Baby Love

Here is Milo in his Halloween costume - he's an owl. Hoot!

If you're happy and you know it...

Dear future Emily (approximately July 2011),

Congratulations on making it to eight months with baby number 2! Isn't life great? And isn't Milo so much fun these days - such a big boy! Two years old already! I'm sure you are feeling pretty great about things right now. You know, Milo was just the same age as the baby is now when you got pregnant with him. Isn't that crazy? I remember how much fun it was having Milo be eight or nine months old and how sweet he was and how having another baby seemed like a totally reasonable idea. Are you feeling the same way future Emily? Is two already not enough? This seems unlikely, but just in case I want to give you some information from the past that you may have conveniently forgotten.

You don't like being pregnant. You get very very sick for a very very long time. It is hard to take care of a little baby when you feel that crappy. It also puts a big strain on the people around you - especially your dear husband who might feel the need to fill your emotional absence with expensive car repairs, guitar equipment, or spending time away from home (where it smells like vomit) to play more tennis (MORE?!?!). Also, when you are pregnant you are very tired - do you have time to sleep double the amount of time you sleep now? Can you squeeze that into your schedule? And one more thing - can your wardrobe accommodate your humongous body? You wouldn't think that would be a big deal but wearing the same three outfits over and over again can be a bit... well, wearing.

So, while your children are perfect, and while another one would surely be nothing but a joy to behold, please think carefully before you condemn your whole family to almost a whole year of a dirty house, constantly being behind on laundry, rarely cooking a meal at home, crankiness, lack of energy for playing with kids, and emotional instability.

I know that I will forget all this very, VERY soon, so I had to write it all down before I have a beautiful new baby in my arms and think these exact thoughts, "That was not so bad! What a small price to pay for such an amazing blessing!" I can't wait to meet you Baby2!

And just for future Emily to enjoy (not instructive, just for fun) - What it's like having just one kid:

• You can arrange your schedule around him - if he takes a nap, so can you! no questions asked.
• Meal planning is simple - it's easy to remember what he likes and dislikes and you always know exactly what's already been eaten in a day.
• You can give him what he wants, when he wants it (if you feel he's earned it)
• He has no issues with sharing because he doesn't understand the concept - if a friend steals a toy, he doesn't know he's been wronged!
• You have time to make crafty projects for him - like Halloween costumes and Christmas stockings.
• It's not asking anything too ridiculous when you need a babysitter so you don't have to feel (too) guilty.
• He's a quiet little guy and sometimes he'll let you read a book while he plays by himself where you can see him (please be the same way Baby2! I really love to read!).

BUT: I am really excited to give him a playmate, and hopefully it will make me and Matt better parents too because we won't be able to spoil Milo (as much). What do you think future Emily? Are you pleased with your new life? I hope you are because if so, it means that something I didn't think could get better, COULD. And that's pretty awesome. Good luck future Emily - feel free to write a letter to November 2010 Emily sometime. I'm sure you are a lot smarter than she is (and thinner. And richer? And with a cleaner house. And more successful - written any books lately?).

Love, Past Emily

How my kisses are usually received - it looks like he's breaking my nose off.