black maternity pants // maternity tee // cardigan wrap // backless sneakers
I still don’t think it’s totally hit me that I’m about to be a mom to TWO kiddos. Like in 3 short months! But then again, I don’t think its truly possible to grasp until it happens. Just like with the first. You feel the kicks. You’ve heard the heartbeat. You know the sleepless nights and not to mention, weight gain. But it still isn’t REAL that you’re a mom to a human being until that baby is in your arms. So I assume as much is true with #2.
The only difference is that you do know what to expect. It’s not totally uncharted waters like it was the first go round. The sore boobs. The middle of the night screaming. The limited amount of time to shower yourself. All of it. You know all of it! And now you’ll have a toddler in tow too! So it’s almost like you know TOO much this go round!
But honestly, until this week, I hadn’t thought of any of these things! I’ve wanted a second child so badly for so long that I had completely lost sight of the newborn “struggles.” I’ve been way too consumed with the excitement and awe of a brand spanking new baby to think of anything else! Gratitude for this little growing nugget and the smells of a fresh baby were about all I could focus my thoughts on.
Until this week that is! It seems that in a weeks time I’ve talked to more than a handful of friends who give gentle “warning” to the concept of having two! So much so, that I’m starting to get a tad nervous. OK – a lot nervous. More so for when Feb rolls around and Tom leaves for baseball season and I’m single parenting and working with TWO kiddos. But nonetheless, it’s happening. So buckle up sister!!! I mean amiright? What choice do I have? So here are my thoughts on the transition from 1 to 2…
Excitements for Baby #2
- The first time through I was just trying to survive. And figure it all out. And do it all “right”. So I really didn’t feel like I soaked in the moments as much as I should have. I was too worried about our schedule or germs or ounces of breast milk to just sit and watch her. But now I know that babies are really kind of difficult to “screw up”! ha ha. You feed them, you change them, and you give them lots of love! The rest is just minor details. So I’m excited to stress less and enjoy more!
- The second go round you also know how quickly time flies. People can tell you until they’re blue in the face, but until you experience it on your own, you truly don’t understand. Until you suddenly wake up one day with a toddler in a big kid bed, you can’t REALLY grasp how quickly it flies. This time I will take far less for granted. And I’ll probably spend most of my days just sitting and watching her.
- I cant wait to see Parker as a big sister! I know there will be PLENTY of times of jealousy (lets all remember that I’m a big sister too) but hopefully the moments of love will outweigh! The excitement she’s already shown makes my heart want to explode. Every night she wants to read her “big sister” book, talk to her “baby sister” – who we’ve named “Pink Baby” – and tell me all the things she’s going to do with her. I know the bond of sisters and I can’t wait to watch it unfold before my eyes.
I once told my mom, long before I was pregnant, that I didn’t think I could love another kid as much as Parker. And my mom’s response… “Meghan, you have another child so that Parker gets to experience your same feelings of love. So that she learns to love another unconditionally.” OK – cue the waterworks! THIS is what I’m most excited about
- and of course just the newborn snuggles! I mean who doesn’t love that! The moments of fresh out of the bath, skin on skin, baby snuggles. I’m fairly certain that heaven smells like newborn babies. I mean MY WORD! I just cant wait to hold her and squeeze her!
Apprehensions of Baby #2
- I’m most nervous about my time management. Being able to get it all done. Juggling “life” already seems a bit overwhelming and I only have one kiddo. I’m not naive to the adjustments that will be made to accommodate the change. But my fear is the stress of it all. The logistics of bath and bedtime with two kiddos. Daily schedules and trying to get out of the house with two kiddos. Those types of things. BUT I look around and see all of my friends doing it, so I know it can be done 😉
- And not just time management, but QUALITY TIME with each of the girls. Especially as they get older. That’s something I’ve actually thought about for a few years. Parker has always had my undivided attention. She’s my travel buddy, my ride-or-die 😉 We do ALL the fun things together. So now, making sure that the girls get that time shared equally is a BIG concern for me! Making sure I spend quality, one-on-one time, with each of them individually…and evenly.
I’ve always been intrigued by families and their dynamics. And when we were in Boston I had the privilege to meet a fabulous family with 3 grown-ish kids. And I’lll never forget an idea they shared with me. Every 5th year, on the kids birthday, they take a trip with one parent. Just the kid and one parent. And it alternates. 5th birthday is dads year. 10th birthday is moms year. Etc. So each kid gets a few days away with just ONE parent to do whatever they choose. I mean what a cool concept! Tom and I have always referenced this idea and plan to do something similar when the girls get a bit older.
- Girls can be tough! And the competition between two girls can get real! Girls keep mental note of everything! So making sure that they are both seen as individuals and not always compared to each other is what I hope for. But this competition, or resentment, makes me nervous!
Obviously I can’t wait to meet this little lady! I do have a few apprehensions about becoming a mom of two but I think that’s normal. Or so I tell myself. But overall, the thought of brining a new human into this world, a new personality into our family, and watching her grow into a young woman trumps all of that!
Happy Tuesday (aka: 3 months – or hopefully less – from meeting our baby girl)
**One book that I’m totally fascinated by is The Birth Order Book. If you have more than one child, you should read it! Heck, if you do or don’t have siblings of your own, you should read it. Its fascinating to see why people are they way they are based on where they fall in the family lineup. I’m just trying to get a jumpstart on all the “things” I need to know about a second little girl 😉 **
