This past weekend was an absolute whirlwind of fun, family time, and baby snuggles. With both sets of grandparents in town, plus a few siblings, we had plenty of extra hands to help out with our newest addition and keep the older kids busy. It also helped us to get out of the house and head down to the beach a few times. Recovering from a C-section is tough, but it was so good for my mindset to get out in the fresh air.
Read MoreHappy Cinco de Mayo! I, for one, will be celebrating with my first post-baby margarita on the beach tonight! I crave margaritas with every pregnancy, so this will be a treasured moment for me.
Read MoreEveryone wants to talk to a pregnant woman. They want to share their advice, stories, and observations about your body. Many go out of their way to make sure a pregnant woman doesn't strain herself physically, that's she's eating enough, and eating the right foods. There is so much concern for her well being that it can be overwhelming for the expecting mother to go out in public!
Once the baby is born, however, the majority of people forget about mom, and turn all of their attention on the sweet, squishy newborn. No one talks about what the postpartum mom can expect, and as a result, many new moms end up feeling alone as they struggle through those first few weeks after baby is born.
Read MoreI'm working on Lewis's birth story, but really, the entire procedure from start to finish was perfectly uneventful. Lewis and I were only in the hospital for two nights, despite the fact that I was recovering from a C-section. That really is a testament to how well the birth and recovery for both mama and baby is going so far!
Read MoreI have big dreams of traveling around the world with my kids. In fact, Pippa at the age of 3 has already been to England, France, and Mexico. We've taken a brief hiatus from globetrotting since moving across the country, starting new jobs, and having 2 more babies, but that doesn't mean we can't be explorers in our own city and state!
Read MoreHappy Friday! It's been a beautiful week here in Northern Florida, and I'm loving the warm weather. The kids and I have been laying low this week, since I've been experiencing some end-of-pregnancy fatigue and discomfort. I've actually kind of loved our quiet mornings putting together puzzles, baking banana bread, and attempting to go for walks but turning back after 1/2 mile.
Read MoreWhen I first found out I was pregnant, I was determined to make it my healthiest pregnancy yet. I knew I would be stretched to my limit taking care of a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old, teaching part time, and running my business and blog, so I needed all the extra energy I could get!
Read MoreI'm under two weeks away from heading into my third scheduled C-section, and with all the Braxton Hicks contractions I've been having, I know it's important to get my bags packed early, just in case we need to head in earlier than planned! As I make my list for the hospital, it occurred to me that I am much more prepared this time around, since I know what to expect, and figured it might be helpful for mamas-to-be who are trying to pack for their first birth experience or their first C-section.
Read MoreAh third trimester. That magical time in your pregnancy when time seems to fly by and simultaneously drag on for eternity. In one sense you're trying to enjoy the last days of peace and quiet before your life turns to chaos by adding a baby to the mix. In a stronger sense, you're so ready to meet your little one and be done with pregnancy and the discomforts that go along with the third trimester. If your pregnancy is like mine, at this point you're swollen, your joints are aching, you can only eat a few bites of food at a time, the heartburn is raging, and you're exhausted but having trouble sleeping at the same time. Here is what is keeping me relatively comfortable during the third trimester.
Read MoreAnd really, I'm finally at peace with birthing my children via Cesarian. It was not my original plan, it was not what I hoped for or imagined, but it's the way it worked out. And it's the way I got my 2 beautiful babies safely into my arms.
So maybe you're staring down the barrel of a scheduled C-section and you're feeling disappointed about it.
Read MoreI have noticed that my reading has decreased since having my second child. I think the reason is that I have become very protective of my free time, and I don't want to invest myself in a book if it's only going to disappoint me. My favorite way to choose a book is if it's recommended to me by a trusted friend, so I thought I would pay it forward and provide a list of some of my own favorite books. That way, those who want to read more have a place to start when diving into the world of reading.
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