Finagling
I'm still weeks and weeks and weeks away from the birth of baby #2, but I find myself constantly wondering how I will manage. I don't mean how I will take care of two, I have no idea how that is going to work, but rather how do I manage "things" with two?
Before Peanut was born, I wondered how I would go places. Trying to finagle a stroller, a baby bag, a baby...I couldn't really imagine how I'd get from point A to point B. Since Peanut will only be 18 mos old when Petunia is born and is not the best walker or listener, how on earth am I going to get two kids out of the car and into a store??? How will I get them outside of my house and into the car for that matter???
Once I'm in said store, now what? How do I shop, especially for groceries? Do I carry Petunia in a sling and put Peanut in the cart. Do I put her in her carseat inside the basket part?? If I do that, where will all the groceries go?
I also have anxiety about other activities. If we were ever to get a babysitter, do you pay them more for two kids? I already pay way above average (the two times we got a babysitter) and there is no way that I could afford more.
How do you go out to eat? We tend to go out for lunch since it's cheaper. Most places we go aren't fancy, sometimes you order at the counter. I've figured out how to manage Peanut and a tray of food, but I couldn't possibly juggle anymore.
Going to the pediatrician's office is already incredibly stressful. Peanut usually screams the ENTIRE DURATION of the time inside the exam room. He even cries when I've taken him to my OB appointments. I can't imagine shuttling two kiddos into the the dr.'s office, with one for sure screaming his head off.
I wanted another child so close together, why? Maybe I'm just adding stress and worrying about nothing.
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Little Monkeys,
Quirky Me
3 People are even more brilliant:
Well, it is a challenge that's for sure. Payton was 27 months old when Parker was born so he was a bit bigger. I know Sara will have great insight since her boys are only 17 months apart. she might be your go to girl for this.
Babysitter...I pay one rate and a good one too. If you are paying what I think I remember you saying, NO need to increase. Your sitters are sitting pretty!
Honestly, I didn't go many places at all without Wally with me. Not in the beginning. Payton just LOVED to play the "let's run as far & as fast as we can from mommy" game everywhere we went. Grocery shopping was done on the weekend when I could leave at least one with daddy, preferably the mobile one for me. And we spent a LONG LONG time not going out to eat. On the bright side, it saved us some money. :-P
Into the car...take the baby carrier & all diaper bags & place in car first. Walk back inside and get the mobile child & place him in car second. You are officially out of the door.
Tips for out of the car & in the store: Park next to the buggy return thingys out in the parking lot. (this will also come in handy when coming back to the car). You'll be sleep deprived & won't care if a buggy dings your car. Pull the buggy right up to the side door to get the kid out. If you are slinging baby, get mobile child out first & placed in the buggy, then get baby. If you are using the carrier, place it in the buggy first, then put the mobile kiddo up front. Tada! Out of the car and on your way into the store.
Ped's office...ugh! It was a nightmare for me too so all I can do is commiserate with you. It was one reason I started Payton in mom's day out one morning a week when Parker was 6 months old. I'd had it with all of the frequent well baby visits & juggling Payton too. I'm always available to watch Brendan during Ainsley's appointments if you need it. We might want to work on him not being scared of me first, huh? LOL!
I sometimes question my sanity when I thought having kids this close together was a good idea. What am I saying...I STILL question it!
2 words- DOUBLE STROLLER. Seriously, it was, and still is, a lifesaver. That will do for all the trips to the mall and other small trips to Target, Walmart etc when you don't have a lot to pick up.
Grocery shopping- If I HAD to take the boys with me, I would put Brendan in the buggy seat, and the carrier crossways on the front of the buggy.(It should sit in there pretty snugly, I never had any problems with them slipping.) This way the seat is above the buggy rather than in it, and there is still room for groceries. Worst case I would go grocery shopping at night when Ian was home and I could either go alone or only take Damian.
I did the opposite of Heather, I'd take the least mobile child out last, only because Brendan would likely lock me out of the house if I left him while I got the baby outside. I'd go toddler and diaper bag first, then infant carrier.
As for going out to eat, we pretty much don't, so can't help you there. You will quickly learn every restaurant in town that allows you to do takeout, because its just not worth it.
I always had someone watch Brendan for Damian's appointments. Its a major hassle trying to deal with both of them in a doctor's office.
In the end you figure it all out, you wonder now how, but eventually you just do. Experience is the best teacher :)
Like said above, a double stroller is awesome! My daughter was about 1 1/2 when my son was born (premature at that - 25 weeks) but somehow I managed, and you will too. :)
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