Bringing Home Baby #2

Bringing home a new baby is an exciting mix of scared, anxiousness, and joy. But bringing home a baby when you have a baby at home waiting for you adds a new layer to those emotions.

B didn't understand our warnings and explanations. He couldn't talk through his feelings. He was only a 1 1/2 yrs old. What can you do?

A called my Mommy.
No seriously, I invited my mom over for a few days. B missed his mommy and daddy and wasn't sure about the creature we brought home. Having her with us, gave Todd an I a few extra minutes to sleep, and B a few extra minutes with us. Not to mention Nama hugs, and mom's cooking.

We also kept B in his routine. He woke up to milk and dried cereal as he always does. (He eats breakfast a little later) took naps when he always had in his crib, and still kept his bedtime routine.

When mom left and Todd returned to work, I did my best. Toggling the two was and is still exhausting but I just remind myself I only have 2 hands. As long as they are both safe it will be OK if one is crying as you take care of the other.

I don't have a magic formula to balance it all, and I am surely still learning. With a little bit of chocolate and a whole lot of Jesus I know we will be alright.

Pregnant with a Baby at Home

Me at 40wks pregnant

10 Tips to Surviving Pregnancy with a Baby

I searched for ideas online but there's not much support on the subject more on how to decide when your ready for #2. Well, when God blesses you with a new addition you just have to live and learn. Here's my first hand tips:

1. Sleep: Duh! You're a busy mom! Taking care of a baby and making a baby is exhausting. When the little guy goes to sleep-try to catch a few minutes too! It also doesn't hurt to go to bed a few minutes early. 
2. Big brother in training: I didn't want to grow my baby up too fast, but even at 8 months old we taught him some important big brother skills. Look forward to that blog coming soon!
3. Floor time: He wants held and played with but that can be exhausting. I made 5-10 minutes in morning and afternoon (when I was home) for playing and read a few books in the evening. You could sit together and read books, let him play on your lap or make time to play on the floor together. 
4. Cleaning can wait: Yes its frustrating to have a messy house. But spend 15-30 mins doing cleaning and try to get help with the big stuff. This isn't the time to try to spring clean or clean out the garage. 
5. Ask for help: Ugh! I hate asking, but its ok to go to your OB appts without the baby. Maybe you shouldn't try and pull out boxes of baby clothes without your hubby's help. For me, I was contracting early and was told to limit my time carrying and lifting my little man. No fun!! 
6. Talk to someone: Unless you were planning to have two bundles of joy, or you really love babies, you probably have mixed emotions, plus the hormones talking. I remember worrying that C would know he wasn't planned, and feel unwanted. I also was scared that I would go nuts with my two boys.  I'm thankful for friends, my church family, and others with close children and my husband who always responded with a casual but calming "you'll be fine"
7. Have some fun: Go take family pictures, go on a date, take a weekend trip. Make memories. We only live once-and your first born will only be little once. Don't put life on hold while your pregnant. One day you'll miss this chaotic chapter of life. 
8. Make a baby proof space: Morning sickness, emergency needs to pee, or even a deathly contraction can happen. For my very mobile child, I had to have somewhere to put him. For me it was the crib. I just grabbed a few toys and told him I would be right back. As he got bigger, I just took him to the potty with me (jumpstarting those potty training cues)
9. Set a routine: I learned in my Ed. Classes that children thrive in routine, it rang true for student teaching and I carried it through to parenting. If you haven't made one yet. Find one that works for you. It also helps keep your big kid if you stick with it when you bring the new little one home. 
10. Chill out: We stress ourselves out so much and it's really unnecessary. Its ok not to make the homemade mac n cheese or have the house clean by 10am.  Stay positive and be confident in your Mom-hood. 

Baby #2 Say What?!

We were happy. We loved doing life with B, and we even considered having him as our only child. Before leaving for Easter weekend with my grandparents, I realized I was late.  I dismissed the thought and continued preparing B for his first Easter. I would have never considered later that week baby-talk fever would catch us.

Easter Sunday Mom and Mama caught a bump silhouette and started with the questions, unable to tell when mother nature visited me last; I was doomed. So there with the presence of family outside the door and the smell of an amazing ham...I was sitting there, taking a pregnancy test.

I would be lying to say I wasn't praying for a negative result. In fact in the midst of everyone's excitement-I was still in denial.  I think it's fair to say I struggled with the thought of a second baby for most of my pregnancy.  I was even a little surprised when I met him-because he really did exist. But that has nothing to do with how I feel about C. He's a cute little chunker, and we love him to pieces.

Getting ready to take pictures for baby announcement