What Happens When Mommy Gets Pregnant

I remember the moment I stared at the double lines that appeared on the "Results Window" of the home pregnancy test.  A super charge of adrenalin shot through me, followed quickly by euphoria.  Yes!  In nine months, we'll be a family of four! 

Around the time TJ turned one, I've endured an onslaught of testimonials from parents who went for it and had their second child.  I say "onslaught" because I've had my reservations about having a second one.  Everyone would claim how much easier the second one is, providing a litany of reasons why the second would be a walk in the park.

Well, my second one hasn't even arrived yet, but I am here to bear witness: going from one to two is hard.  I'm just 12.5 weeks pregnant, but I already see some unexpected changes up ahead for our nice little family of three.   

In fact, let me have my two year old TJ tell you how it's been.  These days, he is a lot more coherent than I am.  In his words, this is what happens when Mommy gets pregnant:

I get to eat lots and lots of Chicken McNuggets. Mommy used to be hard-nosed about letting me even have friench fries.  But now that Mommy can't get anything past her lips other than bad carbs, I get to eat french fries, potato chips, instant noodles and even churros!

I have taken over every room in the house, marking my territory with cars, trucks, and lego pieces scattered randomly across the floor. Mommy is SICK AS A DOG, riding on a virtual S.S. Minnow 24x7, so I basically get to redecorate the house while Mommy lies on the bed and moans for comfort.

Daddy gets to be my breakfast chef and serves me high cuisine like Corn Pops cereal, chocolate milk, and bribes me to finish my breakfast with Jolly Ranchers.  Mommy doesn't sleep well at night, so Daddy takes charge to give her a few more zz's.  One morning, Mommy's eyes almost popped out when she found out Daddy gave me fruit bars for breakfast.  Daddy told her it was made of real fruit, but Mommy yelled, "Yeah, along with corn syrup!"  Daddy said, "He'll live. I grew up on corn syrup."

The ban on TV viewing has been lifted.  Mommy used to let me watch only one tv show a day.  It was always hard to choose between an episode of Blues Clues, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, or Little Einsteins.  But, now I get to see Steve, Mickey, and Leo everyday! They are my best friends!  Don't ever stop believing in miracles!

We are saving energy, water, and money like never before. Mommy used to do lots of laundry, washing my clothes all the time, even when I thought they were just fine.  Now, I get to wear the same outfit morning to night, and sometimes even the next day.  Daddy says it's gross.  But Mommy says I don't go to school in the summer, so nobody would notice whether I wore the same shirt anyways.  I say, "Way to go, Mommy!  We're saving the environment!"

The biggest change in my mind, though, is that Mommy always says I'm a big boy now.  She lets me feed myself, even though half my food ends up on the floor.  Daddy lets me put on my own PJs, even if I put my shirt on backwards.  Both Mommy and Daddy say I'm going to get my own big boy bed, soon.  They sure are swell to me these days.  Always hugging and kissing me.  Telling me how proud they are that I am growing up. I am spending lots and lots of one on one time with Daddy on the weekends, since Mommy rests a lot.  We are really good buddies.  I even shared a Starburst with Daddy.  And M&M's.  And Skittles. 

Don't tell Mommy, 'k?  'Cuz psst... candy has corn syrup.

Original Silicon Valley Moms Blog post.  Bonnie Gray is an entrepreneur who writes about her peachy life as mom on the go at Just Peachy Baby Blog.