Having 2 Kids - Q&A {Part 5}

Today we are wrapping up this q&a series with all of the 'other' questions! If any more questions come up, feel free to ask me, Rachel, or Natalie!

What is your favorite thing about having two kids? 
Natalie: So far, I think it would have to be seeing them together. I just love seeing Callyn love on Colbie and interact with her. It makes me excited to think about their relationship in the future and I pray that they will always be the best of friends! Also two times the snuggles is good ;)
Beth Ann: I just love them both so much.  I love to think about them being best friends for life and I think that I will be grateful that they have each other for playmates in the future.  I feel very needed and like my life has a lot of purpose being that two little lives depend on me at all times.  They motivate me to be a better person in all areas of my life.
Rachel: The love. There is just SO much love. And I love to see their relationship develop. I love to see them interact.

What has been the hardest thing {about having 2 kids} so far? 
Natalie: I think its been that I've been having a lot of mom guilt over thinking that one of them isn't getting enough attention (even though I know they both are). But days where Callyn needs me a bit more and I feel like Colbie is bounced around from her swing to her seat, etc. are hard on me and I kind of beat myself up about it. Even though I know they are both being taken care of and loved on.
Beth Ann:  It is hard to get out of the house...and I love to be on the go... and Holden needs to get out of the house to do fun stuff.  If you already have one child, you know how much of a "production" it can be to get out and about with a small infant- having to feed (nurse) them before you leave and the narrow window of time you have before the next feeding, etc.  Throw in a toddler prone to his share of normal toddler tantrums ;) and it's definitely a lot to do by yourself.  I think it will get better with time and experience.  I'm still new at this. ;)   
Rachel: I don't think anything has been hard yet for me. Henry adapted well, William is a happy baby and John is an awesome dad and husband. 

Are you doing anything different with your second child than with your first?
Natalie: The main thing I am doing differently is trying to put Colbie down to sleep when she is drowsy, but not asleep. This was the advice I got most when Callyn went through a sleep regression around 3-4 months, but by that time it was too late and she was too used to being rocked/nursed to sleep. It has really been helping and Colbie is great at putting herself to sleep!
Beth Ann: Not really...at least not yet.  I do feel like I am savoring his "newborndom" more this time around because I know now, from experience, how quickly it passes.
Rachel: Not really. I am not putting William in his crib to nap yet and I know with Henry I started doing that at 1 month. This time I'm just not ready. I also don't care if William watches TV already, and with Henry I would NEVER let me at this age. 

Do you feel like you are 'better' at having a baby since you already had one? 
Natalie: Yes and no. Better in some senses-like I think I had more techniques and tricks up my sleeve as far as things like getting her to sleep, nursing, etc. But also not, because every baby is different and I think it takes a little bit to get to know their personality and what they like! Callyn liked rocking, Colbie likes bouncing-just a small example.
Beth Ann: It definitely helps to have the experience.  You know what to expect.  I also feel like I have a much better perspective this time around.  Example: sleep deprivation - isn't fun...but I know it won't last forever... not long at all in the grand scheme of things... so I don't sweat it much.  
Rachel: No I think I'm about the same. 

Having 2 Kids - Q&A {Part 4}

Happy Monday! Rachel, Natalie, and I are going to tackle the questions about the kiddos as siblings, one on one time, and jealousy issues today!

When do you have special alone time with your first? Do you even get alone time with your first that much anymore?

Natalie: I have alone time with Callyn throughout the day, mostly while Colbie is napping. If Colbie is asleep in her swing or bouncer or crib, I take those opportunities to really build into Callyn-playing on the floor with her and engaging her a ton. But even when Colbie is awake, I am on the floor a lot of the day with BOTH of them. A few times I have left Colbie at home with daddy and taken Callyn with me to run an errand or something, so she can have me to herself. Nights and weekends, she gets to spend more one on one time with Tony and I both. It really hasn't been an issue, which I am so thankful for! 

Beth Ann: Well the good thing about newborns is that they tend to sleep quite a bit.  When Brooks naps during the day I can put him in his swing or rock 'n play sleeper and play with Holden.  I have even moved his sleeper next to our back door and gone outside to play in the back yard with Holden - I can look through the window to check on Brooks.  Sometimes in the evening if Daddy is home, I will give Holden his bath so we can have that fun time together.  Eventually, I hope to have mommy-son dates with each of them individually.

Rachel: I put Henry to bed every night. That is our alone time. William is 5 months old but still sleeps a ton. I could spent more alone time with Henry during the day but he's very independent and prefers to play alone. 

Do you ever feel like your first isn't getting near the attention anymore?
Natalie: Callyn certainly doesn't get 100% of my attention anymore, but she still gets plenty! And I think she gets way more than I expected. Colbie is still really flexible so I can be on the floor with Callyn while I'm nursing or rocking Colbie pretty easily. I try really hard to make sure she is getting attention and feeling loved, and I can usually tell when I'm NOT giving her enough attention because she typically gets whiny and clingy.
Beth Ann: Again, I totally feared this would be the case but I don't feel this way at all.  Our attention is always on him as well as Brooks.  If I'm nursing Brooks, I'm still watching and talking to Holden, etc.  Rachel: No way! 

Are there jealousy issues?
Natalie: I haven't noticed many yet.  I try to really engage Callyn when I'm doing things like nursing so that she doesn't feel jealous of Colbie. Also, both Tony and I have tried from day 1 to get her excited about Colbie so that she feels like she's part of it too. She LOVES to lay on the floor by her when she's having tummy time and asks me 20 times a day to hold her. If Colbie is within reach, she is constantly smothering her in kisses, and I think its because we've been careful not to make Colbie off limits to Callyn.
Beth Ann: In the very beginning, as in first few days home, I think Holden might have been a little jealous.  He seemed a bit frustrated at times, but nothing major.  I feel like he adjusted very quickly though and Brooks just came a normal part of his world.  He doesn't act out or do anything that makes me feel like he is jealous, thankfully.  Knock on wood. ;)
Rachel: The only thing that changed was that Henry won't let John put him to bed anymore. He wants his momma at bedtime and that's ok. No other issues.

Tomorrow we'll be posting our final set of answers! If you have any other questions, be sure to ask them!

Having 2 Kids - Q&A {Part 3}

Today in the 'Having 2 Kids' series, Rachel, Natalie and I are answering questions about sleep and schedules!

Is it even possible to get them both to nap at the same time?
Natalie: As of right now, my girls do both nap at the same time. HOWEVER, it's nothing that I did. Colbie just naturally decided to take a longer nap during Callyn's nap. Of course she also naps like 20 other times a day, haha. I don't expect it to always be like this, but hopefully by the time she's around a year old, we can get them on the same nap schedule. I wish I had advice on how to do this, but I'm not sure it's possible to force it when the little ones need more than one nap a day.
Beth Ann: It has happened several times but not really due to anything I've done.  Holden takes one nap.  If I nurse Brooks shortly before I'm going to lay Holden down he will often fall asleep and stay asleep for part of/all of H's nap (depending on how long H naps.)  At this point, I don't really have Brooks on any kind of schedule since he is so young...so it is kind of happenstance if they end up asleep at the same time.  I definitely hope to attempt to have them napping at the same time when B is older!
Rachel: Yes! I do it every day. I have Henry in a double bed so we all lay down in it together. I lay in the middle and both boys fall asleep. Then I move William to his crib or a bouncy chair.

If the toddler doesn't nap when the baby naps, how do you follow the old 'sleep when the baby sleeps' advice?
Natalie: The first few weeks, when my husband was home and my parents were visiting, I took full advantage of sleeping when Colbie slept. I think this helped me feel more rested going into the next weeks of NOT being able to do this. For several more weeks, I basically napped with Colbie on my chest when Callyn napped and that was enough for more. Personally, I was definitely more tired this time than I was last time, but it wasn't unmanageable! Also try to squeeze in naps in the early evening when your husband is home to help! 
Beth Ann: You can't!  Coffee. 
Rachel: Mine nap at the same time. I wouldn't sleep while the toddler was awake.

Do you think baby #2 just has to be more go with the flow or do you really try to stick to a schedule like you did/if you did with baby #1.
Natalie: I am HOPING Colbie will be a bit more go with the flow ;) To me, in parenting Callyn and talking with lots of friends who parent in all different ways, it seems that most kids are as 'go with the flow' as you make them. We wanted Callyn to be on a pretty predictable schedule and she does best that way. But I know parents who want their kids to be more flexible, and they are. So I'm hoping that Colbie will be a bit more flexible so that we can take her places and she can nap on the go. I think getting her on more of a schedule will happen when she's on 2 or so more predictable naps and not eating as often. We'll see I suppose!
Beth Ann: Can't really say yet.  Brooks is so young that I haven't really attempted to put him on any sort of schedule yet.
Rachel: Yes I do. William is very go with the flow. We were never schedule people. We just always went with Henry's cues, though I did try to follow the "Eat, Activity, Sleep, (time for) You" EASY that I read somewhere. Henry set his own schedule and it works well for us. Now the only set thing is that he naps noon-3ish. I let William do his own thing just like we did with Henry, but I have always laid him down with Henry at nap time and I think because of that William also takes a long nap at the same time. But as for everything else, he can do it anywhere. I can feed him anywhere, and he can fall asleep anywhere. We still go out to the library or play dates or to run errands.

How do you deal with scheduling around both of their naps? Does the younger one just nap whenever, wherever?
Natalie: So far, because Colbie is still in the phase of being able to sleep anywhere and through anything, we do just go and she sleeps when she wants. Typically I try to schedule around her feedings at this point, so when we have to leave I'll either feed her right before we go or I'll wait to leave until after she's ready to eat next. 
Beth Ann: Being only one month old, Brooks naps frequently.  Holden only takes one nap.  I can see where it would be tricky to go out and do things scheduled around two nappers.  Holden was good about napping wherever (car, stroller, etc.), so hopefully Brooks will be the same way!
Rachel: I only schedule around Henry's nap. William can nap anywhere so far (he's 5 months now). It might be harder once he's out of his bucket seat and into a car seat that stays in the car.

We are going to take a break for the weekend, but we'll be back on Monday with answers about the kids as siblings!

Having 2 Kids - Q&A {Part 2}

Today, Natalie, Rachel and I are back with more answers about having 2 kiddos! Most of these are the logistical questions-i.e. how do you do_____?

*(Reminder - Natalie & I have two kids under 2 and Rachel has two kids 2 and under.)

Where do you put them in the grocery cart?
Natalie: Callyn sits in the front kid seat, and I wear Colbie. I have put her car seat in the basket part a few times but then there's not room for anything! 
 Beth Ann: I have not gone grocery shopping with both of them yet.  I think the best option would probably be to wear Brooks (baby) and have Holden (toddler) ride in the front of the cart.  However, my plan for now is to do grocery shopping when Daddy can go along or when Daddy can stay home with one or both kiddos.
Rachel: I wear William in one of my baby carriers. Usually my Ergo or Ring Sling. Henry goes in the cart. I sometimes will just put the baby car seat in the bucket part of the cart if we are only getting a few things.



Who do you get in the car first/out of the car first?
Natalie: Colbie goes in first since right now she's in the seat that clips into the base. So Callyn just holds my hand or stays right by me while I clip her in. (We don't have a garage or driveway so it might be even easier if you do.) I get Callyn out first and do the same thing-she stands by me while I get Colbie's seat out.
Beth Ann:  I put Holden in the car first.  Brooks can wait inside the house in his infant car seat and I can get Holden contained in his car seat in the car and then go back and get Brooks.  I also take Holden out first just because he usually gets a little sad/scared when he sees us get out of the vehicle.  I put him directly into stroller/cart and then get Brooks out.  In a situation where there is no stroller or cart and he would be "loose" in a busy area, it would probably make more sense to get Brooks out first so I wouldn't have to worry about keeping Holden close/him not running off.
Rachel: Henry goes in first and comes out last. I just put the baby car seat on the ground while I do it. Henry is a runner, so if I let go of his hand he usually takes off. It's best to have him strapped into something :)

What do you do when they're both crying at the same time?
Natalie: Honestly, this happens a lot less than I thought it would-a good thing!! On the rare occasion that they are both crying at the same time I usually try to distract Callyn with something either while bouncing Colbie, or before I grab her out of the swing or wherever she is. I'll try to get Callyn distracted or situated with something like a snack, book, looking at pictures, etc. before I tend to Colbie since it just usually takes a second. There has only been one time so far where I couldn't calm Callyn down and she just wanted me, but I was nursing Colbie. It was hard but I just calmly talked to her and kept inviting her to come sit on my lap and eventually she did and then she stopped crying. It was stressful, but we powered through and survived :) 

Beth Ann: Usually if Holden is crying it just takes a quick fix...so I deal with him first.  Of course it depends on the situation... if Brooks was crying because he was hurt or something similarly urgent, I would obviously deal with him first.  Sometimes it helps just to pick Brooks up/carry him while doing something to fix Holden's dilemma if possible.

Rachel: I tend to Henry first. He usually wants a drink or a snack or something that is out of his reach. It's a quick fix. If none of those work, I tend to the baby. He's usually hungry so I start feeding him and then work on why Henry is crying. 

What does your older child do while you are nursing?
Natalie: I think this was the thing I was most baffled about when I was pregnant! I made a few activities for Callyn to do while I am nursing. I made her one of those fabric wipes boxes where I just cut up scraps of fabric and put them in an old wipes container and she pulls them out and puts them back in. I made her an ABC book on Shutterfly with pictures of herself that she LOVES to look at. I sometimes let her watch videos of herself on my phone. A lot of times I will nurse Colbie in the playroom or somewhere there are toys for Callyn to play with. Occasionally Callyn will climb up on my lap while I'm nursing which isn't the most convenient but it works! And of course there are definitely times when I turn Dora on for a feeding :) 
Beth Ann:  I thought this would be a really tricky ordeal but it really hasn't been.  Holden pretty much goes about his business playing/watching a show/etc.  You would be surprised what you can do while nursing, as well.  Sometimes H brings me a book and I can manage to hold it with one hand and read it while B is nursing.  Sometimes I nurse B in Holden's room so he can play with his puzzles/books/toys that are in there.  Snacks are also good occupiers.  

Rachel: He just keeps playing. I make sure I have a snack and a drink out for him. Then he's usually self sufficient. Occasionally he will want to sit on my lap or something that I can't do while nursing, so I'll turn the TV on. It's great distraction but not needed very often.

How do you shower...ever?!
Natalie: GREAT question! Does anyone have the answer for me?! Haha! Honestly, I'm a bit ashamed to admit that showering is a lot lower on my priority list than I'd like it to be and I definitely don't find time for one every day. Occasionally I can squeeze one in while they're both napping, or at the very least I'll take Colbie in the bathroom in the bouncer while Callyn is napping. But most of my showers happen at night after Callyn goes to bed and Colbie is occupied with Dad. 
 Beth Ann: Honestly, I don't shower as much as I would prefer.  The ideal time for me to shower is when hubby is home.  If both boys nap at the same time, I can squeeze one in then... but I tend to do other things instead (cleaning, laundry, blogging).  It is tricky to find the time... but it can be done!  I need to prioritize it a little better. ;)
Rachel: I have no problem showering. I either do it first thing in the morning or during Henry's nap. Either way William plays in his bouncy chair on the bathroom floor. If Henry is awake he will either watch TV in our bedroom (I can see him from the shower), or he'll play on the bathroom floor, or he'll sometimes come in with me and play with his bath toys on the shower floor.

What do you do if you want to take the older one to something the second one can't do? Like zoo, circus, etc.
Natalie: This hasn't really come up much for us yet. We are planning a zoo trip in about a month and we will just take Colbie with us. Obviously it won't be anything special for her, but I think it will be fine to hang out with her in the stroller as we walk along. I just signed Callyn up for a music class and I called the place ahead of time to make sure it would be ok if I bring Colbie along and wear her in the Moby and they said it was totally fine and that lots of moms do that! 

Beth Ann: Haven't really dealt with this yet.  We will take both to the zoo and Brooks will ride in double stroller or be worn.  Right now, I can't be away from Brooks for long due to nursing.  

Rachel: I take the baby everywhere with us. I just wear him in the baby carrier. We go to the zoo all the time. I've never had a problem. Usually the baby sleeps the whole time.

How difficult is it to go anywhere with just you and the kids?
Natalie: The first time I went somewhere alone with the kids was to pick up my dad from the airport and I was TERRIFIED. But it went really well! I made a plan ahead of time (I'd wear Colbie in the moby and put Callyn in the stroller) and that helped a lot. After that first time, it definitely has gotten easier every time and has gone a lot more smoothly than I expected. I still do really think through logistics though before I leave, depending on where I'm going, and I think that helps ease my mind and know what I'm going to do before we get there!
Beth Ann: The only places I have been with them by myself are my friend's house and my parents' house.  Neither of those were very difficult beyond the extra packing/extra person to get ready and in the car.  As far as taking them shopping/out in public/etc. by myself.... I haven't done it and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little terrified of doing it/it seems like it would be a lot of work.
Rachel: It isn't difficult, it just takes longer. I definitely hate to pop in and out of stores alone with the kids. I would rather wait until John gets home from work and then go out quickly. With the kids I only get gas if I can pay at the pump, I only do drive through banking, I only will get coffee if there is a drive through. But grocery store, mall, library or play dates are easy once I plan it out.

Do you give them baths at the same time?
Natalie: No. Callyn gets a bath every night right before bed so one parent does that while the other parent hangs out with Colbie. I think right now, Callyn is too wild in the bath and it wouldn't be safe. I'm sure we will when they are older though!
Beth Ann: Not yet...but I'm sure we will eventually!  How cute will they be in the tub together?!?! :)
Rachel: Yes. When William was in the baby bath I would bath him while John bathed Henry. But now they are both in the big tub together. William uses a bath chair.

Do your children share rooms and if so how does that work or are you planning to share rooms?
Natalie: Our girls don't share rooms right now, but because they're so close in age and both girls, they probably will in the future. If we have any more kids, they definitely will! So no advice on that yet, sorry! 
Beth Ann: No.
Rachel: Not now but they will in the future. Right now the baby is in our room, but he does have a nursery that we don't use yet. When baby 3 comes along the boys will share a room and the new baby will get the nursery. We do a lot of co-sleeping so the boys might share a bed too.

How do you manage your home and take care of two babes?? Where do you get all the energy from?
Natalie: I cut myself some slack! I know my house isn't always going to be picked up and there will be dishes in the sink and laundry overflowing some weeks. My kids will only be small once, so I really try not to stress. Otherwise, I just try to do a few things at times where both kids are napping. I also have been trying to do more while they're both awake but occupied-like Callyn reading books and Colbie in her bouncer. I never did that with Callyn and I think it helps to take 5-10 minutes to pick up or unload the dishwasher during times like that. Energy? I don't have any, haha! ;) 
Beth Ann: I just do housework when I can.  There are days I don't get much/any done at all and then days that I get a lot done.  When Brooks is napping and Holden is occupied, I can throw a load of laundry in.  You just find ways to squeeze it in.  If they are both napping at the same time, you can speed clean like a mad woman!  For the most part, our house stays picked up/kitchen clean/laundry done and that's good enough for me at this stage.  Deep cleaning type chores can wait until Daddy is off work to help with kids, etc.  As far as energy goes, I have a morning cup of coffee on the regular! ;)  But really, I feel like I have so much more energy this time around.  I think it is due to the fact that I have a toddler and he keeps me busy/keeps me going.  I just don't have time to be tired.  The more you are up and active, the less you are able to focus on being tired.  Or maybe God just gives us the extra, supernatural energy we need to care for our babies and do everything else we need to do!  Or both. :)
Rachel: My house is messy. I wish it was cleaner but I just don't want to sacrifice missing William's baby months. I don't want to miss anything. John usually does the laundry on Sundays and I fold it on Mondays. If I can get the main floor clean, the 2nd floor is a disaster and vice versa. I really make an effort to put the toys away every night and clean up the kitchen. It makes a world of difference.

Tomorrow we'll be talking about naps and sleeping. After that we'll discuss questions about the kids as siblings and finally, we'll wrap up with any other questions! If you still have a question, feel free to go ahead and ask it and we'll add it to our list! 

Having 2 Kids - Q&A {Part 1}

Last week, Natalie, Rachel and I opened up a Q&A on having two kids. (Natalie and I have two kids under 2 and Rachel has two kids 2 and under.) You guys had a lot of questions! So we're back this week with the answers!

The first part will focus on the questions relating to BEFORE the second baby came along. As well as marriage questions! Here we go!

How did you know you were ready to add to the family?
Natalie: We knew when I got a positive pregnancy test, haha! We tried for 15 months to get pregnant with Callyn and Colbie was a wonderful surprise! I think we probably would have started to consider having another just a few months after I did get pregnant! 
Beth Ann: We didn't!  Brooksy Boy was a bit of a surprise. ;)  Ready or not!!!!  Haha.  Having another child wasn't even on our radar before we found out we were expecting again.
Rachel: I was ready like right after I had Henry. I told the nurse and she made me promise her I would give my body a 6 month break. John and I decided that we could handle another baby as soon as Henry was walking. We knew we wanted a big family and we knew we wanted our kids close in age. Make sure you and your husband are on the same page. It's a bit different for us now. We've both agreed we won't try for another baby until Henry is potty trained. 3 in diapers might be a bit much for me :)

How on earth do you manage the first trimester misery while chasing a toddler around?!
Natalie: The million dollar question!! ;) I am very very sick in my pregnancies and I was absolutely terrified about this from the moment I found out I was pregnant the second time. Callyn was just starting to take steps. There were days where I would block off half of the living room with her toy box and an ottoman to keep her on one side and then I would lay on the floor and cry and hand her toys. Not ideal, but I think when you're that sick, you are just in survival mode. My biggest advice is to be humble and accept help! It was REALLY hard for me to say ok to my mother-in-law coming over and cleaning our bathrooms, but I was desperate and God humbled me SO much through that process. Let people know you need help, if you do. Tony and I also worked with his work schedule a little bit, since he has pretty flexible hours. He got up earlier in the morning to go in so that he could be home earlier in the afternoon, since I was most sick in the late afternoons/early evenings. I also asked my mom to come out and help me for several days. Like I said-don't be afraid to ask people for help! 
Beth Ann: Napped when Holden napped.  Zofran.  Prayer.  ;)  Actually, I think it helped me some to have Holden to focus on - took my mind off of my nausea.  You just get through it.  No other choice!
Rachel: You find that pin on pinterest that tells you 50 ways to entertain your child while laying on the ground! I napped when Henry napped and tried to keep him busy with little effort. I let the house get messy. I let the laundry build up.

Do you ever wish/wonder that you had spaced the 2 kids farther apart in age?
Natalie: I think when I was pregnant I may have had a few thoughts of 'what are we getting ourselves into!?' :) But now that Colbie is here, not at all. Sure, there are things that might be easier if they were farther apart, and I KNOW it would have been easier while I was pregnant if Callyn had been older and more self sufficient. But I love having them so close. I love that they'll grow up with a sister to love on and be best friends with. I love snuggling with both of them at the same time. I don't regret having them this close for one second! 
Beth Ann: I have had the thought that perhaps 18 months isn't the ideal age difference...right now.  It would be easier sometimes, no doubt, if Holden were a little older and better able to understand and/or communicate.  He would understand that the baby is small and fragile/how to be gentle, etc.  However, I think in the future it will be awesome that they are so close in age.  Mainly, I feel that it was God's plan for them to be this close in age and I trust that He knows what He's doing! :)
Rachel: No way! I love how close they are. 

How many kids did you want before you had 2? Did having a second affect the number you want? 
Natalie: Before and after I had Callyn I thought we would probably have 4 kids and that's what I wanted. Because my pregnancies are SO rough on me, that makes it rough on Tony, and this time I think it affected Callyn some too. So having a second PREGNANCY affected how many kids we want. I think we might have one more, but we are undecided right now. Having two kids didn't affect it. If I could skip pregnancy and just have the kids I'd have 10 kids, for real! I love having kids and I don't feel like its too overwhelming to have multiple children.
Beth Ann: 3 or 4.  Nope! 
Rachel: I always wanted 4-6 kids. I still do, but I would LOVE to have closer to 6. Now that I'm halfway through having babies (if we have 4) I'm kinda sad that I'm getting closer to the end. I love being pregnant, I love giving birth, I love having a little newborn, I love every stage after that.

Were you ever scared you couldn't love another child as much as the first one? 
Natalie: In the beginning of my pregnancy, yes. I just loved Callyn SO much. I couldn't imagine how I could feel that way about another child. She was perfect to me. As my pregnancy progressed I knew I wouldn't have a problem. Colbie was just as special and precious and as much of a miracle to me as Callyn and I knew I couldn't wait to see her, to get to know her and to watch her grow. As soon as she was born, I felt the exact same way about her that I did about Callyn. And still do :) 
 Beth Ann: Yes.  I mean, I KNEW I would...but there were definitely irrational/hormonal moments in which I doubted it.  I think that's a very normal fear/concern.  But I love them both like crazy. :)
Rachel: No way. I couldn't imagine it, but I knew I would love him just as much. 

How are you and your spouse able to keep the spark (not sex) going when you are busy with both kids? 
Natalie: We make it a purpose to spend time together at night after Callyn goes to bed. Even though Colbie is still up, sometimes awake and sometimes asleep but not in bed yet, we are able to talk and even just sit by each other and lounge and that really helps. We always talk when we get into bed before falling asleep, and we always go to bed at the same time (I know that's not possible for everyone!) While spending time together as a family we make sure to communicate well and make sure the other person is feeling loved and like their needs are being met. Even just chatting as we go on a family walk really helps. We haven't gone on a date since Colbie has been born, but I think we will soon.
Beth Ann: I think it is ideal to spend time together after the toddler/big kid goes to bed.  Even if it is time with the baby present, it is still quality time together- watching a movie/show together while holding baby, etc.  My husband's work schedule is pretty intense right now so it is difficult- but we keep the communication lines open via texting during the day.  We usually get some time to talk before he needs to go to bed.  I recently left him a note and one of his favorite candies on the table for him to see before he went to work.  Small gestures go a long way - you just have to make it a priority to do them.  Eventually, we will have dates away from the babes which I think is necessary and important!
Rachel: We spend time together after the boys go to sleep. That's when he have our serious discussions. That's when he talk about our future plans and dreams. But honestly? Nothing makes my heart happier than to see my husband being an awesome father. I love going on family outings even if they just involve running errands. That keeps my spark alive! And I just promised John (who loves to golf) a date night to a driving range so that when we are old retired people we can golf every day together. 

How do you and your hubby split the work? Does he mostly take over the older kid duties when he's home and on the weekends?
Natalie: The first few weeks, this is really how it was. It was kind of Tony on Callyn duty and me on Colbie duty, since she was nursing around the clock basically. Now, we just kind of do whatever we need to do and don't necessarily have a plan in place or discuss it. If Colbie needs to nurse, obviously I have to do that so Tony entertains Callyn. I try really hard to not have Tony always on Callyn duty because I want him to bond with Colbie and I don't want Callyn to feel like she doesn't get time with me so in the evenings we usually just both take care of them both, if that makes sense. For the most part Tony usually does the bedtime routine with Callyn because they got in that habit when I was sick and pregnant, so that's a special time for them, but occasionally I will do that :) 
Beth Ann: My husband's schedule is a bit crazy and he works different days/shifts every week.  Therefore, it is impossible to have him consistently in charge of bedtime or bathtime, etc.  Shon is great about doing diaper changes and helping out with whatever needs done.  I wouldn't say he takes over the older kid duties.  He helps with both and I am able to do things for both.  Of course when he is home, he entertains Holden while I nurse Brooks, etc. but for the most part it feels like a joint effort.
Rachel: I had pictured it that way! But that's not how it goes. We don't really split it. We're more of a team. So if he comes home and I haven't had a chance to start dinner, he will. Or he'll take the kids if I want to do it. I do bedtime so I'll feed the baby and hand him off to John. We do dual baths for the kids so we both do it together. On weekends we take turns showering and usually John will take Henry to get him dressed etc. while I'm getting ready (I take longer). It's not a science. We just really make an effort to communicate. Because sometimes John will go downstairs alone to make a tea (or something) and if he doesn't tell me I feel like he's leaving me with all the responsibility. But if he tells me, I know he'll be right back to help out. Sometimes we start off in bed and make a plan like, "I'll shower first while you get the kids dressed and then you can shower and I'll take the kids downstairs for breakfast".

We'll be back tomorrow with more answers! Stay tuned....