If you follow along on Instagram (if not, come on over + join the party), then you’ve probably seen my baby bump #2 making an appearance these days. I just entered my 3rd trimester & am feeling all sorts of baby #2 kicks + flips and excited emotions anticipating her arrival this spring!

When my hubby & I found out we were expecting our second little bundle of joy last fall, I totally expected this pregnancy to be rather similar to my first (other than the fact that I have a feisty little toddler running around this time!) But I’ve actually been pretty surprised by some of the things I’ve learned from this pregnancy #2 so far & wanted to share them with all of you today in hopes of inspiring any soon-to-be mamas or anyone wondering about the joys of motherhood + pregnancy! Here’s a little sneak peek behind the scenes into my recent pregnancy #2…

5 Surprising Things I’ve Learned From Pregnancy #2

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#1 Every Pregnancy Can (& Probably Will) Be a Little Bit Different

Sounds simple enough, but I was totally shocked by how similar yet totally different my pregnancies have been. With my first, I started being able to workout & had so.much.more energy by week 8 or 9… with baby #2, my morning sickness lasted through week 15! Not to mention, I was much more nauseated this time around through the first trimester & beyond (fresh ginger tea 3x/day became my new best friend!), but that’s part of the joy of being pregnant… it’s always an adventure & such a miracle every time we get to grow + carry a new little life into the world!

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#2 You Will Likely Show a Little Sooner with Baby #2

Okay, I had actually heard this many times from other second-time mamas before but I was still shocked at how I instantly felt like I had a baby bump the moment I got a positive pregnancy test. Maybe that’s being slightly dramatic, but I definitely did bust out the maternity clothes way sooner with baby #2!

PICTURE ABOVE: There’s that first trimester “baby bump” I’m pretty sure was just some extra bloating… but that didn’t stop me from wearing all.the.leggjngs + comfy maternity tees right away!

#3 You’ll Find a Whole New Appreciation For Your Body

No joke, I actually feel more like superwoman being pregnant the second time around than I did the first… maybe it’s because I’ve been pregnant before & I know what to expect with my changing body or simply experiencing the miracle of creating life TWICE, but either way, I’ve found a whole new level of love + respect for what my body can do as a woman! Stretch marks, c section scars, changing boobs, and my ever-expanding belly always remind me of how amazingly strong I am & how I want to show my daughter how to LOVE her body at every size & stage of life, too!

#4 Baby #2 Probably Won’t Get As Much Attention (& that’s totally ok!)

I’m child number 2 of 3 and I loved being the second child growing up. I didn’t have to be the first one to go to junior high or ask mom & dad to stay out later on a Friday night, my older brother got to be the one test the waters and show me the way, so to speak. But as a second-time mama, I’m definitely guilty of forgetting about the sonogram picture in my purse until my toddler pulled out the crinkly photo in the middle of a hockey game looking for a napkin last week… Cue, the mom shame … but let’s be honest, it wasn’t the original 20-week ultrasound picture (the one that is prominently + proudly displayed in our kitchen), it was just an extra little snapshot of her cute little foot and toes… but I still mentally facepalmed myself when it happened!

#5 You’ll Fall In Love With Your First-Born All Over Again

Whether it’s because it feels like yesterday I was pregnant with my son or because I just can’t get enough of watching him kiss + talk to my ever-expanding belly as he not-so-patiently waits for his baby sister’s arrival, there’s something about pregnancy #2 that’s made me fall in love with him all over again. He’s feisty as can be & loves to keep me on my toes, but seeing how fast it all goes by in the blink of an eye makes me cherish every kiss, every squeeze, & every snuggle in a whole new way!

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant with baby #1, excitedly waiting for baby #2’s arrival like me, or just reminiscing on all of your past pregnancy memories, I hope these 5 lessons I learned from pregnancy #2 bring you a little more joy + a lot less stress knowing that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be right now & simply encourage you to enjoy the journey of motherhood, one step at a time.
Thank you for sharing a little part of your day with me by reading and following along! It means so much to me!

xo, Adrianna