The 2nd Baby... Shower Debate

After a conversation with a friend recently, I fel compelled to write about this... especially since its seems that some people have some very strong feelings about the topic.

It's funny, because I never chose one side or the other and felt that if someone was having a baby shower for their 2nd (3rd or 4th) child it was their perogotive. Or if you have someone really awesome in your life that wants to have such an event for you... so be it. You are very lucky!

Since having a child and throwing a few of these for friends, I think it's a fabulous idea. I mean, I don't think people need to go as "over board" as you do with the 1st child because after all you should have ALL the "gear" you need.... Unless you waited like 10 yrs to have another child. But having an event to get your friends / family together to just have a little fun before your life changes just a little more... and hopefully you will get some new towels, diapers, wipes and maybe even baby formula... why not?

I just heard a story about someone who has a friend who is VERY against showers of any type for anything but your 1st child. Funny thing is that she does not even have any children yet! So it makes you wonder, how will she feel when she is having her 2nd child and is in need of diapers or some adult time with her friends? She feels that her friend will get a sufficient amount of whatever she needs when the baby comes and people come to visit. Where it gets even funnier is that the gifts that this person gives her friends when they have kids are NOT practical, look used or are down right cheap... so where does her strong feeling against having 2nd showers come from? Makes you wonder.

Where do you stand on these events?

31 Week Update...

Below is a photo taken last wkend... comparable to the same size I was at this time with Kayla.

Sometimes this baby feels like it's gonna bust thru my belly button... always moving around. Loves chocolate - although its one of the items that gives me gall bladder pain :( Sleeping is far a thing of the past and my equilibrium has gone out the window at this point.

It's funny b/c I feel as though this time I am surrounded by pregnant women... mostly within my Mommy Group but nonetheless... its amazing how every pregnancy if truly different but what is NOT different is the guilt a women feels regarding either her 1st or 2nd child.

For me, most of the pregnancy I feel guilty that I was neglecting the baby in my belly b/c when someone asked me how far along I was, I had NO clue and had to check the calendar. I remember with Kayla, I tracked each week and looked and pics of what the baby was supposed to look like or where within its developement we fell. This time around, I was not so diligent. Taking belly pics since I stopped being nauseous has gotten better though.

Since the gall bladder pain has taken over my days... and now allergy season decided to make an early appearance, Kayla is the one being more neglected... Surely she knows little about this since she is just getting TONS of tv and movies. She gets pretty much whatever snakcs she asks for (within what is in the house so I try to only keep healthy ones available since my will power has diminshed). I know that once this little baby comes out in a few weeks, I will have even less focus than I do now.

Does anyone have any advice on how to manage time with your older child once the younger one comes? I am having a csection so cuddle time with Kayla will be very difficult - she does not understand that she can no longer climb on me. Once I begin to nurse and have to feed the baby, Kayla's obsession with those bumps under my shirt will grow even more.... Should I not nurse this time around and just right to the formula?