Countdown

There are some limitations of having a not-so-anonymous personal journal out on the internet for all the world (or at least 5 random people) to read. For example, one must restrain themselves from dishing about their summer vacation with their capital C, Crazy, in-laws. And really, if all those stories are off-limits, what is left to tell? Stories about the weather? It rained, and then it was nice (if not a bit windy), and then it rained again. The end. Or how about the day that I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs and ended up with a burn so bad that I could hardly walk? That was fun. That was also Monday, which made the rest of my beach vacation exponentially more enjoyable.

See? Not exactly captivating tales. Oh, but if I could tell you about the night that my mother-in-law … or my father-in-law’s … Damn you, internet. Alas, we had a nice time. Also, I happened to have suffered from a bout of the Crazy myself about a week or two before we left and, on a financially irresponsible whim, purchased this. The credit card bill has yet to arrive in the mail so I am still, at this moment, blissfully in love. And as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so at least it will save me from having to spew mind-numbing, weather related narratives about my vacation. Instead, you can just check out the photos.

Moving on …

I am due in approximately four weeks and I am … apprehensive? Anxious? Fucking terrified? Before Christopher was born my concerns were mainly: Is this going to hurt? And also, how badly is this going to hurt? I never really gave much thought to the stitches and the ice packs and the hemorrhoids and the nerve-racking list of possible ailments that could befall my newborn and the tedium of the endless feeding/changing/sleeping cycle and the months of leaky, swollen breasts and the sleeplessness and the pumping and trying to lose the weight and (holy fucking ouch) ever having sex again.

I love my son more than anything. I have loved watching him grow and change and (most importantly) become increasingly independent. Two is an amazing age. He can walk and talk and put on his own shoes and feed himself and explicitly tell me that he wants his milk in the blue cup, not the red one, rather than just screaming nonsense and hurling the cup at my head. Sometimes. Granted, toddlerdom is not all rainbows and fairies. There are many days when I want to run away from home, pierce my own eardrums, or scream ‘Oh, for the love of God, JUST LET ME DO IT!!’ because, really, who has fifteen minutes to spare watching a two year-old try to put on his own pants? And then there’s potty training. But let’s just say that, overall, two has been my favorite age thus far.

The thought of starting from scratch with a whole new person is overwhelming. Perhaps I will feel differently once this baby is born. Or, perhaps, in the next four weeks, medical science will come up with a way for women to give birth to one year-olds.

Comments

[Diana]

Beautiful photos, I love the mini-golf one...sheer concentration.
I wish you could share the stories!

[Leggy]

Great photos- yes, too bad we can't all share inlaw stories. I've got a few of my own.

I've heard everyone say that with each new kid, your heart just grows bigger. So while the tedium may be there, I think you'll remember why you put up with it.

Good luck!

[Stacy]

Great belly shot!

I think once you see that sweet baby you'll want to have an infant forever... or at least a year. They're so precious.

[Aimee]

You are so close. I can't wait to read about your newest addition. I am living vicariously through you.

[Colleen]

I found that the newborn phase was not as rough the second time around. Your body (and mind) knows all about the sleep deprivation, cracked nipples, and the crying already. Not as much of a shock, at least for me. What you won't be ready for is seeing your two year old the first time after the baby is born. He will seem absolutely huge! Two year olds are fun. My first baby was two when her sister came along and now little sis is two. I cracked up when I saw the picture of Christopher putting on his own "sun cream". I hear "I do it myself!!" quite a bit, so I know what that's like! Wishing you all the best for a safe delivery. Can't wait to hear the news of baby #2!!