Transitioning from One to Two Children + Products I’m Loving

Transitioning from one to two children has been no joke. However, it hasn’t been as bad as I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be unbearably hard, but to my surprise, we’ve been making it through. Yes, it’s been challenging sometimes, but big life changes also come with big rewards.

Coming home from the hospital was the hardest. I was so emotional and pain-ridden from my c-section that the first night home was somewhat like an out of body experience. I had missed my little girl like crazy, but once we arrived home with a newborn, a brand new little person added to our family, it felt strange, but a good strange.

For three weeks, I had help of some sort. The first week, I had my mom helping us and she was an angel. The next week, I had my husband here at home helping me, and it was a brand new life for the both of us. Seeing him step into his role of father to two has been the sweetest, and gosh, have I appreciated all he’s done to pick up my slack. The third week, my sister flew in and helped out so much, too. Once she left, my mother-in-law came to stay with us for the weekend, and she helped out a ton, too. We also had a lot of friends bring us food and that was quite possibly the nicest gift anyone could give us. I highly recommend recruiting help if you’re welcoming a baby soon, especially if you’re an anxious mama like myself.

The hardest parts of this whole transition have been the sleepless nights and my c-section recovery. Not sleeping is something that you can never be prepared for, but thankfully, I’ve had some nights that give me a good chunk of rest and make the next few days bearable.

My c-section recovery hasn’t been as bad as my first one, but the discomfort I’ve felt has had to be managed by pain meds. After the first two weeks, I didn’t really need them anymore, but when you’re dealing with a 35 pound pre-schooler, you’re quickly reminded that you can’t do a lot of things you used to do since you’re recovering from a major surgery.

The first week we were home, I thought I could do a lot around the house, and honestly, I think I was running on adrenaline. I was washing clothes and trying to help with chores as much as I could. But I was nursing around the clock and felt so drained. Making sure that my firstborn felt plenty loved also had me drained, too.

Balancing the time between the two of them has been tricky. I’ve had to learn to let go of a lot of the little things, and that I can only do so much. When I have to nurse a crying baby, I’ve had to teach Charlotte that she has to wait for mommy’s attention. It’s broken my heart a few times, but I think she’s been doing the best she can with the transition. (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has been a lifesaver, too.)

Being a mom to two is learning how to choose which fire to put out first. It’s very exhausting, but looking at my TWO children has been one of the greatest feelings in the world. Like I said earlier this week on Instagram, I used to be so scared of not being able to take Charlotte out for some one-on-one time, but because newborns sleep so much, we’ve ventured out a couple of times and enjoyed our time together with a new tag-a-long. She’s loving him, and it’s making one-on-one time with each of my people much more special when it happens.

I know things will sometimes be chaotic, and that’s okay. I’m a firm believer in grace and going with the flow. This transition hasn’t been as terrifying as I thought it would be, and I’m so thankful for that. We’re getting through the best we can, and we’re definitely taking it day by day. These two little people that depend on me day in and day out make all the crazy and sleep-deprived days worth it.

Precious Matching Pajamas from Finn + Emma

Products I’m Loving

Having great products to depend on has also been a huge help. We were sent this amazing box of mom and baby goodies from Babbleboxx, and they’re some of my favorites. Here’s what was inside:

For Mama

1. Illumai Biome Care System

When you’re a new mom, you need products that don’t have harmful chemicals and that have your ever-changing needs in mind. Illumai is a three-product system (shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in spray) with only seven ingredients to detox your locks, and it comes in a travel-size set and a full size set. It helps restore a mother’s natural, healthy biome, and we all know how crazy our hair can be after having a baby. The system is safe to use with color-treated hair and is suitable for every hair type.

It is so well-designed for new moms, I’ve arranged for 40% off either the travel size, full size set, or any of the individual products from the site for my readers. Just use promocode 44SEVENGRACES at checkout. You can shop at Illumai here. Offer good until 10/31/2016.

2. FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini 70 camera

The FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini 70 camera is a new family favorite! You know how much I love taking pictures, so you better believe we’ve been using this like crazy. This little gadget allows you to produce an original credit-card-sized picture instantly, and you can even take selfies of you and your littles. I’m loving that I can throw it in our diaper bag when we’re on the go. It’s so easy to use, even your pre-schooler will have fun with it. I’m thinking I’ll be using these INSTAX pics to decorate the playroom, too. You can find more details about the INSTAX Mini here.

3. Rainbow Light – 35+ Mom & Baby

The Rainbow Light – 35+ Mom & Baby is the only pre & postnatal multivitamin formulated for the mom 35 and up, and it’s just one tablet per day. These vitamins promote healthy circulation and normal blood sugar levels, soothe muscle discomforts, and manage energy/stress levels. Since I’ll be 35 in November, I’m loving these! Taking a pre-natal vitamins doesn’t stop once baby comes, so I’m super excited that I have these specifically designed for me.

Use discount code HAPPYBABY for 20 percent off the Rainbow Light Prenatals and code HAPPYFAMILY for 20 percent off multivitamins at Rainbow Light’s website.

For Baby

4. Gerber® Onesies® brand one piece underwear

Gerber® Onesies® brand one piece underwear, bodysuits, and essentials are definitely a must-have for any mama’s little babe. They’re great for layering and are super soft. I also love how convenient they are to throw in the diaper bag as a back-up outfit in case of a blowout.

You can access a coupon for Gerber® Onesies® brand clothing to be used in stores via their Facebook page. Order online at www.GerberChildrenswear.com now through 10/8 and receive FREE $6 STANDARD SHIPPING on your order. Use code BBOXX16FS at checkout. Offer expires 10/8/16.

5. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste – Original Formula & Maximum Strength Formula

It’s no wonder that pediatricians recommend Boudreaux’s diaper rash cream/ointment and a favorite amongst all my mama friends and myself. It’s fast acting and doesn’t have harsh ingredients, leaves a thick barrier between the diaper and skin, and will protect your baby from a nasty rash. This is definitely a must for any babe’s bum and a true diaper bag and nursery changing station essential.

6. TempTraq® wearable Bluetooth® temperature monitor

This is quite possibly my newest baby favorite! The TempTraq® wearable Bluetooth® temperature monitor continuously monitors body temperature for up to 24 hours and provides readings and alerts through the free TempTraq app, giving us mamas a peace of mind when we need to monitor temperatures. Hello, cold season must-have!

You can get 10% off when you use code BABBLEBOXX10 at checkout on the TempTraq website. Offer expires 10/31/2016.

See anything new you love? Which one are you wanting to try?

Also, if you’re a mom to more than one, how did you adjust to life with more than one? Any tips or tricks? 

Thanks again for reading, friend! Your support has meant the world to me.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media. As always, all opinions are my own.

---

Are you following along? I’d love to have you!
Instagram // Facebook  //Twitter  // Bloglovin //Pinterest // Snapchat: kristy7graces