pregnancy bene's

There are some benefits to being pregnant and since this is (probably) my last pregnancy I'm trying to enjoy them to the fullest! Here is a short list of some of my favorite pregnancy benefits:
1. I don't feel guilty sitting around drinking mugs of tea or hot cocoa when there is laundry to be done and floors to be cleaned.
2. I don't feel guilty saying "NO"-no to helping with a fundraiser, or volunteering at P's school or watching children whom I didn't give birth to.
3. Buying a few new clothes even though I will never wear them again.
4. Cherishing my lazy days with only one kid-This is one I didn't do the first time, I didn't enjoy the quite before the first kid as much as I should have and though it's not super quiet around here now it's going to get more crazy all too soon.
5. I can say I don't feel like going out to a party or dinner and no one will question it.
6. A well deserved massage!
7. People are nicer.
8. Naps!
9. I'm always hungry and don't feel guilty about eating-Eating all the rice crispy treats or brownies or polishing off the rest of the mashed potatoes-though I am cutting out dessert except for the holidays and my birthday. I weighed in at the doc's today and the number wasn't pretty.
10. Extra warm in the winter time.
11. Baby moon #2.-not as grand as Baby moon #1 when we went to Italy. No baby moon #2 will be much closer to home and only a few short days, still I will cherish it.
12. Completing our family and welcoming another little girl.

Advent Conspiracy Promo Video

stuff to think about....

pregnancy, ugh

The first time I was pregnant I was in heaven. Happily anticipating the arrival of our first girl, so happy to get a tummy, buy maternity clothes, gain a little weight, take a baby moon to Italy and do yoga 5 days a week.
This time around is oh so different. For starters no yoga-boo! (only the occasional trip to the gym) and no amazing trip over seas. And no little belly just beginning to show around the 5 month mark only to grow into a slightly bigger but still cute belly by the end....
But what I am finding most difficult is weight gain/maternity clothes. This time I had to wear maternity clothes much much sooner and seem to be growing out of them already and I'm barely over the half way point. Seems like every time I put on a shirt it's several inches short of covering my belly and my pants are feeling snug in places I don't like pants to feel snug.
I've already gained 13 lbs. and am dreading the final number. I can't hide extra weight on my short frame well. So I'm terrified of looking not only pregnant but really fat too. I know it's slightly out of my control and I shouldn't worry too much about the weight gain because that's what happens during pregnancy and yes, eating a cookie or two less per day would help. Seems I have less motivation to exercise this time around and watch what I put into my mouth. But I can't help not freaking out a bit, I have to lose these pounds after the baby comes.
It's so weird how two pregnancy's can be so different. How do people do it more than twice? Probably because the brain forgets and for good reason. If we remembered how fat we were and how awful we felt we probably wouldn't have more than one child.
How was your second pregnancy compared to the first? (If you've been there more than once.)

chasing down the swine flu

I am so ticked with our Pediatrician's office. Somehow I must have to bribe someone to get an H1N1 shot. One day there are none available then next day the flu clinic is full. No notice. No announcement. Just full. Check back later they say. I check back the next day. And the next clinic is full, what the _____. Seriously! Obviously, I don't know the right people here. So frustrating.
And then there's the saga of my H1N1 shot. Highly recommended for pregnant women, only my OBGYN still doesn't have any or maybe they just forgot to inform me. And clearly again, I am not paying the right people.
We were going to stand in line this weekend, waste our lazy Sunday morning to get stuck with a needle at Health Care Clinic in the neighborhood, only now both Petunia and I have colds! This is so frustrating! Anyone else have an H1N1 flu saga?

again

So i'm back....again.
Things are getting exciting around here. We found out we are having another little girl in March. I think for the purposes of this blog and because I have one daughter with a flower name, I shall call the new one, Lilly. So now there will be Petunia and Lilly.
So tell me, how do people handle two children under the age of three? Because truthfully, one child at that age is about all I can handle. I'm wondering how I can do the sleepless nights again and the sleep training that I had to do with P. And keep up with an almost three year old and an infant. I know millions of people do this everyday, I'm just not sure I have this in me.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming a new little one and completing our family but also scared. Do you have any tips? All you experienced moms (and dads)?