Photographic Evidence of Second Child Syndrome

We have fully documented evidence of Second Child Syndrome at our house. In this case, the evidence is the lack of photographic evidence of our second child. With Evan, it's almost as if we never put the camera down. First bath...we have fifty-three pictures. First drool, twenty-four pictures. First diaper...ok, just kidding.

Amy is now holding her head up quite well, grasping objects and pulling them towards her, and occasionally giving out cute coos, smiles, and laughs. Evan is learning more new words every day, and has started stringing words and phrases together to make 5-6 word sentences. We are thankful that he can communicate 95% of his needs instead of crying until we guess what it is he needs. Strangely enough, I think the arrival of his baby sister kicked his language development into gear. It's almost as if Evan is thinking, "Well, I better learn to talk, or they'll never have time to figure out what I want!"

With the arrival of Amy, we've reached "Hang on, it will get better" mode. Kudos to all of our friends who told us that having two is more than twice the work of one. I took Evan out on Thursday afternoon to go to Birdsong Nature Center and the public library, and let me tell you...just being responsible for one child is paradise. Thankfully, Evan is usually just fine by himself. He has started the rapid descent into the twos, which in our house means that he can amuse himself quite well, play well with us, and has a relatively predictable schedule. All of these highly desirable traits go out the window when Amy's needs supercede his.

Evan is being a predictable first child whose life has been interrupted by the arrival of a second child. He is being very sweet to Amy and not trying to hurt her, as I have heard some first children will try to do. Instead, he is working his torture on his parents. (Full disclosure: as a second child myself, I am sincerely sorry for being the root cause of any emotional trauma my older sister may have inflicted on my parents.) Evan's current psychological weapon is saying one thing, but meaning another. For example: dinner is over, Evan says "all done" and pushes the plate away. Picking up the plate and taking it away brings crying usually reserved for those watching "Untamed Heart." (if you've seen it, you know.) We're learning not to give in to this, and hope that it will stop soon.

Amy is being a typical second child. Her only trouble seems to be some acid reflux, which if you're thinking is the same as spit-up, is not. The fine line dividing the two seems to be multiple hours of gasping crying episodes whenever she is put into a horizontal position. We have some medicine for that, and it seems to be helping. Combine the acid reflux with her having to adapt to Evan's schedule, and one can reach new levels of "baby's upset." Because Evan and Amy are almost exactly two years apart, our friends say that all will be better when Evan is three and Amy is one. We're sure that is true, but right now...that is 287 days, 4 hours, and 55 minutes away. Suggestions until then?