Hello, hello – we are alive and WELL!!! I hope you have been too – I’ve missed you!
Things are definitely calming down around here (I feel like I scared a couple soon to be Mamas of two with my last post – sorry!) and we are getting used to life as a family of four. Don’t get me wrong, things are still nuts, but we’re accepting nuts as the new normal. Ironically I’ve eaten almost an entire jar of peanut butter in a week. Quick and easy protein, FTW!
Anyway, after a rough couple of days after we got home from the hospital, Lincoln has been doing really well with the transition. He’d been all over Cameron with kisses and snuggles but was pretty upset with me for having a new little man on my lap. We’ve been each other’s constant companions nearly 24/7/365 for the past three years and to see him hurting, testing limits, and upset with me after we got home felt unbelievably awful. (⬇️ Trying to teach baby brother to read!)
Things finally turned around when we were able to get out of the house just the two of us, take a long walk, and visit the neighborhood park. We needed to reconnect and since then he’s been doing awesome. I mean, hello normal 3 year old issues – “sometimes I just forget to listen, Mom!” – but other than that he seems to be back to his old self. Not to say we we don’t have challenging days ahead of us, especially when Ben goes back to work (HOLD ME) but life feels 1000x better today than it did a week and a half ago in this department. My biggest problem now is convincing him to stop kissing his little brother on the mouth (cold season is a comin’!) ? Oh my sweet little first born!
In other news, I’ve been so enjoying my little “maternity leave”! I feel like the best version of my Mom self because I don’t have deadlines, emails, and social media tasks looming in the back of my mind all day. I mean, they’re there but I’m trying my best to take a legitimate break. Although every moment from the time I wake up to the time I crawl into bed is accounted for, being fully present all day has been really nice.
I’ve also been taking advantage of having Ben home on paternity leave, and being out and about with Lincoln while Cameron naps (holy cow I forgot how often newborns nap! ??) to declutter and organize the entire house. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out! Truthfully it’s all stuff I should have done before Cam was born but was too tired and uncomfortable to do so. Regardless, it feels so good to be organized.
My maternity wardrobe has been packed and stashed in the basement, closets and pantries have been cleaned out, and bins and bins of “stuff” have been loaded into the car to be donated. Life with two kids demands organization so organized is what I shall be…or die trying!
Mr. Cameron is doing wonderfully. He is the sweetest little soul and looks just like his big brother but with dark hair (Lincoln’s was blonde.) Their temperaments as babies are similar too – observant and quiet except when hangry. Between me and Lincoln he receives a minimum of 4,000 kisses a day and I not so secretly love to let him nibble on my cheek. This little boy is well loved, that’s for sure. ?
After taking your solid advice into consideration we bit the bullet and bought a Rock ‘n’ Play. Umm, best investment ever! Cam naps in his crib but sleeps in the RNP next to my bedside at night. It’s great because it keeps him feeling snug, secure, and angled so he can go right back down after overnight feedings. Don’t even care that it could be rough transitioning him out of it when the time comes because honestly I feel more rested and have more energy NOW than I did the last 2 months of my pregnancy when insomnia woke and kept me up starting at 3 or 4am every morning. Forget peanut butter – RNP FTW!!!
We’ve been trying to get out of the house at least once a day, whether it be to HyVee, or the mall and Scheels’ putting green. (#thatfamily) Although Ben is still home I’m trying not to get too comfortable because sadly it won’t last forever. That said, I took the boys out for the first time by myself yesterday and what do you know, the world did not end. Granted, it was 3 miles away to Lincoln’s school, but baby steps, right?!
We were able to get out for a little Halloween fun, too!
Lincoln decided months ago he wanted to be a scarecrow (?!) so I hot glued straw and cloth patches onto an old pair of overalls and called it a day. I feel like DIY’ing a Halloween costume officially earned me my Mom card. ?
Last Saturday the family went to Living History Farm’s Family Halloween. Locals, it was SO cute – got to go next year, for sure!
The little trick or treaters got to walk around the 1875 town and collect treats at all the shops along the way. I nestled Cameron into the Solly baby wrap I ended up getting (thank you again for your advice on that! I’m working on a “must have items from a Mom of 2” post with all my tried and true gear recommendations,) and he snoozed the entire time. Thank goodness because there was no Plan B!
Like I said, life is crazy and it feels like every minute of the entire day is accounted for, but this little family finally feels complete and there’s so much less anxiety this time around. I felt like last time I was constantly challenging myself: Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? WHAT AM I FREAKING DOING?! That said, new Moms: you are doing enough, you are doing it right, and nobody knows what they’re doing!
A couple of nights ago Ben paused and said, “Babe, we have a FAMILY. Like, we have two children…what the heck!” What the heck indeed! Things are going to be chaotic for awhile but we are happy and rolling with the punches.
I’ve got some recipes in the works for you starting next week so stay tuned – can you even BELIEVE we’re talking Thanksgiving already? What’s on your menu this year that you’re looking forward to? I really want to make some soft and buttery dinner rolls. Wish me luck. ?
Have a great rest of your week and I’ll talk to you in a few!
Congrats to all of you! When my second was born, the girls were 22 months apart; the first three weeks were a huge transition, but like you’re experiencing, it does get easier! Now we almost have a 3 y/o and a 1 y/o. Used a RNP w #2 and for almost six months! She slept like a champ then and still does! I was dreading the transition (hence the six months), but she had no issues whatsoever! She didn’t like to be swaddled either; we did put a little foam wedge under the crib mattress though to elevate it a little so maybe that did the trick? Regardless, enjoy those quiet night feedings as one day they will end!
I love reading about your sweet family! Your comments about spending alone time with Lincoln made me remember the weeks after my second little arrived – my pediatrician told me to spend 20 minutes of quality time a day with my then 2 year old. It helped with transition in so many ways! It definitely helped us and is something I still try to do a year later.
I second the RNP! We had no issues transitioning out of it around the 8-10 week mark. I agree it is SO worth it regardless!
Congrats to your beautiful family!
I’m curious why you decided on the Solly, and how you like it vs. the K’tan. I actually got (and LOVED) a K’tan upon your recommendation a few years ago. How does the Solly compare?
I got the Solly because you can control how tight it goes and I figured I’d need it chasing after a toddler. It’s been really great, though I think the Moby does the same thing and is considerably less expensive!
Um, you are just the best! I am happy to see your family is doing so well, your boys are so sweet! Thank you for sharing this fun update. You are my favorite blogger and I just love all your recipes and life posts too. Thank you for all that you share with us here!
Congrats again on the expanded family! I see smiles on faces, so you must be doing a lot of things right! Not sure there really is a right way, just do it your way :) It is amazing how multi-tasking you need to be as a newborn momma with more than one child. My husband and I always paired off with the kids, and I got my son (the youngest). It’s formed a great bond that I really cherish (he’s 11 now), and my daughter relies a lot on her Dad, which is also so great.
Glad to see you are doing well!!
Aw, this is such a sweet post! I’ve been reading your blog for years, and I have to say you just radiate happiness in these pictures! Life as a mom of 2 suits you :) Congratulations!
Thank you for sharing this post! Due with my second child on 11/29 so I will be going through all of this soon – eek!
It’s definitely getting so much better, Erica!! No stress – you got this! Congrats to you and your family!
So, so happy for you all. You ARE doing well, and enough, and all the rest of it. Thanks for sharing this special time in your life with all of us.
We thought we might be able to say goodbye to the RNP with baby #2, but we can’t quit it. Our babies love to be snuggled up at night. And to help ease your fears: my 2 year old slept in the RNP for naps until she was four months and night until she was three months, and the transition wasn’t that bad. Maybe a week of a little extra bouncing before you set her down? Either way it was worth the extra sleep in the early weeks!
Congratulations! Sending so much love and deep breaths your way! I have a 14-month-old precious baby boy and I can’t believe it but… we’re thinking about trying for round 2 in the spring. It makes me a bit queasy to think about but also overjoyed. It’s amazing how intense those two emotions can be simultaneously. Regarding the RNP, totally worth the weekend of sleep you’ll lose months from now to transition for the extra sleep you get now. We swaddled, rocked and used the RNP. That’s 3 transitions! But it’s what worked for us. And you’re right – the insanity is temporary. Keep breathing :)
One of my favorite tips for kisses from older siblings is tell them to give them kisses on their feet if they want to kiss them. they get to share the love and no germs on their faces!
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear everything is going well. Cam is just precious!!! LOVE the pic of the whole extended fam at LHF.
Hi Family of Four!
Kristin I am so happy you are taking time away, you may become anxious about it, but really you wont regret it down the road. Enjoy all the snuggles and love.
The Rock ‘n Play was our savior with our very refluxy 29 weeker who after 60 days in NICU came home and kept us up for 2 months before we finally listened to everyone’s advice and bought this silly thing. I was freaking out about his transition as well but what I found helpful was moving him from the RNP to our travel sized pack ‘n play (less room for him to roll around) and after a couple weeks in that we moved him to his crib. He was a champ! Keep doing what you’re doing!!
They do look so alike!! My babies #2 and #3 are the same age difference as your boys and absolute clones of each other (physically and temperamentally). The baby makes faces at me sometimes, and I feel like I’m being transported back to 2012. I love it!
We are definitely experiencing a lot of that as well – so sweet to see the faces of our first born being made by our second. Ah, memories! ❤️
You are doing a wonderful job as a mom of two. We love seeing all the pictures of the boys. I was pleased if I got my teeth brushed by noon! Hang in there and keep enjoying every minute. They fly by fast!
I was almost brought to tears reading this, because it wasn’t so long ago that we had our second child. Our youngest is 9 months old.
It was a big change, but seeing our two daughters interact now is seriously sweet. There’s nothing else so heartwarming.
Just to offer some support, wanted to reaffirm that it does get easier. Your oldest will get used to the new normal at home, and giving him a sibling is the best gift there is. It’s obvious that you’re a wonderful mom. Just wanted to say Congrats, and remind you to be kind to yourself during the transition. Enjoy being a family!
I love to see that you and your adorable family are doing so well!! You have a whole community of support out here. You take, and enjoy, that break!! Congrats again! :)
RNP saved our lives when my son was born! He slept in it I want to say for almost 6 months…he was premature and we were able to bring him home at 4 lbs! The angle really helped him. We used to push it from room to room upstairs on the carpet, and called it his sled. He ended up transferring to a crib just fine when the time was right!
Hehehe it really does glide like a sled – so cute!
Oh he’s adorable. I love that photo of Lincoln kissing Cameron even though germs. Glad to hear things are going fairly well.