What's different than you expected?

[avivaelona]

At first I was going to make this for the two or more kid moms to see what was different with this child than with the last, but then I realized first time mom's might have things to add about how their child is different than their expectations were.

So what are you doing differently than you expected based either on just your thoughts before hand or based on what you did with your other kids?

Here is some for me, it turns out that Dory doesn't like baby wearing in a sling or a wrap very much! I am cloth diapering more than I thought I would though. Japhy was very hard to fit in cloth diapers and then he was always uncomfortable in them. This time I'm finding that I like it though I need to buy more.

The very biggest difference is that this baby likes to be put DOWN, J. never did and would scream if you did. D. always wants to be and will scream if you don't.

[Swandira]

I'm finding I'm not crying or yelling at anyone. I really expected there would be a certain amount of panic on my part. So far, there really hasn't been. I guess I underestimated how well the placenta caps would work for me. It's crazy how effective they are! Last time I had very severe postpartum anxiety. This time, not so much.

Also, I thought I would use the car-seat bucket and the Amby hammock more than I have been. I used them more last time, when I had fewer kids. This time, I just wear him and hold him and nurse him an awful lot.

I'm not feeling so much like I want my body back and my space back. I'm almost wishing I could have all three kids sleep with us at night, because I miss the big kids! There's no room, and none of us would get any sleep that way, but I miss them at night. *sniff*

[jenniferadurham]

I thought I would be able to breast feed for longer than a month. I thought he wouldn't be as good as DD when she was a baby, but he is...maybe even better. I didn't think my 7 week old would be in 3-6 month clothes yet...he started that at about 5 weeks. I didn't know how beautiful he would turn out. I thought he'd be amazing, but not THIS amazing. I am HATING my body. I gained about 10 more lbs this pg, and my thyroid was over active with my DD. I lost all of my weight with her by 4 months PP. I'm stuck at 160lbs. I haven't lost anything more in the last couple weeks. I hate it. I didn't expect to be THIS happy. I'd be happier if I had more sleep...momma gets very very pissy when she doesn't get sleep. I wasn't expecting my DH to be THIS attracted to me being overweight. I could go on and on, but I won't.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I am surprised at how laid back I am this time. I had a hard time adjusting the first time around, but this time it has been so easy. Even with all of the extra stress in our lives I'm finding myself rolling with it all so much better.

I just busted out some 3-6 month sleepers for my almost 7 wk old, which shocks me. All of his growth seems to be in length. There is a ton of room in width in his sleepers, but the sleeves are too short and his feet are trying to bust out of the bottom.

Everyone has said that going from 1 to 2 kids is hard, but it honestly hasn't been for me.

The biggest thing I think is just how much I love this little guy. Before he was born I had so many moments where I wondered how I could possibly love another baby as much as my first. Now I understand.

[leavemealone]

I am surprised at how much I am nursing! He's started to stretch out his feedings a bit and I get a break in between, but there are still some days when he seems to be permanantly attached to me. I'm also surprised that I am still nursing as I did not nurse my other two kids for any length of time.

I'm also surprised that he's outgrowing 3-6 month clothes already and he's only two months old. He fits the clothes weight-wise, but he's just too tall for some of them. Perhaps this one will be the tall basketball player.

[Starfish11]

Gosh there is so much that I didn't expect...

I didn't expect to be so madly in love with a creature that screams for hours on end I really didn't know that babies could scream that relentlessly.

I also didn't realize how unbelievably sweet their little gummy smiles are

[jenniferadurham]

Originally Posted by Starfish11

Gosh there is so much that I didn't expect...

I didn't expect to be so madly in love with a creature that screams for hours on end I really didn't know that babies could scream that relentlessly.

I also didn't realize how unbelievably sweet their little gummy smiles are

mmmm, love me some gummy smile!!!!!

[terrainthailand]

... also lovin the gummy smiles!!!

Honestly, I was completely unprepared for how challenging the first two weeks were. I had been warned, but I really had no idea. And, I have been surprised by how once I made it through those first two weeks, how quickly we have adjusted and how natural being a mother feels.

[phatchristy]

All I can say is, I LOVE this stage so much. It's funny! I didn't remember how much I loved it until I was there!

[CAKJNH]

Everything!! From the beginning of my pregnancy to just a few minutes ago!
Jonathan was/is a lot bigger than my girls, he nurses great!! 1 month EBFing!! He is a very happy baby. We had him at home. He is a boy, lol. (After 3 girls, didn't think we were able make a boy! )

Jonathan amazes me everyday. He's a happy, thriving, healthy little boy. No hospital visits. The list goes on and on. I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to have my surgery next week now.

[Phoenix~Mama]

I love the gummy screams... well, not the screaming, but how cute her little gummy mouth looks. lol

I'm finding I'm co-sleeping more than I thought I would. It is very painful for me to stay sleeping in one position for any length of time due to my fibromyalgia and I thought that would really deter co-sleeping. But DD really needs to sometimes so I do, and I'm trying to deal with the pain... I do love sleeping with her all curled up on my chest though, very adorable.

I am also surprised how much I'm nursing... some days I make jokes that I'm nothing more than a milk bar to her. lol

I'm sadly suprised that I'm battling what is likely PPD now. Though I suppose with my hormonal imbalance and history of depression I shouldn't be that surprised... sucks though.

I'm really surprised at how hard it really is to get a shower when I am alone with DD, this has only happened once so far.

I'm surprised at how Mama Bear I can be and no matter who is holding DD, even when DH has her I'm watching like a hawk. lol

[library lady]

I am on baby #4 and I have always been able to tandem nurse without any problems. This time around I am having a difficult time nursing 2 at once. My 2 yo is not near as good at tandeming as her big sisters were. I am also suprised that I actually want to do stuff around the house.

[theboysmama]

Originally Posted by JSMa

I
I'm really surprised at how hard it really is to get a shower when I am alone with DD, this has only happened once so far.

hereis a great option for a shower. I used it a lot w/ ds2 who screamed all of the time but liked the shower.

I didn't expect to have a girl. After 3 boys I just figured we had another boy coming.
I didn't expect to be getting so much sleep. Only about 7 hours but in 4 and 3 hr chunks. Last night she slept 6 hrs w/out waking. Totally unheard of for my kiddos. I would get more sleep if I didn't stay up till midnight but that is the only time to get anything done w/out people crawling on me.
I didn't expect to be battling thrush and dealing w/ the nipple pain. Ouch. It has been goin on for 4 wks now.
I hate pink and didn't expect to enjoy girls clothes this much.
I thought I would use the amby hammock more but she only likes to sleep w/ me.
Thought I would baby wear more but she is happy to be set down and sometimes I don't want someone attached to me.
didn't expect to want another one so badly but don't think it will happen bcs it isn't realistic for our family.

[Phoenix~Mama]

Thanks, theboysmama. lol I still need to figure out my Maya Wrap, haven't been able to get DD adjusted into it yet. Really want to cause I think it would help A LOT.


Oh yeah! Forgot my biggest surprise! I love nursing! I didn't know how I'd feel about it for sure, but I definitely love it. Pumping is even fascinating for me and it's so cool to see all my milk in the fridge. lol

[jspring0308]

*She spits up (1st DD didn't)
*She smiles a lot and started to at 3 weeks
*She's chubby
*She doesn't like to be wrapped, slung or in Bjorn
*She likes to be in her stroller
*She needs to be burped after each nursing and sometimes in the middle
*She doesn't sleep during the day (like at all!)
*She sleeps all night and all morning (from about 7:30pm-10am w/3 wakings of 5-10 minutes)