Welcome to the World, Ella Rose!

June 15, 2020 · LIFESTYLE

She's here!

Our sweet daughter Ella Rose was born on May 8, a whopping 7 pounds, 1 ounce. She is even more beautiful than I thought she’d be, and my heart is so full.

Over the last month, we’ve had family in and out of our home to visit our newest addition. It’s been a crazy whirlwind, but I’m really grateful. All of the extra helping hands have allowed me to get the rest I need while also caring for my newborn. (Yes, I even needed a break from blogging! I've been working on this one post for over a month now, but mama duty calls!)

All ready to go home from the hospital!

Here’s what we’ve learned about Ella over the course of a month:

Ella is an excellent eater and a super pooper!

She took to breastfeeding immediately and I’m pretty sure it’s her favorite thing to do. And three blowouts in her first week home proved that her digestive system works pretty well, too!

She has been a wonderful sleeper - thank goodness!

In the weeks leading up to delivery, I had a bit of anxiety about losing sleep at night. I have never functioned well on less than 7 hours of sleep each night, so I worried about interrupted sleep. Thankfully, Ella has already slept for long stretches at night. And when she wakes, I’ve been surprised to find that waking to feed her hasn’t been as exhausting as I thought it would be. (Well… until it’s time to get up in the morning!)

**She’s a little dramatic… but calms quickly when she gets what she wants.**

They say you can’t spoil a baby, at least for the first three months. I hope that’s true, because when miss Ella wants something, she makes sure we know it! But usually once we’ve figured out what she wants, she doesn’t carry on any further.

Ella is going to be a daddy’s girl for sure.

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve handed her off to my husband for a bit of a break, and immediately she calms down. If I wasn’t so grateful for his magic touch, I might actually be a little jealous!

I love watching her personality grow as the days and weeks go by! We’ve learned when she’s happy, when she’s fussy, and what each varying cry means. I worried that caring for a newborn would be an intimidating learning curve for me, but she’s taught me to have patience, give myself grace, and go with the flow.

As for me, here’s what I’ve learned about motherhood:

The things that worried me the most about caring for a newborn have actually become some of the sweetest moments.

Don’t get me wrong - the 3 AM wake up calls and cluster feeding evenings have been challenging. But being able to provide comfort for my baby while seeing her soften and smile as I hold her is an irreplaceable feeling.

Sacrificing my needs and desires in order to care for my family has been a challenge.

I believe this is the task that God has called me to do, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard! I find myself fighting off feelings of bitterness - usually out of sheer exhaustion - when I can’t even eat a meal in peace or take a shower. This is an adjustment that all new wives and mothers have to make, and I’m learning to submit all over again - this time, to serve the needs of both my husband and my daughter.

I have learned to accept and ask for help when I need it.

I threw my pride right out the window the moment my L&D nurses helped me go to the bathroom after giving birth! (Side note: shouts out to nurses. I have a whole new respect for y’all after my time in the hospital! You are amazing!)

For real though - I couldn’t have made it through the first few days and weeks with my newborn without help from my husband, mom and mother-in-law. They made meals, took care of Ella so that I could sleep, ran errands, and cleaned my house for me so that I didn’t feel like I was drowning.

Getting things done can no longer be a top priority for me.

I have always loved crossing tasks off a to-do list, but these days I’m lucky to accomplish one thing outside of caring for Ella. I often have to remind myself that she is only a baby for a short time. Cherishing these moments with her is far more important than vacuuming the house.

Taking It All In

It’s hard to describe the moments after we arrived home from the hospital with Ella. It just so happened to be Mother’s Day - my first, but not really. Just a year prior, I was grieving the loss of my first pregnancy on Mother’s Day. This year, I brought my second baby home.

We introduced her to our dog, and I walked her to her room. I sat with her in the chair, and rocked her to sleep as tears streamed down my face. This moment was all I had wanted - and after years of waiting, God granted me the sweetest blessing.

Everything has come full circle. Just yesterday in church, a dear friend and sister in Christ said to me, “It seems like just yesterday we were grieving!” And how true that rings! In the course of a year, God brought me from longing to expectant, to grieving and longing all over again, to expectant and joyous over my two beautiful babies. One we still grieve and long to meet one day, and the other we have the privilege of knowing and raising.

I am certain that God’s plan for me in all of this was good. All of these experiences from loss to joy strengthened my bond with my husband, made me a better mother for Ella, and taught me to choose joy in every circumstance. As I took in these first moments at home with Ella, I thanked God for all of it.

Everything has changed, yet it feels like we’ve had Ella forever. Our life as a little family has been so sweet over the last month! I’ll be sharing more updates here and there as we grow, but for now, thank you for following our journey up to this point. I hope our story has inspired and encouraged you in your walk, wherever you’re at.

With a grateful heart,

An Open Letter From a First-Time Mom, Anxious About COVID-19

March 25, 2020 · LIFESTYLE

From a first-time mom that didn't know what to expect,

I know this isn’t what any of us expected.

Sure, none of us really know much going into motherhood for the first time. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m absolutely clueless! I fully expected this whole journey of pregnancy, childbirth and first-time motherhood to be a learning curve.

But I certainly didn’t expect a global pandemic to steal away so many of my firsts. And to my fellow first-time moms anxious about this whole thing - I’m guessing you didn’t either.

The Reality of First-Time Pregnancy During COVID-19

We didn’t expect our baby showers to be cancelled, or to worry weeks in advance about a shortage of diapers, wipes and formula. Now, scrambling for the items we still need is increasingly difficult due to store closures and picked-over shelves.

We didn’t expect to go to our prenatal appointments alone, leaving first-time dads out of such an important season of life.

Many of us fear the very real possibility of experiencing labor and delivery without our husbands. We are terrified of not having a hand to hold during excruciating labor pain. But even worse, we worry our husbands will be prohibited from experiencing the birth of our children.

Some of us may not see our families for a long time, and likely will not have any visitors in the hospital when the baby is born. Our hearts break knowing that our loved ones may miss out on these first few weeks entirely.

We are scared for our newborns’ fragile immune systems in the midst of an incredibly contagious and insidious virus.

All of these are legitimate concerns, and it’s okay to feel disappointed.

I’m still processing all of these harsh realities in real time as I write this post, and my heart is breaking. I still hold onto hope that it will turn around over the next few weeks, but I find myself becoming increasingly anxious as I get closer to our baby’s due date.

For myself and many others, all we can do is move forward with caution and prepare as much as possible for the reality that lies ahead. This isn’t going to be easy.

Being a mother is hard - and this is just the beginning!

Here we are, in this difficult position during this particular time. This is our first chance to be a rock for our children. At the end of this, regardless of the circumstances, we will hold in our arms the most cherished gift we could ever receive.

My miracle rainbow baby that I longed for, prayed for, and carried for all these months will finally be here, resting in my arms. That indelible fact is enough to melt away any anxiety or fear that threatens to rob my joy.

Dear first-time mom, we are going to make it through this.

Even though you may feel a mixture of fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, doubt, and disappointment, you can do this. You’re a mother now - and as mothers, we do what we have to for our children.

Even if it requires us to forfeit a normal first-time mom experience. Even if it means giving birth alone.

So in the days that lie ahead, let’s look for the beauty in all of this chaos. Let’s enjoy the opportunity we have to be in the comfort of our homes, perhaps even with our husbands. We can take time to go for walks, prepare freezer meals, set up our nurseries, and read books on parenting. We can even watch prenatal classes online in our sweatpants, and be grateful that we live in a time when this is possible!

When we compare our circumstances with others, it’s easy to feel disappointed with the cards we were dealt. But we still have so much to be grateful for in the midst of this craziness. Most of all, we can be grateful to serve a God who never leaves or forsakes us, who strengthens us in times of uncertainty.

Sending so much love to my fellow first-time mamas!

The Ultimate List of Products & Gifts for Pregnancy

February 5, 2020 · LIFESTYLE

Pregnancy has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.

I'm one of those crazy people that has loved being pregnant, for multiple reasons. Thankfully, I didn't struggle with terrible morning sickness, but even more significantly, I was ecstatic from day one of this pregnancy.

As you know, our journey to having this baby was a long one. We had waited and tried for quite some time before finally being able to conceive, and now that we have, I've never taken a single moment for granted. I was thankful for the days I didn't feel well, because it meant that she was still here and still growing.

Still, I had to learn quickly to adapt to all of the drastic changes my body was undergoing! All of the crazy symptoms and my rapidly changing figure were uncomfortable to go through, and over time I found ways to alleviate some of that discomfort.

Today I'm sharing a list of pregnancy products that have been absolute lifesavers for me during this season of life. Maybe you're a pregnant mama trying to prepare for what's about to happen to your body. Or maybe you're a thoughtful gift-giver that wants to bless a newly pregnant loved one with a care package. In either case, these pregnancy products are tried, true, and super beneficial for women going through all the changes that pregnancy brings.

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking these links doesn't cost you anything extra, but it does help me run my site and continue to provide free content. For more, read my Disclosure Policy.

Maternity Tops, Dresses & Bras

One of the first pregnancy products you might consider investing in is a comfortable bra. Y'all, I'll be real - I haven't worn a regular bra in MONTHS!

In the first trimester, your breasts begin developing already for breastfeeding. Mine were so incredibly achy that until I had a good maternity bra, I wore sports bras everywhere. I ended up buying a two-pack of maternity/nursing bras that are soft and comfortable for me at this stage, but will also transition perfectly for breastfeeding after the baby arrives.

Luckily for me, pregnancy in the wintertime is perfect because I can get away with wearing my normal loose-fitting sweaters! However, I suspect that come springtime when I'm 8 months pregnant, I'll purchase a pack of layering tees and at least one maternity dress, like the ones I've linked.

Maternity Bottoms

You'll soon find that out of all the pregnancy products available to you, comfortable maternity bottoms are super important!

Whether you're pregnant or not, these leggings are THE BEST. They've got an elastic drawstring waist and a cuffed hem, much like joggers, but they fit like a legging. AND GUYS... THEY HAVE POCKETS! I bought these before I had a belly, knowing that I'd be able to grow with them without a problem. They stretch well and fit under my bump perfectly now! I have these in ruby, but there are so many cute color options!

Most leggings you already have in your closet probably fit well enough already, so there may not be a need to purchase maternity leggings. I found, however, that the waist band on some of my leggings sat in a very uncomfortable spot on my belly, so I bought a pair of these maternity leggings from Old Navy. The waist band goes all the way over your belly, so they're a super comfortable fit for when your bump starts to grow!

One thing I quickly found out is that you can't get away with wearing your usual jeans for long! I picked up a few pairs of maternity jeans from Old Navy - they have so many fashionable and affordable maternity options! Just be aware that most Old Navy stores don't carry these items, so you'll need to purchase them online.

Combat Those Nasty First-Trimester Symptoms

Whether you're a pregnant mama struggling through morning sickness or you're hoping to bless someone who is, these items would be perfect in a care package! Pregnant women can't take all the same over-the-counter drugs that everyone else can, and it can be challenging to combat some of the nasty first-trimester symptoms naturally. Preggie Pop Drops and Tums are safe for pregnant women and effective in easing discomfort.

Peppermint tea is also perfect for a queasy stomach, and it's also known to aid digestion. Plus, it's caffeine-free, making it the perfect solution for pregnant mamas looking for a little comfort! Stash tea is my absolute favorite - I have purchased multi-packs of this peppermint tea in the past, and I'll never buy anything else!

Even though antacids and peppermint tea aren't just pregnancy products, expecting mamas might find themselves using these a lot more frequently in the first trimester!

Miscellaneous Items I Use & Recommend

Last but not least, I have to share these last three pregnancy products that I use daily!

Obviously, your doctor will tell you to start taking prenatal vitamins, but there are a ton of options out there. It's overwhelming! I recommend Nature Made Prenatal Multi+DHA Vitamins. These are the most affordable, quality prenatal vitamins I could find, and I use them every day!

Palmer's Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks is probably my favorite item on this entire roundup. Full disclosure - I have a lot of stretch marks elsewhere on my body, and I wish I had always known about this lotion! It is super rich, almost like a cream, and improves skin elasticity by keeping it supple and moisturized as your bump stretches and grows. I use this lotion every day on my ever-expanding belly and so far, it's helped me prevent stretch marks!

Lastly, I received this pregnancy pillow for Christmas and have slept with it every single night since! It's super soft and cuddly, and it provides the perfect amount of support for my belly and hips. I like the shape of this pillow as opposed to some of the U-shaped pillows, because you can kind of mold it around to fit how you want. It has definitely helped me sleep through the night better!

More Ideas for Thoughtful Gifters & First-Time Moms

Whether you're putting together a thoughtful care package gift for a newly pregnant mama or you're a first time mom yourself, the options are endless! Here are a few more products and gift ideas that have been helpful for me during this pregnancy.

A Pregnancy Journal

I received this pregnancy journal as a gift from my hospital after my first appointment. Yeah, I know, I know... I pay them plenty of money to provide care for me during pregnancy, but I thought it was a really nice and unnecessary gesture! Journaling your pregnancy is a sweet way to remember how you felt each week. Even if you've been terribly uncomfortable, you'll be able to look back and smile on what this time in your life was like many years from now.

The Bump Pregnancy Tracker App

The Bump's pregnancy tracking app (downloadable for free at the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store) is an excellent resource for first time pregnant moms. Since we first-timers have no way of knowing what's normal in pregnancy, this is a great, safe place to search for or ask questions on the forums. The app also tracks your pregnancy every day, giving you fun little tidbits on how big your baby is each day and information on how baby is developing week by week. You can even make reminders about upcoming appointments. Simply put - The Bump is a great tool, especially for newbies!

Yoga or Other Prenatal Workout Subscription

My workouts changed dramatically when I got pregnant. I know they say you can continue to do all the same exercises you did pre-pregnancy, but I'll be honest. I really didn't feel like working out anymore, at least not at the same intensity level! My boobs hurt when I ran or jumped. I felt exhausted all the time and had a hard time lifting weights because of it. Most pregnant moms feel nauseous and would rather lie in a curled up ball than do cardio!

Once I entered the second trimester and the initial uncomfortable symptoms tapered off, I was ready to work out again... but I had lost a lot of ground. These days I'm sticking to yoga, going for walks, and occasionally doing prenatal-specific workouts on Youtube. As a reference, I bought a year's subscription to The Yoga Collective on Groupon for SUPER cheap, and my husband and I have been enjoying it! As for free Youtube prenatal workouts, check out FIT by Larie's channel.

Gift Cards for Takeout or Homemade Baked Goods

Even though I didn't get super nauseous in my first trimester, I still had those crazy food cravings and aversions! Cooking and eating well can be difficult when it seems like everything besides fried foods and chocolate turns your stomach. Many days I simply didn't eat because just the thought of any food made me queasy. The best advice I received from my doctor? Eat what you can tolerate!

I didn't go crazy on junk food or anything, but I'd be lying if I didn't make a few impromptu drive through runs for chicken strips and burgers. So if you want to bless a newly pregnant mama, give her the gift she really wants - food! You could give her a gift card for those weeknights when nothing sounds good but Chinese takeout. Or if baking is your thing, bring her a pan of fresh, homemade brownies! I'm definitely not advising that pregnant women should eat this way all the time, but this gift could be a nice gesture and a big help on those days where cravings and aversions take over.

You got this, Mama!

Like this post? Make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook or Pinterest! Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for fitness inspiration, recipes, and all things lifestyle!

She's here!

Here’s what we’ve learned about Ella over the course of a month:

Ella is an excellent eater and a super pooper!

She has been a wonderful sleeper - thank goodness!

She’s a little dramatic… but calms quickly when she gets what she wants.

Ella is going to be a daddy’s girl for sure.

As for me, here’s what I’ve learned about motherhood:

The things that worried me the most about caring for a newborn have actually become some of the sweetest moments.

Sacrificing my needs and desires in order to care for my family has been a challenge.

I have learned to accept and ask for help when I need it.

Getting things done can no longer be a top priority for me.

Taking It All In

With a grateful heart,

Stay Up-to-Date on New Posts!

Like this post? Make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook or Pinterest! Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for fitness inspiration, recipes, and all things lifestyle!

From a first-time mom that didn't know what to expect,

The Reality of First-Time Pregnancy During COVID-19

All of these are legitimate concerns, and it’s okay to feel disappointed.

Don’t Miss Out!

Being a mother is hard - and this is just the beginning!

Dear first-time mom, we are going to make it through this.

Sending so much love to my fellow first-time mamas!

Like this post? Make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook or Pinterest! Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for fitness inspiration, recipes, and all things lifestyle!

Pregnancy has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking these links doesn't cost you anything extra, but it does help me run my site and continue to provide free content. For more, read my Disclosure Policy.

Don’t Miss Out!

Maternity Tops, Dresses & Bras

Maternity Bottoms

Combat Those Nasty First-Trimester Symptoms

Miscellaneous Items I Use & Recommend

More Ideas for Thoughtful Gifters & First-Time Moms

Whether you're putting together a thoughtful care package gift for a newly pregnant mama or you're a first time mom yourself, the options are endless! Here are a few more products and gift ideas that have been helpful for me during this pregnancy.

A Pregnancy Journal

The Bump Pregnancy Tracker App

Yoga or Other Prenatal Workout Subscription

Gift Cards for Takeout or Homemade Baked Goods

You got this, Mama!

Like this post? Make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook or Pinterest! Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for fitness inspiration, recipes, and all things lifestyle!

**She’s a little dramatic… but calms quickly when she gets what she wants.**