Baby Steps: Adjusting as a family of four

Being a first-time mom is scary and a huge learning experience. But what no one tells you is that the second time is just as scary, and no matter how many kids you have, you learn something new with each kid you add to your family.

When Cooper was born, I knew I didn't know everything. Sure, I had spent years taking care of other people's children, but when you are responsible for another human being 24/7, it is different. There are no breaks, no vacations, just you and your baby for the next 18-plus years.

With Felicity, I thought things would be different. I had done this before, and Coop is only 3, so it hasn't been that long since I had an infant. I know things now that I didn't know before. What I didn't take into account is that I now have two children who are as different as night and day, and no matter what your life experiences, there are always new things to learn.

When Cooper was an infant, he liked to be rocked and patted so hard it felt like you were beating him to go to sleep. Felicity barely finishes a bottle before she is out for the count. Cooper was up like clockwork every 90 minutes to two hours for the first eight months. Felicity started sleeping through the night at three weeks old. Cooper screamed for attention all the time -- he just wanted you to look at him so he knew he was the center of your world. Felicity is so chill, I can leave her in her swing and do laundry, wash dishes and make supper, and she is happy as can be.

With the addition of Felicity, I also had to get used to the fact that I have two little humans who need and want my undivided attention. It took some adjusting at first -- Cooper was so used to being the center of our world that it took a bit for him to learn how to take turns and be patient. The first few weeks there was a lot of yelling at the top of his lungs to be heard over a crying, hungry infant, but with eight weeks under our belt, all four of us have learned how to handle adding another person to our household.

Cooper is learning how to wait to be heard and to do many things on his own. He dresses himself now, although his outfit may be backward or inside out. He also goes to the bathroom without our help and plays nicely in his room alone. He is a huge help with his baby sister, too. He loves on her and cuddles her all the time and he is always the first to run and get a blanket or diaper. He tells us all the time how much he loves his Felicity. And if you ask him, he will tell you that she is his baby.

Two kids are harder than one, but I wouldn't change a thing. I feel that now our family is complete, and I couldn't imagine it without either one of my kids.

Kristen Pind, a native of small-town Gower, Mo., came to Southeast Missouri State University with big dreams of being the next Katie Couric or Diane Sawyer. She never thought that by her mid-20s, she'd be married with two kids and living in Cape Girardeau. Keep up with Kristen's adventures as a young mom who's still trying to figure out how her own life fits together. Turns out, she's living a dream she never knew she had, and loving every minute of it. Kristen invites moms of all types to find her "Baby Steps" page on Facebook.