Same and Different

Since I shared some insight to our pregnancy last week and how things are going, I've been excited to chat about some of the things that we hope to do raising Baby #2. Some are repeats that worked well (and we hope, with crossed fingers, that they do the second time around); some are things that either didn't work the first time or that we simply didn't try.

Babywearing (Different) - It could've been our baby's large size. It could've been because he wasn't really into it. It could've been the fact that I simply didn't stick with it very well. Whatever it was, I want to give it another go.

Considering we're still in "NO, Hadley! Don't go near the road!!" chasing-a-kid-around mode, it feels like babywearing will be a big benefit to our family in so many ways. It'll leave me/Dave hands-free to hold the little man's hand or tend to him however he needs while getting some uber-important bonding time with the little one. I already have an Ergo carrier and a Moby wrap (unless my sister's using them, in which case I'll try new ones!), so I just have to get used to the actual carrying of a baby. ;-)

Breastfeeding (Same) - While we had some definite low points, I can proudly say that we successfully breastfed Hadman for about a year and a half, maybe longer (it got down to one feeding at the end, so my memory's foggy). I'm determined to make it work again with this next child. (Watch them have a tongue tie or not be as willing to help. ;-))

I think that the two biggest reasons for our success in this area are: 1) a super big, super hungry baby (he latched immediately in the hospital, after a bottle in the nursery(!), 'cuz he was *Chris Farley voice* STAAARVIIIING!!!; even if we had a few issues later on, it gave me the confidence to continue) and 2) a super awesomely supportive husband (who actually called the lactation specialist, who intimidated the crap out of me, several times and would advocate for me to people who weren't very understanding at times). 

Possible C-Section (Same, Maybe) - *sigh* This is one that has me scared to talk about publicly because it's pretty emotional for me and there are LOTS of opinions floating around...that I don't need/want to hear. Anyway, here it goes.

We LOVE our group of doctors. LOVE THEM. But, their policy, due to insurance, is "once you have a C-section, that's whatchya get." (Paraphrased.) In our area, there are few to no options (aside from a home birth, which we're just not made for) for a VBAC. We recently heard that there IS at least one practitioner who attempts them, but I'm gun-shy about changing our doctors, especially if Hadley was a 10+ pound kid. If I'm destined for another huge kid and another C-section, I'd like to be with doctors I'm already comfortable with.

I'm getting my head wrapped around this, and I know one day I'll be able to write a post entitled "Why I'm Okay with My Scheduled C-Section" (since that's the way I'm leaning). I'm just not there yet. Just let me sit and eat my mint chocolate chip ice cream and think. And think. And mull. And think some more.

Cloth Diapers (Different) - This is one area that I failed miserably at the first time around. I bought a bunch of BumGenius all-in-one diapers (which you can simply toss into your diaper container/bag and wash within 2-3 days, no stuffing/unstuffing/pinning/folding) for Hadley since I'd seen awesome reviews for them. I'm not sure if they need more cleaning or a full-on stripping, but they were a bit leaky when we tried them and bulky.

So, this time, this is the one area I MUST DO. I hope to include the BGs in my stash (maybe sell a handful) but also to grab some trimmer pocket dipes while I'm at it. The AIOs had snaps rather than Velcro, so I'm wondering if I should try some with the sticky stuff to compare more with the disposables. Given that I'm active in the "green community", I've felt horribly that this didn't work (and not to mention that I feel guilty that I may have another non-natural birth, blah), but it was overwhelming with his colic/gas/newness. I think the second time around, I'm already worrying less, but also optimistic that *maybe, just maybe* this'll go a bit better.  

Bassinet-to-Crib (Same) - The first month or two, we're planning on keeping the little one as close as possible to our bedside at night. However, we will eventually switch him over to the same crib Hadley's been using. (If we're in a new house, that'll be time for the big boy bed!!! If we're not, we'll be rearranging rooms!!! All very exciting and terrifying.)

Stuff Glut (Same...and Different?) - So, yeah. Since we don't find out our little ones' genders before their arrivals, we've got plenty of gender neutral clothes to work with. Plus, we've got boy clothes from Hadman and girl clothes to borrow from my sister, so we're set on clothes. As far as all the other "stuff", we've either got it or realized...we never needed it.

We live by the Pack 'n Play, given that we're in a two-level home, so we're glad to have that. I'd like to try a swing out, but by that point we may have one "floating around" within the family (if not, it'll probably be one of our only purchases -- aside from the cloth dipes, which are a beast all their own). Can I just say what a relief it is that I don't have to have a shower and glut of more stuff?? (The generosity was so sweet the first time around, but it's just a huge "aaahhhh" moment.)

Our House (???) - This is one area we're working on. If we can find and move into a new house during this pregnancy, awesome! If not...we'll deal. We'd rather have more space in an area that's more conducive to our familial needs, but we don't want to rush into something we don't love. So this may be a same...may be a different. Who knows?

What about you? Any huge changes from one child to another? ;-)