Tips and Tricks for New Moms

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Look. One of the things I disliked the most about becoming a mom was all of the unsolicited advice that people now feel entitled to share. And they're pushy about it! If they do it that way then obviously you should too. So, I'm not going to do that. I'm simply going to share with you some tricks and shortcuts that I've learned in the 8.5 short months that I have been a mom. Some I've learned on my own and some of them others have shared with me. I'll pass them along in hopes that they make your life easier. If not, feel free to ignore them.

If you're nursing, those first few weeks can be brutal. A good tip that I read in a book (I don't remember which one) was to wash off your boobs with warm, soapy water after every time you feed your baby. It gets all of the milk off and helps keep thrush away. I also put coconut oil on after I washed them. It has antibiotic properties and can help with the thrush as well. Both of these things helped keep Cali and I from having to deal with it.

Don't worry about sleep/schedule for first 6 weeks. A lot of people may disagree with me but in my experience, those first few weeks should be all about cuddling and getting to know your new baby, not about stressing over anything. Let them sleep on your chest if you like and feed them on demand. After 6 weeks is up, then you can start to slowly introduce a plan. Again, not everyone will agree with me but it's just my opinion.

The Top Knot

For all of the sleep that you'll miss, embrace the top knot. Now, I'm not one to give fashion advice but I did learn that a cute top knot can make it look like you put some thought into how you look (which you probably didn't).

In case of middle of the night blowouts, which you will probably have at least once, try layering mattress covers and sheets. Buy a few flat mattress covers and start with one directly on the mattress. Then put a fitted sheet on top with another cover and sheet on top of that. That way, when you're tired and need a quick sheet change, you can strip off a cover and the soiled sheet and, voila!, clean sheet is already underneath.

Always keep an emergency diaper bag in the back of your car. If you're not as scatter brained as I am then this might not be as important but it's saved me a few times. I inevitably end up walking out of the house without wipes or an extra diaper (or extra clothes for baby or me) and having an extra set of everything in the trunk has helped a time or two.

Keep healthy, fast foods on hand at all time. You won't have as much time to fix yourself something to eat when there's a tiny human next to you all of the time. Whether it's boiling eggs, keeping pre-cook meats, or cooking some crock pot oatmeal to keep on hand, make sure there's alway something filling for those hectic moments when you need food but don't have time to cook anything.

Have some disposable plastic bags that you keep with you. You won't always be near a trashcan when you have a diaper to change and having a bag to seal up the stink in is nice.

Fancy shirt

Embrace the fancy t-shirts. They're easy to nurse in, cheap, and replaceable for when they're stained with spit-up.

Put their medicine straight on your boob or paci if you're not nursing. Getting babies to take medicine can be a fight but if you put a few drops at a time on your boob before they eat, it makes it a little easier. You'll have to do it a few times to make sure they get the full dosage but it's still easier. Just make sure to wash off afterwards.

For those early morning appointments, have them sleep in their clothes with a sleep sack over it. That way, they're already 99% dressed and you (hopefully) can let them sleep a bit longer.

Speaking of appointments, I found that it helps to schedule them in the afternoon if at all possible. Also, if they're going to miss a nap or have a poor one, morning naps have more REM sleep and therefore they're more restorative. I'd rather have her miss her afternoon nap over a morning one.

Going back to the medicine, if you don't like the idea of putting them on your skin, try to refrigerate it. The cold seems to cover up some of the strong flavor and makes it more enjoyable for sensitive palates.

My favorite carrier

If you plan on flying, wear that baby! If you go through security with a stroller it is a pain in the butt. They make you take the baby out, run the stroller through, and it all takes forever. If you're wearing the baby in a carrier, all you have to do is let them swab your hand. That's it. They don't even make you walk through the line or take the baby out. It's easy peasy.

If you have or are having a newborn, you need to change their diaper every couple of hours - even at night - to keep their sensitive skin from getting diaper rash. It'll make life a little easier if you go ahead and have the diapers out, rubbed with rash cream, and stacked by your bed. That way, it's just a grab and go.

And my most important piece of advice yet… Ignore all unwanted advice. You know your baby and your family better than anyone else. If anyone (including me) gives you advice that you're not comfortable with or it doesn't feel right, ignore it. Pay attention to your instincts and not Google/strangers/etc.

I hope at least one of these helps at least one of you. 

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The Value of Mom

Is there a value one can place on a mother? Does that value vary if mom is a "stay at homer" versus an "off to worker"?  I'd like to believe that the value of mom (the title) is important but being mom (the role) is priceless.

When I became pregnant with Cali, T and I had to decide if I was going to work sometime after having the baby.  For our family, we decided that it was more important that I stay with Cali while T is working.  This is what worked for us.

NOW, let me be clear, there is no definitive RIGHT or WRONG way to go here.  It is what is right for your particular family in your particular situation.  Everyone is different and therefore they should take their circumstances into the decision making.  

I applaud the women that are driven and able to go back to work after giving birth.  Being able to provide for your family's needs is an essential part of parenting.  I believe that we need strong women that have deep convictions and that are willing to pass that along for the well being of their children.

And for the stay at home moms, don't let others discourage you in the importance of your "job".  T always tells me that I have the harder job and every once in a while I believe him.  You may not be responsible for satisfying the financial needs, but you are however drastically impacting your child's physical and emotional development.

This is where it gets tricky...and let me be careful and let you know that this is my opinion.  Some may agree, others not.  Solely providing the financial needs OR solely staying home to feed and change your baby is not enough.  Your baby.  My baby.  They need more from us.  If they had the reasoning skills, they would expect more from us.  They need us to be engaged.  They need effort.  They need everything that we have to give, and when we feel like we've given it all, maybe we can reach down and give a little more.  They deserve it.  

Whether you spend all day at home with your children or only have an hour with them, what is important is that we are engaging with them when we get the chance. They need (and, I believe, want) our eye contact, our attention, our love. And that's what really matters, isn't it? At the end of a long day (and hot bath) we should be able to rest easy knowing that we can put a check mark next to the boxes of each and every of our child's needs.  Or, at the very least, we fiercely tried.

T and I were talking about this topic the other day and he made a very good point. He said that just staying at home with your kids or just providing financially for them doesn't make you a good mother. What makes a good mother is one who is attentive, interactive, loving, giving, and inspiring. 

Whew.  Too strong?  I hope not.  As moms (and dads) we're not perfect.  Parenting isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination.  I'm guilty of having those moments of cruise control.  They are natural and they make us human.  The key is in these moments of weakness to look down at (insert baby name here) and remind yourself that you can do this and that he/she is more than worth it.

So I challenge you and myself.  Don't just have the title of mom...be mom! 

Post Partum Essentials for MOM

I've read a lot of lists for "Bringing Home Baby" that give you plenty of things the baby will need those first few weeks after they're born. But what about Mom?

I know, I know.

No one really wants to talk about these things because... well, they're not pleasant. But let me tell you something. I wouldn't have survived without these things.

So much focus is on the pain of actual childbirth and I think everyone forgets about how much pain you're in after childbirth. Yes, labor hurt. But I was only in labor for a few hours. The postpartum period lasted a lot longer. So I wanted to make sure you had the essentials you'll need to make your first few weeks at home as comfortable as possible. The first few items are for a *please pardon my language* vaginal birth and not a C-Section. Seeing as how I didn't have a C-Section I'm not sure what would help that pain but if you know, leave it in the comments section!

As uncomfortable as some of these things are to talk about, you need to know them. You'll thank me.

You're welcome.

Poise Pads - You'll need these in ultra absorbent and ultra long. Yes, these are something that no one wants to walk into WalMart and buy but you're going to need them. A) because you'll probably pee on yourself and B) afterbirth is... we'll just say gross. Plus, once you've given birth you lose all sense of modesty and pride so buying these won't be that bad. But if you're stocking up before you go into labor and haven't actually gotten to that point yet, feel free to pretend like you're talking to your great grandmother on the phone and that you're really buying them for her. That's what I did.

Tucks Pads - These things are amazing. Yes, they're for hemorrhoids (and you may get those) but they're really good for any pain... down there. You'll use 1-2 every time you go to the bathroom (which will be a lot) so buy multiple boxes.

Dermoplast - This is just for good measure. We've already covered the pain relief in the Tuck's pads but this will help a lot as well. It's a numbing spray. Genius. Make sure you get the BLUE cap because the red won't work. You can find this at any drugstore, WalMart, Target, etc. This, might possibly, be the best part of your day. It's almost like you're taking the epidural home with you (Which they should really let you do).

Granny panties - Buy high waisted briefs and you'll eventually throw them away. I probably only got 1-2 uses out of each pair before I chunked them so buy a few bags. You may want to get them in 1 size bigger than what you would normally wear too because you'll be stuffing them full of the previous 3 items. You can also throw these in on your "great grandmother fake phone conversation" if you like.

Motrin - I'll go ahead and say the prerequisite "Consult your physician" but Motrin is what they gave me in the hospital and Motrin is what I bought after I went home. I could tell when the 8 hours was wearing off because the pain would come back. Motrin worked wonders.

Tailbone Donut - I actually just used a rolled up hand towel but I wish I'd had one of these! Every night I took a hot bath and in the first couple of weeks after birth, sitting down on the hard tub hurts! A donut (or hand towel... whatever floats your boat) is the only way I made it through the baths. And trust me... baths were ah-mazing. I never wanted to get out.

Bra Pads - I'm nursing but I believe (from what I've been told) that even if you choose not to nurse that your milk (and/or colostrum) will still come in for the first few days so you'll need these too. When your body is adjusting to how much milk your baby needs, you tend to leak. Not glamorous. Not fun. But true. If you don't have these (or something else in between your boobs and bra) milk will leak through your clothes and that's even LESS fun than having to wear these.

Heating pad - Pick a body part, any body part... you can use this there. From the exertion of labor to the baby actually coming out of your body, you're going to be sore. Head to toe. I used a heating pad on my lower back, shoulders, stomach, and...umm...down there.

Coconut Oil - This really only applies if you choose to breastfeed. You can also buy Lanolin cream but I just used coconut oil because I use it for everything and already had some handy. Breastfeeding takes getting used to and in the first few days/weeks it HURTS. While your skin is adjusting, just rub some of this on before you put your bra pads in. It kept me from getting (again, sorry for being so descriptive but I'm just being honest here) crusty. Gross. I cringe even typing that word. Anyways, it works.

PJs - If you're anything like I was, you won't leave your house for a while. Heck... you won't leave your couch for a while. You'll be too busy feeding/changing/and cuddling that adorable new addition to your family to actually dress in normal clothes. Plus, there's a good chance your maternity jeans are going to be the only other thing you can wear still and who wants to wear those more than you need to?? Comfortable pajama pants were my uniform. My favorite were these Gilligan and O'Malley ones from Target. They're cheap and have a drawstring so they grow/shrink with your ever changing belly.

DVDs - Ahhh. The blissful days of a newborn. When they sleep for roughly 23.5 hours of every day. Soak it in, ladies, because they eventually won't sleep at all. Well, hopefully yours does but mine chooses not to. Anyways, all I did for the first few weeks was cuddle up on the couch while holding/feeding Cali. You'll need some DVD's (or your favorite show DVR'd) to keep you entertained. My personal favorite is Gilmore Girls but I'll let you decide for yourself (Though I highly recommend Gilmore Girls).

Cold Brew Coffee -  If you're a coffee drinker, you might want to look into cold brew coffee. Not getting any sleep coupled with being up at random hours of the day/night required coffee for me. Drinking it at random hours throughout the day, I didn't want to brew a pot just to have it sit there for hours on end. Thus entered the cold brew. If you've never heard of it, it's great. Just mix a small amount of the cold brew with water or milk. You can drink it hot or cold and only make one cup at a time. It takes approximately 2 minutes to do and you can make it any time of the day. They sell them already brewed in bottles or you can try this DIY version for a cheaper and more customizable coffee.

So there you have it. Now that I've listed - what I consider to be - your essentials for the first few weeks home, I'll tell you how to use the first 4 items on the list to make a magical "recipe". I'll warn you before you continue that it's not a pleasant description so enter at your own risk.

First you'll take your Poise Pad. Lay 1-2 Tucks towards the back of the pad (you'll want them placed so that when you pull your pants up, they lay on your perennial stitches). Spray the Dermoplast on the Tucks and - just for good measure - on your ... lady parts. Place the pad and it's contents inside your oh so lovely granny panties and put them on. Enjoy the bliss.

You can also take some of the Poise Pads and pour some water into the absorbent part. Place in the freezer and use as a wearable ice pack inside your granny panties as well.

Either of these ideas works to help the pain.

Also, just a tip: The more you move around, the quicker the pain goes away.

Good luck! 

10 Surprising Things About Being a New Mom

I've known my whole life that I wanted to be a mother. I've always said that I'll take as many kids as God is willing to give me and I can provide for. You see, my parents are "houseparents" at a children's home called the Big Oak Ranch and we've lived there since I was 5. So my entire life I've grown up with at least 10 people in the house, but often times more. The noise and chaos can be a bit much sometimes but you're never bored.

Or, you shouldn't be. 

Even with having grown up around a large family and always knowing that I wanted children, I was never around too many babies so there have been a few surprises! 

OK. There have been a ton of surprises but seeing as how this post would be never ending if I listed them all (since I'm surprised on a daily basis), I'm only going to list a few. 

But here you go. A few things that have surprised me about being a first time mother:

1. How interested I would become in *cringe* bowel movements -  It's inevitable. You're 100% responsible for this tiny, living, human and so therefore you'll be in charge of it's poop. I knew I'd have to change diapers, that's a given, but I didn't realize just how interested I would become in it. I've Googled pictures of it, smelled it, observed the color of it, saved it to show the doctor. Yes, I've walked around with a cloth diaper full of poop in my purse. For someone that used to like to pretend that poop didn't exist, I've become somewhat of an expert.

2. That I would actually enjoy breastfeeding - Look, I know the research, I know what's best for my child, I know it's natural. But never did I ever (HA!) think I would breastfeed. Much less enjoy it. I said up until the day I gave birth that I couldn't imagine doing it. I knew she'd need my milk so I thought I'd just pump it and bottle feed her (which is a totally hard and amazing thing to do for you moms that choose to!) but when the nurses laid her on my chest for the first time, there was an instant change in thinking. She latched on, and we never looked back. We were extremely blessed not to experience any problems so this probably has something to do with why I like it.

3. The fact that I could love my husband more than I already did - T and I have been best friends from the start. We enjoy hanging out and spending our days together and I loved the life we had built with just the two of us. I thought I loved him to my fullest capabilities but, obviously, I was wrong. Watching him and Cali together has expanded my capacity to love more than I ever thought possible. Loving him as a husband and loving him as a dad are two completely different feelings.

4. How much I would miss sleep -  This is another one that you think you're prepared for, but you're not really. At least I wasn't. They say you'll be tired, yada, yada, yada. I had no idea. There was a while there that I started seeing things that weren't there I was so tired. I felt like the walking dead... literally. Like a haze over my eyes where I was living in the world but not completely computing everything that was going on around me. It's brutal. And a form of torture in war. I get it now. But at least I get to stare at her adorable face while I'm sleep deprived. Totally worth it. 

5. The fact that I could think fat rolls are so friggin cute - Seriously. Have you ever seen chunky, baby thighs? Cutest. Thing. Ever.

6. How much I would get peed/pooped on - And not think anything of it. Really. It's like she waits to urinate and blow that nasty crap (literally) until her diaper is off and I'm leaning in. And how do I react? I just wipe it off and keep on keepin' on. Just another day in the life of...

7. How hard it would be to leave her - This one was a doozy for me. I'm not positive if it's because we spend so much time just the two of us during baseball season or if it's something that all moms go through but leaving her in nursery for the first time was BRUTAL. And it wasn't even real nursery. We were at the gym and it was 30 minutes and I was less than 50 yards away. By the time I went to get her I was convinced she liked the nursery worker better than me and that she was mad that I had left her. Obviously I'm crazy but the feelings were there no matter how many times I told myself they were irrational. I can only pray I don't scar her for life with my insanity.

8. How absolutely terrifying it is - From the moment I found out that I was pregnant (and convinced I had a brain tumor), to this very minute I have been terrified. I worry about how she sleeps, how much she sleeps, how she poops, how her hand moves, whether she's laughing enough, whether she's socializing enough, will she like me?, does she know me?, am I going to teach her right from wrong, etc. Again, this probably isn't normal (and definitely not healthy... I know that) but the fact of the matter is that it's a constant struggle for me. I have always leaned towards expecting the worst (which is also something I need to work on) and that didn't change with having Cali. It only intensified. All I can do is hide my fears from her and - once again - pray that she's not as crazy as I am.

9. How hard it is - I'll admit something to you: I probably judged you before I had a kid. I probably criticized the way your kid slept, was dressed, how they behaved, how clean/messy your house was, your relationship with your husband, etc. I read a few books and thought I knew it all. BOY, WAS I WRONG. So here I am... Apologizing to all of you. I'm an idiot and a reformed know-it-all. It's freaking HARD. I'm lucky to make it out of every day with both Cali and I in tact. 

10. How little time I would actually have to myself and not mind - Because even when you're physically by yourself, you're not. You're listening for them to wake up, you're cleaning up after them, you're thinking about their well-being, you're wondering how you'll ever get all of the spit up stains off of your best shirts. It's never ending and I can only imagine it only gets to be more as they get older and mobile. Crap. I'm not even close to being prepared for that. I need to child proof everything now. But you know what? I love her so much that I don't miss the alone time. I didn't see that one coming at all. 

Anyways, as tough and hard and exhausting as it all is... I love her to my very core. 

I'm going to go give up some very precious alone time to stare at her while she sleeps.

Until next time.

50 Things I Want to Teach My Daughter

1. Dumbing yourself down isn't cute. Embrace knowledge.
2. Respect your body. You can't ask someone else to if you don't.
3. Modest is hottest. 
4. Be brave. Try new things and don't be afraid to fail.
5. No matter what you do or where you go, your dad and I will always be here.
6. Despite what the world tells you, a kiss is special. Save it for someone who believes that too.
7. Don't tell someone that you love them until you're 100% sure you know what that means. Love is forever.
8. Always admit when you're wrong. We learn from our mistakes.
9. It's OK to have regrets. We learn from those too. 
10. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
11. Be quick to give a smile. It could brighten someone's day.
12. Always forgive. Nothing is unforgivable.
13. Read lots and lots of books. Both for learning and for pleasure.
14. Take school seriously. There will come a day when you'll wish you'd worked harder.
15. Don't do things just because others are doing them. Be bold enough to go against the flow.
16. Figure out why you believe what you say you believe in. Be ready to defend it to anyone that asks.
17. Feelings are OK but they're also not a solid foundation for our choices. Use both your knowledge of right and wrong and your gut to determine your course of action.
18. Never speak out of anger. Once something is said, it can't be unsaid.
19. You have no idea what others are going through. Be kind.
20. If your friends make fun of you for standing for what you believe is right, they're not your friends.
21. Don't ever make a life decision based on a boy. 
22. Also, don't let your emotions be determined by the relationship you're in. Find your joy in the fact that you're a child of God.
23. We can't control what others do or say but we can control our own actions. 
24. Love everyone without expecting anything in return.
25. Always say thank you to those that extend help.
26. Work hard and do everything to the best of your ability. As long as you give it your all, I'll be proud no matter what the outcome.
27. Material things will come and go but happiness in life is your decision.
28. No one is beneath you. Be humble.
29. You're going to make mistakes; that's expected. Forgive yourself and move on.
30. Find things that you enjoy doing and spend a lot of time doing them.
31. When you are greeting someone, look them in the eye and give a firm handshake.
32. Don't use your body and/or your looks to get attention. If someone doesn't like you without those things, they're not worth your time.
33. It's OK if we don't see eye to eye. You don't have to be just like me.
34. If someone points out a personality flaw in you, take a moment to step back and see if they're right. If they are, work hard to change it. If they're not, move on.
35. Sometimes we have to do things in life that we don't want to do. Get over it.
36. Be independent but don't be afraid to show your weaknesses. There is power and freedom in being honest and real.
37. Good friends are hard to come by. When you find them, make time to keep them in your life.
38. Don't live life out of fear. Make bold decisions and be confident enough to go higher. If you fall, it's OK. You'll always have a place to come back to.
39. Think about the consequences of your actions before you make them. Don't make dumb decisions for instant gratification.
40. "A wise man learns from his mistakes. An even wiser man learns from the mistakes of others."
41. You are capable of doing hard things. The reward is worth the effort.
42. You are beautiful. 
43. Find pleasure in the little things.
44. Develop the ability to laugh at yourself.
45. Everyone in life has different abilities and talents. "Don't compare your outtakes to someone else's highlight reel"
46. Don't stress. God will come through for you.
47. Enjoy the outdoors. Nothing is more beautiful than God's handiwork.
48. Guard your heart. There will come a day when a worthy man (that has been pre-approved by your father and me!) will ask for your hand in marriage. You'll want to be able to give him all of your heart and not just what's left of it.
49. God has been gracious enough to give you an earthly body. Take care of it with discipline and self-control. Be respectful of the gift He's given you.
50. Accept God's grace. We'll never earn it, live up to it, deserve it, or be able to repay it. That's OK. Love Him with your entire being and accept the gift of Jesus.

21 Things That No One Ever Tells You Before Your First Baby

***Added 9/11/13... I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have visited my little blog because of this article. I never imagined that this many people would see it! I hope you enjoy it and stay a little while. Feel free to browse my other posts or leave comments! I love feedback :) Have a great day from my little family to yours!***

When I first learned that I was pregnant, I didn't really believe it. T and I had given ourselves a year to conceive because we were in the middle of baseball season and he was gone every other week. Plus, we'd heard that it could take a couple that was actively trying up to 9 months. 

When it only took 1 month I was convinced that the pregnancy test I had taken was expired and faulty. Well, let me be honest. I was convinced that the first 11 tests I had taken were faulty. Then I Googled (ugh) faulty pregnancy tests and learned that there was a brain tumor that could cause raised levels of HCG. Well, I had been having some headaches so yes... that must be what it was. A brain tumor.

My first OBGYN visit didn't alleviate my fears. He didn't do an ultrasound and told me I "may be pregnant but it's early and hard to tell". 

Ummm... OK.

I wasn't having any other symptoms aside from headaches and getting fat. I honestly spent a month after my initial at home test believing that there was a good chance I had a brain tumor and not a baby. I was a little paranoid and suspicious. 

Anyways, once we found a (better) doctor in Atlanta, he did an ultrasound and we got to see our tiny jumping bean in my belly, I finally believed I was pregnant. I quickly found out that when you're pregnant people want to give you a lot of unsolicited advice. They'll advise you on everything from how to get your baby to sleep, what kind of diapers to use, what kind of food you should/shouldn't be eating, how far you should bend over, and what kind of unicorn you should kiss to tell the baby's gender. It never stopped.

After having Cali I decided, that while everyone seemed quick to tell me all sorts of nonsense, no one seemed to want to tell me the real stuff.

So here it is. 21 things that no one tells you before your first baby. 

Before and After Labor

1. Those breathing exercises everyone wants you to do? They're CRAP. They do NOT help lessen the pain of labor. Don't waste your time.
2. Speaking of labor... I had contractions 55 seconds apart from the get-go. When I finally got to the hospital (in an ambulance because I thought I was going to give birth in the car) I was dilated to a ZERO. I had no idea that could happen.
3. When your water breaks, it feels like you're peeing on yourself. It doesn't *gush* (sorry for the descriptive wording) like it does in the movies. (**Apparently, according to commenters, it actually CAN gush! It just goes to show you that every pregnancy is different. Maybe I'll have my own "gushing" experience with the next child. Though I really hope it's not in public!**)
4. Your butt will go numb from sitting in the hospital bed so long after labor. The more you can move, the better.
5. If you go into labor "after hours" the anesthesiologist isn't actually at the hospital. They have to call him when you reach a 4 and it can take him an hour and a half to get there (This may actually vary from hospital to hospital but go ahead and ask just to be prepared).
6. Your baby will not look like a cute cherub all cooing and pink like in movies when it first comes out. They will most likely look like a wrinkly, slimy, mix of an alien and old man.
7. Get thyself some Colace and start taking them as soon as you give birth. That's all I'll say.
8. You'll also want to soak some granny pads and freeze them to have on hand. Just trust me.
9. A hot bath is OK and delightful (I should probably say "ask your doctor" or some such mumbo jumbo but my nurses had me take one 24 hours after delivery and 1 a day for the first 4 weeks post partum). (**According to a nurse in the comments, this advice is controversial. So I actually will say "Ask your doctor"**)
10. You won't actually get tons of sleep in the hospital because the nurses will come in every 30 minutes. Go ahead and stock up now.

Bringing Baby Home

1. You will never be as terrified as you will be the first night you bring your baby home. Feel free to take turns staying up all night holding them and never once laying them in their crib if it makes you feel better.
2. There is a good chance your baby will choke. They won't do it in the hospital where there are nurses and doctors everywhere. No. They'll do it when you're vulnerable and alone at home. Feel free to panic if it makes you feel better but this is completely normal. 
3. The cliche advice of "sleep while the baby sleeps" is bologna. 
4. Even if you're an independent person and don't like people in your space, utilize every available helping hand you can get that first week home. Let them clean, cook, fold clothes, etc, while you hold your new one. They'll soon all forget about you and you'll be left to do it all yourself.
5. Take as many pictures as you want. You'll be a little overwhelmed those first few days home but try to remember to take just a couple of snapshots.
6. You'll still look 6 months pregnant for a while and feel really jiggly. Go ahead and order a Bellefit. BEST. INVESTMENT. EVER. I can't say that enough.
7. Get all your TV watching in now while they sleep 22 hours a day. It will only be about 6-8 weeks before they'll require a lot more attention.
8. Any time some random stranger decides to stop you and tell you how you should be parenting (Which will be every single time you step out in public), try not to hit them. Smile, nod, and walk away. 
9. Your post partum hormones are a doozy. You can't prepare for the onslaught of emotions that will come with giving birth. It's completely normal to feel scared, nervous, and like you're not cut out to be a good parent (If these feelings get worse and not better or last longer than a couple of weeks, talk to someone).
10. That hideous linea nigra? It will still be there up to a year after you give birth. Yeah. I know.
11. The first time you decide to workout (or laugh too hard/climb the stairs too fast/etc) after labor, you'll probably pee on yourself.

So there you have it. The 21 things I felt like you should know before your first baby.

You're welcome.

Oh. And one more...

You'll grow to love this child more than you ever knew you were capable.

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20 Weeks Post Partum Body Update

So 11 weeks ago I took some body measurements as a way to keep track of my progress. I have yet to go to an actual gym for a workout because I don't have anyone to watch Cali and I'm not comfortable leaving her in the gym nursery in a city where I don't know anyone. 

My workouts have consisted of pushups, pullups, plank variations, lunges, hip thrusts, one legged squats, and an assortment of other body weight exercises. I do these for about 30 minutes 5-6 days a week. Because of my eating restrictions for breastfeeding, I don't have much room to cheat on my diet so that's been pretty on point. The only diet rule I'm *trying* to follow is complex carbs only for breakfast and then the rest of my carbs come from lentils and fruit. I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. That's my genius plan.

On June 1 these were my measurements in inches:

Thighs - 21 3/4 

Waist - 29

Hips - 36

Arms - 11

*Whew*

I can't believe I'm about to put this on the internet but I'm forcing myself to do it.

Moving right along...

I don't weight myself because A) I don't really care what I weigh as long as I like the way I look and feel and B) I don't own a scale.

Let me take a second to say that I love lifting. I enjoy the way it makes me feel and I also like to challenge myself, so I can't wait to get back into an actual gym this off season when T can watch Cali for me. I also don't necessarily have a goal size that I'd like to be...I just want to firm up, get my 6 pack back (I'll take 4, even), and look like Jamie Eason.

That's not too much right?

So as of today, 11 weeks later, here are my measurements:

Thighs - 21

Waist - 27 3/4

Hips - 36

Arms - 10 3/4

So I've lost a little in everything but hips.

AKA: Butt.

It's stubborn.

I really don't think I'll see any improvement in my buttox until I can start working out with heavy weight again. To be honest, I'm not really concerned with losing in that area, I just want it lifted.

Who doesn't?

So there it is. I'm a little frustrated with how slow this process is but I believe in the power of weightlifting and know I'll see quick improvements as soon as I start back.

I'll continue to post progress measurements and maybe one day (maybe not) pictures.

Until then.