So I've officially been on maternity leave for a week and a half now. I've enjoyed a lovely Easter break with family, observed Anzac Day complete with attending a dawn service with my dad and of course all the fun parts of being a stay at home mummy including rhyme time at the local library, swimming lessons, milkshake dates and baking.

Stats & clothes: 

My ongoing confessions to a not so perfect life:

I was so tempted to find out the sex of B2 at my last scan and keep it a secret ... but then I thought better of it and reminded myself that I wanted the surprise, not S so it was a pretty stupid thing to do.

E watched Toy Story 3 twice, back to back on Sunday morning. In my defence, it was 4am and he was screaming the house down and this was the only thing that quietened him down so I could close my eyes on the lounge and pray the neighbours weren't hearing the screeching.

I finally cleaned out my makeup supplies ... I had lip glosses and mascaras in there that were over 10 years old! Not sure what I thought I was saving them for and it's pretty gross to think of applying 10 year old lipgloss now.

I hate play-doh! The smell, the texture, the way it gets under my nails ... so E hasn't got to play with it much at home. I'm going to rectify this though, overcome my aversions and whip it out this weekend for him.

I don't put S' washing away. I clean it, sort it and fold it, is it too much to ask he puts it on hangers and in drawers?

I am terrified B2 may have reflux like E did. Its been a long hard journey in this regard with E and I just don't know if it will break me having to go through those early days again and this time with a demanding toddler in the picture.

I adore the English Royal family and am hooked on anything Duchess Catherine related from her looks, likes, fashion etc. There is just something so likeable about them since Kate joined the family and the Queen, well she is just fabulous in every way.

Organisation will be key now more than ever I imagine with two little people to care for in our home and lucky for me, organisation is one of my stronger traits.

I've been doing some reading (of course) and feeding/nursing times for baby continue to come up as a key topic where issues can arise. Apparently its the ideal time for the toddler to freak out/act out and get up to all kinds of mischief in a quest for attention.

A few helpful tips I've come across in this regard:

Packing a snack box at the beginning of each day for E whether we are going out or staying in so that if nursing time for baby coincides with snack time for E, I have his all ready to go avoiding potential hunger meltdowns. My Thermomix will be great in allowing me to do a cook up of healthy snacks and bites for just this purpose - fruit balls, chicken veggie nuggets, pumpkin fetta spinach muffins... I'm already making a list.

Have a book basket next to my nursing chair and rotate the books regularly adding new ones occasionally. This way E is occupied/entertained and we can all share quiet storytime while baby is nursing. This is definitely a good one for us as E loves cuddling up to me, reading and books plus we have read to him since the day we got him home so I'd like the same for B2.

Nurse baby outside weather permitting so there is plenty for E to do including the opportunity to run around and blow off some energy. I definitely plan on taking advantage of this idea and getting E on his netted trampoline or playing with his trucks.

Have some small surprises on hand like cars or stickers etc wrapped up and pull them out to reward E for good behaviour or to include him in the moment.

It will also be a matter of being organised and planning our days some what so that we can all get the most out of it and have an enjoyable time. Once B2 comes, E will have 4 days at home including 2 days with me and baby and 2 days with S home as well. He will go to daycare one day and have a day with each of his grandmothers too.

Like most toddlers, E is at his best when we get out of the house at least once and I'm lucky that my parents and his beloved Uncle J (my little brother) are across the road so that's always my back up plan when we are bordering on meltdowns. Rhyme Time at the local library and a local playgroup run by one of my mum's friends will be regular activities and weather permitting, we will spend lots of time at the local  parks and playgrounds. E will also continue his swimming lessons once a week and Little Kickers too so I don't think we need to worry about staying active and entertained.

We live centrally so have lots of options for entertainment including two big shopping centres and a few indoor children's play centres for those rainy Winter days. I will also have a girlfriend on maternity leave who lives around the corner with a boy the same age as E so I can see lots of morning teas at each other's houses in coming months.

So much more to think about with two little ones but also much more to look forward to, especially as they grow up and become playmates.