thoughts on two (January 15, 2015)
I can’t even believe I’m writing these posts right now. Every time I type, think, or start to imagine baby #2, I get flooded with emotions, which is usually a mix of giddy excitement and a little bit of fear. I say the last part, because -I’m sure many of you have experienced this- we know we want to have another kid, and know we’re ready, but some days are challenging with just one. This parenting stuff is obviously the best in the world, and I wouldn’t change a thing, but I would be a flat-out liar if I said it isn’t hard The good and the beautiful things about it far outshine the tougher moments. I’ve just been telling myself that you figure it out, just as you did with one.
I’ve heard a share of mixed opinions, which is usually a variety of the following:
-Two kids is easier than one! You already know what to expect, and they play with each other.
-Two kids isn’t twice as hard as one. It’s FOUR TIMES as hard.
Obviously, I think it depends on so many things, and I’m excited to see how it works out for our family. I think a huge factor is that I already know what to expect, especially in regards to the newborn phase. Of course, this will be entirely different, but I think with baby #1, no matter how much you read, and prepare, and think you know, you still have the rug pulled out from under you. You don’t really KNOW until you’re there. Also, we had a bit of initial obstacles with all of my breastfeeding/pumping/anxiety issues. I fortunate to have some have resources and a plan if anything needs to be adjusted the next time around. (For example, if breastfeeding doesn’t work out, I’m not going to beat myself up about it. I’m going to do the best I can, and know that formula exists for a reason. I had to supplement with formula for Liv, and from what I can tell, she seems to be doing ok. 😉 )
Time to start officially trying. It’s nice that it feels more laid-back, and less…technical… this time. Instead of tracking my temp, and taking ovulation tests and the whole ordeal, we’re pretty much going with the flow to see what happens. Since I’ve been doing fertility awareness method for years now (I think 7 years?), it’s been a huge help in knowing when it’s a good time to try (or when to stay away, if you’re trying to avoid getting pregnant haha).
Here are some of the steps I’m taking now (within 3 months of TTC for baby #2):
-taking my prenatals consistently again, along with vegetarian DHA
-weaning myself off constant caffeine, and sticking to one glass of wine a night or less
-upping my produce and healthy fat intake
-skimming Making Babies (which has SO many great tips for TTC, and I read it attentively before we started trying for Liv)
-drinking Fertili-tea and taking one Fertile CM pill each day. (Obviously ask your doctor, but when we conceived Liv I was taking Fertile CM. That stuff is no joke.)
-being mindful of impact workouts around ovulation. The idea is that you don’t want to shake an implanted egg around, so I’ll stick to yoga, walking and spinning instead of Orangetheory and HIIT drills during that time of the month.
Fingers crossed <3
77 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I have been obsessively checking this page since you hinted about it yesterday. I’m hoping this means what I think it means…..
Oooooh good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!
I’m confused by the back dating from january… not really sure if you’re posting this now because you are pregnant (like you did last time) or just sharing that you’re trying.
…anyway, hoping good things for you and your family!
* I do like to read back your ‘what worked for me’. As soon as I get the ‘all clear’ from my doc next month, my hubby and I are going to try for #1. I’m hoping it will be smooth sailing, but I also hope what worked for you might work for me too! thanks for sharing.
Sending lots of love and well wishes to you and the family!
YAY!! I think this means you’re expecting?? I’m so excited for you!!
Yay, Gina! Expanding the family! I know it’s perhaps a bit intimidating to think of parenting another, but just imagine how cute Livi will be with a sibling! Good luck on your fertility adventure! 🙂
Yay thats so exciting! My husband and I are still a couple years from trying to start a family since he wants to be a little more financially secure and I am working on building my career in fitness and blogging, but I always get excited to hear about people trying for babies.
Good luck!!
This is so exciting for you and your family! Sending you all the best! xoxo
I LOVE the way you share the back posts… similar to when you found out you were pregnant with Olivia. Congratulations!! 🙂
How exciting! Sending positive vibes and wishes to you and your family!
I was like, “whoaa, so brave to post this publicly.” And then I saw that it is back-dated. Congratulations!!! Would love to know which vegetarian DHA you take. I have taken a few different ones. Always curious if it does the same job as fish oil, but I’m vegetarian so I prefer the veg ones. Would you mind sharing?
here ya go! http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Naturals-Algae-Omega-120/dp/B009KTUGSS/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1427840733&sr=1-6&keywords=vegetarian+DHA
Good luck!
Ahhh! Yay! Thoughts and prayers headed your way! (I have been wondering when you’d post about this since you mini-hinted that you were thinking about #2 whenever the time was right…then in the Winter Shape Up videos I couldn’t help but wonder if you took the lower impact options for a reason! 😉 )
Much love!!
Thoughts of baby #2 send me into a whirlwind of emotions too. I have a three year old and he is my world. I always said I wouldn’t be one of those moms who are consumed by their kids. Ha! That changed the second he crowned (I know, TMI). Anyway, when I think of having a second it makes me so excited, but also a little sad, that he wouldn’t be my one and only anymore. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s what I’m struggling with right now.
I’ve really been enjoying reading blogs about baby #2 and I’m excited that your blog is now headed into this category!! 🙂
i totally agree, and from what i’ve heard, a lot of my mom friends felt the same way. <3 they told me that it's hard at first -and you feel bad that you won't have the same amount of special time with just the one kiddo- but that it just gets better and better
I TOTALLY get this! I am 16 weeks along with #2, and its a huge roller coaster of emotions! We have a 22 month old and I am sooooo excited to see her with a little sibling, and to see their relationship, but at the same time I am sad that I won’t be able to give her 100% of my time and attention (which she definitely gets now!) I have definitely been cherishing my one on one time and hope to make extra special time for only big-sister when the new little comes along!
As always, I love your willingness to share these developments honestly! Best wishes for a new addition to your family in 2015 🙂 I have 1 child who’s close in age to yours, and I also feel the mixed feelings over expanding the family. And I had issues with breast feeding which have made me far more open-minded about supplementing. The possibility of having another wonderful little person in my life is just too exciting to pass up.
I so hope this was a semi-announcement! I’m 12 weeks pregnant with baby #2 and would LOVE to have my favorite blogger to follow along with. Plus, I’m desperate for some good prenatal workouts!! *Fingers crossed!*
How exciting!
I have to supplement with formula for Cooper because he is on the small size. Honestly, I feed him as much as I can and then I give him more so he isn’t hungry. To me, it is more important that he is happy and healthy than anything else. There is no one right way to raise a child.
amen to that. we had to use formula for liv because i didn’t make enough milk, which was devastating to me initially, and then i realized that she was healthy and thriving because she was getting enough to eat
I had almost the same experience with you regarding breastfeeding and was a wreck! My son was underweight at his 2 month appointment and I was heartbroken. I pumped for almost 5 months and had to use formula and he thrived! I won’t feel guilty next time if breastfeeding doesn’t work out!
Best wishes for baby #2. We are trying as well. 🙂
I see this is from January 🙂 looking forward to more family posts coming 😉
How exciting for you guys!! Positive thoughts and prayers your way!
I understand what you mean about concerns about a second baby when just one can be a handful some days! My daughter is almost 17 months and the light of my life, but man, am I tired some days!!
right? some nights, i’m like, “YES! i lived through the day!” haha
Ahhh! I hope this means what I think it means! I was wondering these last couple weeks!
My little guy is 18 months and we’re struggling with whether to have a 2nd. It will be fun to follow along with you!
Best of luck to you Gina! We are still trying for baby #2 so maybe we’ll be pregnant sisters 🙂
that would be amazing <3
Hope there’s a pregnancy announcement soon! Good luck to you!
<3!
Such an exciting time for your family!! Xoxo
thank you! xoxo
Ahhh I love this! If it means what I think it means, congrats!!
I am only a freshman in college, so while children seem like a far away concept at the moment, I do still think of it often. I want nothing more than to be a mom one day, and I always love hearing thoughts about trying for more children. At the end of the day, I think in your heart you know what is right for you, your husband, and Liv. If you feel your family is complete, then great! But if there is an inkling in your heart for you to keep going, I say go for it! I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers as you embark on this new journey and phase of life. It is an exciting place to be and I hope you enjoy as much as you can!
Yay!!!! I, like you, had some MAJOR anxiety after my first was born. Armed with the knowledge of what it’s going to be like, we are going to start trying for #2 next month! Two kids will be amazing 🙂 Congratulations, I am SO looking forward to getting a peek into your life with two kiddos! Much love! <3 <3 <3
Eeek what an exciting time for you and your family. I have been reading for years and feel like a close friend of mine just told me she was pregnant, haha. Not a creep at all.
I’ve got serious baby fever right now!! Hubby isnt quite ready and we would like to be in a house instead of an apartment and have some money saved up before we start trying for our first…but there’s like, 9 months for that, right?! Haha.
Jan 15?!!!!!! I’m picking up what you’re puttin down. CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!
Sending good vibes your way!
What a blessing! So excited for you and your (soon to be) growing fam <3
With our first arriving any day now (!!!), I got a chuckle out of the analogy of getting the rug pulled out from under you with Liv. I know it’s coming, but what it is it going to beeeeeeee like?! No book to prepare you for that one 🙂 We’ll surely find out soon!
I was going to post ‘good luck’ but after reading the comments, I think I need to say congrats!
Going from one to two will be a transition very everyone, but if anyone can rock it with ease and grace and look damn amazing doing it, it will surely be you my friend. Just cross your fingers for no twins 😉
Good luck! It will be OK going from one to two. We went from one to three having twins. It will be great, crazy fun!
This is on my mind lately too 😉 Best of luck to you guys!
And yes I’m totally terrified of two, too. But sometimes you just have to jump I guess!
Awe!!! I was hoping you’d be blessed with more little Fitnessistas or Pilots. 🙂 Livi will be a great big sister. 🙂
Soooo, if this is from January, can I say congratulations? I hope so 🙂 Sending very best wishes & looking forward to reading along!
I’ve been following your blog from the times when you thought a foetus would be like an alien in the belly. Ha ha. And I’ve seen how much you’ve blossomed from having Liv.
Congratulations, blessings, and love, all the way from India! <3
hahah! turns out it’s nothing like that (thank goodness) 🙂 thank you for following for so long and for the sweet wishes <3 xo
Best of luck 🙂 I am 5 months pregnant– with my first, and super excited to meet this little guy in August. My husband is already talking about baby #2! He wants to have them super close– and we’re adopting, so physically it’s an option. I told him I want to wait a bit– give me time to bond with this one first! Plus, planning for this one has been such a big job, and I want to make sure I have time to do the special things for #2 as well.
So, so excited for you!! Congratulations!!!
How exciting 🙂
Can you send me a link to the book you mentioned? Amazon is coming up with multiple options!
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Babies-3-Month-Program-Fertility/dp/0316024503
it is AMAZING
It’s such an exciting time. Enjoy every second! Things do change with a second but all things change…it’s all good 🙂 I LOVE having 2 and we are working on a third!
I can’t even count how many times I have been checking the family page since you hinted at it on Monday… And seeing that this post is backdated, it appears that the obsession will continue all week! So excited for you and your family. Sending you lots of love!! <33
I have 2 girls that are 32 months apart and had all the same concerns and worries you are having. I would think about my first daughter all day while at work and didn’t know how my brain would handle work and thinking about two kids all day. The first year with baby number 2 was definitely exhausting, but seeing the two of them together made it worth the effort. Each passing month got easier and now that they are 9 and 6.5, they are the best of friends and I feel so blessed and grateful to have this family. Best of luck to you and your family!
Sending lots of love and prayers your way! I’m excited for your (hopefully soon) growing family. 🙂
How exciting!! We too are hoping to add baby #2 to our family soon. So many emotions!! Question for you – I was a little surprised to see your comment on high impact exercise. It is true that the egg can get jostled and maybe not implant (or un-implant <– clearly, not a scientist) because of it? I'm intrigued to learn more about this!
So so excited for you, friend! And TOTALLY with you on thoughts on #2. The emotions are ALL over the place.
That is very exciting news to share! I have to say, I know parenting is not all blue skies but you make it seem fun an it’s been very inspiring! I’m sure you’ll get to have double the fun with two! I am due with my first in November (still early so crossing my fingers still) but you have awesome advice for the TTC and birth process and all your book recommendations. Thanks for keeping it so real! Yay for you!
this is really exciting. and like so many exciting things — also a little scary and unknown. thanks for sharing so honestly here.
Exciting stuff! As a mom of four (the last 2 twins), I’ll tell you the jump to 2 is like jumping into a cool lake. You just have to go for it! You’ll get used to the water in no time. The newborn stage is MUCH less scary because you feel more confident. I also think multiple kids is easier than one. And having siblings is a very good thing! Best of luck <3
I hope some of the above speculations in the comments are right!!
that’s very reassuring to hear. thank you!!
You NAILED those thoughts!!!! I am in the exact same frame of mind… Our daughter is almost 3, and I am jumping the fence every single day! Do we REALLY want another, or am I just fearing the chance of regret if we don’t have #2? The thought of rocking the boat that took us 3 years to finally steady–it’s terrifying.
totally.
I really hope these posts end with you being preggo my eggo. 🙂
I just started taking prenatals and am going off BC starting this month. Super excited but hoping my lady time isn’t as god awful as it was 10 years ago right before i went on the pill. Sorry to be uber personal but did you find that your cycle had changed at all after being on the pill? Praying mine isn’t as heavy/intense as it used to be. <3
my cycle is so much more manageable now. my mom actually took me to the hospital in middle school because i was in so much pain and it was so heavy. that’s when they put me on BC and i was on it until we moved to valdosta. now, it’s not nearly as heavy or painful. i’m still an angry, hungry beast right before, but i don’t think that will ever change haha
Thanks for the honest response! 🙂 I’m sure I’ll still wantALL THE BREAD. Lol