Dear Aunties,

Today I spent a day with my two girlies, one 2 years, the other 7 weeks.  Let me tell you, adjusting to a new baby is so hard for an Auntie!  It's been almost two months, so I'm working on refining my method to the madness.  

Any other Aunties out there dealing with the same thing? I know sometimes it's easy to forget, but it's actually one of the most amazing gifts in the world.

Here's a few things I've learned that somehow seem to help a lot when I have two kiddos, one just born, and I feel like I need about eight other "me"s and a good dozen extra hands.

When Baby sleeps, I play with Big Sister.  When Baby needs to be fed, Big Sister absolutely knows that this is her off-limits time.  If she says she needs a snack or needs to go outside to play, the answer is no.  By a few weeks, she picked it up fast.  She knows, once Baby is sleeping, it's her time again.

Just to warn you, the whole "catch a nap when the baby naps" doesn't really work with two itty bitties around.  It's a whole new world.  In my case, Big Sister takes 3 hour naps, and I used to use the time to get something done or fit a rest moment in, but now, things are completely different.  Baby needs to be fed, Baby is fussy, Baby needs to play, then Baby needs to be fed again.  Then guess what?  Big Sister is awake again!

One little tip if Mama is okay with it, try a baby wrap or sling - I like Peanut Shells, Mobywraps, Baby Bjorn etc.  You can get them online or at Babies R Us, and even though a tad overpriced, you gain two free hands!  They're amazing for an Auntie who isn't used to the routine of two sweeties.

Next, try to schedule your personal to-do list items away from your plans with your nieces and nephews.  Spending time with you is probably the highlight of their life and they don't deserve distractions - remember that!  Plus, they will grow up so fast.  I can't even tell you how fast.  Take pictures, love them.  In a few years you'll realize the best times are over.

So one or two, five or octuplets...  Be a Super Auntie!  And if all else fails, ask Mama if you can only take one or two at a time.  She'll still welcome the break, and the kids will still get quality time with you!  (And maybe one day, gulp, you'll be ready to take on the full troop!)

Most of all, like I said, treasure this time.  I have a zillion nieces and nephews, some making me an ABC (auntie by choice), some making me ABR (auntie by relation) and each one of them grew up right before my eyes.

Congratulations, New Auntie!
Miss Amanda