So tell me what it will be like....

[mumof2andabit]

Ok not strictly a large family but the beginings of one! Ds will be 3 in may, dd will be 14mo and bump is due 27th may!!! Dh and I are both over the moon (despite being a bit shocked at first) and looking forward to the ensuing chaos! Am still bfing dd but only 2 times a days and will wean her onto cows milk in the following months so am not completly haggard to feed the bump!

So go on let me into your large and lovely family secrets.

I have 3 (not really large either) and its great. My 3rd Ds was born in May and he is the easiest yet! He is a dreamboat and makes me feel broody! The other 2 (5 and 4) love him to bits, no jealousy at all.

DS3 just fitted right in from the start. You'll love every minute of it

Thanks hotpot well I figure our house is already pretty crazy place already so another little one will slot righ tin!

3 is just as easy as 2, I think going from 1 to 2 is more of a shock really.
I have dds, aged 6 and 4 and a half, and ds aged 18 mo, who (also born in may, hotpotmama!) is so easy, so adorable, and yes, makes me incredibly broody for more.

The girls adore him, and though they fight with each other at times, they have nothing but patience and adoration for their baby brother. QWhich is why I feel another one is needed soon, he might get too spolit !!!

I believed that 3 was just as easy as 2..until my no.3 appeared. She has by far been the hardest of all 3 dc and think if I had her first I may have reconsidered having anymore. Ds was 3.2yrs when she was born and dd1 was 12mths so similair gaps to yours. Dd2 has been the most demanding, willful, and naughty child of all 3. I dont know why as she hasnt been treated any differently.Am now expecting no.4 at beginning of june and am hoping that will help to change dd2s behaviour as she wont be 'the baby'

Hi everyone I have 3 DC and a bump! (ages DD 10, DS 9, DD 1, bump due in July). The last baby was definitely easiest. Maybe because I have 2 older ones who not only adore her and cater to her, but they are a big help too. Because my first 2 were only 16 months apart, I found that really hard. I guess I will see when the new baby comes along and I have 2 little ones again how busy my household becomes! Good luck!

mumof2andabit - I have three children with similar age gaps to yours (now aged 4, 3 and 1) and I'm expecting my 4th baby (due in May like yours!) so I'll have four under 5s. I can honestly say it's great! My advice to you would be to try and get the potty training cracked with your oldest before the new baby comes along (having three in nappies is no fun!) and also try to plan as little as possible for the coming year - just take things easy for a while until you all fit into a routine together. I found that life got easier once my oldest started nursery as it gave me a good routine for my day - and things are even better now she's at school. You will have bad days but it is definitely worth it

Thanks for all the messages Have had the lurgi this week teamed with morning sickness and feeling rather crappy still never mind. Ds is potty trained now apart from every morning he wakes up and then does a wee in the bed! Im hoping its just a phase as he was dry for the whole night including the morning for a few weeks beforehand.....

mersman when are you due in may? Close enough for a race lol Im the 27th 1 week and 6 days after ds's 3rd birthday! Wont be dressing as a pirate next year for the party I can tell you that much!!

Hopefully I will beat you in the race mumof2andabit - I'm due on May 4th! It will be my dd1's 5th birthday on your due date, the 27th!
You sound like you're in a better position than we were with the potty training - we had horrible trouble with DD1 and ended up having all three in nappies for a few months However dd1 and dd2 are now well and truly toilet trained so hopefully it will be better this time... Hope your morning sickness gets better soon, mine isn't too bad now.

I hope you beat me too! Morning sickness-wise i can feel progress albeit slow progremm - only running to the bathroom once a morning! I have yet to tell any family tho have been very chicken oh well next week!!!

Why are you scared of telling your family? Do you think they'll be disapproving of you having another one? I've been realy pleased with all the positive comments I've had since announcing this pregnancy to people. I was expecting many more shocked 'not another one!' faces - but have only had 2 or 3 of those (although the rest may be saying it behind my back ) I must admit that I do find it a bit depressing that people don't get as excited for second or third babies as they do for earlier ones... BUT can't wait to see how excited my four year old will be when I put her hand on me and let her feel the baby kick for the first time!

Not to be downbeat, but ds2 was 16 months when ds3 was born, and he went completely loopy, and the following year was the hardest of my life so far by miles. Even going out to do the littlest thing was difficult with a 4 yr old and 2 babies. Everything was exhausting, and I had to manage the desperate 1yo on top of it. To be completely frank it was awful. 2 years on it is fabulous. But I wouldn't consider ttc another until ds3 is at least 4 and able to do things like walk down the pavement really completely reliably without holding my hand etc.

So brace yourself!

My family have never been how you would put it other enthused (sp) when I have told them about the babies, still hey ho its my life!

Googgly i am preparing myself although I have an inkling however well I prepare myself it will take me by surprise!

OVER not other- dumb preggy brain lol

Googgly I agree it is very hard at times, but like anything to do with having children I think you just have to accept that life is going to be different and make the best of it. My first three were born within three years of each other so getting out of the house was very hard! i think it always makes you feel better if you do get out though, that's partly why I like it better now dd1 is out school - forces me to get out at least twice a day! Also, my first two were both girls which perhaps made it a bit easier (?) - biys seem to have more energy!
I still have a four year old and two younger ones (and another on the way) and i think my life is pretty good now actually (or perhaps I am just used to it )

Even with only 2 getting out is the keyt for us mersman! if we stay in all day I become grouchy, ds has all this built up energy, dd gets grouchy because shes bored etc just wish we could do teleporting tho....

ds1 was 13 mo when ds2 arrived and barely noticed it tbh.

ime after the second it gets easier each time- experience mixed with ' after chaos there is only.... more chaos!'

I once heard somewhere that having one child is the equivalent of buying a puppy - having more than one is the equivalent of running a zoo

Love after chaos there is only more chaos peachy!! If thats true I have nothing to worry about - I can cause enough chaos by myself!!!

it hard i had 3xds under 3 and it was very hard but now they r 8,6,5, its much easier and i hav a dd 19 monthes its so different this time around just seems like having one on her own .

No 3 just fitted in with our routine..thankfully an easy baby.....i think when you have mastered having 2 children..then there is not as much of a shock when 3,4 or 5 come along

Lol Idobelieveinsanta!!! Have chilled out a lot now and am looking forward to the next scan...see if it is a pink or a blue bump! Have not seen much of family recently so I still have to let them in on the secret and dealw with all sorts of comments as well I'm sure. Just trying to find a car now as my engine blew on the m5 today......ho hum