I'm feeling a bit better. I started a registry online yesterday and went and bought some of it today. Now I have some of the most important things like bottles and socks. DH thinks I'm nuts for buying them now.
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I'm feeling a bit better. I started a registry online yesterday and went and bought some of it today. Now I have some of the most important things like bottles and socks. DH thinks I'm nuts for buying them now.
I don't. I've already bought some stuff and I have longer than you :)Quote:
Originally Posted by BunnyGirl19
🙏 for a healthy 🌈 🚼 We're having a girl! 🎀👗
TwoInTow83 Ovulation charts on FertilityFriend.com
Yeah I've bought a few things too. U/s on Monday, will take the whole family which will be nice. Actually I might leave the little fella.
Two girls and one boy, due October 16
Guys just don't get it. You would think veteran dads like this would know better, but I think a baby just isn't real to them until they're holding it. And they have NO idea how hard it is to shop for stuff like this with a little baby. I keep trying to tell dh that I need to get stuff done now because when baby comes I won't be able to do anything. he just gives me a blank look like I'm nuts. Of course, he's not the one who will have a little person attached to his nipples most of the day either.Quote:
Originally Posted by BunnyGirl19
LOL..it's so true. I'm honestly having some anxiety because between the two I have now (who are simultaneously going through rough stages), working and selling and buying our own house I feel pretty close to edge of insanity and then I imagine a newborn...and no sleep and I just can't cope. LolQuote:
Originally Posted by girliedreamz
I can't imagine. Maybe the novelty of a new baby will help?? Do you think there is any chance of that with your little ones?Quote:
Originally Posted by lala22
I wasn't so lucky last time but we can dream lol. When my youngest was born my oldest was 4 and he knew I couldn't chase him or anything else because I was recovering from surgery AND had a baby permanently attached to my TTs for 6 weeks and he took FULL advantage and was a super-turd the whole time unless daddy was home.
🙏 for a healthy 🌈 🚼 We're having a girl! 🎀👗
TwoInTow83 Ovulation charts on FertilityFriend.com
Oh boy. Well, last time around my daughter was horrendous while I was pregnant but once the baby was actually here she was so sweet with him. So far, again she's being out of control and down right mean at least half of the time. Little guy is still so little..I think he'll be difficult when baby is here because he just won't get it and he is so into me..I'm a bit worried about his jealousy.Quote:
Originally Posted by twointow83
We were REALLY worried about jealousy when my youngest was born too. Your youngest is considerably younger than my oldest was at the time so you might need to come up with some ideas for younger kids but we put a plan in place to make sure my oldest felt included... like it wasn't just about the baby but him too. Here is what WE did (and will be doing again):Quote:
Originally Posted by lala22
Starting right from the start we had a couple presents "from the baby" to my oldest. The idea was that everyone pays soooo much attention to the baby that we wanted him to feel like it was a special day for him too. It was sooooo cute! We got him a Tonka truck and a stuffed animal "from the baby" and he kept the truck and gave my youngest the stuffed animal!! He wanted the baby to have a present too! It was precious!!
We enlisted him as the big helper! He loved the idea of being the bigger, more able brother and he loved the praise he got for helping us. So, if I needed a diaper I would ask him "Would you be Mommy's big helper and get me a diaper for bubby?" and once he did I would say something along the lines of "You are such a big help with bubby! I don't know how I could do it all without you!! Thank you so much!" Then give him a kiss. He didn't always want to help (for example, he absolutely refused to throw a poopy diaper out, lol, wet was ok, but not poopy) and I would just say ok. I didn't want him to feel like he HAD to help, just wanted him to feel like if he wanted to that he could. In all reality I didn't really need the help because I kept everything I needed in reach while I recovered from surgery and, frankly, it took longer to wait for him to help than to do it for myself. BUT the point wasn't that I needed the help. The point was to allow him to feel involved. He LOVED it when I'd let him pick out an outfit for his brother to wear that day too. I think that was his fav big brother thing to do. Since I would put outfits together before I hung them up I didn't have to worry about mismatch either. He just went, grabbed a hanger (with a complete outfit) and he acted like he felt like the biggest thing since sliced bread because HE got to pick out the outfit.
When we were out and ran into ppl we knew we let him introduce the baby to ppl who hadn't met the baby yet.
We took LOTS of pics of him being sweet to his brother, holding him, etc. and told him it was so we could brag to everyone about what a great big brother he was.
For your 16 month old, the big helper thing might work on a smaller scale (like making him the special diaper helper... or some other name he'll get into based on his interests... diaper hero maybe?)
Maybe you could watch his fav cartoon with him while you feed the baby so he still feels like that is his special time?
The key is to make him feel happy about his new role without him feeling robbed of time with you. It can be tricky but you know him pretty well so you could probably come up with a few things. If he is an attention hog, use it to your advantage! Have anyone that comes over tell him what a great big brother he is and really lay it on thick (and your DD is a great big sis too, can't forget about her). If he eats it up when you praise him, provide opportunities for him to get the praise and then really dole it out... like way over the top praise. You can figure this out :) Troll the net to get ideas if you want to! The hardest with a newborn, but probably the best thing you can try to do is try to set aside time each day when Daddy is home, or when baby is sleeping, for each of your kids where it's time with JUST you, one-on-one with them. Time they can look forward to that is just for them and not the baby or anyone else. It truly is the hardest thing you can do when you are sleep deprived and dealing with an unpredictable newborn but I think it goes the farthest in making sure the older ones don't feel like they have been replaced, or that you think the baby is most important (not saying that you'd ever do anything to make them feel that way but kids can be jealous and resentful if they feel like they are not getting the time that they used to before baby came and time is a precious commodity with a newborn).
You are so positive and helpful- you must be an amazing mother. Thank you SO much for the tips..I'm definitely going to be on the hunt for some ideas to make everyone feel included.Quote:
Originally Posted by twointow83
Lol, well thank you for the kind words but really I am just a worry-wort planner lol. My mind trends toward worst-case scenarios and I just plan accordingly. Not all my plans pan out (like the alone time thing didn't work because DS2 was practically glued to my breasts and if I dared try to do something else... even just pee, He would scream until I got him relatched) but hoping it will this time esp since DS2 is far more attention hungry than DS1 was. You are doing great too! You see the potential for an issue and want to nip it in the bud BEFORE it becomes an actual problem.... that's really the best we can do as parents. We just do the best we can with the info we have.
🙏 for a healthy 🌈 🚼 We're having a girl! 🎀👗
TwoInTow83 Ovulation charts on FertilityFriend.com