Fox!
Our little late-nick was born five days post-due on Monday, July 16, at 10:08 a.m. We forgave him immediately.
Labor was long but epiduralicious, delivery was a breeze, and we were home just a little over 24 hours later (with a stop at Chipotle on the way).
We’re calling the new guy Fox here (note what’s been riding in the baby carriage in the header of this blog for the last little while), and although that’s not his real first name, it is his real middle name. I can’t tell you how many times one of us has slipped and call him “Fox Lorax” by mistake. He definitely doesn’t look like a Mompth, though.
This baby is a dream. Lovely lovely lovely. He looks like Wombat when he’s sleeping, but he’s all Fox with open eyes.
And speaking of Senor Numero Uno, Wombat is beside himself. And over the moon. And swinging from the chandeliers. Basically bouncing off the walls and making us all a little nuts. (My first official proclamation as a mother of two is that the hardest thing about the second kid is dealing with the first kid. Other mothers, what say you?)
And yet…oh oh oh.
I love them all so much, I can’t even stand it.
He’s just so very perfect. Congratulations to all of you!
That last photo–oh, my heart! Congrats on your lovely, wonderful little family!
Oh! Look at your sweet boys! He is SO beautiful and FOXY. Congratulations! Welcome to momhood of two!
Oh… The baby is really cute too… HeyOH!
Right? So it’s not just my hormones? *purrrrr*
No, not your hormones. My ovaries just whined and asked when we get to have our own. I told them eventually, but oh my are yours adorable.
Ditto, Deva! Oh my aching ovaries. Hush now, your time will come. Absolutely adorable, especially the one of all three of your boys. Welcome, wee Fox!
Jenna.
Congrats again! That last photo is so adorable!
Fabulous! Many many congratulations. And love. xxxxooo
Oh my that last photo is gorgeous. Congratulations!
Yay Fox! Hi hi hi!!! Welcome to the big wild world, Fox Lorax.
Yes, in the early days – early months? maybe even the first year or so – the baby is a breeze and the big one is the toughie. Makes you wonder what on earth you thought was so difficult when you just had one tiny one.
Seriously, though, if you find yourself resenting Wombat a bit and sort of wishing he wasn’t there so you could just enjoy your beautiful baby in peace, don’t feel that you’re terrible. Equilibrium will return after a while, and everyone will be in their rightful place.
Congratulations! Yay for happy, healthy boys. Delicious doesn’t hurt, does it? So glad for you all.
Yay eyeballs! That’s what’s been missing from the Instagram pics!
That photo of the brothers is too much. Lucky lady!
Oh! Fox is just too cute for words. Huge congratulations to all of you
Congratulations! Yep, when my #2 was born the toughest thing was dealing with #1. A baby was easy the second time around, but dealing with a 2.5-year-old in full-blown toddlerhood was HARD. It took us about 3 months to get ourselves sorted out (emotions, routines, etc) and then having 2 kids got really fun…and it hasn’t stopped since!
Oh. My ovaries. Ow.
He’s beautiful! Congratulations, you guys.
My “baby” is 25 – pictures of Fox and Wombat actually bring tears to my eyes – just remembering. Congratulations! what a precious family.
Oh, so beautiful. You make great looking babies!
The photo of all of your boys is heartwarming. Makes me want to get married and have children!
Oh man. I really couldn’t be happier for you guys and I can’t wait to meet The Fantastic Mr. Fox!
You would think adding a second child would be 2X the work and 2X the love…reality is it’s 3.5X the work and 2 bazzilion times the love…by number three I could no longer do the math…congrats & enjoy!
Congratulations to all of you! He is just lovely. Foxy, even.
Definitely ovary-exploding material! The last picture is just too much . . . how about a full family picture with the felines, too?
Oh my! He is beautiful. Congratulations to you all!
AHH! He is so sweet, and LOOK AT YOU GUYS! There are FOUR of you now! Amazing and wonderful.
Judging by how many capital-E-Emotions Sadie cycled through when we watched our friend’s baby for a mere four hours on Sunday, I have a feeling you’re right about the oldest kid being the most work here for a while. But then again, Sadie sounds much more unsure about any tiny interlopers than Wombat, who is clearly smitten.
Wow, what a gorgeous baby and beautiful family you have. It just keeps multiplying. Congratulations to all of you!
Congratulations on your boys x 2. I just had my second son on Friday the 13th (yeah, I know). My first is going to drive me over the edge, and I may take him with me just to spare everyone else the tantrums and the screaming.
I know this will get better, and eventually I’ll be left with just two insanely cute and fun boys, but as of now, I kind of want to send the first one back to the factory for re-adjustment.
Congrats to you four – you are a beautiful family! (and yes – I would imagine the Chipotle stop on the way home was absolutely essential …)
LOVE the secret baby fox in the header! That’s so cute. And so is he! I’m so so happy for you all! I feel like I know your little family from the years of reading and I can’t wait to get to know Baby Fox. xoxo
Aww…look at that brotherly love! Congratulations on the new addition to the family! Little Fox is already as photogenic as his parents and big brother.
Yes, yes, yes on the first one being the challenge. For me it stayed that way for the whole first year — I took a crazy three-day trip to LA with just the nine-month-old in the spring, and even being on a plane for six hours each way and having work to do and dealing with a jet-lagged baby felt easy since I was doing it without a four year old in tow. On the other hand, each night after the baby goes to bed, there’s an hour or so when it’s me and the big girl, and then I get to revel in how simple and fun things are with her when she’s not having to compete with a one-year-old for attention. All that said, the way they are together is simply delicious (except when it’s simply crazy-making, but that’s to be expected).
Congratulations! I had my second on 7/11 and am trying to balance her and an almost 3 year old. It’s tough. I am hoping that it will get easier in the next few months. I could just be delusional, but I am holding on to it!
Congratulations! He is a beautiful baby. I hope you are feeling well and that life is going smoothly for all of you. Take care!
Aww, congratulations so very much! I’ve been reading your blog ever since like 2004 (which kinda makes me feel like a stalker!) and the reason I keep reading is that you put your thoughts so well into words. And as a parent of two (now much older) kids I can totally relate to your thoughts. It is an adjustment for everyone, and I think most 3-year-olds are pretty intense people. Yes, fascinating and tons of fun, but also very intense
It can all feel a bit overwhelming, because you suddenly have to deal with very different needs at the same time.
I also found that I had to up my game in terms of being firm to my older kid, just in order to make it all work. I did feel a little guilty at times towards my elder, especially when I was tired and grumpy. And also a little guilty that I couldn’t give as much uninterrupted attention to the little one the second time around. But I think they both turned out pretty fine anyway. So don’t stress about all that too much!
He’s just such a little gentleman! Welcome to the world of two…. and you are a frillion times correct all gold stars: it’s child the first that becomes the contender. Then the baby wakes up.
But it’s a trip, and one you’ll do with flair!
please put a little moustache on Fox… and post… perhaps?
Congratulations to the four of you!
Congratulations! He’s beautiful! My initial experience as a mom of two was just like yours. Baby = easy peasy. 4 year old = difficult to say the least (night wakings, temper tantrums, general unpleasantness) but it passed. Enjoy all that baby-ness, it’s so fleeting!
I loved this post, Leah. You’re so honest in your writing and it’s lovely to hear that a second baby after a good first one doesn’t mean hell on Earth, but can actually mean Awesomeness. Thanks for the positivity and for sharing your love. What an adorable brood.