Too two.
Posted on | August 5, 2006 | 12 Comments
The house is dubiously full of snoring. In the past hour and a half I somehow managed to put three humans of the male sex to sleep. Well, two, technically. The third one happened to just come into the bedroom where I was hunched over my laptop in the semi dark rocking our friend’s baby in his carseat while reading blogs, and the next thing I knew it he was on our bed and snoring. If only the other two were that easy! But Bean, in a fit of what can only be called jealousy, needed an extra-strength session of cuddling, pressing his small face against mine to be kissed over and over again while I rocked to him and sang. And the little baby, well, he did his little baby thing: squirming about a bit, and in general just living up to the proverbial witching hour.
It’s been one of those nights that feels like some sort of sci-fi time travel film: “A glimpse of what your life would be like if you had two under two.” We’re babysitting our friend’s gorgeous little three month old pip, while they attend a wedding reception, and it’s been quite the head trip spend an evening with someone so small. DH and I kept sort of marveling to each other at all his tinyness. His feet! His hands! SO SMALL! And also, he just eats and sleeps!
It is also fascinating for us to watch Bean, who is now almost 1.5 years old, and 100% true toddler, around the baby. At first he sort of treated the little guy like maybe he was a new cat, interested, but not entirely. But when I took over a bottle feeding, Bean was no longer amused. He was sure he was being replaced, and he flung himself on my legs. He tried to take the baby’s burp cloth, threw his dish on the floor, and when DH tried to carry him off for a nap, he wailed in the most pathetic way possible, “Mamamamamamama!” Poor guy.
It has occurred to us that there is no way we’re having another baby for at least a couple of years—if not a handful. Somehow, though we both see the logic of having little ones close together, neither of us can quite wrap our heads around the idea of no down time, double the diapers, and bedtime routines that involve juggling small humans. We’re just not superhuman enough.
We’re the kind of parents who had to figure out that our kid might actually appreciate it if we BRING SNACKS with us when we go on errands. We routinely forget the diaper bag. We loose his shoes. (Really. I currently know where one of each of three pairs of shoes are, but haven’t the foggiest where their mates might be.) Sippy cups accumulate in the sink.
And we’re always late.
Therefore it occurred to me tonight that if YOU are a mom and you have two little rascals under two, I hereby bow down at your feet in complete awe.
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I am Christina Rosalie
Hello. I'm so happy you've stopped by!
I am a multimedia storyteller, digital strategist, idea starter, stalker of wonder, finder of four leaf clovers, MFA graduate student, and mama of boys. My first book,
will be published by SKIRT! Books in September, 2012.
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August 5th, 2006 @ 10:36 pm
I absolutely agree. Anyone with two under two, must be something wonderful. We have only the one right now, quickly approaching his first birthday and I have decided to wait until he is in school to even start trying for the second one. In theory having them close together makes sense, but what about all the alone time, just the two of you, those countless hours of staring at your little one with nothing more to do than that? I couldn’t bear not bonding with the next one as much as I am with our first. Not to mention the jealousy… oh my heart aches for you and for Bean.
August 6th, 2006 @ 12:13 am
I highly recommend spacing them out further than two years apart. But don’t wait too long, b/c it’s hard to go back when you get too far out of the diaper stage. Mine are all 3 years apart, and I really like that spacing. Oh, I routinely forget the diaper bag (or realize once I go to change a diaper that there are no more diapers or wipes in the diaper bag). And I lose shoes every day. That only gets WORSE as they get older and take them off all over the house. I am ALWAYS looking for a shoe. Sigh… It’s a short time in a long life, I keep trying to remember that and treasure these days, as I know you do too.
August 6th, 2006 @ 12:21 am
lol at you! too fuNNY!
my girls are 19 months apart, and while it was HARD and i rarely EVER left the house with them when they were under age : 3, and my mom always asks me why savannah the older one was constantly nakee and messy, face full of food or marker or paint in all the videos. i just laughed at her and said, come on mom, it’s all about freedom of expressing yourself! i wouldn’t have it any other way! love them so close in age! in fact we tried for a 3rd one that close too but it never happened. they are now 6 and 5!!!!!!
so thanks!!! for bowing down LOL!
tara
August 6th, 2006 @ 12:28 am
Having two under two was a challenge, but it was also kinda a fog… Had I had my wits about me, I would have likely gone for a three year spread. Although, I don’t know. I’m thrilled with my girls so something must have been right!
August 6th, 2006 @ 7:34 am
You may now rise.
Martin & Karin were 19 months apart, but because I was home and becuase Martin was so easy, it was hard but not impossible. I didn’t let it stop me from going out and doing things if I really needed it. We wanted to get all the baby stuff over with at once, and I’m really glad we chose (and were able!) to do it that way. I can’t imagine being done with diapers and bottles and sleepless nights and then STARTING IT ALL OVER AGAIN. No thanks! 
August 6th, 2006 @ 9:21 am
It is interersting to be around younger babies when yours is older. An acquaitance of mine has a little boy about five months younger than Pearl and we always squeal about how little and chubby and -stationary- he is!
We’re one-baby-a-time folks, so we’re gonna wait until Pearl is four or five before we have our next kid.
August 6th, 2006 @ 10:28 am
I have no idea what our plan of action will be. I see friends with little ones close in age and how sweetly the kids play together – and yet I think, hey it would be nice if at least ONE could say, tie their shoes before I threw another kidlet into the mix. I am almost five years older than my brother and so I got lots of time with my parents, and could fully grasp and anticipate a baby brother! My only worry is that I don’t have tons of time to space it out – most likely I’ll be thirty by the time our wonder makes its entrance. *crossing fingers, hoping*
And I’m pretty sure you’re not the only parents in the world who forget the diaper bag. Your parenting always sounds brilliant to me!
August 6th, 2006 @ 3:27 pm
An award for “Mom of the Year” must go to a friend of mine’s cousin. She has seven children. Yes, that is correct, seven. They are currently 11,6,4,3,2,1 and 3 months old. The fact that the woman even has time to shower is a miracle to me.
Oh, and by the way, she is only 31.
August 6th, 2006 @ 9:18 pm
I’ve always been in awe of my SIL’s mom. When SIL was born, her mom had 3-1/2 yo twins, a 22 mo, an 11 mo, and a newborn. I would have to have been locked up! (And she went on to have 3 more, each spaced 3 years apart.) I asked my grandma once about being the mom of 8 kids – she said, “Oh, after awhile you just don’t even notice you have so many.”
August 7th, 2006 @ 12:29 am
My best friend has two boys that are only 10, TEN MONTHS apart. Its insane. For 2 months, they are the same age. I witnessed her daily life when they were very small, trying to juggle these two little guys, and I think that is probably the reason why I didnt have any more kids after my son Gabriel, who is 6 months younger than her oldest, was born.
I have thought about having more kids now, and have actually thought about having 2, very close in age. Mainly because there are 10 years between my youngest and my oldest, and 8 years between him and my middle child. I often wonder if I have robbed him of that special bonding with a sibling that is close in age to you. My two oldest are very close even though they are boy-girl.
Is there ever a perfect solution for every situation though when it comes to children?
August 7th, 2006 @ 11:47 pm
My two kids are 2 and a half years apart, I found it miserable the first few months and after a while realised it wasn’t double the work! you go back to a general “routine” and learn how to manage with the feedings and the bathing/changing/leaving the house, and they also learn to be patient and cooperate (yes, even if they’re small!) and you know, if you forget the snacks, that’s why there’s always a seven eleven in every corner!
August 8th, 2006 @ 2:51 am
I think we’re living in a Martha world. My sisters have these perfectly packed diaper bags – snacks from all four food groups, chilled water, educational toys, a full wardrobe, creams, lotions and salves. And their kids are demanding, entitled and whine-y! They peep, and all their earthly needs are satisfied.
I had my kids when I was quite young. I considered myself lucky to have a diaper and a few wipes in the dashbox, and if a shirt was really dirty we turned it inside out. Being thirsty was something we took care of when we saw a drinking fountain. I think our kids are better off when we aren’t so “together”. And…I think mismatched shoes are “all the rage”!
Go easy on yourself. There’s plenty of guilt awaiting you, like when you’re late for the Easter Egg Hunt or when you forget the class Valentines. Ahhh, parenthood!