Do I think I can handle having two kids under 2.... ummmm.... ummmm .... yes??
I'm excited and it is nice to know that in a little over a week I get to meet my new little guy. I was pulling out my boppy today and his going home outfit (and an extra.... we had to change Blake before we even left the hospital... lol). I have washed the bottles and pacifiers (I'm one of those strange mommies who still believes in giving newborns water... remember I live in Orlando!) and have everything set up... I think!
This weekend I wrapped a few gifts for Blake... one my mom is going to give him the night I have the baby (a new set of song books and his "I'm the big brother" t-shirt, one from Richard and I that he will get in the hospital and leave there for his visits (a set of word books), and one from his baby brother (a magnetic alphabet truck puzzle). These are wrapped and ready to go.
I still haven't packed a bag for myself, or the baby's stuff. We are still working on setting in stone who is taking care of Blake when... I think a lot of that will be up in the air depending on how I'm doing and how the new baby is doing too.
But, these aren't the things that worry me.... I worry about how I will make sure Blake and the new baby get the attention they need. How I'm going to function with even less sleep. How I'm going to manage to not pick up Blake for the first 2 weeks (don't tell my dr... he said 6! ummm NO WAY!). How I'm going to manage getting out of the house to do anything more than walk around the block. How I'm going to maintain the house and spend time with the boys. How I'm going to cook with a toddler and a newborn. How I'm going to nurse the new baby and entertain Blake without turning him into a couch potato. How are Blake and Abby going to react and deal with the newborn? When am I going to take a shower? Can I keep Blake on his schedule and still meet the baby's needs?
eeeek! At least the plan right now is that Richard will be home with me the first week and then my mom the second week... since I am not allowed to drive for 2 weeks either and I don't want to be alone and not be able to drive God forbid anything happen... Richard works 15 min away that is a long time to wait for someone to pick me up.
oh well... in 8 days I will figure it all out... or start to anyway!
eeeeek!! Good luck!!! Thinking of you this week!!!
ReplyDeleteYour anxious nerves are perfectly normal. But Lori ... breathe ... you're going to be great!
ReplyDeleteYay! You took off your secret decoder thingie.
ReplyDeleteWow, thats a full plate of things on your mind. I can't tell you how, but I know it will work out. Dinner might be chili dogs and potato chips more times than you'll care to admit, and the toilet may want to sprout legs and crawl away, and showers will be a luxery, but you will be better than just OK....you'll be a proud mommy of two perfect little boys and that will make your hairy legs and piles of laundry TOTALLY worth it!! HUGS Momma!!
ReplyDeleteBeing one who has two boys 15 months apart...it CAN be done! A few hints:
ReplyDeleteIf anyone offers to help in ANY way...say YES!
Take it easy and enjoy the time. My kids are 3 and 2 now and I cannot believe how fast "the hard part" went by.
Yes, it does get easier. Believe it when they say it.
Read a book with Blake next to you while you nurse or have him blocked in the room that you are in with a bunch of toys that you only pull out at feeding time.
I showered when the older child slept. The baby was in a bouncy seat and the monitor was in the bathroom with me.
I somehow got the baby on the toddler's schedule.
You will find enough love for them both. There will be days you are going to be ready to pack it up and leave, but that passes. I swear. Good luck and I hope this helps!
Ooops, I think I left that comment on the wrong one. Love the stroller pics. ;)
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ReplyDeleteWhen I think about my second hypothetical pregnancy, I have those similar freak-out thoughts. Except the scheduling one - I'm all shruggy and "eh" about that and hope that some sort of rhythm will establish itself!
ReplyDeleteOh I am already feeling all those things Lori. Sonia is 3 and almost 4 when the baby comes but she does not really take a nap and I am very nervous myself.
ReplyDeleteYou will be great like always!! Take deep breaths and take ALL the help you can get!!!!
It's soooooo exciting and yet sooooooooo nerve racking! I think I'll be crawling out of my skin when I reach your point. Madison is a little older and more independent at this point but I'm still really nervous about making sure she feels included. I've already bought a few of her little gifts for when I'm in the hospital and I plan to buy her a doll house from her little sister. She'll get that when we get home from the hospital.
ReplyDeleteI am getting so excited for you! However, this post made me want to go back on birth control. hee hee I don't know if I could handle two! You will be fine once you get into the routine.
ReplyDeleteI know you read my "Its not so bad" post. You'll be fine. I was super nervous for #2. It all works out. My advice...Don't be too hard on yourself. Dishes may sit in the sink some nights, supper may be a pizza run, they will both cry sometimes, etc,etc. No one can be supermom and do everything perfect! Give yourself some slack and know that they won't grow up and complain to their friends that when they were little they didn't get a bath every night. lol Good luck I'll be thinking of ya.
ReplyDeleteBTW I like the gift idea. We did that too but we also had a present for Lyndsy to give to the baby. She wrapped it herself and gave it to the baby at her first visit. She was soooooo excited!
It sounds like you got a lot of good advice already....here's what I know. Somehow - you get through it. I know I took a while to adjust, but we do. And it works out. You will find what works for all of you. At first, when the baby slept a lot those first few weeks- it wasn't too bad. After that I found it harder to shower. Bouncy seat or swing were great for that. Maybe Blake can play in the bathroom while you shower, too. Say yes to help. Don't stress about cleaning - do it when you can, but rest as much as you can early on. I still laugh at the fact that early on, I would be nursing Riley and wiping Ashlyn as she got done on the potty. It isn't pretty all the time - but it works! ;) You will be great. You are such a calm, loving mommy. You have so many great ideas about how to raise your boys. You will love them with all your heart - that is what is most important. The rest is just details.
ReplyDeletethat is a lot to think about! but im sure in time you will find your niche and be fabulous at it! remember to take one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteIt will be an adjustment at first but then you will find your groove and everything will be fine. I promise! Don't forget to take care of yourself. That is the one thing I forgot to do:)
ReplyDeleteI know you'll be okay! I am sure the first few weeks will be tough but you taught kidnergarten! That was tough right? I bet it will be fine!
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