For those expecting #2 (or more)

[EllasMama]

Do you have moments when you say to yourself, "What was I thinking?!" Today I bent over to shave my legs in the shower and realized, at some point I won't be able to bend over anymore and will have to do that little number where you side bend and reach blindly for the parts of the leg that are still reachable. Not to mention the days soon to come when none of my regular clothes fit but none of the maternity clothes do either. And I don't even want to talk about the possibility of acute morning sickness!

The first time I was pregnant, it was all so exciting and mysterious. Now I know basically what to expect and so I know what to worry about in advance, and can't even imagine how I'm going to deal with a baby and all the lack of sleep, etc., again! I guess it's nice that the kids will be 5 years apart, so I am far enough removed to not remember ALL the hard stuff!

Don't get me wrong, I am excited and grateful and generally like pregnancy and babies, I just have way more bouts of "What was I thinking?!" this time!

Warmly,
Carol

[johnsmom04]

Yes, I have that exact thought alot. This was a total surprise and I wanted more distance between my children than 2 years. I am getting nervous about whether I can handle a baby and a toddler-and still have "me" time. But then I think of what a joy DS has been and how my life has been much better with him around. This apprehension is probably a sign of healthy pregnancy brain Nice to hear from others with the same thoughts!

[savannah smiles]

My kiddos will be 4.5 yrs apart so I'm feeling rested and ready for the next baby. Sometimes I think about how easy my life is right now and I feel less than thrilled that it will go back to be very difficult in 8 months, lol! I just remember that it will get easier again.

[mraven721]

I feel the same way as Johnsmom04.
This is a happy accident, I really wanted more time between kiddos. Actually we were in a happy place where we were just going to have one kid. But if there were going to be two I wanted them at least 4 years apart.
I feel like I'm robbing my son of the time he deserves from me. I wanted it to be all him, all the time. I guess the new baby won't get that at all I also wanted DS to be more independent. Like being able to use the potty and get himself dressed. We are working on somethings now.
I'm sure it's partly because of hormones but I cry myself to sleep every night over the inevitable change in our relationship. I just him so much! And I've seen it a million times before with 2nd, 3rd, children, you still love your first, but it's different

Anyway I sort of hijacked your thread, sorry. DH doesn't understand any of this

[Heavenly]

Yes! I just found out today but I've "known" for a week. This will be #3 for me, my goodness that sounds strange! No one in my family has more than 2 kids. Anyways my son is 4.5 and a real handful. He is incredibly hyperactive but he's a good boy and I love him to death. My daughter is 2.5 and still nursing. She is my little sweetheart and I am terrified that the pregnancy will cause her to wean. I really don't want her to. I am also scared because after my daughter was born I had a period of time where I really resented my son. I still feel so guilty. I really don't want to feel that way about her, or about him again. There are some days where I am so overwhelmed with just the two I have. There are some days where I feel I spend the whole day yelling at them. But at the same time I want another baby, we were trying. I am scared about alot of things but I think that's normal. I felt like that with both of my children. One of the main concerns is I want a VBA2C. I am in Ontario where midwifery is regulated. No one in my area will take me. There might be some midwives 3.5 hours away who will but I would have to travel in labour. My only other option is in hospital and I really don't see how I could avoid a c-section if I was in hospital. So that is really weighing on my mind. It feels very odd to know I don't have anywhere to turn for prenatal care right now.

[My Three Boys]

Oh yes! I feel this way too. Dh and I always wanted a large family, but we pictured the kids closer in age. We'd been trying to get pregnant for a long time and the positive test was welcome! But, my youngest will be five when this one is born. I keep thinking about how easy I have it now and how much things will change with a new baby. My youngest is really a sweetheart and the perfect youngest child - he's so easy to spoil. He has no idea how his life is about to change!!

[tdoreenb]

Understatement!

As y'all can tell from my sig, my first child is 15! Since this is OUR first, of course I'm thrilled. But DANG! I'll be a month shy of 40 when this one comes into the world. My boy will be 16....I'm nearly done with him! I look at how one of my best friends hair grayed after her second. Not that I'm vain in the least mind you :LOL , but I quite often wonder what I'm getting myself into.

I wish I could have had children closer together, but that wasn't in the cards. But actually, of my 3 sisters, I was closest to the one that I was 11 years younger than.

[my5girls]

Hi there!!

Congratulations to all of you!

As you can see, I currently have four DDs, and I'm expecting #5 in February 2006! We're very excited, and in shock! We weren't trying right now, (DH wanted to wait a few more months), but oh well! We're thrilled anyway! DH will be happy when he recovers from his shock!! :LOL

I look forward to sharing a journey with all of you!! I don't know of anyone in my circle of friends or family who is going on #5!!! :LOL

[Mytwokids]

oooohhhhhh Yeeeaaaahhhhh!

I have been a rollercoaster of emotions. I am having a hard time connecting with this baby. I feel horrible even writing that. I know its so early but it was a whoops baby and I don't feel pg at all. Dh and I have debating about having 3 but hadn't decided for sure yet, I guess that decision has been made . My ds will be 3 years 8 months and my dd will be almost 6 when this baby is born. I'm actually happy about the spacing and probably wouldn't want much of a bigger gap. But I'm still nursing ds and have been nursing or pg for 6 years! When this baby weans it will probably be over 10 years!!!!! I think that is my biggest issue right now. At some point I would like my body to be just mine. I know that sounds selfish and I love nursing but it has taken a toll on me. At least my babies sleep through the night now. Dd wasn't when ds was born and that was hard. My dh is so outragiously optimistic and positive about everything, thank God for him. I just need to keep him near me to make sure i stay that way as well.

Micky

[my5girls]

Mytwokids,

I know what you mean...I've been pregnant and/or nursing for over 8 years now. I had my four DDs within 5.5 years. When this baby is born, it will be over 11 years before I'm done. I understand what you mean about having your body back. Believe me, it's worth it though!!! I wish you well. Right now, I'm more positive than DH; he's still getting used to the idea...

[Mytwokids]

On the flip side

I have to say on my postive days I feel such a sense of peace knowing that this is my last child and our family will be complete. I never knew after ds and was never 100% sure with stopping at 2 or going with 3. Apparently it was in the stars to go to 3, I just didn't know it. But there is NO doubt in my mind that 3 is it and there is a nice feeling knowing that. Anybody know what I mean?

Micky

[mama2gracie]

i am so glad i am not alone! i feel so scared about how i will take care of a toddler and a baby! sleep deprived, and this time i will NEVER have the choice of taking a nap! i will have another child to take care of!

there are times when i am really excited and times when i realize that gracie's life is about to change and she doesn't even understand and i get sad. but, then i remember my sister and how much i love her and think of how i am so glad my parents decided to have her, kwim?

i don't understand how in the world i will be able to handle it. but i figure people have 2 kids all the time, and i don't usually hear horror stories so it must be okay most of the time.

[Amys1st]

: Well I will officially find out this week if we are in fact expecting #2 or not. But if not we can keep trying!

DD is just 3 so she will be almost 4 when a new baby arrives. This time it seems different since I recognize the signs of prgcy and symptoms as well as dh sees it. When dd weaned at age 30 months I wanted to have at least 6 months of not pregnt or bfing. Now that that is up, we are trying. Also we have a very easy time getting prgnt.

But this time, we know so much more since we have been thru it already. I had quite an uphill battle with my 1st prgncy with being sick for 24 hours a day the first 12 weeks and then on bedrest weeks 29-36. We were worried about that this time so we waited a few years before doing this again. Also I wanted DD fully weaned before trying because I would not nurse during prgncy because of my early contractions. Most people agree with me for waiting!
I also see some friends whos children are so close in age and we are very glad we waited. We are a close knit family and we have had this time to have dd all to ourselves and when a baby comes- she will be old enough to understand that she is a big sister.

I do hate that time when your too big for regular clothes but not big enough for maternity clothes! You go thru that stage where you just look fat and not all puffy in your belly and people are afraid to say Are you for fear of you saying- no I'm fat. :LOL

[aimcar]

I have to say, it is comforting to know I am not alone in my "what have I gotten myself into" thoughts! I am so happy and excited to be pregnant again, but life is finally so much easier now, and I sometimes wonder why in the world I wanted to go and mess with my little comfort zone. :LOL DS will be 4.5 when the new baby is born, and I feel really good about that age difference. I'm not sure I could've handled them any closer together. I mostly worry about lack of sleep and having to care for and divide my attention between two children. Oh well, I am excited nonetheless! I figure I will get through those first hard months (ok, maybe years) soon enough and will probably come out relatively unscathed. :LOL

[Amys1st]

got my period this am so I am sitting this talk out