When I was pregnant with our first child, I was 25-years-old and working full-time as a magazine editor in a fun office with a dozen other women. Now, pregnant with our second child, I’m working as a stay-at-home mom.
I’ve gone from cute maternity business clothes to stretchy pants and raiding my husband’s T-shirt drawer. It’s easy to see that this pregnancy is wildly different.
In many ways it’s similar to my first: I only suffered from minor morning sickness in the first trimester, no one believed I was really pregnant until well into my second trimester (I’ve always been skinny as a rail), and my third trimester is full of fatigue.
But there are several ways my sweet growing baby Caden is not getting the same attention Jaxson got in the womb when I was 25.
With my first, not only did I Google nearly every ingredient in everything I ate, drank, or put on my body (from makeup to shampoo), I also exercised. I had a prenatal Pilates DVD on repeat. I took more than just prenatal vitamins. I even got one of those grandma day-of-the-week pill boxes to make sure I didn’t miss taking my Omega 3. Now I’m lucky if I remember what day it is, and I’ve been sneaking in a few more sweet teas than I care to admit.
Working in an office full of women during my first pregnancy also lent itself to regular self-esteem boosters. “You look so pretty today!” “Look at that little baby belly!” And at work meetings I even got accused of coming up with enough marketing ideas for two.
Today’s cheer section of one—my toddler—limits his affirmation to grunts like: “dahh” for “yes,” and the occasional “nah nah” for “thank you.” I’ve asked my husband to text me when he’s heading home from work, not only to know his estimated arrival, but so that I can be sure I’ve at least brushed my teeth before he gets here.
Chasing our 22-month-old around all day has changed my second pregnancy in other ways, too. I feel like it’s gone by so fast. Before I know it there will be a new baby boy in the house joining our beautiful mess. I know when I get to hold him in my arms, I won’t want to change a thing.
Kennan is a wife and stay-at-home mom to Jaxson, Caden, and Emilyn. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and has many years of experience as a writer and photographer. She now uses her skills to run Marken Media Co.(www.markenmediaco.com), a company she owns with her husband Marcus.