Pregnancy 2.0

The first time around, there are so many things no one warns you about until it happens.  Then you tell someone more experienced what is happening to you and they say something like, "oh yeah...I dealt with that the whole nine months!"  blah blah blah.  I thought I was pretty prepared for pregnancy and child birth and I think I had realistic expectations the first time around, but really nothing can prepare you until you experience it for yourself.  Everyone's experience is so different and even talking to people doesn't always help.

That being said, I figured this time around things would feel more 'normal' and I would pretty much know what to expect.  Well, of course I was wrong.

Pregnancy 2.0 according to me:

1.  You will be sicker, sooner
2.  You will get heartburn, sooner
3.  You will start having contractions, sooner (starting at 16 weeks and while doing simple tasks such as picking your 1st child up out of her crib or walking to the bathroom)
4.  You will think you have no energy to do anything, ever, but you will fake it for the sake of your 1st child who needs your attention and whom you don't want to deprive.
5.  You will get much fatter, much sooner.  Even if you are in better shape than you were the first time.

All of this being said, I am about 10 times more excited than I was last time around.  If that is possible.  For some reason, really knowing the payoff and how incredible it is makes all of this seem so trivial.  Last time around I could only guess at how great it would be.

I can't wait to have another baby around (I know some of you are thinking that I still do have a baby, but I feel like Sophie is so 'grown up' now.   I'm talking baby, baby....of the newborn kind).

I can't wait for sisters.

I can't wait for playmates.

I can't wait for little kid kisses and hugs.

I can't wait for newborn cuddles and noises.

I can't wait for newborn smells and itty bitty clothes.

Mostly I can't wait to have this little girl be a part of our family.  More than last time, I feel like I already know her.  Maybe because she has felt alive for so much longer or maybe because it's easier to imagine what she'll be like after already having one.

I am not one of those women who loves the 40 weeks of pregnancy leading up to the child birth.  I much prefer the 40 weeks following childbirth.  Right now I'm trying to move on with life and stay busy so that time moves as quickly as possible until the end reward.  Which is MORE than worth it.