son 3 months ago. It is such a personal decision and onlies have many wonderful things happen for them that only they can have w/o sibilings. For me, I felt so strongly about it that it would have haunted me the rest of my life. Right now, I am seeing a special love developing betweem my two kids that only they will share and its makes me so happy that I played "what if."
Ali, I absolutely love your art work and have watched you LO's for a couple of years now. I am thinking about scrapping differently because of your awesome book. Cheers to you!

I was so excited to read this! I have an "only" and as stupid as it sounds Im glad to see I'm not the ONLY one. (HA HA) I've been questioning it lately though... watching too many lifetime movies about young girls torturing eachother. Maybe I need 2 so they can defend eachother?