The first few months are hard, right?

[MyBalletShoes]

And things will get a little easier, right?

Trying hard to convince myself nothing lasts forever, good or bad.

2.2 year old DS1 and 10 week old DS2.

The little one is sleeping like a baby i.e. waking every 40 mins or so. Hasn't ever done a longer stretch than 2 hours. Feeding constantly, just like his big brother did at this stage. All normal behaviour but tiring nonetheless.

It just seems like if one is happy, the other isn't. Or one is crying because the other is crying. I keep looking forward to the 3 months mark, the 4 month mark, the 6 month mark etc but I'm very wary of wishing their little childhoods away.

Plus I always wanted 3 DC if we were so blessed but goodness me, this is hard work with just 2! Although perhaps now is not the time to be worrying about that!

So, any tales of moving through the fog of the toddler and newborn stage and coming through reasonably intact?

I felt I had to join in...
Having a rare moment of quiet as DS1 (18 months) is finally down for his nap and DS2 (15 days) is in my arms breast feeding.

I have waited a long time to have kids and at some point never thought it would happen but finding it so tough at the moment. Your stories definitely give me hope!!!

DS1 has taken new arrival badly and gets really upset whenever he sees me feeding lo. Problem being lo is a preemie and low weight so feeding on demand about every hour/hour and a half,..
Had a meltdown yesterday, similar to those described above where I just joined the two boys crying... DS1 stared on disbelief. I feel like I'm failing both my sons half the time...

So good to know things should improve (even if it's not for Another 3-6 months...)

Yes. The first weeks/ months are hard.

Sorry to be an exception. I found the first few months ok. Baby slept and fed well and I could put her down. It was only when she turned 3 months that her high needs personality came out! Lots of crying and wanting to be held.
It was odd as the first few months I had lots of help- relatives staying, meals being given to us and really I needed all of that help a lot later.
Just shows that everyone's experiences are so different.

Yes, very hard.
Ds is 4 months, EBF and can't be put down. 2 other young DC also.

I told dh last weekend that I have been finding it hard/impossible and since then it's like a weight has been lifted. He's chipping in a bit more, we've a nice day out planned for Sunday and I feel like I can be honest and say I had a bad day rather than acting like a blissfully happy super mum.

I absolutely hate the winter. I'm a summer person and am so looking forward to that - walking, beach, days out, ds on solid food and a cup and won't need bf all day

The funny thing is, I was also ready for ttc when my others were 9 months. I know I've reached my limit this time though, it's the first time that I haven't really enjoyed the new baby stage and that really upsets me to admit that

OMG I feel your pain! DS 2 years and DD 9 months and the first 3-4 months were soooo hard. We also struggled to start our family and I remember pacing the hallway at stupid o'clock one night trying to stop a wailing newborn wake a sleeping toddler, crying because "I wanted this and I turned out to be rubbish!" Definitely hormonal and sleep deprived at that point!

For those of you in the early months, I absolutely found things got easier around 4 months as DD started sleeping through. I have tried to be more realistic with my expectations each day. So what if nothing on my to do list has been achieved on any given day, both children are healthy and safe which is the main thing.

Things I found useful were
*personal choice to stop breast feeding and switch to formula - DH could help out and I wasn't enjoying the struggle anyway
*having a basket of activities for toddler and me to do one handed when feeding newborn (jigsaws, books etc) and I also succummed to cBeebies for those 10-15 min feeds

• trying to get out each day to allow toddler to run off some steam
• accepting help from family/friends when they offered, and trying my best to ask for help when they didn't (still a work in progress!

Best of luck to everyone out there!