1. People are not as excited!
When you announce your first pregnancy, it feels like the world has stopped to congratulate you. You've done something amazing! Magnificent! You smart girl, you! You've created life! With your second, you get a lot more, "hey, cool!" and a lot less "OH MY GAAAAAAAA THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED!!!!!"
2. YOU are not as excited!
I have taken a ride on this train before. The rapidly growing boobs that feel like time bombs ready to explode at any touch, the equally rapidly growing belly that may (or may not) be more burrito than baby, the swollen ankles, the exhaustion... it happens faster, harder, and stronger than the first time around. And when you are chasing after a 2 year old, ain't nobody got time for swollen ankles. I barely have time to breathe; you think I'm going to chart my weight in a pregnancy app? HA!
3. Just because your first pregnancy was a cakewalk, DOES NOT MEAN your second pregnancy will be as lovely.
During my first pregnancy, I worked part-time, continued working out, my hair got shiny and full, I was barely nauseous and never once vomited. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a bit of a pregnancy unicorn. Fast forward to my second pregnancy. I work full time, have a (demanding) toddler, my hair is falling out, I spent the first month trying not to puke on everyone I saw, and have never been so singularly exhausted in my entire life. I haven't exercised in 3 months (unless you count hiking up and down the stairs to refill the sippy cup YET AGAIN) and don't intend to. Any extra energy I muster up will go for something luxurious, like shaving my legs.
4. You will, at some point, FORGET you are pregnant.
With my first, I woke up every morning with one thought on my mind, "BABY!". I thought about it all day long, constantly checking the mirror for any hint of a bump, telling strangers, laboring over the decision as to which prenatal vitamin was best, pouring over websites and birth stories in my free time. There have been multiple times this go around that I have walked by the fridge, caught sight of the ultrasound picture, and thought, "Oh crap, I'm pregnant! I should probably take my vitamin..."
5. The terror. OH GOD, THE TERROR.
With my first, I was scared only of the pain of labor. I knew I would be a great mom, I would have everything organized and labeled, I would breastfeed exclusively, my child would never cry or want for anything.
HA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Now that I know exactly what I am in for, I am a little more nervous. Labor was cake compared to the first year. Don't get me wrong, the first year was full of amazing moments, more love than you can imagine, and all the baby smell I could get. But, when you start thinking about having TWO KIDS... it gets a little easier to dwell on all those sleepless nights, blow out diapers, and inconsolable crying (by both mother and child). I have this mental vision of me, sitting on the floor in my bathrobe with 10 day hair, crusted milk smeared across my front, trying to breastfeed while my toddler runs circles around me with a pair of scissor and no pants. Obviously, I'm optimistic.
While I can say that this second pregnancy has been night-and-day different from my first, (and many of these points are, obviously, tongue in cheek) I can honestly say that I am excited and terrified for how our little family is about to change. I can't wait to find out if D will have a baby brother or sister (in 4 long weeks!), can't wait to see him interact with the baby, and can't wait to do it all again!
