I miss you all, how have you been??
I remember this stage with Lucas being a bit weird in terms of just about everything in life, including blogging. I wanted to blog, but I felt like anytime I went to write something, it was always the same thing…my life with a newborn, and that’s about it! Because, well, that was the majority of my life.
This time? I would love to get on here more and find the time to chat with you all but my hands are pretty much always full.
I’m still trying to figure out this whole “mom of two” thing, and most days I’m definitely still struggling. More so than when I had Lucas, but I would think that’s somewhat normal and/or to be expected since I’m trying to juggle two instead of one? I don’t know.
Some days are harder than others; Saturday, for example, was hard. Jay was gone all day, Lucas was very much in need of my attention, and Alex was bellying up to the milk bar just about every hour/hour and a half. On top of that, he and I were also diagnosed with thrush, which has been no fun at all, so we’re both on meds for that (holy hell, my boobs hurt). I think all three of us cried on more than one occasion that day.
But not all days are hard. Some are awesome, and mornings in particular are my favorite because that’s when Alex is usually the easiest (aka, I can leave him to play on his play mat or in his swing for a little while without crying and not having to be held). Like this morning? I think it was an especially great morning for Lucas, since we had about 4 cement mixer trucks and other multiple trucks right outside our front door. He was in heaven!
Afternoons can be hit or miss; there’s been maybe two times so far where both boys are napping at the same time which also allowed me to nap a bit too (I was tempted to blog, but knew I needed the rest). I’m hoping to start introducing a bit of a schedule with Alex soon, so we’ll see how it goes!
But for now, I’m just doing lots of baby holding/wearing (I have a Moby Wrap and an Ergo, but don’t use them nearly as often as I probably should). I’ve mastered doing puzzles with one hand…
And I’ve also gotten pretty good at finding some delicious and easy one-handed snacks, too. This one has been my jam lately!
Thankfully, I have a little extra help this week (Jay took a few more days off of work and my MIL will be here a couple of days as well) which is totally awesome. Jay and Lucas have been spending a lot of time together and I love watching them play. <3
My parents have also stopped in a few times (although they’re on their annual vacation this week – I was bummed to have to miss Virginia and Wildwood, but didn’t think there was any way I’d be able to swing it just yet!), so that’s been nice. On Friday, for example, it was a beautiful evening so we all sat outside, ordered a pizza, and I had a delicious glass of sangria.
I would have had about thirty more if I wasn’t nursing so often.
On Sunday, we also headed over to my parents’ pool for the day and hung out with my brother and his girlfriend. It was nice to be out of the house for a bit!
But other than that, that’s about all I have to share right now. I’m really not sure how often I’ll be able to check in over the next few weeks, but I’m hoping that at least a couple days a week can happen. I do still have a few more posts scheduled to share with you, so be on the lookout for those, too.
In the meantime, I’ll be over here bouncing around, shoving my (constantly starving) face with scoops of peanut butter, and doing puzzles.
*P.S. – The winner of the Sears gift card giveaway has been chosen and emailed (sorry, I forgot to mention it sooner, but congrats to Nadine!)
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I think so many women feel like life with a newborn needs to be all blueberries and paper airplanes (Oh, Chad), but it’s hard! And when we express difficulties, we’re often mom-shamed, when we should be supported!
I have a now 6 month old little guy, but those first 8 weeks or so were the most difficult days of my life. I posted on Facebook that there should be an “it gets better” series for new parents, and a few friends made comments that made me feel like the worst mother in the world!
So many of us have been there – and as you know – it does get better! <3
I remember those first few weeks with 2 (my youngest was born 5 days before my oldest turned 2) and it was a bit of a blur. It does eventually get easier! Also, oh my gosh but Lucas looks so BIG standing outside! Holy cow!
He’s such a bundle of cuteness!!! It will get easier and Lucas will be more and more of a help as time goes by!
You’re doing a great job! I’m still struggling to blog regularly and my son is eight months old. Eventually!
I hope you start feeling better soon, you and baby both! Yes, I’m sure it’s a huge adjustment to your day with two little boys on your hands. It makes me think of the Duggars, you know the family that has 19 kids?! I was (and still am) obsessed with their TV show because I’m from the same area that they live (Northwest Arkansas). It’s fascinating to know that family lived just a couple towns away from me my whole life. But I don’t know how Michelle Duggar did it with 19 kids.
Oh man I LIVED off of chocolate chips and PB out of the jar like that when I was postpartum. So funny to see you doing the same!
I wouldn’t expect anything different from you right now, Courtney! I can only imagine how hard afternoons are. Afternoons are THE worst time of day for my 14 month old toddler and when she was 3-8 weeks old – the witching hour was real! I can’t wait to have a fussy toddler and a newborn with a crazy witching hour in the same afternoon! Not! ;) Props to you for even getting blog posts out. I basically dropped off the radar when my daughter was born and resumed when life made sense again. No shame if you need to do something like that too. We’ll all still be here :)
Looks like you’re doing a fabulous job adjusting! I hope you feel better soon!!
I love your blog, recipes, and honesty! I have a 4yr old, 2yr old, and 17 weeks pregnant with #3. I had a hard time adjusting to 2 kids, but I just want to tell you that VERY sop this will totally feel normal and you will find a great groove! My only advice is once your feeling better, leave the house every day-it helps so much! You are doing great, and congrats on your beautiful baby!!
Don’t stress about thinking you need to keep the blog updated! Of course we’d loved to hear from you, but take as much time as you need to get into a groove with your boys. You’re doing great! Congrats again!!
You are doing an amazing job! Please keep reminding yourself of that!! :) I’m almost six months in to this mom-of-two thing and our first few weeks sound similar. My little boy cried for much of weeks 2-7 thanks to a dairy allergy…off topic but just to commiserate with lots of crying around here between that and my 2.5 year old constantly wanting attention and pretending to be the baby and regressing with potty training and sleep. But around two months a flip switched…went back to work around three months and fell easily into a routine the second time around (I was so worried about how to get out the door with two kids lol!!)…and now life is just soooo much fun. Not glossing over the hard parts of having two kids but at this point it really is magical most of the time. It’s hard to enjoy those early weeks so I just focused on baby snuggles and getting through the day – no worries about exercise, eating as healthy, etc and gave myself lots of grace. Sounds like you’re doing the same. So happy for you!! And before you know it, you’ll have an almost six month old too ☺️ Thanks for being so honest!!
Hi! Long time reader (very, very long time!), but I never comment! I just wanted to say it sounds like you are doing an awesome job and I have been re-reading all of your weekly pregnancy posts because I am now expecting a little one in December. I am also a teacher and so I think people expect that I know what to do with kids, but I have never changed a diaper (eek!). I also have no idea what I actually need to buy– and it’s especially hard because I am an American living in Bangladesh. So, I know you are suppppper busy, but I would love a post with just links to all of the stuff that you really love having with a new born. There are so many of these lists — and your new nursery stocking one is great, but I was curious about other things like which baby wearing thing you prefer, playpen things, the rock’nplay sleeper– what do you like and how do you use them (I am so clueless). Sorry to make such a request when you are so busy, but you’re so much more relatable than other “healthy” living blogs I read aka not everything is organic, gluten-free, locally grown, no plastic, recycled, granola breathitarian. ;) <3
Hey Katelyn! Thanks so much for reading and congrats on your pregnancy! This old post should help you out! :)
https://www.sweettoothsweetlife.com/my-newborn-must-haves-a-giveaway/#comments
This post brings back so many memories of Mitch as a newborn, and I somewhat miss it. It really is such a short window of time that kids are so little and need us. And thank goodness for people who help during this time!!
The nursing hunger is realllll! I swear I eat more now that I am nursing than I ever did when I was pregnant. Trail mix was my go to on the early days. Quick easy protein packed snack that was always just a grab away. Also – enjoy the sangria! Sober enough to drive, sober enough to nurse- mama needs her wine! Good luck it sounds like you are doing great!
Sounds like you’re doing a wonderful job. Great pictures of your cute little family.
I just had my second, another boy, almost 7 weeks ago. It’s easier because you know what to expect and you realize that the sleep deprivation doesn’t last forever. It’s harder because my older son, who is 3, is fighting for attention. On top of the hormones and lack of sleep I felt guilty for not paying as much attention to my oldest. Hang in there! Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s good for others to know that they’re not alone.
Something that has helped us is putting a lot of our older child’s toys up and rotating them with some older ones so he is interested in his toys when I’m busy feeding the baby.
You have a beautiful family! You are so blessed. Hang in there ?
Girrrrrl, the fact that you are already handling two kids on your own is AMAZING. No matter how ugly it is- you need to give yourself a major “YOU GO GIRL!” because that is just so impressive. I distinctly remember the first Saturday we were at home with our newborn and three year old and thinking “What the !()*$#)( are we going to do with them?” I was quite literally, scared out of my mind. This experience builds so much patience, compassion for other mamas, gratitude for having more help than so many other people, etc. So, You.Go.Girl!!!
Just checked in to see how you are doing… I’m going to quote Evan and sigh and say “You’re NEW”…stop being so hard on yourself! (I was having a mini melt down not too long after I started. about having so much to learn on the job.) There is a reason why we get maternity leave, it is to recover and literally get back on our feet physically, and we also need that time to get reorganized.
You’re doing FINE! Things will fall into a routine a little bit at a time (flylady.net might help a little, it worked for me). Whenever my sister was a bit too weepy with #3 I would say “Have you eaten? how about the kids? give them something to eat too then take a nice hot shower. Alllllllllll of the other stuff can wait.
You’re doing great, mama! My boys are 14 months apart and I remember those first few weeks as being a blur. Big brother is getting used to not getting all of the attention, little brother is trying to figure out this big, new world. I promise that you’ll find your rhythm. It’s wonderful that your MIL will be able to help you out; I learned to never say no to a helping hand even if it was so that I could shower and dry my hair in peace! Your boys are precious. Be compassionate with yourself and embrace the chaos :-)
Oh those little baby feet are just too MUCH! And seriously, there is no shame in the scoop of peanut butter with chocolate chips game!
Your hands are definitely full, but you look like you really are getting through the rough spots well :) So inspiring Courtney!!
I felt guilty for not enjoying much of the early days with my daughter but between a difficult physical recovery and a baby with terrible reflux I was just scared a lot. I really want to have another child but I’m terrified to go back to that level of exhaustion.
In addition to all the “normal” challenges of adding a second kid, you aren’t used to being home with Lucas on your own full time so that’s another major adjustment (a great one but still another thing to figure out!) and you should definitely cut yourself a lot of slack. Some days I think I’d like to stay home but it would be take a lot of energy and work to get my daughter the social interaction and variety of activities she gets at her daycare.
Good luck with everything!
Those little feet in that picture with your peanut butter and chocolate chips! I loooove baby feet!
You are a champ! Nursing every few hours and keeping up with a toddler (and looking as amazing as you do!) seem impossible! I know it doesn’t feel like it but you are owning that “mom of 2” status!
YEAAAAAAAA Thank You Thank You !! Cant wait to give this to my son, who has 6 kids & a garage FULL of “stuff” He can get it organized now !!! Thank You So Much !!