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!
Michelle 10.26.2016
Beautiful family! Congratulations!
Lindsay 10.26.2016
Congratulations! Cameron is absolutely precious!! Reading this post made me feel ALL the feels – my babies are 11.5 and almost 10, and I cannot believe how fast time has flown. I’m not sure it ever gets easier, but you definitely will get used to the new normal. Good luck!!
Julie H 10.26.2016
Cam is so adorable! Congrats on your new edition!!
Kristi 10.26.2016
Congratulations Kristin!! He is beautiful :)
Tina B. 10.25.2016
OMG! YAY! I was so excited to see your post! Congrats to you, Ben and big brother Lincoln! You will get into a pattern and it will come together! Just try to rest and keep the faith <3
Colleen 10.25.2016
Congratulations! Wishing your beautiful family the very best! Cameron is perfect!
Nancy 10.25.2016
Congratulations on your growing family! All the best to you all, and welcome, baby Cameron!
Jamie Burdorf 10.25.2016
Congratulations on your new addition! What a cutie! I remember when I had a 5 year old, 3 year old and we brought home our newborn twin boys. YIKES. Now they are 10, 8 and 5 and I have no idea how we survived, but we did and so will you!! :)
JoAnn 10.25.2016
Congratulations. Cameron is adorable and Lincoln will be a wonderful big brother. And the newborn baby smells are the best, I wish they could be bottled for future use.
Lecy | A Simpler Grace 10.25.2016
Congratulations! He’s beautiful! I’m so happy for your growing family. :)
S 10.25.2016
Congratulations! Your family is beautiful. And yes it will get easier. Your story is so very similar to my own. My oldest boy was born in March of 2013 and I had a terrible experience ending in an emergency c section. My second boy was born in May 2016 as a planned csection and it was so much better! Just like you adjusted to life with a baby the first time, you will adjust to life with two. One of them will always need you and you will be exhausted but you also have twice the smiles and twice the love. And wait until they start interacting with each other, your heart will burst. Just enjoy these moments, it goes even faster the second time! Congrats again to you and your family.
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health 10.25.2016
So happy for you and your family! Cameron is absolutely beautiful and I love his name too. It will get easier with time. Hang in there, girly! <3
Kathlene 10.25.2016
You are all a beautiful family. Your post reminded me exactly my thoughts exactly when I was about to have my second child and that was forty some years ago. I guess we all wonder how a baby will affect our first child, will I have enough time to spend with my baby, will I feel the same with the second as I do with the first…. thank you for bringing those sweet memories back. You will do perfectly fine, just go with the flow. Enjoy your time with them, they grow up too fast and the babies are no more, they become little people, and then you turn around and they are big people, but your love for them never fades. Just have fun….congratulations.
Sarah 10.25.2016
Congratulations on the sweet little guy! He is a cutie pie for sure.
Renee Coover 10.25.2016
Congrats Kristin!! I have followed your blog for many years and I am so happy to follow your adventures;) Thanks for sharing your life and I am glad you have a healthy, happy baby boy to celebrate!
Alyssa 10.25.2016
Cameron is adorable! Glad Lincoln is doing okay so far (Floam was the best when I was growing up). Excited to read your Life Post-Baby posts.
Gina 10.25.2016
Congrats on baby Cameron! Reading this is putting me right back to a year ago. My second will be 1 next week and everything you say is true. The love is crazy. Don’t worry, Lincoln will love his baby brother so much and you will find your balance soon enough.
I also agree about the planned delivery. Recovery is so much easier when you just “pop in” and have the baby ;) Congrats!
Olga 10.25.2016
Congratulations! Long time reader, first time commenter. Your post couldn’t have come at a better time. Right now I’m 30 weeks with our second and have the exact same thoughts about loving the new baby as much as the first one and how crazy life will be with 2 around. The comment before me give me some peace of mind and can’t wait to read more about your own experience :)
Liz 10.25.2016
Hi Kristin. Congratulations on your new addition to the family! Babies are wonderful. It is so true that your love expands immediately. I remember being home just a few days, holding my 2nd child and saying, “I have to have another baby!” Besides kissing and cuddling your boys every chance you get, my one piece of advice that seemed to work for me; while you are holding or nursing/feeding Cameron, talk to him about Lincoln. My son was 2 ½ when his sister was born. He LOVED when I would talk to her about him. I would tell her the things he was playing with and what he was doing. My children are 18, 16 and 13. Of course they have their typical sibling moments, but they truly love and care about each other. And I still kiss them as much as possible. :) Enjoy this special time with your family.
Vicki 10.25.2016
From a great grandma’s perspective: involve Lincoln in the care and feeding of Cameron as much as possible. Ask his opinion and listen to his answers. Discourage competition between the two of them as they grow older and encourage their differences while you praise them for their individuality. Family is invaluable – use them to catch up on your sleep and to have “date nights” with your husband. Lack of sleep and new babies are the same thing! It’s just the way it is until the new one adjusts to living outside the womb where he didn’t have to ask for anything :-) And anyone who wants to bring you casseroles and make dinner for you in the first few months – immediately make them your besties – it’s the most loving thing people can do for those with a new family. I wish you joy and happiness with all of your family and the strength to see you through all the future challenges. Congratulations All!