Second pregnancy and beyond

You can't tell from my face in that photo, but I was reading it very expressively. But I'm sorry. Is she yawning?

When you're pregnant with your first kid, it's a big deal. You announce to everyone that the fetus is now the size of a ping pong ball, and there is great hubbub. You get nine or ten baby showers. Random people want to touch you.

With the second pregnancy, it's "So...do you know if it's a girl or boy? No? Are you going to find out?" The subtext is "Talk to me when it at least has identifiable genitalia" with a hint of "This again?" Don't get me wrong: It's kind of how we feel too. I can't imagine a baby shower for this pregnancy. We have everything. I suppose if it's a boy, people might want to buy us blue stuff. Probably most won't, though, and that's fine with me.

What do people say when you announce you're pregnant for a third time?

"I am so, so sorry."

"Actually," the mother-to-be responds, "it was planned."

An awkward silence.

"Seriously. We've always wanted three kids. We might have a fourth."

"Oh. Well, I'm late for a meeting."

In other news, Lyla's canned smiling is steadily improving.