Being a Mom of Two - Two Months In.

Simply put, being a mom of two is tough. I love it, don't get me wrong, but it's tough. Before Gabe was born, I was ready to be a mom. I knew our life was going to change drastically. I knew there would be no more late night hanging out with friends and no sleeping in until 10 am on Saturday mornings. I feel like I handled the transition pretty well.

Before Isaac was born, I felt ready to be a mom to two small children. I knew we would have our hands full, but I figured we'd already made the transition to parenthood, I knew the "tricks of the trade". I figured Isaac would meld into the routines we already had in place and we'd go about our lives.

But I seriously underestimated how much life would change when we brought a second little one into the world. I didn't take into account that Isaac would be his own little person with his own unique personality. Gabe was an easy-going baby. As long as his belly was full, he was happy. At 4 weeks old, he was sleeping 6 hours a night and by 8 weeks old when I returned to work, he was sleeping 9pm to 6am. Isaac? Isaac is... sensitive. Things affect him much more than they ever did Gabe. The week he was born, Armando had a bad cold. Every time he coughed Isaac jumped and startled, then cried. He seems much more inquisitive than Gabe did as an infant and he doesn't like to sleep if there is something going on around him (like say, daylight).

I didn't take into account how much I relied on Armando's help those first few months. The first time around, Armando and I tag-teamed. When I needed a break from Gabe, he stepped in. This time around, we're on zone defense. He has his hands full with Gabe while I have my hands full with Isaac. I also never took into account that Gabe, who is a great sleeper most nights, would turn into a nighttime terrorist, waking up 3-4 times a night and demanding that Daddy sleep on his floor.

The first 6 weeks were rough, not gonna lie. There were times when I cried and times when I yelled and times where I felt like our family had been turned upside down and I wondered if we made a mistake having children so close in age. But we got through it. Isaac and I have started to figure each other out, and we are all adjusting to functioning as a family of four. I've been back at work for three weeks and we're in a routine (a hectic, fast paced routine, but we'll save that post for another day). Thankfully, daycare seems to agree with Isaac. Whether it is a coincidence or a result of the wonderful ladies in the infant room, Isaac is a much more smiley and laid-back little guy since starting daycare.

Gabe has become a talking machine. Everyday I am astounded at the things he has to tell me and at his blossoming sense of humor. Isaac, while still my sensitive guy, is turning into a quiet little flirt. He loves to catch your eye and slowly and shyly give you a smile that turns into a big grin. I love them both more than I can even begin to put into words. I don't wonder anymore about the decision to have a second child so quickly, because it feels right. It is right for us and I wouldn't change it for anything.