Ok. So I know my last post was pretty heavy so I want to take it to a lighter topic. I have been asked so many times what are baby must haves and what needs to be in hospital bags. I know, I know, you can do a simple internet search and find this information. But I have found that these lists leave out some important things. I also find that when ladies ask what else they need to know, important information tips are always left out. So here we go.
Baby Must Haves
Clothes (duh) but don't bother buying size newborn. This is what everyone will buy you because they are so cute. Truth is, you will probably end up with more outfits than the baby will wear.
Diapers (duh) but don't get tons of newborn size. Like above, they grow out of them quickly and if there is a chance your baby is going to be on the bigger side it will be a waste. Newborn diapers go up to 9 lbs. So really they won't be in them fir more than a month. My most recent baby wore them for a week!
Nursing Pillow these are great when nursing and serve as a little chair for baby and even double as a tummy time pillow!
Breast Pump if you plan on nursing. And spend the extra money on a good one. Get the double pump as well. I got the cheap single pump the first time around. I had to pump for 30 minutes on each side. This is time you just don't have when caring for a baby. A good double pump will pump a bottle in 10 minutes.
Co-sleeper baby bed this will be a life saver. sleep the baby next to you will save you sleep as you won't have to leave the comfort of your own bed
Receiving Blankets can be used to swaddle, as light summer blankets, as changing pads, burp clothes
Gas Relief Drops babies have gas. They have huge old man farts. They will cause you to wonder where they kept it in their little bodies. They will make you look at the dog or your husband thinking it was them.
Hylands Teething Tablets These can wait until baby starts to teeth, but make sure you have them then or you will be sorry
Swing/Bouncer these will give you the 2 minutes you need to take your new version of a shower
Baby Tylenol this comes in handy after shots and can be taken between doses of Motrin
Baby Advil or Motrin see above
Thermometer cuz the hand to the forhead only works so well
Pacifier Wipes even if you decide not to use a pacifier these can be used to wipe anything that fall to the ground that baby puts in their mouth. Baby wipes will leave terrible flavors on things so don't use them
Milk Storage Bags if you plan on breast feeding you will need to pump sometimes and you will want to save that hard earned milk
Breast Pads if you plan to breast feed, you will leak. You will need these.
Lanolin if you plan on breast feeding get this! I will talk all about breast feeding in a later post
Diaper Rash Ointment if you get a natural one like CJ's BUTTer you can use it for other things like bug bites
Car Seat
Hospital Bag
2-3 shirts
Nursing bra these provide easy nursing access and you won't have to ruin your expensive VS one folding them over
Sleep bra yes, now you will need to sleep in a bra this will help hold your nursing pads
2-3 Nursing friendly Nightgowns I prefer night gowns for 2 reasons. 1 the nurses will check your bleeding and these provide easy access and 2. they do not apply pressure if you end up having a C-Section
2-3 Nursing friendly dresses I prefer to wear dresses instead of shirts and bottoms for the reasons stated above
2-3 shorts/pants/sweats
5 pairs cheap cotton underware get some you will not mind throwing away. This will keep you from having to wear the uncomfortable mesh ones the hospital provides and if they get messy just toss them!
2-4 pairs of socks
Brush
Chap-stick
Toothpaste/Brush
Deoderant
Breast Pads
Pads (Heavy Flow) I like to bring my own so I am not wearing the 3 inch thick hospital ones
Make-up
Shampoo/conditioner
Soap/bodywash
Razor
Toiletries & change of clothes for Daddy so he can sit in the hospital with you without having to leave too often
Camera
Phone Charger
Clothes for baby
Receiving blanket
Baby Gloves
Baby Book to get baby's precious foot prints
I am sure I have left some stuff out, but I know I got the important stuff. Hospital stays vary depending upon the delivery and the hospital so numbers of stuff may be different for your needs. I would recommend packing your bag around 30ish weeks. Better to be prepared than rushing when you need it.
My next post will cover things like breast feeding and cloth diapering. I hope this gives you an idea or a place to start!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Loss
My intention is not for this blog to carry heavy topics and for the remainder of my posts, I really hope they are on the lighter side. That being said, this will be heavy reading and may bring some memories back for others who have gone through similar circumstances. I feel that it is a necessary topic for me to cover as it is part of my motherhood process. I know this is going to be a difficult sharing experience for myself and I hope you bear with me through this.
2007
When I was 20, I was living in Hawaii and far away from any family. I found out I was pregnant and non the less terrified. I was a full time student and worked full time at both Starbucks and Hooters. I was extremely busy. Anyways, after 12 weeks gestation I finally worked up the nerve to tell my family. I was starting to get excited and things were going smoothly. I went to my 13 week dr. appointment. The doctor informed me that the baby measured 2 weeks smaller than it should, but that it had a strong heart beat. He said that we would keep our fingers crossed that the baby would catch up in size in the coming weeks. So I went on with life and my busy schedule. 15 weeks 3 days I woke in the middle of the night I woke with the worst pain I had ever experienced. I went to the bathroom to discover I was bleeding (and not a little). I called the doctor on call who informed me I needed to go to the emergency room immediately. I woke my roommate who drove me to the E.R (not nearly fast enough). The E.R had me in triage for 2 hours before I saw a doctor and before an ultrasound was done that confirmed my worst fears. I had indeed miscarried at 15 weeks 3 days along. I was then scheduled for a D&C as my body was not passing the fetus. I awoke from the procedure feeling lost. Here I was 20 years old, no where close to any family and experiencing a loss I had not imagined possible. I had never wanted to have children and one was given to me and allowed me to get excited only to be take from me so suddenly. I was broken. I took a few days off from work to gather my life back together and pick up the pieces. And naturally, I was in a Hooters bikini competition 2 weeks later.
2009
Ok, fast forward to 2009. My husband (he was my boyfriend at the time) left for bootcamp the day I took a pregnancy test and found out we were pregnant. This, of course, was after we had just spent a week in Vegas (and you know what happens and where it stays). So now, here I was a full time student and working 2 jobs again, but this time I was going to have to spend 15 weeks of the pregnancy without my Sean. The first doctors appointment revealed that I was about 10 weeks along. You are probably wondering how I had no clue I was as far along as I was. I had been on the shot for a few years and never had a period, so the lack of one was no indicator. I took a test because I just felt weird.
Things went on smoothly. I went in for my 16 week ultrasound to find out the gender. Boy was I surprised to learn that I was not going to be going home with that information, but instead I was going home with the information that I was having twins! I could not believe it! I was so scared, but mostly I was so excited. At the time Sean was not able to call me so I had to wait for him to get a letter and then return one with the news that he had heard. I went back for an ultra sound at 18 weeks. Here I found that we were having girls! The ultrasound tech was having a hard time finding the line between the two amniotic sacks, but determined that there was indeed 2 sacks. And everything was normal for a twin pregnancy. And of course I celebrated by spending WAY too much money on super cute girl clothes. I had a 2 full tubs of under 3 month size clothes and a pink bathtub.
Sean came home when I was 25 weeks along. I picked him up from the airport and was so excited to see him. The next day we spent Christmas shopping and picking out a double stroller. We also picked out our wedding bands as we had decided we were going to get married. We went to dinner and had a wonderful time. We got home late after the day spent shopping and went to bed. I soon awoke with terrible pains and a gush of fluid. I called the doctor who told me to go to the E.R.
Upon being checked into the E.R I was told that I was completely effaced and dilated. I was given a shot to stop the contractions, but it didn't help. I was then put on Magnesium and my hospital bed was tilted so that my feet were above my head. The plan was to delay my delivery for a week so that my twins who measured 24 week size would measure 25 week size and I would be moved to a hospital with a NICU for my delivery. So I tried everything I could to keep my mind off of the horror that was becoming. I prayed (and for those of you who know me, you know this is out of my character). I begged for my twins to be ok. I pleaded and promised a life of obedience if God would save my twins.
I was on Magnesium for 3 days before they took me off of it as my breath weakened and they feared my lungs would fill with fluid. So they switched me to Dolodid and then it was a waiting game. 2 days went buy and the pressure was becoming intense. The doctor was called in and my water broken and I was given Putosin. They told me I had to push. Everything in my soul was telling me not to while my body was screaming and forcing it. The nurse informed us that they would be born alive and we would hear them gurguling as they tried to breath with their under developed lungs.
After a little while of pushing, our first daughter, Tatum Catherine, came into the world. I was crying knowing what was going to happen. We got to hold our beautiful girl as she struggled to take a breath. She passed shortly after. My contractions had stopped, but I still had one daughter left to deliver. So I pushed as I had no choice to do anything else. Along she came. Our beautiful Rheanan Marie. They layed her next to her sister.
I was scheduled for a D&C the following day to deliver the placenta. Everyone left the room to leave us with our daughters. There we mourned the little lives we lost. The hospital photographer came and took pictures of them. My mom and step dad came to see our girls. We were then informed that after 20 weeks babies are no longer considered "medical waste" and that we would have to call funeral homes and arrange their burial/cremation.
The following morning, the funeral home came and picked them up and told us to come the next morning and decide what we wanted to do with their remains. I was released from the hospital sore and broken. I was in the darkest time of my life. I had the soreness of my breasts that were producing milk to feed the babies I lost. I had the constant reminder of my loss when I went to the bathroom and saw the bleeding. I had a hard time looking Sean in the eyes as I failed him. I lost our babies. I was left with bitterness, devastation, and feelings of weakness. If only I had been stronger, maybe they would have been alive. What did I do so wrong?
We decided to have the girls cremated and put together in a small, heart shaped urn.
It took months before I came out of the dark place that had consumed me. I had questioned everything about me and everything in life. I had cried until my eyes were swollen and tears no longer fell. I finally emerged from the darkness. To say that I am over the devastation would be a lie. The devastation is now a part of my life. The pain is still there, but I can live with it now. There are still things that serve as a reminder and there are times when I still have to hold back the tears. But now, I have my sons and they keep that dark place from once again consuming me. So I will leave you with some advice.
First never say to a woman who has lost a pregnancy that "it happens." She doesn't fucking care that "it happens," it shouldn't have happened.
Second never tell her you understand the pain she is feeling. The fact is, is that pain is hers and hers alone. She does not want to hear what you think she is going through.
And lastly, don't talk about her trying again soon. The fact is, is that she is going to have to find a special place within herself to find the strength to try again. The last thing on her mind following a loss is trying again.
2007
When I was 20, I was living in Hawaii and far away from any family. I found out I was pregnant and non the less terrified. I was a full time student and worked full time at both Starbucks and Hooters. I was extremely busy. Anyways, after 12 weeks gestation I finally worked up the nerve to tell my family. I was starting to get excited and things were going smoothly. I went to my 13 week dr. appointment. The doctor informed me that the baby measured 2 weeks smaller than it should, but that it had a strong heart beat. He said that we would keep our fingers crossed that the baby would catch up in size in the coming weeks. So I went on with life and my busy schedule. 15 weeks 3 days I woke in the middle of the night I woke with the worst pain I had ever experienced. I went to the bathroom to discover I was bleeding (and not a little). I called the doctor on call who informed me I needed to go to the emergency room immediately. I woke my roommate who drove me to the E.R (not nearly fast enough). The E.R had me in triage for 2 hours before I saw a doctor and before an ultrasound was done that confirmed my worst fears. I had indeed miscarried at 15 weeks 3 days along. I was then scheduled for a D&C as my body was not passing the fetus. I awoke from the procedure feeling lost. Here I was 20 years old, no where close to any family and experiencing a loss I had not imagined possible. I had never wanted to have children and one was given to me and allowed me to get excited only to be take from me so suddenly. I was broken. I took a few days off from work to gather my life back together and pick up the pieces. And naturally, I was in a Hooters bikini competition 2 weeks later.
Ok, fast forward to 2009. My husband (he was my boyfriend at the time) left for bootcamp the day I took a pregnancy test and found out we were pregnant. This, of course, was after we had just spent a week in Vegas (and you know what happens and where it stays). So now, here I was a full time student and working 2 jobs again, but this time I was going to have to spend 15 weeks of the pregnancy without my Sean. The first doctors appointment revealed that I was about 10 weeks along. You are probably wondering how I had no clue I was as far along as I was. I had been on the shot for a few years and never had a period, so the lack of one was no indicator. I took a test because I just felt weird.
Things went on smoothly. I went in for my 16 week ultrasound to find out the gender. Boy was I surprised to learn that I was not going to be going home with that information, but instead I was going home with the information that I was having twins! I could not believe it! I was so scared, but mostly I was so excited. At the time Sean was not able to call me so I had to wait for him to get a letter and then return one with the news that he had heard. I went back for an ultra sound at 18 weeks. Here I found that we were having girls! The ultrasound tech was having a hard time finding the line between the two amniotic sacks, but determined that there was indeed 2 sacks. And everything was normal for a twin pregnancy. And of course I celebrated by spending WAY too much money on super cute girl clothes. I had a 2 full tubs of under 3 month size clothes and a pink bathtub.
Sean came home when I was 25 weeks along. I picked him up from the airport and was so excited to see him. The next day we spent Christmas shopping and picking out a double stroller. We also picked out our wedding bands as we had decided we were going to get married. We went to dinner and had a wonderful time. We got home late after the day spent shopping and went to bed. I soon awoke with terrible pains and a gush of fluid. I called the doctor who told me to go to the E.R.
Upon being checked into the E.R I was told that I was completely effaced and dilated. I was given a shot to stop the contractions, but it didn't help. I was then put on Magnesium and my hospital bed was tilted so that my feet were above my head. The plan was to delay my delivery for a week so that my twins who measured 24 week size would measure 25 week size and I would be moved to a hospital with a NICU for my delivery. So I tried everything I could to keep my mind off of the horror that was becoming. I prayed (and for those of you who know me, you know this is out of my character). I begged for my twins to be ok. I pleaded and promised a life of obedience if God would save my twins.
I was on Magnesium for 3 days before they took me off of it as my breath weakened and they feared my lungs would fill with fluid. So they switched me to Dolodid and then it was a waiting game. 2 days went buy and the pressure was becoming intense. The doctor was called in and my water broken and I was given Putosin. They told me I had to push. Everything in my soul was telling me not to while my body was screaming and forcing it. The nurse informed us that they would be born alive and we would hear them gurguling as they tried to breath with their under developed lungs.
After a little while of pushing, our first daughter, Tatum Catherine, came into the world. I was crying knowing what was going to happen. We got to hold our beautiful girl as she struggled to take a breath. She passed shortly after. My contractions had stopped, but I still had one daughter left to deliver. So I pushed as I had no choice to do anything else. Along she came. Our beautiful Rheanan Marie. They layed her next to her sister.
I was scheduled for a D&C the following day to deliver the placenta. Everyone left the room to leave us with our daughters. There we mourned the little lives we lost. The hospital photographer came and took pictures of them. My mom and step dad came to see our girls. We were then informed that after 20 weeks babies are no longer considered "medical waste" and that we would have to call funeral homes and arrange their burial/cremation.
The following morning, the funeral home came and picked them up and told us to come the next morning and decide what we wanted to do with their remains. I was released from the hospital sore and broken. I was in the darkest time of my life. I had the soreness of my breasts that were producing milk to feed the babies I lost. I had the constant reminder of my loss when I went to the bathroom and saw the bleeding. I had a hard time looking Sean in the eyes as I failed him. I lost our babies. I was left with bitterness, devastation, and feelings of weakness. If only I had been stronger, maybe they would have been alive. What did I do so wrong?
We decided to have the girls cremated and put together in a small, heart shaped urn.
It took months before I came out of the dark place that had consumed me. I had questioned everything about me and everything in life. I had cried until my eyes were swollen and tears no longer fell. I finally emerged from the darkness. To say that I am over the devastation would be a lie. The devastation is now a part of my life. The pain is still there, but I can live with it now. There are still things that serve as a reminder and there are times when I still have to hold back the tears. But now, I have my sons and they keep that dark place from once again consuming me. So I will leave you with some advice.
First never say to a woman who has lost a pregnancy that "it happens." She doesn't fucking care that "it happens," it shouldn't have happened.
Second never tell her you understand the pain she is feeling. The fact is, is that pain is hers and hers alone. She does not want to hear what you think she is going through.
And lastly, don't talk about her trying again soon. The fact is, is that she is going to have to find a special place within herself to find the strength to try again. The last thing on her mind following a loss is trying again.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Pregnancy
I guess the natural place to begin is with pregnancy. Some women know they are pregnant long before they decide to pee on a stick (the first of many chances to pee on/in things in the next 10ish months). So back to peeing on the stick...so if you are like me things start to get crazy. My hand starts shaking, making it nearly impossible to keep that thing in the flow for the required amount of time. My ears start ringing and then its the wait. Some of the tests seem to instantly reveal the results while others leave you waiting for 2 minutes! Like really who can wait 2 minutes when finding out if their life is going to change forever?
So anyways the test comes back positive and you now have so much to do, but where to begin. How are you gonna tell your partner? Are you going to show him the stick you just pissed on for 30 seconds? Kinda gross, just like those people who take pictures of the damn thing then post it on Facebook for the world to see or keep it for the baby book (like that is what their kid is going to want, Mom's pee). Then you have to decide when you are going to tell family and friends. If you are like me you wait until you make it past that delicate first 12 weeks (I'll discuss that later).
Ok now lets fast forward to why pregnancy sucks and why those ladies that claim they love it are lying. Starting off, for the many of us who have been cursed with morning sickness. In my case all day sickness. Not that I was throwing up all day, it was more of this constant feeling of wanting to spew my guts and never being able to. But, the feeling that if I could, then and only then could you find a little relief (and as I typed that, my potty training tot peed on me!). Then there is the chance of outside stimuli making you sick, smells (like ground turkey and peppercini's) , foods (in my case sweet potatoes), and just about anything else that will make you head for the toilet. Some of us deal with this sickness throughout the entire pregnancy (thank goodness I wasn't one of them) while others have it just the first trimester and you lucky ones that don't get it at all.
Then lets talk about the trips to the bathroom. Every time you stand up it feels like you have to go so bad. So you waddle your way to relieve yourself to find out you really didn't have to go at all. Now this is reverse of course, when you are sleeping. Just as you get to the best part of a dream you need to get up to relieve yourself. Gah! Then of course you can not resume your dream like you could with an awesome movie.
And if you think all that is no big deal, wait until the third trimester when you feel like a beached whale and the idea of picking something up off the ground is tiring. Personally, if I couldn't pick it up with my toes, I probably wouldn't pick it up. Instead of picking toys up off the floor to vacuum, I just pushed them around. Then there is the hot flashes and diarrhea. Don't forget the swelling, like carrying a baby and extra fat around wasn't enough. Now you swell so you no longer have ankles and your fingers instead resemble sausages. Some women begin to pee themselves a little at this stage (I was lucky, I didn't experience this). And heartburn! Nothing looks good on you anymore because you no longer have that cute little baby "bump." No you are full blown pregnant and there is no level of cute maternity clothes that you will actually look cute in.
Now, lets talk about the tests you will go through at prenatal visits. Probably with your first visit will come blood tests along with maybe some genetic abnormality tests. They take vial after vial of blood. Hopefully you get someone that can get your vein on the first try. Also with your first visit you will probably have a pap smear (you know you love that). Request the small duck beak probe, really does make a difference not that it will ever be comfortable. Around week 28 you will get a glucose test. I don't think this is too bad. You drink what tastes like a flat orange soda and wait around for an hour for more blood to be drawn. Now if this comes back irregular they will request you to come in for a 3 hour one (I never did this one). Then around 34 weeks comes the test I find most humiliating...the Group B Strep test. This test the doctor will swab your lady parts then bring that thing to your nether region. First time I had this done, doctor slipped that thing right in there. Now that takes away some dignity. So hopefully for you, your doctor is like my most recent one and just does a quick slip over and doesn't take the plunge with that super long Q-Tip.
After that the major tests are done. There may be some random blood tests now and then and of course you are going to have to pee in a cup every visit. Then its the waiting game for baby. When you get close and the Braxton-Hicks start coming and increase in intensity it will be your natural thought "is this it?" No, its not. Just take it. Drink water, walk around. They will go away. I promise you, you will know when you have a real contraction. That shit sucks! But we will get into labor and delivery another time. So I will leave you with some of what I think helps the most during pregnancy.
First, get a pregnancy pillow or a body pillow you will need it to support your ever growing body. Try to find some clothes that will work for you both during pregnancy and after as you will not fit in your pre-pregnancy clothes for a while. Also, try to keep good posture. This will help with the back pain and limit your double chin in pictures. Drink tons of water it might just help with the swelling. Find comfortable shoes that will still fit if you do swell. And lastly, make your partner rub your feet and legs and treat yourself to pedicures regularly. You are going to want nice looking toes when you are pushing!
So anyways the test comes back positive and you now have so much to do, but where to begin. How are you gonna tell your partner? Are you going to show him the stick you just pissed on for 30 seconds? Kinda gross, just like those people who take pictures of the damn thing then post it on Facebook for the world to see or keep it for the baby book (like that is what their kid is going to want, Mom's pee). Then you have to decide when you are going to tell family and friends. If you are like me you wait until you make it past that delicate first 12 weeks (I'll discuss that later).
Ok now lets fast forward to why pregnancy sucks and why those ladies that claim they love it are lying. Starting off, for the many of us who have been cursed with morning sickness. In my case all day sickness. Not that I was throwing up all day, it was more of this constant feeling of wanting to spew my guts and never being able to. But, the feeling that if I could, then and only then could you find a little relief (and as I typed that, my potty training tot peed on me!). Then there is the chance of outside stimuli making you sick, smells (like ground turkey and peppercini's) , foods (in my case sweet potatoes), and just about anything else that will make you head for the toilet. Some of us deal with this sickness throughout the entire pregnancy (thank goodness I wasn't one of them) while others have it just the first trimester and you lucky ones that don't get it at all.
Then lets talk about the trips to the bathroom. Every time you stand up it feels like you have to go so bad. So you waddle your way to relieve yourself to find out you really didn't have to go at all. Now this is reverse of course, when you are sleeping. Just as you get to the best part of a dream you need to get up to relieve yourself. Gah! Then of course you can not resume your dream like you could with an awesome movie.
And if you think all that is no big deal, wait until the third trimester when you feel like a beached whale and the idea of picking something up off the ground is tiring. Personally, if I couldn't pick it up with my toes, I probably wouldn't pick it up. Instead of picking toys up off the floor to vacuum, I just pushed them around. Then there is the hot flashes and diarrhea. Don't forget the swelling, like carrying a baby and extra fat around wasn't enough. Now you swell so you no longer have ankles and your fingers instead resemble sausages. Some women begin to pee themselves a little at this stage (I was lucky, I didn't experience this). And heartburn! Nothing looks good on you anymore because you no longer have that cute little baby "bump." No you are full blown pregnant and there is no level of cute maternity clothes that you will actually look cute in.
Now, lets talk about the tests you will go through at prenatal visits. Probably with your first visit will come blood tests along with maybe some genetic abnormality tests. They take vial after vial of blood. Hopefully you get someone that can get your vein on the first try. Also with your first visit you will probably have a pap smear (you know you love that). Request the small duck beak probe, really does make a difference not that it will ever be comfortable. Around week 28 you will get a glucose test. I don't think this is too bad. You drink what tastes like a flat orange soda and wait around for an hour for more blood to be drawn. Now if this comes back irregular they will request you to come in for a 3 hour one (I never did this one). Then around 34 weeks comes the test I find most humiliating...the Group B Strep test. This test the doctor will swab your lady parts then bring that thing to your nether region. First time I had this done, doctor slipped that thing right in there. Now that takes away some dignity. So hopefully for you, your doctor is like my most recent one and just does a quick slip over and doesn't take the plunge with that super long Q-Tip.
After that the major tests are done. There may be some random blood tests now and then and of course you are going to have to pee in a cup every visit. Then its the waiting game for baby. When you get close and the Braxton-Hicks start coming and increase in intensity it will be your natural thought "is this it?" No, its not. Just take it. Drink water, walk around. They will go away. I promise you, you will know when you have a real contraction. That shit sucks! But we will get into labor and delivery another time. So I will leave you with some of what I think helps the most during pregnancy.
First, get a pregnancy pillow or a body pillow you will need it to support your ever growing body. Try to find some clothes that will work for you both during pregnancy and after as you will not fit in your pre-pregnancy clothes for a while. Also, try to keep good posture. This will help with the back pain and limit your double chin in pictures. Drink tons of water it might just help with the swelling. Find comfortable shoes that will still fit if you do swell. And lastly, make your partner rub your feet and legs and treat yourself to pedicures regularly. You are going to want nice looking toes when you are pushing!
Monday, June 24, 2013
My Story
I am an Army wife, a full time student, and most importantly a stay-at-home mom (SAHM for those of you who don't know internet talk). My reasons behind this whole madness are to keep all you new moms out there informed on what I wish someone had told me before I had to go through it blind. There is so much to pregnancy, birth, and raising kids that is just not talked about. And damn it, if I would have known!
I do not regret any moment I have had with my now 2 year old or my 1 month old, but if I were to tell you it has been a breeze I would be a huge liar! I go days where I question my own sanity and have to check the calendar to find the last day I bathed (not like checking would matter...I have no clue what day it is!) I say "goodness" when in reality I am screaming in my head. My curse words have been replaced with clenched teeth and "gosh" and I dream in Disney songs. I have all the theme sings to Disney Chanel and Nick Jr. shows memorized and know all the characters by name. I eat PB&J and corn dogs more often than I would like to admit. I usually feel utter unattractive, but damn it, I LOVE my kids more than I would ever be able to put into words.
Being a mom has been the most frustrating, infuriating, stressful, tiring, educational, rewarding miracle I could have ever imagined. That being said, I intend to share with you every little disgusting, beautiful, and weird thing I know about being a mom. I will share with you what women conveniently leave out when they talk about what happens before and after baby. I will be brutally honest and probably offer up way too much information, but its all what I wish I would have known. Maybe it would have been easier, maybe I would have been more prepared, maybe nothing would have been different. Who knows. But if one thing I say helps one mom regain a fraction of a second of sanity, then I saw its worth it! So I guess, its on to the nasty...
I do not regret any moment I have had with my now 2 year old or my 1 month old, but if I were to tell you it has been a breeze I would be a huge liar! I go days where I question my own sanity and have to check the calendar to find the last day I bathed (not like checking would matter...I have no clue what day it is!) I say "goodness" when in reality I am screaming in my head. My curse words have been replaced with clenched teeth and "gosh" and I dream in Disney songs. I have all the theme sings to Disney Chanel and Nick Jr. shows memorized and know all the characters by name. I eat PB&J and corn dogs more often than I would like to admit. I usually feel utter unattractive, but damn it, I LOVE my kids more than I would ever be able to put into words.
Being a mom has been the most frustrating, infuriating, stressful, tiring, educational, rewarding miracle I could have ever imagined. That being said, I intend to share with you every little disgusting, beautiful, and weird thing I know about being a mom. I will share with you what women conveniently leave out when they talk about what happens before and after baby. I will be brutally honest and probably offer up way too much information, but its all what I wish I would have known. Maybe it would have been easier, maybe I would have been more prepared, maybe nothing would have been different. Who knows. But if one thing I say helps one mom regain a fraction of a second of sanity, then I saw its worth it! So I guess, its on to the nasty...
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