Transitioning from 1 to 2 (to 3) with our friend Erica

Erica is Leah's good friend. She is wife to Peter and mom to Malachi (age 5), Kayleigh (age 4), and Selah (age 3). She is a Mary Kay consultant and runs an awesome home photography business. M & K are the same age for about a week! And S isn't far behind! She just started homeschooling this year and has loved the one on one time with her oldest child that she hasn't really been able to enjoy before. Candles, Hot Tea, and her Bible get her through the day.
Here's her take:

1. How old was your first child when you got pregnant with your second?
8 weeks old I believe.

2. Why did you choose to have another child?
We were planning to eventually... key word... PLANNING. But God's plan was different. He planned sooner. And I'm ok with that. :)

3. What was harder about adding a second child than you thought?
My eldest knew when it was difficult for me to watch him (like when I was nursing) and he would do things he knew he shouldn't. I had to balance disciplining and a newborn.

4. How did you prepare your older child for their new sibling?
He was under a year. I needed the preparing. :)

5. What was easier?
Having the 3rd child!! (No, seriously... I don't now why... it's just true)

6. Where has your second child slept since joining the family? (i.e. your room, sharing a room with sibling, own room) As a newborn we co-slept. Now all 3 sleep in the same room together. [Side note here by Leah, since Erica didn't elaborate: All three kids share a room. There is a set of bunk beds and a pile of pillows and blankets in the room. She says good night to them and shuts the door. They are allowed to sleep wherever/whenever/however they want. She says many nights there is all sorts of silliness going on in there, but they eventually settle down. Most often they all sleep on the floor together.]

7. Would you have another baby that distance in age?
It was the hardest 3 years of my life and I cried a lot. And know I see them play and LOVE it. I ABSOLUTELY WOULD.

8. Do you have any advice to share with others about transitioning from 1 to 2 children?
Know that it is hard and don't feel guilty if you don't LOVE it all the time. It's ok and normal to feel that way. Pray about it and pray about and pray about it. God will turn it into joy.