The Forgotten

There is a reason nature makes you forget certain things. If you didn't there would be a lot of only children in the world. For those of you with one kid and thinking about adding another to your family, here is a fresh reminder of things that you might have forgotten:
1. Infants eat A LOT. Every 2-3 hours if you are breastfeeding, and sometimes every hour when they hit a growth spurt. This equals sore boobs for you.
2. Hence they poop, A LOT. Just about every time they eat, they poop. OR if you have "poopers" like I do, they poop every time you feed them plus once in between. Take out stock in diapers.
3. Eating A LOT and pooping A LOT equal more laundry. Have you seen the Huggies "geyser" commercial. That is my son. Not only has he peed all over mike, myself and himself, he has peed all over the bathroom where his changing station is.
4. the phrase "sleeps like a baby" does not equal sleep for you. I think I got a total of 2 hours sleep the first night home from the hospital, and I might be up to 6. unfortunately I only get said sleep in 2 hour increments. no sleep equal crabby Ali.
5. Your older child will not like the new baby at first, and will throw a tantrum anytime you need to feed the baby, change the baby, hold the baby etc. Luke is slowly adjusting, every day gets a little better.
6. You will feel guilty that you can't spend the time you used to with your first born since new baby is sucking up all your time. Make sure you have lots of help to distract older child and fill his needs, since you will be exhausted, in pain from delivery, and completely consumed meeting new baby's needs.
7. This equals many tears for you. Postpartum blues/depression are real and should not be taken lightly. Seek help if sadness continues.
8. On the up side, you are way more confident and relaxed as a parent and not the freak show you probably were with your first. You figure, "hey, my older child is still alive, so I must be doing something right."

All my friends with 2 kids tell me it's not that bad and things get better. You just figure out how to get things done, the same way you did when first baby arrived. So I'm hanging in there knowing that the situation is only temporary and everyone will adjust, including myself.