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The transition from maternity leave to working with two kids has been interesting. It's a learning thing for us. The baby wakes up early, so right now, if he gets up early, I drive him to daycare. Then, I get ready for work and help with the eldest. Other days, all of us leave together and do a big circle in the neighborhood: drop off baby, drop off me at the El stop, then eldest gets dropped off.

When we move, both of them will hopefully be at the same care facility. It may make mornings easier.

Our transition actually went better than I thought it would, and it was nice to get back into a routine after maternity leave. When I went back DS was only 10 weeks, and DD was almost 3. It definitely takes a lot longer to drop them off than it did with just one kid, just because there's more stuff to put away and we have to go to two different rooms (they're in a center). I've found it easier to have a separate daycare bag for each kid.

The main thing is to pack their bags / your bags and get everything ready the night before. Mornings are crazy when 4 people are involved! I shower the night before so in the morning I just throw on my clothes and then get the kids ready while DH showers and gets ready. DD eats breakfast at daycare and it's hit or miss if the baby needs a bottle or not. 8 months in and we can wake up and get ready in 30 minutes, which I think is pretty good!

Good luck!

I also had a harder time going back after #2 than #1. T was a more easygoing baby, so I actually enjoyed my leave.

That being said, I came back at a reduced schedule, primarily so I could get to the gym easier and run some errands without it being a circus. Without that, I'd probably just go in the evenings after E is asleep.

Mornings are pretty smooth, thankfully. It's evenings that are all over the place.

@cascademom: I think coming back to a better job makes a huge differenceb

@cascademom: that's great to hear!