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Wednesday 1 April 2015

Becoming a mummy of 2!

Before I had Evelyn I spent every day wondering how I would cope with 2 children. The logistics of it, how I would cope, there's only 1 of me and 2 of them that will be soon demanding my attention 24/7. I worked myself up in to a frenzy of worry whilst pregnant with all of these scenarios in my head of how I was going to fail at being a mummy of 2.

When Evelyn arrived those thoughts briefly left my mind James was besotted by his new baby sister and all Evelyn did was sleep (oh those were the days!). That was until she began becoming more alert, awake and demanding! 


When Evelyn reached around the 4 month mark she began being really alert, wanting to look round and explore her surroundings. At this point we also reached the clingy, I want to be carried all the time stage. This was when the "fun" began. Then when she learnt to crawl at around 8 months it became a whole new challenge!

I am not going to lie being a mum of 2 with a 5 year age gap between them is hard. James wants to play with all his small toys such as Lego and Transformers whilst Evelyn just wants to eat whatever James is playing with (despite having a whole tub of her own toys!). 

Of course my time does quite often have to be shared and sometimes I simply can't do something. For example if we go to the park and James wants me to go climbing around the park with him, I cant just leave Evelyn in her pushchair on her own so he has to go and climb without me. Now he understands that mummy can't always do everything he asks he is much more understanding of the situation and takes full advantage when daddy comes with us.

We try and ensure that James gets a little bit of 1 to 1 time with either me or his dad to read together or play a game together and just to chat. It means he gets his little be of time with 1 of us without Evelyn crying or requiring our attention. In that time our attention is 100% his!

I also found investing in things such as a Bumbo seat or Jumperoo/ baby walker means that baby can be placed down for short periods of time leaving you with your hands free to get on with other things whilst baby is safe and often entertained.

Sometimes it does mean that Evelyn has to whinge a little longer because I cannot just jump up and abandon what I am doing because she wants picking up. I have 2 babies and splitting my time fairly is part of my job now.

Would I change it.... NO! Ok so there are moments when I could rip my hair out and lock myself in a small cupboard until my husband gets home, but the good times far out weigh those moments. Seeing them sit down together and James teaching Evelyn how to work different toys, whilst she stares at him intently taking everything in melts my heart. 
Just thinking of them growing up together, learning from each other and knowing they have each other makes me smile every time. 


So if like me you have those 2nd baby worries just try and remember that whilst there will be times when things are tough and when you feel like all your worries were right this moment in time is a short one and soon they will be growing up. Yes the bickering and arguing will inevitably continuing, probably forever but the good times will always out weigh the bad. 

Whilst having Evelyn meant our life became a little more crazy, a little more hectic and a little more noisy. It also meant our lives were filled with a few more smiles, a lot more laughter and double the love and that totally makes it worth it!

Do you have any advice on becoming a parent of 2 or more children? Please do share below.

xXx

17 comments:

  1. Adorable photos of your 2 kids. I also have a biggish gap (nearly 6 years) and there were/are certain disadvantages but the positives outweigh the negatives by such a long way I can't even begin to start describing them.

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  2. Awww congrats it hard work as I know with two but well worth it.

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  3. what beautiful pictures. I am a mum of 2. My son was only 2 when Sophie was born. We let him be involved with bringing nappies, wipes and "holding" the bottle as she fed. They have an amazing bond now. Liam is 5 and Sophie is almost 3 x

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  4. Gorgeous photos and I swear by the Bumbo seats as they gave me some sanity during the twins early sitting days. Wouldn't have been without them

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  5. awww the photos of them together are beautiful! .. i worried becoming a mum of 2 even with a 10 year gap .. eek! although i would still love to a third in the mix

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  6. Beautiful pictures. It is overwhelming going from 1 to 2 children. I remember crying and worrying that I wouldn't love a second child as much and now I have 4!

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  7. I found the first 6 months of having 2 incredibly difficult but we did only have a 20 month age gap. Now though, 2 years on it's a breeze and having two is pretty great! x

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  8. aw what lovely pictures of them both

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  9. I only have the one child - 16, I am not sure how I would have coped with two! I have no idea how my mum coped with 4!! Beautiful photos of your kiddies x

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  10. They look so adorable together. No matter what the age gap, I would still love a sibling for my son.

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  11. I found it hard going from one to two children, although as my daughter was 4 years old she could understand more than Mummy needed to do things for the baby as well as her

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  12. I found the transition of one to two children very easy - two to three was very hard work and anyting over 4 is just hectic lol

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  13. Aw they are so cute together and I am sure you are doing a terrific job x

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  14. While I don't have kids I do have three cats so can sympathise! Very cute children, but wait until they can plot and scheme to run rings around you lol. Stephen :o)

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  15. I have three and I think (like you) its important to have some one to one time with each of them.

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  16. Beautiful pictures of them together.
    I found it hard to begin with but it does get easier and then they play nicely together, eventually

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  17. such a lovely post, I often wonder about how life with two would be! x

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