My Thoughts On Being A Mom of Two.

Today is a positive day for me so I'm going to proud boast something I feel strongly (and positively) about:  being a mom of two!

Before I was pregnant I was constantly told how difficult it is to parent two children who are still in diapers. Family and friends would often tell me "one is enough" or "you have your hands full." My mother in law was the only one who said something positive about having more than one child and it was "I bet you'll be pregnant at your 6 week appointment" when Wyatt was about 2 weeks old. Obviously, she was wrong and I got pregnant well after Wyatt's first birthday.

Let me just say, the hardest thing about being pregnant with number two is that people find out faster than you are ready. My pregnancy was high risk and I didn't want to tell anyone. But lo and behold that stranger in the next stall at Food Lion really being an ex-worker who can't keep a secret over hearing you violently get sick and most of the world knows within two days. Heck, I think family members were the only people we actually told and most of them already knew!

The second was chasing after a rambunctious almost 2 year old in those early stages of getting sick. If we have a third child (and we're still arguing about that right now) it will be when Isaac is in kindergarten so I don't have to chase him around. I'm doomed to have hyperemesis (I've had it with both pregnancies) and I don't want to chase kids while I get violently ill.

Having them close in age is great, unless your a c-section mom and dad has no time to take off of work. Heck, the bit of natural labor I felt and I have been telling all my c-section mom friends that we're the smart ones! How sad is that? Especially when I am a natural child birth advocate. If we have baby #3, I'll be having another c-section. No VBA2C for this mom and I am soooooooo fine with that! I mean seriously, 4 days after my c-section I went to the mall! I was fine, well until the infection set in but that's another story. Also, a planned c-section has a lot less risk than an emergent one. After the events of this emergent c-section, I'd rather plan one, thanks.

Jealousy isn't a problem if your kiddo knows how to play alone and you manage to spend time with both kids. I let Wyatt "help" me with Isaac for things like diaper changes, baths and feedings. Sure it's a big mess but I'd rather Wyatt feel love for his brother and make a mess than have a tidy house and my children resent each other. Wyatt loves to snuggle with me, Daniel or his Amma on a daily basis and we eat it up! How could we not? Just as we love to snuggle with Isaac! And Wyatt and Isaac both laugh at each other. It's pretty awesome.

The transition from one to two is not hard at all. Maybe I'm a freak. It was like Isaac was ALWAYS here with us. We worried so much about the transition and honestly, it didn't really change our family dynamic, we just grew a little bit is all.

Diapers are expensive and with two in diapers, I'll definitely wait to have a third child. We sold our cloth diapers to get a different kind and I am just waiting for Daniel to approve my purchase before ordering. We're spending about $150 a month on diapers and wipes for two kids. That's insane!

Don't expect everything to be perfect. I'm bugging out thanks to my OCD. The house is a wreck and I honestly don't have the time (or desire) to clean it as well as I used to. I've barely got time to write this blog! I just want to spend time with my family and enjoy them. I didn't realize I was asking too much to want a clean house too. But hey, it's clean enough and I'm getting snuggles in with my big man and little man. Now I just need my middle man (my nephew) to come over and I'll be a happy mommy/auntie!

You're going to fight with your spouse at some point. And you will BOTH feel like jerks, even if the other doesn't show it. Just try to reconnect in any way you can. Daniel and I have been renting movies from the Redbox. It's not expensive and we find a snack around the house and have a movie date once the boys go to bed! It's really that simple. We steal quick moments when the boys are with my mom and we've gone to the store to sit in the car and talk for 10 or so minutes.

Don't over-do it. You don't have to be the perfect parent, you need to be a real one. Don't try to please the rest of the world, just do what you can do as a parent and move on. You're the best thing for your children.

Make some time for YOU! Right now, I am trying to find a very part time job so that I have some time for myself. I can earn money to support my cloth diaper addiction and still have some time out. And maybe even help with the bills, you know when I'm not buying things my kids don't REALLY need.

Being a mom of two is the best thing I have ever done. I love my children so completely, they are my everything.