J2

Recall how I wondered if I would love my first baby, and then recall how I wondered if I would love my second one after being fully committed to fiercely loving Little Miss J for three years. Once again, people are right. You just love them differently.

My first experience with this was the first time I laid eyes on J2. When Little Miss J finally came out after hours and hours and HOURS of labor and 2 hours of pushing, I actually started sobbing and thought she was the most perfect beautiful creature in the entire universe. Looking back on photos, however, she was a wrinkly little alien. As soon as J2 came out, I didn't feel that same rush of love and emotion, I saw right through it to the wrinkly little alien part. That being said, he won some mommy nice points given that he came flying into this world with less than a half hour of pushing. Bonus points for easier recovery on mommy too. Since his birth, he's been an exceptional baby - exceptionally the opposite of Little Miss J. He is a good sleeper, cries only when you change his diaper, and is an all around easy baby.

They say (who's they? IDK) you get the baby you need. After paying our dues with Little Miss J, we definitely needed this baby. I'm not entirely sure I needed the three years of not sleeping and the emotional rollercoaster of a love hate relationship with your newborn, but Little Miss J taught me I was capable of a love that I never imagined. She has turned into this funny, creative, smart little girl, who amazes me everyday. But J2 and his mellow little soul is just what this little family needed.

My friend, Jenn, asked me if I felt bonded with him already. Honestly, I can't really tell. He's been so easy so far, that he makes it easy for me to like him. He doesn't keep me entertained or make me laugh like Little Miss J (yet), but he's so sweet and snuggly and I could stare at his sleeping face for hours. I love watching his little brown eyes taking in his surroundings and his little facial expressions. I definitely don't feel the same kind of love, but there is at least a strong sense of like going on. Of course I am being moderately facetious. I love this little boy, but it's impossible not to compare my feelings between the two. Maybe I do love him just the right amount and it is just in comparison that it seems like not quite the same.

Whatever it is, I'm really just thankful he's such a sweet little boy giving this mommy a bit of a break. I have definitely been enjoying my leave and my bonding time with this guy. I shudder to think what it would have been like to have the easy baby first followed by a Little Miss J. Our family got just what it needed ...