I am very excited about today’s guest post. Not only because it is filled with the loveliest news but because it comes from one of our very own Rock My Style team members, Lisa. I’m not going to say much more other than please give Lisa a big welcome for her first post over here on Rock My Family. We may be seeing a little bit more of her over on these pages.
It’s with a little bit of nervousness and a whole lot of excitement that I peek out from behind my computer screen and say a big hello to you guys, the Rock My Family ‘family’. I’ve been writing for Rock My Style since March now and I feel like I just about know the ropes but RMF is a whole different ball game: it’s not just writing about gorgeous interiors and pretty dresses and life-changing beauty products, this time it’s personal. Because I’ve got a little announcement to make … I’m pregnant!
If you’ve read any of my previous posts then you may know that I’ve already got a little girl – two-year-old Lyra – who is a whirlwind of vivaciousness and energy, but also the kindest soul. She would share her last chocolate button with you. (She takes after her dad. My Cadbury’s buttons are MINE). Seriously though, it makes me want to cry just thinking about how much I love her. She has taken the news excellently, kisses my tummy on a daily basis and wants a sister (obviously) called Peppa Pig/Cinderella. If you lovely readers have any tips on how to make the transition as smooth as possible for her I would massively appreciate it.
This pregnancy has been so completely different to my first that, foolishly so or not, I’m pretty convinced it’s a boy. With Lyra I didn’t have one bit of morning sickness. This time round, I spent weeks on end feeling nauseous. I’ve also been so much more emotional. You know the Good Deed Feed in the Metro newspaper? I have a tear in my eye every time I read it. The other people on the train must think I’m mental.
My attitude towards this pregnancy, rightly or wrongly, has also been very different. The first time round, I had a list of foods-to-avoid-whilst-pregnant saved in my phone which I stuck to religiously. To the extent that I avoided eating most shop-bought sandwiches in case they contained mayo made with unpasteurised egg. The first time round, I had all the apps – the Baby Center one, the Name Berry one, and I got stuck into books like What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Your Baby Week By Week. Now my current bedtime reading material is The Unmumsy Mum. The first time round, I practised pregnancy yoga from 12 weeks. This time round, the closest I’ve come to yoga is watching Waybuloo with madam.
Well I have the 20 week scan this week so I will be finding out whether my intuitions about the sex are right. I am going to look pretty silly now if it’s a girl but hey … Lyra will be delighted. And it’s a cliché but of course all we are really hoping for is a healthy baby.
I would love to hear your thoughts on mother’s intuition. Did you ladies have a strong feeling about the gender of your baby/babies and were you right?
Image by Klaudia Photography.
Oh what wonderful news! Congratulations! I am always so happy for new pregnancy announcements. I had a feeling I would have a boy from week 10 and sure enough I have an amazing 10 month old boy now! Enjoy the second half of the pregnancy and I am looking forward to reading more from you here too!
Thanks Anja! Pregnancy announcements are always lovely aren’t they. Congratulations on your little boy, well done for making it through the hard newborn stage! x
Congratulations!!! I was the same as you- I have a 2 year old girl and my pregnancy was different to my first. I felt more sick and craved different things. I also carried differently. I had a boy.
My little girl was only 20 months when he was born, so the advantage of a small age gap was that she didn’t really understand that there was a baby in my tummy. However my tip when she comes to visit you in hospital would be to have the baby in the cot rather than on you. Although when I introduced my daughter to her new baby brother she looked in the cot and said (really loudly on a busy maternity ward) ‘Oh NO!!!’
Our thoughtful friends and family also bought round a small gift for her when they visited which made her feel special.
Congratulations again- looking forward to seeing if it’s a ‘Cinderella’ or perhaps a ‘George Pig?!’
Xx
Thanks Rebecca!
Brilliant tip – I would never have thought to have the new baby in the cot rather than on me or Rich. Giggling at your little girl’s reaction – bet the midwives see a lot of that and probably much worse! Just hope she doesn’t react like one of my stepsisters did when she met her new little baby sister for the first time – she said something like “I’m going to pinch this baby very slowly”!
Lyra’s suggestion for a boy’s name yesterday was George and I initially thought it was not a bad shout but now I know why! Ha ha x
Huge congratulations Lisa what AMAZING news.
Your experience is so similar to mine- my good little girl was no bother at all, one little rush to the loos in John Lewis (never knowingly under vomited) and that was it. This time I had terrible sickness and the bump is so different- all low and bulgy not high and neat. I was convinced it’s a boy as a result.. tell you in March if we were right!
Also hear you on the pregnant prep. Less religious pregnacare, more curly wurlys. Ah well.
Thanks so much for writing about your lovely news ???
Aaah so you are leaving it as a surprise? Wish I could have your patience!
Yup more curly wurlys, and more haribo, and more junk food in general…oh dear x
No… we know but are being mean and keeping it to ourselves as we didn’t really want to know but it was very obvious ?
Oh yay, congratulations. It’s going to be lovely to read how your pregnancy progresses. We’re currently 15weeks and counting down the days to our “20 week” scan (which we’ll be having at 19 weeks).
Thanks Cat and congratulations back at you! Yey to being past the first trimester x
Congratulations Lisa! What a lovely news to come back to after a few days off work. My second pregnancy is very different to my first too, I was so sick with my little girl but only felt a bit nauseous this time around so let’s see what that means. I definitely have a more relaxed approach this time – not because I don’t care but I guess I have a lot more confidence in my body to do what it’s meant to do and also with a 2 year old charging around there really isn’t much time or energy left for pregnancy yoga. When I’ve asked Anna if she would like to have a baby at home she said she wanted a dinosaur scooter – it’s still early days for us so she has plenty of time to get used to the idea and perhaps even get a dinosaur scooter for Christmas. Good luck at your 20 week scan – it’s so exciting seeing the baby again.
What a lovely comment, thanks Kat 🙂
Isn’t it funny how different these pregnancies can be. With you on the a) being more relaxed – which hopefully will be the same when baby number two is here – and b) not having the time or energy this time round!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and have a lovely Christmas with Anna (and possibly this dinosaur scooter which I think sounds immense!) x
Congratulations Lisa – what lovely news! We must be due around the same time as I just had my 20 week scan yesterday. It’s my first baby so I didn’t have anything to compare the pregnancy too but all I know is anytime I was in baby shops, I was drawn to the boys section. I’d decided I was going to buy the first outfit yesterday after the scan and had about 20 options for boys outfits and absolutely nothing if it was a girl! I started to think maybe this was a sign and lo and behold it is indeed a boy (I managed to resist buying all 20 outfits and just settled on a few!) Congratulations again – looking forward to following your journey x
Hi Kate – I think I saw your announcement on Insta – congratulations! Gorgeous scan pic 🙂
I was exactly the same as you the first time round but was drawn to the girl’s stuff. However I did not have your will power and I went a bit crazy buying tiny girly outfits!
Yey for April babies x
Ah yes you probably did – thank you lovely. Oh I’m sure I will go crazy over the next few weeks/months. Just keep thinking of all the things I need to buy but all the cute little clothes are just so adorable!
Can’t wait to hear what you’re having this time around and if your instincts are right! x
[…] I’m trying to work out now how to get a yellow radiator in my life! In other news, the lovely Lisa is over on RMF today sharing some amazing […]
Ahh congratulations Lisa! (I love your posts on RMS by the way) I’ve just had my second baby 10 weeks ago and I have a 2 year old little girl too. During the pregnancy I just tried to mention the baby to her every day and encourage kisses etc and encouraged her to look after her dolls and be gentle! ? She’s been fine since her little brother arrived, a bit of jealousy here and there but I’ve just had to make lots of effort to give her one on one attention and loads of cuddles. Re the gender, my pregnancy was very similar both times (lots of nausea and sickness!) and I thought it was going to be another girl but out popped a boy! Hope your scan goes well and the rest of your pregnancy ? X
Thank you Sara, how lovely to hear that you’re a RMS reader too.
Congrats on being a mommy again, it sounds like your little girl has taken well to her new brother. I’m hoping and thinking Lyra will be the same, although she loves being chucked around and swung by her feet etc, she can be gentle when she has to be 🙂 x
Congratulations on your news. Love hearing about new pregnancies, i hope the rest of it goes well. I have 2 little ones 17 months apart and both pregnancies were exactly the same but first had a girl and then a bit. So you never know. I was convinced my second was a girl as I felt the same as my first pregnancy. To introduce little Austin we made a real fuss of Robyn and bought her a doll with nappy, nappy bottle etc so she copied everything I did with the new born and felt involved. To the extent she tried to breastfeed her doll which was super cute. Hope it all goes well, take care. X
Thanks Louise! Think we will be adding a new doll and nappy and bottle to the list of stuff-for-Lyra’s-Christmas-stocking then 🙂
How funny that your two pregnancies were the same but you ended up with pink and blue.
Loving your little ones’ names, I have got a list of possible names in my phone so I am always on the lookout for nice ones x
Congratulations, exciting times!
I had a very different pregnancy second time around – I was much more nauseated (I spent a significant amount of time laying very still on my bed or breathing deeply over the kitchen sink; the advantages of working from home!), my back was sore, my bump was all out front instead of wide. I went into the 20 week scan convinced I would be having a boy this time with lots of names picked out… lo and behold, another girl! Just goes to show that you really can’t tell. Our firstborn came up with some great names for the baby too, which strangely didn’t get used…
Ha ha this did make me smile Sara. I know EXACTLY what you mean about the lying very still on your bed thing!
Oh and Lyra’s latest suggestion for the baby’s name is Rapunzel.
Congratulations! I’m at a really similar stage to you – I have a 2 year old daughter, and just had my 20 week scan last week, but we’ve kept the make a surprise. It meant we finally told our daughter the news at the weekend and it was lovely to see her excitement and now, her wandering around with a teddy stuffed up her top because it’s in her tummy 🙂 So far this pregnancy’s been really similar to my first, save for excessive tiredness, so maybe that’s a sign that we have another girl on the way. Last time round I was absolutely certain we were having a boy, but out popped my daughter instead. This time I’m not sure I can imagine what I’d do with a boy! Good luck for your scan!
Ahh how lovely, what did she say? (When we told Lyra she just carried on eating her pancake).
Yup I feel like I will struggle with nappy changes etc if it’s a boy this time!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x
Congratulations Lisa! Can’t wait to hear if your intuition is right x x x
Thanks Claire B! My intuition is quite often really wrong so we will see! x
Hi Lisa, I too have a 2 (and a half) year old daughter and the question has popped up a few times about when (or if) we’re having another. My husband is quite keen however i had it in my head that we would just be a happy family of 3. Were you nervous making the leap to the next baby? I worry about money, space in the house, going back to the start again, taking another year off work when i’m now just getting back into it again. I guess with things getting easier at home, it scares me to start again! Interested to hear your thoughts xx
Really good question Catherine. It’s never a decision you can take lightly is it? Rich was the same as your husband (he wants five. It ain’t happening!). It was only this year, after Lyra turned two, that I really started to contemplate a second baby. And even now, I’m wondering if it’s the right time – I love both my jobs and love being a family of three and I feel like we’ve finally got a good balance…but then is there ever an ideal time? However when I weigh it up and think about how nice it will (hopefully) be for Lyra to have a sibling I am pretty sure we are doing the right thing. It’s such a personal thing though, and bringing up kids is the hardest job ever. I guess it’s a big question for you and your hubby. Well good luck with it all and would love you to keep us updated. x
Congrats Lisa! I’m 10 weeks with our first so nothing to compare to, only my friends’ pregnancies – so worse than useless really! Hilarious tip from my mum re: names thought up by siblings to be – when my mum was pregnant with my little sister, I really wanted to name her Lucy, my favourite name; I went on about nothing else (apparently). However my parents didn’t like the name – so they bought me a toy (oddly a wooden fish on a stick, but I’m sure a teddy/doll would do!) and of course, I named it Lucy – and couldn’t possibly have a fish on a stick AND sister called Lucy – just think of the confusion! My sister would obviously have to be called something else! Crisis averted… 🙂
Lol, what else to buy but a fish on a stick?!
Are you still a fan of the name Lucy if you have a girl? Both my best friends are called Lucy so the name’s up there for me x
Hi Lisa, hope you are well. Firstly congratulations on your amazing news brightening our day on this dull cold winters morning. I said from the word go of my second pregnancy that I was having a boy. Everything about it was different. I didn’t find out at our 20 week scan. After a long 42 week pregnancy I finally said hello to my baby boy. My little girl was 3 at the time and she was absolutely fine. Family and friends made a little more fuss of her than normal which I think helped. Caleb was in the hospital cot when she met her baby brother for the first time, and we hid a little toy at the bottom and said it was from her new baby brother just for her. She said thank you and gave him a kiss. She was so protective and helpful once we were home. They are now 7 and 4 and fight like cat and dog but that’s another story, I know they love each other really. I’m now being asked by my daughter for a baby sister ?
Take care. Look forward to the pregnancy updates. All the best for your 20 week scan.
Cassia your lovely comments made me cry! (I told you I was emotional).
I was the same with Lyra – adamant she was a girl from the word go.
Definitely, definitely, definitely going to hide a little toy at the bottom of baby’s cot from him/her to Lyra. xx
Congratulations Lisa. My little boy Toby wanted to call his baby sister Olaf! We devided on Edith! We bought him a present from her which we gave to him when he came to visit her in hospital. I also got him involved in getting things ready for her arrival and he loved to talk about all the things he was going to teach her because he was the big brother!
Hee hee, I’m surprised the names Anna and Elsa haven’t been mentioned now you say that!
Great points – I’m sure Lyra will be chuffed to ‘teach’ her little brother/sister stuff x
Wow I could’ve written this myself haha! You’re approach to pregnancies 1 + 2 are exactly the same as mine to a dot! This time around I was convinced I was having a boy as I’ve never felt so awful, but we are having another girl (much to my husbands horror of how to deal with so many hormones in the house!) we are now a week away from d-day agggh!! My husband said from the start it was a girl so I guess his intuition must be better than mine! Our daughter Everly is almost 18 months so the concept of a sister isn’t really there yet, she will kiss and cuddle the bump and say ‘hello baby’ – then again she also does this to her dad and grandads bellies haha! I’m looking forward to watching the girls grow up together, I’m hoping they’ll be close with the small age gap, as opposed to stealing each other’s clothes and bickering!! Good luck with your pregnancy!!
Hee hee no way Janine, we’ve had such similar experiences! Like your husband, Rich has said all along that it’s a girl (however UNLIKE your hubby Rich secretly wants to be the only boy in a house full of girls, alpha male and all that…). And Everly was even on my list of girl’s names first time round, it’s so pretty!
Good luck with D Day! x
Congratulations Lisa, so pleased for you! Looking forward to hearing all about your pregnancy on these pages. It’s lovely that Lyra is so happy about your new arrival – Zoe will be two in January and I’d love another, but not sure she’d be so keen judging by the scene she made when I held my friend’s new baby last week! 🙂 x
Ha ha oh dear! (Take it as a compliment!). Lyra never seems too bothered when I hold other babies so I’m hoping this is a sign she won’t be too jealous… x
Massive congratualtions Lisa- so happy for you and your lovely family!! And would love it if you did some RMF posts although my bank balance probably won’t! ?
Good luck with the 20 week scan, such an amazing one isn’t it seeing all that detail. We didn’t find out either time what we were having and was sure second one would be a boy like my first. Turns out I was wrong and we had a girl, I was in such disbelief had to ask my husband to double check! In terms of advice on the arrival of number two, our lovely midwife told me not too always refer to my oldest as being a big brother as he would still want to be my baby too. Actually I think she was spot on and even now sometimes we have a snuggle I call him my first baby and he loves it. Although I do have to remind him he’s a big brother when they are playing ‘rugby’ ? xxx
Thanks Ella 🙂 I am dying to do a post on maternity clothes/nursery decor (hint hint, Lottie)!
Lovely tips, and you’re right, your firstborn will always be your first baby. x
Ahhh congratulations Lisa!xx
Thank you Jane x
To the extent that I avoided eating most shop-bought sandwiches in case they contained mayo made with unpasteurised egg ==> Hahahahahaha made me laugh so much. I spent hours in Tesco reading the back of sandwich packaging trying to work out if the eggs used in the mayo were pasteurised!! Awesome!! Congratulations!!
Glad it wasn’t just me! I ended up pretty much existing on lunches of ham and cheese sarnies EVERY DAY as they were the only ones that didn’t seem to contain mayo!
Woop woop congratulations Lisa! I had my 20 week scan yesterday, it was so amazing, although lasted for ever because the baby wouldn’t stop moving.
I was convinced I was having a girl from the second I got the positive test, I can’t even explain what made me feel so convinced, it just felt like I knew. Anyway, I was right (or I got lucky!) and we’re having a girl. I guess the real test is if we decide to have another and I get it right again!!
Hope you’re enjoying the 2nd trimester, i’m waiting for the elusive burst of energy i’ve been promised, so far I still just feel knackered all the time.
Xx
Ahh yey another April baby 🙂
I too am waiting for my burst of energy but am more just thankful that the nausea of the first trimester is over!
Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well xx
Awesome news, congrats! I had a very different 2nd pregnancy (and bump shape) and was totally convinced it was a boy but out popped my 2nd gorgeous girl! She’s 5 months now and her big sis just turned 3.
We’ve found the jealousy quite challenging tbh. One tip is to keep Lyra’s routine as similar as possible. We dropped a couple of nursery days to save money while I was on mat.leave and in hindsight I think we changed too much at once. Plus it was hard for me to get enough quality time with either child.
Having two is lovely though, I feel so lucky. Good luck at the scan x
Thanks Abi D 🙂
I can imagine jealousy is sooo tough to deal with, will definitely try and stick to her routine as much as possible. X
Ah congratulations!! Seven month old and a three year old here. Definitely second the idea of not having them in your arms when your first born arrives at the hospital.
We did lots of prep around getting Annie to know her sibling and haven’t encountered any jealousy. I’m well aware this could be a fluke though! Penny bought Annie a big present on the day she arrived (paw patrol obvs!) but Annie also chose something of her own to give Penny (a build a bear she made herself!) plus she knew the name from very early on and we would often talk about when she comes and where she would sleep and what she would do etc. (She did tell everyone she met though that Penny is coming so it was hard to keep the name a secret) but I definitely think it helped her to visualise.
Also we had a great book ‘topsy and Tim have a baby’ which shows the mum breastfeeding and there is a bit in it where topsy and Tim tell everyone at the preschool about the baby. She couldn’t wait to do that! She was so excited!!
Hope that all helps! X
Ooh getting Lyra to choose a prezzie for the new arrival is a lovely idea. And I’m now off to put that Topsy and Tim book in my amazon basket, thank you! One of our friends bought Lyra a fab book called ‘What’s in your tummy mummy’ which I think has helped her to understand but would be good to have one that talks about what it’s like when the baby’s here too. X
Congratulations! We are 21 weeks and had our scan last week..everyone else wanted us to find out, but after 12 years of trying for this baby we decided we could hold out a little longer…! I basically have a drawer of pure white babygrows which are delicious, and am very excitedly waiting for the surprise. Hurray for all of our Spring babies!x
Anna reading a comment like yours is so humbling, it makes me realise how lucky we are to have Lyra let alone another one on the way. Twelve years is testament to one strong relationship! Massive congratulations to you and your other half xx
Ahh, congratulations Lisa, love your RMS posts so will look forward to seeing more from you on here too! We have an almost 1 yr old little boy and would love a sibling for him in a couple of years if we’re lucky enough – I’m sure it’s extra tiring but great fun chasing around after more than one! I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well Xx
Thanks for your lovely comments Amanda ?
Hope your little boy has a great first birthday xx
Such lovely news! I have a three week old baby girl and nearly three year old boy. Second pregnancy was different, I was a lot more sick and everyone immediately said it was a girl! The give away both times when I look back after the scans were that I had subconsciously been buying blue maternity clothes for my first pregnancy and then become slightly obsessed with all things blush for my second pregnancy! Because I already had a toddler I felt like I forgot I was even pregnant half the time!
Our little boy adores his sister, but he is slightly struggling with having less attention from me. We have openly talked to him about his sister throughout the pregnancy, explaining babies cry because they can’t talk (he can be a little sensitive) and that when she’s a bit older she’ll be able to play loads with him as she’s too little now. We also got him a present from his sister and he helped daddy choose a present for her. I need to make more of an effort to have some one on one Freddie and mummy time, but it’s all a learning curve! x
Aw congratulations to you Agnes 🙂 Sounds like we are going to have a really similar age gap.
That is so lovely that Freddie dotes on his little sister and I’m sure he will get used to not being able to have all your attention, all the time!
Really useful tips re explaining babies cry because they can’t talk and making sure I have one on one time with her…Thank you! x