I had the privilege of watching Madison the other night/day while her parents went to the hospital to have their baby boy, Noah Nathan. Boy was it an eye opener! There is so much more work with two! I have no doubt that Kristin will adapt quickly and it will soon become no big deal, but I am not yet to that mind set! It was fun, don't get me wrong, but I must have looked like quite a sight walking into the hospital with an infant car seat (weighing a lot) hanging on my left arm, a diaper bag overflowing with items for 2 kids hanging on my right arm along with my purse and a little toddler holding my right hand. I wasn't sure if I was happy we were taking tiny steps or if I wanted to get to the finish line to onload! :)
Then we headed to McDonalds-what was I thinking?! :) I get inside and I was like ok, now how do I order and carry my food to the table, I don't have enough hands! Brandon to the rescue! I called him at work, "Honey, how would you like to have lunch with your wife-you would-great, meet me at McDonalds!" So he watched the kids while I ordered, after a quick bite he was off to work again. Ok, No Problem, I'll hold Cayden while Madison plays...
New experience: what to do when the kids start sizing each other up?! I had read about this in parenting magazines-bully kid, uncaring parent, proper etiquette, oh why couldn't I remember what to do? Thankfuly it wasn't too much of an issue, we simply played somewhere else and eventually the problem child went away!
New dilemma: how do I take Madison (who is potty training) to the bathroom when I have Cayden and the car seat and her juice and unfinished food? Mom to the rescue! I called her at work, "Hey mom, how would you like to take a break from work and have lunch/play with your grandson-you would-great! Brandon is just leaving you can take the 2nd shift" :) So she helped with Cayden while I helped Madison go potty. Eventually we bundled them all up, mom returned to work and we all went home and napped! Yes, it actually worked where we could all sleep at the same time! I know it doesn't always work this way, but thankfully it did yesterday:)
I know some of you veteran moms are laughing and saying, "Oh Lyndi, we do all that without our husband's/mother's help and are planning the grocery list and making supper in our heads as well!" Let me just say-You women are awesome! Some day I may join you in the ranks of superwomen, but for today I cherish my slower pace of life. :)
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5 comments:
Oh Lyndi, I laughed so hard when I read this post! You got to have all these wonderful experiences even before I have! I have so much to look forward to. This sure is going to be interesting!
Thanks again for all your help. We appreciate you so much!
Lyndi!! I am in the same boat as your thoughts!! There are many days I think....how do people do this with two?? I realize I just have the toddler right now, and sometimes days seem so much easier with 1 vs. 2. Hmmm...super women they are!!! I second that! How do you chase a busy little boy who is curious about everything and nurse and infant?? And when do these amazing women sleep?? I tend to nap when Dawson does, a nice recharging before the afternoon. :-) But God made women amazing, and I have no doubt that if we decide to take it on, He gives us all the strength and power to do so! May just take a little practice first!!
This was a hysterical post! It was such a good thing you had willing helpers on stand-by. Having two is rough, but my friends with 4 kids just laugh at me and say they remember those "easy" days with "only" two.
How do I handle these situations in life with two? One kid should always be immobile in public places. It's preferable if BOTH are. What I mean by that is that one kid is either strapped in a backpack or sling, high chair, or sitting in the carseat bucket or strapped into the stroller, wagon, or grocery cart. The baby can also be immobilized by holding him but as he gets heavier, you need a break, especially to go get food and use the bathroom. To do public potty runs I would lug it all to the bathroom, leave the baby sitting on the floor in carseat bucket and help toddler go potty with the door open so I can still watch the baby. I have always tried to avoid public restrooms by taking her potty before trips, but ....you never know with a tot!
One child is actually HARDER at the exploring age because when you have 2 they play together the whole time and the little one chases the older one around and the older one is quick to scold them and redirect them if they get into things they shouldn't. So, it's easier having two in the sense of having to supervise playtimes at home.
Shopping at night when daddy can watch the kids is nice, but if I have to take both out I always try to bring snack crackers or a toy to keep them semi-entertained. We shop weekly in a town 30 miles away and have hit as many as 5 stores in a row and the kids do fine as long as they have snacks and drinks.
When do I sleep? Never! Just kidding. I'm thankful I'm a person who doesn't need a lot because naps are very, very rare. Once you get them both on a matching schedule you can nap, but I'd prefer to do other things during that time. Until your baby starts sleeping through the night fully (which was at age one year for our little guy), you lose a lot of sleep and then have to pull yourself out of bed each morning to entertain a hyper toddler. No wonder the last year seems like such a blur! I was probably a zombie for most of it.
How do you nurse with a toddler around? You either read a book to the toddler and nurse at the same time or the poor second child has to nurse at the risk of indigestion while you run around chasing the toddler with an attached baby. Or, as was the case for Jer, he gets pulled off multiple times in a feeding for sister's interruptions (much to his loud displeasure!) We try to keep things very child-proofed and train Ali hardcore to listen and obey and stay close to me when I'm nursing the baby. She would often put her dolls up to her belly button to nurse just like mommy! This play-nursing isn't limited to little girls either as you mamas will probably find out soon! *l*
Believe it or not I took both kids swimming once a week all year at the local pool and survived the whole getting every dressed, undressed, showered, etc. One time my hubby and I were babysitting our friends' twins and took all 4 kids swimming! 3 2-year olds and an infant made 2 seem like nothing!
As Natasha said, you adapt SO MUCH and God made you for the task. I look back and realize that I get twice as much done now with 2 kids than I ever did before kids. Each kid makes you more disciplined, organized, and able to handle the pressures.
Lindsey-
I agree about getting more done. The busier I am the more I get accomplished:)
LOL...I literally laughed out loud while reading this post! You are too funny! :) I felt stressed and anxious as if I was right there with you! haha
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