Because I am a new mom I am constantly learning all new things baby and mom. Even though I have grown up around babies and children you truly have a million firsts when you become a mom. Here are some things I have found that Emma has been doing and also her likes/loves.
So far (we are at 8wks. old) she is lifting her head constantly and is able to hold it up on her own. Now she does get tired pretty quickly so it is pretty wobbly but she is getting really good at it, I am guessing that in a few weeks she will have that complete control :)
Also at 8wks she is going through another growth spurt (she had her first at 3wks, crazy I know, I thought babies were in a constant growth spurt haha) so she is eating and sleeping CONSTANTLY but growing like a weed, we are in 3month clothes already. My little bean sprout is getting more and more beautiful every day and I can't wait to see how much more she shapes into being a gorgeous human being inside and out.
The little bit of hair that buffed off is back and growing growing growing! I love and Jon even said last night "I can't wait to put it in a pony tail." Oh this boy is crazy about his little "bug" as he calls her.
Loves:
Her back play time...Oh lord if she is fussy we just lay her either on a blanket or her play pad and she is in heaven! She doesn't know how to play with the different things on it but she loves just laying there looking at everything.
We aren't super in love with tummy time like we use to be but we still do enjoy it, until we get too tired of lifting our head or too frustrated that she can't tuck her legs under herself or roll over yet. But she is getting so stinkin close!
Also she is starting to drool like crazy and pulling my finger (yes they are clean!) in her mouth and rubbing them on her gums and chewing on them....now I know babies start teething at around 6 months but do they start any earlier? She could just like chewing on something I don't know.
What are your babies up to??
Happy Monday Mommies :)
Monday, July 23, 2012
Getting back to me
Good Morning all new Mommies!
I'm sure it won't last but right now we are so lucky because Emma is now sleeping through the night....at 2 months old! We are LOVING the extra rest but I have to admit now that I am back to work I miss that her and I time we had when she would wake up at 2 for a change and a feeding. BUT it has given me the energy to start getting back to me.
SO...I have yet again started a new blog...I will still have this one for my Mommy encounters, experiences, and tips but now I am also passionate about not only helping myself but helping others on their journey as well.... Enjoy :)
I'm sure it won't last but right now we are so lucky because Emma is now sleeping through the night....at 2 months old! We are LOVING the extra rest but I have to admit now that I am back to work I miss that her and I time we had when she would wake up at 2 for a change and a feeding. BUT it has given me the energy to start getting back to me.
SO...I have yet again started a new blog...I will still have this one for my Mommy encounters, experiences, and tips but now I am also passionate about not only helping myself but helping others on their journey as well.... Enjoy :)
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Shower...what is that again??
Well it's been a very interesting, boring at times, and amazing every day last couple months...
![]()
Our baby girl is here and is doing great. She looks just like her daddy which I love, but she is a diva already just like her mamma :). We are completely in love with her and love every minute of our new lives. It's been exhausting but so wonderful and I love every minute and for those who are new moms or are on your way to becoming first time mommies there are some things that I wanted to share.
I will be honest we are one of those really annoying couples who got extremely lucky and have a baby who is not only extremely happy and a great eater but she immediately had a sleep schedule, she wakes up once during the night and then we don't hear a peep until around 5/6. HOWEVER...keep reading!
They tell you to rest and to sleep when the baby is sleeping.....good luck. the first few days or even week, yes that is all you will do and will want to do, but after that it's pretty tough to do so unless you have someone there to help you....then I'm sure it's completely possible. For me, I had no help because Jon was working, my mom was covering for me and everyone else was working and/or I didn't want to burden them to come over and watch my baby while I slept or even showered. I feel like as a new mom you want to be super woman and try to accomplish every thing possible. At first I was really upset that I didn't have any help but now looking back I'm happy I didn't. I got to spend every second with my little girl and she didn't care if I hadn't gotten dresses, showered, or even brushed me teeth, she just loves being loved on.
You will find that you will not have the memory space to remember even the simplest things so I strongly suggest making a list and as stupid as it may seem....just do it and trust me....or don't and then realize you should have...you're choice.
**Daily Do's**
1. go to the bathroom before changing/feeding time (it can take a while and you don't want to take that bottle or boob away until that baby is satisfied or it will be World War 3)
2. Brush your teeth
3. Shower (this can be a tough one, I found it easiest to shower as soon as her second morning feeding happened when she fell asleep but I did just get a tip that said to bring your baby in their car seat in the bathroom with you and have them on the floor, that way you can hear if they cry and can even sing to the baby while showering....it take multi-tasking to a whole knew level)
4. EAT you will not remember this...trust me, you won't even feel hungry. It's so important especially if you're breastfeeding, that baby needs just as many nutrients as when you were pregnant, plus you need to be as energized as possible to care for baby!
5. SLEEP when possible. If you are able to sleep when baby sleeps, do it...really do it, it helps more than you think and by getting that rest you are easing away those "baby blues" you may get. Lack of sleep can make you feel way more overwhelmed, causing you to feel more depressed...hence baby blues. Getting that rest is going to make you more alert and much more able to handle struggles head on.
Finally and most importantly, enjoy every second you can because they seriously grow so fast and if you are like me and are going back to work you miss every little thing so really soak it up. I honestly do love every moment from waking up at 2, when she screams at me, and even when she poops on me. My baby girl has stolen my heart and I love her more than I can even begin to describe. From the minute I met her I have been feeling that indescribable feeling moms talk about when they say that "right when you see them it's a feeling you can't explain." Have fun moms!!! :)
Our baby girl is here and is doing great. She looks just like her daddy which I love, but she is a diva already just like her mamma :). We are completely in love with her and love every minute of our new lives. It's been exhausting but so wonderful and I love every minute and for those who are new moms or are on your way to becoming first time mommies there are some things that I wanted to share.
I will be honest we are one of those really annoying couples who got extremely lucky and have a baby who is not only extremely happy and a great eater but she immediately had a sleep schedule, she wakes up once during the night and then we don't hear a peep until around 5/6. HOWEVER...keep reading!
They tell you to rest and to sleep when the baby is sleeping.....good luck. the first few days or even week, yes that is all you will do and will want to do, but after that it's pretty tough to do so unless you have someone there to help you....then I'm sure it's completely possible. For me, I had no help because Jon was working, my mom was covering for me and everyone else was working and/or I didn't want to burden them to come over and watch my baby while I slept or even showered. I feel like as a new mom you want to be super woman and try to accomplish every thing possible. At first I was really upset that I didn't have any help but now looking back I'm happy I didn't. I got to spend every second with my little girl and she didn't care if I hadn't gotten dresses, showered, or even brushed me teeth, she just loves being loved on.
You will find that you will not have the memory space to remember even the simplest things so I strongly suggest making a list and as stupid as it may seem....just do it and trust me....or don't and then realize you should have...you're choice.
**Daily Do's**
1. go to the bathroom before changing/feeding time (it can take a while and you don't want to take that bottle or boob away until that baby is satisfied or it will be World War 3)
2. Brush your teeth
3. Shower (this can be a tough one, I found it easiest to shower as soon as her second morning feeding happened when she fell asleep but I did just get a tip that said to bring your baby in their car seat in the bathroom with you and have them on the floor, that way you can hear if they cry and can even sing to the baby while showering....it take multi-tasking to a whole knew level)
4. EAT you will not remember this...trust me, you won't even feel hungry. It's so important especially if you're breastfeeding, that baby needs just as many nutrients as when you were pregnant, plus you need to be as energized as possible to care for baby!
5. SLEEP when possible. If you are able to sleep when baby sleeps, do it...really do it, it helps more than you think and by getting that rest you are easing away those "baby blues" you may get. Lack of sleep can make you feel way more overwhelmed, causing you to feel more depressed...hence baby blues. Getting that rest is going to make you more alert and much more able to handle struggles head on.
Finally and most importantly, enjoy every second you can because they seriously grow so fast and if you are like me and are going back to work you miss every little thing so really soak it up. I honestly do love every moment from waking up at 2, when she screams at me, and even when she poops on me. My baby girl has stolen my heart and I love her more than I can even begin to describe. From the minute I met her I have been feeling that indescribable feeling moms talk about when they say that "right when you see them it's a feeling you can't explain." Have fun moms!!! :)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Labor
Now I know this post will get edited as soon as baby is born to try and better explain labor but there are some things I have been reading about labor, how to handle it the best you can, and your different options.
If you were able to take birthing classes then you are well aware of everything I am about to say and even more! I was not one of those people who could afford to take those classes so I did my best researching the internet and just talking to people. Here are some things to know.
* I stated in my previous post that every pregnancy is different and every woman is different, this is absolutely true but there are some things to NOT ignore. If you are able to clearly tell you're in labor make sure you are keeping count of how often you are getting those contractions (they say that once you each 5-7min you should go in), also once you can't talk or walk through them...it's go time, get to that hospital (if you're still at home). If your water breaks you don't have to rush immediately to the hospital especially if you haven't had any contractions, water breaking is good, but doesn't mean you have to rush right over there, that being said your baby’s world just exploded and you don't want to wait forever, now there is NOTHING wrong with going to the hospital right away if your water breaks, it actually may be a very good idea, just don't freak out if they tell you to go home and rest until you have really close together contractions because they really do this all the time.
*Make sure you have your Birth Plan with you. Not only are they great to have with you so you are being listened to but they are the best way to get research and get familiar with all the lingo you will be hearing in the hospital. I was told by one doctor that birth plans really aren't necessary....ridiculous....if it's important to you to have FILL ONE OUT AND BRING IT! This is YOUR baby and YOUR delivery, your wishes should be listened to and you have every right to want and not want certain things. Here is the best birth plan I found for us. There are a million out there and most of your local hospitals have one listed on their website to print out and fill out. Don't be ashamed or embarrassed with any part of your birth plan. Now it's also really important to remember that not every wish will be granted in your birth plan. You baby controls how labor goes, he/she is in control and sometimes nothing goes according to the birth plan so don't get stressed if you soon realize that your birth plan is going out the window, some things you can control so don't forget that!
*When you are in labor, especially if you're at home still, make sure you do whatever you can to help you relax. Don't start cleaning the house life crazy or going for a jog. RELAX, your body need to be in a relaxed state to properly handle labor and even though it is going to the hardest thing you'll ever do, just keep telling yourself that labor pain is GOOD and that it is pushing your baby out into this world. I read multiple places that once you have come to terms with the fact that it's going to hurt and why it has to hurt; the pain isn't as severe...is this true? I have a feeling I may re-touch on this subject. If you can take a bath, take one; soak for as long as you can stand it. Have a heating pad? Use it! Nothing will take the pain away, but there are so many breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, and other things you can do to subside the pain as much as possible until you get pain meds (if you take that route) or until it's time to push and get this baby out. It is true that our bodies can handle labor, we have been doing it for 100's of thousands of years, BUT medicine also allows us to stay more relaxed and have a smoother, sometimes faster labor. So don't ever push something out of your mind until you research it!
If you were able to take birthing classes then you are well aware of everything I am about to say and even more! I was not one of those people who could afford to take those classes so I did my best researching the internet and just talking to people. Here are some things to know.
* I stated in my previous post that every pregnancy is different and every woman is different, this is absolutely true but there are some things to NOT ignore. If you are able to clearly tell you're in labor make sure you are keeping count of how often you are getting those contractions (they say that once you each 5-7min you should go in), also once you can't talk or walk through them...it's go time, get to that hospital (if you're still at home). If your water breaks you don't have to rush immediately to the hospital especially if you haven't had any contractions, water breaking is good, but doesn't mean you have to rush right over there, that being said your baby’s world just exploded and you don't want to wait forever, now there is NOTHING wrong with going to the hospital right away if your water breaks, it actually may be a very good idea, just don't freak out if they tell you to go home and rest until you have really close together contractions because they really do this all the time.
*Make sure you have your Birth Plan with you. Not only are they great to have with you so you are being listened to but they are the best way to get research and get familiar with all the lingo you will be hearing in the hospital. I was told by one doctor that birth plans really aren't necessary....ridiculous....if it's important to you to have FILL ONE OUT AND BRING IT! This is YOUR baby and YOUR delivery, your wishes should be listened to and you have every right to want and not want certain things. Here is the best birth plan I found for us. There are a million out there and most of your local hospitals have one listed on their website to print out and fill out. Don't be ashamed or embarrassed with any part of your birth plan. Now it's also really important to remember that not every wish will be granted in your birth plan. You baby controls how labor goes, he/she is in control and sometimes nothing goes according to the birth plan so don't get stressed if you soon realize that your birth plan is going out the window, some things you can control so don't forget that!
*When you are in labor, especially if you're at home still, make sure you do whatever you can to help you relax. Don't start cleaning the house life crazy or going for a jog. RELAX, your body need to be in a relaxed state to properly handle labor and even though it is going to the hardest thing you'll ever do, just keep telling yourself that labor pain is GOOD and that it is pushing your baby out into this world. I read multiple places that once you have come to terms with the fact that it's going to hurt and why it has to hurt; the pain isn't as severe...is this true? I have a feeling I may re-touch on this subject. If you can take a bath, take one; soak for as long as you can stand it. Have a heating pad? Use it! Nothing will take the pain away, but there are so many breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, and other things you can do to subside the pain as much as possible until you get pain meds (if you take that route) or until it's time to push and get this baby out. It is true that our bodies can handle labor, we have been doing it for 100's of thousands of years, BUT medicine also allows us to stay more relaxed and have a smoother, sometimes faster labor. So don't ever push something out of your mind until you research it!
Final Lesson: The End is Near
It has been a while since my last post...a LOT has been going on. But everyone is happy and healthy :)
We have been pretty closely monitored to make sure I don't start to get pregnancy induced hypertension (a.k.a. Preeclampsia) which has to do with your blood pressure and your body "leaking" protein. It isn't life threatening but it's something that can cause stress on the baby which is never a good thing. The only way to get rid of it is to have your child. Now there are so many different stages of this, sometimes you have it so bad to where they have and WILL get the baby out as soon as they feel they can survive outside the womb, and other times you have it the rest of your pregnancy and everything is peachy. I was so lucky to not have been diagnosed fully but have been on that boarder line fence for some time now and all I can do is take it easy, not get stressed, and keep my feet elevated for as long as possible....and drink lots of fluids.
For first time moms, at least for me, I have the constant question of what is a contraction....I have NEVER had them before, how am I suppose to tell. I HATE the repsonse "you'll know".....shut up. Since every pregnancy is different and everyone handles pain differently how do you really "know." I asked two different doctors about that contractions consist of and have gotten two COMPLETELY different answers, and I really believe it's because they each experienced labor differently, they have different pain tolerances. Now I am not too concerned and have realized that since I have been "crampy" and "tight" for quite some time now that I am just going to wait until one of the following:
1. My water breaks
2. I have such intense pain that doesn't go away when I change positions.
3. I am told at one of my appointments that I am in fact in labor....which is what my last doctor's appointment almost turned into but it was "false labor" and guess what...I HAD NO CLUE, NO SYMPTOMS...NOTHING.
First time mom's this is scary....period. But not knowing when you are going to go into labor is even more scary because we don't know what it feels like to go into labor or have a baby. The only thing we can do is wait for those CLEAR signs but guess what, sometimes your water doesn't break on it's own, sometimes you don't feel the begining stages of labor, every woman is different and doesn't fit into that "movie" role where your water breaks and you have your baby 15min later....oh wait THAT NEVER HAPPENS.
When you have reached that "final stretch" time crawls....I think it actually goes backwards at times. You are so excited to meet this beautiful miracle you created and you feel completely ready because of all the amazing gifts you received from your baby shower and from friends and family a long the way....then it hits you. "Am I actually ready?" For me it has been really tough the last month, I have been having those realizations that even though I am so thankful that we were lucky enough to even have children (because so many people in this world struggle with infertility every day) I wish we had done more. I wanted to travel and just leave for a weekend. I wanted to move some more, maybe even to another state, just for awhile. I even wanted to get married before having babies, I wanted that "selfish" time with my husband until we felt financially and physically stable enough to have kids. That's when reality slapped me in the face and reminded me that we have no control over what happens in our lives. I firmly believe that our paths have already been drawn and yes we have a million choices to get us to the end of that road, ultimately our lives are already mapped out and it NEVER happens on our dime or the way we want it to.
I don't feel like I am ready for this baby also because it is so terrifying being responsible for a human life and keeping them alive, now family and friends will tell you that you're going to be great and you'll be just fine but these are fears that I know will never go away once she's here, I will always worry about her, always worry about if I am doing things right and if I am raising her the "right" way.
I also don't feel like our house is ready, I feel like we have to do so much before she is here but the pure fact that I am exhausted when I get home from work has been keeping me from making our house good enough for the greatest roommate we will ever have.
With all these fears, comes so much excitement. I can't wait to see the color of her hair, her eyes, her beautiful smile and her dimples. I can't wait to see who she grows up to be and all the characteristics she shares with Jon and myself. We are so beyond lucky and completely honored to be surrounded by the most amazing families anyone could ask for. They have been so supportive and there every step of the way. I can't wait to give them the ultimate thank you gift, a baby girl :)
We are ready for you baby girl, and can't wait to meet you, you have one very excited daddy and one very anxious, excited, and uncomfortable mommy who can't wait to hold you, give you a million kisses and count every finger and every toe.
The end is near :)
We have been pretty closely monitored to make sure I don't start to get pregnancy induced hypertension (a.k.a. Preeclampsia) which has to do with your blood pressure and your body "leaking" protein. It isn't life threatening but it's something that can cause stress on the baby which is never a good thing. The only way to get rid of it is to have your child. Now there are so many different stages of this, sometimes you have it so bad to where they have and WILL get the baby out as soon as they feel they can survive outside the womb, and other times you have it the rest of your pregnancy and everything is peachy. I was so lucky to not have been diagnosed fully but have been on that boarder line fence for some time now and all I can do is take it easy, not get stressed, and keep my feet elevated for as long as possible....and drink lots of fluids.
For first time moms, at least for me, I have the constant question of what is a contraction....I have NEVER had them before, how am I suppose to tell. I HATE the repsonse "you'll know".....shut up. Since every pregnancy is different and everyone handles pain differently how do you really "know." I asked two different doctors about that contractions consist of and have gotten two COMPLETELY different answers, and I really believe it's because they each experienced labor differently, they have different pain tolerances. Now I am not too concerned and have realized that since I have been "crampy" and "tight" for quite some time now that I am just going to wait until one of the following:
1. My water breaks
2. I have such intense pain that doesn't go away when I change positions.
3. I am told at one of my appointments that I am in fact in labor....which is what my last doctor's appointment almost turned into but it was "false labor" and guess what...I HAD NO CLUE, NO SYMPTOMS...NOTHING.
First time mom's this is scary....period. But not knowing when you are going to go into labor is even more scary because we don't know what it feels like to go into labor or have a baby. The only thing we can do is wait for those CLEAR signs but guess what, sometimes your water doesn't break on it's own, sometimes you don't feel the begining stages of labor, every woman is different and doesn't fit into that "movie" role where your water breaks and you have your baby 15min later....oh wait THAT NEVER HAPPENS.
When you have reached that "final stretch" time crawls....I think it actually goes backwards at times. You are so excited to meet this beautiful miracle you created and you feel completely ready because of all the amazing gifts you received from your baby shower and from friends and family a long the way....then it hits you. "Am I actually ready?" For me it has been really tough the last month, I have been having those realizations that even though I am so thankful that we were lucky enough to even have children (because so many people in this world struggle with infertility every day) I wish we had done more. I wanted to travel and just leave for a weekend. I wanted to move some more, maybe even to another state, just for awhile. I even wanted to get married before having babies, I wanted that "selfish" time with my husband until we felt financially and physically stable enough to have kids. That's when reality slapped me in the face and reminded me that we have no control over what happens in our lives. I firmly believe that our paths have already been drawn and yes we have a million choices to get us to the end of that road, ultimately our lives are already mapped out and it NEVER happens on our dime or the way we want it to.
I don't feel like I am ready for this baby also because it is so terrifying being responsible for a human life and keeping them alive, now family and friends will tell you that you're going to be great and you'll be just fine but these are fears that I know will never go away once she's here, I will always worry about her, always worry about if I am doing things right and if I am raising her the "right" way.
I also don't feel like our house is ready, I feel like we have to do so much before she is here but the pure fact that I am exhausted when I get home from work has been keeping me from making our house good enough for the greatest roommate we will ever have.
With all these fears, comes so much excitement. I can't wait to see the color of her hair, her eyes, her beautiful smile and her dimples. I can't wait to see who she grows up to be and all the characteristics she shares with Jon and myself. We are so beyond lucky and completely honored to be surrounded by the most amazing families anyone could ask for. They have been so supportive and there every step of the way. I can't wait to give them the ultimate thank you gift, a baby girl :)
We are ready for you baby girl, and can't wait to meet you, you have one very excited daddy and one very anxious, excited, and uncomfortable mommy who can't wait to hold you, give you a million kisses and count every finger and every toe.
The end is near :)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Baby Shower 411
I never knew that having a baby shower would be what mine was. I mean I knew it was a big deal, who doesn't want to celebrate a baby?? but all the planning that goes into it is almost as exhausting as the actual shower...almost. Here are some tips for a care-free baby shower!
1. If someone has already said they want to throw you a baby shower and you don't mind LET THEM. But don't be afraid of letting them know certain things you may want or not want...but don't over crowd them. They love you and will never make your baby's day a bad one.
2. Invite everyone! and I mean everyone. Even the people who know can't make it. It is an extremely sweet gesture to let someone far away or someone who will be out of town know that you still care about them.
3. Register at 2 different places (not all cities and states have the store you register at) but make sure you don't double up on what you are registering for....this can cause some chaos.
4. Rest before your shower! Keep those feet up and your voice silent. You have heard over and over that every ligament in your body is a lot softer...your vocal cords are going to get extremely strained from all the talking and your feet, knees, ankles....and every other part of your body will thank you if you take the time to rest before your shower.
5. EAT EAT EAT and DRINK DRINK DRINK before your shower, even if you know there will be food and refreshments there. You are going to be so busy talking to your friends and family that food and water will be the last thing on your mind until you start to wonder why you are so light headed.
6. When opening gifts, make sure you have a couple people around you. One person will need to write down the gift giver and also the gifts (and be as specific as possible, your gifts WILL blend together and no matter how much you love each thing, your exhausted mind will forget who got you what and having a detailed list will help a lot when you are writing your Thank You cards.). You will also want someone who can keep scooting gifts closer to you and also help clean up the wrapping/tissue paper as you toss it to keep things clean and organized.
7. Last but certainly not least. After you open your gifts, even though you will be sending out Thank You cards. Make sure to make an announcement thanking every single person for A. coming out to celebrate with you and B. for all the amazing gifts that are going to give your baby a great start!. and Have fun!!! This is just as much your day MOM as it is baby's!
1. If someone has already said they want to throw you a baby shower and you don't mind LET THEM. But don't be afraid of letting them know certain things you may want or not want...but don't over crowd them. They love you and will never make your baby's day a bad one.
2. Invite everyone! and I mean everyone. Even the people who know can't make it. It is an extremely sweet gesture to let someone far away or someone who will be out of town know that you still care about them.
3. Register at 2 different places (not all cities and states have the store you register at) but make sure you don't double up on what you are registering for....this can cause some chaos.
4. Rest before your shower! Keep those feet up and your voice silent. You have heard over and over that every ligament in your body is a lot softer...your vocal cords are going to get extremely strained from all the talking and your feet, knees, ankles....and every other part of your body will thank you if you take the time to rest before your shower.
5. EAT EAT EAT and DRINK DRINK DRINK before your shower, even if you know there will be food and refreshments there. You are going to be so busy talking to your friends and family that food and water will be the last thing on your mind until you start to wonder why you are so light headed.
6. When opening gifts, make sure you have a couple people around you. One person will need to write down the gift giver and also the gifts (and be as specific as possible, your gifts WILL blend together and no matter how much you love each thing, your exhausted mind will forget who got you what and having a detailed list will help a lot when you are writing your Thank You cards.). You will also want someone who can keep scooting gifts closer to you and also help clean up the wrapping/tissue paper as you toss it to keep things clean and organized.
7. Last but certainly not least. After you open your gifts, even though you will be sending out Thank You cards. Make sure to make an announcement thanking every single person for A. coming out to celebrate with you and B. for all the amazing gifts that are going to give your baby a great start!. and Have fun!!! This is just as much your day MOM as it is baby's!
Friday, March 23, 2012
After Baby Goal For New Mommy's
As I stated in my previous post, I get ready every day. I can't help it, I've always been this way, and I really don't mind it. Are there days where I just want to lay around the house and just stay in my jammies and crazy bed hair all day, ABSOLUTELY.
But I feel my best when I get ready, not for anyone or any reason in particular...I just like it....no scratch that..I LOVE it. Example, yesterday I finally broke down and bought a new curling iron so when I got home I curled my hair and was in the middle of doing a simply up do, type pony tail when Jon came home from golf (I was suppose to meet him at the clubhouse for dinner but he came home instead). I could feel him looking at me but I just kept focusing on how I was going to get a certain section of hair to behave itself, he said in a really sweet and "I feel bad now" way, "ohhh are you getting ready?" and I just looked at him and smiled and said, "nope! I'm just playing." I knew he didn't want to know anymore because he walked out of the bathroom haha. when I get a new shirt, or eye shadow, or hair accessory I love to play with it. Even if we just stay home, I still curl my hair because it's fun trying new styles and seeing what works and what doesn't. Plus, I think it's important for us girls...women, to do these thing FOR ourselves. My favorite time of day is when I am by myself doing my hair and make-up in the bathroom. It's silent, I do my thinking and it's the only part of my day that is my "me time."
Here are 3 things I think all new mommy's MUST do for themselves.
1.) Have your "Me" time. You will be exhausted, sore, and a walking cafeteria for a while, especially in the days or sometimes weeks following baby's arrival. Take this time to have YOU time. When baby is sleeping, SLEEP, don't try and clean the whole house and keep up on the dishes and laundry just in case visitors drop by. Let people help you! The less you rest the longer it's going to take for you to heal and get back to you. "Me" time is crucial, whether sleeping is your Me time, taking a nice hot bath, or even running to get a simple pedicure...treat yourself to "Me" time, I promise you won't regret it.
2.) Take care of yourself. Your first priority is going to be your baby, hands down. You aren't going to matter that much to yourself, you won't find getting pampered, making yourself up, or even getting out of your jammies a priority. But you have to take care of yourself. I am not saying you need to be beauty pageant ready BUT I think it's important to take care of ourselves. We have a little being depending on us and why not feel our best and have that confidence flow over onto our babies. Sure our bodies are different, our hair will start falling out (around 3-4 months I am being told) and our hormones are going to be going a little crazy until they calm down but why not ease one department and do simple things. Even if it's just taking a shower that day (trust me, my friends who are new moms have days where they can't remember if they even showered), make tiny goals and stick to them. Simple little things are going to make yourself feel so much better and that day when you decide to get a cute outfit on, do your hair and make-up....you'll only be able to smile, because you'll see yourself starting to come back from "recovery."
3.) Enjoy your maternity leave! I am already dreading going back to work and I haven't even had Emma yet! No matter how long or short your maternity leave is ENJOY IT. As soon as you can get outdoors and take baby for a walk in the sunshine (Trick! I learned that taking baby outside where it is light and then keeping rooms darker at night time will teach them the different between light and dark and is suppose to help them sleep better). When they are a little older take them out to things they will never remember but things you can enjoy together while you are able to spend all the time in the world with them. Go to the zoo and see the animals, go to a lake, or take her to visit family and friends. Enjoy your maternity leave and every minute you have with baby so that when you go back to work you are feeling really good that you did as much as you could with them because once work starts back, you'll be double exhausted!
But I feel my best when I get ready, not for anyone or any reason in particular...I just like it....no scratch that..I LOVE it. Example, yesterday I finally broke down and bought a new curling iron so when I got home I curled my hair and was in the middle of doing a simply up do, type pony tail when Jon came home from golf (I was suppose to meet him at the clubhouse for dinner but he came home instead). I could feel him looking at me but I just kept focusing on how I was going to get a certain section of hair to behave itself, he said in a really sweet and "I feel bad now" way, "ohhh are you getting ready?" and I just looked at him and smiled and said, "nope! I'm just playing." I knew he didn't want to know anymore because he walked out of the bathroom haha. when I get a new shirt, or eye shadow, or hair accessory I love to play with it. Even if we just stay home, I still curl my hair because it's fun trying new styles and seeing what works and what doesn't. Plus, I think it's important for us girls...women, to do these thing FOR ourselves. My favorite time of day is when I am by myself doing my hair and make-up in the bathroom. It's silent, I do my thinking and it's the only part of my day that is my "me time."
Here are 3 things I think all new mommy's MUST do for themselves.
1.) Have your "Me" time. You will be exhausted, sore, and a walking cafeteria for a while, especially in the days or sometimes weeks following baby's arrival. Take this time to have YOU time. When baby is sleeping, SLEEP, don't try and clean the whole house and keep up on the dishes and laundry just in case visitors drop by. Let people help you! The less you rest the longer it's going to take for you to heal and get back to you. "Me" time is crucial, whether sleeping is your Me time, taking a nice hot bath, or even running to get a simple pedicure...treat yourself to "Me" time, I promise you won't regret it.
2.) Take care of yourself. Your first priority is going to be your baby, hands down. You aren't going to matter that much to yourself, you won't find getting pampered, making yourself up, or even getting out of your jammies a priority. But you have to take care of yourself. I am not saying you need to be beauty pageant ready BUT I think it's important to take care of ourselves. We have a little being depending on us and why not feel our best and have that confidence flow over onto our babies. Sure our bodies are different, our hair will start falling out (around 3-4 months I am being told) and our hormones are going to be going a little crazy until they calm down but why not ease one department and do simple things. Even if it's just taking a shower that day (trust me, my friends who are new moms have days where they can't remember if they even showered), make tiny goals and stick to them. Simple little things are going to make yourself feel so much better and that day when you decide to get a cute outfit on, do your hair and make-up....you'll only be able to smile, because you'll see yourself starting to come back from "recovery."
3.) Enjoy your maternity leave! I am already dreading going back to work and I haven't even had Emma yet! No matter how long or short your maternity leave is ENJOY IT. As soon as you can get outdoors and take baby for a walk in the sunshine (Trick! I learned that taking baby outside where it is light and then keeping rooms darker at night time will teach them the different between light and dark and is suppose to help them sleep better). When they are a little older take them out to things they will never remember but things you can enjoy together while you are able to spend all the time in the world with them. Go to the zoo and see the animals, go to a lake, or take her to visit family and friends. Enjoy your maternity leave and every minute you have with baby so that when you go back to work you are feeling really good that you did as much as you could with them because once work starts back, you'll be double exhausted!
Goal For Emma
Being a girl (I still don't consider myself a woman, I have no idea why) I have self image issues. The media sculpts this picture of what we are "suppose" to look like, medical charts show what we "should be" weighing, measuring in height, and intelligence.....To me this is all bogus and something I know I can't prevent Emma from seeing, hearing, or being a part of, but I can work really hard to make sure she knows how beautiful she is and that as long as she is taking care of herself and being a good person, that is all that matters.
Self image is just one of the many things that are on the top of my goal list for her....
I was raised with a beautiful, thin mom. She always made sure that he hair was done....even if she wasn't going anywhere. She always took care of herself, and made sure that she looked her best. Growing up, I noticed every curl she put in her hair, every sweep of her make-up brushes, and every slip into her shoes and I couldn't wait for when I was old enough for all of that. I have loved being a girl and all of the "dressing up" customs that come along with it....then society got to me.
I started noticing (in the 3rd grade) that I was a lot bigger than the other girls and that I didn't have as pretty hair or faces as the other girls because mine was so round and my hair was so fine. From a very young age I never felt good enough. This had NOTHING to do with my family life, I had an amazingly close family and they never put me down or made me feel any less of a person....I really think that I just started to notice self image a lot sooner than other girls because I was "different."
Long, drawn out story short....I started to take care of myself as best as I could starting at a very young age to try and make myself feel as good as I thought the other girls did....this isn't the life I want for my daughter....
My entire life I was wanted a little girl so bad that I had her name picked out since I can remember...and no, it wasn't Emma. Now I am so scared to be having a girl because I don't want her to go through what I did. Even though I have always been very good at hiding my issues with my self image...I struggle with it everyday, and I know I most likely always will. I want her to see the way I carry myself the same way my mom carried herself when I was little, I want her to love being a girl and not want to look a certain way for anyone but her. I wake up at 4:30 every morning so that I have time to shower, do my make-up and hair. Could I take a shower the night before, sleep in, throw my hair back and not even worry about any make-up....but that's not me. I like taking my time doing my make-up while listening to the news, I love playing with colors of eye shadow and making sure my mascara looks just right. Do I want to look presentable for work even though it's at a meat plant? yes. Do I want to feel good about myself and feel pretty? absolutely. I love to do my hair and make-up and dress nice because it makes me feel good and that, is what matters to me. I know that I am and will never be a size 2 and I'm fine with that. However, is that reason enough to let myself go completely because I will never be what society thinks is perfect and beautiful...NEVER.
I know that Emma is going to be strong and confident and not have a problem carrying herself. And THAT is my number one goal for her. I want to be the best mom I can and make her feel as beautiful and "perfect" as I can.
Self image is just one of the many things that are on the top of my goal list for her....
I was raised with a beautiful, thin mom. She always made sure that he hair was done....even if she wasn't going anywhere. She always took care of herself, and made sure that she looked her best. Growing up, I noticed every curl she put in her hair, every sweep of her make-up brushes, and every slip into her shoes and I couldn't wait for when I was old enough for all of that. I have loved being a girl and all of the "dressing up" customs that come along with it....then society got to me.
I started noticing (in the 3rd grade) that I was a lot bigger than the other girls and that I didn't have as pretty hair or faces as the other girls because mine was so round and my hair was so fine. From a very young age I never felt good enough. This had NOTHING to do with my family life, I had an amazingly close family and they never put me down or made me feel any less of a person....I really think that I just started to notice self image a lot sooner than other girls because I was "different."
Long, drawn out story short....I started to take care of myself as best as I could starting at a very young age to try and make myself feel as good as I thought the other girls did....this isn't the life I want for my daughter....
My entire life I was wanted a little girl so bad that I had her name picked out since I can remember...and no, it wasn't Emma. Now I am so scared to be having a girl because I don't want her to go through what I did. Even though I have always been very good at hiding my issues with my self image...I struggle with it everyday, and I know I most likely always will. I want her to see the way I carry myself the same way my mom carried herself when I was little, I want her to love being a girl and not want to look a certain way for anyone but her. I wake up at 4:30 every morning so that I have time to shower, do my make-up and hair. Could I take a shower the night before, sleep in, throw my hair back and not even worry about any make-up....but that's not me. I like taking my time doing my make-up while listening to the news, I love playing with colors of eye shadow and making sure my mascara looks just right. Do I want to look presentable for work even though it's at a meat plant? yes. Do I want to feel good about myself and feel pretty? absolutely. I love to do my hair and make-up and dress nice because it makes me feel good and that, is what matters to me. I know that I am and will never be a size 2 and I'm fine with that. However, is that reason enough to let myself go completely because I will never be what society thinks is perfect and beautiful...NEVER.
I know that Emma is going to be strong and confident and not have a problem carrying herself. And THAT is my number one goal for her. I want to be the best mom I can and make her feel as beautiful and "perfect" as I can.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Lesson 8: Cravings
I know I said this earlier BUT cravings are something that are in your head and can control you if you don't take the reigns first.
With that being said, I will full admit that cravings DO exist! Since every pregnancy is different, the degree of how hard you are hit with a craving varies. I have seen a woman purchase an entire case of squirt because she was craving it and after 2 drinks from just one she gave it away because it just wasn't what she thought. I have also seen women eat frosting with graham crackers, but I have also seen my boyfriend do the same thing.....
My point is, EVERYONE gets cravings, our hormones are going to make them more intense and/or more frequent but we have the ultimate power to shut them down....not all the time, but when we know we shouldn't have it. About once a month we go to a local restaurant who to me, have the best nachos on the planet. Do I order it every time we go, absolutely. But it's ONCE a month if not longer between visits, and if that's the worse thing I am eating that month then I don't feel guilty at all. There are certain cravings I crave every single day and some that just pop in my head. A list of cravings I would indulge is would be
Special K topped with any kind of fruit but I prefer bananas, strawberries, or blueberries (but they have to be frozen....weird I know).
Sugar: If I am craving sugar I usually take some gulps of water, have some gum, OR if it's night time and we have already had dinner I will make the fruit smoothie I posted in previous posts which is just frozen un-sweetened fruit and flavored soy milk. Every once in awhile I will indulge, like on the rare occasion we go to the movies (I think we've gone once or twice since being pregnant) I will let myself get some sour patch kids because they are God's gift to the sugar industry.
Salty: This is a verrrry tough one. Usually salty cravings never lead to anything good haha but some tricks I have using through out pregnancy is eating trisquits and some cheese slices, or laughing cow cheese. A handful or two of trail mix in a cup! If you eat it out of your hand you are more likely to eat an entire handful in one shot...when you put a handful or two into any kind of bowl or container, you are most likely to eat one thing at a time, making you fuller and most satisfied.
If you are having really weird cravings, like pickles and ice cream.....well that's just gross (considering I hate pickles) BUT completely normal! Really any kind of craving is normal, except I was told my a midwife once that for some reason pregnant women crave laundry detergent or dish soap when they smell it. If you are craving something that is not a food product and has any kind of red flag to you no matter how good it may sound...call your doctor immediately and ask them about it. DON'T BE EMBARRASSED either, they get calls from people asking if a certain pain is normal everyday. If you call and ask them why you are craving a certain detergent, paper, or any other non food item you make have a deficiency of some kind so don't think that you are some weirdo who has to keep it secret. Let your doctor or midwife help you, that is what they are trained to do and what they LOVE to do. Remember that taking care of that little baby is your number one responsibility and asking questions no matter how silly you may think it is, could actually be a very important, life altering question.
With that being said, I will full admit that cravings DO exist! Since every pregnancy is different, the degree of how hard you are hit with a craving varies. I have seen a woman purchase an entire case of squirt because she was craving it and after 2 drinks from just one she gave it away because it just wasn't what she thought. I have also seen women eat frosting with graham crackers, but I have also seen my boyfriend do the same thing.....
My point is, EVERYONE gets cravings, our hormones are going to make them more intense and/or more frequent but we have the ultimate power to shut them down....not all the time, but when we know we shouldn't have it. About once a month we go to a local restaurant who to me, have the best nachos on the planet. Do I order it every time we go, absolutely. But it's ONCE a month if not longer between visits, and if that's the worse thing I am eating that month then I don't feel guilty at all. There are certain cravings I crave every single day and some that just pop in my head. A list of cravings I would indulge is would be
Special K topped with any kind of fruit but I prefer bananas, strawberries, or blueberries (but they have to be frozen....weird I know).
Sugar: If I am craving sugar I usually take some gulps of water, have some gum, OR if it's night time and we have already had dinner I will make the fruit smoothie I posted in previous posts which is just frozen un-sweetened fruit and flavored soy milk. Every once in awhile I will indulge, like on the rare occasion we go to the movies (I think we've gone once or twice since being pregnant) I will let myself get some sour patch kids because they are God's gift to the sugar industry.
Salty: This is a verrrry tough one. Usually salty cravings never lead to anything good haha but some tricks I have using through out pregnancy is eating trisquits and some cheese slices, or laughing cow cheese. A handful or two of trail mix in a cup! If you eat it out of your hand you are more likely to eat an entire handful in one shot...when you put a handful or two into any kind of bowl or container, you are most likely to eat one thing at a time, making you fuller and most satisfied.
If you are having really weird cravings, like pickles and ice cream.....well that's just gross (considering I hate pickles) BUT completely normal! Really any kind of craving is normal, except I was told my a midwife once that for some reason pregnant women crave laundry detergent or dish soap when they smell it. If you are craving something that is not a food product and has any kind of red flag to you no matter how good it may sound...call your doctor immediately and ask them about it. DON'T BE EMBARRASSED either, they get calls from people asking if a certain pain is normal everyday. If you call and ask them why you are craving a certain detergent, paper, or any other non food item you make have a deficiency of some kind so don't think that you are some weirdo who has to keep it secret. Let your doctor or midwife help you, that is what they are trained to do and what they LOVE to do. Remember that taking care of that little baby is your number one responsibility and asking questions no matter how silly you may think it is, could actually be a very important, life altering question.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Lesson 7: Your body is going to change whether you're ready or not.
Whether you are skinny, heavier set, or some where in the middle your body is in for a shock. There are MANY things that are going to happen that people won't tell you. Things that you may not think are normal but actually really are.
Now one thing I have been hearing a lot is "oh you're in for stretch marks, the battle scars of pregnancy." BOGUS not everyone gets them. There are 2 reasons you get them. 1. You're body is growing too fast, so instead of your skin being able to gradually stretch it does it so fast that you get these stretch marks. From what I have heard from doctors and read, falling into the trap of eating for too, so gaining too much weight too fast is the main reason for example 1. Now you could just grow big babies so reason 2. for stretch marks is baby gets too big too fast. I have heard my doctor say that maintaining your weight is not only important for YOU and makes it so much easier to lose weight after having baby but it also makes sure that baby doesn't get too big. Now I know you may be thinking "how can a baby get 'too' big?" They can, and that's not good. When baby gets too big it can cause mamas to need to have a c-section because our bodies sometimes can't handle delivering, it can cause extra exhaustion on both ends, and it can also cause more stress on baby. Now don't freak out if you have a big baby, I know a good handful of people who have had big babies vaginally with no problems, so if they are telling you that your baby is measuring big it's not the end of the world. One product I bought almost immediately after I found out I was pregnant was from the company called Earth Mama Angel Baby, it's called "natural stretch oil" now it's not a cheap buy HOWEVER I will be 8 months pregnant next Friday and I haven't had one stretch mark, now I also feel like I have been maintaining my weight gain and keeping things steady and not out of control so I am not sure if that also is a factor. All I know is I will continue to use it and recommend it to all mamas out there, it's wonderful and is sensitive on our noses so it calms down nausea and also leaves your skin so soft. I also top off my tummy with some coca butter, the more moisture the better!....
Here is also a site I LOVE LOVE LOVE that will give you a list of all the things your body is going through and this link is particularly geared towards first trimester but all you have to do is click the "Pregnancy" tab and enter in what week you are and you will get a huge list of symptoms, forums, everything you could possibly need for great information :)
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/first-trimester/articles/most-common-pregnancy-symptoms.aspx
You get to learn what your body will be going through in the coming week and what baby is up to. Awesome site! :) Have fun!!!
Lesson 6: People will surprise you
Because of how exciting this new adventure is your family and friends are all super excited. They are also wanting to fill you with as much knowledge as they can to help you since this is your first time. You will hear everything from horror stories, miracles, and easy pregnancies and births. As mean as this may sound IGNORE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR. Every single pregnancy is different, they are like finger prints, no two are identical and your body will respond different than theirs to pregnancy and mommy hood. While it feels good to have the support of your family and friends you are going to focus too much on praying you won't have the horror stories you hear come true and wonder why you aren't having the perfect pregnancy.
Like I said IGNORE those stories, they are sweet to hear the happy endings but you'll spend too much time focusing on it.
Another thing, you will be extremely surprised at just how much you get judged, it hurts and it is extremely annoying (thank you hormones) but just remember THIS IS YOUR CHILD not theirs. There was someone who constantly gave Jon and I the "why??" and "why are you doing that?" which also were given with dirty looks....I'll never really look at this person the same again because of how ridiculous, judgemental, and rude they were. Are we perfect? Not even close, but we know what we want for our child and if you don't like it....well, since I'm a lady (or try my hardest to be) all I am going to say is those people who have a permanent stick up their butt and are judging all your decisions. Feel bad for them, they are obviously jealous of your amazing situation and more than likely there are more feelings feeding the negativity than just you. But like I said, sadly I will never look at that person the same and I just can't act like I use to around them....maybe after my hormones calm down I will have a change of heart but as of right now, they are the last thing on my mind.
We are soooo incredibly lucky to have the families we have because nothing about our relationship has been traditional or "the way it's suppose to be." I grew up thinking my life would go a certain way and would fit into this certain mold but it never has and never will. Honestly, I think Jon knew we were each other's "It" way before I did and when we found out I was pregnant I was terrified and I know Jon was too but he was instantly excited and happy. I wanted to wait to tell our families, until I at least got in to see a doctor....he couldn't wait he was too excited. Since we aren't married, I felt guilty and like we had done something wrong because this isn't how it's suppose to go. Like I said, nothing about our relationship has been the way it's "suppose" to be so it really wasn't a huge shock. I just prayed our families wouldn't be mad.
The one thing you have to tell yourself, whether you are are married, not married, or doing this alone, no matter what your family and friends love you and they want the best for you. You're going to be judged at some point and upset people at others but remember this is YOUR baby and YOUR life. Keep that baby as your focus and remember that he/she loves you no matter what. Everything else will fall into place, I promise you.
Like I said IGNORE those stories, they are sweet to hear the happy endings but you'll spend too much time focusing on it.
Another thing, you will be extremely surprised at just how much you get judged, it hurts and it is extremely annoying (thank you hormones) but just remember THIS IS YOUR CHILD not theirs. There was someone who constantly gave Jon and I the "why??" and "why are you doing that?" which also were given with dirty looks....I'll never really look at this person the same again because of how ridiculous, judgemental, and rude they were. Are we perfect? Not even close, but we know what we want for our child and if you don't like it....well, since I'm a lady (or try my hardest to be) all I am going to say is those people who have a permanent stick up their butt and are judging all your decisions. Feel bad for them, they are obviously jealous of your amazing situation and more than likely there are more feelings feeding the negativity than just you. But like I said, sadly I will never look at that person the same and I just can't act like I use to around them....maybe after my hormones calm down I will have a change of heart but as of right now, they are the last thing on my mind.
We are soooo incredibly lucky to have the families we have because nothing about our relationship has been traditional or "the way it's suppose to be." I grew up thinking my life would go a certain way and would fit into this certain mold but it never has and never will. Honestly, I think Jon knew we were each other's "It" way before I did and when we found out I was pregnant I was terrified and I know Jon was too but he was instantly excited and happy. I wanted to wait to tell our families, until I at least got in to see a doctor....he couldn't wait he was too excited. Since we aren't married, I felt guilty and like we had done something wrong because this isn't how it's suppose to go. Like I said, nothing about our relationship has been the way it's "suppose" to be so it really wasn't a huge shock. I just prayed our families wouldn't be mad.
The one thing you have to tell yourself, whether you are are married, not married, or doing this alone, no matter what your family and friends love you and they want the best for you. You're going to be judged at some point and upset people at others but remember this is YOUR baby and YOUR life. Keep that baby as your focus and remember that he/she loves you no matter what. Everything else will fall into place, I promise you.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Lesson 5: You are pregnant NOT disabled
It's a VERY common misconception that pregnant women can no longer function in society because it's too hard on them....BOGUS.
There are many things you need to be carefull of when pregnant, here is an AMAZING link that talks about all the things that you just fine and all the things you should be careful about:
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/is-it-safe.aspx
Your body is going through many many changes and your ligaments are a lot softer as your body constantly readjusts for baby (that's why you're crampy and a lot more sore than normal) BUT this doesn't mean that you have to stop living your life. You can ask any doctor and they will tell you, if you worked out prior to being pregnant even if you were doing a program where you lifted weights, you can keep doing that. As long as you're not training for World's Strongest Woman....then you are FINE.
Now there are some VERY IMPORTANT things to remember:
1.) Don't over do it. When your body tells you you're tired, even if you could have done a lot more pre-pregnancy STOP. Your body is working in overtime 24hrs a day so when it says "I'm tired" you're tired.
2.) Don't be the hero. If someone is moving or you need some heavy boxes lifted at work. Don't be afraid to ask someone to do it. If you haven't talked to your doctor about what weight restrictions are off limits than play it safe ALWAYS.
3.) If you have to question it, DON'T DO IT. You have those tiny little gut feelings for a reason, to me they are our mommy sensors practicing for when baby is here. Again as I said above, there is nothing wrong with asking for help.
Please trust me on this, as you well know by now people are going to be acting like you're in a body cast or just had your torso ripped open and won't want you to help or do anything that they feel is too strenuous. If this really bothers you then make sure you state that you are still the same person, yes you are carrying very precious cargo now BUT it's good for the baby when you exercise. If it doesn't bother you at all and you want to test the waters of having people wait on you (when your belly gets too big to even pick things up off the floor, you're going to wish you had people by your side at all times), then DON'T BE ASHAMED OF IT. Pregnancy is the only time when we can get away with almost anything, I'm not saying use it as an excuse, but there are times when you will feel so sick you're just trying to make it through the day, and days where you feel so "belly heavy," especially towards the end that you will appreciate people rushing to help you. TAKE THE HELP but don't grow lazy, 9 months of being lazy can lead to an extremely bad habit forming.
Here is what I tell myself. "I am pregnant, not disabled. I know my limits and I don't need to be anyone except my child's hero. Her safety is what is most important and if I am down she is down so why push it."
If someone offers to help me up off the ground I take it. If someone offers to take a heavy load out to my car I tell them how much I would appreciate it, and finally, if someone tells me "Oh don't lift that!" and I know very well that that 5lb load will not cause me to go into labor and will not tear anything I simply pick it up anyway, smile and say "hey, I am pregnant, not disabled. I know my limits and a tiny little thing like this...it's nothing."
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Lesson 4: You are NOT eating for two
Daily I am given advice on what to do and what to prepare for, which we really do appreciate BUT the best and I can't stress that enough the BEST advice I have received came from a gorgeous mama, Kristen. She told me, "Courtnie, don't believe people when they tell you that you're eating for two." Right away I was like "what?? I thought I was."
Here's the thing....
When you're pregnant you only really need 300-500 extra calories a day. Now to a person like me, I don't count calories....not my thing. For me, I don't eat any different that I did pre-pregnancy. Do I get unbearable cravings, EVERYDAY. I just chose not to indulge in them every time. Once every couple months, Jon lets me make something "bad." which usually consists of sugar since that's what makes me the happiest. This time I made brownies and let me tell you, they were worth EVERY bite :)
You have to really learn to give and take. You're baby is going to be fine, eat what it is that sounds good but don't eat mass amounts of it and don't eat bad stuff all the time. Find a good balance and make sure to get your fruits and veggies in there. If you are craving sugar like I do here is a recipe Jon and I "indulge" in.
Take about a cup of frozen fruit (any kind you like...but be careful, some fruits produce WAY to many seeds)
Put that in your magic bullet or blender with just enough Silk Fruit & Protein soy milk to cover your fruit.
Blend until all everything is smooth and you can always add more soy milk if you want it more like smoothie texture.
A completely guilt free desert that not only packs you full of vitamins for baby but tastes amazing.
My main point is this, if you were underweight or right where you "should" be at pre-pregnancy and feel you can eat whatever you want and it just goes to baby....go for it. For some, they will only gain baby weight, for others they will gain everything but baby weight. It all depends on your body and how it handles and adapts to pregnancy, but why not watch what you eat and make it easier on your body and your self-esteem to know that after baby you won't need to but back your eating or change any thing at all because you really worked hard to take care of yourself? When you are craving nachos, HAVE THEM. When you are craving ice cream HAVE IT. Just don't eat the whole thing and don't make it a habit. It's just like eating pre-pregnancy.
If you're working out during pregnancy your body may need more calories but be careful, don't over do it and don't think that the weight won't come off. I am struggling with this myself and as long as you don't turn into a couch potato and completely let yourself go during and after pregnancy, you will lose the baby weight and you will get back to your old self. Embrace your pregnancy and as hard as this is to do, LET GO OF ALL THE BAD FEELINGS YOU HAVE TOWARDS YOUR LOOKS. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and not many people stay tiny everywhere except their bellies, so realize while they are "perfect" they really are freaks of nature and while I as well really admire and am incredibly jealous of their pregnancy bodies I don't dwell on it. I have someone who tells me I am perfect every day and I don't need anything else....except my baby girl to get here already :)
Lesson 3: Embrace those hormones
The day I went into find out I was pregnant started off rather interesting. I knew I felt "off" but as I listened to my newly downloaded "skyscraper" I began to cry....and not like "oh my eyes are watering" I CRIED. I knew right then I was pregnant....Hormones only get worse.
They are easy much much easier to control than people tell you so don't fall into that trap of just blaming everything on "being pregnant" or "hormones." They will make you annoyed and frustrated a lot more easily however, they will also make you happier than you've ever felt and heighten every sense possible when it comes to feelings.
I guarantee you will tell your significant other you don't want to see them ever again because of hormones and I guarantee that 5 min later you'll be crying and telling them how much you love them...haha trust me, you can't control the crying. You will cry so very easily, that's why it's important to let your partner, family, friends, whoever, that you really need more support than jabs. Your partner, if they are like mine, think that you are fine. They will think that you are just growing a belly because baby is getting bigger, they have no idea or really interest (males I feel really can't help it) in knowing more and knowing exactly how you're feeling and what you're going through. Our partners love us and they care about us, but it's like our purses, they are afraid it's going to be gross and they are scared of what they will find if they dig any deeper. So just remind them that you really would appreciate more loving attitude and apologize in advance for any negative outburst that WILL happen within the next 9 months.
They love you with all their heart, never, ever forget that. They are going to be just as ready as you are at the end of this for baby to come out. Little do they know that they will be a whole lot crankier with lack of sleep. Us women have been getting lack of sleep for the past few months (I stopped sleeping around 4 months). We are professionals and we will know how to handle the lack of sleep just fine, it's your man you need to feel bad for....they have NO idea what they are in for.
They are easy much much easier to control than people tell you so don't fall into that trap of just blaming everything on "being pregnant" or "hormones." They will make you annoyed and frustrated a lot more easily however, they will also make you happier than you've ever felt and heighten every sense possible when it comes to feelings.
I guarantee you will tell your significant other you don't want to see them ever again because of hormones and I guarantee that 5 min later you'll be crying and telling them how much you love them...haha trust me, you can't control the crying. You will cry so very easily, that's why it's important to let your partner, family, friends, whoever, that you really need more support than jabs. Your partner, if they are like mine, think that you are fine. They will think that you are just growing a belly because baby is getting bigger, they have no idea or really interest (males I feel really can't help it) in knowing more and knowing exactly how you're feeling and what you're going through. Our partners love us and they care about us, but it's like our purses, they are afraid it's going to be gross and they are scared of what they will find if they dig any deeper. So just remind them that you really would appreciate more loving attitude and apologize in advance for any negative outburst that WILL happen within the next 9 months.
They love you with all their heart, never, ever forget that. They are going to be just as ready as you are at the end of this for baby to come out. Little do they know that they will be a whole lot crankier with lack of sleep. Us women have been getting lack of sleep for the past few months (I stopped sleeping around 4 months). We are professionals and we will know how to handle the lack of sleep just fine, it's your man you need to feel bad for....they have NO idea what they are in for.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Lesson 2: How to look good pregnant
http://thefrugalistadiaries.blogspot.com/search/label/pregnant%20and%20fabulous
Here are just a few of the simple changes she made to make herself feel and look stunning!
Lesson #2 I am learning that I just need to embrace this belly and all the things that are coming along with it. My one day mother in law said that pregnancy doesn't last forever and it's so true. My body is making it's own adjustments to make my baby as comfy and supplied as possible....so instead of being hard on myself, I am making it my goal to help myself feel more beautiful because it doesn't matter how many people tell you "you're beautiful" " you look just fine" "you're all baby" < worst one of them all by the way haha, you have to feel it for yourself and I am going to make it my goal to feel as beautiful as I can because only I can control how I react to each day and how I perceive myself.
Lesson 1: Fear & worrying can drive you insane.....
When I first found out I was pregnant I was scared for so many reasons. I didn't feel ready, like I wasn't old enough to have a baby yet. It didn't matter that I was 24, lived a great house with the man I love and our dogs....I felt like I had suddenly done something so wrong and am about to let everyone down.
We didn't have time to adjust to our news, Jon wanted to talk with our parents right away because he, like myself was raised extremely close with his family and just couldn't keep something like this in. SO we told both set of families and after the reactions and the shock wore off, everyone was on board and excited.
We are currently on week 29 and let me tell ya, I never thought I would make it this far. I was so scared the first few months that I was going to lose this baby because I either didn't deserve a precious gift like a child or I would accidental eat something or do something wrong that would take out baby away. We are so lucky and thankful that we are this far and almost done!
The first thing I learned is that being scared, well terrified is a better word, is completely normal. It's normal to worry that you are going to miscarry in those first few months, it's normal to worry that you aren't doing things right through out your entire pregnancy, and as it's getting closer, I am learning that it's completely normal to be terrified that you aren't going to do a good job at raising your child, that somewhere a long the way you are going to mess up big time. Fear is normal for a parent and something that will never go away, but it's also a blessing because we were given the opportunity that for all too many will never be a reality. Having a child is such a blessing that that in itself is something that calms all my fears. This is happening for a reason, a reason I know will make sense to me one day. For now, we are enjoying this baby girl even though she isn't here. We now spend our Sunday mornings laying in bed with our hands on my tummy feeling her say good morning instead of watching TV. We now ask ourselves "what are we going to do when this or that happens." instead of just laughing at a family situation on a sitcom. We now plan for our future instead of planning for the following day or week because we know someone is now counting on us. It's scary, enough to drive you insane, but it's the greatest gift I have ever received and I can't wait to meet her and share her with this world.
We didn't have time to adjust to our news, Jon wanted to talk with our parents right away because he, like myself was raised extremely close with his family and just couldn't keep something like this in. SO we told both set of families and after the reactions and the shock wore off, everyone was on board and excited.
We are currently on week 29 and let me tell ya, I never thought I would make it this far. I was so scared the first few months that I was going to lose this baby because I either didn't deserve a precious gift like a child or I would accidental eat something or do something wrong that would take out baby away. We are so lucky and thankful that we are this far and almost done!
The first thing I learned is that being scared, well terrified is a better word, is completely normal. It's normal to worry that you are going to miscarry in those first few months, it's normal to worry that you aren't doing things right through out your entire pregnancy, and as it's getting closer, I am learning that it's completely normal to be terrified that you aren't going to do a good job at raising your child, that somewhere a long the way you are going to mess up big time. Fear is normal for a parent and something that will never go away, but it's also a blessing because we were given the opportunity that for all too many will never be a reality. Having a child is such a blessing that that in itself is something that calms all my fears. This is happening for a reason, a reason I know will make sense to me one day. For now, we are enjoying this baby girl even though she isn't here. We now spend our Sunday mornings laying in bed with our hands on my tummy feeling her say good morning instead of watching TV. We now ask ourselves "what are we going to do when this or that happens." instead of just laughing at a family situation on a sitcom. We now plan for our future instead of planning for the following day or week because we know someone is now counting on us. It's scary, enough to drive you insane, but it's the greatest gift I have ever received and I can't wait to meet her and share her with this world.
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