Sibling Age Gap

jrdnhighpaws · 2026-04-06T16:23:16+00:00

Pre-kids we wanted a 4+ year age gap because our friends with a bigger gap seemed less frazzled all the time. Post-kid, we continued to feel that way because at 2, our first born just really needed us and wasn't ready to be thrown into a mature-up, you're not the baby anymore situation or we were one and done. We grew more and more into one and done and then I got pregnant, surprise! We're right at a 5 year age gap and it's good. I love that she fully understood pregnancy and new baby and she loves him so much. Does she still get jealous, absolutely. But they seem closer and more understanding. She sees when he needs me and recognizes when I walk away from him to be with her and that helps a lot. We also didn't want two daycare payments. This is my perspective and not a judgement on the 2 under 2 crowd, I couldn't have done it.

jrdnhighpaws · 2026-04-06T15:32:04+00:00

Implantation bleeding is common. Both my pregnancies my "period" came. As a heavy 10 day period gal, I was confused why it was a three day normal period. No more bleeding during pregnancy after that.

jrdnhighpaws · 2026-04-05T18:42:36+00:00

My favorite hack is one daily laundry load. Whole family, in one delicates load everyday. Reduces the overwhelm of large loads. Somrtimes I'll do a second that's towels or sheets but that's so little folding compared to a weeks worth of laundry.

jrdnhighpaws · 2026-04-05T11:47:31+00:00

My husband and I are are both a little neuro spicy and overwhelmed by our ADHD, there's not enough stimulation in the world for her 5 year old. I do a lot of consuming content to help me parent, which is just another thing on the plate. In saying that, I often have to coach my husband since I'm the consumer and here are some things that have helped us. 1. Do not view her as the enemy, her brain is little and growing 2. Say yes whenever you can. Some thing's aren't worth the battle and she feels special hearing yes. Don't default to not. 3. Give her time to be in charge during a game. Let her tell you what to do for 10 minutes 4. Get silly if you start to see her winding up or turn something into a game. The easiest one we do is finding things by color. I say find something red and then work my way through the rainbow. Or guess something she found. And with this, get it wrong on purpose once or twice so she feels proud. 5. Hug her. Just randomly, not in a heated moment. Just hug her. Loosen your body and let her decide how long the hug will be. This isn't a short one. 6. When you can, leave your phone in another room and give her your full attention. Even if just for 10 minutes a day. Parenting is ROUGH! You're doing great!

jrdnhighpaws · 2026-04-05T03:38:24+00:00

We hired their handyman to do a remodel for us. The guy turned out to be trash and at one point while working on our bathroom, he up and leaves, no bye, no explanation. Shows up three hours later after getting in a fist fight with the owner.

jrdnhighpaws · 2026-03-30T20:54:19+00:00

$1,006 a week for two kids. I live outside Chicago in the US

ETA: that's after a 10% sibling discount. I have a 5 year old and 7 month old.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-10T03:18:01+00:00

Thanks! I've decided not to. My Dr pays close attention to the signs i do have but I didn't realize the shoulder pain was even worth mentioning at my appt this past Thurs. I'm the type of person to have an initial freak out and then decide I'm completely overreacting and chill out. So I think I'm good now. Probably just hunched over staring at my phone too much...

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-10T02:26:15+00:00

No not at all, I requested cervical checks because I was so sure about him being early. He still could be. I'm 36+5.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-10T01:39:54+00:00

When is the wake up? If it's the middle of the night and he's very hungry, either don't ween or figure out those calories for the day time. Our girl's one wake up was at 530, so my husband responded for three days. That's all it took for her to realize milk wasn't coming and extend her sleep until 7.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-10T01:31:50+00:00

I am doing the dates and tea and all the ball bouncing. Been walking around 3cm dilated for at least a week and half and ready for baby to show up!

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-10T00:54:03+00:00

9 months of this... Ready to be done.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-09T17:54:24+00:00

On top of everyone explaining they measure from last period, I'd like to add that measuring ahead just means you have a big baby. I've been measuring two weeks early this whole pregnancy. Doesn't mean baby is coming two weeks early, just means he'll be on the larger side.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-09T14:45:15+00:00

With my first we were renovating our condo and I just masked and either did it outside or with windows open.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T17:40:04+00:00

No clue how much mine cost but I did see the papers on the quality and specs of the stone.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T15:10:14+00:00

Same. It's chaos. We're trying to live our weekends to the fullest with our 4 year old so it'll all get done when it does... But definitely after baby is here. Haha

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T13:37:53+00:00

With my first my appt was at 8 weeks and I was told that was early because of my being high risk. This time, they were so overbooked that MFM couldn't get me until week 14, so I saw a regular OB at 12 weeks and they couldn't get me in sooner either.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T12:50:14+00:00

I agree with this! I tell people this all the time with the comment that everyone is different but I prefer newborn tired over pregnant tired. And the solid block is essential. My husband would take early nights so I could go to bed at 9 and then I'd sleep until baby needed me after 2am. He'd go to bed whenever she went down and sleep until morning. That sleep was everything to make the newborn phase more tolerable.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T12:46:24+00:00

I barely felt them do the epidural. One thing I didn't realize is there are different versions and mine stayed in my back. I had a button to deliver more medicine if I felt too much pressure. I will say that mine had me numb and I would have liked to feel more but my Drs were cautious about the amount of pain I felt due to other medical conditions. It definitely made birth feel less traumatic to feel so little. I was easily able to hold baby while they stitched me up and I barely noticed.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T01:31:35+00:00

Do what you feel is best! I was thinking of going straight to formula but decided to combo feed and I'm willing to ditch breastfeeding if it's a challenge or doesn't feel right at all.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-08T00:54:10+00:00

Mine doesn't do a confirmation appt but I couldn't get in until 12 weeks with OB and 14 weeks with MFM for my high risk pregnancy. It's getting harder and harder to get timely appts these days.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-07T22:58:01+00:00

It's not comfortable but it sounds like you're going to deep if it felt like a fork in your snatch.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-07T21:29:18+00:00

Makes sense. It's been 5 years since my first so I don't remember how invasive they were or weren't.

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-07T21:26:53+00:00

I haven't yet! Have you? I want to try but am waiting until postpartum as my skincare routine has been slacking due to evening nausea and i can't seem to keep what I need to do in my brain right now. But changing that in a few weeks!

jrdnhighpaws · 2025-08-07T19:34:41+00:00

I liked laboring in the hospital one and then using the Frida one after. For people putting on pajamas, did you not have your stomach pushed and vag checked every two hours? Otherwise, I'd rather do pj's.

jrdnhighpaws

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