***cooker***

wellfleet04

I just saw your "Moms of 2" post from earlier, and I wasn't sure if you're still checking replies, but I feel the exact same way.  I am starting to get in a bit of a groove, so I though I'd share what "works" (using that term loosely, since nothing works all the time around here!) for me/us.

Do you have a sling? Ben spends his days in the sling for the most part.  Or the Bjorn.  Allows me to carry/cuddle him, relaxes him so he cries less, and I can still play with Kate, get lunch on the table, take Kate to the park, etc. 

I've also kept Kate's routine pretty much the same and just added Ben in.  So we still go to her playgroups, her gym class, etc.  Yes, I'm exposing Ben to lots of germs, but it is more important to me to get out now, before Ben has a set nap schedule and when it is most important to Kate.

 When one kid is sleeping, I make a special effort to have one-on-one with the other kid.  If Ben is asleep in the carseat, he sits on the kitchen counter and I play with Kate.  If Kate is napping, Ben and I do tummy time.

 Every morning, since Ben wakes up at 5-6 am for the day, he and I take the dog for a walk by ourselves (he's in the sling). 

At Kate's bath/bed time, Ben stays in the bouncy seat, even if he's crying, while I focus on Kate. Then we all sit in her chair together and read books.  Kate is really into "sharing" her books with Ben--makes her feel big and important.

I plan meals that can be cooked ahead and then reheated, and I cook/prep dinner whenever both kids are asleep (Kate's nap) or when Kate is at school.  Sometimes dinner is cooked by 10 am, but then it is at least cooked at 6 pm when I need it and both kids are freaking out.

DH has been working long hours for the pasts 2 weeks, so I've been alone and had to figure it out.  Sometimes Kate watches tv, and sometimes Ben spends too long in the bouncy seat, and sometimes all three of us are crying, but for the most part it is getting a bit better every day.  HTH