And then there were Two . . .

I've had two full term pregnancies. Both different in their own way, but pretty much all of the same stuff goes down. Here are the major differences I experienced this time around:

• I carried higher, meaning my ribs constantly hurt and my acid reflux was a raging mother
• I only had a gain of 30 lbs. versus the 40 lbs. I put on with Turner (Thank you pneumonia?)
• I didn't get the dark line going down the middle of my abdomen
• No pre-labor nausea and alot fewer Braxton Hicks contractions

Despite being ill toward the end, this pregnancy was much easier for me.

Labor and delivery were extremely different than what I experienced in the past. The differences:

• My water broke instead of having to be induced. Major plus. It wasn't uncomfortable at all and I didn't experience the huge gush like you see in the movies. Thank goodness!
• The labor was alot more intense and painful. I had a natural birth with Turner, but this time I went with the epidural. I thought to myself afterward, why didn't I do that the first time? It made labor so much easier!
• I only labored 7 hours versus 18 hours of labor I went through with my son. It seemed like it went very quickly.

It's early to tell if there is a big difference between my son and my daughter but so far my little girl has made life extremely easy. She sleeps 20 of the 24 hours in a day. I know this will wear off very soon, but what a blessing it has been. I'm enjoying my maternity leave very much. Last time, I was a little bit depressed and very stressed out. Since I'm now familiar with the duties of a mom, it's not as crazy. I find more things to do around home while she sleeps and I'm actually productive. I remember not getting out of my pajamas on my last maternity leave and wishing I could just go back to work for something to do. Not this time. I'm really going to enjoy being home.

Raising two children will certainly hold many new challenges for Tanner and I but I'm confident that we are going to be great at it.

Right now I am truly in love with my life and feel so blessed.