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WHEN ONE BECOMES TWO - GETTING READY FOR THE SECOND BABY WITH REBECCA RAYNHAM

by The Bonniemob on September 01, 2017

This Little Bird blogger and musician Rebecca Raynham lives in a little village with her husband Dan and their two-year-old son, Alfred. The couple are expecting their second baby, a girl, in November.

Rebecca’s flexible working schedule means that she gets to spend lots of one-on-one time with Alfred. She says: “I tend to divide my days between doing my social media work, hanging out with Alfred and teaching piano.”

We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling about baby number two. What her second pregnancy has been like so far, how she feels about Alfred becoming a big brother and how she thinks things will change. Read our interview below to find out more…

ALFRED ON A COUNTRY WALK IN BONNIE MOB

Alfred is wearing SMARTIE jeans and NINO sweatshirt

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY! HOW HAS IT BEEN THIS TIME AROUND? HAS IT BEEN DIFFERENT TO THE FIRST?

Thank you! It hasn’t been too bad this time around. It has definitely gone by much more quickly, as I am so much busier these days, with work and Alfred! I have had more pelvic pain and my bump popped out sooner with this second pregnancy, but I have found that I am extra excited this time too, as I now know how awesome it can be having children and what to expect a little bit more.

DO YOU THINK YOU’VE BEEN MORE RELAXED THAN THE FIRST TIME?

In some ways I have, I have been more confident in what exercise I can do and I’m not freaking out with every little knock to my bump… But initially I was more anxious with this pregnancy… I think it might be because I am not as naive this time around and know more about the things that could go wrong. Plus, I can visualise the end result more easily this time (an actual human baby!), so I got emotionally attached sooner, therefore making me more anxious that the scans would show everything was OK. As the pregnancy has progressed, however, I have massively chilled out and feel totally relaxed about how it is all going.

ALFRED WEARING THE BONNIE MOB NEW SEASON

Alfred is wearing SMARTIE jeans and NINO sweatshirt

AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EXPANDING YOUR FAMILY?

I am super excited! I have moments of wondering how we will do it with another baby in the house, but they are just moments. I’m mainly just excited to meet her and for Alfred to meet her.

HAVE YOU TOLD ALFRED YET ABOUT HIS BABY SISTER? AND IF SO, IS HE EXCITED?

We talk to Alfred about his baby sister every day. I wouldn’t say he is excited, as he doesn’t really understand what is happening. But he does have an understanding, of sorts, that a baby is in my tummy and that there is a baby sister somewhere, waiting for him. Every now and again he will get confused and ask me “Where? She hiding?” and run to the front door, as though baby sister is waiting for him there. I am sure it will all make sense when he meets her for the first time!

HOW WILL YOU PREPARE HIM TO BE A BIG BROTHER?

We talk to him about babies a lot and all the things that babies do - like crying, sleeping, needing their nappies changed and kisses and cuddles etc. We are encouraging him to “look after” his soft toys, so he now often tucks them into bed at night, before we tuck him into bed.

Rebecca Raynham and Alfred for the bonnie mob

Alfred is wearing SMARTIE jeans and NINO sweatshirt

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO WITH ALFRED BEFORE THE NEW BABY ARRIVES?

I don’t know really, I feel quite satisfied with what we have been doing with him already! Maybe we will try and squeeze in one last hike with him before she arrives… I’m mainly just making the most of giving him extra cuddles and one-on-one time, before my time is divided into two. 

WILL HAVING TWO BABIES INSTEAD OF ONE HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINE? HAVE YOU MADE NEW PLANS FOR CHILDCARE FOR EXAMPLE?

Our day-to-day routine is quite chilled in some ways, as Dan and I are both self employed. So a new baby will slot in relatively well I think.

Alfred will be starting preschool, in September, for a couple of sessions a week, so that will give him the social interaction and new activities that he is now needing and give us a few hours to have one-on-one time with the new baby, to get to know her. The preschool is a 1-minute walk away (bonus!) so it will be nice to get out for a quick walk each week, to take him there and back.

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FOUND OUT YOU WERE HAVING A GIRL?

I was happy and excited when we found out, but I would have been if we were told it was a boy too! I love knowing, but I never have a preference. I just like knowing the baby is healthy and being told the sex is a fun extra.

 Rebecca Raynham and Alfred - the bonnie mob new season

Alfred is wearing SMARTIE jeans and NINO sweatshirt

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS YOU BOUGHT FOR ALFRED FROM THE BONNIE MOB THAT COULD WORK FOR THE NEW BABY?

Even though I am drawn to pink, as I love the colour for myself, I am planning on her wearing a lot of Alfred’s old clothes too.

Alfred has this lovely grey knitted jumper (with a bear on the front) from The bonnie mob, which I am planning on giving to the baby when he grows out of it. His yellow shorts from last summer's collection would be fab as a hand-me-down for her too!

AND FINALLY, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PICKS FROM THE BONNIE MOB’S NEW AW17 COLLECTION?

My favourites are the Woolfie bobble hat, the Smartie jeans, the Winnie knitted rompers (so cute!) and the Pandy playsuit. They all look so cosy and the knits are beautiful, with a playful edge to them.

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