Mom's of baby's at 16 months - especially those w/ 2 under 2 (BTDT helpful)

My 16 month old seems so bored lately. When I have to sit and feed my 7 week old... my older one just lays on the carpet and does nothing until I'm done. She'll do this until I get on the floor and play with her. We do occassional play dates and having other kids around stimulates her to play with her toys - even if I have adults over she likes to play, but I don't have anyone to come over every day. When it's just us - she lays around. I know too she wants to go outside but it's hard with my new little tiny one with the feeding schedule and all to go to a park or anything. In fact I'm still so tired from not sleeping well b/c of the new baby that I'm too exhausted most days to feel okay about driving anywhere with them. Granted, I feel like I spend too much time just laying around, but often I feel like I'm going to fall down. It's not like with my older one who I would nap when she napped, now my little baby doesn't nap when the older one does (I swear she could be in a deep sleep - as soon as I put #1 down for a nap #2 wakes up). As the weather heads into the colder days - I have no idea how I'll keep my older one entertained. Do I need to worry about her gaining too much weight b/c she's not playing outside as much as I'd like? It's also hard for me to run after her outside b/c of the new baby. I'd like to know what others do/have done. I have no help really so having someone else watch the baby while I entertain the older one is out too. DH works and lately is so tired after work (his sleep is interrupted by the new baby too) he has no energy but to lay on the couch and watch tv after work. Adding to more laying around to my older DD. I should add, my older DD was in daycare so she's used to a LOT of stimulation. Much more that I seem to be able to provide... but she just has no interest in her toys and I'm always buying her new one's hoping something will hold her interest. Again, she's only interested when we have company - other babies, but also even when my parents come to visit - she show them her toys and run around. I'm putting her in gymnastics this week, but seriously there is only so much I can do with her/afford outside the house. The new baby is hard to travel around with to the things that would interest my older one and chasing after the older one would mean leaving my tiny one in a stroller alone even for a moment or if in a Bjorne (sp?), the new one's head strength isnt ready for being bopped around as I take #1 on the slide at a park or running after her. She's too young for a lot of things too and needs my attention. I can't just let her run around a park. So overall, I'm a little confused as to how to make this work. Any advice?

Re: Mom's of baby's at 16 months - especially those w/ 2 under 2 (BTDT helpful)

Can you read books with the older one whenever you are feeding the little one? My DD loves that. We go in the backyard a lot too.
It does get easier. Mine are just under 16 mos apart and now that the little one is five months we are in a good routine.

Re: Mom's of baby's at 16 months - especially those w/ 2 under 2 (BTDT helpful)

Mine are 17m apart. My older dd wanted to be outside alot. I was bfing so it was difficult to go out when my younger dd need to be fed constantly. Bfing ended quickly so defiantly got easier once it was bottle. My dd would get bored to, so while I fed her I would turn on a show she loved. (DVR is a Gold to me ).