I like that the speculation and expectation around Duchess Kate’s second pregnancy feels much more subdued than it was with her first pregnancy. People are interested, of course, and everybody’s placing bets on the sex and the name, but it still feels like… Kate is being given more space this time around. For the record, most people really believe she’s having a girl this time. The latest evidence? The Daily Mail’s Sebastian Shakespeare claims that Kate ordered three PINK paint samples, which were delivered to Anmer Hall.

Meanwhile, sources tell People Magazine that Kate is committed to taking a lengthy maternity leave. Which… I mean, we were all expecting that. To her credit, Kate kept up her number of appearances in the past few months so her royal-appearance numbers will still be on-target for the year, even if she doesn’t do any public events until the fall.

Don’t be surprised if Princess Kate stays out of the spotlight in the months after she has her second baby. As anticipation builds, and the hospital and doctors are preparing to help Kate, 33, welcome a brother or sister for Prince George, 21 months, the princess has decided to take a longer maternity leave than she did last time, a royal source tells PEOPLE. She has told friends that she wants to fully enjoy the bonding experience for her two children under 2 years old.

“She felt she came back too soon last time,” the royal source tells PEOPLE. “She wants to have that [family] and enjoy it with George and the new baby.”

Sources have told PEOPLE that the couple are concentrating on family with the full blessing – indeed, encouragement – of dad, Prince Charles, 66, who wants them to have as much of a normal life as possible.

Now, the couple have their huge country home at Anmer Hall, on Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham estate, as a perfect haven for them to raise their children and spend family time in the run-up to George’s second birthday. The estate is close to where William will work as an air ambulance pilot once his training has finished in early summer, meaning he can often be at home in the mornings and evenings, too.

That is an arrangement that will be going down well with one little addition: George, who a friend tells PEOPLE “is great fun. He is really enjoying the new environment.”

[From People]

There were some rumors that Kate would actually not go immediately to Anmer Hall following the birth. Some people believe Kate, George and the new baby will stay in London for a few days and then head to her parents’ house in Bucklebury for several months, which is what she did after George was born. It will be interesting to see what happens there – I suspect that even if Kate and the kids do go to Anmer, Carole Middleton will be camped out there for months anyway.

As for Kate wanting a longer “maternity leave” and believing she started work too quickly the last time around… um… okay? I don’t begrudge her choices as a mother, but it’s silly to act like she threw herself back into a 9-5 job. Her “back to work” was making two public appearances over the course of a month.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.