it's fascinating to read all the different experiences. It sounds like it's so different depending on the little people! For me, we had a 2 year age gap. My first was a cruisey boy despite allergies & feeding issues, a great sleeper. My second was an unhappy refluxy bub and at 6 weeks old was sleeping less in the day than my toddler... and boy was she grumpy for the rest of the time. I quickly did whatever I could to get through. Lots of wearing bub... but on the plus side, she was a great feeder. When she was 2.5 months my DH got sick and remained sick on & off (up until now actually - and she's 18 months old). When she was 5 months old and Mummy was still desperately taking one day at a time - something had to give, and I got some help with her sleep which saved my sanity. I think it retrospect that the best thing you can do is ... be prepared to do whatever you have to. If your toddler has a bit much TV, so be it. If you have to let your bubba cry sometimes, so be it. No matter what, sometimes with two little people there just isn't enough parent(s) to go around. I still remember one day trying to get her to sleep with my toddler crying at the baby gate for "cuggles pweese mummy". My heart just broke in two that day. And I remember days where I had exhausted every single option in my toolkit - walking, strollering, rocking, cuddling, wearing... you name it, she was still awake and still crying. But you know what? At the end of the day you get through it. And everyone gets fed (somehow). And they love you. And they cuddle you. And they don't turn to you and say, "remember that day last year when you were really tired, snappy and in tears".

And the flip side. The first time she really LAUGHED... was sitting at the dinnertable in her highchair she was just KACKING herself at her brother. And I must admit once she was over 6 months old I found that easier too. When bub is littler, getting the toddler to a playground and feeding bub while toddler plays - that helps everyone no end.

I'll be honest, I feel like I've been to hell & back over the last few years (but some of that is to do with my DH's health issues), but boy i'm tough now. I can . do . anything. And regardless of what kinda baby your second baby is, you'll have some days where you feel a total mess, and you'll have other days where you start to dare to dream that you're superwoman. Having little ones is hard work no matter what kinda babies you have, but they curl those little chubby arms around your neck, and... before you know it, they're both running around and you realise you made it through the baby stage with a toddler. And you think, I did it!
Love this post - very well said. Sounds like we have had similar kidlets! Your 'moment' reminds me of some of our early days, me standing in the bathroom trying to BF DD2 while also trying to undress DD1 and get her on the toilet NOW (because with early toilet training there is only NOW). It is a hopeless mess some days but you get there!