The making of an older sister
Yesterday morning we dragged Leta out of bed very early in order to make it to my doctor's appointment on time. We had not mentioned a word about what's been going on, mainly to be cautious, although she's very observant and has asked me out loud in front of strangers why my boobs are so sore. And I tell her it's because Daddy won't stop looking at them. That is not a lie, I can feel him thinking about them, staring at them, wondering why all of a sudden they've doubled in size, and when I see him walking toward me my instinct is to hide. The weight of a cotton t-shirt can be paralyzing, so you can understand that I might want to avoid the gravitational pull of two eager eyeballs.
I thought that having her in the room during my appointment would be a great way to break it to her that come June life as she knows it is going to be over, and when the doctor found the wiggly baby in my abdomen Leta shouted, "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT BABY FROM?" I was lying on the table naked from the waist down having just been through a pelvic exam, and was not prepared at all to talk to my four-year-old daughter about her father's penis. So I lied.
"Magical elves," I said.
She seemed satisfied with that answer, enough to continue with her list of questions. "HOW YOU GONNA GET THAT BABY OUT?" she said with a concern that made it sound as if she remembered the exact moment her shoulders left my womb. I assured her that such a process was something she didn't need to worry about and was promptly interrupted as Jon pointed to a poster on the wall and told her it would come out my bunky. Awesome. Can't wait for my four-year-old's nightmares about spiders to be replaced with ones of menacing vaginal openings.
My doctor left the room briefly so that I could get dressed, and as I pulled on my black sweats Leta announced that she was willing to be nice to my baby. I thought that was very generous of her, and feeling safe enough to press my luck I asked her if she would feel that way even if it was a boy. "It's not a boy," she said confidently. "It's a little sister, and I'm going to share my toys with her." I certainly hope that Jon's semen got that memo.
Both Jon and I were almost giddy with relief as we walked out of the building toward the car, and several times we silently squeezed each other's hands. He was carrying Leta on his left hip and asked her if she was excited as we were about Mama's baby.
"Um..." she hesitated. "I'm excited about Christmas."
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Heather talks about public tantrums (from kids) on today's Momversation.
- RIP Louis Mortimer Armstrong: http://bit.ly/1R4tv6
- Hugs and kisses to you, too! RT: @Monkey_Tree: @dooce he probably committed suicide because he was tired of LISTENING TO YOU WHINE.
- Our fish just died. And I'm sitting here crying. And it wasn't even my fault!
297. Martha said:
Ok, this is sick (but you might like it Heather)
are you going to balance doocebabynumbertwo
on Chuck?
298. THE SUPER BONGO said:
YAY
299. snooze said:
Congrats! DOOCE!
As a "Number 2" myself. I am tickled that Leta will have a younger sister or a bro. Siblings are hell... and siblings are great.
cheers
sue
300. lexi said:
Congrats cats! Such great news. Leta always makes me laugh.
301. Beverly said:
let me be the 297th congratulation scream. I cannot believe I am so happy for you three. It's not like I will ever see you, or maybe I will. Kidding aside, so excited for you.
302. Kandice said:
CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you! Can't wait to read all of the quotes that are sure to be forthcoming. Yay!!!!
303. Anonymous said:
many congrats.
ummm...about that bunky...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=cat2_galley_1&listing_id=17560774
304. Vicki A said:
First of all, congrats!!! I love your website. I had to tell you, you made the Fail Dogs website with Chuck's picture with your pregnancy test. http://faildogs.com/ I wish Chuck was ours! He is awesome!!!
Take care!
305. happyhedonist said:
'one thing at a time, mom - I GET XMAS FIRST, RIGHT?' bwahahah!
my nephew evan was the same way about school. he was happy to go, happy to move on to the first grade after kindergarten, but he wasn't really on board until he got summer vacation, camping, fourth of july picnic, etc., the usual routine. oh my god, kid, of course you get to have summer first! were we rushing you?? i forget until he says stuff like that how little warning he gets of so many things.
also, his brother's name is what it is because it sounded so cute coming from his little lips. just so you have one more thing to look forward to. :D
306. Laurie in Idaho said:
CONGRATS!! So happy for you guys!
307. Catherine McP said:
Congrats to you! This will be great watching this unfold!
308. Joanna said:
I'm so happy for you and your family! How sweet that Leta's first impulse was to share. It wasn't in the cards for me to have more than one, but I was the oldest of three. I love them dearly.
309. Anonymous said:
Haha! Bunky! Oh congratulations you guys :)
310. Bethany said:
I hope in all my life nothing ever has to come out my bunky.
I am glad for you though.... that your bunky will deliver. I live vicariously through your bunky.
311. Dawn said:
When my daughter asked how the baby got out, I told her "very carefully." I am slightly ashamed to admit that I gave her the same answer when she asked me how the baby got in there.
312. Beth said:
My older daughter was a little younger than Leta when I was pregnant with my second daughter. The older one also wanted to know how we were going to get the baby out of my belly. My husband told her the doctor would help us get it out at the hospital and she accepted that at the time. She went around insisting the baby would be a girl, which she was. I didn't have a sonogram, so we had no way of knowing the sex of the new baby ahead of time. I was totally unprepared for how guilty I'd feel for having to take care of the baby when my older daughter needed attention. If I could do things over, I'd have my husband gradually do more for the older child toward the end of the pregnancy.
313. Shonda said:
I totally get Leta's reasoning:
New baby = sharing toys I already have
Christmas = being showered with a ton of new, awesome toys I don't already have.
She's a brilliant child indeed.
314. electricboogaloo said:
Just plain awesome. Huge congratulations.
And well, look what my two year old asked me about the baby in my tummy:
http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2005/06/20/oh-dear-lord/
315. Anonymous said:
And a four-year old knew it was a BABY! Thanks for reminding everyone!
316. Aurora said:
Congratulations!! Been following your blog for a while and I'm so excited for you! I'm also pregnant and due June 6th, so now I'm going to be even more obsessed with your blog!
317. Rina said:
I can't offer you enough love and support. Take it all! x
318. JennC said:
I'm a few days behind and just read the wonderful news! Congratulations to you and Jon!
319. Anna said:
Wow.. congrats to you and your family. Will be thinking of you and your new little one in the months to come.
320. Mr Furious said:
Awesome! Congratulations.
Our first was four when number two started baking—it's an IDEAL age gap.
321. bleachusd said:
Congratulations!
322. Starshine said:
I'm so happy for all of you, and it's wonderful to hear the excitement in your voice!
323. Amy said:
Yay Heather!!
My kids have been asking questions about baby growing lately so for the first time ever I told them all about it on a car ride home from day care.
I was explaining this to my six year old boy and four year old girl. He was a c-section and she was a vbac and they know this so they always kind of ask about those details since they got their own special entrances into the world.
This time when Noah was asking me about all that water that splashed out when the Doctors pulled him out, I said that it wasn't really water but amniotic fluid and I was trying to explain where a baby grows etc. etc. and he said, "Mom, can you stop talking now."
I realized that the truth is so much more boring to little kids then we fear it will be and I remember that I always knew technically how babies were made but it just seemed like something I probably would never have to worry about.
I'm so happy for you all!!!
324. Adi said:
awww too cute! I think she will make a great big sister, that is after Christmas is over..lol! I'm glad she took it so well.
325. Meredith said:
I want to be best friends with Kristina of comment 194 now.
326. Wacky Mommy said:
I'M EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS, TOO! What a quincidence!
And congrats, Heather A., to you and Jon.
327. Birdy said:
So sweet. I told my son even before I told my hubby for sure that I was pregnant--I made a shirt that said "I am gonna be a big brother" and had him wear it when he greeted Daddy at the door. He was excited about the whole thing. It wasn't till last year (or so) that he asked me if we could have a new baby girl so we could exchange her with his sister.
328. Avery said:
I'm so excited for you, Jon and Leta. As a new follower, I was surprised to see that I'm as excited for you as I am. Your voice on this blog is comforting and hilarious! Congrats and best wishes for the pregnancy. =)
329. Nhiro said:
Bunky.
Well, that's not a term I hear thrown around too often. But man, I'm excited for xmas too.
330. Jennifer said:
Congratulations! At least she's calling it YOUR baby. Since the day my son found about #2, he has been calling it HIS. And insisting it's a boy. Lucky for him, it is a boy.
331. Victoria L. said:
Wonderful news! Best of luck. I look forward to all updates, and especially to an additional series of "Your Life in Embarrassing Full Color Monthly."
332. joana said:
Congrats! I can also recommend What to Expect when Mommy is Expecting to help field all those difficult questions. Having a second child is a great experience. You're not quite a master parent, but you achieve journeyman status.
333. cindy said:
I am so very excited for you! :)
334. Belinda said:
I am so happy for all of you. What great news!
335. Laura said:
That is so wonderful! I can't wait to hear about future questions and how you're going to answer them!
BTW, you have a new fan of your website. My 2 and a half year old son asks to see "puppies" which means he wants to review recent Daily Chucks. He loves them almost as much as I do! Thank you!
Thank you also for your links to Momersation. That has also been quite helpful for me!
336. beck said:
I had a moment of wonder when I read the "Small Taste of What's To Come" post. Thought that title might have a double meaning. Congrats!
337. gorky said:
Congratulations! What a surprise. Did you tell us this was in the works before?
The Internet is always the last to know...
338. Vix said:
Aw Heather Congratulations on Number 2! (sounds like I'm congratulating you on beating a bout of constipation haha. But, I digress)
This might be a bit late, I haven’t read the most recent entries yet (I just discovered Dooce.com not all that long ago and am slowly still going through Ze Archives, and I’m only up to the Month Fourteen newsletter, so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!)
I had planned on not commenting until I’d caught up with all the old archives, but I just popped up the page and saw this entry and just had to say a huge congratulations!!
339. miss said:
yay for heather and jon and leta!!! i've read your blog since just before leta's birth. our daughters are mere days apart. what a journey we've both had.
so happy for you!
340. Marcie said:
Congratulations! Nice to hear some happy news....
341. phoenixc said:
That's awesome news! Congratulations, Heather!
342. Becky said:
Very excited for you and John and Leta. I can't wait to see what kind of baby quilt you'll have in the nursery. Its my favorite part... next to the baby.
343. jill uk said:
As I jiggle a one month old on my knee while she attempts to poo and I type with one hand and hope she doesn't wake my 19 month old lad, I feel it encumbant upon me to insist you get that in writing from Leta.
With the huge-est most joyful congrats.
xjill
Oh and I got Yukiko from seabreezestudio.co.uk whom you have previously recommended to make me a fab changing bag (diaper bag to you I think). I look the nuts.
344. Stephanie said:
So, congratulations! Oh, and I'm sure you have nothing to worry about with little Leta. Elves, storks, sperm--it's all the same to kids.
I miss the innocence!
345. Fern said:
Heartfelt congratulations!
346. jennielynn said:
I adore Leta.
347. dewi said:
Bring home candy for Leta after the baby is born and say the baby brought all this candy as a gift for her.
That's the way into a big sisters heart, candy and gifts!
348. thleen said:
The term "Bunky" is going to make me laugh all day.
You slay me and you are an awesome MOM!
349. Andrea Askowitz said:
I know I have to change my attitude and fast, I mean, a little sibling is the best luck a child could get, but I want to say, poor Leta. My almost 5-year-old daughter's rein is coming crashing down in 8 weeks. Poor Tashi.
Congratulations to you and Jon.
Love,
Andrea
350. Mommy said:
WHOOO HOOOO! I know you've received so many congrats by now that you won't see this, but again WHOOO HOOOO! Ya'll deserve great experiences like this.
351. Anonymous said:
What a wonderful early Christmas present. Congratulations to you, Jon, Chuck and Coco. Take good care of yourself.
352. Friday said:
I'm nearly eight months gone with my first and it amazes me that anyone with morning sickness would even consider doing this more than once - myself included! I was queasy all day, every day, for nearly four months, and couldn't hack most of the major food groups during that time, so I deeply sympathise with you. It's all worth it in the end, evidently.
Congratulations on this new little life you're growing, and best of luck with everything!
Friday
353. rosie_kate said:
I have never laughed so hard at a pregnancy post!
354. Analiza B said:
Congratulations! What a blessing!
355. Angie said:
If it's a boy you can always introduce her to Disney's Hercules or Peter Pan...
356. erin said:
no holiday booze for you! haha. I'm 29 weeks today so I'm feeling a little sorry for myself, missing out on all the holiday cheer.
Also, I hope you'll do those belly pics again like last time!
357. Jenni said:
Too funny!
I finally had to tell my daughter how the baby was going to get out when she started telling everyone that the baby was going to "crawl out of my mouth" when it was ready.
Looking forward to Leta's reaction to the whole experience.
Congratulations!
358. Shon said:
Congratulations!! I'm VERY happy for you & your Family. ;>
359. Esther said:
Sweet! I'm due May 10th (Mother's Day ironically) .. congrats on your little one. :)
360. Tuesday said:
Congrats!
361. Broke But Still Drinking said:
My older brother's allergies deprived me of Saturday mornings filled with cartoons and laughter because of weekend trips for shots. Please, whatever you do, see to it your youngest has a childhood filled with Saturday morning cartoons. You can never get those weekends back.
*sniff*
*sniff*
362. jaymejune said:
I seriously think this is one of the best blog posts you've ever written. I'm so happy for your growing family!
363. dgm said:
Fingers crossed for a healthy one, but especially a healthy boy. You three need something interesting to mix things up at the Armstrong household.
364. marianne said:
I used to tell my daughter that it's a secret and only the doctor knows how to get the baby out. That's why they have to go to so much school. She was 3 so it worked =)
Best wishes on your coming bundle of joy!
365. Leoneli said:
Congrats! The baby will be a big adjustment for Leta but she'll do just fine. I'm sure she can share her feelings with Chuck who will definitely give her all the support she'll need.
366. cara said:
CONGRATS! I hope I get to see that line soon, myself! I am really wondering, however, what happens with your meds and your depression when you are pregnant... Do you have to go off them? Change them? And if so, how are you doing with that?
367. Autumn said:
This is the best news I've heard all month!!! CONGRATS!!!
368. robinv said:
Come June she will be thrilled and relieved to find out that it is not another Coco!
Congratulations!
369. Karen said:
You've probably seen this website before, but I think it's incredibly clever.
http://www.nymbler.com/
You type in baby names that you like already (like Leta) and it tries to give you other suggestions. Some of them are pretty funny..
370. chere said:
Priceless!
Ginger for nausea?
371. Bill said:
Mmmmmmm, Christmasssss ...
It's good to have priorities!
BTW, without Christmas how are you going to have toys to share, hmmm?
372. Kristy said:
Heather,
"A long time reader first time poster"... Excellent news and best wishes to you, Jon and Leta. Congrats and can't wait to read all the new baby news.
373. Kaime Smethurst said:
You do not know me i am just a blog stalker of yours. And i think that is SO neat that you are pregnant. CONGRATS!!!
374. Amy said:
Yay! So happy for you all!
This baby will be so much easier -- everything is easier the 2nd time.
Be well.
375. Léonie said:
Wait, the magical elves can get you pregnant?
Shit, I am ending that affair in the North Pole at once.
www.leoniekate.blogspot.com
376. Lauren said:
Congratulations! I hope everything goes much better for you this time around. :hugs::
377. JennyM said:
Keepin' it real, that Leta...
378. miltoncat said:
My nephew (age 4) asked out of nowhere one night where babies came from.
His mom said "From mommies and daddies."
He said, "No! They come from home!" We got schooled.
379. Kate said:
OMGOMGOMG!!! I'm so excited for you!! Is that normal? To be so excited about the pregnancy of a person you've never met in real life? Because holy crap I'm excited!!
Someday you can tell mini-Blurbadooce that he/she was adored by thousands of strangers before he/she was even born (because that won't give your kid a complex...)
I'm so happy for you guys :D Can't wait to hear the inevitable Letaisms that come from this.
380. Bobbie said:
Am absolutely made up for you - fantastic news!! Glad Leta's taken the news so well! Hope there are no nightmares.
381. Luann said:
That girl has her priorities in order.
382. rita said:
My granddaughter went through this when she was 3. She was equally certain that the baby would be a girl. When the ultrasound showed that it was most definitely a boy, she insisted "There's another baby in there, a girl." There wasn't, and crying ensued. When the baby was born she was still insisting that there was a girl in there.
Congratulations!
383. Lisa said:
I don't know how I missed it, but this is the first I heard your great news -- congrats!!!!! I'm so happy for you -- I"m a pretty regular reader of yours, and, through you, of coolmom.com, and, now, of both of you on momversations (very cool project, by the way). I have an almost 3yr old, and your monthly notes to Leta make me cry -- still. Our girls are much alike, and I have to tell you that many a morning, knowing that her freakish need to wear a dress everyday (one that I refuse to consistently indulge) is not abnormal. Leta was like that too. When she's melting down that everything's BUGGING HER and that her PANTS ARE TOO LONG and her SHIRT IS TOO BIG, I remember that you went (go?) through that with Leta too. So you are, without knowing it of course, my soul sister in the parenting of a very smart, very willful, very expressive, peculiar little girl.
So I'm just thrilled for you and Jon, partly selfishly. We are pregnant too, actually, due in May, so I very much look forward to reading you during and beyond this next phase shift, expansion, nuclear explosion to our immediate family (Daphne too, whose posts on some aspects of gestating have been dead on and hilarious).
We just told our daughter last weekend, although we had been hinting around at it ("jordan, would you like a baby brother or sister someday??" etc.). Her invariable answer was that she wanted a sister. You can imagine our relief when CVS showed it was, indeed, a little sister -- not sure she really would have been OK with it otherwise, but I suppose she might have tolerated him. . .either that, or just dressed him in baby dresses and called him her sister anyway. ;-)
Best to you and Jon, and I hope you can relax your very understandable fears (i have never lost a baby, yet am terrified of it given that i"m 39) enough to enjoy this pregancy. I'm personally too tired from work and mommying to even remember that I'm preggo half the time -- usually choking down the prenatal each night is my big reminder. :-)
Anyway, I just wanted to say I adore dooce.com, I think you're wonderful, and I'm glad that there will be more Armstrongs in the world.
384. Tina B said:
Congrats Heather. I have 3 boys ages 10, 6, and 1. When I took the then youngest to the Dr. for my US and we found out that I was having another boy he got really upset. He stayed that way until I took him shopping and showed him all the little baby boy things. It's not all mean little boy stuff. Sending healthy, happy baby mojo your way. BTW, my sister is due with her first around the same time.
385. Maddie said:
Many blessings and congratulations to you and John!
And WOW has your family just exploded lately! New dog...and now... new baby. I'm so very happy for all of you.
386. Nancy R said:
Congratulations! Throwing out my personal recommendation for the book Hello Baby! since Leta is a book lover. Because of that book, by the time our second baby arrived our first could say "um bic lic ul cord", which was a fun party trick.
387. Kathryn said:
Wow, the love in this post (for Leta, Jon, and Baby Armstrong) is palpable. I hope I have something half as good someday. Congratulations doesn't begin to cover it. I've been a fan for a long time, and I've discovered that it's kind of a strange feeling to be overwhelmingly happy for a complete stranger, but oh well. Congrats again!!
388. kate said:
I'm tearing up, I'm so excited for you. But don't worry, I'm not a crazy, co-dependent stalker-type reader. Just highly, highly pregnant and mere days from officially making *my* little girl a big sister. I'll look forward to reading about Leta's growth into Big Sister - I can only imagine. There are times the comments my kiddo makes just crack me up (and often warm my heart - like playing peek-a-boo with the baby last night).
389. Jamie said:
I am so happy about this!!! Congratulations Heather. I hope Leta's prediction about a girl was right.
390. mpotter said:
That went well. Congratulations again. She'll definitely be a fun big sister to have.
It took Leta forever to notice Chuck. Don'tcha wonder how long the new baby will take to notice Leta?
Stay well.
And enjoy your last Christmas as a threesome.
391. Molly said:
Congratulations!! I'm pregnant and due w/our first in May...so excited for the upcoming months for you, Jon and Leta! Hey, since we're on the topic, how do ya get that baby out, anyway? ::runs off to research:: Congrats again!
392. Nikki said:
Well now it's going to be a boy. You just know it.
Leta is going to be an awesome big sister. I can just imagine the things she's going to teach her little sibling... it's kind of scary.
Congrats again!
393. Audubon Ron said:
Have to admit, I really hate it when parents lie to their children about where babies come from, like you did in your blog, you say, magic elves. Why can’t you tell her the truth? Everybody knows the stork delivers kids from various stores like my sister came from Nordstroms and I came from Sears. Everybody knows that.
394. Sandy said:
She may share her toys, but not her garbage ...
395. Catherine B. said:
Congratulations!!!
Leta will be the most amazing "big" sister!
I can't wait to read all about it :)
396. Michelle said:
Congrtatulations!!!!!!!
I was going to say "this is probably none of my business," but, since as Dooce you post all kinds of personal stuff, I guess it is.
I had NASTY PPD after my DD was born. I've been on meds ever since. I worked with my midwife and my psych. prescriber for a safe regimen for pregnancy, and stayed on them through my pregnancy with DS. I had to raise them a bit around week 23 or so, and have since returned to my previous level.
Guess what -- NO PPD this time!!!! Sure, I had stress, and some crying jags, but it seemed like "normal craziness," not "crazy craziness" IYKWIM. I also had a strong plan for getting enough rest/letting people help out, and I USED it.
Much luck to you and your family!!! I look forward to reading updates.
397. PositivelyAnna said:
I am new to Dooce and I love it! Congratulations on your pregnancy.
P.S. Michael Phelps is on the cover for GQ (very sexy) and he is going to be a new spokesman for Subway (not as sexy)
398. marie said:
I am preggo with baby number 4, due June 11. This first trimester stuff totally sucks... I hope you get to feeling better soon! Congrats!
399. Anne said:
I'm so excited about this...even posted the news on my Facebook page. (Do I need a life or what?)
Wish my daughter and husband would make a baby. That's it. I'll live vicariously through you!
Congrats to all -- even the fish!
400. Katie said:
I know you don't know me (but I guess that means I'm like most of your readers!) :-)...........
But I'm sooo happy for you!
Congratulations! I'm sure Leta is going to make an awesome (albeit hysterical and opinionated) big sister!
401. Elda said:
I, like many others, asked Santa for a baby sister. I already had an older and younger brother. Little did I know that Mom was pregnant.
A few weeks after my 5th birthday, despite everyone saying it would be a boy, my little sister was born. Sadly, she had a medical condition that consisted of her intestines being "stuck together" and she was unable to digest food. She was operated on as a tiny little baby and was kept in NICU for MONTHS. Mom spent most of her days with her and each and every time she came home I would run up to her in hopes that she would have my new baby sister in her arms. Each and every time she would look at me with tears in her eyes and say, "Not today." The day she finally did come home was the best!
Of course she grew up to be oh so annoying. And LOUD. Very LOUD. But twenty years later, we are finally getting along. It only took twenty years. LOL You can't beat the bond between two sisters.
402. Julie A said:
***PREGNANCY STORY**** hopefully this won't happen to you. But if it does it will be something great to write about. In my 6th month of pregnancy, my beautiful husband decided to remodel the only bathroom we had in our 120 year old farm house. Well it took longer than expected and for 1 solid week I had to go outside and sit on the commode in the yard to go potty. Oh those were the days!!!!!!!
403. Kelsey said:
Congrats! So happy for you guys!
404. shane_onegoodie said:
So, you know my husband and I are huge Dooce fans. We saw the announcement on the 19th - and the number of comments! Wow. You truly are loved. As a new blogger, I'm blown away. My husband said, "she got pregnant so that she'd have more to write about." Well more power to you if it's true! Looking forward to the posts! Congrats!
405. Real Julie said:
Love it! When my son was 2 and were pregnant with our second, he used to peek in my belly-button and swear the baby was waving at him. Now he is 5 and I am pregnant again, he has turned into my little "food nazi" and won't let me have coffee, cake, or any bad food! I have to sneak around my own kid just to get a bite of a donut!
406. Aimee said:
Congrats! I am sure she'll make a fabulous sister...even if it's a nasty boy she has to share toys with!
407. Jennifer said:
Ok we are going to need WAY more baby bump pictures.
Including one for today.
Now that Ashley Simpson has given birth and is no longer on "bump watch".
You are taking her place.
Hop to it woman!
408. Moltomom said:
I totally hear you regarding the boobs - I'm in my fifth month (with my second baby as well) and they're finally not as sore as they were in the beginning.
Congratulations to you all!
409. Elizabeth said:
That's a pretty big deal, Leta offering to share her toys. I mean, the baby might want to chew on her princess books! Or play with her gum wrappers! This could get very interesting, seeing how Leta handles there being another small human in the house. I can't wait to read all about it! :)
410. Katie said:
YAY! Congratulations!
411. Jillian Bandes said:
I disagree with Leta. Your new baby is way more exciting than Christmas. Christmas only provides limited fodder for your blog. So far, your child has provided TONS of WONDERFUL fodder for your blog.
412. Patience St. James said:
I was excited about the idea of a brother as Leta. 19 years later and I still don't like that little shit who had the temerity to be born male when I wanted a sister. Bastard.
413. Jennifer Litz said:
Maybe I should get preggers so my live-in boyfriend looks at my boobs again.
414. jlj said:
Congratulations!! That's wonderful!
415. Jenn said:
Hehe, we got the "where do babies come from?" question a few months ago. We're not pg again, but one of our friends is. I put it off for a bit, but after looking around for resources, I found that she should really know about it now, so I went to B&N. I know I needed help in the task, so check out the Planned Parenthood site for info. Good luck! And Congrats!
416. Trish said:
Oh my goodness! Congrats! I am a silent reader! And have been slacking on the reading lately! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
417. schmutzie said:
You are being featured Five Star Friday! http://www.fivestarfriday.com/2008/11/five-star-friday-edition-33.html
418. alayna said:
kid you not, i've been wondering if and when you were going to have your second!
congratulations!!! i'm very happy for all of you, chuck and coco included!
419. Anonymous said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI42LSbwc8E
420. Colleen said:
Does this mean you'll post TWO montlhy letters? Or does Leta's stop when you have #2
421. Jessica said:
"Seriously, Mom and Dad, let me get through one holiday at a time."
http://www.seejessrun.wordpress.com
422. Laura said:
us girls in the office are laughing out loud Heather at this great post. magical elves is the best answer ever. so happy for you and congrats on the wonderful news. isn't it amazing how life works?
423. Molly said:
Congratulations!
I'm a mom of 3 girls.. when the last one came, and the older two found out it was another girl.. they asked me to send her back and get them a brother! LOL
:)
Leta is going to be a GREAT big sister!
424. Jessica said:
Congrats! Newsgator also seemed to stop picking up the feed, so I've missed like a week. What a week to miss! I re-added the feed and it seems ok now. We'll see...
Again, congrats!
425. beyond said:
congrats
426. kelander said:
Seriously - what is with the sore boobs? I wanted to punch my husband even when he looked at them...
Congrats Armstrongs!!!!
427. DodiM said:
OK, the first time you come in to the room and Leta is holding a pillow over the babies face? It isn't because she wants the baby dead - but you'll want to be quicker on the response to crying little sibling in the future!! (Seems the noise grates on Big Sister's nerves. Especially if crying seemed to be pointed in their direction... "She was crying AT me!" And really, whats a girl to do?)
Oh!!!! I cannot wait!!!
428. Emma said:
I was trying to figure out why little old infertile me got so upset when I saw that picture of Chuck. I was so upset I actually burst out crying, whilst at the same time gesturing wildly to my husband (while he looked on aghast - yes, he was confused).
Then I figured it out today. The last time I got upset when somebody got pregnant was when my best friend got lucky the first month they tried.
I think that I might just think of you as my friend.
And there might just be the little fact that I initially started reading you blog when I was anticipating being a mother battling depression. Now I am just depressed at not being a mother!
Congratulations (sincerely) - I wish you all the best and hope things go more smoothly this time, mentally speaking.
429. Elizabeth said:
Congratulations!
One of the very few perks of infertility is that I anticipate that it will make this conversation a whole lot easier. When my daughter asks the inevitable questions about where babies come from I am looking forward to answering with a perky, "Why, from the laboratory of course!"
430. Donnat said:
Congratulations! I've been following your blog for what seems like forever. Totally in awe of your excellent photography skills and quick wit and thrilled to see that you'll be adding another little human to your life.
Donna
431. Diana said:
She's right, one thing at a time. Christmas comes first, and June is...well...a long time away.
Wish you many, many happy, memorable pregnancy moments!
432. Ida said:
Wow, congratulations!! I'm really happy for you! I especially look forward to "sharing" a pregnancy with you, since I'm pregnant too - due June 9. :) I hope you're feeling well and that you'll (we'll) have a smooth pregnancy!
433. Miz Booshay said:
Gosh, you're funny!
Write lots and lots about being pregnant.
It cracks me up.
434. Deidre said:
Bunky - so, that's what the kids are calling it these days ;)
Congratulations again!
1297. Here's a Gem said:
Congrats to the Armstrong Family. Nothing like a new addition to fuel hilarious new content! I can't wait to hear all about the pregnancy and to meet the new personality in the family. I'm sure your stories will both make me miss having babies and make me glad I'm done!
435. Bull's Eye said:
I've just discovered your website. It's mindblowing how many comments you get on every single post! Reading them all must already be a daytime job :-)
436. Melissa said:
awwwww CONGRATS! you made my day!
we have #3 due in April!
437. Amy said:
Congratulations!
438. Sharon said:
We have two wonderful, adopted children. When our son was around 5 years old, he kept asking if we could please get a baby sister for him. He asked over and over again, and started saving special toys and things for the sister he wanted.
When the social worker came out to the house to tell us there was finally a baby girl for us, our son's first words were "I don't want any baby spit on MY STUFF!"
But he adjusted!
439. beckyhigh said:
Congrats!
As the big sister in my family, I am eternal grateful to my parents for providing me with three little minions, er, I mean brothers. When Leta realizes she will have a little person who will worship her and do her bidding, she'll be down with it.
440. Sheenah said:
I'm so happy for you! I'm not sure if you read this far into the comments but I am the crazy person who has been reading all those archives. My husband and I are planning on a baby soon and I have to say that reading about everything you went through makes me feel like even if some things go wrong, I am not alone. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
441. Rissa said:
I'm excited for Christmas, too. ;)
Your kids being over four years apart is going to be wonderful for you. My little sister and I are 5 1/2 years apart which was great for my mom. I was able to help out a TON, acted as an additional teacher in her life, etc. It's also nice when college rolls around and you're only paying for one child's tuition at a time. You also get to experience your children separately since they will be doing much different things at different times. I'm so excited for all of you, but especially Leta. I know how close I am with my sister, and its a bond unlike any other. Yeah, she pisses me off, and we're complete opposites.. but its still very special.
And I remember when my mom was pregnant with my little sister, and everyone (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, friends' parents, teachers, etc.) would ask me, "Are you excited to be a big sister?" That question got SO OLD! But I still remember when I saw my sister for the first time, and she was wearing pink pajamas with a pink bow jellied to her bald head. ;) Besides seeing my own daughter for the first time, that's one of my favorite memories. I'm so excited for Leta.
442. How to develop self discipline said:
Leta is going to be a big sister! Watch out Leta - it's all it's cracked up to be!
TDM
443. Jenn said:
Good answer, Leta. Always tell the truth. You've got the concept down pat.
444. Tara said:
I am so, so happy for you!
445. Katy said:
Salvation. I just found out I am seven weeks along- and in hopes of distracting myself from my impending House Arrest of Motherhood- decided it was time to check up on my favorite Blogger. You too huh?
My due date is July 1rst, My breasts are like plastic surgery huge and if someone three blocks away eats turkey I will puke for three hours. It's going to be a happy thanksgiving. I'm terrified, I'm excited, I'm oh so sick to my stomach- But in a weird way I no longer feel alone. This may not be joining a support group or getting coffee- but at least i'm not alone.
446. puppies for sale said:
I am looking forward to all the photos and stories that I'm sure you will be sharing in the coming weeks and months. Good luck for it all.
447. Safenetvisit said:
Congratulations!
448. Tara said:
I am so, so happy for you!
449. Michelle said:
Heather, Jon and Leta-Congratulations! Heather I have been reading your blog for about 6 months and love everything about it! I don't have any advice for Leta asking about where the baby comes...I will just say that everything you say to Leta (that you share) is so priceless and witty I love it! You are such a great mom in such a real way! I could go on and on! God Bless and Congrats again! Can't wait to hear all about the pregnancy!
450. Kiley said:
congratulations, Heather and Jon! I'm sure the next several months with Leta are going to be quite interesting.
451. sheryl said:
My 4-year-old niece asked how I got the baby in my belly. I told her that her uncle and I put it there. She was satisfied with the answer, but I was nervous.
She also insisted that the baby was going to be a girl, but we're having a boy! She fine with it now, but not so much at first. She keeps talking about her cousin and is excited about the baby. I'm due March 29th.
Congrats! And good luck.
452. BOSSY said:
Aunt Bossy thinks Leta has her priorities totally together.
453. Emily said:
Leta is a character, to say the least. I wish I possessed even half her wit...or maybe she just reads witty from my adult perspective. Whatever the case, I love reading your adventures in parenthood, guaranteed laughs with every post. Thanks for sharing~Congratulations on the pregnancy!
454. Jessica said:
Woo hoo! Best wishes with everything.
455. babyhavinbabies said:
congrats on your new addition. to avoid all the awkward questions i had my babies 12 months, a week and a day apart. so i didn't do it on purpose, per se, but i guess that's one of the benefits of having them superclose. some advice: wear long socks to avoid psycho middle of the night leg cramps aka. baby trying to jump ship through your calves. mine were worse with my second baby...
456. Shannon said:
So I haven't checked your site in a few weeks, and before I visited I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be funny if something major happened like she got pregnant since I visited?"
SHOWS THAT I SHOULD VISIT MORE OFTEN, HUH?!
457. amy boring said:
congratulations!
ever heard of Carrie Sandoval?
:)
458. jess said:
SORRY ABOUT THE SORE BOOBS!!! That all comes with your territory! Congratulations on the baby in your womb hot MAMA.
459. Jeppe said:
I wish you a safe a healthy pregnancy.
Congrats!
460. Joe in Australia said:
Mazel tov! You should only have good things and plenty of nachas.
461. Jen said:
Your new baby is due in June - and in the June picture of your new bird calendar from Etsy is a stork-like bird holding a little baby bird in a cage in its beak.
Coincidence? Yes. Freaky coincidence? Surely!
Lots of Love- The Pedant :)
ps. So thrilled for you three!
pps. Leta is probably right.. kids always are. My son said he was having a little sister, and he did. However two days ago he said he was having another little sister, and my husband went running for the hills.... ;)
462. Anonymous said:
It's pretty lame that you almost always have comments closed until you are looking for all of the ass kissing over your pregnancy.
463. Anthony James Barnett - author said:
I wonder if Jon realises he has a 'magic elf'? Nice post. The things kids say....
Just shows how down to earth they actually are though. Much more resilient than we give credit - and get their priorities right as well. Christmas is much more important!
464. ProudMary said:
YAY! I'm so glad this has happened for you. Coco is in for a rude awakening.
465. bev said:
When my daughter was born, my oldest boy - who was then 2-ish - came to the hospital and said: "Mom stay at the hospital?" When we said no, I was coming home he said; "Baby stay at the hospital?" No again. Every time we passed that hospital on our way to ANYTHING he'd point it out and ask if we could stop by and drop little sister off.
He's 13 now and has a little brother as well. When we pass by the hospital, he takes his iPod off his head and shouts from his kingdom in the back of the minivan: "Hey mom! Can we drop 'em off TODAY?!"
466. christine said:
Anonymous seems to need a hug.
467. Elizabeth M. said:
Congratulations! This is how I know you it's been years since you've had a baby in the house - the post about magnets included the dangers of magnets for dogs... :-) Since I currently have a baby who puts every single darn thing in her mouth, my first thought when I saw those cute magnets was "Uh, yeah, not for a few years!"... It takes a while to get back into baby mode - luckily, you have lots of time!
468. Pranjal said:
Congratulations and Luck!
469. nikol carlson said:
I'm exceited about Christmas AND reading up on your new adventures with baby 2. Congrats momma.
I will not even scare you will tales of woe. I have three kids and happily at 4,5 and 7 they are very best friends and do everything together. I hope for this kind of joy for Leta. It is good stuff to watch.
470. Laurel said:
I'm hoping you read every comment because I want you to know how much I love your photography - it often ends up as my screensaver (which is amazing because I have the most adoreable grandchildren, and the latest picture of my 6-month old granddaughter as a baby chick for Halloween is cuter than anything). Your pictures of the SLC area are especially good for my soul since I grew up there and now reside in a desert wasteland, but the one of Chuck balancing a colander on his head is an all-time favorite that I throw on my screen every so often for a needed laugh. Thank You! And congratulations on your pregnancy!
471. Anonymous said:
Congratulations Heather. I love your blog! I can not wait to read all of the posts about pregnancy, especially since I too am pregnant and due on June 15th! It will be so nice to enjoy your stories as I am going through similar things at the same time! Thanks for putting a great blog out here for us to read!
472. Rachel said:
Congratulations! I read through all your Leta pregnancy posts just before I got my positive test, and loved every one, and now there will be more! I'm due in March so I'm a little ahead of you, but this is my first. I can't wait to hear what it's like with the second one. I'm really happy for you!
473. Anonymous said:
I'm reminded of the story my grandmother loves to tell about my sister and I. We are six years apart, but born on the same day. When she asked me if I was excited that my sister was born on my birthday, my responce was, "Yes, but I need my own cake." Congratulations!!!
474. Lisa said:
Wonderful, I wish you three the best! I'm so excited for you!!!
475. leah said:
YAY! not sure why i'm so giddy about it since we are basically strangers but i am and there isn't much to be happy about some days so i choose THIS :)!
476. Tracy said:
I look away for two seconds and look what you two have been up to!! Congrats! I'm a few months ahead of you, due in March. Hope all is well with your little parasite, and that you're feeling good!
477. Caroline said:
I'm excited for Christmas AND YOUR BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
478. Michelle said:
Congratulations to you all! You know, when I got pregnant with number two my firstborn insisted it was a boy and he was right. Maybe she knows something you don't.
I'm so excited to follow you through another pregnancy. I found your blog when you were pregnant with Leta and I've been reading ever since. Helped me get through my own first pregnancy and subsequent post partum and I'm eternally grateful for that.
1298. Anonymous said:
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479. Karyn said:
Congratulations!
I'm due in June too - but on the 26th.
480. Bonnie said:
Congratulations! My daughter will be two on June 13th, just before your due date and Im pregnant now as well and due May 27th.
481. Hannah said:
Congratulations! Leta sounds like she's going to make an awesome big sister! :)
482. Anne said:
You know, I remember when my mother got pregnant. They gave me books at kindergarten to try and prepare me. 21 years later and I still haven't quite forgiven my brothers for being born.
I love them. But you know, those wounds we encounter at 3 and a half never really leave us . . .
Congratulations!!! :)
And to Leta, good luck on your adventure into 'big sisterhood'. The bright side? You get to pull rank for the front seat of the car - may "eldest in the front!" be your motto, as it remains mine.
483. Carolyn said:
Congratulations Heather, Leta and Jon! I like the ending of this special news (you and Jon squeezing each other's hands ... :) that's sweet :)).
All the best to you all in the coming months!
oxox
Carolyn
136080. Anonymous said:
Congrats!
Bunky-wise: as a little girl for a long time I was sure that newborn babies are no bigger than a kitten. And that they somehow "swell" by the time they leave the hospital. By the time I learned the truth about the gory details I was old enough to handle it.
484. Karen Putz said:
Congrats! May the rest of your pregnancy be smooth and the boobs stop hurting.
485. GoGo said:
yay! congradulations. :).
486. tricia nugen said:
congrautlations! Kids say the most honest and wonderful things. sometimes I wish it was a quality we as adults didn't loose!
487. Sandy said:
I'm so very excited for you! I spent 3 years cultivating my oldest daughter to be a very demanding only child before I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd. She also very matter-of-factly informed me "that's my baby sister" when I explained there was a baby living in my belly. She was absolutely right - and she does share her toys and teaches her sister the alphabet and how to count to 10 in Spanish along with Dora.
Leta may fight the initial changes at first, but later she'll take on what is almost like an ownership role of her younger sibling which is more amazing to watch than her obsession with gum wrappers.
488. phhhst said:
My daughter (now 19) still thinks there was some big freaking karma mix up and feels a bit jilted about getting a brother and not a sister. His 16 year self is not helping with all the inappropriate sophomoric humor at her expense.
489. Danielle said:
The other day, I was over at a friend's house. Their 4 year old has recently discovered tickling, and was tickling my stomach. I asked him if he was tickling the baby and he stopped and gave me a puzzled look.
"There's a baby in there?"
When I told him there was, his next question had me laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.
"How did you eat that baby?"
Kids are awesome.
490. Therese said:
I love that she hesitated. Obviously, she realized that it was probably not the right answer, but went with it anyway. Hooray for courage, kid.
Also, I do believe that was as excellent a time as any to bring up the stickier aspect of the birds and the bees. Her next question will probably be how they are made. Super, eh?
491. raf said:
Congratulations!
Can we see a picture of you with your new boobs? All this talk about them I am curious. No offense meant.
492. Kritter Krit said:
Congrats! I'm so excited for you guys!
The picture of Chuck and the pregnancy test made me snort.
Leta as a big sister - oh man, that should be better than loaded nachos! I can't wait!!
(Pardon the exclamation points. We're trapped in a hotel in 2 degree Minnesota, and I've had one too many mocha cappuccinos.)
493. Jazzy said:
I remember when I was pregnant with my second, my eldest son asked how we were going to get the baby out and I told him;
"He'll fly out through my belly button" and now he's deadly afraid of his own LOL.
494. Jess said:
Hey there,
Long time reader, first time poster here and I just wanted to say that as someone who never wanted kids herself, I have recently decided that if I could get one from the same store from which you got Leta, well I might reconsider my stance. So let me know how this next one works out and see if you can grab me a business card from the place you got it... Because really, that girl, she's a keeper.
495. Annie said:
Ha, ha, had. Two words for you, Heather - SIBLING RIVALRY! Oh, and one more....congratulations.
496. pogonip said:
Leta has the right idea--one thing at a time. By the time she's finished looking forward to Christmas, she'll be excited about Valentine's Day, then Easter. Life without holidays to look forward to will get boring then, so about Flag Day she'll absolutely be ready to be a Big Sister. And number two will be so completely the opposite of her big sister that you'll be amazed. Congratulations to all of you!
497. Christina said:
Well, for Leta's sake I hope it's a girl. I couldn't imagine not having my sisters, they're my best friends.
But then part of me really hopes you have a boy. I have three and they're just amazing.
Congrats and best wishes!
498. Anonymous said:
I used to love coming to this blog, but nowadays, it is never updated. There will be days and days without an entry.
Once loved,
Since losing interest
645408. Pffft said:
Anonymous, you're a bit of a twat, aren't you?
499. Sim said:
My step son assures me that he will just turn my expected daughter into a boy after she comes out. Failing that he has offered me some of his seed to make a boy since Daddy's seed was not the right kind.
I am sure he has this picture of plant seeds that I swallow with a chicken egg to make a new baby.
I thanked him for his generous offer and said that she would likely stay a girl unless she had surgery as a grown up and that he should keep his seed for when he was a grown up like Daddy and give it to his wife. To which he responded "ewwwwww! blerk! I don't want to get MARRIED!" - just like his Dad :)
500. Kirsten said:
So I take a Dooce break to lick my Republican wounds...and look what happens - yay! I'm happy for you and your family. I once read an interview where Martha Stewart said her only regret in life was not having more children (well...that was before her stint in the slammer...). I wish I'd had more, but two is great, and there have been plenty of crazy hectic moments when I've said, "...and I wanted three?"
501. The Sparkly Queen said:
I am so happy for you and your family! I am also looking forward to the wild things I know Leta will say during this process. Thank you so much for sharing your joy and pee stick with us!