The second time around..

Written a month ago oops! And the picture has nothing to do with the post :)

Having Jackson was a huge adjustment to our daily life- it was good, it was bad, and yes sometimes ugly. He finally started getting easier around 9 months and then of course we decided we could handle another one :) This time around I was more much prepared for a newborn and what maternity leave would look like. I had low expectations. Like I wasn't going to leave the house for three months kind of expectations. And to be honest this time was a breeze. Sure I'm tired but I feel great! I'm enjoying maternity leave. I enjoy Brooklyn. Here is what I did differently.

1. Hold the Baby! Yes it's simple. Hold the freaking baby. I held (and still do) Brooklyn as much as I wanted or she needed. And it's shocking I know but she does fine being put down. People scare you into "spoiling the baby" or they will never let you put them down but seriously they just exited the womb it's tough being out in the world. I love holding my babies. If she had a clingy day, I just parked it on the couch and held her. I didn't stress over it. THIS WAS AMAZING. You can't get these days back so enjoy it. I regret stressing over how much I held Jackson. And really I held him a lot which is why I think he is such an affectionate little boy but why did I waste so much time forcing him to be put down? It never worked anyways :)

2. Co-sleeping. Here we go… I co-slept with Brooklyn for the first month. She needed it and I needed sleep. What baby is fine exiting the womb and going to a cold, hard crib? And guess what she sleeps in the rock n play just fine now. Again shocking I know. But I have no issues bringing her in bed when she needs it. I'm very confident she won't go to college needing me to go with her. It's also much easier for nursing, especially during growth spurts. She would eat, I would sleep.

3. Make one small goal a day. The first time around I would expect to get a ton done during the day… hahah. So this time if I got a shower I felt accomplished. Now that we are two months in I sometimes set two goals- clean bathroom and unload the dishwasher. Just get over the fact the house will be a mess. 

4. Prepare meals ahead of time. I make my lunch everyday at 10:30 and then eat it while nursing. Instead of getting frustrated because I want to eat but she needs to eat too just prepare for it. I sometimes attempt to make dinner ahead of time.. but that doesn't always work out. 

5. Get all your stuff in arms reach before they start crying. I set up my little spot of the couch with blankets, water, nipple cream, phone, iPad, remotes, etc. 

6. Let it go! The house will be messy, your toddler will watch entirely too much TV, you will order pizza far too often but this is short lived. You are in survival mode just embrace it!