Hi Milkmilk,
I also have a 2.5 year old girl, I'm a SAHM.
I guess every child progress differently. As for my girl, she sometimes does things that irritate me, just to get my attention. She has been rather good these days. Previously, she's very sticky to me, and will cry to get my attention. Lately, I told her that there's baby in my tummy, and she seem to understand that. I will make her tell "baby" to take a nap or go to bed at night during her nap or bedtime. She'll "sayang" my tummy, give my tummy a kiss, and say "time to take a nap baby". I do that to remind her and prepare her. My hubby also told me to be careful with my actions, to be sensitive, so that she doesn't get jealous.
Sometimes during lunch, she wants to move over to my seat, and I'll tell her that I don't have energy to hold her, and distract her to feed me food, or tell her she'll get her favourite fruit after she finishes her meal.
When we are out, I'll hold her hands and let her walk, even for crossing the road. She doesn't ask me to carry her much now, but if she does, I'll tell her I don't have the energy, or that I'm tired. When hubby is around, sometimes hubby will carry her. I want to make it a habit, so that when baby comes, at least she's used to dad carrying her.
Sometimes when I'm angry with her, and scolds her with a loud voice, she'll "shhh..." me and say "there's baby, not so loud". I find this quite funny.
I bring my girl for my gynae visits, and show her baby on the monitor. On the 2nd visit, my girl asked my gynae for the baby's heartbeat. I really don't know how much she knows, but i'm constantly reminding her, and I do somehow think they know.
My girl still wants me to sleep with her. I leave her room when she has fallen asleep. Sometimes she will come looking for me in the middle of the night, or call for me.
At home, she knows that I have to prepare meals. When she is good, she'll play on her own, read her own books, or watch me in the kitchen. If she's bored, she'll open my fridge and irritate me. If I'm unable to handle her, I'll resort to letting her watch her VCD.
I think for now, try to get your son involved, learning to play by himself, or read books on his own. So that when baby comes, he is capable of keeping himself occupied with these activities (hopefully for some time, so that we can do things with the baby). My girl likes reading, and I have been reading to her. She can now memorise some of her favourite books. My girl has recently learnt to use the mouse. So she sometimes go the barney or Thomas website to listen to music or watch short movies.
So, generally, my girl is currently still ok. But I do not know what to do if she gets jealous later with the baby. And if I'm alone at home, and need to breastfeed the baby, or attend to the baby - what actions will I take.
Anyone has suggestions to share?
