Managing

Just shy of 3 weeks into this "mother of 2" thing, and it's definitely had it's ups and downs. Everyone keeps asking me how it's going, and I always tell them it's both easier and harder than I expected. Some things have been fairly easy, like balancing time with the two girls - today I even managed to treat Lyla to a little mani-pedi and a hair cut while Hannah was napping. But then other things, like going places, has been much more difficult than I anticipated. Example: last Tuesday at our library's story time, Lyla was feeling particularly sensitive and had a total melt down, forcing me to carry her out kicking and screaming under one arm while balancing Hannah's car seat and massive diaper bag in the other. It can be especially difficult to get anywhere with a baby who nurses every 2 hours on the dot; by the time she's fed and I get both girls ready, take the dog out, pack the diaper bag, and get out the door, it's practically time to feed her again. What makes it easier, however, is that this is my 2nd round of this.

I keep telling Eric that I feel like I'm on auto-pilate right now, knowing that the newborn phase of constant nursing and night-waking will soon pass, and I'm just muscling through it. It's also allowing me to enjoy her at this age more-so than I felt I could do with Lyla. Having Lyla really makes me realize how fast they grow up, since it seems like just yesterday it was her I was cluster feeding, and now we're planning her 3rd birthday party - and because of this I'm trying to soak in every moment of this tiny-baby phase, because before I know it she'll be talking, crawling, walking, and being defiant and fresh ;)

Lyla still has her sensitive days - as expected, but for the most part she seems well adjusted to her baby sister's arrival. She pays her more attention, and even gets a bit possessive of her when others ask to hold her; saying things like "but she's my baby sister". However, the other day she did ask me and Eric if we could leave baby Hannah home while we all went for ice cream. She's also quick to be fresh or repeat something she was asked not to do in order to receive the extra attention - even if it is negative attention. This behavior has pushed my patience to the limit, and Lyla has experienced a much less tolerant mother than she is used to, and is becoming well acquainted with her time-out chair. She has this way of saying "I'm sorry" that absolutely breaks my heart, though, and is usually let off the hook much quicker with me than she would be with Eric. Plus, I feel some-what responsible for her new less-than-favorable behavior, since I'm the one who brought this little crying bundle into her life. If anything, she probably gets more attention from me now than she did before Hannah was here, but to her, any time I'm with the baby is time taken away from her - even if that time was previously spent doing the dishes or laundry or other things that didn't include her.

So, to say the least, we are managing. The baby's settling into a schedule, Lyla's adjusting to the best of her ability, and Eric and I continue to make an insanely fabulous team. Can't wait to watch the following weeks and months unfold - the good and difficult