Meet Baby C!

I was so bad at documenting this pregnancy but I still wanted to share Baby C's birth story because I love reading them and I know many of you do too!

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I woke up on February 20th not at all thinking that I would go into labor anytime soon - I thought I would have at least a week or two before having another baby. E woke up at his normal early hour and we were in the living room watching a show and I started having cramp-like contractions that started at 6:30am. B woke up around 7:00am and I went to the bathroom after getting them breakfast and noticed thick discharge and blood. I texted my husband and told him to keep his phone by him and I called the hospital to see what I should do about the bleeding. 

They said I was probably in the early stages of labor and not to come in unless my contractions picked up or the bleeding got worse. Contractions came and went, sometimes being 3-5 minutes apart and then almost 10 minutes apart. That went on until 3:00ish when they started to pick up again and became a lot more painful. The boys went with the some friends to a preschool activity and we decided to go to the hospital at 4:00pm just to see what was going on.

We got to the hospital and went to triage. They checked me and I was only at a 1cm....I was so mad that I was only that far along! They were going to let us stay and walk the halls because it wasn't my first baby and they thought things would progress faster. The baby’s heartbeat started dropping a little with each contraction so they had me stay in bed and checked me again at 6:45pm and I was at 3cm. 

Contractions got pretty unbearable soon after and I was dying to get some medication/ the epidural ASAP!!! They finally admitted me and took us to a room at 7:30pm. The anesthesiologist was already there waiting for me, I just had to sign a few consent forms and was told the risks of getting an epidural when I "supposedly" was only at 3cm when I knew I wasn't!  I still demanded to get one and I'm so glad I did! The epidural was placed at 8:10pm, my water broke (more like went gushing everywhere) at 8:30pm and baby girl quickly came at 8:54pm! She weighed 6 lbs 12.5 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

We love you Baby C!

Photos by Kristina Sponseller

Little Things

We survived the storm this weekend! We had our second nor'easter here in Boston. This last one was a lot more intense than the first. Water was coming over the sea wall a couple hours before high tide, so I packed the boys up and we headed to a friend's house for the day/night. Thankfully our apartment didn't flood! A tree did fall near it though so that tells you how strong the wind was.

Now on to the real reason for this post!

The boys were outside playing with their trucks one afternoon this week. I was wishing we were doing something more fun especially with how much we've stayed home lately. Then the thought came to me: "They are having a blast doing what they're doing."

As moms we guilt ourselves way too much and I'm totally at fault with doing this too often. We need to remember more that our kids enjoy the simple things just as much (or more) than the big outings we take them on.

This was a great reminder that I needed this week and if it does anything, I hope that it will help you remember to not be so hard on yourself!

We are their everything...

There have been days lately where I've struggled being a happy mom. It's a job I've always wanted and I'm so grateful for the title of Mom, but it's hard. It's tiring-both mentally and physically. Sick days don't exist and cleaning up messes happen multiple times a day. 

I first came across this quote a year or so ago and stumbled upon it again last week:

What a great reminder this is! 

Happy Monday!

My journey to a healthier, happier me!

 

Cardigan Sweater c/o Modest Modern Mama

Top - Similar

Jeans - Kohl's

Boots c/o White Mountain Shoes

Cardigan Sweater c/o Modest Modern Mama

Top - Similar

Jeans - Kohl's

Boots c/o White Mountain Shoes

There has been a lot going on in my life that I haven't really talked about on the blog. I want this space to be happy and lighthearted, but in reality that's not how life always is.

I have always considered myself a worrier. For example in elementary school I would get homework on a Monday and it wouldn't be due until Friday but I would have to get it done that night or else it was the end of the world. 

That was just the start of it and since having my kids it has gotten worse with each one. I was becoming such a mean mom- I was irritated with my kids all the time for the littlest things like B asking me a simple question. I also hated driving when I used to enjoy it. I didn't want to do things or go places in fear of something bad happening, and I would get anxiety over getting anxious. It's a vicious cycle! I began to think what I was dealing with was something that couldn't get fixed and I tried to deal with it the best I could with a positive attitude and exercise.

We moved to Boston, my husband started his residency and I knew I was in over my head. I needed to get my life back on track if I was going to be able to take care of my kids by myself with my husband working so many hours. 

I was terrified to go to the doctor, partially because I didn't know if I wanted to admit that I had something wrong with me especially with it being all mental. On the day of my appointment I had barely gotten back to the exam room and I was already crying. I thought for sure they thought I was crazy! Thankfully I saw an amazing doctor who listened to my situation and reassured me that major life changes such as moving, having a baby, starting new jobs, etc. can all bring on anxiety. She put me on some medication and it was a little hard adjusting to it at first but it has changed my life! I've been seeing a therapist to get tools on how to cope with my anxiety and I try to exercise regularly.

I still have bad days but I am able to think clearer and not worry so much. I am so much happier and I never thought I'd say this but I LOVE living in Boston!

I'm not saying that everyone should get on anxiety medicine or see a therapist, but it was something I needed to do to become a happier and healthier wife, mom, and person in general.

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or if you can relate with me. Life can be so tough but when we have the support of one another it makes the biggest difference!

Love you guys!

This post is a collaboration with White Mountain Shoes and Modest Modern Mama. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

At-Home Preschool Update

We are almost done with our third week of at-home preschooling and I thought it needed an update on here!

The first day was rough....B didn't want to do anything I asked. Since then he has gotten used to me being his teacher and has been pretty eager to learn. Once our hour or so of preschool ends he always gets a little disappointed because he wants to do more, which is a good sign and encourages me to want to keep teaching him!

I found out a couple weeks ago that B could possibly be going to Kindergarten next year because in Boston they give you the option of doing two years of Kindergarten. It made me so sad thinking that this might be the last year I have B home with me all the time, but I do think it will be good for him to be in a more social setting. So we'll see what happens!

Top - Primark
Skirt - Old (Similar)
Shoes - Nordstrom

Linking up with Thoughts for Thursday, Thinking out Loud, Penny's Passion

*This post contain affiliate links. Thanks for supporting this blog! 

Your best is good enough!

My Shirt c/o Lexi's Loft
Baby E's Onesie c/o Lexi's Loft

Lately I've been listening to podcasts while getting ready for the day. One of my favorites is the Extraordinary Moms Podcast. It's always so uplifting and enlightening to hear about how other moms do life! This week I listened to this episode with Shannon Tripp and I felt like everything she was saying was directed towards me!

Here's some of the key points I loved and you'll have to go listen to it yourself to hear the rest!

-Your best is good enough!! Your kids need you and what you can give them. Don't compare what other moms are doing with their kids - You are enough for your own kids!

-We cannot be perfect - it's not realistic so don't have the mom guilt.

- Allow yourself to be happy for other moms and their victories. Let your kids see you being a positive and happy person! 

Happy listening!!

 Let me know what you loved about it and if there's other podcasts you'd think I'd enjoy!!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

A Day in the Life

I've been wanting to do a post like this for a while and I finally got around to it! 

This is from Tuesday of this week and is what a day spent at home usually looks like.

3:30am Baby E wakes up to eat.

6:38 Baby E is up again to eat after being restless the past three hours. He goes back to sleep. 

7:50 We're all up! B eats breakfast and watch cartoons. I read my scriptures and publish a blog post. 

8:50 Try to put Baby E down for a nap (which didn't happen), make the bed, and put on exercise clothes.

9:15 Exercise! I usually do an ab workout and some sort of cardio/arms/legs workout on YouTube. (Baby E is usually asleep while I exercise but today he cried for most of it.)

9:35 Feed Baby E and eat my snack of apples and peanut butter.

10:10 Boys are dressed and I shower.

11:00 Baby E is down for a nap, B is playing with trucks, a load of laundry is in, and I do my makeup.

11:25 Puzzle time with B.

11:50 Train puzzle is finished and it's lunch time!

12:00pm Baby E wakes up and gets a diaper change. We finish eating and B gets a little Ipad time while I feed Baby E.

1:10 B goes down for his nap, I fold some laundry, answer emails, and look at blogs. Baby E takes a nap too.

3:15 Fold more laundry

3:25 Feed Baby E

3:40 B wakes up and watches another show while I get Baby E's next size of clothes out (6 months)

4:15 I get out a letter tracing book to see how B does with it and it doesn't go well. Haha maybe in a few months:) So we color instead!

(This time of day I'm usually going crazy and counting the minutes until my husband to get home, but this day he had to stay after so I still have a few hours by myself)

5:00 We listen to music and B wants us to dance.

5:15 I start dinner

5:30 Baby E goes down for his third nap and B is playing well by himself.

6:05 Baby E wakes up and B and I are eating dinner.

6:25 Feed Baby E and he only nurses for a couple minutes and witching hour starts!

6:35 Train puzzle round 2! (At this point I'm going crazy and ready for bedtime, I also did not want to do that puzzle again!)

7:10 Clean up and PJ time

7:25 Baby E finally eats well and it's his last feeding for the night. Goes to sleep right after.

7:52 B is in bed (Happy dance!)

8:02 Hubby's home! We talk, watch a show, and eat a treat.

10:30 Bedtime

There's our day! Hopefully it gives you a good idea what it's like with a three year old and five month old!

Linking up with Thoughts for Thursday, Thinking out Loud, Penny's Passion

Three Things

Here's another update on each member of our family! There are days that I can't believe I have two kids! When did that happen?!?!

B:

1) It's so cute to watch him play lately. He's been using his imagination more and I love hearing what his toys say to each other!

2) He likes Paw Patrol right now and watches the episodes on YouTube whenever we let him.

3) Loves his comfy clothes! He probably wears jeans once a month.

Baby E:
1) He's still a mama's boy, especially when he's tired and is starting to have 'stranger danger'.

2) Does not like his bouncy seat anymore and is always trying to sit up while in it.

3) Has started reaching for things in my hands-like my phone, cups, papers and will put anything in his mouth. The other day we were grocery shopping and B gave him the shopping list and the next thing I knew he had eaten half of it!

Hubby:

1) Works out whenever he has time in the morning or during the day. He wanted a simple home gym where ever we moved next, but since we're going to Boston that will have to be his residency graduation present!

2) Got to play soccer for the first time in a while with B and some neighbor kids!

3) He's still doing a great job searching for a place for us to live in Boston!;) (I wouldn't be surprised if we end up driving there with our moving truck with no place to live the way it's looking right now.)

Myself:
1) I've been trying to be more intentional with how I spend my time and I'm able to get so much done lately! Facebook and Instagram can suck you in!

2) One thing I have appreciated a lot lately is when people ask to hold Baby E for me at church activities. It's such a nice break and allows me to do my responsibilities quicker.

3) My LipSense business is keeping me a lot busier than I expect, which is a really good thing! 

Transitioning from 1 to 2 Kids

Two kids has definitely been a wake up call for me!

Before having two kids, I had my house in order most of the time. I had certain areas I cleaned each week, I exercised 3-4 times at the gym, and I was feeling good about life. Then I had Baby E and all of my expectations with cleaning and life went down quite a few notches!

Here's a list of things that I've learned from going from one kid to two!

Lower your expectations- There will always be toys out and things to clean up, but enjoy seeing those "decorations" because they are a great reminder of what you've been blessed with. Don't expect perfection from yourself, you have kids and they take up time, but also remember to take time for yourself (exercise, eat right, get dressed every day) that will get you on track and enable you to handle more.

Learn to say NO- I had to start saying no to things because I realized that I couldn't do everything. Now that Baby E is a little over three months, I am able to add a few more things to my plate and not feel overwhelmed.

Ask for help- You can't do it alone! This one is really hard for me, but as I have more kids I'm realizing that I'll never be able to do it all without asking for help. We have a sweet lady in our neighborhood who has watched the baby for me so I can take B on dates or go to appointments. It has been so helpful!

Spend one-on-one time with older child- Make them feel special. I've really had to focus on and make an effort to give B the attention he needs. I imagine it would be hard going from getting all the attention to having to share my attention with a new sibling.

Have older child help and feel included in caring for baby- B loves to get diapers for me and it helps him feel like he is helping me in a big way- which it is! I've also heard of parents getting the older sibling a doll to care for while the mom cares for the baby. We thought of doing this but decided not to and it's been fine but that might be because B is older.

Cherish time with each child- They grow up way too fast! If you have time a few times a week, hold your baby while they sleep. That has become a favorite of mine with Baby E!

What has helped you transition from one to two kids?? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Linking up with Thoughts for Thursday, Thinking out Loud, Penny's Passion

365 Days of Lindsey {Week 5}

Day 29:

Snoozing through church!

Day 30:

Today was a really long day, but out of all the craziness I learned this: "The only way God can show us he's in control, is to put us in situations we can't control." #matchday

Day 31:

Tonight B was reading to me and he knew all the clothing items except for a dress....obviously I'm the only girl in our house! #boymomlife

Day 32:

Baby cuddles....My favorite! #staylittleforever

Day 33:

We are going to miss our Virginia winters. They are the best! 

Day 34:
I can't wait to use these new nail colors! Vinylux colors: Beckoning Begonia, Irreverent Rose, Married to the Mauve

Day 35:
Pop of Pink! (Vinylux: Irreverent Rose)