being a parent changes everything

@twilitezone911 Said

being a parent changes everything. but being a parent also changes with each baby. here are some of the ways having a second and third child is different from having yours first.

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 regular clothes.


prepare for the birth:

1st baby: your practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: you don't brother breathing you remember the 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 your newborn clothes color - 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 strains.

3rd baby: you wipe it off on your shirt, and pop it back in.


worries:

1st baby: at the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown - you pick up the baby.

2nd baby: you pick the baby when her wails threaten to wake your first born.

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 off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: you try to change their diaper every 2 to 3 hours, 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 their diaper before others start complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.


activities:

1st baby: you take your infant to baby gymnastics, babaysaving 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 everyday just gazing at your baby.

2nd baby: you spend a little 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 everyday hiding the children.


swallowing coins:

1st child: when the first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.

2nd child: when the second child swallowed a coin, you carefully watch coin to pass.

3rd baby: when the third child swallows a coin, you deduct it from his or her allowance.

@twilitezone911 Said

being a parent changes everything. but being a parent also changes with each baby. here are some of the ways having a second and third child is different from having yours first.