Just thoughts of a soon-to-be Mom of 3

I'm starting to get really excited about Amberly's birth. I am officially on my 7th month of pregnancy right now and I am so ready for it to end. Well, I take that back... maybe not (I still have tons to do yet before she's born and I am not ready!). I have just been so beat and tired with this 3rd pregnancy that I have no desire to do anything a lot of times, not even cook dinner. I know my dear hubby notices, but he's nice enough not to complain too much. But then, as soon as this pregnancy is over... I will have 3 kids to juggle with, plus house chores and work that I have.

Anyway, I have been thinking and planning ideas and ways for all the 3 kids to fit in their one tiny bedroom. Right now, I have a bunkbed and a crib in their bedroom, and all their toys. Jordan will have to sleep in the top bunk, Aubrey on the lower bunk and Amberly in the crib (she'll be sleeping in a pack-n-play in our bedroom, until she learns to sleep through the night). I know it is frustrating not having their own rooms and play area, but we are hopeful when we move (someday), all the kids don't have to share the same room. I have picked out a toddler bedding set (twin) for Aubrey that matches her current theme of butterflies and flower. I have decided that I will have more of an elegant flower theme for Amberly. This is what I have in mind for her. But since they would be sharing the room at the moment, I have thought of just using Aubrey's crib bedding for Amberly (cheaper that way, and besides babies grow out of it so quickly) and get her the twin set for that same theme when she gets to be a toddler and have their own rooms. I'm also working on creating and designing Amberly's birth announcement. I really do enjoy doing this stuff. It gives me a challenge to come up with creative designs and ideas and just make something pretty. At the moment, I am "trying" to make Amberly her 'home-made' going home outfit. Well, unless I go too adventurous and actually learn to crochet a simple baby dress... I am just thinking of making her, her hat and booties. But then, I may change my mind and find something really cute in the store or online and purchase that instead. I'm still looking for really cute outfits though.

It is overwhelming sometimes taking care of 2 toddlers. I just have to wonder how I will handle the three of them. Sometimes, I think if it is even possible to show the same love and affection to each child. There are definitely times where the older one kinda gets less attention than the younger sibling, being that the older one can do a lot of stuff on their own that the younger still needs guidance with. However, I try my best to give both my kids the same love and attention. Maybe not all at the same time, 'cause believe me it is hard, especially when they are both toddlers now. They both want your attention and their needs may not be the same as the other, but they still want that 'need' taken cared of the same time as the other one wants it.

Things I have noticed when you have more than 1 child (especially with growing toddlers) are some of the following:

you almost need to have duplicates of everything the other one has, like with toys. The other sibling will almost always like to have exactly what the other sibling has.
the younger sibling picks up and learn things quicker (it seems like) than when your older child was, because the younger child sees what the older sibling is doing, and they learn by observing. This is especially great with potty-training!
you tend to expect things (without realizing it) from your younger child to do the same as the older. Let's just say that your older one can pick up and clean up their own room, being older. And then you expect the younger one to be able to do the same! And then you think back... when your older one was at that same age as the younger child, he or she can't really clean up their mess or room by themselves without your help.
it is wonderful when your younger child is older and can play together with your older child. It saves you being dragged so much and so often into their playthings and games. It's not that you don't want to play with them, but you can actually watch and enjoy their interaction... and a lot of times, get some things done in the house while the kids are busy playing with each other.
you definitely can hold and rock 2 toddlers at the same time. I don't know about a third one though. When Aubrey was still a baby and nurses, I remember I would rock Jordan to sleep at night while nursing Aubrey at the same time! Yes, it is possible.
your older child doesn't want to watch the movie the younger child picks out. There was a time when Aubrey wanted to watch "Mommy & Me Playgroup Favorites" ALL the TIME, and Jordan wanted to watch "Cars" or something else. It is especially not fun when both of them knows how to operate the DVD player and TV.
If you do something with one of the kids, you NEED to do the same thing to the other one as well. Almost always, your efforts needs to be doubled. You tickle one, you need to tickle the other one. You make one of the kids "fly", you have to play "fly" with the other one.

I'm sure there are more things that I notice with having 2 toddlers, but these are the ones that I can think of right now. I'm sure more will come up as I remember some more. Just like I said earlier... it will be interesting to see what it is like to have 3. Don't worry, I'll make sure I'll keep you informed of what and how it is. Whatever it is, I know I will love and treasure every child (no matter how many) and count them as great blessings and joy in my life, depsite the challenges they bring.

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Amy said:

It is definitely a big change going from one child to two and I'm sure it will be another big change going from two to three. Cailey is only two weeks old so I'm just starting to learn how to juggle two children. Your post gives me an idea of what to expect when the children get older.

I also walk around feeding Cailey while helping Sawyer do stuff. Today, I was feeding Cailey in one arm and with the other helping Sawyer with his bathroom business. It is definitely a challenge. I also do a lot story book reading while feeding Cailey.

I hope your pregnancy continues to do well. I also had low energy pregnancies where I felt tired all the time and had no energy or desire to accomplish 'stuff' . . . I know exactly how you feel. Don't worry about making the easy dinners and having the house a little more messy than usual . . . it is understandable. Just rest and relax . . . that is what your body needs right now.

I like the bedding sets you have picked out for the girls. Our nursery was neutral (teddy bears) so Cailey is using the same crib bedding set that Sawyer had. When she moves into a bed, then we will invest in a new bedding set for her. I am also thinking about going with purple colors . . . I have a year or more before the bedding will be needed so I have plenty of time to shop around.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

March 17, 2009

Cheryl said:

i really like your post. it has been a while since i've visited your site and called you. i know you are very busy and i understand you being low on energy when you're pregnant. i can already imagine what you have to deal with having a 3rd child! but you impress me with what you can do. i have full confidence you'll be a great mommy to amberly as you have been with jordan and aubrey.

i hope i was closer to help you with stuff. i know i just have one baby but it seems like most of my time is spent with her. i don't know how i will do with having more than one.. lol we'll seee :-)

i wish and pray for all the best with your upcoming amberly. i am sooo excited to meet her too!!!!!

hugs & kisses!!!!

March 17, 2009 | url

Kimmy said:

When I was pregnant, I felt really bad for Rob because he was used to three hot, freshl cooked meals a day and coming home to a clean apartment, and then it plumited to cold cereal, sanwhiches, and snacking or him making supper and coming home to an apartment that was just as messy as when he left for work in the morning. I was told you have low energy in the beginning of your pregnancy and then you get more at the end. That's not how it was for me at all, but at least I was in a really chipper mood the whole time

Rob never complained though. I think our husbands would rather live through that than to be in our shoes while we're pregnant, so they know not to complain

Aren't our hubbies wonderful?

Since I'm planning on having more than one child, I liked reading about the things you've learned with having more than one child. I'll have to remember them when we decided to add to our family again

I know you're going to do great with raising three kids. You've done a wonderful job with raising two kids so far, so I'm sure you're going to do great with raising three of them

I feel kind of pathetic. I never made any birth announcements for Myra, and I don't have a theme for her bedroom smilies/tongue.gif

Once she's older though, maybe I'll have had enough time to think of one of her

Your ideas are really nice ones, and I'm sure the kids are going ot great with sharing that bedroom. I think they'll grow up closely bonded with one another too

March 17, 2009

islandgirl said:

Kim - I am like you too. When it was just Jeb and I, he was used to nice warm home-cooked meals all the time, and a fairly clean and organized house. And then, it just spiraled down from there as we had kids. I still try to make nice meals every so often and keep the house decent enough, but there are just days when I just am not up for it. When Aubrey came, Jeb did most of the cooking himself. I would ask him sometimes, if he would take care of Aubrey while I make dinner and he always opted for doing the cooking instead.

And hey, don't need to fret about not having a baby announcement for Myra. I didn't have one for Jordan until a year later when Aubrey was born, but I didn't send it out. I just made one for "keep sake" since Aubrey had one. I never knew about birth announcements and such things when I had Jordan. I only knew and learned "more" about pregnancy and babies and stuff like that, after the other girls had their babies. So, I was literally a real first-time mom.

Amy and Cheryl - Thank you so much for your comments and your kind words of encouragement. They mean and do a lot to me (a mom, who thinks she's not "doing or being" enough).

March 17, 2009

kelley said:

You definitely have your hands full right now. I cannot really imagine having three kids all three and under like you're going to. I will listen for tips you have for when we decide to have our third. =) I also had days when I was pregnant where I didn't feel up to much cleaning or cooking (of course, this is not something that was limited to only when I was pregnant =). I remember taking naps everyday when Sophia took hers when I was really tired out. I still do that once in a while when I put the kids down for naps! I think we as moms tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything and to do it all perfectly. Being a mom is so different from working out of the house because we are almost always working around the clock. Even when we have a "break" like nap time we are usually still multitasking like putting in a load of laundry, picking up toys and clothes, starting dinner etc. I think you have done really good with Jordan and Aubrey and while I'm sure it's going to be a lot of work having three kids I know you'll continue to do a great job.

BTW, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better.

March 17, 2009

kelley said:

Oh, and I really like the bedding sets you have picked out.

March 17, 2009

Lora said:

You're definitely brave to be having three kids so close together! That's not something I'm planning on doing. We're planning on 2 preschoolers and a baby (or two), but NOT three toddlers! I just hope God doesn't decide to prove me wrong on this! LOL You'll do great, though! I've heard that going from 2 to 3 is way easier than going from 1 to 2 because you already know how to juggle kids.

I like the bedding sets you have picked out, too!

March 17, 2009 | url