Long ago, I experienced a Second Life birth and quite frankly, it traumatized me for several weeks. It wasn’t the idea of someone pretending to be pregnant or have an SL baby that bothered me. It was the fact that it meant nothing to the person and she grossly did it for attention.

I remember huddling around in the maternity clinic she’d chosen while she yelled over mic and pretended to be in pain – moaning with every “contraction”. After the birth had been completed, we were all witness to the setup of the next birth – in which the mother asked for their to be complications.

It made me sick… absolutely sick.

Within an hour of giving birth, the woman put the prim baby in her inventory and that was it. We never saw or heard about it again. The pregnancy is what got her the attention she craved and once it was over… that was it, it was really over. In fact, within the hour she was making claims of leaving Second Life and suggesting that she was depressed and didn’t want to play any more.

I didn’t ever want to be pregnant on SL. I had absolutely no desire for a family. Sure, Aponi is my SLister and she has been for a long time now. But partnership, children, prim babies!? Never. And then I met Xavion and I realized how truly special it could all be and how even something done only in pretend could mean so much. I saw what countless others see – the true beauty of having a family here.

It’s not just about blowing your belly up and walking around with some obnoxious tummy talker telling you you’re tired and need to sit down. It’s not about toting around a sculpted baby you bought or dressing it up. It’s not about how many toys you’ve bought, the nursery or the maternity clothes.

It’s about family. It’s always been about family.

I feel closer to some of my friends than ever before – and met some amazing people who I can’t imagine my Second Life without…. all due to my SL pregnancy. And furthermore, it’s given me the chance to experience something that I may very well not ever get the chance to experience in real life ever again. And that’s what makes all of this so important.

Everyone got together and threw me a baby shower on Saturday. And I mean everybody! Anubis even told me to invite anyone else I wanted because the party was for me – but they were all already there… just for us. I sat at my desk, staring at my computer screen and I cried… harder than I ever thought I could over something related to SL.

No one has ever thrown me a baby shower before.

The idea of all of these people I’ve met over the computer, caring enough about me and about Anubis to throw a baby shower is absolutely priceless. And it only makes me care even more about having this baby.

I care so much more about this than I ever could have imagined. I realized it in the moment that I was asked to end it and couldn’t let it go. And the feeling only grew stronger when I realized how important and fun it had become for both Anubis and Belle. I didn’t want anyone else to make pretend babies with Anubis. I wanted that to be something I had and the thought of anyone else having it actually broke my heart a little. I couldn’t let it go. It already meant more to me than I knew.

And so here we are, just a couple of days away from my pregnancy coming to a close and a new chapter in our Second Life is about to begin. I’m nervous. Can you believe that?… Over having a prim baby!? But I am. What all will this really change? Seriously, it’s funny because I asked the same question when I had my real life children and it applies to this scenario.

The bottom line is this… I’m really excited about having this baby and in ways I never knew I could. I hope that those we consider friends and family are excited too.