Pig & Dac |
Oh my gosh...this has been the theme of my life for the last few months.
I look back through photos and blog posts I wrote during the first year of Piggie's life, and I was so awesome! I lived, breathed, and slept Piggie Smalls!
I spent hours a day researching baby related articles while he napped, I took him on little playdates with other babies, he was pretty much constantly held and never had to cry more than a few seconds. I remember getting out of the shower once, soaking wet before I even had time to bathe, all because I heard him start to cry! And I changed his diapers like clockwork every 2 hours (we're talkin pee diapers here people, PEE diapers at two in the morning).
Flash forward to my second baby: I don't hardly read crap, he hasn't been on one playdate, he's not constantly held and definitely has to cry several times a day for a few minutes before I'm able to help him out. If I hear him crying when I'm in the shower, I rush through the rest of what I need to do, but I don't just get out before bathing. And the Dactyl may get a diaper change once in the middle of the night if it seems like it's going to be super full before I want to be awake in the morning.
I just feel so bad. Like he's not as special as Piggie was to me.
But then, I hear him stirring in the bedroom while I'm here writing, so I go in to nurse him back to sleep. I put my nose in his neck and breathe him in. I hug him close to me while he nurses and kiss him on the head about a hundred times while making sure his little feet are under the covers.
And I realize there's no doubting that he's just as special to me in his own way. Our own way.
If you're a mom of 2+ kiddos, how was the adjustment for you?
The Bradleys
I don't have two yet but man I totally understand how you feel. Hey, 1 child is hard. More than that requires so much of one's limited attention. You are a wonderful Mum and things will organically develop and you'll get into a routine.
Jessica
Aw, thank you, and yes you're so right! Thanks so much for commenting!
Chelsea Phelps
Saying hello from the Aloha Friday blog hop! Your kiddos are precious and I look forward to reading more! Newest follower via GFC! I'd love for you to check out my blog as well- happy Friday!XOXOChelse ahttp://anchorsaweigh-ouradventure.blogspot.com/
Jessica
Aw thank you! And yes I definitely will!
My Eclectic Loft
Coming from Aloha Friday! This I think is common to feel like you do. I only had one. I am sure you are such a wonderful Mom, relax and enjoy the journey.Nanc yhttp://myeclecticloft.blogspot.com/
Jessica
Thank you! 🙂
Randa Derkson
I only have the one so far, and even right now I feel like i'm failing. I believe we are our own worst critics.
Jessica
YES, we are! Don't worry I feel like I fail at least 5 times a day with mine LOL, I don't think anyone is "winning" in motherhood 🙂 (And if they are they're faking it!)
Erica D
Hi followed you on GFC thanks for stopping by and taking the time to follow my blog. I love this photo, the perspective is really good.
Jessica
Thanks Erica!
Chelle W
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Chelle W
I'm sorry sweetie I can't stop laughing. I was the EXACT same away when I had my first followed by my second. Now I'm on our 6th and I threw google/the handbook/and everyone else's opinion out the door. I parent by the way of the kids personality and my gut. Hasn't failed me yet. #4 didn't need school and still at 6 yrs old could still thrive being home attached to my hip if I let him. #5 (4 yr old) nope she NEEDS daycare and social interaction otherwise she is hell bent on destroying me. #3 (12) is the one who makes me pray all day long I don't loose my mind at his constant need to push the rules. Each kid is different, each kid needs to be parent and loved according to their personality makes being a big family so much easier then with one standard size fits all concept. Chelle @ Oh, just stop already
Jessica
Yes me too Chelle! And I love hearing from moms who have several kids and how much they've learned along the way, so thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
tara bubb
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Lacie Trinidad
Every child is different and the more you have the more you grow, so I've heard, I have 2 and they are night and day. When I had my son who is now about to turn 12 I was 19 and I was so scared of others opinions I went overboard trying to be the perfect parent, plus I had never had a baby so I wanted to hold him ALL the time, and to top it off, I had no one else to take care of so he got 100% of my attention when I wasn't at work. Then I had my daughter who just turned 5 and you have to relax a little or you will go crazy, plus it's hard to give 2 children 100% of your attention, so they both ended up getting less than he did when he was an only child. I don't think either notice, since they both still get plenty of love and care, and I am betting yours don't either 🙂 Just started following you on bloglovin 😉Domesticated Breakdown
Jessica
I agree, you definitely have to relax a little or else you'll go crazy! Thanks so much for sharing your experience 🙂 Following you back!
Rikki E.
Happy Aloha Friday!!! New follower! You can find me at />Would love to have you stop by and follow back!
Laura Flaute
Awww, this post is so sweet! I love your last paragraph! We can do only what we can do: there are only 24 hrs in a day. And you are a great Mommy! Pig and Dac are so lucky to have you!
Jessica
Aww thank you Laura 🙂 You are so right, there is only so much we can do!
Ilda Dias
Hi Jessica! Stopping by from Aloha Friday... your newest follower! find me at http://www.ilovedoingallthingscrafty.com/ Hugs
Andreea Statache
Hello! Just found your blog via the Aloha Friday Blog Hop.I just read your post & it got me thinking. I am not a mom but I am so afraid of how will I act. Will I be to overprotective, will I be too tough? Looking back all I can think of is that my mom is such an amazing woman for being able to raise me the way she did. She didn't always afford to buy me all the things that she wanted, she sometimes risked having me as pain in the ass when she said NO to some of my crazy ideas. And it was not because she didn't love me. But because she does.I can only hope that someday, when the time comes, I will be a mother as great as she is.And I am sure that when they will grow up your kids will feel the same way as I do about my mother.Best wishes,AndreeaPlease visit my blog & my design shop
Jessica
Aww this is super sweet 🙂 I really hope my boys grow up to be as fond of me as you are of your mother! She sounds like an amazing mother <3
Christina
Hey!Just found your blog from the aloha blog hop!!Now following! Looking forward to keeping up with your blog!xoChristinapieceitalltogetherx3.blogspot.com
Jessica
Thanks Christina!
Dawn Frazier
My 'second' child turned out to be second and third at the same time. I was the same with my son. I made much more of a fuss over him when he was tiny, but once the twins arrived I didn't have quite so much time to be worrying over everything. I do love them all equally though.I found your blog via the Bloglovin Blog Hop 🙂
Jessica
Oh lord, bless your heart lol. I can't even complain around moms who have twins! Thanks for commenting 🙂
rocksnosaltmommy.com
Oh, ME TOO!!! After my daughter was born, I completely devoted my every breathing minute to accommodate her and make sure her life was as perfect as possible. I have also jumped out of the shower wet at the first sound of a whimper. Now fast forward 26 months to when my son was born last summer, and I find myself barely getting by for a few months. There was no extra reading or special Pinterest stuff for this second child. I could barely keep my two kids, my house, and me surviving on a daily basis. When the storm finally calmed after 6 months, I realized that my son was just fine without all the extra fuss and I felt like a less-stressed mom. My relationship with my son is very different than mine with my daughter and I attribute a lot of that to my being so go-with-the-flow during his lifetime. So cherish the relationship with your second child. It is definitely just as special as that first one. <a href="http:// -www.RocksNoSaltMommy.com-" target="_blank"> <a href="http://-www.RocksNoSaltMommy.com-" target="_blank">-www.RocksNoSaltMommy.com-
Sam Dull
I remember feeling this way too. You'll find the groove. It just takes time to calm all the stresses of having too kids! And...yes....you love each kid equally but in different ways. That's the beauty of children. You'll be fine!SamThe Kitchen in My Dance Floor
Jessica
Oh we are TOTALLY in the same boat! Yes yes and yes, this is everything I have been experiencing in the last few months! Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective 🙂
Jessica
Yeah I'm finally starting to get into a groove and my toddler is getting a little more attention again since I can juggle the two a little better. And I couldn't agree more with you!
Stacey Gannett
It does get better! 🙂 I have three, all older now, and I think we all feel like with each subsequent child we are less involved. But in reality, the more we have, the more we already know. Great post...just remember the bond now, can be an amazing bond when they hit those teen years. Thanks for stopping by This Momma's Meandering Mondays! Have an awesome week!
Jessica
So true! Thank you for giving me hope lol. And thank you for the encouragement 🙂
Revamp Spunky Rena
Hi Lovely! Love your awesome blog. I'm your newest follower from Blog Hop. Followed you via Bloglovin' FB & GFC.Feel free to visit, leave comments and follow me @ />xoxoRena
Jessica
Thanks for following! I'm following you right back!
Leah S
Sometimes I feel the same way, but then I think about the changes my 4 year old has had to deal with over the past 15 months since his brother was born. He has been put on the back burner multiple times so I could care for the baby and on top of that I watch another baby the same age as my youngest so it is tough balancing the attention between everybody. I think I am finally to the point where my oldest gets as much, if not more, attention than the babies. It is hard to juggle them all and make sure everybody is happy and getting the desired attention from me. Great post. Found you at Meandering Mondays. Hope you will come link up at the Friday Follow Along, it is still up from last week or you can stop by this Friday. <a href="http://www.leahinspired.com" target="_blank">www.leahinspired.com
Jessica
Yes, sometimes I feel the MOST sad for my oldest because he's been put on the back burner so much. It's definitely hard to juggle at first but it's relieving to finally be falling into a routine. Thank you so much for sharing!
Vanessa @ Love This
I love this! It definitely speaks to me as a mom of two. I still struggle with who gets more attention and even who I talk about more on my blog and social media... mom guilt, I guess. So happy I found you through the Mom-lovin hop! Looking forward to following along- V
Jessica
Thanks Vanessa, I totally know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I upload more photos of one kid than the other one. Definitely mom guilt!