Life In Austin: Episode II

For those who didn't get blanketed with emails, Mrs. Austin and I are expecting our 2nd child. We found out a couple days ago, Mrs. Austin is 8 1/2 weeks along. The due date predicted is June 5th of next year.



JUNE 5th! That's like (Nov, Dec, Jan...) not very long from now!

I don't know what the protocol is for telling people, whether you have to wait 2 months or 5 months or just introduce the kid at parties, but we decided that the shock we were in was really prohibiting us from keeping a secret any better than the White House.

And it's Shock and Awe, I tells ya. Nothing like going into the Doc to check on a cold and he tells you you're pregnant. It's like saying "Pinch me, I'm dreaming" only to have 5 people punch you in the gut. We were absolutely sideswiped with this news, it coming on the heels of a LONG summer discussion on how having LMA around was good enough for us for a little while longer. We had thought of having more kids, at most one more, so LMA could have a sibling, but our current life was really getting good. We were taking small vacations and going back to school and following dreams, all the while still being able to pay the bills. LMA was 90% potty trained, and becoming quite self sufficient. It was pretty groovy.

Now before you send me hate mail about not loving #2, that's not what I'm saying at all. No one plans on getting pregnant the way you plan to see a movie. It can take months, years, and even then you question whether you can handle it or not. Overwhelmed would be a better word, but overwhelmed with caveats.

Second time around we don't have to worry about labor pains and if it's time to go. We'll know how to deal with diapers, teething, sleeping patterns, how to feed, how to nurse, how to do all things Baby. LMA was a learning experience, and I'm sure was a bit coddled and overly protected. #2 will be less so, just by nature. I'm pretty sure we won't be dangling them out a balcony window in front of the paparazzi, but we'll be a little more lax in our, how shall I say, neurotica protectiva.

Plus, the 2nd will have the benefit of having a play partner. LMA is going to be a great big sister. She's fun, sweet, happy. She always wants to help and wants to play. I'm sure there will be normal regression for her and (write this date down) I vow to not over look her needs or place either child's needs above the other. LMA is going to need extra attention, almost forced, because most of our focus is going to be on keeping #2 from rolling off the bed, sleeping on their face, feeding, etc.

It's going to be so much fun, though. Mrs. Austin is a great mommy and she's said I've been a good dad, so who's to say this is going to be anything but a wonderful romp through family life. She'll have cousins, grandparents, probably great grandparents. I think it will be really groovy.

Mrs. Austin will still be going to school, I'll still be drawing, we won't lose who we are, just be making more people that look like us.