Observations 2nd Time Around

I don't know if this is common among all 2nd time moms, but I've experienced very different treatment out in public this time around.

I remember at this stage of my pregnancy last time I had people leaping out of a washroom line to let me move up, offering me a seat, and practically grabbing heavy things out of my hands to help me carry them. Most often I felt it was a bit overkill, but generally accepted the offers as they came just to be friendly. I'd always get asked if it was my first baby and people would always offer their most sincere congratulations.

This time, perhaps I appear a bit too confident lugging about a 1 year old on one hip while balancing a grocery order on the other, or hiking with my daughter strapped into a child carrier backpack to balance out the large bump on the front? I'm too far along to just look like I haven't shed the postpartum weight. I'm not sure, but I've also come across many judgmental people who make comments about us having another one so quickly (needing to learn about birth control, getting right back in the sack, etc). If I'm not with my daughter and I get asked if this is my first baby, I get a really awkward pause and a bit of a lackluster response to follow. I usually cheerfully chirp back something like "we are really happy and excited about it".

It's going to be really interesting to see what people have to say when they see me about town with two babies in tow. I'll just have to keep a smile plastered on my face and carry on.