Congratulations on being pregnant again! Now, RELAX....yes, as you said, lots of women have raised two plus small kids and they all have managed. I have two small children, who are not quite 15 months apart. But my daughter who at the time was 14 3/4 mo old was way ahead of her time when my son was born. She was walking at 9 month, talking in two and three word sentences when our son was born, listened beautifully and really enjoyed having a little brother. That being said, every sibling is different, but that is a different story I'll get to later. First of all, you....
You can do this, especially if you love kids and you wanted to have them so close together. In my case I did not want to have mine so close, but what can you say, their little blessings! I believe that having them close is a good thing, you go through the same stages close together so you don't forget what it is like when the other one catches up. Not to mention labor, it was so nice to have such a clear memory of what my first labor was like to help me deal and try to achieve a better delivery the 2nd time, but that's another story.
Bringing home your new boy or girl, do prepare your little one for their arrival. I'm sure as you get bigger, and since he's older than my daughter was he might be curious to know why mommy's belly is getting bigger and bigger. You can take him to sibling classes and talk to him about having a younger brother or sister, and do try to make him feel important when your little one gets here. Their are lots of books out there about introducing baby, but that's enough about that, I'm sure you'll prepare him as you all get ready.
Next...as far as bringing the baby home, yes it is tiring and yes it is a bit like a jungle gym at some points, but if you're lucky and blessed to have a second easy baby then things should be good. You know, rest when the babies are napping, eventually do try to get them on the same nap schedule and even the same bed time routine. It'll take some time, but it can be done. Your new baby will probably sleep a lot in the beginning (you hope!) and this way you can play and interact a bit more with your son. If you want, and if you can, look into registering your older son in a mommy morning out program. Either at his preschool to be or even the local Y around here offers Mommy's morning out, they offer 5 days a week, my daughters preschool is only 2 mornings a week. But that was a joy to have that break from her while I focused on my son.
I breast fed both of my little ones, which was wonderful, so we had lots of family snuggle time on the couch with some help from Curious George and Sesame Street/Elmo to help pass the time while I was nursing my son. This way she was contained and I was able to relax and nurse.
You can do this, you just have to figure out what works for you and your situation. Do call on family and friends in the beginning until things settle down. If you haven't already look into play groups now, so when the new one gets here you can still help your son and take them all out on a big group play date. This way you can interact with other mommies and get a little break from entertaining the little one(s) all day.
Going out to stores with two little ones can also be a challenge, but it CAN be done! You just have to figure out what works. In the beginning while your little one is little put them in a baby sling of some sort. That was our life saver at the grocery store. My daughter was in the cart, and my son was attached to me and we would shop just about anywhere! Go out when the weather is warm and it worked for us to go out in the morning hours when everyone was a bit more happier than in the afternoon. Hopefully by the time your little one gets here your son will have dropped his morning nap, but do try to get them both on the same nap schedule so you can have a break too during the day. This took some time but by 4/5 months we were all sleeping at the time, but not always in the same intervals. But it eventually gets better. My son is a way better napper now at 18 months the my daughter ever was!
ALSO....you've done this before, you've raised a beautiful little boy so far and have had success, so you can do this again. And this time you know what you're doing (sort of!) Every child is different and what didn't work for your son, or those things you wished you knew with him you can now use with your new child! We succeeded so much better with our night time sleeping routine with our son then our daughter, only b/c I knew what to do and how to do it and it worked so much faster. (not to mention, I think he is an easier baby than his sister ever was!) You can read their cues better and you have an idea what their cries mean. So RELAX, it's normal to have jitters about being a mom of two and to have them so young, but it'll all work out in the end.
Good Luck with your pregnancy and best wishes to your new edition to be to your family!
A. B