The First 3 Months

Mike is now 3 months old. He's turning into quite a munchkin!

It has been a challenging 12 weeks or so. Here's the highlights and lowlights...

Good

• Having the baby! Was great to get him early and the first few weeks were relatively calm. So much better than being pregnant.
  
• Getting to use all the baby stuff again, particularly the sling. Love babywearing!
• Slowly finding a rough pattern to Mike's behaviour and taking 'two steps forward' every now and again.
• All the help we've had - from Mum, church, friends and daycare. Everyone has been really accommodating and happy to help when needed. And plenty of people, particularly church friends, have been so encouraging and supportive, reminding me that this is a season that God is in control of, and that it does get better!
• And of course, getting to know our little boy. We love him! Nothing compares to seeing your bub's face light up when you talk to them.
  

Not So Good

• The juggling act. Impossible at times.
• Sleep deprivation. Not a form of torture for nothin'.
• The unpredictability of a newborn, and the crying. We've had a lot of that (but it's getting better).
• Being physically exhausted. Holding a baby and chasing a toddler is hard work.
  
• Working out how to occupy Hamish while I deal with Michael. I rely on the TV more now - used strategically, it's a powerful weapon! I don't like having it on all that much, but trying to get a baby to sleep with a toddler climbing your leg is a recipe for disaster. Wiggles to the rescue!

Overall, I'd say the challenges have been a bit different second time around. We feel more confident in terms of baby care, and know that every thing is a stage that will pass, but trying to manage a baby and a toddler has stretched us to the limit at times. It's been weird getting used to having two kids to love. Sometimes I feel like I don't give either of them the time and attention they deserve, because I'm constantly running between them.

But things are heading in the right direction, and there's so much to love about this stage of life for all of us. We laugh a lot, and even though I know we'll look back on this as a really hard stage of life, we know it's a special time too.