Thursday, March 19, 2020

Pregnancy, Motherhood, & Marriage Update

(reading to my babies. As you can see, my lap is filling up these days!)

I am just over 27 weeks into my second pregnancy, and wanted to pop in with a little update on things, like I promised back in my pregnancy announcement post. This time around has been quite different from my pregnancy with Axton, in a number of ways.
First of all, I already have a baby this time! Axton has been a champ but it is definitely different to figure out how to get extra sleep, deal with morning sickness, etc, while running after a very active little toddler, as you other mamas know!
Secondly, it is one thing to grow a baby; but entirely another to figure out how to do so while transitioning baby #1 to the next stage of things to make way for baby #2! Namely, this happened in the area of weaning. Axton really wasn't interested in solids at all and if I would've had the milk for him, I'm guessing he would've been one of those children who would've nursed exclusively until age one or something. But right away when I got pregnant again (he was almost eight months) my supply started to dry up, so ready or not, it was time to wean. The first couple of weeks were a little rough with the transition, but we kept going, and by the beginning of December (just in time for our first night away from him!) he was totally weaned and doing great on his new diet. He even chunked up a little more! Contrary to the recommendations of almost all online sources, I went ahead and let him try raw milk by ten months, and he has loved it. (I was raised on a dairy farm with unlimited raw milk consumption and I am so passionate about the health benefits of it!) It has been a huge blessing to be able to give him a warm bottle every night before he goes to bed, and know that he is getting great nutrients from such a healthy source. It also makes me feel like he is staying a baby longer...totally mental I know, but it makes this mama heart happy!
Thirdly, speaking of morning sickness, with Axton, I had a very unusual type of morning sickness. I would get sick about one morning a week, from my second trimester, right up until a few weeks before he was born, and the rest of the time I felt amazing. I was really quite spoiled. Basically no cravings, smells didn't "set me off", and as long as I got enough sleep, I really felt like quite the energizer bunny! However, this second pregnancy has been much worse with morning sickness. When I feel good, I feel great! But about half of the days of the week I start my days with throwing up. (Not to be TMI with that, but I discovered lately that when some moms say they have morning sickness, they just mean feeling a little "off", or nauseated. I'm not much for exaggerating, so I thought I'd just explain it straight =))
I am not complaining, though-I am still SO extremely and abundantly blessed in this pregnancy again, even if there are extra challenges. And it is such a gift to have the opportunity to be sick and carry another little life. I'd do it again and again in a heartbeat for such a blessing! (I'll be sharing more about this in the future)
(post bathtime smiles! Isn't he just SO squish-able?!)

Motherhood is amazing. A number of people have asked me if having babies this close together is an overwhelming thought for me. Honestly, it isn't! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I will have moments, especially in those early days of adjusting to caring for two babies instead of just one! But I saw my own mother have five babies in six years, and if I can do it with half the grace and energy she did, I'll be just fine. =) I suppose I would be much more overwhelmed depending on what kind of a child my current son was, but we have been pretty intentional in ordering his life, and not letting him run ours, and as a result, he is a super happy and very scheduled little guy. I don't say that in a prideful way, at all-there have been many learning moments for me and many times when consistency has stretched me as a mama! I have failed often and growing in this is a continual process. But having him on a schedule early on, and giving him a little life of order and routine, has paid off HUGE dividends in our quality of life now, and I am confidant that will just continue as we transition this summer into life with two babies.

(date night-out for dinner and an overnight with my hottie husband for my birthday)

And marriage continues to be so blessed as well. Does it take more intentionality to stay connected in these days of parenthood? Absolutely! But it is so worth it! Just today, after lunch, we were sitting on the living room floor, talking, while Axton bounced around walking and crawling all over us. I turned to John and said, "isn't it just mind-blowing how he is half you and half me and just the sweetest little thing ever?" Axton adds so much spice and energy to our lives and it is hard sometimes to remember what it was like before he came along! Impossible though it may seem, our marriage is even richer and fuller WITH a baby, than it was before! Axton has taught us both so much about who we are as individuals and parents and just people in general. I know not everyone is given the gift of children right off, and it is one that I definitely don't take for granted; rather, I am just overwhelmingly grateful that we have been given the gift of not one but two little babies in our first few years of marriage. It has truly grown us even closer to each other and been such a blessing in our lives!

That's a little update from my world! I would love to hear from you mamas in the comments below-how was your transition from one to two babies and how do you work to stay intentional with balancing motherhood AND marriage?

Happy Thursday!
-Chels

17 comments:

  1. Are ya'll able to get your milk from your family farm?

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    1. I actually get it from a small local farm here in Kansas!

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  2. Love hearing about your sweet little family! My first two babies are 13mo apart and I think the biggest help for me was that consistent schedule!! As soon as possible I got both babies on as close to the same schedule as possible. It was lots of work but knowing I didn't forget anything was huge!! They are 3 and 4 now and are the very best of friends! We have baby number 4 on the way and it's been huge to have some "big kids" who are actually helpers now. It takes lots of work, but the blessing of children close together is so special! I hope you experience the same!!

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    1. Thanks so much for that encouragement! Totally makes sense to work to get them on the same schedule as soon as possible and I am definitely going to aim for that!
      Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Acton is such a cutie!

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  4. My babies are 22 months and 6 months now and I love them to death and I am also the biggest and most regular consumer of Red Bull in the Western hemisphere. That is all. :)

    And also congratulations!!! Again! Acton is adorable and I can't wait to see the new little one!

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    1. Oh girl, you are hilarious. =) And...I WANT TO MEET YOUR BABIES AND SEE YOU AGAIN!!
      Thankyou! =) Miss ya!

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    2. Yessss it's been way too long 😪

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  5. Are you choosing Homebirth or hospital this time around?

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    1. I have the same midwives/birth team again, and we are hoping for a home birth, but holding it loosely. We had a great experience at the hospital, so if we need to transfer again for some reason, we are totally open to that.

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  6. Axton is just sooooooo adorable!

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  7. Thanks for the beautiful post Chelsea! Can you do a post about your experience creating a schedule/routine for infants? I have one child, who is 6 months old.

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    1. I’ll keep that in mind for a possible future post!

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  8. You seem like an amazing mother. Your children are very blessed to have you.
    I wish I was as patient to my baby boy as you are.

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    1. I am definitely not the most patient person out there! And I fail many times as a mama! Thankful for Gods grace that is new every day! ❤️

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