My last post was about how Evelyn has been adjusting to being a big sister. I figure I should also include a post about how I am adjusting to life with two, as that is the second most common question I get these days. I actually was asked by a friend who just told me she is expecting her second. This is my reply to her. Now you're all trying to guess who is having a baby. I'll never tell...
It's funny because in many ways going from one to two has been easier than from none to one. I guess it makes sense because you have done it once before, so you have an idea of what to expect as far as caring for a baby. Don't get me wrong, Evelyn and Vivian are different babies, and Vivian has her own little quirks that we are working to figure out. The basics of babies stayed the same though, and that made getting used to having two a little easier.
I think another reason getting used to having two is easier than getting used to one is because of Vivian's delivery. It was much easier than Evelyn's, and the recovery was faster. I was up and moving around much quicker and when I could rest, I was actually resting comfortably. I remember with Evelyn I was exhausted from the very beginning and stayed exhausted for a very long time. I'm still tired this time around, but not to the extent I was with Evelyn. With both of them I am also trying to be very good about sleeping when they're both asleep, particularly at night. I would often stay up after Evelyn went to bed for a while, which wasn't the best idea. Now, as soon as they are both asleep, I'm asleep.
What has been difficult as far as sleep is the napping. Evelyn still takes about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon, but Vivian does not. She tends to take her nice long nap in the morning, usually in the carseat or stroller while I am running an errand or doing something with Evelyn. I try to catch up on a little rest during Evelyn's afternoon nap, but that gets harder with a baby that doesn't want to sleep much during that time. I will admit that in order to get a little more quiet time in the afternoon, or to make some dinner, Evelyn watches an episode of Sesame Street every day. It's the only show she watches, so I don't feel bad about it. (Unrelated... any parents out there who have seen Sesame Street lately, what's the deal with Abby's Flying Fairy School??? Can't stand it, and neither can Evelyn!)
The other thing about having a second that is making things a little easier is that I'm paying closer attention to any "schedule" I can find in Vivian's day. I really didn't do that with Evelyn this early on, so it never felt like we developed any kind of schedule. But with having a two year old, I have been forced to be more aware of any schedule there might be. Vivian is making that a little difficult though because she hasn't developed a consistent feeding pattern yet. I think part of this is my fault though because I tend to start feeding her, but then Evelyn needs me and I don't necessarily finish a full feeding. As a result I feel like Vivian needs to eat all the time, which is not the best situation, but it's reality right now.
In general, adjusting to having two just happens because it has to. There isn't time to be tired because you have to be on your A game for your older kid. As my wise Nanny always said, "You can sleep when you're dead!" I think she was usually implying go out and have a good time, make memories, that kind of stuff. But it works for having kids, too. It's making memories, right?? You just might not remember the memories in your sleep deprived state. :)
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