Now that Baby Champuru is over a year old, people are starting to ask when we’ll start on making baby #2.

Of course, not everyone understands what we went through to make baby #1: the years of trying, the subsequent surgeries, dozens upon dozens of injections, IVF treatments, and the countless prayers that were involved in the process. But then again, that’s not the stuff of light chit-chatty conversation.

Recently, I took my parents shopping and we ran into one of Dad’s friends. She cooed and fawned over Baby Champuru, then turned to me and said, “you must start on #2.” I gave her the usual answer of, “I think she’s going to be an only child. I’m getting too old.” But she persisted, “No, you’re not too old. Come on. Look at how cute she is! You MUST make another one. Maybe two? How about twins?  Your parents can help you babysit!  I’m retired so I can help you, too!” She was relentless almost to the point of making me uncomfortable. I didn’t want to delve into our struggles with infertility and the entire history of Baby Champuru’s conception, and something told me that it wouldn’t matter anyway. She was convinced that Baby Champuru needed siblings and was bent on convincing me right then and there to commit to expanding our brood.

After several minutes of this, I just smiled and nodded politely saying, “okay, we’ll try!” Just to make her happy — and well, quite frankly, to end the conversation. Honestly, I don’t mind people asking me questions and she is a sweet lady but the incessant badgering was a bit much.

It’s not that I don’t want to have another child.  In fact, I already miss the baby days now that Baby Champuru has graduated from being an infant to a toddler.  Although I suffered from morning sickness for most of my pregnancy, then discovered I had gestational diabetes once the morning sickness subsided — I loved being pregnant. There is no greater miracle than to bear a child.  It’s like partnering with God to bring life into the world.  Simply amazing.

But, for us, the decision to have another child is not a simple one.  It’s not just a matter of stopping birth control pills and tracking ovulation cycles.  It requires a huge financial commitment (we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars), dozens of doctors appointments, hormone treatments that require patches, pills and shots on a daily basis, and the emotional rollercoaster that invariably comes with fertility treatments.  Of course, there’s also the issue of age.  The older you are, the smaller your chances are of a successful conception.  And, if you fail to conceive, there is no money back guarantee. You can say adieu to those tens of thousands of dollars you invested in the procedure.

So, the honest answer to the question “when will we start on #2?” is that we probably won’t.  Baby Champuru is not just our #1, but our one and only.  She is our beautiful, precious blessing and she is more than enough. I am more than content to be the mother of one and thankful that the Lord entrusted us with this awesome privilege and responsibility.

Don’t worry, Baby Champuru, your mommy is an only child and look how she turned out!  Um, okay, maybe that was a bad example.