Everyone says that the second (and subsequent) baby just doesn’t get as much attention as the first. And I understand that completely, but I can’t help but feel guilty and sad for L.A. Fetus.

I’m eating well, exercising, not allowing myself to get too upset about anything – all good stuff. But I realized that by this point in my pregnancy with L.A. Toddler, I’d read EVERYTHING I could get my hands on about pregnancy and the upcoming birth.  And I had accumulated a bunch of clothes for her, had them washed and in her dresser. The infant seat base was installed in both cars, my hospital bag was packed, and I was having nightly conversations with her, in my belly, on my commute home from work every evening.

So… I’ve managed to buy a couple of new outfits for L.A. Fetus (since she’s going to be an Autumn baby and L.A. Toddler was a Spring baby.) I can justify any shopping - watch - ’she can’t wear pastels in December for crying out loud!’ See?!

Those clothes are still in shopping bags on the floor of my closet. I’ve washed the liners for the infant seat and stroller. They’ve been hanging on the line in the laundry room for a month. They’re probably covered in dust and need to be washed again. I made L.A. Daddy fetch the infant clothes from the basement. I managed to sort through one box (of 3) and retrieve the multi-seasonal pieces.  I tossed them in a shopping bag and plopped it in my closet with the other new clothes.  At least I’m sort of organized – right?!

I suppose it’s not as bad as I think.  I do have multiple daily conversations with L.A. Fetus – she’s got a great habit of waking me up 4 times a night to pee. She likes to party (kick and punch) at midnight, 2am, 4am and 6am – although the 6am is a “get up and feed me” kind of party.  She also likes to remind me that I’ve been sitting at my desk too long during the workday.  But most amazingly, she likes to defend her big sister.  She starts her own assault on my stomach when she hears me fighting with L.A. Toddler. Of course, when L.A. Toddler is being her usual sweet self, she sings to L.A. Fetus who applauds (literally!)  L.A. Toddler gets the hugest kick out of feeling her baby sister bump around in my belly.

L.A. Toddler has also made up several songs for her sister… mostly consisting of words like “baby sister, little baby, I love you.”  It’s these things that keep me sane – L.A. Fetus is going to be just fine. And I’m sure she’s going to be showered with affection just like L.A. Toddler was (and still is).

I’ve also realized that it’s high time to get going on the Kegel exercises – oh joy. My recent OB visits have been really good – we had a bit of scare early in the pregnancy because my blood pressure was higher than it should have been, but that issue is gone and I’m back to normal bp. AND –- the highlight of my most recent visit was stepping on the scales. Yes, that’s really what I said.  I only gained a pound last month.  Yahooooo!

I might just top out at the same weight as I had with L.A. Toddler.  That would make me happy – cause I know I can lose that weight relatively quickly. Breastfeeding, chasing a toddler around and working full time… who’d have time to eat?

I am really looking forward to the next couple of months before her birth. This is the fun part, taking the hospital tour, getting the room ready, planning for the grandparents visits, receiving gifts … all fun stuff. But the most fun is learning about L.A. Fetus’s personality before she leaves my body. Feeling the little kicks and punches she gives me when she’s happy or irritated.  I can already tell she’s going to be the wild one and she’s really going to give her older sister a run for the money in the ‘independence’ department.