motherhood

A Motherhood War Story: Our First Trip to the Dentist

May 18, 2017

When I was trying to think of a Motherhood war story to share with y’all, the first one that popped in my mind was our most recent experience with my beautiful two-year-old daughter. The first words I thought of to describe this experience was “the terrible awful” – a phrase straight from the book and movie, The Help. Since reading the book several years ago, I have used this term many times to describe certain situations that end in a less than desirable way. So, without further ado, let me tell you about our day that ended with a family pizza night.

Our First Trip to the Dentist.

Motherhood War Story Pizza Night with Red Baron

Mother’s Day Weekend 2017

May 15, 2017

Mother’s Day weekend was so nice. We cleaned up the house, I got caught up on laundry and we got to spend time with friends and family. I call that a pretty good weekend. Friday, we had some of our sweet friends over for pizza and let the kids play outside. They loved having their friends over, and their parents are some of our good friends, so it was nice having grown-ups to visit with while the kids ran wild! We also met some new neighbors which was fun! I love meeting other moms that live near us and have kids who are around the same age as mine.

Mother's Day

Dress // Espadrilles

On Being Intentional With Time

April 3, 2017

I had a really good talk with my mom on the phone the other day. It was one of those conversations that I know I’ll remember. She said so many positive things to me that I have needed to hear for a long time. She filled me with life, and I can’t tell you what that did to me. In our conversation, she said something that really struck a chord with me on being intentional with our time. It may seem simple to some of you, but it had a major impact on me. Being a mother of three young children/babies is tough. Since having Weston, most days I’ve worn sweat pants and haven’t even bothered putting on make-up. That is a big deal for someone who loves fashion and enjoys being put together. I haven’t felt like myself.

Being Intentional With Our Time

10 Bible Verses For Tired New Moms

March 15, 2017

Happy Wednesday, friends! I originally had another post scheduled for today, but Hampton has a stomach bug and none of us have slept this week. With that being said, tired is the name of my game, these days. I’ve been falling asleep in the middle of the day while feeding Weston, I’ve made coffee in the keurig without putting my mug under it. I’ve run into walls, I’ve let our laundry get completely out of control. I know what it is like to be tired to your bones. To your very core. Not being able to think. So, with that being said, I thought it would be a good time to read some bible verses for the weary and tired mom. I hope these scriptures give some encouragement to another tired mommy out there! Just know that you are amazing. You are doing an incredible job! You go, mama!

10 Bible Verses for the Tired New Mom

New Mom Essentials

April 27, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LongLastingScent #CollectiveBias

I have an eighteen month old child and a second one due any day now. Becoming a “new mom” all over again can be a bit intimidating. This time around, I know what is coming. I know pretty much what to expect, although every child is very different. I have been very busy preparing for her arrival these last couple of weeks. In doing so, I’ve compiled a list of all the new mom essentials I found that I needed the first time around.

Nutrition Essentials:
Healthy Snacks – Fruit, granola bars, yogurt, etc.
Water Bottle – It’s so important to stay very hydrated while breastfeeding. Make sure you are drinking enough with a water bottle that has fl. oz. marked on the side.

Health Essentials:
Maxi Pads
Tucks
Dermoplast
Peri Bottle
Nursing Pads
Supportive Nursing Bra
Lanolin
Hand Sanitizer

I think these are all pretty self explanatory. The hospital may give you some of these things, but probably not enough. You will definitely want to have these on hand when you arrive home from the hospital.

Home Essentials:
Tissues
Suavitel® Fragrance Pearls™ – You will be doing loads and loads of laundry with a new baby. Picture your normal weekly loads times 5. It is important to be prepared for this before you bring your bundle of joy home from the hospital. I ran to Walmart the other day to purchase some Suavitel® Fragrance Pearls™. These are in wash scent boosters that hold 5x longer lasting fragrance. You will be thankful for fresh smelling laundry after dealing with all of that poop every day. These come in two scents – Lavender and Field Flowers. I also purchased the Suavitel® liquid fabric conditioner in Field Flowers and have really enjoyed it. There will be Suavitel® Fragrance Pearls™ samples and select Suavitel® liquid fabric conditioners in your Walmart store!

Disinfectant Wipes – These are so convenient for a quick clean-up.

Beauty Essentials:
Face Wipes – It is important to take care of your skin and wash your face really well, but sometimes we just don’t have time. Face wipes are really convenient and make you feel fresh even when you’re running on little sleep.
Concealer – to hide those dark circles.
Eye Cream – also, to help with dark circles and puffiness.
Lip Balm
Dry Shampoo – because who has time to wash their hair these days?

Entertainment:
Magazine
Book
Netflix and a Remote
Coffee

I made a list of items that I found out very quickly after my first baby that I needed. Unfortunately, I was not as prepared the first time. This time, I have made up a little basket that is sitting in my bathroom ready to go for whenever this baby decides to come on!

What are some of your new mom essentials? Were you prepared for all of the extra laundry that comes along with a new baby?

Facts of Life: After Baby

August 15, 2014

Here are a few facts about my life since having my baby (9 months ago).

Our house will not stay as clean as it was before.
-I have a really good cleaning schedule at our home. Laundry on Mondays, floors on Tuesdays and Saturdays, etc. It helps keep our house clean for the most part, but we have toys now. They stay out all the time and they are all over the place. I have been mysteriously finding my plastic spoons and spatulas thrown about the house as well as tupperware. Honestly, I love it. I love that my house is clearly lived in. My sweet baby made that mess and therefore I love it.

We will not be able to watch a T.V. show or movie without hitting pause for…the foreseeable future.
-This one is a shame. It takes us 2 hours to watch a 1 hour long show and sometimes we don’t even get to finish it until the next day. Thank goodness for DVR, right?

We will not have an uninterrupted meal.
-We take turns tending to Hamp while we eat. He hates it when we eat and aren’t paying him as much attention. He also decides he is hungry again every time we sit down to eat. Gotta love him. Hopefully this will get better with time. It’s just an attention seeking phase…right, moms? Anyone?

I will never take enough pictures.
– Ryan laughs at the amount of pictures I take of our son. I can’t help it. I want to remember everything. There are some things I’ve already forgotten like his first couple of months. It is all a blur and I don’t know what I would do without all of the pictures I took. I want to remember every face, look, smile, cry, and laugh.

Date nights are needed often, but don’t happen often.
-Before having Hampton, we could do and go wherever we wanted when we wanted. After having him, our date nights are not as often (naturally) but we now take full advantage of them. Before, we took them for granted because we saw each other all the time. Now, it is a treat and something we look forward to.

I will never travel peacefully again.
– When we went to Orlando, I left Hampton for the first time. I cried and cried. It was so tough for me to enjoy the trip without constantly thinking of him and wondering what he was doing or if he was okay. Did I forget to leave something for him? etc. When we left him for the second time while we were in Chicago, I had the same thoughts. It wasn’t as bad that time because we stayed so busy, but the plane rides were rough. By the time we got home, I was so anxious to see him. I’m hoping this will also get better with time.

I have a new-found confidence and less fear.
-I have lost some of my fears because having a baby does something to you. It makes you strong in ways you never were before. Motherhood also brings about new fears. Obvious ones. Of course you worry about your child constantly, but you will also grow and mature in a whole new way. You no longer get to be the child. You are the mom. This tiny person looks to you for comfort, food, and security. That gives you strength.

Some months I feel like I’ll never sleep again.
-Hampton is 9 months old, but he still goes through phases where he wakes up many times a night. I don’t know when this will get better. I am constantly wondering when we will sleep again. Sometimes he does great. He will sleep through the night for 2 or 3 weeks and then just when we feel like we have it all figured out, BOOM. He wakes up 4 times in one night and then it begins again. He won’t sleep for weeks. It goes back and forth. Can you tell I haven’t slept much the past 3 weeks? Can you tell by this sleepy rant? (haha okay, done)

We will not ever experience a love like this again…
-…until we have another child, of course. Hampton has filled my heart with so much joy and love since the moment I found out I was pregnant. Since he came into this world, it feels like my heart is crawling around our home. He is so precious. I can be in a terrible mood and he looks at me and smiles or does his sweet little chuckle and I forget about it all. The world around me fades and everything is better. He is the biggest blessing to mine and Ryan’s lives and I can’t imagine life without him now that he is here.

Bottom line, it’s worth it. To all of my friends and followers who are expecting their first child, cherish this time with your spouse. Things change so much once that little one comes into the world. You will have tons of time to focus on your little one, but you only have a limited time left to spend with your spouse like this. Go on dates now. Don’t wait. Children are a huge blessing from God and they bring so much joy to you and your home. They are worth it. Hampton is worth every T.V. show I haven’t watched. He is worth every bite of my dinner I didn’t get to finish, he is worth every day I haven’t been able to shower and every frustrated tear from a very tired mother. He is worth everything.

What changes have been made in your home since having children? How often do you go on a date with your husband?