Hello from the other side of baby!! Thank you so, so much for your well wishes and congratulations via visits, calls, texts, emails, and comments over the past several days. It is such a joy to share our joy – Baby Cameron!
We welcomed Mr. Cameron (thank you, Summer Olympics 2016 and Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy for the much needed naming inspiration!) into our lives Thursday morning and he is doing wonderfully. Over the past six days he’s been smothered in snuggles and smooches by both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and big brother Lincoln, of course. ❤️
Now, by some complete miracle the dishwasher is running and both boys are currently napping, so I wanted to pop in to say hi. HI! I’m working on a “Life After Baby” post series that will publish over the next couple of months with my thoughts on having baby #2, but here’s what’s currently going down at casa de IGE:
A friend told Ben and me a few months prior to Cameron arriving that having 1 kid was like having 0 kids, and having 2 kids was like having 10. NAILED IT. Having two children who depend on you completely – and for totally different things – is definitely more difficult than I imagined. People with more than two children, you are amazing. I need to know when you get things done. The balancing act has been really difficult and we’ve only been home two days! ? Maybe that’s the key thing though – it’s only been two days.
Mostly we just want to make sure Lincoln is doing ok with this enormous transition. We’ve been doing lots of one on one time, hugs and kisses, and a few fun presents like Floam. Can you say mega hit? I know once everything isn’t so raw it will feel less complicated but, at the moment, when I think about Ben going back to work I break into a cold sweat. And not even a hormonal one. Although that’s also happening.
The other day I made the horrible mistake of reading a Dr. Laura column about a 4.5 year old child who still resents his mother 16 months after his baby sister arrived – can’t unread the words, can’t unfeel the feels. That’ll teach me to Google anything parenting-related besides like, whether a Rock ‘n’ Play is worth it.
Our house is a Disaster with a capital D. Today for lunch I ate chunky peanut butter by the spoonful for lunch. Ben arrived to the hospital the day after Cameron was born with his shirt inside out. Edited to add: and fell asleep at Walgreens waiting for my pain medication prescription to be filled!!! #thatguy Despite having been here before, we are total parents of newborns right now! ? Let’s just say the first night at home was REAL. Thank you Lord for perspective and the knowledge that this is all temporary.
I am enjoying the newborn scents and cuddles more than I ever thought possible – there is nothing better! Probably because I can literally see in front of my face how quickly it fades away when I look at Lincoln. Prior to Thursday I though he was the tiniest little person on the entire planet. When he came to the hospital after Cam was born I had to squint to make sure I was looking at my 3 year old and not a 13 year old.
When I was pregnant I was legitimately worried I couldn’t love this baby as much as Lincoln – my first born, child soulmate, little buddy, and constant companion. Everyone said my love would expand not divide, which I knew of course, but it’s crazy just how true those words are and how instantaneous it happens. I am obsessed with/love all my boys equally (including Ben!)
I never went into too much detail about Lincoln’s birth but it was beyond horrific (not the hospital, doctors, or nurses – many of whom we were reunited with again when we had Cameron!) Anyway, this time around I had a planned C-section and could not have felt better leaving the hospital – mind, body and spirit. Just wanted to mention this to anyone whose first child came into the world in a way you’d rather not remember and are planning on, or want more children. It can be so much better the second time around!
We are relying on the generous help of our family right now and are asking for lots of prayers and as we navigate this chaotic world of loving on our two beautiful children. It does get easier though, right? ? Have a great rest of your week!
Laurel 10.25.2016
Congratulations on your beautiful son! I thought for sure his name would be Phelps after the Olympics!! May you all spend many wonderful hours and years together.
Therese 10.25.2016
Adorable! Congratulations..Eventually, you will love Big Brother playtime, and it will help you a great deal as they keep each other preoccupied! Enjoy these moments! ?
Carla 10.25.2016
It does get easier and then you blink and they are teenagers! My boys are 17 and 14 and I was blessed with a 3rd little girl who is 11. What I would not give for another chance to hold and smell their sweet newborn selves and get those yummy “I love you’s” and kisses from their 3 and 4 year old selves. Enjoy every minute because while it seems to pass so slowly it really goes fast. The house can be cleaned when they are older and the laundry put away. You will be amazed at how much love you can hold in your heart and how different your boys will turn out to be! Best wishes! Oh, and take lots of videos. My kids love to watch themselves when they were young and it will bring back lots of fun memories to you and your husband that you have completely forgotten!
Sara 10.25.2016
Yay, congrats!! :)
Barbara 10.25.2016
Congratulations to the happy family!!
Jodi from NE Ohio 10.25.2016
He is beautiful and I love the name!
Congratulations from Ohio……:)
Wendy 10.25.2016
Congratulations! He is just precious! What a lovely family!
Alison in Ottawa 10.25.2016
Congratulations….don’t worry about the age range! My sister and I are exactly 4.5 years apart and we have never had an issue about resentment or otherwise, we were close as children and even closer as adults….
Kim 10.25.2016
Baby Cameron is absolutely beautiful! Congratulations!!! As the mother of 3 boys and the grandmother of 2 boys, I can tell you it does get better and there is nothing more fun than a house full of boy. Enjoy those little ones, as you are learning it goes by in the blink of an eye!
Brianna 10.25.2016
Congratulations Kristin! Cameron is beautiful and Lincoln looks like he is enjoying being a big brother. The rock and play is TOTALLY worth it in my opinion. I had one for my youngest and it was a huge help when I needed to put him in a safe spot when my oldest needed me. It can be moved around the house easier than a playpen/bassinet. Enjoy this special time with your boys! I wish you plenty of rest and a speedy recovery from your c-section!
Carla 10.25.2016
Congratulations! So glad things went smoothly. I’ve never met you, but kept thinking about if you’d delivered last week or whenever. I started reading your posts shortly after my first child was born 3 1/2 years ago and never quit. I totally identify with slit of your life and enjoy the day in a life posts as much as the many delicious recipes we’ve enjoyed successfully. Yum! I recently had a c-section for our second child and , 3 mos out, life is so much better and easier now then when we first came home, for sure! Just remember nothing lasts forever…?
Tricia 10.25.2016
congrats on your new baby!! Your boys are so cute! I have twins so I have no idea how it felt to have one kid but yes twins keep you busy not just when they are babies but all the time. Mine are 10 now and I am still running around crazy but for different reasons. Take care and thank you for sharing your family!
Jenni 10.25.2016
CONGRATS!! He’s adorable! You’ll find how to manage when you get out of the newborn stage, once you get back to more than 2 hours of sleep at a time life changes drastically! Then adding a third will seem like a breeze! lol It’s people with more than 3 that I can’t figure out how they do it!
Molly 10.25.2016
Congratulations Kristin and family! So happy for you, he is adorable!! It is hard but it does get better, even when it seems like it gets worse before better! We just welcomed our third baby girl three weeks ago and the two older girls (4 and 3) just adore their baby sister and love helping whenever they can. When my husband went back to work it was definitely challenging (and still is) but you figure it out and do the best you can. Congratulations again!! Enjoy your time with your sweet baby boy. ?
Elizabeth 10.25.2016
Congrats on your sweet little addition! He is perfect! Lincoln is adorable too of course! :)
Gina 10.25.2016
Congratulations!! He is adorable!! Yes, it will get better, as I had 2 c-sections and had all the same feelings you have commented on. Now, my 2 babies are 16 & 13. Enjoy all your cuddles and baby smells, because they go so fast!
Crystal 10.25.2016
Congratulations! What a cute family you have :) I just wanted to comment on how you referred to Lincoln as your child soulmate. I LOVE that term. It’s exactly how I feel about my daughter, but was never able to put it into words. :) :) :)
Julie 10.25.2016
Congratulations! I have to say he is the most perfect baby I have ever seen!
When I first had my son, I couldn’t understand how women even had the time to shower much less anything else. One day I was out early in the morning and I saw a young lady, pushing her baby in a carriage with full makeup, hair done, clothes pressed – my first thought was “thats impossible!” lol. It does get easier, I can attest to that : )
Heather 10.25.2016
Congratulations Kristin! Cameron is absolutely precious!!
Steve Perry 10.25.2016
Congrats!!!, 6 year reader with IGE, WOW 6 years loving every bit, you’re my hero in the kitchen. Reading all the comments people who have been there and it’s all true , it will get better and you will love every minute with both kids, hope you start cooking again for us soon WHEN YOU CAN ! congrats again.