Mom Truths…Adjusting to Life With 2

Baby Boy #2 decided to come one week early on his own.  He was 8 pounds 9 ounces and 21 ½ inches long.

I fell in LOVE at first sight.  And he looked so much like his brother, that I felt déjà vu.  {Did I have the same baby all over again?!!} 

While pregnant, I wondered what it was going to be like with a newborn and a 2.75 year old.  Many friends with multiple children told me that the transition from one to two was the toughest for them.  

This sweet baby came home and ROCKED his big brother’s world.  It’s been two months and things are still kind of CRAZY!  The baby has been the easy one, it’s the 2 year old that’s the challenge.

So here’s a glimpse into my new crazy life with 2…

•  I am tired.  With a newborn, who isn’t tired?! The idea of “sleep while the baby sleeps,” sounds great in theory, but it doesn’t work when you have a toddler running around.   Plus there is laundry to do and a pile of dishes in the sink. We are starting to get some 4 to 5 hour sleep stretches at night.  I’m holding out hope for more sleep again someday!

• My toddler acts up.  Since the baby came home, the big brother is pretty much doing everything we tell him not to do… jumping on the furniture, throwing toys, kicking at the dog, running around yelling “Go away baby” and overall just not listening.  Plus, his nap times have not been going very smoothly.  He was jumping off the toddler bed one day while I was changing the baby’s diaper, so I asked, “What are you doing???!!!!”  His response, “I’m driving you nuts!”  {This is true, but I’d better watch my mouth!}  I feel horrible on days when it seems like every word out of my mouth is “NO”.  I will be honest, I am STRUGGLING with how to discipline him.

• Our TV is on a lot.  Mickey Mouse Club House is the current favorite.  Luckily, we have a bazillion episodes saved on the DVR.  I feel bad about all the TV time, but it is very helpful when trying to get things done like feed the baby, wash bottles and prepare lunch.  He doesn’t just sit and stare at the TV.  Most of the time he’s standing and playing at the train table too.  And he learns from Mickey!  I mean, I wasn’t the one who taught him what an octagon is!   Don’t worry about too much screen time and not enough exercise.  This boy is one of the busiest you’ll ever meet!

• I sent my toddler to preschool.  I had been home with both boys for one week, when my husband said, “When can we send him to preschool?”  I said, “Not soon enough!”  We quickly arranged two mornings a week.  This was the best idea my husband ever had!  I don’t know who loves it more, me or the kid!

• I shower every other day…usually.  It is hard to find time for something as simple as a shower now that there are two.  So now I take my showers on the weekend when my husband is home and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during preschool time.

• I am formula feeding.  I was an exclusive pumper with my first.  I decided to try breast-feeding again this time.  I thought with a different baby, maybe it would work.  It didn’t.  The nurses had me try a nipple shield.  It was AWFUL.  I found pumping to be next to impossible.  It is double the time pumping and bottle-feeding.  I don’t have that kind of time when a toddler is bouncing off the walls.  Formula was the solution for my sanity!

• I LOVE my little boys more than anything.  The past 2.75 years have been the best of my life.  I am thankful for healthy, beautiful boys.  Yes, there are hard times, days when I’ve cried and days when my toddler is “driving me nuts,” but the boys have truly filled my life full of love and laughter.

I have to wonder, is this how it goes for everyone?

I’m really not sure if this transition is rougher on the toddler or the mom.   One thing that is for sure, they won’t always be this little crying for a bottle or pleading, “mommy play with me.”

So even though it’s CRAZY, I’m trying to cherish ALL of the moments with my little monsters!  

Question for all the experienced mommies: How did you survive the transition to 2 kids?  How long will it take the oldest to get used to the new sibling?