Check-in for 2u2 Mamas?

Ziegeficker

Forgive me in advance if there has already been a post about this...

Are there any May14 mamas whose May LO will make them a 2u2 family? Anyone here who's BTDT?

If so, how are you feeling? Excited, terrified, overwhelmed? Biggest fears? Most excited about? Have you gotten or do you have any advice? What stuff are you buying for the new LO?

Ziegeficker

If this is a viable pregnancy (fingers tightly crossed), DS and LO will be about 20 months apart (I think that's right, math is hard). Some parents tell me they loved having 2u2, but the consensus is that it's a lot of upfront work, so I am a little worried because we have no family up here. My biggest concern is paying for daycare for two young babies. Other than that, I am pretty excited. I like the idea of two kids being close in age even though people who grew up in that situation with siblings of their own are giving me mixed reviews.

Empireceo

My LOs will be about 18 months apart.  I guess I am still in denial about how hard it will be in the early years.  We also live far away from family but I work out of my home.  I'm not sure if that will be easier or harder than working out of the house with 2u2!

My brother and I are 15 months apart.  I don't remember there being a time when he wasn't around and I really liked that.  I knew I wanted my kids to be spaced close together.  These two will only be one school grade apart, which is fun to think about!

chillypenguin

My DD and this little one will be around 20 months apart also. I am really excited, but also kind of freaking out! I have to figure out my work situation, it's going to be really hard working and having 2u2. But my sister and I are 18 months apart (my mom said it wasn't too bad), and I am so excited for DD to have a sibling close in age. I just hope she doesn't have a hard time when this LO is born, she is too young to really understand, but a lot will change in the next 7ish months.

talkthewholetime

I won't be, but as half of my moms "2u2" I just want to say its awesome! My sister is my best friend in the universe and my mom still talks about how having us close was the best thing she ever did. Congrats!

rebecca1198

Mine will be 18 months apart ( @Empireceo looks like our LOs have the same birthday!). I'm terrified to be perfectly honest. I have a wonderfully supportive husband though and lots of help from family.

Edited for tag

MegCullen

19 months apart here! I'm thrilled! Can't wait

Ziegeficker

I'm so relieved that all of you who were 2u2 siblings loved it. That's the main reason DH wanted them so close in age. He and his sister are 4 years apart, and he said it wasn't great. My brother and I are 8 years apart, so I wanted a smaller age gap for our children.

jane8188

My son will be 14 months when this baby is born. At first I was ok but I'm starting to freak out. My son is pretty difficult, he has to be nursed at rocked to sleep, last night he wouldn't go to bed until after 1am. He refuses to take a bottle, even when I was gone for about 7 hours, he won't eat food. He pretty much scream cries with anyone but me or my husband. And my milk seems to be dwindling. He seriously screams the second you set him down, so bfing is the way we bond. I'm scared that if I dry up I will resent the new baby. I'm starting to worry that I'm getting depressed, ugh. I hope some btdt moms come in and give some reassuring thoughts. Wow I feel a little better just getting that off my chest.

Ziegeficker

My son will be 14 months when this baby is born. At first I was ok but I'm starting to freak out. My son is pretty difficult, he has to be nursed at rocked to sleep, last night he wouldn't go to bed until after 1am. He refuses to take a bottle, even when I was gone for about 7 hours, he won't eat food. He pretty much scream cries with anyone but me or my husband. And my milk seems to be dwindling. He seriously screams the second you set him down, so bfing is the way we bond. I'm scared that if I dry up I will resent the new baby. I'm starting to worry that I'm getting depressed, ugh. I hope some btdt moms come in and give some reassuring thoughts. Wow I feel a little better just getting that off my chest.

Oh, girl, I'm so sorry. My little guy isn't the easiest, so I am terrified of having two babies that refuse to sleep. The good news is, we are getting it over with? That's how I am trying to look at it when I get scared or when DS is being a total terror. It's a small consolation. Big hugs, lady!

sisterjanet

Holy cow yes, math is hard.  I think my two will be 21 months apart, but my brain isn't on right now.  Somewhere in a 20 to 22 month range.

I'm scared about leaving the house.  Seriously, we play inside a lot, but I have to seriously think ahead and really mean it if I want to leave the house to go play with Benjamin.  I'm freaking out a little about how to get myself out of the house once there are two.

Is there some kind of "idiot noob mom" thing where chill moms hang out with their kids and ding-dongs like me can come and awkwardly interact and learn how to become chill moms?  Like a dog park but for humans?  The actual park fills me with dread, possibly because Benjamin is so young, and just walks around trying to beep people's noses and getting right up into people's personal space.  I have no kid experience aside from figuring it out as I go right now, so maybe this is just how 13 month olds are. 

rebecca1198

You make me laugh @sisterjanet I think it's called happy hour.

Ziegeficker

@sisterjanet, I seriously LOLed at your dog park comment. I am the same as you -- as the perpetual youngest, I have no kid experience except with my own. I changed my first and only diaper pre-DS about 11 months before he was born. I'm an on-the-job learner here. Leaving the house is also something I'm scared about. I am also irritated that I might have to buy a double stroller after spending 350 on a single City Mini GT that we love.

sisterjanet

Seriously!  I don't have a dog, but I see the dogs running around and the people looking happy and relaxed at the dog park, and wish I could just let Benjamin run free like that, and be like "Oh, he's just an excited puppy, don't mind him" and the other moms would just be happy that my kid was learning how to be a small human from their kids.  (Also, the dog park is smart enough to have a fence around it so the running around is contained.  Why do the regular parks just sit there in a field?  Benjamin always goes for the sidewalks and parking lots.)

Blarg.  I'm just too sensitive to perceived judgment.  I need to get over myself.  And leave the effing house.

Ziegeficker

@sisterjanet, My experience is that you're not being judged as much as you think you are, and the people that ARE judging you can go to hell :-)

sisterjanet

rebecca1198 said:

You make me laugh @sisterjanet I think it's called happy hour.

Holy cow I'm an idiot. Or just pregnant.  I was thinking "Yeah!  I can just... bars!  Wait, but no, because pregnant, also toddler.  Duh!"  I'll figure it out though.  Getting into the habit of leaving the house more regularly is my resolution for this pregnancy, to have that habit and maybe make some friends before I have two.  I even kind of know some parents in the real world.  Play time just hasn't worked lately because of nap times. (and also I'm a chicken.  a big, shy chicken.)

mrspopsicle

Mine will also be about 18 months apart. I think I'm still in denial.

My DD is very easy personality wise - she's happy, social, and plays well by herself. She rarely cries - last time she had an ear infection I knew immediately because she cried twice in one day.

My biggest complaint right now is she has turned into an awful sleeper. She is up multiple times in the night and hard to get back down. We tried sleep training (CIO) but she never caught on. She just cried for hours on end. I'm at a loss as to what to try next, but I've got to figure something out because I am quickly becoming a zombie.

LilEm103

Our DS will be 18 months when this LO is born. I am nervous but excited too.

 

This LO is actually #4 for us (another reason why I am nervous!!) - we have two DDs who will be 5 and 6 when this LO is born. They were 15 months apart, so I know how hard it is in the infant days to have two close together, but I would not change their relationship now for the world!

 

We waited a while before trying for #3, because having two babies so close together is hard work! But part of our motivation in having this baby so close to DS is because I love the relationship between our older girls now! While it's a lot of work when they are younger, our girls are truly best friends and play really well together. I am hoping for that relationship between DS and this LO as well.

Ziegeficker

LilEm103 said:

Our DS will be 18 months when this LO is born. I am nervous but excited too.

 

This LO is actually #4 for us (another reason why I am nervous!!) - we have two DDs who will be 5 and 6 when this LO is born. They were 15 months apart, so I know how hard it is in the infant days to have two close together, but I would not change their relationship now for the world!

 

We waited a while before trying for #3, because having two babies so close together is hard work! But part of our motivation in having this baby so close to DS is because I love the relationship between our older girls now! While it's a lot of work when they are younger, our girls are truly best friends and play really well together. I am hoping for that relationship between DS and this LO as well.

I love hearing good stories about close sibling relationships for babies so close in age. This is making me feel better already! DH and I may consider a 3rd, but like you @LilEm103, we will wait a few years after the 2nd is born.

CaliVal

My LOs will be about 20 months apart and I am thrilled!!! The only thing right now is I have to work on weaning DD so that by the time this next one comes, nursing is a distant memory!

runningyogimama

My LOs will be less than 14 months a part (due 13 1/2 months apart exactly). I'm nervous to announce (petrified), but we're very excited! DD has been a fairly easy baby, other than teething super early and the crankiness that comes with that.

pistolpackinmomma

Our's will be 15 months apart! Yikes! We planned it but now the fear is setting in a little. We're definitely excited though! I'm glad they'll be close in age. I've already bid on a double stroller on eBay (it's a hell of a steal!) even though it's early. We're also debating between converting the crib we have now with DS and buying another crib or leaving it a crib for #2 and getting DS a toddler bed. I think he'll be too little for a toddler bed yet.

IBackBevo

I'm feeling a little scared. Long-term, I think it will be great. But I think the first few months will be hard. I'm scared this pregnancy will be hard.

I will be getting a 2 baby stroller. Probably a few new clothes. Not sure what to do about a diaper bag as the ones I have now are not very big. I wonder if they have a 2 baby diaper bag....

sthomas1222

Mine will be 16 months apart. I'm excited about giving birth again & having a new little squish! But anxious about the pregnancy itself & will breathe a sigh of relief come oct 15th (1st appt!)

jenmbott

This LO and DD will be about 20 months apart.  My main concern is if I can transition DD to a toddler bed so LO#2 can use the crib. I'm also wondering what kind of double stroller to invest in. I hate that my single stroller bumps onto things all the time so I probably don't want a double wide stroller.   

rMe6411

Our DD will be 21 months when this LO gets here. We also have a 7 year old. 

We are a mix of different emotions. I am excited to have them so close in age because it will be so much fun when they are a little older and I hope they end up being best friends. But am also nervous with just having one that requires so much attention still. 21 months is still so little. I am already having guilt that I am taking away from DD but I have to keep reminding myself I am giving her the best gift. 

We haven't got much advice except people saying we are "crazy"! Two of my friends have 2u2 and say that although it is hard when the second one is an infant, they wouldn't want it any other way which is reassuring. 

For this LO we are going to get a double stroller for sure. We use our current stroller ALL the time. We are going to attempt to transition DD to a toddler bed beforehand and that way this LO will use her crib. We will also have to move our 7 year old from a queen size bed to a twin to make space in the room they will be sharing. 

katesy21

My girls were briefly 2u2.  DD2 was born 11 days before DD1's 2nd bday.  I love that my girls are close in age.  Now that DD2 is mobile they spend all day playing in their playroom together.  They hug and kiss each other all the time, are so excited to see each other when they wake up in the morning and it just melts my heart, wouldn't change it for the world!  Baby #3 will be coming about a month after DD2 turns 2 and I'm so excited to have another with the same spacing! 

Kris2011RN

Mine will be 2u2, DS will be 20 months when baby parasite comes along. Right now I am kicking my butt but that's because my ms is really bad right now and I am really sick.

I am excited because I want them to be close. I am nervous because of daycare costs, and how do you take care of 2 kids when you are sick? DH helps a lot though, so that's nice. Ugh I am rambling right now, sorry for any errors, I am drugged up on phenergan!

eghulse

Assuming healthy pregnancy, ours will be 22 months apart.  Of the 5 girls in my family, the first 4 were anywhere between 22 and 26 months apart.  I'm excited, but nervous at the same time because last time I dealt with some pretty nasty PPD at about 4 months after DS was born.  Now that I know how to cope, though, I hope it doesn't hit me as hard this go-round.

Brandyjean30

DD's second birthday is May 28th so we barely squeak into the 2U2 category. I'm actually more calm about it now that it's a reality. When we were TTC I stressed about getting DD potty trained and moved out of the crib etc.
Now I just feel like it will all work out in due time. I'm not even sure I'm going to try potty training until she's used to having baby around.
My biggest fear right now is judgement from others. DH and I were married at 20, had DD at 21, and LO #2 will be here when I'm 23. I have graduated college, DH and I are working to take over the family business, and we bought a house this past March. Somehow people look past all that and only see that we are in our early 20s and think we are being stupid. I'm just not looking forward to dealing with it.

ShannonSky

sisterjanet said:

Seriously!  I don't have a dog, but I see the dogs running around and the people looking happy and relaxed at the dog park, and wish I could just let Benjamin run free like that, and be like "Oh, he's just an excited puppy, don't mind him" and the other moms would just be happy that my kid was learning how to be a small human from their kids.  (Also, the dog park is smart enough to have a fence around it so the running around is contained.  Why do the regular parks just sit there in a field?  Benjamin always goes for the sidewalks and parking lots.)

Blarg.  I'm just too sensitive to perceived judgment.  I need to get over myself.  And leave the effing house.

Join a MOMS club!!! Best thing I ever did I joined up right before we got pregnant with no. 2. There are weekly playdates that rotate at peoples' houses, and other activities/outings that are all planned for you, all you do is show up. And, our group also coordinates meals M/W/F for each member when they have a new baby. Now that DD1 is in preschool, we don't do playdates as much as we used to, but the structure is great and my two best friends I made through the club. 

MinaE01

Ours are going to be 19 months apart. It's what we wanted; however, I'm terrified! I know it'll be a crazy year, but ultimately, we're hoping it's worth it. Now that I'm starting to feel sick (on top of ridiculously tired), I'm nervous about taking care of my 11 month old. I'm pretty sure my house will go to shit. I just need to get through this 1st trimester and then I can start to freak out about what we'll do when the baby is born!

Oh, and I'll be high-risk, since I delivered DS 7.5 weeks early due to spontaneous PTL. I'll be closely monitored and getting weekly P17 shots. I'm hoping that I won't need to go on bed rest because that would suck. Still, our goal is a healthy full-term baby, so whatever road we need to take to get there, we'll gladly do it.

Miles2Go

DD will turn 2 on May 10. This baby is due May 19, so unless s/he's early, I'll be close, but not quite 2u2. I'll definitely be sympathetic with all of you though!

mrs.cjlange

Just found out we are expecting baby number two today. I'm just shy of 5 weeks along and haven't even called the doctor's office yet (will do first thing tomorrow). This is a big surprise for us and will be a huge adjustment as we both work demanding jobs and managing our time with just DD is hard enough! We are still excited though. They will be about 16 months apart which we know will be great for the two of them, but will be challenging for us up front. Work also did not take the news well with the first pregnancy, so I am stressed about having to tell them I am pregnant again so quickly.

Ziegeficker

Miles2Go said:

DD will turn 2 on May 10. This baby is due May 19, so unless s/he's early, I'll be close, but not quite 2u2. I'll definitely be sympathetic with all of you though!

In my book, this still totally counts as 2u2!

dragossoul84

DS and this child will be 22-23 months apart so I won't be 2u2 for long. I'm sort of stressing having them both in diapers but we will make it.

NoVacancy

DD and new baby will be around 20 months apart! Holla to the Aug12 mommas too!

mrscmwood

My girls were 13 months apart and this May baby I will have 3u3 for a short period of time. It is a lot of work the first year, but I am very lucky that I have a very supportive and helpful husband. And now, 3 under 3! Wow, I am stressed but my girls are best friends and I woulnd't change a thing.

JACKIE_RS88

Add me to the 2u2. DS will be 14 months older than LO.

sigrunj85

My youngest son is almost 11 months. But I also have a 4 year old and a 3 year old. Was not planned at all but we are happy though.

Ladiebug30

This! I'm concerned about BFing and entertaining an almost 2 year old as well. My little guy will be 2 in August. Maybe someone will have some insight but the Pinterest idea of "just have him bring you a book and read to him while you nurse" just makes me laugh so much I pee a little. smh