In six weeks, I'll be given another new title. Mommy of TWO! Wow! Just typing that makes me a little bit nervous! I'm not nervous about the delivery. I've accepted that it will be a very painful day! :) I'm just a little nervous about juggling a newborn and a toddler.
When I can't sleep at night, questions whirl in my head...How will Nathan react to the baby? Will our relationship still be as close/strong? How am I ever going to shop with the two of them?! :) I try not to worry because I know in the end, I'll figure it all out! And that Nathan will adapt and be the great big brother that I know he's going to be!
I've heard that transitioning from one to two is just as hard as going from none to one. Do any of you have any great tips for those first few months of having two? What were your biggest surprises upon having a newborn AND a toddler?
You will be wonderful! We have two boys that are fifteen months apart and we survived. We also now have a five year old daughter.
ReplyDeleteYou will love the fact that the kids will always have each other. They grow up way too fast. Enjoy the moments along the way. You will always have dishes to do and a house to clean, but the kids are not always little. Enjoy them. Before you konw it, they are on their way to high school. Good luck and God bless.
I found it very difficult the first 8 weeks...but I also suffered from post partum depression. I had a lot of guilt over Brendan...feeling like I was abandoning him...he used to be my little buddy!
ReplyDeleteAs it turns out...now I have TWO little buddies...and there is NOTHING more wonderful than watching the two of them play together. Brendan is such a GREAT big brother...I'm sure Nathan will be to!
Scheduling was the trickiest thing to get down. I was so used to B having his set schedule..and knowing what it was, understanding his cues, etc...that all of the sudden I felt unprepared because this new little life had plans all of her own! LOL
I found that Daddy had to step up his already very involved self...and take over wih B so I could care for Lilli....and give me the occassional break so I could love on B.
The one thing we didn't anticipate was that it was MUCH harder for Hubby to bond with baby #2 than we thought it would be. He had all of the same feelings that I did... guilt for B, etc...but with me breastfeeding...there wasn't a lot of bonding for him to do so it took a little longer.
9mo later and I can't imagine how we were ever concerned!! We LOVE having two kids...and I can't wait to have 3!
I am new to reading your blog and wanted to say I have three kids; from oldest the boys are 3 years apart with my baby girl 2 1/2 years younger than the middle one. I think this age span was pretty easy for the older sibling to accept the newborn.
ReplyDeleteFrom my experience with the 3rd addition I want to encourage you that going from one to two isn't nearly as hard as three. Don't be afraid of abandoning Nathan because you won't be. You may find yourself more involved than you realize with him by asking him to help mommie with the baby. Just be creative and give him big things to do and praise him with being so helpful. This gives you a chance to bond with Nathan and then still take care of the baby.
I also breastfed all three of mine so I asked the sibling to help with blankies or toys so that they felt like they were helping the baby. They also helped me sing to the baby to keep him/her from crying. The cute thing I noticed is that after awhile I didn't even have to ask them to help...I would hear the baby cry and the other one would start singing to him/her or taking the baby a toy. So cute!
Enjoy your kiddos and everything God has in store for you.
Thank you all for your encouraging and uplifting comments! They really did calm my nerves some!!
ReplyDeleteCoupon Mommie - The part about Nathan being a helper was right on! He loves to help out now and I can just see him excited to help with the baby! I never really thought of him participating like that and for it to be a way to stay close with him. Thanks!
Jenn- I am sooo sorry to hear you had to go through PPD. I've heard that is so rough! I'm hoping I don't have that this time, either. But I am like you in thinking of Nathan as my little buddy and may feel guilty for not spending as much time with him. I felt that guilt with the DOGS after Nathan was born! :) I'm glad things are better now for you! And you talking about Baby #3 is encouraging to me that it will all be ok for me, too!
Raleigh Mom- 15 months apart! Wow! You DEFINITELY had your hands full! :) You hit it right on when you said I'd love that the kids will have each other. I can't wait until Nathan and the Baby are old enough to enjoy each other's company. I'm hoping they'll be best friends! Thanks for the inspiring words!
~Jaycie