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OK, tell me how wonderful it is having a second child - LOL!

As my due date approaches, my anxiety about having another baby, and "messing up" our family dynamic, is getting worse.  Logically, I know I'm not "messing up" anything, I just worry about all of us adjusting and Jack not being my (only) baby anymore!  He, of course, doesn't WANT to be a baby and is all about being a "big boy" and seems totally excited about the whole big bro thing.

Now, again, I know this isn't logical, but I also worry there's no way I can love this next one as much as Jack.  I mean, are you all for REAL when you say you do/can?  LOL!  

Basically, I'm looking for you all to tell me how wonderful everything is once #2 pops out.  Give me your "success stories," if you will!  

Re: OK, tell me how wonderful it is having a second child - LOL!

  • imagecracky!:

    Now, again, I know this isn't logical, but I also worry there's no way I can love this next one as much as Jack.  I mean, are you all for REAL when you say you do/can?  LOL! 

    I remember my mother confessing this to me recently when she was pregnant with my little brother.  She said she cried when she had that thought.  Don't worry, she and my brother bonded just fine!

    But, even knowing that, I am going to monitor this thread for the advice listed.

  • It's true!  You can love them equally and differently.  It is so amazing to see the dynamic of K and B together.  I love that she's so nurturing and I love that he follows her every move.  I cherish my alone time with each of them as they are so different and both fulfill my life in different ways.  You will love it, I promise!

    Now back to editing so I can get a sneak peak on pics.  :)

  • It's a playmate for child #1.  J and I were talking the other day about how things are so much easier with multiple kids--they entertain each other, they play together, etc.  It's so fun to see the interaction between them as well :)
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  • J, it's fun having two!  Really it is. 

    I absolutely love Elsie's interest in her brother and giddiness when she makes him smile.  I love that fact that her little brother is going to adore her and will laugh, because this is bound to happen, when Elsie dresses him up or does something so Elsie-ish to him.  And she is already a protective big sister at daycare, don't touch her brother.

    I will admit that it is crazy at first and takes some adjusting.  I make every effort each week for Elsie and mom time because she needs it with me nursing Ian a lot of the time and not being able to be with her like I was before.  Even if it's breakfast out or a quick trip to the store, she goes with me and we get our time together.

    And believe me your heart is big enough to love 2 little guys. 

  • Right now, my Jack is sitting on the floor with Julia playing with her and her toys.  They are already best buds.  He is very gentle with her and loves to kiss her.  The only thing I have to say is, don't freak out if and worry about if you have bonded to #2 right away.  You aren't going to feel the same about the new baby as you do about your first.  You will love totally different things about them. You will love them just as much, but in a totally different way, and it didn't happen for me overnight.  But I can't imagine not having Julia now.  I am completely in love with her, and you will feel the same way.
  • I could have written this post exactly!!  I feel the same way and have the same fears.  DS#1 and I are so close and our family dynamics just seem to work perfectly now.  I am so worried about that getting messed up and also, JUST as you said I cannot IMAGINE loving someone else as much as DS#1.  Yet, someone reminded me a while ago...if someone would have asked me how loving DS#1 would be before he ever came along, I never would have been able to explain how it is now.  I think our hearts as mothers have this amazing way of opening up to love someone new!  Good luck! :)
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Pregnancy Ticker
  • I am waiting for these emotions to hit.  It helps that E is totally excited to be a big sister, but before we got pregnant, I was feeling the anxiety of trying to figure out how you can love more than one.  

    I can just speak from being 1 of 3 kids.  I was never jealous of my parent's affection for my siblings, and never felt like life would be better without them.  As for family dynamic, I couldn't imagine life without my siblings.  Life would have been so much different without them around.  

    Change is always hard, but I would guess that if having 2 was really that bad, there would be a lot less families with 3 or more! 

  • Clearly I don't have a second child unless I am hiding some sort of massive secret from the nest (which I am not). 

    I just wanted to share that I have a friend whose nearly 4-year-old had a difficult time adjusting to the baby sister.  He started acting out quite a bit, but it did get much better eventually (as in, within a couple of months, b/c the baby is only 2+ months old right now).  They tried to spend plenty of solo time with him, and also had to walk the line between tolerating some behavior as his own adjustment and disciplining when things were too far out of control.  So, although for some it is not actually puppies and rainbows at first, just in case that is the case for you know that it will improve!  And I do hope it's not the case for you!

    Blythe, born 6/5/10, and Oscar the dog (not pictured), adopted 11/16/07
    image
  • Fine, I'll be honest. 

    For me, #2 wasn't a real joy until he got out of that newborn stage, probably closer to 9 months.  And Brody pretty much ignored him before then, too.  It's just hard.  As you've seen by others testaments on this very board.  And you've been through it, but now you don't have all that free time with a toddler clogging up the works.  The newborn is awesome in their own way, but it's not what you're used to at all anymore, and it feels like you're backpeddaling.  If that makes sense. 

    As far as loving #2 as much - easy!  I thought the same thing and cried and cried about ruining my only baby's life right before delivering #2.  And he was on my last nerve at that time in my life (being exactly the same as my current baby is - eek).  You will love #2 when you meet him, and if you're like me, you'll love him more at times (oh they're so cute, they don't talk back, they don't run away, they don't hit, they eat what you feed them, etc).  Easy :) 

    To sum up - having 2 is eventually easier and your heart will explode seeing them together doing cutesy touching things, but hard at first.  Your dynamic will fall into place with two, and you will relish your one even more when you get to spend time with just him (whichever one that may be). 

    I'm not claiming success just yet, but I do plan to eventually get there.  You'll get there too :)

    Photobucket
    thanks to jennied :)

  • Yes you can love the 2nd one just as much.  You love them for who they are and who they become.  My two kids are opposites but yet you will see the amazing bond and love between your two kids and it will melt your heart.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't look at them and smile because they do something so cute together.  He will be a great big brother. It will be an adjustment at first and you might think what was I doing but that changes pretty quick!
  • I love both of them.

    It was very hard for me for a long time with the 2.   I just started staying home with them.  K was 2 years and 2 months old when H was born.   I was working on potty training with a brand new infant.  She regressed in the potty training department and bfing wasn't going great.  H didn't sleep at night for 14 months.  It was hard on me with the 2 so close in age.  Now it is great... they are best friends and I can do my own thing b/c they entertain each other.  

  • I've heard it's horrible so when you pop that little one out just call me and I will pick him up and keep him.  Wink Don't worry you will do fine. Jack will be a great big brother. All families adjust, your worry now is no different than mine was of disrupting dh and I's family dynamic that we have had for 11+ years without kids.  Then along came Lyra and boy has our life changed but all for the better, and yes we joke about our old lifestyle and all the things we "could" do back then but I wouldn't trade this loud, up all night child for the world. Your life will be better, your love will grow. Jack will always be your first but you'll love both boys the same.

  • It was so wonderful having #2 that I had a third 20 months later... does that help?
    Tied the knot: 6.19.04 Mommy to 3 awesome kids: Maren 3/06, Tommy 12/07 amd Kolbe 8/09
  • Thanks, everyone!  Ultimately, I know it's going to be fine; I guess I'm just scared of the unknown.  Also, not having any siblings growing up, I think it's harder to "see" that side of it.

    I'm a mess!

  • You actually kind of know what you're doing with the second baby which makes it a bit easier. You know that putting him down won't actually kill him or make him feel unloved. I think one of the best things we did was to get Owen a super duper sweet gift (Imaginex - Space Shuttle) that was "from Amelie" so when he went to the hospital he had this sweet gift from her. Good impressions go a long ways. I made sure that I sat alone with Owen and read books, did bath time, etc. with just him so he didn't feel like he had to share at all times. There's definitely an adjustment period but I wouldn't say it was hard or bad. It just took a little bit of time to adjust to the new normal. Owen ignored all of us for a while and we just let him and eventually he came around. Then again - Owen is kind of an odd kid. If he can handle a new baby, anybody can. 
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