Right now.

It all goes so fast - just enjoy and cherish the little moments along the way and don't sweat the small stuff. You've been a great mom to Simon, you will be wonderful with your little girl. Keep your perspective and enjoy the ride! Congratulations and best wishes for a healthy and easy delivery!

advice for the first few weeks - take many many pictures. and ask husband or friends or simon to take pictures. make sure you're in some of them. keep your notebook handy to jot your thoughts while nursing, observing and cherishing. drink buckets of water and eat even if you're too tired - train someone else to do diaper laundry - order delivery for a month plus, but do NOT get off your bum to do anything other than take a shower or a leisurely stroll about the neighborhood. allow someone else (hired or family) to do the grunt work of keeping the household humming. i maintain recovering from your section and getting nursing off to a good start is priority one. but even as i write this up, ultimately, you have to ignore it all and just go with your gut instinct. 7 years may have passed, but it'll all come back, and it'll be both same and different. good luck and congratulations, mama to two. be blessed.

Ali,
One of the best things I did before my babies had arrived was make myself a snack basket. I got a huge wicker basket and filled it with juices, granola bars, fruit, and bottled waters. It sat beside the chair I always sat in to nurse at home. I always foung that I was thirsty while nursing and depending on how long I was there, a bit hungry too. Even if you don't breastfeed, this basket proves to be a good energy booster in the altered sleep schedule and snuggling life!Many blessings of healthy family and love filled souls, tania

i am so excited for you. can't wait to see pictures of baby "A" and find out what you have named her. the only advice i have for you, is if you plan to nurse, have a really good electric breast pump handy. it was one of my best friends for 3 years. and i know this might sound kinda weird for me to say, but at night, i stuffed cloth diapers down my night shirt to soke up all the breast milk that leaked during the night. and just don't forget to take little naps when baby "a" is sleeping and not to worry about all the little things that need to get done around the house. everything will fall into place when it's time. i also love your new reflections journaling cards on the designer digitals site. everything you do has been such an inspiration for me. take care and can't wait to see all of your (i know they will be stunning)baby projects that are yet to come.

My advice is when someone asks,"what can I/we do to help?" Give them something to do. Take the garbage out, do the dishes, start the laundry, fold the laundry, bring dinner,put gifts away and list can go on and on. People really want to do something for you and your family. So let them.

I found my second time round so much nicer- I wasn't so worried about 'breaking' my baby. I could hear her cry, and not feel the world was going to end if I didn't get her to stop right away...I was more able to just enjoy her. That said, I would really encourage you to spend time with Simon when you can get your mom or someone else to watch baby 'A'. Get him involved as much as you can- help him to feel that it is his baby too. I'm sure you know all this already- so may the Lord bless you and your family as you take this new step!

Hi Ali - just to add my best wishes and ditto what everyone has said about second c-section. I ended up having 2 emergency c-sections...if given the choice I would have chosen elective c-section the second time, but unfortunately my consultant said 'we'll give it a go naturally' - up to the point where I went into labour and then they changed their mind. It's much more preferable to know you're going to have a section and be prepared. Recovery from my first section was really bad - which had put me off having another...second time was completely different. Was up and about and coped fantastically (if I may say so myself!) DH couldn't believe how different I was either! So you'll be fine...and while it's a fine line about whether you think Simon gets more attention as an only child...he'll thank you for his darling sister forever.
All the best,
CoCo

I think the best advice I have received was "It's all a phase, it will change". It seems to have been my saving grace when my little one does not want to sleep or he is crying for no apparent reason or he wants to use the broom as a giant drum stick!!!! According to my advice provider it also works when they are older and talking back :|

I had an elective C-Section the second time around and found that it was really smooth and relaxed compare to the emergent state of the 1st. My advice after the section would be to setup a changing area on both floors of your house so you will do less up and down the stairs for the first couple of weeks. This is easier for your mom too! You change them lots during those early days. Another word of advice to a mom of two someone gave to me was when both children need your attention desperately your son will remember the lack of attention but the baby can cry and will never remember if you left them to cry a couple of minutes to attend to the older childs needs. That helped me alot during the busy first year and my daughter has bonded with her brother instead of resenting his arrival. Hugs to you! Looking forward to hearing all about it!

I've had 3 C-Sections and each one was easier than the previous. Hope the same holds true for you!

oh man you brought back memories. my son was 5 when my daughter was born. she was our little accident and I was scared to death how much this opps was going to change the perfect little family we had created. the funny thing was I didn't realize how much we needed her until she was here. good luck in the coming days.

I know the feeling of wondering if you'll remember how to care for a new born.
Our son was born in 1991, and left our lives far too soon in April of 2006. My husband and I longed for the call of parenthood again, and decided to have another child. I sat and wondered for months while I was pregnant if I was going to remember how to care for a newborn after 17 years.
Our beautiful daughter was born on 12/23/08. There has been no greater gift than the joy that she has brought to us in the past month and half, and yes, it all comes back. I don't think we missed a beat! Although we have missed a few "z's"!
Best of luck to you and your family! It is truly a blessing to increase your family by 2 feet!

Oh goodness. I remember all the "help" people gave with their advice. They mean well but it can/will drive you up the wall. My dad taught me to say this which turned into a laughing moment a lot because of how much I said it! 'Thank you, I'll take that into consideration'. You'd have to be there to feel the humor but it was fun. You'll know what to do ... you're so smart, so amazing, obviously so loving with your family, really, there isn't anything we can tell you that you don't already know or that your MOM will remind you of! :-) Good luck and God bless you and your family!
Diane

I agree with all of the hundreds of moms that you don't need any advice, you are an inspiration to us all!!
one thing i didn't know about until baby #2, but i tell everyone about, is the most brilliant swaddling blanket ever made! it's called the miracle blanket, i promise i don't work for them, lol, my daughter slept great with this blanket, at 5-6 weeks she would sleep 4 hour stretches at night with this swaddle! amazing! the best part is you can change their diaper without having to un-swaddle them, so they stay much more sleepy and relaxed at night for feeding/changing ... i gave it to 3 friends who all had the same good experience with it. anyway, good luck! can't wait to see your new projects inspired by your little girl!!

I'm a little late in posting, but when I had my second child, I bought my first child a "birthday" present which was a bitty baby. Maybe you could get something for Simon to care for as well whether it's an underwater frog in a small aquarium, or a stuffed animal. I'm sure Simon will be a big help even if it is to just go get diapers, a burp cloth, or grab the phone for you! Enjoy the precious time with your growing family. Best wishes to you!

I am a little late in commenting but I have a 2 year old, a 3 year old and 2 month old twins. It's amazing how little I remembered about having a baby until I was doing it again! One thing that I had forgotten is that if the baby gets fussy at the nipple while feeding (shaking his/her head back and forth and pulling off) that means they need to be burped. It took a few fussy days before I remembered that! Hope that helps feeding go a little easier those first few days/weeks! Can't wait to see pics of your new little girl! God bless, Kristie

you have so many great suggestions. for me, pumping worked better. that way my son got my milk, but my husband could take a shift so that i could sleep a few hours. an ounce of milk equalled an hour sleep, so after an ounce when he fell back asleep we would change his diaper which woke him up to take another ounce.

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