It’s a parenting quandary that has been around for years: which is harder, the adjustment from having no kids to having kids, or going from one child to two (or more)? When my husband and I found out that we were expecting baby number 2, it was a question we asked every parent we knew who had more than one child. The responses were mixed. Each parent firmly believed that they had the right answer, and they did – for their family. However, it goes without saying that each family is different, and the only way to know the answer for yourself is to experience it.

At first, we just believed whatever anyone told us – that is, when it was what we wanted to hear. Oh, they’d say, going from zero to one is hard! Once you have one, any additional kids are a cake walk. After all, you’ve experienced it once – you are a pro!

It turns out, this couldn’t have been further from the truth. Yes, we had experienced it once – we already had a daughter. Our second born is a boy and, for us, the experience was like being new parents all over again. The difference in his anatomy forced us to change our diaper changing process (more wash cloths were kept handy next to the changing pad to deflect or absorb any spraying that inevitably took place once he was de-diapered). And he is, of course, a different person from our daughter and responds differently to, well, everything. She liked being swaddled; he kicks off the blankets. He sucks his thumb; she never did. He nurses; she was bottle fed. He laughs easily and often; she is still one of the most serious kids we’ve ever met.

Despite their similar DNA, they are two decidedly different people – and two is definitely harder than one, at least for our family.

If you have more than one child, which was a harder transition for you?

A new Starr is born.

Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm gave birth to a daughter on Sunday. The baby girl, named Scarlet Starr, weighed in at 8 lbs, 3 oz. This is the fist child for Chisholm and her long-time boyfriend, Thomas Starr. Chisholm and Starr, a property developer, have been together for six years.

Once known as the brunette “Sporty Spice,” Chisholm’s daughter was born at 4:10pm in London. On her website, mum says that she and the baby are both “beautiful” and “doing fine.”

Sporty is the last of the Spice Girls to join the ranks of motherhood. Well-known Victoria Beckham and husband David Beckham have three sons. Melanie Brown has two girls. Emma Bunton is mother to one boy; Geri Halliwell is mum to one girl. The group was formed in 1994 by Simon Fuller (of American Idol). Their first album sold more copies than any other female group in history. Together with their second album, they are the second most popular group ever in British history, after the Beatles.

Though Chisholm’s career started with the Spice Girl’s, it didn’t end there. She trails only John Lennon and Paul McCartney for co-writing the most number-one singles (and she is #1 for female writers). As a performer, Melanie C. is the only woman to reach #1 on British charts as part of a quintet, quartet, duo and solo artist. She has released four solo albums, with multiple hits and award-nominated songs.

Congratulations to Melanie and Thomas. I hope this is the beginning of yet another exciting and successful stage of their lilves!