It’s starting to feel a little more real every day. At first the whole idea of going back to baby square one with baby number two seemed so unreal to me. It was not that unlike how I felt about dear baby Carter. But I realized today how strange it is that somehow that feels like so long ago and like it was yesterday at the same time. I’m sure someday it will feel that way with the new baby too.
That day is not today. Today I was outside enjoying another warmish spring morning when it occurred to me. Summer is going to be a lot different this year. There’s only somewhere around 13 weeks left until the baby is going to come home. And I don’t think I’m ready. 
Carter and I have come to such a comfortable place. I protect him and love him and gladly accept his snack cup scraps throughout the day. We’ve come so far from the days of his regular and piercing newborn cries and the fur pulling and tail yanking. I sometimes can’t believe we’re going to have to start all of that business all over again.
I don’t know if it was the warmth of the sunshine or just that I slept well last night, but I realized that is exactly what makes it different this time around. This time, I have a partner in crime who sees things at my level. This time I have Carter. I don’t think he has any idea what’s in store, but that’s okay. Because I do. And between the two of us, we will figure it out.
I don’t deny that I was lonely and a little aloof for those first few months Carter was home. I think I honestly was a little bit depressed about no longer being the center of attention for my dear forever parents. They had their hands full – I get that. And they never stopped loving me – I know that, too.
The countdown is getting real these days. If I didn’t know better, that would scare me. But it doesn’t. Because this time I’m ready. Not just because I kind of have an idea of what to expect, but because I know I have a partner in crime who will keep me company.
“The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend,” suggested transcendentalist thinker Henry David Thoreau.
This time he’s the one that doesn’t know what to expect. So I will do what doggies do best. I will simply be his friend.
Wiley's Wisdom 
You’ll be the experienced one this time around, Wiles. You’ll be able to snuggle with Carter and give him a kiss if he feels as though he’s missing out on any attention. But having followed you and your forever family for so long, I know he sure isn’t going to feel lonely or unloved ever 😉
It will be different this time, as you have gone through it before and you will love it, be yourself and be a friend as you doggies do best! High Paw !
I think by the time Baby2 gets ready to pull your tail, Carter will be able to say no and straighten the new kid out. You’ll do fine with your little buddy by your side, Wiles. You’re in good hands. He’s in good paws.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
“Lovely Wile”y, it always pierce my heart your selflessness, and heroic disposition. Of course Wiley, your real “vocation”, your “unique call” in life is “give”, “accompany”, “be loyal”, “protect”, “help”, and at the same time “if it is possible” have a lot of fun in doing it, right?, “the more fun the better”. But, you’ll be always the greatest, the most true, the most sincere, the most heroic, and besides most funny friend ever, and any body with a good perceptive heart, will appreciate that. You are surrounded by an amazing family, and everything is going to be just like always, ups and downs, some “frightening turmoil”, but at the end, Wiley, everything is going to be just “alright”, cause you are “very”, “very loved” and “protected” from” your forever parents”, and the rest of the family, and also is baby Carter, that by the way, is going to be assuring that you’ll be around him all the time. I understand what you are saying, about the coming again of those, not at all easy challenges, of mommy having the baby, and then after, the starting of all those first complicated days of the new human baby coming home,….. but you know, it’s better to put it in the right perspective, as you said,….. is happening again, and better “every body be prepare, even me (you said) to be more helpful, since now I have more experience”. Do you know who do I think the most about?, ( like you probably are doing too) is about your mommy, the baby coming, and little Carter, that still needs a lot of human cares too, all those three should be the center of attention, because of their most fragile state of health, even though that of the others surrounding helpers, should not be neglected neither. So, I’m very sure that “you”, and any others present will receive the same precautions and cares necessary.. “I just feel so much fun visualizing you, always waiting for the instructions given to you, and the characteristic readiness to be following them immediately” ……. “Baby Wiley”…..”Happy days of new born coming”, you and Carter at this moment are reacting similarly, you said….”Yeah”…I’ve heard that doggies, have a mind of a two year old human”…..that’s the cutest thing ever, but you guys doggies, have a lot more wisdom than us at that age, and probably definitively more wisdom than many humans at any age. So… kind of like, you are going to be a kind of the older brother for Carter and new born baby, coming soon….. “You know what too?….that, is going to be a “fun situation to be watch”, Wiley, how you three are going to interact together…remember?… “new situations”, “surprising reactions to events not experienced by Carter before”, but that you already had when Carter was that little… .. “Can’t wait for your insights on that”…… the “funny surprised innocence of your first impressions and thoughts”, the purity of your going through in the analysis, the sincerity of your good intentions in resolving them, the honesty, and the infinite wisdom at the same time, of your reflections, that’s the most worthy gift ever to offer to your friends.
“Waggling tale” from Sweetie, and “Barks” from Candy (she is very territorial). “Hugs and sweet dreams”.