Why I baby bunched...

Yes to most it seems totally nuts that I had two children so close in age. Kenzie and Ketcher are 18 months apart and my life is total chaos. So why did I choose to have two? Why have two so close in age? Why am I bitching about it, when I am the one that decided to do this in the first place?

Let me explain...

First of all, let's quickly back up to my childhood. My brother and sister are so much older than me that technically I would be considered an only child. My favorite memories are with my siblings: Playing hide and seek with dart guns, listening to records and dancing around the kerosene heater. I want my kids to have great family memories they can reminisce about with each other.

1980 something... my siblings and I camping
(or an 80s commercial for Froot Loops)

When trying to decide IF we should have kids, we decided if we are going to have one, we better have two.

When I look back at my journal from Kenzie's first year, she was 12 weeks old when I was ready to start on #2. She was sleeping through the night and had a consistent nap schedule during the day. Everything seemed so easy.

Kenzie at 3 months, look at that face. How could I not want more?

If I would have waited until now to start trying, NO WAY I would have wanted to throw another kid in the mix yet. However, it's been 1 month with 2 babies and things are starting to get much easier.

Other reasons for two under two:

• I don't want to get out of the baby phase and then have to get back into it.
• The equipment like car seats, cribs, highchairs have expiration dates.  Safety requirements change, and I don't want to have to buy more.
• I am done being pregnant, forever. YAY!
• They might be interested in the same activities.
• They might not need me to entertain them constantly. It's possible there may be a moment or two in my future that I am not the sole source of entertainment.
• Safety in numbers.
• If they are too embarrassed to come to their parents with something at least they can talk to each other.
• I wanted the first child to not really remember life without the other. I read that having them under two years apart limits jealousy. We will see...

The new family! Kenzie and Ketcher might need a little more time to let it sink in.

There are arguments for every spacing age you can imagine. Every family has their own perfect size.  Yes for all interested parties, we are done having kids... forever.

We made it!

Smiling again... phew!

What's that?  Is that a smile? Yup, it sure is!

The eye of the storm has passed finally.  Kenzie, our little ray of light, has returned from darkness.

Her cold is gone, and she is all smiles, hugs and kisses. Without being asked, she has decided to help me with the baby as much as she can. When I set Ketch on the ottoman she knows it's time for a diaper change. She brings me the wipes, a diaper and the vaseline. She loves to hold the bottle and when he cries she comes up and pats my back... it must be because I make a sad empathy face at Ketcher or perhaps she is simply thinking: You brought him home mom, good luck with that!

A snack bowl can be a
tantrum saver.

Since last Tuesday we have been working on different strategies that might help her stay in control. The most important was to cut out all screen time. That means no TV, movies, music, iphone apps, ipad apps, facetime, and anything else with a screen. That also means we keep our phones and computers off while she is awake. So if I haven't returned your call, text, or email, that's why. There is definitely a direct correlation between how much screen time she gets, and how nasty she becomes. This means, no rest for the weary (me).

I have also been mustering up any and all of my energy to spend on her when Ketcher is asleep.  I took back over bath time and bed time and all the meals, except breakfast. She is much happier having mommy back. Dan takes care of Ketcher during those times, so I am not distracted.  I started drawing out the bed time leaving routine to include lots of hugs, kisses and giggles before I leave the room. The last laughs she gives before I leave the room, wash away any of the tension leftover from the day. Which is good because I have Ketcher's witching hours to tackle, which last until midnight.

Our days include LOTS of outdoor time, which is great for my pasty winter-white legs.

Ok dad, lets go play!

She still has a moment here and there where she loses control, but we have an action plan now that works. She also has the usual tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants, but they are over in less than a minute, and we don't even justify them with a glance.

We still need some time to get our new routines set in stone, but we are getting there and the days are so much better. I recall from Kenzie's newborn days that things with Ketcher will get worse before they get better, so I am glad we have a handle on Kenz for now.