It's hard to believe that Evie Joy will be a one month old next week! I'm so emotional amazed at how fast the time has gone and how the minute Evie Joy was born I already couldn't imagine life without my TWO little girls!
While there are definitely some aspects of life that are more difficult now, I'm surprised at relatively seamless the transition is/was. I remember after we found out that we were expecting Evie my sister in-law, who is also my best friend and a mother I admire, she told me that with your second child people think it's easier because you already have one, but really you are learning how to be a mother all over again with two children. That stuck with me and during this transition I have reminded myself of that everyday. But here are some of the things that I've learned the last few weeks:
LOVE. I finally understand what my mom says to my brother and I about loving us the same but different also. There's no way that I could love my two girls for all the same reasons - Elliana is talking and interacting 24/7 while Evie mostly eats, sleeps, and poops. But my heart is split equally for them.
SLEEP. I'm amazed at how our bodies adapt to change. I had felt so tired the last few weeks of pregnancy and that was on 8 hours of sleep at night (+30-60 minutes of napping during the day if I was lucky!). Now I'm getting about MAYBE 6 hours of (interrupted) sleep with no nap and surprisingly feel relatively good for most of the day.
SIMULTANEOUS NAPS. Speaking of sleep... This has been a most welcome surprise. I was really worried about how I was going to put Elliana down for a nap after Evie was born, but we have all done pretty good! Mostly because Evie still sleeps most of the day, but she takes her long nap the same time as Elliana, which has allowed me some free time to clean, play catch up online, and have my quiet time.
ALL BABIES ARE DIFFERENT. I already see a difference between my two girls. I'm really not doing TOO many things differently this time around, and yet Evie is much more laid back and calm than Elliana was at this age. Hopefully it will stay that way!
MY REACTION TO THINGS. This is probably the area that I have seen the biggest change. With Elliana, I was very cautious about everything - noise in the house, not letting him fuss (at all!!), sleep habits, and so on. I've quickly learned that I have to let go a lot of things that I used to stress obsess about. There are times when I have to do something with Elliana and it may require Evie to fuss for just a little bit (like when I'm helping her in the bathroom) in the mamaroo or bouncy. There are times she will be woken up from a nap because we have to go someplace - or because the household is loud. It's made me much more calm and relaxed about things, and has made the first few weeks much less stressful than I expected them to be!
GETTING READY. This is one that I tried not to think about while pregnant. Getting ready is definitely a tagged team match if Lucas is home and we are going somewhere. I try to plan it at least 2 hours before we have to leave but honestly with a baby that's not quite on a nursing schedule, and an almost 3 year old who has an opinion about what she wears now, 2 hours is more of a goal than actual reality. Now while I'm home alone I will take my showers during naptime or at night before bed if I know we have plans in the morning. I try to get the girls dressed after breakfast, and have them in my bedroom watching TV while I throw on some make-up.
ELLIANA'S REACTION. This was my biggest worry while I was pregnant. I was never concerned about how she would act towards Evie Joy because she loves babies, but more how she would act to not having ALL the attention. She has been a wonderful big sis. She wants to be included with changing diapers, holding her, checking on her when she's crying, grabbing the paci, and will almost never pass her by without leaning in for a kiss! But like any only child as a toddler, she had to adjust to mommy not always being able to do something if I'm busy with baby sister (like nursing). I would be lying if I said she's done completely amazing and acting normal this past month with a new baby, it's been a BIG change for her. But she's learning and we are learning with her.
We are all still adjusting to being a family of 4, and it's been difficult and amazing all at the same time, and we wouldn't change it for anything in the world!
favorite picture.
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