This week's column

(Sorry I haven't been good about posting the weekly Hitched column that Brian and I write in the newspaper here... but this is the one from this past Sunday... big news!)

Hitched: Baby news just as exciting second time around

Written by: BRIAN WALLHEIMER

Our little Ellie has been walking for nearly a year, and that little pitter-patter of feet that was once so cute has turned into stomping, running and jumping.

But that's OK because that pitter-patter will be back soon. The next addition to the Wallheimer family is on its way, due in early February.

That's right, Dorothy is pregnant. And that means that life hasn't been the same in our household for a couple of months now.

The day we got the news, so many things swirled around in my head. It's interesting how different the experience is the second time around.

When Ellie was on her way, there was so much excitement, anxiety and -- sometimes -- panic. This time, there are many of those emotions, but we have a better handle on what needs to happen.

We've started planning our bedroom arrangements, talking about names and changing our diets to pregnant-friendly options. Really, that means removing several things from the diet but also increasing the occurrences of neutral foods that are less likely to offend Dorothy. Broccoli is out, potatoes are in.

As an aside, Dorothy's food swings, as I call them, have been insane. She said once last week, word-for word: "I do not foresee a situation in which I will ever eat chicken again."

Wonder what she made for dinner the next night? Chicken tacos.

Of course, we'll have a 21/2-year-old running around this time to compound the difficulty of caring for a new baby. And we'll have the change in expenses, which we'll have to get used to.

But this time, I'm more excited.

I think of it like a roller coaster. If you've never been on one, you want to do it. You know it's going to be fun, but it's still scary.

Once you've done it, you remember the fear, but it's the excitement and great feelings that win out.

Having a second baby, to me, is like riding that roller coaster a second time, but with a new track. Sure, the twists, turns, highs and lows will be different, but I know from experience how great the joy will be.