Issue #36: Should we try for a second baby?

a brain dump on hormones, navigating tantrums, and my thought process on baby #2

Lately, talks of “the second baby” has been creeping into our group chat and into my own brain, so it inspired me to write a big ole brain dump on the matter. My hormones have definitely played a few tricks on me, leaving me with that little question mark of, hmmm… should we try?

But when I zoom out and think about it logistically, here’s where I’m at right now:

• My first baby still needs me a lot. I’m the only one who can put her down right now. Nights are still broken up every few hours (thanks to back-to-back teething), so I’m averaging maybe six-ish hours of sleep. It’s still very mom-heavy.

• My body needs more time. Nutrient-wise, rest-wise — I can feel I’m still catching up from pregnancy, birth, and this first year of nursing.

• Nursing is still central. It’s a big part of both our days and nights — and the best tool we have for soothing through teething. I want Keira to keep reaping the immune benefits a little longer. I’m open to tandem nursing down the line, but I also don’t know what pregnancy would do to my supply.

• I want each child to really get to be the baby. I know myself. With our current bandwidth — workload, resources, and the way our days look right now — I’m not a “two under two” gal if I can help it. It’s less about the number itself and more about knowing I’d be stretched too thin. I don’t want to miss out on these sweet toddler years because I’m stuck in survival mode.

If it happened unplanned, we’d roll with it and figure it out. But to intentionally go there right now… I can’t see myself choosing that.

Where I’m at in this season

Toddlerhood is kicking my butt… and it’s also my favorite stage yet. How can it be both? Idk, it’s just how I feel.