Evolution of Mum

Your Clothes
1st baby:
You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms
your pregnancy.

2nd baby:
You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby:
Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

The Baby's Name
1st baby:
You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing
combinations of all your favourites.

2nd baby:
Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right?
It might as well be you.

3rd baby:
You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger points.

Preparing for the Birth
1st baby:
You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby:
You don't bother practicing because you remember that last time,
breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby:
You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

The Layette
1st baby:
You pre-wash your newborn's clothes,
Colour-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby:
You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the
ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby:
Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries
1st baby:
At the first sign of distress -- a  whimper, a frown --
You pick up the baby.

2nd baby:
You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby:
You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Activities
1st baby:
You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics,
Baby Swing,
&
Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby:
You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby:
You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out
1st baby:
The first time you leave your baby with a sitter,
You call home 5 times.

2nd baby:
Just before you walk out the door,
You remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby:
You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home
1st baby:
You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby:
You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child
isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby:
You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.