Archive | Motherhood

Pregnancy Update – 39 Weeks

May 13, 2013 By Melissa

With our reduced posting schedule., I decided early on in the pregnancy I didn’t want to do a pregnancy post to often, because I didn’t want that to be all I ever talked about. I realized last week that I’ve ended up only doing two pregnancy related posts at all! Since I’m 39 weeks and 4 days, I figured another pregnancy update wouldn’t be overkill.

Physical stuff

Overall I have been so blessed this pregnancy. I’ve been able to manage my heartburn without taking a daily medication, something I’ve needed with all of my other pregnancies. Up until the last few days, I haven’t needed a nap every day either! I have had two challenges. My back started giving me really serious issues a few months ago. By the time I hit the beginning of April, it was getting difficult to walk without a limp. It was impossible to walk without pain. I started seeing a chiropractor twice a week, and it has been a lifesaver. I literally do not know how I would be functioning without going to see him. I’ve missed a day here and there due to sickness or scheduling conflicts, and I can definitely feel the difference. The other challenge I ran into last month was that I became severely anemic after a week long stomach bug. This caused horrible headaches, and made my blood pressure spike up a bit. I started a liquid iron supplement, as well as being very intentional about getting iron into my diet, and my iron level is back up into acceptable ranges. We are still working on it though, as it would be great if it came up a bit more.

37 weeks

Yesterday – 39 weeks, 3 days!

Emotional Stuff

I am starting to feel pretty “ready” for this baby to make his or her appearance. The house is as ready as it will ever be with four kids, the carseat is installed, the pack ‘n play is set up, the birth supplies are stored, baby clothes and newborn diapers and washed and put away…. Now we just need a baby! I’m getting a bit more weepy and hysterical prone to, so that’s always fun, especially for my hubby At the same time, I am trying to relish these last days, and enjoy my baby bump, and each roll and kick. With this being our fifth baby, there’s no guarantee I will get to experience this miracle again, and so part of me is sad to think about it being over.

Home Birth Stuff

Everything is still looking good for our planned home birth, and I couldn’t be more excited! I adore my midwife, and I have two other friends who are supposed to be coming as doula/labor support. I love that my children have gotten to be such an active part of the process during my midwife appointments, and I’m excited that they will get to experience the birth of their sibling! My oldest gets to be the one to make the “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl! announcement to the room, and my seven year old is planning on cutting the cord.

Midwife appointment with all my “helpers.”

My youngest wanted to “listen” to the baby too.

Photo by my 4 year old.

Birth Stuff

Hopefully any day now I’ll be able to share a birth announcement! Be looking out on the Sisters ‘N Cloth facebook page, as well as our twitter feed. The planned hashtag is #elephantbaby, since my last was 10 lbs 6 oz, and this little one shows every sign of keeping up with big brother!

I’m off to drink some more Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, and keep bouncing and rotating on my birth ball

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A Friday in the Nitty Gritty

April 15, 2013 By Jeniffer

It’s easy to hide behind the computer screen. Sometimes it’s easier to write what I think about than what I’m actually doing because, really, how often can I say that I’m a mom with two clingy kids two and under?

Really, it’s not all bad. At least that’s what I tell myself.

For example, this morning, just as I was drifting back off to sleep once Lily finally finished eating/nuzzling/comforting herself, Abby shot up. At 6 AM. My husband had just started the coffee pot, which meant that it would be at least 10 minutes before my liquid energy was ready. Thankfully, Lily was still asleep. Because she hasn’t slept well since she started teething this week. Unless she’s on Mama. Then she’s out.

I digress. I start cuddling with Abby in *my* chair. I’m cuddling her, loving on her, and also playing Candy Crush Saga on my phone. That game is addictive! Oh, I’m also busy commenting and liking pictures on Instagram. Because seeing what everyone else is up to makes me feel a bit better. My kids aren’t sick this week, that’s a win. Okay, I can’t eat that doughnut…dairy and soy…ooh! Green smoothie! Maybe I should make one of those in a bit… I’m just trying to avoid the “I’m so tired, Mama!!” whines. Because I can only handle so much of that.

Abby gets down and starts playing with blocks that have been out since, um, last week? Our floor is covered. Abby even took her books off of the shelves. At least she hasn’t ripped out another page…so far. I finally get up and grab coffee. My first cup. There will be at least 2 more. I try to drink all the coffee that my husband leaves these days. I know water is better, but coffee tastes so good…

I also grab a no-bake cookie from the fridge. There were 2 cups of sugar in the batter. But it’s SO good…natural peanut butter (soy free), cocoa powder…oatmeal, olive oil…mmm… I have already convinced myself that it’s totally an okay breakfast cookie. Right up there with my green smoothie. [lies...]

I hear Lily after a while and go get her from our room. At least she’s smiling. Seeing her smile puts me in a better mood. I even crack a smile!

But she’s hungry. (Duh, Mom!) And once Baby Sister is in my arms, Abby wants in on the cuddles too. So she climbs over the arm of the chair and squirms into my lap, kneeing me and Lily in the process. Lily is mostly content. Or was. Somehow, both girls end up on me. Again. Poor Lily can barely reach the goods. Abby is still squirming, trying to get comfortable because Lily’s legs are in her way. I put her down on the floor, hoping that she will calm down and play some of this out. And maybe Lily can finish eating.

And then just maybe I can drink my coffee?

Do your mornings look anything like mine? Maybe?

Read full story · Comments { 0 } in Misc., Motherhood, Parenting

Creative Dating

March 11, 2013 By Faith

One of the things my husband and I have struggled with since becoming parents has been finding quiet time to reconnect. Some couples manage to swing a weekly date, and yet sadly I can count our time away without taking off my shoes. My oldest is three and we are just now beginning to get creative in “date” time as it has become obvious that traditional dates simply aren’t going to be a regular thing around here for awhile.

We started “Parent Date Night IN” after my daughter was born almost a year ago. We would put Aiden to bed and then make a special snack and pop in a movie while I nursed Emma Grace allowing her to snooze while we finished up the movie. It worked for awhile, okay it worked once. The next two or three attempts I went to bed shortly after the previews with a cranky baby. On to plan B, or was it C? Our latest attempt has been to sneak a date in during nap time. While our kids don’t currently nap at the same time juggling Emma Grace during daylight hours is a much easier hurdle to manage.

Is this ideal? Maybe not, but it is what works for us right now. I know how important time alone together is for the health of our marriage, and we try to make a priority of it. Honestly though, it is hard with little ones. We can’t afford to pay a baby sitter and go out. Baby sitters make the big bucks these days. So we get creative, and have some fun along the way. This year for Valentines day we planned our “date” during naptime. I bought coke bottled in Mexico and all the things we needed to make homemade chocolate with lots of fun toppings! We had a great time, and let me just say the chocolate was AMAZING. You can find the recipe here.