I thought I would write a few thoughts on having my second child and how I thought it would be easier than having my first. In some ways it was, but I admit that once I had my first child and survived (I mean that in the nicest possible way, maybe that's for another blog) I thought I would know what I was doing, or at least feel like I knew.

I had been through the usual things like unsettled baby, sleep problems, and all the wonderful bits as well. I thought I knew how to cope with all of these things. One thing I was aware of was I knew that I wouldn't have as much time with the new baby as I had with my first. I also didn't want my eldest to be jealous of the baby (although a little jealously is going to happen of course). I read lots of book, blogs and articles of tips on how to minimise this. The tips did help and I think that we did ok.......

The difference between the two babies was amazing. To start with, my new baby had terrible nappy rash. So I was changing every hour, using the 5 or 6 creams the doctor had prescribed and I had been to the doctor almost every day. The baby was in pain and really unsettled. My first baby never got nappy rash. My first baby, by the time she was 6 months old needed lots of entertaining and so I thought I would be used to the time it took, but my second girl was very needy as a tiny baby and then happier as an older baby. It's like the kids just like to change the rules to keep you on your toes. The techniques that worked for my first baby didn't help at all for the second. Sometimes I felt like a new mum, I found myself ringing my mum and my mother in law for their ideas. When you have a young baby I think your brain often goes on holiday maybe because you are tired, and sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones you miss.
There are of course all of the wonderful things about having a second child.

Watching the girls together sometimes almost brings me to tears. They love each other so much. My baby's face lights up when she sees her sister and my older girl is so careful and shows her sister so much affection. As they get older they are also having their moments like, when the baby picks up a picture that the older girl has worked so hard on for her daddy, she forgets to show that affection I was just talking about. Or when the baby decides she should try out her new teeth on her sisters arm...... : )

I can say having a second baby has reminded me that I still have lots to learn about having children and being a Mum. But it also reminds me that having my family is the best thing in my life.