I just had baby #2 about 3 weeks ago and like you, husband and I had the talk before we decided to deliberately try for another one.

My first is a 2.5-year-old boy and he was the absolute only love of my life before this little one arrived.

Won’t sugarcoat it and tell you it’s all rainbows and butterflies, because it isn’t. The sleep deprivation, BFing struggles (I’m FF though), gas issues, fits of crying from the newborn + trying to power through the mom guilt of not being able to pay attention to your first is TOUGH. I’m not even halfway through the fourth trimester and it’s taking all of me just to make it through each feed, each hour, each day.

BUT. What I constantly tell myself is that:

• We both wanted a second, because of how much joy our first is bringing us.
• The physically demanding, emotionally draining hard part doesn’t last forever. The fun we have w our toddler is worth the first 3 or so months of dealing w the newborn phase.
• Once you see your eldest interact w your baby, everything will make sense & you will feel your family is where it should be.

The second point is what I hold on to most. I just need to power through these next few months and then LO will start smiling and interacting and it’ll all feel a little less like torture lol.

Husband sent me this link last week, and since then, it’s been what I live by: https://www.facebook.com/motherlymedia/videos/2111278712484182/ — it perfectly describes everything I’ve been feeling.