Round Two
March 11, 2013
Provided By:
Jessica Bormann
I think many parents out there would agree with me that round two (or second baby) is completely a different ballgame on many levels. You are a little bit wiser, a little bit crazier and a bit more appreciative.
You are much wiser the second time around. You have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly! So, for me, this has made everything with Olivia much less stressful and so much easier. I know right away if she has a fever and can make a close guess on why. Feeding, bathing, not sleeping, it really is easier when you know what to expect and more importantly, know you will survive. I also recognize how quickly babies change. When the boys were babies, I thought it was exhausting to get them dressed, get them into their car seats, get to a store, and then, it was time for them to eat! Or you could go through 5 diapers in an hour. What you don't realize within all that "newness" is this gets harder! Have you ever tried to put a 2½-year-old in a car seat, it's not only a physical game, but a mental one too? You have to convince them that it's a good idea to get dressed, to get into the car seat, to eat, to take a bath - you name it, toddlers are exhausting. And even an 8-month-old baby can get pretty challenging at diaper time, as she rolls or crawls away from you - that's why you have to do so many when they are babies, so you get really fast! So, when Olivia was a newborn - no complaints from me on getting her dressed or into her car seat or going places!
Now, about all that craziness! Three can be a game changer, as life is more set up as a family of four! For us, that meant I had to get a new car to hold three car seats. Another stroller - and we definitely get a double take or two when you cruise into the mall with two strollers. The hardest part for us has been having the older two adjust to having a baby in the house. And it's a good thing that you are much more patient with your heightened wisdom because just as soon as you get that sweet little baby to sleep, somebody might just go yell at her face. That is another thing that goes with the craziness - it's NEVER quiet at our house, in the car, at restaurants or at the store. You always have at least two people trying to tell you something.
Appreciative, I most certainly am! When you have a new baby, your other "babies" suddenly seem so old and so big. Just that fast, it all changes, and you quickly realize how fast your babies are now big kids. Sure, some days you wonder if you will ever make it to the next, but it honestly does go by so fast. I am also wise enough to know I have been given the sweetest little girl who has a mellow, relaxed personality that just rolls with the punches while we work through all that loud craziness. Not sure what we would do if she cried all the time. We are so darn lucky! And since she is my last, I've really tried to enjoy each feeding, hold her tight and cuddle with her every day because before I know it - she'll be too busy to snuggle with mom.