So tell me you guys....... - how was it going from 1 to 2 kids?

moped wrote: I know! Crazy that I am typing this question.............

Can you guys tell me how it was going form one child to two, the adjustment, how you got along with two, how you loved 2 the same, how you functioned with the exhaustion of a baby and a toddler, etc etc.........

Thanks

luvbug00 replied: JEN! are we doing some thinking here??!

moped replied:
Thinking yes, actions not yet.............

TANNER'S MOM replied: Aww Jen.. 2-3-4 is great!

You are tired I won't lie about that.. and getting ready to go somewhere takes a bit longer..the diaper bag grows quite a bit.

But then it starts to become a routine..and you don't notice it being any different.
The first year is the hardest and then it's just life.. you know.

Jack will be a help, he will bring you diapers..and play with and torture the baby all at the same time.

But you know.. it's like they become one too. You can't separate them after a while. There is more of any age difference in mine..but I can remember from by the time Justin was 2... he wanted Brittany.. I would wake up and find him sleeping with her..and her arms around him. To this day..if he is sick alot of times he will go to her..and then she will come and get me. He calls her Sissy and she calls him Bubbie... but only at the house.

The girls in my house are very close..and share all the sweet boys secrets and tells of first kisses..they love each other.. They cry when one goes to camp and the other stays home etc..

Tanner makes it complete..cause every family has to have the spoiled baby and thats him..

Your heart grows so much..and after the baby comes you will have a hard time remember days before you were a family of 4!

There are bad days..days when you don't comb your hair at first..and days when you are tired..but they are outweighed by the good days..when you walk in the room..and you see your oldest child..just sitting on the floor playing with the baby in the gentlest way and sayin I wub u brudder!

It's wonderful to watch your family become whole.

I was an only child.. and it has been the neatest experience to watch my children bond. They fight each other but not has fierce as they fight for each other!

moped replied: Thanks Mel.........that was very touching. I really appreciate your thoughts.

mckayleesmom replied: Honestly!...I was so scared to have two kids so close in age...Mckaylee was only 21 months when Russ was born, but I was actually suprised when I found it easier to have 2. Mckaylee loved her baby brother and she was a big helper....and now its even easier now that Russ can play with her...they keep each other entertained. They do fight alot, but for the most part...they have a constant companion to play with.

TheOaf66 replied: I am rather curious about this as well because my wife wants to add another to our household, my son will be 4 in about 2 months so she figures it is time.

boyohboyohboy replied: I had all those same questions, and just dove right in, now I cant imagine it without both boys, and we are thinking now of working on number 3!
I think it was really hard in the beginning, just from being so tired from being up all night with a newborn, and feeling guilty at first about not having the energy to play with a 4 yr old, but soon when the baby started to become more aware, the kids really related to each other, and watching that turn to love was incredible. Now they are inseperable. I am sure that will change to sibling arguments soon, but for now there is peace.

I also wondered how would I love the new baby, when I was totally consumed with love for my first son, I cant imagine loving anyone the way I love him, but somehow your heart just manages to love them both. I guess it just happens. I am so glad that a mothers heart is able to just keep growing like that.

You get into your routine, and everyone finds there little nitch and it just works itself out, and I think always for the better. Now I know that my son, has his brother for the rest of his life, when we are gone....

Good luck

KingMom replied: No advice yet Jen, but give me a few months and I can tell you first hand how the first few months are

mckayleesmom replied: Also, you are alot more relaxed with the second one...because you have done it before.

coasterqueen replied: It was hard at first, but it has continually gotten better each and every day. I think the hardest is having to spend more time with Megan and so I don't get to spend as much with Kylie and I know that bothers her down deep even if she doesn't express it. It makes me sad. I try to balance time out when I can, though.

After having both girls to myself while DH was in Louisiana for 3 months, having two kids are a piece of cake.

I was thinking about this last night...no offense to anyone who chooses to have one kid, but I can't imagine my life with just one child. Seeing my two girls interact is just AWESOME. I'm enjoying every single day that much more watching them interact with each other and it's just the most awesome-ous thing ever.

C&K*s Mommie replied: It was the best decision made, well for us, to have 2 children - esp two children close in age. Big siblings are the best helpers.

Someone once said that your love is never divided among multiple children, it is multiplied! And that is true.

I can only speak from the perspective of having children close in age, so I am not positive about siblings being several years apart. For us, it was and still is an easy adjustment. True enough having 2heads to combs, two times the clothes to pick out, and two children to get ready to walk out the door is time consuming, but otherwise it is a great job..... and I love it!

moped replied:
What is the age difference with your kids Nicole?

b&bsmom replied: For me it was easy, I have always taken care of children since I was a teen. When I had my first (dd) I lost my day care job so at 3 months old she was going with me to a nanny job so it felt like she was not an only child. You don't know how you do it you just do. There is plenty of love, and time ( sometimes doesn't feel like it) for all. You just learn to adapt. I had no problems and I have two now and I am hoping for more. I love it. Hope that helps!!!

danahas4monkeys replied: Going from one to two wasnt too bad there is only a little over a year between them, going from two to three was a little weird not in a bad way but there is 6 yrs between them and I had gotten so used to just having the 2 , and going from 3 to 4 was no biggie lol you get into a routine and just do it, once your past 2 its no big deal lol you just roll with it!

Dana

moped replied: You see, here is the deal. My DH stays home with Jack. I work full time. So, he needs to htink hard about this. I am 34, he is 46, 47 in March. So that is a "thing" for boht of us. I think he is a bit freaked out by staying home with 2 ya know.

moped replied: Oh and i will get one year maternity leave...................so the first year I can handle I think, it is after that when I go back to work

MyLuvBugs replied:
Same here.

C&K*s Mommie replied: 17mos to the day.

3_call_me_mama replied: Honestly it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I was tired at first adn still am sometimes btu it really is more form doign too much outside teh home (Activity wise). We are always on teh go. When we are jus thome or hanging out it's nothing. It was toughest when Kathleen got independance adn Cameron was in his run crazy phase. So one was going one way and teh other was going teh other. I Karen said I truly cannot imagine my life (or theirs ) without 2! (Well 3 now!!) Their love for each other, their interactions everythgin about their sibling bond is just amazing. And my husband growing up an only didnt' want to deny his kids the opportunity to always have someoen on your side. More than one may not be for everyone but it certainly is for us Good luck in your decision making !! (And have fun trying if you decide )

CantWait replied: It was easy for me, but Robbie was also much older. I think it all depends on how easy your toddler was. Poor Robbie had to take a lot of responsibility on for himself because I WAS terribly exhausted. Hopefully both the kids will nap for you so that you can take one also. You will definetly need your whenever you can get them.

Loving them is the easy part. With Robbie I just remember all the things we did when he was a baby and toddler, and how I look forward to all that with the second. Although Anthony is much different and doesn't like all those things (who would have thought). I have to say though, some days, Anthony was a little harder to really like because he was such a hard baby and because of the PPD.

Boys r us replied: Mmmmm.....my little girl news got you in the mood for some pink of your own?? HA


Jen, I always said I could never have a second child b/c I honestly just couldn't imagine being able to love another child as much as I did Tanner. I mean..there was NO WAY! I often discussed this with my mom and she always assured me that I could. Well, it wasn't until I laid eyes on Braedon that I truly understood what the other Nicole was saying about how they say your love for your children isn't divided, but rather multiplied. It's SOOOO true!!

I can't say what it's like to have a newborn and a toddler at the sametime b/c Tanner was 6 when Brae Brae was born, but I have a good idea b/c Tanner may have been 6...but he was a busy 6 yr old..perhaps even busier than a toddler b/c I was having to run him to sports practices and games for 2 hours almost every night and deal with homework and friends over and him going to friends houses...my point? somehow..you just deal with it! you find the time!

and at the end of the day when you see those two precious sleeping faces...you realize that your life wasn't complete without that 2nd one!

ashtonsmama replied:

Hmmmmmm...

I'm loving the responses here, I'll be going from 1-2 here soon too, so I need the advice too!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I'll get back to you in a couple weeks! Hopefully sooner!

ZandersMama replied:
Me too great topic

My3LilMonkeys replied:
DH was very unsure about having 2 (he stays home with the girls for half the day while I am at work) but now that we have 2 I wouldn't want it any other way!

Well, except maybe to have 3, but that's a few years down the road.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Well, Maddie was almost 4 when we had Ethan so she was pretty independent. She was easy anyway and entertains herself really well. Ethan was a GREAT baby.

I don't know....it was pretty easy for me to go from one to two. Three would kill me. There are times when I think it would be easier with one, but I love having 2 and I love the fact that they have each other.

I might be eating my words later on in the summer when they are at each other's throat all the time and I'm pulling my hair out.

Ashlynn's Mommy replied: I like having two. My first daughter is 9, and my baby is 5 months. there is such an age difference, so my 9 year old helps me alot. When I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd child, I felt bad for my 9 year old, because it was just me and her for 9 years, and I didn't want her to feel left out. I had her very young (16). We all adjusted and everything is great now. Except for her attitude. LOL

holley79 replied: I always wondered the same thing. It was great reading everyone's responses. It scares me to even think about having a second child.

moped replied: You guys are the best................I have recently jsut had the NEED for another. I know that I will then feel complete in my life. Once I get Tom on board then all will be good.

I know there are more reasons for than against.....................I would jsut like to throw some of this at Tom.....he isn't dead against it just isn't 100% sold yet either. And I want a March/April baby....which mean NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

luvmykids replied: Well I started with two right off the bat, and you know what? There were some moments that at the time seemed pretty overwhelming but in hindsight it was actually really great!

The big change for me I guess came with Macie, going from 2 to 3 ... a newborn and two 2yos. It was a little tougher just because they didn't sleep when she did, etc so it felt like I could never catch up on the sleep. But overall, really nothing you can't adjust to. Allow for a lot more time to get ready to go somewhere, be prepared for lots of tattling and fighting but also the fun you get to see as they grow close and the way they can fight to the death over a doll shoe/dragon/tinker toy/piece of candy one minute, and then so sweetly hug each other and say "Oh no, did you fall down?" the next.

I was also an only child and it brings tears to my eyes to see first hand the love between siblings. I never understood it before and now I only have a glimpse of it through my children but it is so precious.