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the second trimester

A collection of passages from various journal entries during the second trimester.

3 months

  • “Sometimes the fear still creeps in. I sill see myself having to tell everyone we lost the baby, but then I push those thoughts away.”
  • “Yesterday was good, I was able to eat a few things, and cooking has been happening a little more at home. I started to get anxious and worried in the evening when I continued to feel good. I tried to push the thoughts away but it was hard work. We went to the midwife appointment and heard it, for the first time. The baby’s little heart beat. Strong and fast. It was unreal. We were quiet, we just listened, I didn’t want it to end.”

 

4 months

  • “Honestly I don’t know how we got here, but then I do, one day at a time. There is an avocado sized baby inside me, it blows my mind. No one can tell because all the vomiting has kept my stomach flatter than ever before. But we heard the heartbeat, they are really in there!”
  • “I turn 28 soon. It feels crazy to me because I’ve generally disliked my birthdays and the idea of getting a year older, but being so close to 30 I figured i’d be having some mental breakdown haha. Suddenly though, my view has changed. I’ve been able to enjoy all these years in my 20s to the max. I have moved ahead in my career and have spent so much quality time with my husband. We’ve enjoyed all these years of it being just us and Congo and it has been amazing. We’ve done crazy things and seen the world. None of this has to change of course, and heck, there’s still TWO long full years ahead in my 20s, but my 30s now look so exciting.”
  • “I am full of gratefulness for all of the wonderful things in my life. I am grateful to be pregnant in this moment, for not wanting for anything but the healthy baby boy or girl to come join us in this life. I am overjoyed in happiness daily. I thank God, above all.”
  • “I am grateful for this moment in our lives, for the life growing inside me.”
  • “I am hopeful that those that continue to hope and pray for a child will be blessed with one.”
  • “Fear will not allow me to do what I know I am able to do, so I refuse it and prohibit it from coming anywhere near my pregnancy and birth.”

 

5 months

  • “I am starting to fall in love with this tiny belly of mine. It’s taking a little bit of shape, but overall it’s small and still most people at work don’t know. But it’s the way my body is shaped, it’s the way it’s growing this little baby and honestly as long as they are healthy there is no need to worry about whether my belly is round or flat at this moment.”
  • “I think I felt the baby move, but I can’t be sure, it’s not like I know what that would feel like… I had just eaten so I wasn’t sure if it had just been my stomach processing food but it felt like a rolling motion. We’ll have to wait and see!”
  • “We started setting up the nursery! Moved the home office to a different room and things are taking shape!”

 

6 months

  • “This little guy has been so active lately! The feeling is surreal and amazing. Feeling him move catches me by surprise and instantly makes me smile.”
  • “I have been feeling so good now! I’m still in my regular jeans and regular clothes, but I can see the roundness will be coming soon!”
  • “I haven’t thrown up in a few days so that’s been incredible. I haven’t had the energy to work out throughout this pregnancy, mostly the vomiting and lack of food has kept me from it, but I can see I have the energy now, so I’m excited to make that happen in the near future.”
  • “Finally picked up all the big items we needed, like a stroller, crib, car seat etc and we’re waiting for them to be delivered. It’s feeling so real!”

 

“My darling baby boy, we lost your brother or sister one month before you showed up. Reading back the entries of my journal I realize how fragile you are, and have been this whole time. You too were the size of an orange seed once… and it’s wild to think you’re as big as a bunch of kale now. You’re huge little one! Your kicks made my tummy move last night for the first time and I sat there, staring at the little bumps you made in awe of your strength. You are amazing, strong and so incredibly loved. The entries of my journal count back all the days with you, and I smile at the relief and celebration of making it another day together. Look how far we’ve come my love, one day at a time has led us here, to week 27, the last week of this wild and incredible second trimester. 91 days to go, already on the double digits and I’m ready to meet you. Yes, our lives will change more than we know but I’m ready for it all.

Love you always,

Mom.”

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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Best nine memories in June

June was such a whirlwind. It’s my month. The month that signifies love, and commitment. We got married in June, we started dating in June. So many wonderful things happened in June!

One

How wonderful is it to see people in love? This month we celebrated with a wonderful couple that hold a dear place in our hearts, Danielle and Sean! These two are undoubtedly made for each other and weddings just make me happy all over! I was actually incredibly sick the day of their wedding (and a few days before and after) My mind, being the strongest part of me, was too happy about the idea of seeing them walk down the aisle and party and dance that I pushed my sickness away, held it off and danced the night away with the hottest groomsmen in sight (my hubby) and then went home and felt the sickness return with a vengeance haha. Honestly, so much love for those two. I wish them the greatest fun and the best experiences in their life as a married couple, because I think marriage is da bomb.

Two

So, I’m not entirely sure when this obsession with pineapples began, but as I thought about a theme for a house party I wanted to throw for my work friends it seemed to be what kept popping in my brain! I achieved a huge milestone in my career this month and I wanted to thank some of the people that have been most important in my work life with a house party full of tropical goodness. I went slightly overboard. But really, it wouldn’t be my party if I hadn’t. Helium balloons filled the ceiling, hand cut pineapple print outs were everywhere in my house and a ridiculous amount of tropical decorations adorned the place. Including a ginormous pineapple balloon. It was such a wonderful time and a great reminder how important it is to have friends where you work. People you like and people that like you! Others you can have a laugh with or share in intelligent conversations! Tropical Party was a success!

Three

This month, my beautiful niece Sofia had her very first Dance Recital. I’d never attended a dance recital of any kind, and at first thought I’d have to endure 20 other classes of 4 year olds shy-ly dancing the macarena. But to my great surprise, this was quite the production!! Dancers all the way up to the highschool level performed some insanely beautiful and stunning performances that broke up the classes of the youngest students, making them actually really adorable to watch and see how each kid performed their 30 second dance. Other performances were award winning dances previously performed at the national level! The theatre, the lights, the costumes, it was breathtaking. Needless to say when my niece walked out in her costume and did her teapot dance i could barely watch through the tears that filled my eyes. This munchkin is one of a kind.

Four

One morning while getting ready to go to work I thought I’d check my calendar, just something told me to check it, and lo and behold, I had booked a day off for that very same day and had completely forgotten about it!! What a wonderful surprise! Days off are amazing, and only a little better when they get you by surprise. I actually didn’t do anything productive which is a hard thing for me to do! I played video games, watched tv, bummed around in my comfy clothes, played some guitar, played with Congo and enjoyed just being home.

Five

Christian and I treated our family to a Blue Jays game! Sadly the blue jays lost, but the experience was really great! We love being able to be there and be a part of some of their first experiences in Canada. And this, was their first baseball game here! They cheered loudly and actually enjoyed the game regardless of our final score. Loved our time together.

Six

Cam and CJ are some very wonderful human beings and I met them in my early years in highschool, online in some writing forums. Who knew you could make long lasting friendships through forums? But we managed to, and through the years of social media have kept in touch through skype video chats, myspace, facebook and instagram! They took a long train to see us a couple years ago when we visited New York on our long roadtrip, but we only had a few hours back then (And we spent them at a sex museum, haha) This time, they stayed with us as we explored Niagara Falls, brewery tours in KW and learned a few new board games, our mutual love and interest! They also bought their future baby’s first outfit while they were here! It was a super special experience and a memory I’m grateful we now have. They are just as adorable in person as they are online and we can’t wait for the next time our real lives cross paths.

Seven

We had another house guest stay with us for a whole week, Bailey, my furry nephew. This little ball of fluff came to stay with us while my sister and brother in law went camping and at first we were nervous to how Congo would handle having another male dog in the house. Well, let me tell you, they became the best of buds. Short of sleeping together they played like I’ve never seen Congo play and they went on a bajillion walks together. Walking together like totals pros. I think it was a great experience and it actually encouraged us to walk Congo more than we used to (since he’s potty trained to go in his indoor bathroom, he used to get less walks!) Now we’re well balanced with taking him outside or inside and it’s been a positive shift!

Eight

Christian and I got ourselves these little gadgets this month. It has been quite fun to compete with each other and many of our friends in step challenges throughout the weeks. Quite often we do things just because we know it will get us many steps and we’ve gone on more walks than we have in a long time! Now there’s no excuse to be bored! You can always be walking!

Nine

June 29th is our special day. This year we celebrated 4 years since the day we said ‘I do’. We have so many fond memories of our wedding day and all the years before and after. It’s becoming difficult to remember which year we did what but what’s important is that we have grown to love each other more and more as the days go by. There’s no one else I could ever dream of sharing forever with. It’s such an incredible feeling to be so raw and open and vulnerable with another person and feel safe and challenged and pushed to be your very best. We’re each other’s cheerleaders and coaches and although we have grown as a couple and in our marriage we have individually grown too. In our careers, in our personal development, in our beliefs and in what we will accept and refuse. It’s been incredible to discover who we have become. We will continue to dream and create and aspire to be, but also to thank, be grateful for and keep each other grounded in what really matters, family. We celebrated in the way that best suits what makes us happy which is the sun and the water. Lots of beach and sushi.

In June I was grateful for…

 

  • People getting married and love being in the air.
  • A thrifted dress for $14 to wear to said wedding. Score!
  • Christian getting to have some fun as a groomsman.
  • Dancing the night away with Christian, because no flu was going to get me down.
  • Mom, taking care of me when I was sick.
  • Playing softball and consistently playing in the outfield.
  • Homemade sorbets of mango and berries.
  • DIY decor fun times for an awesome tropical party we planned.
  • My friends crushing their goals in out wellness group.
  • Finding a foil pineapple balloon!!
  • Having so many awesome co workers over at our place.
  • Potluck foods and eating Christian’s heaven sent paella!
  • Seeing babies that were just too cute for words.
  • Crying with pride and emotion at seeing Sofia step on the stage during her first dance recital.
  • Being surprised with a day off!
  • Getting my workouts IN.
  • Taking the family to a baseball game for the first time in Canada and having them cheer for our Jays.
  • Being able to take Congo to work.
  • Receiving Cam and CJ from New York and showing them around our side of the world.
  • Exploring Niagra Falls like a tourist.
  • Winning some $$ at the casino.
  • Playing so many new and sweeeeeet board games.
  • Christian’s company hosting us for a brewery tour!
  • Reminders that kids will be kids.
  • Getting a fitbit and being inspired to step up my game because of the competition
  • Seeign Congo interact with Bailey and having two dogs for a week.
  • Realizing two dogs is a lot of work.
  • Homemade cashew butter. What else do I need to say.
  • Massages.
  • Mom getting to visit Meli in Montreal.
  • Christian getting news there’s a way to fix his restless sleep!
  • Watching an awesome asian drama. My guilty pleasure.
  • Celebrating our 4TH wedding anniversary. HOW. HOW?
  • Enjoying our week off to the max and spending so much time together.
  • The beach and the sun.
  • The water and the waves.
  • Sushi.

Look out for another Best Nine to hear all about July!

Mariangelica

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NMM9-2
This post is part of the New Mom Monday series! A series about moms and their advice to new moms! Books and videos can only teach us so much, but there’s something special about hearing from real life moms. Honest, true, and always beautifully inspiring!!
Your name:
Kelly

Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a Jesus loving wife and mama from Georgia on a mission to find and create joy in every day.  I love the SAHM life but I’m also a dance teacher three nights a week so I like to think I get the best of both worlds.  I am currently pregnant with my second little boy and am due at the end of September.  On my blog you’ll find a little bit of my journey through motherhood/second pregnancy and a good helping of DIY!
 
How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?

I guess I technically have 2! Gavin (aka Mr. G on the blog) is 3.5 and Roman (aka RC) is currently in utero and due September 25th.

How do you find your “me time”?

Most of my me time is found after Mr. G goes to bed.  I’m a bit of a night owl with morning person tendencies so I’ll stay up a little later at night to browse a few more Bloglovin’ posts or catch up on a project even if it means less sleep when the little man wakes up.

What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?

The only book I ever really went all in with was the classic “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”.  I read that thing religiously when I was pregnant with Mr. G.  The only other book that I read in regards to parenting was “1-2-3 Magic” once we started preschool and wanted to use the same discipline method as they do.  If you’re looking for a great discipline system, I highly recommend it!

What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?
Since I couldn’t breastfeed my first due to the medication I had to take, I relied on bottles for feeding.  The Avent microwave bottle sterilizer was the best thing that ever happened to us!  Forget to clean those bottles for yesterday? No problem! Rise, pop them in the sterilizer, and just a few minutes later you have clean, sterile bottles ready to go!
If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?
He’s ok, you’re ok, you can do this!
How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?
Not too much to tell you the truth.  I didn’t take any classes, not even birthing classes, and I don’t feel like I really missed out too bad.  I  mainly read materials about the pregnancy, visited the pediatrician (very helpful and necessary!), and did a hospital tour.
What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
Trust YOUR instincts.  Nobody is right or wrong when it comes to raising their own child, unless they are harming them of course.  So whatever you choose to do is what works for YOU and YOUR baby.
What is your best memory so far of being a mom?
It’s seriously hard to pick just one but I have to say it was the first moment they laid my son on me, seconds after delivering him.  I have never experienced such a flood of joy in my life.  It as a feeling of “You’re finally here!” and “Oh my gosh, I’m a mom!“. 
Give us the short form version of your birth story.
I remember walking around the mall, it was the middle of January, the day before he as born to try to coax Mr. G into coming out.  I just didn’t “feel good”.  That was the only way to describe it and sure enough, 3 AM came around and my labor had started.  I had no birth plan other than I wanted an epidural and whatever the doctor thought as best for the health of my son and me.  I was not dead set on having a natural delivery, if I suddenly needed a C-section, than so be it.  But that as not the case, he just took his sweet time, 20 hours to be exact, and was delivered naturally.  For the full story, you can check out my birth story post.
Lastly, for fun, define motherhood:
It is joy, it is frustration, it is terrifying (at times), it is the epitome of the phrase “all the feels”.  You can have so many emotions, sometimes all of them, all at the same time!  But above all, it is joy.

To hear more from Kelly be sure to visit her blog The Little Things and follow her on Instagram.

NMM9

If you would like to participate in New Mom Mondays please feel free to message me by using my contact form! I would love to not only feature you on my blog but learn from your answers, as I’m sure many readers would too! 
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NMM8
This post is part of the New Mom Monday series! A series about moms and their advice to new moms! Books and videos can only teach us so much, but there’s something special about hearing from real life moms. Honest, true, and always beautifully inspiring!!
What’s your Name?

Alisha Parker

Tell us a little about yourself!

I’m a former elementary school teacher turned stay at home mom! I’ve been married to my wonderful husband Adrian for almost 5 years and we have two wonderful children.  I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and I love it here! I love the Lord and hope that the life I live will be a testament to His grace and mercy and an encouragement to others.

How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?

Caleb 2 years,  Chloe  7 months

How do you find your “me time”?

I get up at 5am every morning during the week to work out and have quiet time while I do my devotional. I also have my husband watch the kids from time to time so I can go get a pedicure or get my hair done.

What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

My Ergo 360! It makes it so easy to grocery shop & chase around my two year when we’re out and do other things all while having my hands free.

If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?

Let go of all of your expectations and just enjoy the ride. Parenthood is a journey with lots of bumps in the road but it will all be worth it!

How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?

I’m a type A personality so I did a lot of planning before. I had in my head how I thought everything would go and how I would do his nighttime routine and naps, etc. NONE of it went according to plan! It was good to think through the process but it stressed me out that none of my planning “worked.”

 

What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
  1. Every baby is different! Don’t play the comparison game or you will drive yourself crazy.
  2. Do what works for you! Forget what the books say, or what your mom says (gasp) or what your best friend says and trust your instincts and do what works for you. If you need to co-sleep for your sanity, then do it! If you don’t want to breast feed, then don’t!
  3. “This too shall pass.” In those difficult moments remember it’s just a phase and it will pass! They grow so fast and you’ll look back and wish you hadn’t let the little things frustrate you!

 

What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

Holding my baby for the first time. You wait 9 months and wonder what he or she will look like and then you finally meet them for the first time. It’s the best!

Give us the short form version of your birth story.
I went to the doctor’s office for my regularly scheduled weekly appointment. I was less than a week from my due date. My blood pressure was up so they admitted me for observation and blood work. My liver enzyme was elevated and my doctor was worried about eclampsia sitting in over the weekend. So she decided to induce me the next morning. I spent the night in the hospital and the next morning the Pitocin began. My son would never drop down and engage so I never dilated on my own. They used a balloon catheter to try to open my cervix. That got me to a 4 and then they broke my water thinking it might help things progress. It didn’t! I got an epidural and continued to labor for another couple of hours but I made zero progress. I had been in labor for about 10 hours. My son started to go into distress during contractions so they decided a c-section was the best route to go. I had my son via c-section at 6:21 pm on May 31st!
Because of this, my daughter was born via a planned c-section 19 1/2 months later. 🙂
Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

Motherhood is a journey! You carry, nurture and protect this little being for 9 months in your womb and then you spend the rest of your life trying to find the balance between raising them and letting them grow into their own little person.

To hear more from Alisha be sure to visit her blog My Mommy Stuff and follow her on Instagram

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If you would like to participate in New Mom Mondays please feel free to message me by using my contact form! I would love to not only feature you on my blog but learn from your answers, as I’m sure many readers would too! 

 

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NMM5
This post is part of the New Mom Monday series! A series about moms and their advice to new moms! Books and videos can only teach us so much, but there’s something special about hearing from real life moms. Honest, true, and always beautifully inspiring!!
What’s your Name?

Kristen

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am a stay at home mom, stationed in Germany with my husband and daughter. Just traveling Europe and enjoying life in a new country while we can!

How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?

1 daughter named Mila. She just turned two this summer.

How do you find your “me time”?

Nap time is no longer a thing in our house thanks to my daughter who hates sleep. Luckily, bedtime is super early in this house so I get 2 hours every night alone with my husband to just relax and do things for myself.

What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?

Toddlers Are A**holes: It’s Not Your Fault

What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

I loved our Boppy Lounger.  We used it from day one until about 18 months. It was the perfect place to lay our baby down comfortably with a little support, then once it came time to learn to sit it helped out with that, and finally when she was completely mobile it was her favorite place to lay down and drink some milk.

If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?

The house does not have to be perfect. Let the messes go. It is not worth stressing out everyday!

How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?

I planned like crazy. I am a huge believer in to do lists and planning every step of my life out but it did not help with a baby. It was the opposite. You have to go with the flow and do what is best for you at that moment.

What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?

Relax. Do what works for you. Dont worry about any other moms or the way they do things. In the end, you will do what you need to do to get by and what is best for your family.

What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

I was putting my daughter to bed a few weeks ago and she grabbed my face and said “Mommy, I am so happy. And you are SO pretty. I love you.” I could cry just thinking about it.

Give us the short form version of your birth story.

I gave birth in Germany and was SO scared that no one would speak english and that it would just be so backwards from American hospitals. It turned out to be an amazing delivery, although they dont have AC over here so I was SO hot the entire time. Midwives are amazing. And it was just so stress free. No IV, no being hooked up to monitors, just doing what my body knew how to do! Now I feel like I wouldn’t want to give birth in an American hospital.

Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

This quote defines it all perfectly to me: “Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is… and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.”

To hear more from Kristen be sure to visit her blog Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and follow her on Instagram.

NMM5-2

 

If you would like to participate in New Mom Mondays please feel free to message me by using my contact form! I would love to not only feature you on my blog but learn from your answers, as I’m sure many readers would too! 

 

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