I’ve always wanted 3 or more kids. Always. But now that it’s getting close to being my reality, I’m starting to freak out. I have to be honest, I’m terrified of what we are getting into here. Here are specific things I’m worried about:
Configuring the car. I love my car… a lot. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say a minivan is tempting at this point. But my car has two bucket seats in the second row and an awesome third row that still leaves room in the trunk for the stroller. So what else could I possibly need? But right now I constantly think about how I’m going to configure the seats. Do I put Maddie Grace in the third row so she can climb back there, and hopefully by baby time she will be able to buckle herself in? Do I put the new baby back there because I can easily go in through the trunk with the third row half up and half down to snap the bucket seat into the base? Do I trade in my car and get a car with a bench seat in the second row so I can put 3 kids in a row? There are so many ways to do this. And then once I get that figured out there is…
Getting in and out of the car. All the unbuckling. All the buckling. All the lifting kids in and out of their seats and to the stroller. How is this going to work? Maddie Grace’s school doesn’t have carpool for her age so when I take her to school I’m going to have to unload and then reload everyone. Oy.
Traveling. Typically when we travel Tom takes on one kid and I take the other and that’s how it works. But with 3? Travel might be a thing of the past…
Breastfeeding. I thought breastfeeding a new baby with one toddler was hard. How am I going to do it with 2 toddlers? Also with all the running around we do now with school and activities how in the world am I going to swing this?
Disadvantaging my first two. Related to above, I really feel like we are going to have to cut back on activities. Maddie Grace might not be able to do any activities or maybe we will limit it to just one. Poor Tripp won’t be able to do any of the mommy and me classes I’ve been looking into for his age because what will I do with the new baby? On one hand I think it’s good that my older kids are young enough that missing out on activities aren’t going to be the end of the world, but I still feel like it’s so unfair to say “sorry guys no gymnastics because of the new baby”. It’s something I think we are going to have to play by ear and just see how it goes.
One thing I’m actually not scared about? Having another kid in diapers. Well first off it hasn’t been that long since I had 2 in diapers. And I typically changed both of their diapers at the same time and it wasn’t that bad. And I know I don’t have to worry about diaper rash thanks to a huge stock of DESITIN Rapid Relief Cream we already have going! In fact with DESITIN I know exactly how to prevent diaper rash so that I can focus on all these other things I’m going to be tackling with 3 kids around. Interested in more diaper rash prevention tips? Read up on prevention tips here!
What fears have you had when expecting a baby? Any moms of 3+ have any tips for me? I’d love to hear it all below!
Everything you list here is what I am scared about having 2 babies. It is such a big change, but I am sure you will handle it with love and grace!
I remember having all those fears when I realized I was pregnant with my third! Once we got into a rhythm and found our groove, a family of 5 wasn’t too much harder than a family of 4. Congrats ❤️
Oh, I feel you. What scares me of having three is that I wouldn’t have enough time for them. Plus, my two already drained me up so we decided they’re enough.
More power to you sister! We have two and our hands are full! They say, don’t let this stage (the young all hands on deck phase) determine how many kids you want…think about 20+ years from now and how many people you want to have around the Thanksgiving table. I’m sure it will be an adjustment and I’m 100% sure it will be totally worth it! Congrats!
I also would love to have more than 3 kids! Only on #1 so far though… Gorgeous photos of your kids 🙂