Diedre

Amazon Gift Guide for Toddler Girls

November 6, 2023 Leave a Comment

I honestly can’t believe it’s already time to start thinking about Christmas gifts. I remember blinking and summer was over, and we were taking out pumpkins.

I’m not mad though, because this is my favorite time of year. As a mom of four kids between the ages of 12 and 1 (whew that age gap is wild), starting shopping early is my jam. So I’ve created this Amazon gift guide for toddler girls.

I’m also the oldest of 4 kids and almost all of my siblings are married now, so our family is even bigger.

Honestly, my littlest little, my surprise baby Penelope doesn’t need much. She pretty much plays with whatever her siblings play with.

But of course, the kids sometimes get into a tug of war battle when they want the same toy, so sometimes it’s just easier for everyone to have their own.

Penelope is really into pretend play right now and most toddlers live for pretend play. Here are a few of my favorite toddler toys for pretend play:

Leap Frog Picnic Basket

My older girls had this when they were little and it was definitely a favorite of theirs. It sings, talks and teaches colors and numbers. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any Leap Frog toys in my opinion.

Leap Frog Clean Sweep Learning Caddy

I don’t know about you, but my 1 year old loves to make a mess. And I think she has just as much fun cleaning up as she does making a mess. She loves to “help” me clean. This is the perfect gift for littles who love to clean.

Fisher Price Learning Chair

We bought this chair last Christmas and Penelope loves it! Her brother even gets in it on occasion and he is 5! It has 3 play modes: Learning, Music, and Imagination; Songs and phrases teach the alphabet, numbers, colors, opposites, stories, and more. The interactive seat “magically” responds when toddlers sit or stand.

Leap Frog Learning Friends 100 words Book

One of my favorite features of this toy is the ability to learn words in English and Spanish. You can hear sound effects, and fun facts; hear the two theme songs by pressing the light-up star button.

Magnetic Drawing Board

The cool thing about this toy is that you can set it up as a table toy they can sit at, or detach the legs and take it on the go. It’s mess free and uses their imagination without the use of electronics.

Little People Barbie Collection

If you are Barbie obsessed like me, then you will love this Little People version for your little girl. They are dressed in outfits from the movie and they are a special collector’s item!

Personalized Name Puzzle

This toy is the perfect way to introduce how to spell your little girl’s name. The name puzzles are crafted from birch plywood and feature water-based ink.

MagnaTiles 100 piece set

This is a toy that will grow with your child. They will get hours of play for years to come. It is a certified STEAM toy, per Dr. Gummer’s Good Play Guide, in partnership with The Toy Association, for aiding in the development of fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, cognitive skills, executive functioning, creativity and more!

And if your toddler is still putting things in her mouth, the pieces are big enough where they won’t choke her.

Little Tikes Cottage Playhouse

Looking for toys that your toddler can enjoy outdoors? This playhouse is actually durable enough for inside or outside play. It is water-resistant and features a working door, 2 windows with working shutters, a mail slot and flag holder.

Vtech Prance and Rock Learning Unicorn

This is the perfect gift for 1-3 year olds. As your toddler rocks and rides, the motion sensor responds with magical sounds and music to encourage movement.

When buying gifts for toddlers, it’s important to remember to find things that are age appropriate and can handle a little roughness. It’s also important to find toys that don’t have small pieces as toddlers tend to put things in their mouth and that can be a choking hazard.

Toddlers are little sponges and can learn even through play, so try to find toys that are educational as well as fun. Toys that are made from wood and thick durable plastic tend to stand the test of time and can be passed down to younger siblings or friends kids.

6 Easy Ways to Help Your Middle School Child With Organization

June 15, 2023 Leave a Comment

One of the best ways you can help your middle school child is to teach them how to stay organized. When I was a middle school counselor, I often had parents call me and tell me that their child was failing or struggling in a class, so one of the first things that I did was check their book bag.

And the state of the bookbag usually tells me everything I need to know.

I’ve seen bookbags filled with crumbs, folded papers that were months old, and folders that were bent—I’ll spare you the unorganized details of all I’ve seen.

I could usually get a middle school child organized in 30 minutes or less. And I challenged them to keep it that way. We met for several weeks afterward for a bookbag check.

They usually felt more confident and ready to tackle whatever comes their way when their bookbags are clean and organized.

Here are a few tips for staying organized:

Get rid of papers that are graded & no longer needed

Kids are notorious for holding onto papers. How many times have your children brought home papers and then protested when you tried to throw them away?

You can help your middle school child stay organized by creating piles of paper to keep (study) and to throw away.

The more you practice with them, the better they get about deciphering what gets kept vs what gets tossed.

Use binders/colored folders to keep papers organized by subject

Even though many kids are doing virtual school this school year, they still need a space to help them stay organized.

It also gives their eyes a break from having to stare at a computer screen while they are not actively engaged in school hour activities.

Set up an area of the house that is quiet and clean. Use binders or folders to keep study guides and other important papers organized by subject area.

Use a planner to write down daily assignments

Middle school kids have so much to remember, and their teachers expect them to have a system that helps them remember.

In elementary school, teachers put important dates and events in communication folders and created weekly calendars to help parents and kids keep track of important assignments, tests, and dates.

The transition from elementary to middle school can be hard because the learning curve is pretty big.

Kids go from having teachers & parents do all those things for them to (overnight) teachers expecting them to know how to do it themselves. If your kids can master writing down their assignments in a planner, life for them in high school and college will be a little bit easier.

You may have to pull out your planner to model it for them until they can get it on their own. Be patient and allow them some room to fail!

Use email/other digital methods to communicate with teachers

Elementary school teachers primarily use digital messaging apps like Class Dojo and Remind101 to keep parents in the loop about what’s going on in their classes and in the school.

In middle school, teachers often use email, websites, and Google classrooms to communicate directly with their students. Remind your child to check their school emails and Google classrooms daily.

Some teachers will even notify their students about how often to check their Google classroom for updates.

Give your child a clean workspace

I love having a clean house, but with 3 kids, that becomes quite a challenge on a day-to-day basis.

But I’ve found that my children (and me too honestly) operate better in a clean working area. It sets the stage for focus and a clear area gives your child room to spread out. I would recommend having a space separate from the bedroom.

There are so many distractors in the bedroom that may make it harder for your child to focus.

Help your middle school child stay focused and on task by providing them a clean place to work, and help keep them accountable for keeping it neat and clean.

Use a calendar to chart important deadlines

When your child starts middle school, that isn’t the time to have a hands-off approach. They will still need your help making the transition from being told what to do for every step to being able to do some things independently without being reminded.

For children that are more independent, you can give them a planner to write down days for tests, assignments, and other important things. For children that still need some guidance, you can purchase a large family calendar and have them write things down and put the calendar in a central location in the house. It doesn’t matter how you use the calendar, it’s just important that you get your middle schooler used to using one.

I know it’s hard. Take some time to talk to your child about how the changes in the year have affected them. Share with them how it has affected you too. Being honest with your children opens the door for more effective communication.

Teaching your middle schooler how to stay organized is a skill they can utilize throughout their entire life.

Parenting middle schoolers is tough. Keeping them organized is even tougher. But tackling each step one at a time can help lower the frustration for you and your child.

Penelope’s Birth Story: Making Peace with a 4th C-Section

April 10, 2023 Leave a Comment

It’s taken me over a year to write this post because it’s taken me that long to put my thoughts into words.

I never envisioned having a 4th c-section, especially after planning for a VBAC.

Penelope’s birth story was not one I had imagined for myself. Even though she was born healthy (and little) it was filled with lots of disappointment.

I found out I was pregnant when I was almost in the 2nd trimester.

That’s almost unheard of when you’ve been pregnant 5 times before(I had 1 miscarriage). After I got over the shock (I was 38 and mentally done having children), I started preparing to have the most natural, healthy pregnancy. I decided that this pregnancy would be redemption.

An opportunity to get it right. To birth in the most natural, primal way.

To be in control of my birthing space. To tell doctors how I wanted it done.

But that was not my story. Instead, I had a 4th c-section..

Then when I got over those feelings, my life was moving at full steam ahead with 4 children.

Now that I’ve adjusted, I’m ready to tell my story….

My due date was 1/21/22 and my doctors were adamantly against a VBAC, so they had me scheduled for a c-section on 1/14/21. I didn’t want to hear any more conversations about the risks, so I had planned to try and induce labor on my own.

My last doctor’s appointment was on Monday, January 10th. During the last routine check, the doctor mentioned that my blood pressure was elevated and that I could be at risk for pre-eclampsia. She ordered an ultrasound and advised me to have the baby that day. The baby looked fine inside, so I opted to go home. She had a few conversations with me after putting me on the fetal monitor. I felt okay and felt like the swelling I had experienced was normal. I was tired, but who wasn’t tired at 38 weeks pregnant?

I went home feeling discouraged. I decided to start my maternity leave early and monitor my blood pressure at home. I knew it was time to start trying to induce my labor. My mother-in-law so kindly took my 3 kids to her house to spend the night, and I was able to get a good night’s sleep. Except I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing. I woke at my normal time for work, 5:30, and I took my blood pressure. Even after a good night’s rest, it was 150/99. I checked it off and on throughout the day and it was inconsistent but consistently high. I started drinking castor oil, I took walks around the farm, and long naps. Contractions started around lunchtime, so prepared a bath and started using Clary Sage oil.

Contractions got intense for a while. I got excited thinking this was it. I was going to get the birth I envisioned. I was messaging my doula all day giving her updates.

Then they just stopped.

I was checking my blood pressure just about every hour. I bounced on my birthing ball. I tried to take a walk (it was too painful). I took a 2.5 hour nap.

Nothing I did lowered my blood pressure. It continued to spike. 150/90, 165/100.

I’m no medical professional, but I knew that rising blood pressure is nothing to play with. I didn’t have any side effects, but my anxiety was rising simply because I was out of control and I didn’t know what was going on.

My husband got on his knees and pleaded with me to go to the hospital. He worried about problems arising from my blood pressure. He knew how much I wanted to wait things out at home and then go to the hospital in active labor, but at this point was more concerned for my safety and our unborn child.

I cried, ate a light meal, and prepared my things for the hospital.

The ride there was a somber one. I cried the entire way. In my heart of hearts, I knew that a c-section was coming. As much as I fought and tried to hold out hope, I knew what the doctors were going to say.

It took about an hour for me to be admitted, and then a nurse came to wheel me up to labor and delivery. She was just what I needed. Sweet. Caring.

And she listened.

She encouraged me to advocate for what I wanted. So I did just that. I talked to the doctor on call. At this point, my blood pressure was now 170/100. They started me on a magnesium drip to lower it. The nurse eased my nerves. She talked to me about other patients she encountered with preeclampsia. She assured me that I had done nothing wrong.

The next few hours were a blur. My doula was on standby. She never pressured me to make any decisions. She encouraged me to do what I felt in my heart was best. She consulted with another doula about blood pressure and shared her concerns and suggestions.

After talking it over with my husband, we decided to take the safest route and deliver her via c-section. Another mom had an emergency that required delivery immediately, so we didn’t make it back to the delivery room until after midnight. Since we had made the decision to have a section, I couldn’t have my doula with me, so she waited in the car. She was prepared to take birth photography.

As they wheeled me into the surgical/delivery room, I started crying. The nurse rubbed my back and asked me if I felt okay. I told her that I just didn’t want to get cut again.

But honestly, of my 4 births, this one was the best. There were several black doctors/nurses on staff. Everyone was kind and polite. And the baby never left the room. I also decided to tie my tubes.

Even though I didn’t get to birth in a birthing tub, at home, or have the vaginal birth I envisioned, her birth was still beautiful. I had a clear drape, so I got to watch her coming out. And the doctor put her hand on the curtain so I could touch her first.

I also got to experience skin-to-skin while they stitched me up.

When they lifted her out and I laid eyes on her for the first time, I remember thinking, wow, she’s so tiny! She looked like a baby doll!

She was 5lbs 12 oz and by the time we left the hospital, she was 5lbs 2 oz.

We were also able to bring our phones into the delivery room, so even though it wasn’t the birth photography that I had planned, we had pictures and videos to share with family and friends.

After the cesarean delivery, I was wheeled into the recovery area and my doula took pictures.

I will treasure these forever.

I was in such a fog because I was still on heavy medication. I remember apologizing to her for having to wait in her car for so long. I encapsulated my placenta, so I called the lady who was doing it and she picked it up in the cooler we brought.

I left the hospital with my placenta in pill form.

With all my children I experienced some level of postpartum depression. With this 4th c-section experience, the hormonal crash wasn’t as bad as the others, and I think that’s largely due to ingesting my placenta and the bed rest.

I didn’t start mourning my birthing experience until after I came home. I had good days and bad days. I lashed out at my husband and spent some moments crying. I was angry about the c-section pain and felt like my body had failed me.

But Penelope was here and beat all the odds. During the 3rd trimester, I had to get an MRI because at one point they thought there was a hole in her head. They worried about my blood pressure and her small size, but she was great! She latched quickly and easily and my milk supply was enough for her and enough to store away (I even donated to a sweet local mama).

Having the support of my doula (and new friend), my mom and mother-in-law, my husband, and friends was just what I needed to slowly get back on my feet.

When I look back on that day, my heart still hearts little to know that I never got to experience pushing my baby out, and birth without major surgery, but my little fierce baby reminds me that my body did not fail me. She and I are okay.

5 Tips for Parenting (a Moody) Preteen

April 6, 2023 Leave a Comment

Give your moody preteen some grace. They are living a life that is completely different from what we knew growing up.

They are learning how to deal with the pressures of social media, online bullying, and what seems like an endless amount of advice (good and bad) about who they should be, sound like, or look like.

It seemed like the toddler years lasted forever, but somehow I woke up to a preteen.

And I’ll be honest. I wasn’t prepared. I spent 7 years as a middle school counselor and 2 as a high school counselor. I loved working with teenagers despite their drama.

I moved back down to working with elementary-aged kids because I wanted to spend more time with my children. Working in middle (and especially high school) means that there are so many mandatory after-school (and even before school commitments) commitments like being a club advisor, chaperoning dances, or even committee meetings.

Plus working with teenagers means BIG emotions over breakups, family dynamics, teacher disagreements, and so many more things.

I got accustomed to attitudes and helping students sort through the big stuff.

Most people say that they would rather do anything else than work with middle schoolers, but I loved my time with them. When I first went back to being an elementary school counselor, my daughters were still little. I told people all the time that it was preparing me for the teen years.

But guess what? I still wasn’t ready.

My oldest is 11 and in the 6th grade. Because I know the things she will encounter and the issues that middle schoolers have, I do my best to be proactive in conversations with her.

Conversations about sex, sexual identity, boundary conversations, turning in assignments, and all the other things kids her age may have concerns about.

I do my best to be open-minded while setting boundaries. But sometimes she’s still moody.

Preteens are trying to figure out who they are AND navigate life simultaneously. Life is different for them than it ever was for us.

Here are a few things you can do if you are dealing with a moody preteen:

Don’t take it personally

Being a parent is a hard job. We often reflect on the issues we’re having with our kids and think that it’s our fault that something isn’t clicking. It’s okay to raise your kids differently than how you were raised.

It’s okay to not have all of the answers.

Your preteen doesn’t know how to express what they’re feeling

We focus so much on feeling words with toddlers. Why? Because when they have big emotions, it usually manifests as a tantrum–an epic meltdown that gets everyone’s attention.

Big kids get moody. They snap at their siblings. They crave alone time. They cry. They snap at you.

Reassuring them that everyone has hard days, but giving them a safe place to express their feelings is a good way to teach them how to express their emotions in a healthy way.

Your preteen needs some extra attention/affection

Big kids need hugs too. Just because they spend more time in their rooms or talking to their friends, it doesn’t mean that they don’t need love from you. They might not ask for a hug like they did when they were little, but it still means so much to them for you to show it in a tangible way.

So give yourself some grace. Preteens are trying to figure out who they are AND navigate life simultaneously. They have different pressures than we had growing up.

Remind them that you will always be there and know that the fact that you are trying is a step in the right direction.

9 months and counting: What life is really like with 4 kids

October 23, 2022 Leave a Comment

I know it’s been a while. And I know you’ve been wondering what life is really like with 4 kids.

I had 4 kids and all of a sudden no blog posts from me. How’ve I been? Well, the silence should tell you everything you need to know. I’ve been busy.

Last year brought a few new things all at once. For those of you who don’t know, I am an elementary school counselor.

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In true educator fashion, our district decided to remove our principal and assistant principal right after covid and the loss of a coworker.

They brought in a brand new admin team and that alone takes some time to adjust to. New bosses tend to come in and change everything, so you have to adjust to your new normal. I also found out I was pregnant shortly after the changes at work.

So let me bring you up to speed:

Health

The day I had Penelope the doctors told me I had preeclampsia. My blood pressure was 170/110. No bueno. I spent a few weeks on bed rest with my feet elevated.

Life with 4 kids is different than anything I've ever experienced. Here's an update on what life with 4 kids is really like.

I’m still on two different kinds of blood pressure medicine. The doctor’s visits aren’t as frequent because the medicines are doing their job. I’ve lost most of my pregnancy weight, but the doctor said that sometimes pregnancy brings out health conditions that were dormant. Or, hopefully, in a year’s time, my blood pressure issues will be nonexistent. Only time will tell.

Kids

The kids love Penelope. Correction, they adore her. When she first came home from the hospital, she was only 5 lbs, 2 oz. The kids all loved holding her, snuggling with her, and kissing her.

My son has enjoyed having a baby sister. He talks to her and makes me use a baby voice to talk back. It’s the cutest thing. Several years ago, a coworker and friend told me not to have an odd number of children because someone will be left out. I never intended on having 4 kids, but Penelope has definitely evened things out around here.

Julian enjoys talking and playing with her. Now that she’s mobile, he doesn’t mind sharing (most) of his toys with her. One day he even cried because he didn’t want her to take a nap because he wanted her to play with him. I haven’t noticed any jealousy with the kids at all.

Daphne, my middle girl has really stepped up as a big sister. She watches the baby sometimes while I cook dinner or hop in the shower. It’s really been a joy to see how she’s evolved from baby girl to big girl.

My oldest Melody is in a world of her own. This year she started middle school and we’ve been adjusting to having multiple tests on the same day, being organized, and trying out for school plays and band.

I have 3 school-aged children and 1 baby. Want to know what life is really like with 4 kids? Busy is an understatement. Check out my Instagram for more day-to-day updates.

Marriage

Bringing Penelope home was NOT a smooth transition.

Life with 4 kids is different than anything I've ever experienced. Here's an update on what life with 4 kids is really like.

I was dealing with the disappointment of not getting a VBAC, being annoyed about bed rest, recovering from a 4th c-section, and just the normal postpartum stuff.

My mom stayed with us for a little over a week and she was amazing. Around that time, my husband started getting more intense migraines and started to feel like something was off. In between checking my blood pressure, he started checking his too.

I was annoyed that it seemed like all he wanted to talk about was his. I was still trying to process all of my feelings surrounding Penelope’s birth and I had zero empathy.

Honestly, my capacity for much of anything was pretty much nonexistent.

Postpartum with 4 kids is no easy feat. Justin took the kids to and from school. Since I was on bed rest, all I really did was pick out the kids’ clothes for the week so mornings could go a little smoother. My mother-in-law helped with lunches and groceries.

We felt like two ships passing in the night, so we finally sat down and talked. I started to have more compassion and I was really impressed by the way he stepped up. I was really worried about whether or not he’d be able to handle the day-to-day operations of getting everyone to school—mornings can be pretty stressful.

Date nights these days are pretty non-existent. We had a really great date for our anniversary last New Year’s Eve. We tell ourselves that this is just a temporary phase and we even daydream together about what we’ll do and where we’ll go when the kids grow up.

For now, we just carve out time to talk at night and to do little special things for each other.

Friendships

I honestly don’t have time to hang out with friends much anymore. When I get free time, I want to do something quiet and alone, like getting my nails done. On my birthday I took the day off from work to get a facial, massage, and manicure.

When I’m home with the kids, I like to have movie nights with them, talk to them or sneak off and take a nap with the baby.

I’m really lucky to have some amazing friends that are content texting me or sending me funny videos or memes.

On occasion, I get to hang out with a friend, but usually with the baby or a few kids in tow.

The busiest time of day

Getting out of the house to go anywhere tends to be the most stressful. Most days that’s work/school. Believe it or not, my son is the easiest to get out the door, but sometimes he has a meltdown about one thing or another.

My girls tend to distract each other by talking, playing, or playing with the cats (oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I let my kids adopt 2 kittens. What was I thinking?!)

Usually, the baby is sleeping still in the morning so I only have to worry about 3 kids–sometimes she wakes up and I nurse her before I leave, which leaves me with only minutes to get ready.

If we’re all getting ready to go somewhere, my stress level is usually pretty high. My husband and oldest daughter compete for who can be the slowest. Everyone has curly hair, so even a simple style like a ponytail still takes some effort.

One of the ways I take care of myself is getting my nails done. Visiting the salon is my quiet time.

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Overall, having 4 kids has been a joy.

My husband I enjoy watching them play together, and love on each other. Some days are more challenging than others, but we are all adjusting to our new normal. Our home is rarely quiet, but it is full of love. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

4 Things That Surprised Me About a Pregnancy in My Late 30’s

February 28, 2022 2 Comments

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When I found out I was pregnant at 37, it came as a bit of a shock. I thought that time of my life was over, and I had started giving everything away.

After I got over my shock, I slowly started to embrace pregnancy in my late 30s. I mean, if I’ve done it before, how hard can it be right?

I think I underestimate how much our bodies change as we age–even when we are in decent shape.

I felt so blessed to be carrying another baby (check out my last post here if you missed the gender reveal), but it took a toll on my body FO REAL.

I started showing ASAP.

Okay, to be fair, this has nothing to do with age, but more to do with the fact that I’ve been pregnant 4 times before and birthed 3 babies (3 due to a miscarriage).

I actually didn’t know I was pregnant until I was almost in my 2nd trimester. I found out in June, and in Georgia June is HOT.

I wasn’t ready to share my bump with the world, but it was almost impossible to hide because I didn’t want to burn up hiding under layers.

Life was busy, and after I removed my IUD for health reasons, my husband and I were tossing around the idea of a permanent fix and other methods of birth control.

But obviously, God had other plans. I started popping out fairly quickly and I wasn’t quite ready to share with the world.

In fact, I had planned on getting my sexy back in the summer and getting into gear with getting my body into the best shape ever. I was feeling discouraged when no matter what I tried, I was still gaining weight.

Needless to say, my little bump was on display from day one and it got really tough to disguise.

It’s harder to bounce back after working all day.

I’m pretty type A. I make to-do lists. My kids and I stay on the go. We like to stay busy and on the move. But after work, I am pooped. Most nights I fall asleep on the couch or putting the kids to bed.

In my 20s, I went shopping at the outlets with friends and even was a bridesmaid in a wedding at 7 months pregnant.

This year we went to Disney World while I was 6 months pregnant. I felt pretty good through most of this pregnancy, but that trip reminded me that I was pregnant in my late 30s. IT ALMOST KILLED ME.

When I sneeze, sometimes I pee a little.

Listen, I know pregnant women say this all the time. But I had 3 c-sections, so I thought that didn’t apply to me. I thought that I was safe because I got cut instead of pushing a baby out.

But I’ve been caught off guard a few times–thankfully that happened at home.

Doctors give more pushback.

If I could do things over again, I would’ve had homebirths and a midwife. And a doula.

I would’ve never had c-sections.

I decided that I wanted a VBAC this time. Because of my age, race, and having 3 prior c-sections, doctors didn’t want me to have a VBAC. Even though baby and I are healthy, based on statistics and recommendations from the ACOG, doctors only see pregnancy in my late 30s.

For about a month, doctors were concerned because baby girl was in the 9th percentile. Even though I still had about 6 weeks left in my pregnancy and I knew that she would gain weight. At my last appointment, she went from the 9th percentile to the 21st percentile. I took great pleasure in telling the ultrasound tech and nurse practitioner I told you so!

I know that some women experience health issues the older they get, but I’m noticing that pregnancy in my late 30s is a challenge just based on age. Instead of looking at individual cases, they focus on your age and race based on case studies rather than the individual patient.

Pregnancy in your late 30s doesn’t have to be a death sentence.

The world is changing. People are choosing to have babies later in life due to a variety of reasons. And some come by complete surprise (like mine)!

Here are a few things I’ve done to make it a little easier:

Exercise. For the first time, I’ve experienced sciatic pain and lots of lower back pain early on. I found some pregnancy yoga videos on YouTube and that was super helpful!

Pregnancy Belt. As an elementary school counselor, I spend a lot of time on my feet. I walk all around the school, stand on duty, and teach lessons. I ordered a pregnancy belt off Amazon and can tell such a difference when I wear it all day!

Increase my water intake. I don’t know about you, but my first instinct is not usually to grab water when I’m thirsty. I’m guilty of letting my cravings take over and often reach for everything else. But I’ve noticed that I feel better when I drink more water.

Give yourself some grace. Being pregnant is hard, regardless of your age. Carrying a life affects you mentally & emotionally. Your hormones are up and down and it can be difficult to accept that you have limitations. It’s perfectly normal to mourn your old body and old life as your life is rapidly changing to accommodate the new addition to your family. It’s okay to have mixed emotions and it’s healthy to express your fears to those that you love and trust–even a counselor if you so choose.

To see some of my favorite pregnancy & postpartum items, check out my Amazon storefront!