Guess I need to soon change the name of this blog. For three years it’s been “Kwabena” or (“Kwabi”), where I’ve been documenting my parenting and experiences with this little love of my life. But now we’ve got another child on the way, so this site’s got to be inclusive for the whole family, really.
I’ve really been trying not to short-changed this little guy (or girl!). It’s so easy to do, though. Having had a child already, it’s easy to get lost in the “been there—don’t that” attitude. With Kwabena, I’ve gone through the excitement of making the announcement to everyone….been there with shopping for maternity clothes (why does it seem like with your first pregnancy you can’t wait to get into maternity clothes just so everyone knows you’re pregnant!)….already experienced what it’s like to see my body changing, etc. I admit that the second time around isn’t as exciting.
It doesn’t mean that I am not happy about this baby, because I am. When I see newborns, I think about my little bean growing inside of me, and how in five short (or long, depending on how you want to view it!) months, I will be blessed with another opportunity to experience all the beautiful things of raising a child that I have unbelievably forgotten from my experiences with Kwabena. But I guess with anything you’ve already done once before, it’s not the exact same experience once you have already experienced it before. This time, I know what to expect.
But that’s also the beauty of having a second child–you’ve already done it before, so you know what to expect! I can imagine how much more relaxed I will be this time around–there won’t be much to intimidate me. With Kwabena, I was neurotic! I wrote down every time he nursed, and for how long, and from each side. I printed up spreadsheets to track his poops and pees, to make sure he was nursing enough. I jumped up the minute he made a peep (well, I still do this, and he’s 3 years old, so I guess that doesn’t change!). I felt guilty for taking “me” time to go to the store without him. I cried the first morning when I had to drop him off at daycare for the first time at three months old. These are all the things I can imagine will slide off my shoulders with this next child, because I will be an old pro. 🙂
Regardless, I’m doing my best to be sure that I don’t fall into the “second child syndrome” trap, where the second child doesn’t the same things that the first child gets, like a baby book. In fact, I bought one exactly like the one I have for Kwabena (because it’s so all-inclusive and detailed), and I have been keeping up with entries for the most part.
I’m super excited to find out if we’re having a boy or girl, too! Next Tuesday is the ultrasound! Kwabena sounds so confident that this is a girl 🙂 But this pregancy has been exactly like my pregnancy with Kwabena, which makes me think this will be a boy. I went to a psychic in 2003 and was told I would have a boy and a girl, so we shall see ;). A girl would be nice simply because there’s already too much testosterone in the Appiah family–Kwasi is one of four boys, and then along came Kwabena, the first grandson. I think his brothers are pulling for a girl. A boy would be more logical, so that we can pass most things down from brother to brother….they can share a room indefinitely (especially if we continue to be space-challenged!)…and Kwabena has sooo much energy, a boy would be perfect. Not that a girl couldn’t match is his energy, but you know what I mean. Two boys jumping off the sofa would be perfect afternoon. LOL
I’ll keep you posted!
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