Logan Can

A Lifestyle Blog about Marriage, Parenting, Fashion and Fitness

Beauty Essentials for New Moms

Post contains affiliate links.
New Mom Beauty Essentials

Blame it on my 21+ years of dance recitals and competitions, but I hate wearing a lot of make up. It makes me feel like I’m wearing a mask. To this day I can not wear liquid base. Gag. I love to let my face “breathe.” and therefore I do not wear a ton of make up.

Once you become a new mom, you have much less no time to stand around and primp like you used to. You will have little time to experiment with things. Even if you get a minute to yourself, you’ll probably jump at the opportunity to shower for the first time all week day. With that being said, I have had to super simplify my beauty routine. Honestly though, I love it. It is so much easier and you still look and feel great. Maybe even healthier than before. Simple is always best, right? Okay, so here are the items I have narrowed down to:

Mascara – I use Maybelline New York The Colossal Volum’ Express. It is amazing to me how much a little mascara will do for you. It opens your eyes and makes you look awake and alert no matter how little sleep you got the night before. Just what you need! Throw in a little coffee and people may mistake you for an actual human, not the Zombie that you feel you’ve become! Yea!

EOS Lip Balm – I love lip balm and put it on multiple times a day. It bothers me if my lips feel dry. Go ahead and do yourself a favor and stock up on it. Put it in your purse (hah! like you still have a purse!), diaper bag, hospital bag, car, etc. Stock. Up. I use EOS the most because I love the way it feels and I love the little compact it comes in as well. My favorite is the Sweet Mint.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter – I’m addicted to this stuff. I have most of the shades now. My favorite is Strawberry Shortcake. I’ve always heard that a trick to disguise tired eyes is adding a little lipstick to draw people’s attention to your lips rather than your eyes. You will need and use this trick every time you leave the house. I love the Revlon Lip Butter because it is very moisturizing and the colors are subtle.

Neutrogena Skinclearing Blemish Concealer
– Concealer will be your best friend.  Dab it under those eyes and on blemishes every day. It will make you feel like a new woman. I love to use the Neutrogena Skinclearing brand because it well, clears your skin. It’s perfect for post pregnancy because your hormones are going crazy and if you’re like me, you’ll break-out like a 15 year old all over again.
Powder – Again, I use the Neutrogena skinclearing powder. It’s light but still covers well.
Vaseline – I am not a grandma, but this stuff is my favorite. I love to rub it on my feet and put socks on to sleep in because you wake up with the softest feet in the world. I also dab it under my eyes before bed because it helps those puffy dark circles you get from the lack of sleep thing. Just trust me and try it!

Jergens Lotion – Again, I’m not a grandma. This is the best lotion I’ve tried. It makes my skin so incredibly soft. No it doesn’t smell like that Amber Romance from B&BW or whatever you’re into, but it is actually good for your skin and will save you a ton of money in the long run.What are some beauty products you can’t live without?

Do you use Vaseline? Tell me I’m not the only one…

Birth Story // Hampton Keith

My Son is 4 months old and I am just now getting around to posting his birth story. That is the life of a new mom in a nutshell. Here we go:

I had every intention of going into labor on my own. I walked for at least an hour every night praying it would help induce labor. It didn’t. My doctor wanted to induce me on the 24th if I hadn’t had him by then.

We were about to leave to check into the hospital the night before (October 23rd) when my cell phone rang. The hospital told me that they were full with women who were actually in labor and couldn’t fit me in and to be on “stand-by.” Of course I was extremely anxious. I was packed and ready to go to the hospital to have this baby and then all of a sudden they couldn’t get to me? I thought okay, breathe Logan. I watched T.V. trying to get my mind off of it, but who am I kidding? I was ready to have my baby. They called back 2 hours later to tell me to come on in. Thank goodness.

We arrived at the hospital at 8pm. Ryan went downstairs to check us in and fill out the paperwork while I changed into my gown and the nurse started my IV. She asked me if I knew I was already having contractions on my own. I didn’t really feel much. By this point I had experienced several painful Braxton  Hicks so the thought that I was having contractions and not feeling anything kind of made me laugh.After not sleeping a wink, I got my epidural at 6:45 the next morning. I was 3 1/2 cm. dilated.  My doctor broke my water at 7:00 that morning. Around 9, our family arrived at the hospital. They were surprised to find out I was already 5 cm and had my epidural and everything. I was starting to get really anxious. I felt really tired and I knew I still had a very long day ahead. At 11 I was at 6 cm. My nurse checked me again at 12:15 pm and said I was at 7 cm. She told me to try to get some rest that it would be a while longer. About 45 minutes later, my best friend came to visit me and check on how I was doing. She happens to be a nurse. I told her I was good but that I felt a lot of pressure. She immediately went to get my nurse who checked me again (at 1:30) and said “oh wow. Cross your legs sweetie. His head is coming out. I’m going to call your doctor.” She came back a couple of minutes later and told me my doctor was delivering someone else’s baby at the moment and told me I had to try to wait and not to push at all.

My doctor finally came in the room at 2 pm (although it seemed like a lifetime had passed). I started pushing immediately and after 3 pushes 1 episiotomy and 11 minutes later, my beautiful baby boy was born. I couldn’t quit smiling. I couldn’t believe it was over and that it had happened so fast. Ryan was standing behind me scared to death trying to take pictures. They took Hampton to clean him off while my doctor was sewing me up and he wouldn’t cry. They thought he may have a little fluid in his lungs or that he was in shock. I was immediately terrified. They gave him to me to see if holding him skin to skin would help, but it didn’t. They took him to the nursery and Ryan followed him out. About 5 minutes later, my doctor left the room along with my nurses. I was all alone. For 30 minutes I sat there by myself freaking out (another lifetime passed). No one came to let me know anything or to check on me. I couldn’t move my legs and so I couldn’t get to my phone. I was freaking out not knowing if Hampton was okay or not.

 

 

 

Turns out, my nurse was helping deliver another patient’s baby. Finally my mom came back there and was crying and said Hampton was fine. They had seen him in the nursery. A few minutes later, Ryan sent me a video of Hampton’s first bath and he was screaming. I couldn’t contain my emotions any longer. I broke down in front of both of our families. It was slightly embarrassing, but in that moment I knew my baby would be okay.

He gave me quite the scare, but he has been healthy and happy ever since and I thank God every day for that. Hampton is the biggest blessing in my life (aside from my husband). He brings us such joy. I can’t believe it has been one year since I experienced such grief over not being able to conceive. God’s timing is perfect. I got my perfect pumpkin baby and learned to trust God and his timing. He has been trying to teach me patience all my life and apparently I still haven’t learned my lesson.

Photos by Allison Hilyer Photography.

 

Mornings Lately

Lately, my mornings have looked very different than they used to. I start off the day changing and feeding Hampton. We play for a little bit then I make the coffee and enjoy every drop because I’m leaning on it pretty heavily these days. I normally start off with a bible study (currently reading Wife After God) while I enjoy my coffee and Hampton is in his swing (best thing I’ve purchased). Ryan is working from home now which means he is normally working during this time. After my study I make a list of everything I need to get done that day. It helps me with scheduling and to keep from getting distracted. I feed and change baby again and then try to put him down for a nap so I can work. It’ s been busier around here, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Hamp is so alert and happy in the mornings. I enjoy our play time and I love to snuggle him. Every stage he hits I think ” this is my favorite” then he hits one that is even better. I love my little monkey and thoroughly enjoy our mornings together.

What does your morning routine look like? Are you a list-maker?

My Christmas Miracle

My Christmas miracle blessing, as you may have guessed, is my son, Hampton. Last December I had some tests done. Ryan and I had been trying to get pregnant for a few months with no luck and I wanted to make sure everything was okay. On Christmas Eve last year, I got a phone call from my doctor saying that it was not okay. I had not been ovulating. At all. Do you know how devastating it was? After all those months of trying and then to find out it was never going to happen. That something was wrong with my body. That it was me who was keeping us from getting pregnant. I felt like my body had failed me. I started thinking “what have I done to make this happen?” It was devastating.

I remember sitting on the bathroom floor crying that night and begging God for not only a baby but just a little bit of hope. I didn’t want to lose hope. I didn’t want to give up and probably never would. I begged him to give me a sign that things would be okay.

During Christmas I had a very hard time getting through the day and all the festivities. I’ll never forget when my FIL asked when we were going to have kids and I had to all but run to the bathroom to ball my eyes out. It was awful. Of course they didn’t know because we had not told anyone at that time. The thought of me never being able to have children plagued my mind. I have always wanted kids. I love them so much.

At the end of January, I took an ovulation test and got a smiley face! I had ovulated! There was all the hope and sign I needed. Thank you, Lord!

My doctor is a close friend of my family’s. She is a precious woman. She prayed for me daily during those devastating months. She prescribed me clomid and my 2nd month taking it, I got pregnant!

February 21st I saw two pink lines! I cried and cried and I couldn’t wait to tell Ryan so I called him at work and balled/screamed it into the phone. He was in a meeting and had to make a quick exit. He came home for lunch and we danced around all giddy and I cried for probably 2 days straight.

Because I was on clomid I had a greater risk of miscarrying so I immediately began praying fervently. I begged God not to take this miracle from me. I told him I didn’t know if I could handle it but that I definitely didn’t want to have to handle it after everything we had already been through emotionally and physically.

I had to have my blood taken the next day and everything was confirmed. I had to have blood taken every week for the first 4 weeks and then had our first ultrasound. My baby was perfectly healthy! We told our family when I was 12 weeks along.

He blessed us with our sweet angel on October 24th, 2013. My life has changed forever and God’s timing was perfect. I told Ryan that maybe God wasn’t ready for us to have a baby until then. I am holding my baby extra close this holiday season. We are so blessed and God is so GOOD!

Merry Christmas, to all my readers! I have been so blessed by you for the last year and a half and I’m sure I will continue to be.

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

Being a Mom: The First Weeks

Becoming a mother has been the most amazing and natural experience. It still rocked my world like I assume it does most people. Reading every book in the world will not prepare you for the selflessness it takes to be a mother.I prayed throughout the entire pregnancy for patience and wisdom to raise my child. I would not be making it today without God’s help with both of these things. I’ve actually been shocked with the amount of patience he has blessed me with.

I have honestly loved every step of the process. My pregnancy wasn’t perfect but it was an incredible experience. In fact, I told Ryan that I could not imagine it being my only pregnancy. I would have 4 more if he let me. haha The moment I saw my baby boy, my heart melted. He was exactly how I pictured him. I just knew he would have my brown eyes because brown is a dominant color. I knew he would have his daddy’s nose because that gene is strong in his family. I also knew he would have hair because the ultrasound tech told us he had a head full at our last visit. He was everything I imagined, but so much more.

From the moment we arrived home from the hospital, I was extremely overwhelmed. Not only was I feeling very uncomfortable from the episiotomy, I also walked in to a house FULL of company. I immediately felt like I had to entertain. I probably should have sat down and relaxed, but that is hard for me to do with a house full of people. We ended up having guests until 10:30 that night. I was exhausted, hungry and I lost it. I balled my eyes out to Ryan (bless his heart). The first 4 weeks of Hampton’s life were like this. We literally had company over every day and night for 4 weeks straight. I didn’t think we would ever get back to our normal lives again, but finally we did. Once we started getting out of the house and doing things like taking H to church, shopping or out to eat with my friends, it was amazing the difference that it made. I had a life again!

My mom was also supposed to stay with me for the first week home, but only ended up staying for two nights because of some other things going on at her home. That was tough. I felt really stressed about being alone with him so soon and while I was still trying to heal. It actually worked out well because it forced me to do it and it proved to myself that I could do this whole mom thing and do it pretty well.

I was joking with my dad the other day about how it was only 10 a.m. and I had been pooped on, peed on, spit up on, and sneezed on. He said: “so does this mean you aren’t having anymore?” and I said “absolutely I am!” haha It really has been so natural for me. Falling into this new life and new routine has been a huge adjustment but now that we have done it, I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. It has obviously had its challenges at times, but it has been so wonderful. Those first few weeks were tough with all of the company and lack of sleep, but it was also such a wonderful time. I enjoyed showing off our baby boy to all our friends and family.

If you are about to experience motherhood for the first time, all I have to say is don’t ever think you are prepared, because you aren’t. The only advice I will give you (because everyone has been giving you advice and it’s annoying after a while) is that you need to be prepared to be unprepared. Everything you’ve read will go flying out the window. That schedule you’ve worked out will not work for your baby. That rock n’ play you bought for him to sleep in for the first few weeks? He won’t sleep in it (yes, that happened).

I didn’t expect:

to cry so much during the first week. I cried because I felt fat. I cried because the baby cried. I cried because it was his first Halloween and I couldn’t take him to the Trunk-or-Treat at church. I cried because the Halloween episode of PLL was SO good. I cried because taking a shower was the best thing in the world. I cried over everything.

for breastfeeding to come so naturally. I heard so many horror stories of breast feeding. EVERYONE told me it would hurt, but it didn’t. People told me abouthow their milk supply was too low. Mine wasn’t. People told me how their babies simply wouldn’t latch on and just couldn’t get the hang of it. Mine did it perfectly the first time. I was preparing for the worst, and it has been a wonderful and fairly easy thing. I will say that I was not prepared for how demanding it is. YOU are the only one who can feed him. YOU have to be available 24/7. That part has been tough and very confining.

Your hormones will be all over the place and it will take a little while for them to settle down. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Throw (not all but some) of the advice that people have been so kind to offer out the window and do what works for YOU and your baby. Don’t ever ever ever compare yourself to other moms or your child to other children. Your child is a special gift from God and is his or her unique person. Treat him/her as such. Pray in the mornings, in the shower, in the car, before bed, while your baby is screaming, and when they smile the first time. Pray all the time. Mosty importantly, LOVE your sweet baby and every moment with them because it really does fly by so quickly. Enjoy all of those special moments.

 

         

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis