Preparing for Baby #2

5.24.2017


*I suppose I should apologize for taking a leave of absence from the blog without announcing myself, lest you think I'm in labor. No, I am not in labor. But I am lacking motivation to blog regularly, and I've been filling any evening free time with other creative projects that I plan on blogging about if I ever get around to it! 

I posed a question to my blog’s Facebook page, asking what topics people would like to see me write about. A couple of people suggested I write about how we are preparing for Baby Bum 2.0, so I figured I’d sit down and see what I have to say about it. 

I suppose the reason I haven’t written much about my thoughts on having a second baby or how we are preparing to add a fourth member to our family is because 1) I wasn’t sure if anyone really cared about it and I don’t want to be crazy lady who only can blog about babies and pregnancy but mostly 2) I don’t feel like we’ve really done very much preparing. 

There will not be a brand-new Pinterest extravaganza of a baby boy nursery reveal because R and this baby will be sharing a room. We’ve made some minor adjustments to the original nursery but nothing super crazy. Total so far, I think I’ve spent less than $50, honestly. I switched out the giraffe holding a pink balloon to this print from the same Etsy shop of a fox holding a yellow balloon. 

I replaced the pink and white Target curtains with these gray blackout curtains from Wayfair that I totally love. It keeps the room so dark, especially now that it’s still light outside when R goes to sleep! I bought a picture frame for $3 during a sale at Kohl’s and added a maternity photo to the existing shelf. I am working on replacing the paper name banner above R’s crib with a new one I’m making of just scrapbook paper triangles. We have friends making a pallet with baby boy’s first initial on it to match the pink one they made for R. 

We aren’t buying a second crib because, to be totally honest, to me that seems like a ridiculous and unnecessary purchase. Not to say that anyone who buys a second crib is ridiculous, but it felt unnecessary for us. Baby boy will sleep in the bassinet we used with R for a bit while we continue to work on transitioning R to her toddler bed. My in-laws found it at Goodwill for $50 and it fits perfectly in the nursery! 

I guess if I think about it too hard I suppose I feel slightly nervous about the logistics of a two-year-old and an infant successfully sharing a room, but then I figure we are not the first people to do this and it will work out. We aren’t buying a new, bigger car, because we can’t right now. The backseat of my little Ford Focus will be stuffed two car seats, and we’ll just figure that out too. Where is this super chill attitude coming from???? Please never leave me. 
In order to fit R’s new toddler bed in the nursery, we moved this white cabinet (originally black from Target and painted white) into the dining/office room and made a little play area for R, which I mentioned previously in this post
It feels so good to have all of her toys out of the living room, and with the big window I love all the natural light in this space! We hang out in here a lot in the evenings after I get home from work. 

One semi-major project that I gave to Jordan was to add two more shelves in R’s closet. I never actually put any work into organizing her closet or making it look cute and functional, but now that two kids will be sharing the closet, my nesting urges took over and I told Jordan he needed to install some shelves in there for me so it wasn’t just a mad pile of stuff in there. I’ll try to remember to share a before/after photo with you once the shelves are in and I’ve organized everything! 

As far as purchasing items for baby boy, we haven’t really needed to get that much. All of the large stuff (car seat, bassinet, high chair, play mat) we have in gender-neutral colors, minus her bath seat, and who really cares about that? Not me. 

One thing I’m super excited about is setting up our MamaRoo infant seat! I had the opportunity to work with 4Moms on a sponsored blog post last year and got the MamaRoo for free. R was already too big for it, so we packed it up and have been saving it for baby boy. I’m so looking forward to having a baby swing this time! We never had one with R. 

I’ve been shopping consignment stores for baby boy clothes and have snagged some fun deals on Brickyard Buffalo when I’ve seen them for some shoes and a few other things. I’m buying a box of diapers whenever I’m at the store, trying to stock up, which we did not do with R and that was a mistake. I was maybe four months pregnant when I stopped at a garage sale up the street from our house and saw that they were selling a double stroller for $40. It’s not as fancy or compact as some of the other double strollers you can buy, but hello, did I mention forty dollars? I need to look up the manual online and figure out how it actually works.

My mom was visiting a month or so ago, and we knocked out some freezer meals from this post. I still want to bake up a few batches of muffins for the freezer. I found breakfast to be one of the hardest meals when R was a newborn because you’re so exhausted from the long night of no sleep that you don’t have energy to make breakfast, but you’re breastfeeding and starving so you have to eat something. I want to be prepared this time! 

As far as how I’m mentally preparing, I don’t know if anyone can ever be mentally prepared for the epic exhaustion and stress that comes with having a newborn, but since it was so intense with R, I am hopeful that it won’t be as difficult the second time around. It was so challenging on our marriage to add a baby, but I think we are in a better place now that we know more about what to expect! 

I have no worries or concerns about R transitioning into her big sister role. Maybe I’m just being naïve, but I honestly haven’t had any fears about my ability to love two kids or have time for two kids or about R feeling left out or abandoned. Lately I have been feeling a little nostalgic as I think about my time with just my little bean coming to a close, but I’m so much more excited to add baby boy our family and see R as a big sister. 

Someone recently asked me how I knew I was ready to start trying for a second child, but I find that a hard question to answer. For sure there are definitely better times than others to think about having a baby. But at the end of the day, I was never going to be ready for the physical and emotional toll of being pregnant, especially working full time and chasing a toddler around; I was never going to be ready for the exhaustion of a newborn; I was never going to be ready to face the difficult first day back at work after maternity leave; I was never going to be ready for the financial aspect of paying for my delivery and paying for two kids in daycare and adding someone to our insurance and all the other things you have to pay for when you have another child. I don't agree with people who say kids aren't expensive. Sure, they don't need the newest clothes or the fanciest toys or the most exotic vacations, but there are other expenses to consider, and it's pretty overwhelming sometimes.

But Jordan and I both grew up with three other siblings, and we love our big families. We knew we wanted to have more children, and we knew that as much crazy that comes with having a baby, it also comes with a lot of laughs and a lot of fun and a lot of love. 

We all prepare for babies in the best way we can. We wash the tiny clothes and set up the tiny swing and buy the tiny bottles and fold the tiny blankets. 

But there’s one thing you just can’t prepare for: the giant amount of love you feel for the tiny person who was inside one minute and outside the next. The person you can't imagine your life without, even though you just met.

Finallyyyyy, just for fun. A bump comparison from 35 weeks. I have been wearing the same shirt each week on purpose, but the purple shorts was totally accidental. Also I need to clean my mirror, thanks for noticing. 

Officially less than one month until my due date, and R was 9 days early, so it could be even sooner than that! I can't wait!

Angi said...

Love this. I actually appreciate the insight into having two, since Isaiah and I know we're going to want more than one eventually as well. And yes, please share the closet when you're finished! I feel like I've done all I can with our baby's closet and at the moment it feels like it'll work, but it's really small, and I'm paranoid it's going to turn into a hot mess in there once she actually arrives...hopefully 9 days early. ;)

Amie said...

I always think it would be nice for Bowen to have a sibling but then I start thinking about logistics. Daycare, work, taking care of two little ones and I get overwhelmed but I know people do it all of the time. I have always said I would decide if we should try for #2 when Bowen was 2, he is 18 months now so I have a bit. (We have to do IVF again so there are no guarantees anyway)

Rach said...

I'm so glad that you are in such a great place with adding a second kiddo to the mix. It seems like it would be easy to stress about so many things and I love that you're just taking it in stride. Lots of kids share rooms! I'm sure your two will be just fine in there together. And I love that you chose gender neutral things with R that are able to transition so well for Baby Boy. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing before & afters of the closet! We've got that project on our list of to-dos as well!

Courtney said...

My Dad always said if you wait until you're financially ready, you'll never be ready. (within reason of course :p) but the point being, there is always SOMETHING else you could be doing or spending your money on- sometimes you just have to choose to do it.

I, like you, never worried about the transition to two. I didn't worry about loving the baby as much as Abigail and I didn't worry about taking care of two, I figured it has been done all throughout history...that I could figure it out. And I did! (Though I will say the transition with Abigail was much more challenging then I was expecting/prepared for!)

I was chuckling at your comment about where was this super chill attitude coming from?? You seem to be very zen at the moment :p

You look fantastic, I hope these last few weeks are wonderful for you!

Allison said...

I wish I had had your super chill attitude towards the transition to two. Haha. I wasn't that bad, but man those last few weeks with just the three of us wrecked me. I cried the whole way to the hospital after we said bye to Aiden. Dang hormones. Hahahaha. But everything is great and I love being a Mom of two and it all just figures itself out. I love how practical you are too about all the gear. I didn't buy much for Alder as he is wearing all big brother's clothes. I just care way less about all the "stuff" this time around and I'm glad. You are getting so close!!!

Kaity B. said...

So excited for you! The room-sharing thing is tricky, but doable. The initial transition wasn't bad and it's super convenient to have all of the boys' stuff in one place, but now that Charlie is transitioning to a big boy bed, he's been waking Crosby up a lot and it's been rough. Hopefully you won't have to deal with that since R is already in a bed!

Callie said...

You look great, and you sound well prepared to me! I always intend on doing the freezer meal thing before delivery, but it never happens. I rely (maybe too much) on my amazing mom's group because we always prepare meals for whoever has a new baby. But maybe I'll get my act together this time! ;-)

Maria said...

Growing up, I shared rooms with my brothers at various times when we were young. I remember it being super fun (we had bunk beds, enough said.).

Glad to hear that you are taking it all in stride and feeling prepared. The room looks so cute, warm, and welcoming for the little guy! How long did you have R sleep in your room?

Noted about the diapers. We only have two small boxes at the moment and neither of them are newborn. Oops. Do you need just as many wipes?

Sarah @ Sweet Miles said...

Love this so much! I am thinking we would probably not buy a second crib either, assuming we have a second next spring. We bought ours with the intention of only ever buying one, so hopefully that pans out. I think R and baby boy's room is perfect! It will create such sweet memories having them share a room!

Laura Darling said...

Aw, so fun! You look great! My dad always says "if everyone waited until they were 'ready' to have kids, no one would ever have kids. You can't wait until you're ready." He's got a point I think!! I'm glad to hear you have a Ford Focus. That's what I have and everyone says "how are you going to fit a baby in there?" I always thought the backseat was fairly roomy and the trunk is a good size so I am thrilled that you've managed with it successfully!!!

Katie @ Live Half Full said...

You must make the freezer oatmeal I made before B! It's so helpful to have on hand and I still keep a bag in my freezer. http://www.livehalffullblog.com/2015/10/18/freezer-stock-up-month-one-meal-plan/

The Lady Okie said...

So many wipes. I buy wipes more than diapers, feels like. Gah! I really wanted to do the cloth diaper thing. I totally intended to and planned on it and then I just... didn't. And I don't think we will. (Planned on it meaning I really did think I would, but I didn't actually plan on it like I bought cloth diapers. Likely the cause of my problem! haha)

R never slept in our room! She slept in the bassinet with me in the living room while I slept on the couch because I literally couldn't climb into our bed for the first 6 days and then she was in the crib when she was a week old. We were like byeeeeee. ha! Granted, the nursery is right across the hall from our room so it wasn't far away. Having a baby in our room for a couple of months is definitely going to be a bit of an adjustment for us!

The Lady Okie said...

I AM SO ZEN RIGHT NOW. This is highly unusual for me, but I'm just going with it ;)

The Lady Okie said...

Awesome thanks so much for sharing!

The Lady Okie said...

I love my Focus! It's been good to us. The trunk is really roomy and we really haven't had any issues. It will definitely be a squeeze with two car seats, but we put both on just to test it out a few weeks ago and I think it will work! Just have to move the seat forward a bit. Totally doable!

Torrie said...

Eeeeek! I can't believe how close you're getting! Sounds like you are much more prepared generally than I ever was for Raven...I mean, we STILL don't have a nursery for her, and she's over two now, ha ha!

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

I got SO ZEN right before having Jack that it freaks me out looking back at it...Why was I not more concerned with getting stuff done?! I think it's just a little present from Jesus before it's go time haha!

Audrey Louise said...

I looooove those prints. But you know that :) Glad to hear you guys are chill and relaxed and more or less ready for baby #2! Erin (from Everything with Love) has both her babes sleeping in the same room, so it's not that crazy! ;)

Erin LFF said...

I'm so excited for you to welcome another little cutie to your family, and I think it's awesome you are feeling so chill and zen about it all. I know a lot of people get SO nervous about a second (or third, or fourth) child but in my mind it would just be exciting. To feel that love and excitement all over again?! :) PS- what made you decide to have them share a room? Just space/logistics or.. ? Sorry if you already said this.

Jen said...

You are so so close and I am really excited for you! Those are some lucky lucky kiddos.

StephTheBookworm said...

I seriously love your mindset. I am a natural worrier so I know I'd be freaking out, but you are so calm and zen. I need to remember this when my time comes!

Jenny Evans said...

My sister-in-law had three kids and a newborn sharing a very small bedroom for a while, and she said that the first few nights are an adjustment for the older kids and after that they just slept right through it. We've always just roomed with the baby until s/he slept through the night so I haven't done it, but she swears it works!

Nadine said...

I am loving your laid back attitude about adding another one to the mix! I think you are smart to not go out and purchase another crib right now. Zoe didn't even sleep in hers until she was four months old so you have plenty of time to transition R out. And I love the little changes you made to make the room more boy friendly.

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