Right now.

Best of luck and all the best wishes to you and your family, Ali. You will remember how to do everything around a baby. I'm looking forward to see some pictures of her. :)

No advice to give - it all comes back to you and you will be amazed at the extra love that is just there for the taking for that new little bundle:) And simply hold on to the fact that eventually the sleep does come back!

I just watched the movie "Girl with the Pearl Earring" this week...it was great, but I think I need to read the book.
You seem like such a grounded and down to earth person that having two children will come naturally to you.

1. Enjoy being in your PJs until noon (or later). Just try to be dressed when Simon gets home from school.
2. Carry no guilt if you are in your PJs until noon (or later). Just try to be dressed when your husband gets home from work.
3. Feel completely comfortable if you are still in your PJs at dinner time. Now you're all dressed and ready for bed! Of course, by this late in the day, you will most likely be covered in spit-up so I would advise you to find another set of PJs.
Carry on.

My son had just turned five when our daughter was born, and at times it felt like I was "starting over" again. But it's amazing how quickly things come back to you :0)
I do know that I was less protective of her sleep in the beginning. Not worried about noise as much as with Evan. I wasn't quite as anxious all around. I did make sure to have something special for Evan at the hospital as well for becoming a big brother. And someone had told me to let him come in first before they bring the baby to you. I was able to give him some much needed attention at that point and then he met his little sister :0)
Good luck! :0)

You truly are an inspiration, Ali. As the mother of two littles ones, the best advice that I can give is to just make time for you. I often forget that, but feel so refreshed when I come back to my family after being away from a while.
Also, if you want one more book to add to your list of "should reads," I suggest The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. :)
Happy Friday!

My best advice is to go buy a few small toys/books/puzzles/activites for Simon so that if you've had a rough night with the baby and you are tired you can pull out something special so that he can play near you, occupied while you rest on the couch. it worked like a dream with my older son.

With my first child, I talked constantly to her like she was another adult in the room. When my second child was born, it seemed like everything was so much more busy, I don't think I talked to him as much. I also think I babied him more because he was probably our last baby. KWIM? So, my advice is talk to your baby just like you did with Simon. (I'm assuming you talked to Simon : ) Sounds silly, but I really think it helps the baby learn language and even improves your relationship with the baby! : )

Best advice is love every moment of it and take special time with Simon when he comes home from school! When I had my 2nd child, I never thought I could love another human being as much as I loved my first child. I was actually scared of those feelings. When he was born, my eldest started school. It gave me time to rest after a planned c-section but what it gave me was time alone with my second son during the day. When my first child came home, I took the time for him. I think he still felt really special because mom took time for him and I developped a special bond with the little one also.
I love my two boys and I am close to both of them. They are very different but to my youngest, Zachary is a god, an idol, in a whole a great big brother.
Enjoy it, it was the best gift for me, to have 2 beautiful kids.

Yes, I'm certain that it will flood right back -- the 'how to care for a newborn' :) The four of you as a unit will function beautifully :)

I have 2 kids, boy and then girl too. I think you should think beyond the early years, and how the two of them will be here when you are not. After taking care of my 90 yr old FIL, w/ my two BIL and one SIL, it took all of us to do things well enough. Life is best lived w/ others and you are giving Simon that now. I think my daughter will call her bro Ja-Ja for the rest of his life after she started that before a year old one day as he passed by her getting into the car!!(His name is Jon Peter, Peter for my FIL and husband!) I think I am feeling inspired to put together all the pages of my daughter's baby book now!!!!! SUe B>

My daughter is 6 months old, so I don't have any advice for multiple kids. But the best advice I got from my mom when my little girl was born was that "the dishes can wait and the laundry will be there tommorrow." Meaning, spend your valuable time on the important things, your sweet new baby and her big brother!!

Ali: such a special time for all of you as you welcome little "A" into your lives. I had 3 "Cs" with my 3 boys and each was very different. My last two were "scheduled" for convenience since I had out of town help. It put my mind at rest about how to handle my younger boys at home. The best advice I got was to make sure I had some inexpensive little things (small books, maybe a matchbox car) stashed away for those times when a gift was delivered for the baby and the older sons were feeling a bit left out. It helped distract them so they could enjoy their little brother a bit more. Best wishes to all of you. Thanks for sharing this time with us.
Amy K in FL

I wish you a peaceful, love filled next couple of months! Enjoy!

sending positive thoughts your way...my only advice is enjoy every second of it! they grow up way too fast.

really beautiful thoughts on the three of you becoming the four of you. many blessings on the birth. the newborn days are a pretty far memory for me too - the best advice i can think of right now i guess pretty much goes for everyday - breath. let go as best you can of the things the mind wants to hold onto/cling to or get away and let yourself be in the moment, tending to whatever it is that needs you then. every moment is fleeting. that's my newborn advice. that and also you can never take too many newborn pictures. :)

just wanted to wish you well on your new adventure.
no advice; just some observations. my girls are two years apart and i had a fast second labor. my older daughter came to visit me in the hospital about three hours after i left home. when she walked in she looked huge! like she had grown a foot in three hours -- very strange! i also made sure to NOT being holding the new baby when she arrived and i greeted her first. and i had a little gift in the bassinet from the baby to her. i know simon is much older than my older daughter was, but you may want to do some variation of this.
also, one of the absolute best things about having two is watching them play together. their relationship will develop much sooner than you think. even with simon being older, your new baby girl will begin to relate to her brother in ways that will delight you. enjoy it all!

You sound wonderfully prepared and with a wonderful spirit about this new person coming into you lives. I love the part about being gentler to yourself, I shall carry that with me today. Thanks.

I don't think you need advice Ali...just wanted to wish you all the best for the delivery, and can't wait to see pics of your new little pink bundle. Must admit, I am feeling a little jealous...love that special newborn time.
Hugs to you and your family xxx

Just LOVE her and the rest will come! ...

So excited for you and your family. Its truely a pleasure to check your blog each day for a special message. It is my gift to myself really. I wish you every happiness, and the time to enjoy every moment.
Best Wishes

Hi Ali, I wish you all the best these next couple of weeks. I have had two c-secions and am anticipating my 3rd in a few months.
My only advice to offer you is to not forget that you are recovering from the c-section. I spent a long time recovering from #2 c-section (longer than #1) because I didn't slow down. I kept racing around trying to be the same mother to my first daughter (as I was before her sister was born)and to be a good mother to my new daughter. It took longer to recover because of that. I am sure you will be just fine though.

When my 4 1/2 year old was born, we watched Dr. Karp's Happiest Baby on the Block video. It talks about the 5 Ss that the baby need: Sucking, Shushing/White noise, Swinging/Shaking in a vibrating papasan, Side-lying position, and Swaddling. All of those really helped to pacify an upset baby. We had really good experience using the techniques and ended up swaddling until Ella was 6 months old. You can look at the youtube videos of parents using the techniques. I wish you an easily calmed baby and one that sleeps!

Wishing you well as your family grows! There are 3 1/2 years between my two. That second one is so different in many way. You know what you're getting into because you're already a mother, but a mother of two wow you never thought your heart could be big enough to love them so! It's awesome!

Oh, Ali...does this ever bring back memories for me. I had my second daughter 6 years after my first. Like you, I wondered if I would remember how to take care of a newborn again. Just letting you know, it comes back. I was a bit apprehensive during my pregnancy...but there was no need. All was well & I wish you the best! One more tip: give extra hugs to Simon once she is born. I made sure I gave my eldest some time alone with me (that was extremely hard to do, but I just took the time to do it). Lots of hugs!