For Expecting Mothers: What’s in My Hospital Bag?

For Expecting Mothers: What’s in My Hospital Bag?

Sep 30, 2021 | Family & Home, Parenting

When expecting mothers feel their labor pain kick in, everyone better be ready to go!

Preparation is key to having a smooth transition for parents and the new born during the first day, so I began building my hospital bag way ahead of our next arrival.

Having done this a few times (four children in), creating the perfect packed bag for myself and my husband was quick and easy when preparing for our fifth child.

Now, I want to share my special formula with future parents. So let’s get into what’s in my hospital bag:

via GIPHY

 

1. Toiletries

 

Your face is one of the first things your baby sees so including your skin care regime into your bag will keep you looking and feeling fresh. Bringing a few extra postpartum care items such as overnight pads (the hospital provides these but they aren’t always the most comfortable!), an ice pack, and a peri rinse bottle.

2. Breastfeeding

 

Feeding your baby is such a special bonding moment, so you don’t want to focus on the difficulties that come with breastfeeding. Pack a nursing pillow to help support the baby’s weight while breastfeeding and when they are done, nursing pads will save you from any unwanted leaks. Breastfeeding can be particularly painful for new moms, so having nipple cream on hand to ease the soreness will be a life-saver.

3. Clothing

 

Hospital gowns never keep me comfy, so I pack slippers, a gown, and a robe in my bag. I also bring along shower shoes and a nursing bra for some added convenience. When you are finally taking your bundle of joy home, a comfortable going-home outfit is essential.

4. Baby

 

The baby essentials include a swaddle, scratch mittens, and burp clothes. But I also love to dress the newborn in an adorable monogram going-home outfit! For the car ride, be prepped with a car seat, a hat, and pacifiers to make the experience calming and safe.

5. Miscellaneous

 

In the rush to reach the hospital you will likely forget daily items like a phone charger and an extra pillow so throw those in the bag! I also like to bring my favorite snacks, a bottle of Pierrer, my own water cup, and airpods.

6. For Dad

 

Don’t leave Dad behind! He will likely be the one stressfully driving you to the hospital, so it’s best to take care of his must-have items before the big day. Throw in socks, underwear, two sweat suits, shower shoes, and a toothbrush so he can stay smelling fresh for the entire hospital stay.

 

You’ll have enough to worry about when your baby is ready to meet you! A hospital bag is easy to prepare before the stress sets in, so take the time to properly prepare.

Here’s an easy checklist to copy:

_____  Toiletries 

          _____  Personal skin care regime items

          _____  Overnight pads

          _____  Ice pack

          _____  Peri rinse bottle

          _____  Toothbrush

_____  For Breastfeeding

          _____  Nursing pillow

          _____  Nursing pads

          _____  Nipple cream

_____ Clothing

          _____  Comfy slippers

          _____  A gown

          _____  A robe

          _____  Shower shoes

          _____  Nursing bra

          _____  A going-home outfit

_____  For Baby

          _____  A swaddle

          _____  Scratch mittens

          _____  Burp clothes

          _____  A baby going-home outfit

_____  For the car ride home

          _____  A car seat

          _____  A hat

          _____  Pacifiers

_____  For Dad

          _____  Socks

          _____  Underwear

          _____  Two sweat suits

          _____  Shower shoes

          _____  A toothbrush

_____  Miscellaneous

          _____  A phone charger

          _____  Extra pillow

          _____  Your favorite snacks

          _____  A bottle of Pierrer

          _____  Water cup

          _____  Airpods (or other headphones)

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Pregnancy Health Routine Tips

Pregnancy Health Routine Tips

Sep 29, 2021 | Family & Home, Parenting

I am counting down the days until my next baby girl arrives!

And while I love carrying my child, the discomfort and hormonal imbalances with my skin can be a real drag. After baby #3, I learned to incorporate a few things into my routine to help me feel a little less stressed and uncomfortable.

While I’m no medical professional, here are my pregnancy health routine tips that may work well for you, too:

via GIPHY

1. Soaking in a hot tub of water with Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, and lavender essential oils

 

These ingredients are miracle workers for relaxing my body. The Epsom salt is a great home treatment for inflammation and sore muscles, two things I have definitely acquired while carrying around a growing bundle of joy. While the salt is healing your insides, the apple cider vinegar is enhancing that pregnancy glow with its antimicrobial properties that soothe the skin. To complete your bath, a couple drops of lavender oil will create a beautiful smell that leaves you feeling refreshed.

2. Chiropractor visits

 

Back pains are inevitable, but they don’t have to make you miserable. Your body is working hard to prepare for the baby so treat it with some helpful adjustments! The frequency changes from weekly to monthly, depending on how the baby is laying or the pain you’re experiencing. Not only will a chiropractic adjustment help you but it will also ensure that the pelvis is in the perfect place for delivery.

3. Prenatal massages

 

These are worth the splurge. No matter where you are in your pregnancy, laying on your stomach for a massage is uncomfortable at best. Prenatal massages are done by specialists that know how to adapt to your body with a special table and pillows. It can help with joint pain, swelling, back aches, leg cramping, and even sinus congestion!

4. Drinking lots of water and faithfully taking supplements

 

I take Mega Food Baby & Me Prenatal with prebiotic and probiotics, and Mega Food Blood Builders. These give me a blend of feel-good vitamins that keep my digestive system happy and provide me with a much needed dose of iron. I take it with a cup of orange juice to help get maximum benefit.

5. Hydrafacials

 

I have a ton of hormonal imbalances naturally, but they tend to go into overdrive during pregnancy and postpartum. My dermatologist recommended frequent hydrafacials and a skincare regime to use in between. With a special blend of serums and a powerful wand, the hydrafacial cleans, exfoliates, and hydrates my skin. Not only does this treatment help with skin texture, tone, and overall appearance, but it also is a special treat for hardworking moms to enjoy.

 

Pregnancy is supposed to be beautiful for you and the baby. So if you need to step back from the excitement and planning to focus on what you need to feel good, do it!

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Parent Routine: Getting Kids Down for Bedtime

Parent Routine: Getting Kids Down for Bedtime

Apr 29, 2021 | Family & Home, Parenting

Parent Routine: Getting Kids Down for Bedtime

Get to sleep… now!

 

Bedtime… it can be a struggle. I don’t understand why kids don’t like bedtime! After a long day of working, mom-ing, and all the things in between, bedtime has become one of the things I don’t play about. 7:30 PM. (I may bend every now and then, but not often at all.) Here are a few tips for getting your kids down to bed as smooth as possible.

  • Create a schedule/chart that’s visible for the kids. The chart can use large lettering for your children who can read but use photos for the children who can’t read just yet. This helps them look forward to what’s next.

  • Set alarms that you and the kids recognize. I have alarms that go off all throughout the day on my phone with ringtones both the kids and I remember. At 7 PM, my alarm goes off every 5 minutes leading up to 7:30. This helps us transition smoothly from downtime after dinner to brushing teeth to story and prayer, and then to bedtime. [Now, when dad’s away, one of the kids always pops up to “protect me” or as they like to say, “so I’m not lonely”. 😩 It’s so cute!]

  • Put the kids to bed awake. My older kids get to read books most nights until they fall asleep. Other nights, they may get to play games on the kindle, but it turns off automatically after a certain time.

  • Put the “baby” to bed awake too! I have done it all with my infants: co-sleep, bed in my room, sleep in their room… all of the options. What has been the most fruitful for our family, once the newborn phase is over, is to train them to fall on their own and not to rock them to sleep!

 

“Wake-up time is not easy either! (Can I get a witness?)”

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

Wake-up time is not easy either! (Can I get a witness?) When you start waking kids up, they always want to sleep in later. When I’m almost done with breakfast, I call on the baby monitor for everyone to get up. I give them 5 minutes of whining then I do a last call!

  • Checklist time. They begin working on their checklists when they get up. They have a chalk sign of all the things they need to do before they leave their room.

  • Help time. I then go in and help them finish getting dressed and check for anything they missed that needs completed before departing the bedroom for breakfast.

 

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My Children Teach Me How To Be Me!

My Children Teach Me How To Be Me!

Sep 29, 2020 | Family & Home, Parenting

In a world where we are all easily enticed to become more like our peers or social media influencers, it becomes a battle to stay true to the person within — to the person that you really are. Desiring change and rapid growth is beautiful; however, it can often cause us to compromise ourselves in the process depending on our purpose and focus.

This is why I admire my children so much.

They have taught me so much over the course of motherhood, but one of the most heartfelt lessons I’ve learned is how to be genuine in the midst of people telling me who I should be.

Witnessing the authenticity they boldly display has encouraged me to unapologetically be true to me!

No Compromising!

While watching my kids interact with each other, I’ve noticed that there are some core parts of their personality they just don’t compromise. Despite what they see or hear, they remain true to who they are. Although I may have only a few more years to witness this (since they’re still so young and have limited influences), I’ve found encouragement in their little big personalities!

There have definitely been moments where I’ve found myself compromising who I am and what I believe to protect others’ feelings. At some point, their voices became louder than mine or God’s. I used to work to develop into who people have encouraged me to become, paths they pushed me to take— to the point that I became confused by what was from me and what was from them.

Unfiltered & Unconcerned!

Children see the world around them in a perspective that’s often unfiltered and unconcerned with the opinions of others. Because of this, they have a more genuine approach to expressing themselves and don’t look for approval from others. Their heart and intentions are pure and they don’t have hidden agendas. 

Children also rarely, if at all, focus on the way someone may view them and their differing opinions or viewpoints. I admire the confidence I see in each of my little lambs when they don’t budge and speak their minds! They aren’t phased one bit by what someone thinks or even knows is true.

They are a wonderful example of what it means to truly believe in yourself. My prayer is that this mindset will stick with each of them, and no matter what comes up, they’ll always be honest with themselves about what they want and need in their lives.

Authenticity & A Strong Heart

I encourage you all to pay attention to the light that your children shine. I’m grateful for the authenticity that shines through each of them. With all the experiences we face in life, learning to deal with them with authenticity and a strong heart is necessary to living a fulfilling life.

Not Raising Entitled Kids Is Hard

Not Raising Entitled Kids Is Hard

May 28, 2020 | Family & Home, Parenting

It’s challenging not to raise entitled kids. Children are exposed to so much through technology and their peers. There is always some new toy that all their friends have. As a parent, I desire to spoil them endlessly and treat them like true royalty. It feels natural to want to give any and everything to my children and never deny them. Obviously, that isn’t wise. I would be doing a disservice to them by not preparing them for life. I had to realize, God doesn’t give me everything I desire and certainly not immediately because He knows it’s not always good for me. He is more concerned about me growing in Him and living a life that is a pure reflection of who He is!

We must be good stewards of our children.

Stewardship is a term we use for someone who manages and oversees things belonging to someone else. Our children are not 100% ours. They belong to God. Our job is to raise them to know who they belong to, and that is hard work. If I give my kids the world, never discipline them, and allow them to feel entitled to everything, then I’m not being a good steward of them! Exposing them to an entitled life would be me leading them down a road of destruction. The world would eventually chew them up and spit them out.

As shocking as it sounds, we are all sinners, raising sinners. Kids have their own ideas, opinions, behaviors and misbehaviors. We’re entrusted to nurture, shape, and mold them to honor God, serve others, and discover their passion and purpose through Him. Leaving my children the legacy of Jesus is more important to me than leaving them a legacy of worldly possessions! When our Master checks in to see how well we’ve cared for and invested in the children we’ve been given, what will He see? By following God, He will see stewards who did all they could with what was entrusted to them to bring honor to the one who truly owns it all.

Entitlement can lead to ungratefulness, and no one wants their children to take things for granted, especially in knowing how blessed we are by God.

Take some time to consider what legacy you are leaving behind for your children.

It’s never too late to refocus and lead your children toward Christ, our loving and gracious Creator.

Teach Your Children as Jesus Taught His Disciples

Teach Your Children as Jesus Taught His Disciples

Apr 30, 2020 | Family & Home, Parenting

The relationship between Jesus and his disciples is one that many can understand and desire in their own personal relationships, especially in a family. The level of love and respect that comes from both sides of that relationship and the care concealed in the lessons He taught the disciples are all things that many parents try to develop with their own kids. We were gifted the perfect example in Jesus, and while we ourselves are far from perfect, there is still so much we can learn and apply.

Jesus was wise, humble, and obedient to His Father. He lived a faultless life and carried out the will of God for His life. As I pursue my relationship with Christ, I am challenged to adopt these principles individually and steward my children in a way that grants them wisdom to do the same. Jesus was the ultimate example to His disciples and to us, modeling lessons on how to live for His Father. If I desire for my own little disciples to know Christ, it’s imperative that I faithfully model the characteristics of Jesus for them, as their first teacher. 

In order to keep the teachings of Jesus at the forefront of my life, I study God’s Word. There are so many life lessons in the Bible, and God is always illuminating important portions that I can apply in my personal situations. I would recommend the Bible for any parent needing a guide for how to raise their children. The Word is frequently transforming my life and as that happens, I am able to gain wisdom on how to love and teach my children. In 2011, I began seriously reading the Bible for myself, but had to purchase a tween Bible; it was the only translation I halfway understood at the time! Now, I love the NLT and Amplified Study bible versions. There are so many translations and versions available that will assist with interpretation. 

Watching TV can be educational, too! Our family loves CBN’s SuperBook, an animated series of events from the Old and New Testament. The creators do an exceptional job presenting the context in an engaging way for both parents and children while maintaining the message. The Bible stories are told on a level that my kids understand and enjoy. After each episode, my husband and I have discussions with our children about what they just watched and see what light God is placing in their little hearts.

4 Ways to Build a Strong Foundation for Your Children

I’d like to leave you with four ways to build a strong foundation for your little disciplines to grow in Christ.

  1. Be transparent about your own journey (adjust to be age-appropriate, if necessary).
  2. If you aren’t exactly where you’d like to be, accept the call to walk faithfully with Jesus, and do not be lukewarm.
  3. Share God’s truth with your children daily by enlightening them on how to apply it to their lives.
  4. Grant them the same grace, forgiveness and unconditional love that Christ grants you daily!