Second Child Syndrome

My poor son is afflicted with second child syndrome. When you're too careful and thoughtful with your first, everyone with multiples has something to say about it. Wait till you have two, or the second is easier (in terms of letting them get into stuff). My new mom self-righteousness bred thoughts like why would I care any less about the second? and I'll be this neurotic for all of them. And I might be, with regards to letting them get close to stairs or corners of things. But I am aware that I have a touch of the shrug-it-offsies when it comes to the boy child.

Specifically, I was addressing Thaddeus' spoils of a four-day bout with laundry, and tossed several 3-6 month size stragglers into the "Don't Fit Me No More, Ma" pile. I did this without ceremony. Eh, he's too big for this. Good-bye! And as I was doing this, I realized that when Aurelia was his age, I shed a tear for almost.every.garment that made it into that pile. I would croon to myself or her (as if she was listening): 'You wore this the first time we took you to Target' or 'Remember spitting up on this at Grandma's house?' Yeah, it was that sad.

Part of it could be because he is growing so very quickly. The kid has already has his drawers rearranged four times in six months! Crazy Town! I think letting go of the newborn stuff was difficult, but that feeling of I can't believe how big you're getting! and My baby is already x months old! are not uber-present this time around. I love each new thing he learns, but not in the 'you're so amazing' way. It's more of the 'thank the gods we've made it this far on so little sleep' kind of way. Announcing my pregnancy, seeing those tiny little fingers on ultrasound, even delivering the little bugger were and remain some of the best times of my life. His bright eyes and smile, his fuzzy duck hair, the dimple in his cheek, are some of my favorite things in all the land. But it's gonna be fun when he's a toddler.

And that's part of what I think about
When I think about that kid (Ani DiFranco)