New Mom Life: Survival Schedule

After having my baby I felt overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done on a daily basis. I would forget to pay bills, my house started looking messy, I felt frumpy, and just out of control. So, at that point I could either accept my new tornado like life, or I could take control over it. This is when I decided to sit down and write down everything that needed to be done. I created a master list. I prioritized the things that needed to be done on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis. After breaking this list down, I realized that I could take control of my life.  I just needed to create and stick to a very specific schedule.

I put together my own personal binder of mom schedules! This binder included my babies learning schedule, feeding schedule, sleeping schedule, cleaning schedule, meal prep schedule, fitness schedule, personal beauty schedule, family time schedule, couple time schedule, bible devotion schedule, and bill pay schedules. The first week is always the toughest. It is easy to get distracted with the number activities that tend to need the attention of a new mother, but I found that some things just need to wait. As a mom that has zero baby help, I had to decide what activities could wait. For example, I could live without having a perfectly vacuumed car on a daily basis, but I could not live with a giant pile of dishes. I could live without dusting the windowsill every day, but I could not live with a full kitchen trashcan.  Once I prioritized the chores that needed to be done it was easy to create a day to day cleaning schedule.

I hate feeling frumpy. Beauty and mom pampering time can sometimes be a challenge. Since, going to the beauty salon with a baby is not ideal, I had to buy my time. I chose a low maintenance hair color, which would allow me to get away with spending a little less time at the salon and more time with my baby. I became pretty good at doing my own manis and pedis. Now, if you can get away for a bit of a spa day go for it! But, in my case I lacked a sitter ,so I had to do these at home as a time saver. The gym is my place of stress release. I am fortunate to have a trainer that doesn’t mind holding my baby while I train. However, if this is not an option for you I would suggests finding a gym that offers childcare. In my experience gym time is always time well spent.

It is not the most romantic thought to schedule couple time, but it is necessary.  Date nights use to be spur of the moment, but now our lives revolve around the needs of a sweet little baby. So, if you don’t have a sitter improvise. We do a lot of home date nights, or we plan a date around his nap time.  This gives us a chance to spend some quality couple time.

Life will never be the same, but that’s not a bad thing. Being a mother can feel overwhelming. Some days I am so frustrated I cry, but that’s okay. I do my best to prioritize and stick to my schedule. I found that this particular system works for me. However, I also know that sometimes you just got to roll with whatever the day brings. Like most new moms I’m learning as I go. Mom life is tough but I wouldn’t change it for the world!

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Tired Mom Thankful Mom

My baby is walking! I was so proud to see him moving towards me with a big smile on his face. I was overjoyed the first time he walked  back and forth to share kisses with us.  he is definitely on the go, which means that I am on the go! I am constantly climbing stairs, chasing bubbles, dancing, and making sure that all cabinets are locked. I am no longer able to enjoy a meal with out a tiny little hand reaching out to grab a piece of my sandwich. All outings revolve around nap times, and snack times. I am now wearing a backpack instead of a trendy bag. It is filled with toys that sing, books, and shakers. I can hear his favorite Sesame Street songs in my sleep.  My windows have tiny hand prints on them a few minutes after they were wiped down. I wear my hair up so that he can’t pull on my hair, and studs have replaced by dangle earrings. My snugglebug is now eating solid foods so now I have to meal prep for him as well. At the end of the day I am exhausted, but I am grateful. I thank God everyday for giving me the opportunity to be a mother to this amazing little human. A tiny human that kisses me with strawberry jam on his cheeks, and that hugs me while holding sticky play dough in his hands. I am so grateful for the moments that we splash around in the bathtub even though my  mascara tends not to live up to its water proof advertisement. I am thankful that at the end of the day I am exhausted because I got to spend the day with my gift from God. I am tired but forever grateful for this time.

What Does it Mean to be a Christian Mom?

What does it mean to be a Christian mom? Well, for me it means that I always have someone to turn to for help. My family resides in a different state. My husband’s family lives three hours away. It is easy for me to feel overwhelmed, and lonely at times. For over ten years I worked in the field of education. I was very much use to living a on the go life. I interacted with different people on a daily basis. After giving birth I was blessed to have the opportunity to stay home with my baby. I absolutely love getting to snuggle him every morning. However, there are days when he is extra fussy. These are usually the days when there is a lot to do on the day’s agenda. This includes cleaning the house, running errands, cooking, doing laundry, paying bills, etc. Now, on top of this I have days where my back is killing me from carrying around a chubby baby. Now, where is my husband in all of this? Well, my husband works long hours so for the most part it’s just me and my snugglebug. Not too long ago I was having a very crazy day. It was crazy enough that I broke down in tears. I knelt down and I prayed to the Lord .I  asked him for help. Now, help did not come in the form of my mother, a nanny, or a cook. No, help came in the form of friendships. I have met some amazing moms that have helped me to keep my sanity. Together we share our stories, grow from our mistakes, and remind each other that each of us has another identity besides being a mom. Don’t get me wrong, I pride myself on being a mom, especially a stay at home mom. Believe me it’ not an easy job. It’s a 24/7 job. You never get bathroom or lunch breaks unless the baby boss says it’s okay. Every day I thank God for my amazing little baby, and I ask him to give the strength, wisdom, and energy to get me through the day. I ask him to provide me with beautiful mom friendships that help me to grow as a mother, and as a person. I am thankful for all of my blessings. I know that no matter how crazy my day gets my God is always there to listen to my prayers. My whiny, happy, tearful, glad, and just to say hi prayers.

When did French Fries turn Against Me?

What do you do when your favorite foods turn against you? Before I got pregnant I loved to indulge in salty foods. I looked forward to treating myself to some french fries, but that changed  with my blossoming belly. Early in my pregnancy I noticed that my tongue felt a little funny when I would eat salty foods. This happened a couple of times before I decided to voice my concern to a couple of veteran moms. They quickly told me to stop eating salt unless I wanted to swell up! I decided to take their advice and  made a few changes to my diet. I became a little more health conscious. I cut out high sodium diet items, and fatty foods. I also stopped drinking  regular coffee. I noticed a huge improvement in the way that I felt during the day. I had more energy and my feet stopped hurting, which I guess had been a side effect of salty foods. Besides salty foods I loved chocolate! Yes, like many pregnant ladies chocolate boxes were not safe around me, so I decided to ban it from my home. This helped me lessen the acid re-flux that I was experiencing at the time. After a while of clean eating, I would no longer crave a high sodium diet. Chocolate however, was different. My husband knew that I was trying really hard to maintain a healthy diet. So, whenever I would crave some chocolate, he would find a way to provide me with a fun size Twix candy bar.  This allowed me to meet my craving without the guilt of over indulging. Other changes included changing my regular coffee to decaf, and making my own meals. I have never been much of a cook, but I learned to make my own organic pizzas, high protein breakfasts, and low sodium baked veggies. Pregnancy brought about many changes in my life. I am grateful that one of them was a healthier life style.

 

Dress Up the Baby Bump!

Accessorize the bump! There is no reason why you can’t feel sexy with your new baby bump. It’s true your skinny jeans may feel a tad bit snug after a couple of months, but that doesn’t mean that you want to wear over-sized  pants to date night. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pair of comfy pants, but there are times when you really want to feel extra glamorous. If you are pregnant during chilly winter months I suggest purchasing a few sweater dresses. These are super comfy and allow you to feel extra sexy. I loved paring my sweater dresses with low heeled boots, long necklaces, and leather jackets. If your bump pops in the spring or summer, cool fabric maxi dresses are the way to go. In my experience, sometimes pregnancy can leave you feeling a little blah. Some days all I wanted to do was lounge around in my pajamas, wear a pony tail,eat popcorn, and watch movies.  This is more than okay! After all we are growing a life, we deserve our couch days. However, there will be days when you want to wear something that makes you look and feel like the beautiful and sexy woman that you are. Remember your baby bump is beautiful!

Finding Your Bump Buddy!

One of the best tips that I could give any expecting mommy is to surround themselves with positive people! Find a bump buddy! I was so blessed to have the opportunity to be pregnant at the same time as one of my friends. Together we watched our bellies grow. Whenever one of us started to feel self-conscious about our changing bodies, the other would change the tone of the conversation from negative to positive. We motivated each other to stay healthy and helped each other do baby research. My sweet husband did his very best to understand my emotions, but it was my bump buddy that truly understood what I was experiencing. We talked about everything from weight gain to mucus plugs. There are tons of places where new moms to be get together for support. Look to your local community boards for mommy to be hangouts. Remember, you want a bump buddy that will help you have a calm and positive pregnancy experience. Bump Buddies Unite!

Congratulations! You are pregnant! Now What?

I found out I was pregnant via a doctor’s voice mail.I rolled over and noticed that I had a missed call from my doctor. I was half asleep so I decided to play the recorded call on speaker. The recording went like this ” Hi Priscilla! This is Dr. S. Congratulations! You are Pregnant! Make sure to contact your OBGYN”.

That’s when my husband rolled over with a huge smile on his face. I was too in shock to do anything. I knew there was a possibility that I was pregnant, but this was no longer a hope it was real. I was going to be a mom. So, after the shock wore off. The panic set in. What was I suppose to do now. We were new to the area so I hadn’t really chosen an OBGYN.

I went into research mode. When I finally narrowed down my options in care providers, I was told that I had to wait until I was at least 8 weeks for my first appointment.  In the meantime what was I suppose to do or not do? Should I continue working out? Could I still get my nails done? Is it okay to drink coffee?  I ended up calling my chosen doctor’s office within 24 hours in a panic.  My call went something like this  “My name is Priscilla, I can’t wait until I’m 8 weeks. This is my first baby. I don’t know what I’m doing. I need some answers now”! Thankfully, the nurse was very understanding. She reassured me that everything would be fine. She gave me an over the phone list of dos and don’ts besides the obvious no alcohol and no smoking.

My advice to anyone that is experiencing their first baby is do not be afraid to voice your questions or concerns to your provider. Do your own research. The internet is full of useful information. Some of the  phone apps that I found to be helpful included What to Expect when you are Expecting, The Bump, and Baby Center. They will provide helpful tips and links to mommy groups.

Most important, trust your body. It knows what to do. Listen to it. If your tired sleep. If you are hungry eat, but try to keep it healthy. Avoid things that make you nauseaus. Surround yourself with positive people. Let the journey begin!