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EVERYBODY HAS CERTAIN songs that mark particular moments in their lives.

My first car, for example, was a red Chevette. It wasn't a sporty vehicle by any means, but it got me where I needed to go. Often friends would sing about that car to the tune of Prince's “Little Red Corvette.”

Flash forward two decades or so later, and my husband and I are shopping for a bigger car to accommodate our growing family. We settle on a Volvo station wagon, and I desperately want a red one, not only because I love the color but because I know my Wiggles-loving son Jacob would be amused if we owned a “Big Red Car.”

Ultimately we choose a silver one — with built-in booster seats! — since it's in stock.

As the Talking Heads sang, “My God, what have I done???”

And so the newest member of our family, baby Daniel John, rode home from the hospital in a big silver car.

This pregnancy was a bit different from the initial go-round. With a first baby, one has loads of time to read pregnancy books and get caught up in oodles of new-mom marketing. But by the second ride in the maternity mobile you're too distracted by the wonderful chaos that is motherhood. Forget about registering for mom-to-be e-mail newsletters — you're just happy if everyone has eaten something remotely healthy and left the house wearing clean pants.

I did, of course, have a few direct response mommy moments. Because Danny was born at a different time of year than Jacob, my maternity wardrobe needed some seasonal items. Much was purchased from Gap.com and OldNavy.com because of the selection and easy store returns. I also bought a few items from J.C. Penney.

The service was fine — shipping was prompt and back-ordered items arrived earlier than expected. But there was a bit of a disconnect. Instead of putting inserts for maternity or baby items in the box, Penney's included generic offers for free shipping on Levi's and bath towels. Neither item is a priority on my list at the moment.

I bought some things at retail as well. It's interesting to see how companies think pregnant women see — or want to see — themselves. Personally, I was not a petite preggo — by 28 weeks total strangers would ask me if I was having twins at any moment and look aghast when I said it was one baby, who wasn't due for more than two months.

While shopping in Destination Maternity, I stopped in the ladies' room, because that's a favorite activity of expectant moms. There on the wall was a picture of an extremely svelte pregnant woman with just the hint of a bump. Definitely not what I looked like. She probably weighs 105 soaking wet while pregnant. What a bit — ! I mean, what a bit of good luck for her, the dear.

Body image wasn't an issue on Fisher-Price's Web site, where I entered a sweepstakes for a trip for eight to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Now, having been to the parade once when I lived in the city, I knew it would be too hectic and chilly for a newborn. But it seemed like a nice idea to be in a hotel nonetheless.

I also registered on a formula Web site. I immediately forgot my password and log-in name, but did keep the e-mail in my inbox for a few weeks. Of course, when I finally did try to log in, I was unsuccessful. Within a day I had forgotten what company even sponsored the site.

Apparently it was Similac, as about six weeks later I received not one but two alphabet posters as a greeting from the “Welcome Addition” club. Not sure if we'll put up one of the posters, but my 2-year-old son thought the mailing tubes were very useful as race tracks for his Hot Wheels cars.

Fortunately his little brother doesn't mind.