The First, Second and Third Child
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.
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 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), or 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.
Pacifier ...
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away
until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off
with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
Diapering ...
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they
need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every 2 to 3 hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to
complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
Activities ...
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing,
and 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 everyday 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.
Swallowing Coins ...
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child
to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When 2nd child swallows a coin, you carefully watch
for coin to pass.
3rd child: When 3rd child swallows a coin you deduct it from his
allowance!!
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