Thought I would do a roll call for those who have two close together and see how everyone is doing.
How old are your LOs:
How far apart:
Biggest challenge so far:
Best part:
Coping strategies to share?
Upcoming milestones:
How are YOU doing?
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full?
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
How old are your LOs: 20 months and 7 months
How far apart: 13 months apart but LO 2 came a few weeks late so they are gestationally 12.5 months apart.
Biggest challenge so far: Oh, we haven't had any big challenges actually. I have been surprised how it's been a lot of fun and hasn't been as crazy as I thought it would be! Little challenges have popped up along the way - getting used to taking two little ones out by myself, keeping LO1 from waking LO2 up from naps, and learning how to navigate having two that are both needy and babies. When DD was born DS was only a year and he still needed snuggles and attention and personal time - I've tried to not make him grow up too quickly and allow him that fair time, too. Actually that has probably been the hardest part - dividing my time well.
Best part: overall I have loved this age gap and would do it again in a heartbeat! We never left the baby stage with number one before two arrived so it was a seamless and easy transition - we didn't have to really prepare because everything was ready. I loved that part. With a number 3 down the road I'm not looking forward to moving beyond the baby stage and then coming back to do it again.
I also LOVE how close my two are and that people have started to ask if they are twins. And I love that they look alike - both have bright red hair and bright blue eyes! 
Coping strategies to share?: Just do the next thing! Don't get caught up in everything that needs to happen -- with two close in age it's a LOT and it can be so overwhelming to think too far ahead. Just do what you need to for each child as it comes up.
Also - enjoy them! And enjoy how they enjoy each other. It's so special having little ones close in age. It almost brings tears to my eyes just thinking about watching them interact. Sibling love is the best.
Upcoming milestones: DS should be gaining more words soon (I hope :)) and DD will probably start cruising before too long.
How are YOU doing?: Good. I feel like I'm in a good place with the kids. I've been enjoying them a lot and have been treasuring this time despite the craziness! Mama got a haircut cut and color recently and got a manicure yesterday so now I really feel on top of things - we'll see how long it lasts! 
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? Daily. We get stopped multiple times when we got out with the kids. Everyone comments on how stair stepped they are and then comments on their matching looks and red hair.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
And just because, here's DD laying her head on DS's shoulder. They love each other so much! 
papaya / 10560 posts
How old are your LOs: just turned 12 months and 29 months
How far apart: 17 months
Biggest challenge so far: not much really. Just having another is more work, but it's not hard.
Best part: seeing them become best friends and love each other so much
Coping strategies to share? Just take it in stride! I rarely get wound up over anything. Have systems for everything and stay consistent
Upcoming milestones: dd is taking c2-3 steps at a time so just her taking off walking and potty training DD
How are YOU doing? Awesome!
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full?
pomelo / 5041 posts
Following. I will have three under 18 months when my twins get here in March.
@coopsmama: I just adore that picture!
cherry / 211 posts
I will have two LOs 18 months apart starting in August so I am following.
@coopsmama: omg that picture is the cutest.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@marionberry: @Mrs.Scientist: Thank you! I love it, too. I want to frame it.
pomelo / 5041 posts
@Mrs. Jacks: HAHA God is one funny man...just praying we can handle it all.
grapefruit / 4712 posts
How old are your LOs: 28 months and 12 months
How far apart: 16 months
Biggest challenge so far: jealousy!
Best part: I love to watch them play together. I know they will be best friends.
Coping strategies to share? Include the older sibling in helping the little sibling.
Upcoming milestones: E will be walking anytime now. N will hopefully be talking more soon.
How are YOU doing? Good most days. Sometimes a little overwehlmed but we get do just fine.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? All the time!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@marionberry: don't I know it! Who'da thought I'd have three under 5? Not as strong as you, but still a tough feat for a full time working mama with 60+ hr work week.
pomelo / 5041 posts
@Mrs. Jacks: Props to you too! I know that having a full time job and doing this is NOT going to be an easy task.
clementine / 830 posts
How old are your LOs: 28 months and in two weeks DD will be 12 months
How far apart: 16 months
Biggest challenge so far: sometimes DS doesn't want to play with lil sis and all she wants to do is be all up in his business. There's been quite a bit of refereeing lately.
Best part: watching them laugh together, how DS is always thinking of his sister (today he wanted to save some cherries he was eating for DD when she wakes up from her nap, I melted)
Coping strategies to share? Include the older child in tasks, he comes with me to get her from a nap, helps with diaper changes, he actually is helpful wiping down the table and putting dog food in the bowl.
Upcoming milestones: DD will be walking anytime now and I will need to potty train DS soon.
How are YOU doing? Pretty good most of the time, so proud to be their mama.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? Not often because I hardly take them out by myself during the week. I run errands while DS is at daycare so I only have one.
kiwi / 705 posts
How old are your LO's: 17 mo and 5 weeks
How far apart: 16 mo
Biggest challenge so far: getting everyone upstairs and downstairs- my eldest has decided she must be carried up and down the stairs and she screams like crazy if she isn't taken down first. Plus I don't leave my youngest alone downstairs because the cat wants to sit on him.
Best part: when big sister learns some new way to help, like patting him on the back or lying down next to him to show him how to do tummy time or trying to pick him up (even though that's definitely not allowed).
Coping strategies to share? I've partitioned off one area of the house which is baby proof and sometimes I just need to lie on the couch for 30 seconds even if they are not happy about it.
Upcoming milestones: potty training is right around the corner, she's showing some very strong signs of readiness, but she's so young and I can't commit to it right now.
How are YOU doing? This week was the worst 
we had the stomach bug and I had my first experience cleaning up my daughters vomit (plus my second, third, fourth) and my husbands-lovely. Also, we were snowed in 2 days and going stir crazy. I had a meltdown at mt husband last night about not appreciating me and not understanding how hard it is to stay at home with a newborn in the winter. Bleh. I just need to get out of the house. Anyway I was fine last week and I fully expect to be fine this coming week.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? Everytime I've left the house! Which hasn't been often enough. My favorite was this Monday when my baby was in the bucket seat at my feet, I was holding my toddler superman style while she threw up onto the curb, and it was raining. She also asked if she could help and I told her I needed more then she was offering. Not the most gracious response!
pear / 1739 posts
How old are your LOs:
1 and 2.5
How far apart:
17 months
Biggest challenge so far:
Dividing my attention evenly between the two
Best part:
Lots of cuddles. Tons of cuteness. S helps me take care of H. S is becoming more independent and learning fast. H is copying sister and trying to keep up.
Coping strategies to share?
Sleep. I don't worry about my house half the time and I sleep away my stress. If I can't sleep I call someone to vent to.
Upcoming milestones:
First Easter that H will be able to participate in. S turns 3 in August.
How are YOU doing?
That's iffy right now. Just had a death in the family, another member given a week to live and on top of it my bipolar meds got lost when we were at the in laws for Valentines day.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full?
Way too much! I usually respond with "no, DUH" most sarcastic but they usually say it when I walk into a store with a kid on each hip. It would be nice if they would grab a cart while they comment on my hands being full
pomegranate / 3791 posts
How old are your LOs: 21 months and 4 months
How far apart: 17 months, so just under 1.5 years
Biggest challenge so far: Recovering from my RCS while still trying to care for my older son; he has low muscle tone, so gross motor skills are a challenge for him and he still wasn't walking when his brother was born! So yeah, having an incision that isn't healing great, a newborn who takes a long time to get days/nights flipped properly, and a 30lb toddler who still needs to be carried around...that was tough. By the time the baby turned 2 months old big brother was getting to be a confident walker, and that made things SO much easier!
Best part: How attached they are to each other. There has really been zero jealousy! When the baby is asleep my toddler will walk around saying, "Baby? Baby?" He constantly lays next to him on the play mat, holds his hands while he's in the RnP, helps him bounce in his jumper, etc. And the baby totally loves it and smiles and coos at him.
Coping strategies to share? If you're in my shoes with a c-section and a toddler who isn't walking when the baby comes, do everything on the floor! Have picnics inside so you're not putting them in the high chair, diaper changes on the floor, switch them to a bed rather than crib if at all possible, etc.
Upcoming milestones: DS#2 has rolled over a few times, I'm betting it will be consistent pretty soon!
How are YOU doing? This past month it has been SO MUCH BETTER. DS#1 is walking, DS#2 is sleeping better, I recently stopped torturing myself with the breast pump. Plus DS#2 is just getting more social and fun.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? Not very often, actually! This has been a pleasant surprise.
nectarine / 2466 posts
How old are your LOs: 19 months, 5 weeks
How far apart: 18 months
Biggest challenge so far:
- breastfeeding the nb who clusters feeds all the time while the toddler climbs all over us.
- my toddler keeps refusing her nap lately, so having no down time for myself all day.
- mommy guilt of not getting enough 1 on 1 time with either.
Best part: having 2 healthy beautiful girls
Coping strategies to share? Coffee. Lots of coffee. Trying to not care what the state of the house is.
Upcoming milestones: hoping b will have a word explosion soon
How are YOU doing? Managing well I think. I got a 7 hour stretch of sleep the other night. I'd love that again
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? Every single day. Especially when I put the toddler in the stroller, wear the nb and take our 110 pound dog for a walk haha
honeydew / 7230 posts
@marionberry: You will do great! There will be hard times, but being a mom of twins, I know that your ability to survive is greater than you can imagine.
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
@coopsmama: Oh your picture made me cry. My babes will be 12.5-13 months apart as well, so I loved reading how close they are. Seriously, crying right now haha.
grapefruit / 4823 posts
How old are your LOs: 34 months and 19 months
How far apart: 15 months apart
Biggest challenge so far: the beginning was the hardest. The first 3 months were the hardest. Just getting acclimated to 2 very dependent on you still children was an adjustment. But honestly, the transition was way easier than going from 0-1, even with a smaller age gap
Best part: as they get older the closer they get. They are best buddies right now. I love how they interact and watching them play
Coping strategies to share? Just take it in stride. The house will get cleaned eventually. Definitely include the older kid. They may not 100% understand what is going on, but i found that having DS helping out with DD, and including him it seemed to lessen any jealousy he may have had. And sometimes, you just have to cry with them haha there were times when both were crying and I just sat there and cried with them
Upcoming milestones: potty training. I'm going to live dangerously and try to potty train them both at the same time!(my mom did it with my brothers who are 17 months apart). Fingers crossed it goes smoothly
How are YOU doing? Stressed out a little with one on the verge of 3 yrs old and the other hitting 2 yrs old. We've got a whole lot of attitude and sassiness going on.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? ALL. THE. TIME. Not as much now, but when they were younger, it was pretty much every time I left the house. I had one old woman walk up to me and pat my shoulder and said 'God bless you' haha I just laughed. I get a lot of 'I don't know how you do it'.
pomegranate / 3212 posts
How old are your LOs: 21 months and 6 months
How far apart: 15 months!
Biggest challenge so far: LO2's nap times! He hates napping and getting him down while making sure my toddler doesnt burn down the house is...challenging.
Best part: Watching them interact. The past few weeks have been amazing, as LO2 becomes more aware and interested (read: obsessed) with what LO1 is doing. It's awesome.
Coping strategies to share? Lower your standards. It has been so liberating watching my standards plummet
Upcoming milestones: LO2 is almost sitting, and is getting close to army crawling. LO1 is very verbal already and it's a joy to watch him learn and talk to his little brother.
How are YOU doing? I'm actually really happy. Things are definitely reaally tough.. DH is in his 3rd year of med school and I SAH. It can get very lonely and also hectic at the same time. My depression is at bay though, and I'm shocked. It's so much better to have a hectic and hard life while you're happy than any kind of life hectic OR easy whyn depressed...
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? 
(closest thing to angry face I could find!)
ETA: adding one of my favorite pics of the boys from a month ago or so?
grapefruit / 4213 posts
How old are your LOs: 16 months and 1 month
How far apart: 15 months
Biggest challenge so far: The evening witching hour. I'm alone with two screaming babies. Also DD2 following in big sister's footsteps with the food allergies.
Best part: DD1 absolutely adores her little sister and is always helping care for her, getting diapers, kissing her hand, giving her hugs. And now DD2 watches everything big sister does which is so cute.
Coping strategies to share? Sometimes both kids are going to be crying and whining at the same time, maybe for no reason (like that darn witching hour), and you just have to remember that it will pass and your sweet babies will return.
Upcoming milestones: DD1 is starting to talk so I'm waiting for more words. DD2 just learned to smile and coo.
How are YOU doing? Surprisingly well! A little bummed that I have to wean because DD2 is on prescription formula now, but otherwise I'm having a great time with my girls.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? Every single time I talk with someone.
pomegranate / 3643 posts
I forgot I started this thread, which shoukd answer any questions about how I am doing.
Thought I would do a roll call for those who have two close together and see how everyone is doing.
How old are your LOs: 2y2m and 8m
How far apart: 17m. Lo2 was a month early.
Biggest challenge so far: Just the non-stopness of it all. It's just constant going.
That, and lo1 will bowl lo2 over now that be is sitting up.
Best part: watching lo2 laugh at his brother. Also, he is babbling more and will occasionally stumble on a word - dada or hi, and lo1's eyes get so big.
Coping strategies to share?
We try to get out of the house a lot. It keeps lo1 busy and the house less destroyed. But it's harder now that lo2 isn't a sleepy newborn.
Upcoming milestones: lo2 - crawling (oh goodness two mobile ones). Lo1 - using the potty.
How are YOU doing? Umm....maybe not as cheery as others on this thread? I really miss getting a break occasionally. And I shouldn't complain because I got a break this weekend and they both just took good naps. But DH has only ever watched them by himself twice. I just get a little worn out and jealous of other people's freedom to just move about. I feel like I have two people attached to me at all times.
But I am looking forward to this summer. Can't believe I will have another toddler soon.
Bonus: how often do people tell you you have your hands full? All the time! But empty nest age women always offer to help me with my grocery cart which I appreciate!
They are calling to each other from their rooms. I should go!
honeydew / 7667 posts
I'll be joining this thread in July. Love all the sibling love on this thread!!
pomegranate / 3973 posts
Following this thread because (call me crazy) I hope to have my 2nd next February/March which will put little one's 15 months apart.
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
How old are your little ones? 6, 5, 5, 3
How far apart? 8.5 months, 1 minute, 27 months (I guess she doesn't really count as the under 18 months apart)
Biggest challenge: when I had the three boys I think the absolute hardest thing was how little I had left at the end of the day for myself and my husband. At the time it was all about survival. If I made it through the day I counted it as a success. Now we are starting to struggle with just juggling our time with school activities, personal time with each kid, and homework, and other responsibilities.
Best part:I love watching their relationship grow with each other. I love our big family and my three boys that are so close in age are awesome. Then rive each other crazy and fight and pick at each other but they also play and snuggle support each other.
Upcoming milestones: we are out of the big milestone period. We are just living life and loving it.
How are you doing? I am a little stressed. I am not going to lie. Things are crazy here but like I said I love this crazy life. I get tired and a little snappy but then I know to come back and say sorry and we move on. We are dealing with our oldest possibly needing assessment for learning disabilities so that's a bit of a concern. I think as we are learning to navigate this new life with school aged kids we keep finding bumps and figuring out how to get past them.
Coping strategies: I just had to tell myself over and over again that I am enough. I do the best I can and it is definitely enough!
Bonus, how often have you been told you have your hands full? Non stop!! Every time I go out someone says I have my hands full or that I am so blessed.
pomegranate / 3643 posts
@knittylady: I am right there with you on naps. I am trying to get LO2 into a routine. But lo1 is just so loud!
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