Anticipating Baby #2

Some women really do glow when they're pregnant. They glow not because of the extra blood rushing through their facial vessels, but because they're in their element--safely harboring and nurturing a new life even while they continue their everyday plans (which usually include elaborately decorating nurseries and playing Mozart to their unborn child).

I make it no secret that I do not glow while pregnant (nor do I show, apparently, but that's probably another post). And I'll make it no secret that it's even more challenging to glow the second time around.

Why? You ask. When I already know the extreme thrill of bringing a new bundle of joy home and raising it into a bubbly cherub of a toddler? I'd argue that it's because I know the work that goes into producing an angelic little girl (which mine generally is nowadays, I must confess). And if the bundle of joy were truly joyful, so would I be (side note: I've never seen a Hallmark card that celebrates a bundle of cries, have you?). Besides, I'm too busy to glow.

That's not to say I'm not excited. After all, with the practice child nearing age 2, I have a few tricks and ideas up my sleeve for perfecting the second one. Here are my main expectations for Baby #2:

1. Baby #2 will sleep better.
2. Baby #2 will not present any new parenting challenges, especially colic, acid reflux, eczema or a strong will. Let alone anything even more challenging.
3. Baby #2 will have his or her own endearing personality and individual cuteness that's different from, yet equal to Kalina's.

And we will get along just fine.

Naturally, Kalina and the new baby will be best of friends, too, happily sharing toys and fixing themselves peanut butter sandwiches while I take pictures and cook lavish dinners.

In short, the next child will not only be just as adorable and sweet as Kalina, but easier as well! Can you believe my good luck?

And this is how I get through my days: regularly lying to myself as I ignore the advice that I should be lifting no more than 25 pounds, taking it easy, eating lots of small meals, nesting, spending all of my time dreaming about the perfect new baby, and sitting down.

I've also made a few pregnancy resolutions to ensure this experience is more enjoyable for me than the last.

1. I will milk it for all it's worth.
2. I will milkshake it for all it's worth (this balances out because I so rarely have time for milkshakes that I think I'm drinking less of them than I did with Kalina).
3. I will wear my regular clothes for as long as possible.
4. I will buy at least 1 silly new thing for the baby, even if it's a girl and she already has everything she needs from Kalina.
5. In my third trimester, I will sleep in every weekend since it's rare to get any good nighttime sleep at this point or for months afterward (Matt doesn't know this yet).
6. I will try not to forget that I'm pregnant, unless that's what's most convenient for me at the time.
7. I will not let the nurse decide when I get the epidural. I will decide when I get the epidural. I will not wait long.

In this way, I will have a shot at beginning my new life with the energy to make it through at least the first few months, possibly longer. I suspect m&ms (for both Kalina and myself) and possibly even the occasional educational DVD will come into play as well.

Baby update:
On Monday I had another doctor's appointment, and we once again heard the heartbeat loud and clear, coming in at 156 beats per minute. The doctor speculated with me on the old wives tales predicting girl or boy. The relatively fast heartbeat points to girl, while my lack of nausea points to boy. So it's a 50/50 shot, we reckoned. I'll hopefully find out on May 7th. By May 8th, the new nursery/former guestroom will be adorably decorated, so if you come to stay with us you may be sleeping in a crib.

I've only gained 4 pounds over my whole pregnancy (and I'm almost halfway through it, yes I'm proud). While this is good news, I was disappointed in the fact that the doctor didn't encourage me in eating more milkshakes, a practice I had to resort to last time to produce any kind of a baby bump. So I'll continue to focus on veggies and trust in her reassurance that the baby's just fine even though he or she isn't making much of an outward impression.

Photo: See why Kalina will be a great big sister?