Dear Self,

Just in case you decide to do this again and try for a girl, and especially if you decide to have another child 2.5 - 3 years apart, let me remind you of a few things...

1.  Do not think for a minute that you will actually go into labor before the day you are induced.  I've decided that at 36 weeks, your body just wants to play tricks on you - it's done it every time.  Ignore the thousands of people who always say, "You're not going to make it to your due date, no way."  Try not to give those people dirty looks.  You will anyway, but you could at least try not to.

2.  Remind your husband that the first 16 weeks will involve you being extremely tired, and dinner will often not be on the table when he gets home...  Maybe he can help you do some freezer meals in advance? 

3.  You will have a two year old.  Let me remind you of what that all entails... You've done this three times - if you get pregnant again with a two year old at home, this will be the fourth time, trust me, it will NOT be different. 

• Chasing him through the yards of your neighbors and into the streets because he WILL get away from you.  You will be large and pregnant, you will not consider this fun. 
• You will either be chasing him to change his diaper and put on his clothes, or using whatever bribery method you can think of - you better start brushing up on your bribery skills now...
• Changing of nap times.  All of a sudden, naps are not as long, and it takes a lot more effort on your part.
• Moving from the crib to a big boy bed!  Always an adventure, always fun.  Be prepared for the shake up of nap time and the bed time routine.  Let me remind you of how hard it is to crawl into and out of the bottom bunk with the safety rail up when you are big and pregnant.  Your belly gets smashed and often your head does too. 
• Diapers.  Times two.  Your children do not get potty trained until after you have the baby.  Three is the magic age here.  Keep that in mind. 
• Discipline... What's that?  You will throw out more warnings than normal and not be so quick to take action - because you are tired and carrying a screaming, kicking two year old up the stairs is hard.
• About this time your two year old will decide that a booster seat is for babies, and that tables are fun to stand on. 
• They also demand big bowls, spoons, forks, and cups.  Brace yourself for the extra messes. 
• At this point they have figured out all child proof locks on your cabinets and doors.  Fun for you...
• You have now started to give your two year old a little more freedom while shopping.  Maybe you should rethink that...  Though, most of the time it's fine, the few times you have to race across the store, or drag a two year old to the check out line because he all of a sudden got spaghetti legs is not fun while you are big and pregnant.

4.  Try to come up with better responses to all the comments you get about how big you are, and people asking you if you are having twins.  Practice in the mirror so you'll really say them.  I think you should be having more fun with those comments! 

5.  By month 7 or 8 you will think, "WHAT AM I DOING??"  "HOW CAN MY SANITY POSSIBLY SURVIVE ANOTHER CHILD?"  It passes, just know it will come, and try not to be too hard on yourself when it does. 

6.  You will feel like a bad mother, probably on many occasions...  Cut yourself some slack, and make sure you plan outings for yourself away from home, and away from your other kids.  You'll need it, trust me. 

7.  Try not to think badly about those that park in Handicap parking spaces that appear to be walking just fine compared to yourself.  It's not their fault that the store didn't make expectant mother parking, just try to refrain from giving them dirty looks.  Also, those driving the scooters in some stores that don't appear helpless either - try not to judge, even though it may appear you actually need those scooters more than they do. 

8.  Though you are married to the same man that you were married to when you were pregnant with your first baby (I mean, hopefully...), who then talked and sang to your belly and waited on your every need...  Well, that man is now extremely tired, is sometimes grouchy, and will have four other children.  You used to be #1, and you still are in a way - that is after dinner time, after bath time, after bed time, and after he wakes up from a nap on the couch he will probably still ask you if you need a drink or a pillow, and help push you up the stairs at the end of the day, but don't have any other grand expectations.  He'll still be good to you, he just won't wash the bath tub right when you say you want to take a bath like he used to. 

9.  By the end you will have two tops that fit you. That's it.  Just so you know.

10.  Even though you've done this a few times, you'll still be nervous when the day comes to be induced, you'll still be excited to see this brand new baby, and you'll still feel grateful you were able to do it all again.