Counting down to being a new Dad (for the second time)

“You’ve been there before, got the stained t-shirt, changed nearly 4 million nappies, carpet cleaner is a household staple and survived the sleepless nights so it’ll be a doddle”... hmmm I hope so...

We’re approaching the due date for a new arrival in our family, and the challenge ahead - which so many people have conquered before us - is the Toddler + Baby dynamic. Our daughter knows that there’s a baby “hiding” in Mummy’s tummy, she knows things are changing around the house, that there are new things that are for the baby and not hers, and in particular Mummy can’t bend down so easily (2 weeks to due date!) and is busy building a baby.

I remember how to swaddle, and still change nappies so that’s fine - but the tiny clothes retrieved from the loft in anticipation, the cosy little Moses basket waiting to gently rock are all very exciting and remind me how much of a learning curve those first few weeks were as a new Dad. Then... when you add the Toddler who has now learnt the word “No”, can sing loudly and be very busy you suddenly realise that this is a cosmic shift for her as well as us. She’s been used to undivided attention from us both, she’s had us both singing at bedtime and all together most weekends whereas the new baby will never have that. But what it will have is a Big Sister - who seems very keen on babies and animals - ideally baby animals but we'll see how she reacts to an actual baby!

In some ways it’s been a great chance for me to build an even stronger bond with our first born, bedtime has become a time with Daddy and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time with her. But the unknown is always a challenge, it’s unknown by name and by nature, and therefore its hard to see how it will all work - I’m sure it will, but I don’t like not knowing!

As we approach D-Day (Due date) and beyond, all of the planning and preparation will fall out the window as we have to react and work around nursery, work, hospital etc. But, I know we have a fantastic network and friends and family and an NHS which literally blew me away with our first born - I know we’re in the best place possible for this new bundle of joy to enter our family and the world. The countdown continues...