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NEW MOM MONDAYS CHASING LITTLES
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?

Britney Mills

♥ Tell us a little about yourself!
I am the mom to 4 children, wife to Max. I love to write and chocolate chip cookies are my jam. Laundry is the most neglected thing in my home until we’re out of things and then it’s an all-day marathon. I love to travel and can’t wait to do more again. I love to play volleyball and softball and try out new things. I love to try new foods and places and I love spending time with my family, whether we’re curled up watching a movie or outside running around.
♥ How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?
We have 4 kiddos: C is 3, G & D (boys) & M (girl) are 8-month old triplets.
♥ How do you find your “me time”?
Nap time and bed time for sure. Max helps out a lot when he gets home and I can run a quick errand but 5-8 pm is chaos so I usually try to get out after they’re asleep.
♥ What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?
I haven’t really read books for babies, mostly websites and advice I get in Mommy Facebook groups.
♥ What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

The Nose Frida. I was a little weirded out by it when I first saw my SIL use one because it’s a long tube that helps you suck out the boogers but with triplets, it’s a must have! I gets things out so much better than the blue bulb suckers and it’s pretty inexpensive.

♥ If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?
With our first I was like, “I’ve got this!” and there were only a few bumps along the way. Bringing home the triplets was a little overwhelming and I would probably tell myself that each phase only lasts a little while. It’s not forever, thank goodness because this girl needs sleep. They are sleeping through the night for the most part now which helps me avoid zombieland.
♥ How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?
I didn’t do a lot with my first, just had baby showers. That probably sounds bad because I didn’t know any better, I guess. With the three, I checked out what all the moms of multiples recommended and it made a huge difference to be prepared for when they came home, since it takes more time to load them all up and go to the store.
♥ What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
Don’t put your life on hold because you don’t know when you’ll get pregnant. I struggle with infertility and it’s better to make plans, go on trips and push yourself to reach goals than to mope about not being pregnant. It will happen one way or another and you can use that time to better yourself and be closer to your spouse.
♥ What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

C playing with the babies. He’s so good at talking to them and helping them when I can’t get to them right off (usually when the others are in my arms). I was worried he would have trouble adjusting from all the attention but we make sure to take him out and do stuff with him alone.

♥ Give us the short form version of your birth story.
With C, I went 41 weeks and had to have an emergency c-section because he was 9 lbs! With the triplets, we had to go to a hospital a bit farther away from our home because of the NICU to take care of the babies. I was sent there five days before the triplets were born because my water ruptured. I had to go through steroid shots to help their lungs and on Friday I finally started contracting on my own. They wheeled me into the operating room, gave me a spinal block and then the doctor started. I couldn’t see the babies and they were taken directly to the NICU nurses to assess but Max would tell me they were okay as I waited. He took pictures of them so I could see them because I was taken back to the room to wait an hour or two until they wheeled me into the NICU. They had all three in their own little isolettes, or enclosed cribs, and we had to wait a month before they could come home.
♥ Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

The craziest, most exhausting and funny rollercoaster I’ve ever been on. You’re tugged in so many directions but somehow you make it through and I love it!

To hear more from Britney be sure to visit her blog Marriage & Family Strong and follow her on Facebook.

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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NEW MOM MONDAYS CHASING LITTLES
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?

Pragati Siddhanti

♥ Tell us a little about yourself!
I am Pragati—am the co-founder and partner at Be For Beauty. Earlier in 2016, I relocated to the picturesque city of Basel, Switzerland with my 6-year-old daughter and a workaholic husband. After giving up my 6 figure salary and role as an IT manager in India, I decided it was time to take a leap of faith and dedicate this time to grow and hone both our babies, Niyati and Be For Beauty.
♥ How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?
I have one daughter who is 6 years old. Her name is Niyati
♥ How do you find your “me time”?
While this is something I really struggle with especially after I moved from India to Switzerland but I still manage to squeeze in a lot of “me” time as I always plan my days, weeks and months in advance. I use a calendar to track all my appointments, I make sure I have laundry days marked and I have all the different bags (gym, ballet, school etc.) ready and packed in advance. I seriously plan my meals along with my outings. Even if it’s an hour in the gym, my “me-time” is extremely important to me, and frankly, that’s what keeps me sane.
♥ What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?
I have read a lot of story books to my child even when she hadn’t started speaking, however, I am not a big fan of parenting books. I do read up blogs, and advice by fellow mamma’s through a number of FB groups I subscribe to.
♥ What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

When she was a little baby, I swore by the bottle steriliser that I had bought from mother care and the swaddle that I used to carry her in while putting her to sleep. It really worked like a charm for us. But now, nothing really, I would really like alternates to netflix and the tablet.

♥ If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?
I was really unprepared when I brought her home from the hospital. If I could say something to myself, I would say, “Wish you’d have read up more about how to raise a baby vs how your pregnancy is going to be.” In other words, I would have really loved if I had been more prepared for this sea change that happened to me. I was overwhelmed and I went through serious postpartum depression.
♥ How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?
Like I said in my previous answer, I wasn’t prepared and that hurt me quite a bit. I had to rush to the baby stores time and again as the things I had were never enough and I had a very reactive approach to a new born child. I would have loved being more confident and proactive with her. This is when I had learned the importance of planning ahead. (Not at my corporate job, after all this was the most important project I was ever going to manage ;))
♥ What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
1. Plan a child, be ready – emotionally, mentally and physically. It’s not easy dealing with unplanned and accidental pregnancies.
2. Whether you go to those fancy birthing classes or not, make sure you have a lactation specialist by your side. That is more important. Giving birth is an organic and natural process, a woman is sub-consciously trained to do a good job at it – I didn’t practice any of the breathing techniques I learned and I sincerely believe that these classes are over rated.
3. Be prepared to welcome a new member in the house – nothing is ever going to be the same. You will never have the luxury of time so use those 9 months of pregnancy very wisely.
♥ What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

I really say this from my heart, every day with a child in your life is a blessing. Every year gets more fascinating than the one that went by. I don’t know how to pick one, every time she tells me that I am the best mom in the whole wide world, I am overjoyed. Not cuz of the oscar that she keeps giving me, cuz I know that all mothers are the best mothers but that she appreciates all the little things that I do and that she reciprocates the love.

♥ Give us the short form version of your birth story.
Giving birth to Niyati has and will be one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life. I still feel that I almost died but then I came back to life because I was a mother and the journey called life was just about to begin. I was past my due date so I was induced, I was obviously anxious as I was late and I was trying all home remedies to go into labour – however nothing was working. The contractions started but the dilation didn’t – hence I was in labour for a good 28 hours. The pain became excruciating during the last hours, the epidural didn’t work as it was put in quite late and I pushed for really long before she arrived. My husband and my sister were right by my side, I really had no love for anyone at this point as I was delirious with pain by the end of it. But when I saw her, she completely took my breath away, I was still being sewed down there when they wrapped her up and got her to me. She was perfect and an absolute miracle!
♥ Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

Motherhood is not for everyone, motherhood is extremely exhausting and rewarding at the same time. Like a wise woman once said, “Having a child is like having a tattoo on your forehead”.

To hear more from Pragati be sure to visit her blog Be For Beauty and follow her on Instagram.

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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NEW MOM MONDAYS CHASING LITTLES
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?

Tyane Milem

♥ Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m a boymom of four who began blogging while my husband traveled for work. I’m a work-at-home administrative assistant by day and blogger at night. To add on to my full plate, I also homeschool my oldest. When I do have the free time, I love to read, write, cook and bake, spend time outdoors, and watch sports. My idea of a relaxing night involves a good read and glass of wine.
♥ How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?
I have FOUR boys…Landon is 10, Logan is 8, Rylan is 5, and Greyson is 3.
♥ How do you find your “me time”?
I’m a night owl. My kids go to bed by 8 PM and I spend my time catching up with blog work, reading, or spending time with my husband.
♥ What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?
What to Expect While You Are Expecting. I read that book each time I found out I was pregnant.
♥ What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

Dr. Brown’s bottles. My oldest had colic, BAD. I used the bottles with him and the other three, and they helped eliminate gas bubbles like crazy!

♥ If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?
Sleep while the baby sleeps. Even if it’s for 10 minutes. The housework can wait, and this is your time to recover and bond with the baby.
♥ How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?
Not much. We had the basics (the crib, stroller, swings, etc.) and I did some nesting a few weeks before delivery, but nothing major.
♥ What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
1. Do not hesitate to ask for help. You need to take care of yourself before you take care of anyone else, especially during the first few weeks.
2. Plan a date night with your spouse every week. You don’t have to go out, but setting aside alone time with your spouse will help you keep a spark in your marriage.
3. Cherish each and every moment you can. It goes by way too fast!
♥ What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

I love that I can stay home with them and watch them grow and learn every day.

♥ Give us the short form version of your birth story.
While I have four different birth stories, I will share my last one. It was a bittersweet moment because I knew it was the last c-section I would have. I would give birth one last time. They prepped me at 9:30 with the spinal block and everything else. Then, they brought my husband in to start the procedure at 9:50. By 10:03 AM, my final son was born (with all the scar tissue in play, I was SHOCKED it went that quick). While I was a little emotional because it was the last time I would experience the birth, I was relieved because I don’t have to face another c-section and long recovery period.
♥ Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

Motherhood-a memorable, exhausting, rewarding joy ride of your life.

To hear more from Tyane be sure to visit her blog BoyMom Blessed and follow her on Pinterest.

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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I’ve been struggling with something lately that has kept me from my regular routine. I’ve been thinking about ignoring it and posting about healthy recipes and how to be motivated to workout but honestly, right now, I’d feel like a hypocrite if I did any of those things. I think it’s easy to think I have it all figured out. I rarely do let my walls down as I believe in positivity and sharing all that is good and bright with the world. The dark things, well I keep those to myself, as I do not think they will benefit anyone or make anyone’s day better, and really that’s part of the reason I share so much of me. I want to help, I want others to be well, I want to make you think about something mundane in a new light. It’s something that fills my heart.

When I struggle, and I fall, and I have trouble following my own advice I just go silent. I stop posting for a few days and barely look at social media. And it happens. I often go through waves and I’m working constantly on balance. I like to try things. Everyone knows that one thing about me. They may also know I tend to try hard, and intensely and sometimes I wear myself out in the midst of it all. I need a break I retreat from everything and cocoon myself until I feel recharged and ready to go again. It’s something I’ve done most of my adult life and it has got to stop.

I love how lost I get in the excitement of something new. I love how much of myself I give to people and situations and things I’m interested in. I love all of it. I don’t love the moments I feel down, depressed, crippled with an inability to get up and do anything productive. When focusing on simple tasks at work seem like they will use up all of my remaining gasps of energy and when the idea of making food is so tiring I’d rather sleep for hours on end. Therefore, change has to happen. I write this, still unsure if I will publish it but I’m a writer, and this is how I heal, this is my therapy, this is how I make sense of things and see them for the first time very clearly. It’s like speaking with myself in an uncluttered environment because the page is blank when I start speaking and you can only write one word at a time. The countless things in my mind have to get in line and only one thought can come out at a time. A peaceful reflexion when the haze of everything threatens to take over. I love writing.

Unable to write anything else, I think this will do. I’ve sat down to blog about countless other things this last month, but nothing would come. Sitting here minutes after pouring this out I am sure this is what I needed to do in order to break the wall of my creativity and motivation.

I am doing well and I have an amazing support system in my family and friends. I hope if you’ve been struggling with motivation, getting started on your plans or projects, or simply struggling with getting through the day and still smiling, then know it happens to all of us. We’re always switching from one end of the spectrum to the other. Sometimes you’re up while other times you’re down. No matter the reason, know you’re not alone. And sometimes this cloud leaves as quickly as it came while other times some work has to be done in order to keep it moving right along.

Yay to breaking the wall. Up next, a recap of all the great things June brought with it.

Much love always,

Mariangelica

Photo by Dean Johns on Unsplash

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NEW MOM MONDAYS CHASING LITTLES
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?

Holly

♥ Tell us a little about yourself!
Most importantly, I am a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to a beautiful baby girl and our sweet dog Lucy. I am also a 4th grade teacher by day and by night (while the baby sleeps) I have fun keeping a blog all about natural living, baking, making and motherhood.
♥ How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?
My baby girl Easton is almost 5 months old.
♥ How do you find your “me time”?
I find “me time” while the baby is napping and on my 30-minute drive to and from work!
♥ What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?
The Mindful Mom to Be
♥ What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

My ring sling!  I have used it since my baby girl was just a few days old to keep her close while I get things done around the house!  She loves to be carried around and I am able to be productive!

♥ If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?
 Just enjoy your time with the baby and your new little family.  Limit visiting time by other family members and make anyone that does visit bring a meal, because making food will be the last thing on your mind.
♥ How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?
I did A LOT of planning because I am just a planner by nature.  In some ways it was very helpful, but in other ways, there is no way to prepare for a new baby because each baby is different and will like or need different things.  I’m just glad we had an Amazon Prime membership with 2-day shipping!
♥ What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
1. RELAX.  Everything will find a way to work itself out.
2. Enjoy your time with your partner or significant other before the baby is here.  Seriously. This is SO important!  Even if you have wonderful babysitters who are available to help out and watch the baby from time to time, you won’t be able to completely relax because you will be worrying about the baby in the back of your mind. It just won’t be the same!  So go on as many date nights as you can now!
3. Every baby is different so do not have any expectations about what your newborn will be like.  For instance, some newborns will sleep all the time, no matter where you are and some newborns will not sleep, like ever *cough* my baby *cough*!  Just know that everything is a phase and it’s ok if your baby isn’t a “typical” baby!
♥ What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

Other than seeing my baby girl for the first time, hearing her first real giggle was pretty amazing!  I’ll never get sick of it!

♥ Give us the short form version of your birth story.

I gave birth in a hospital with a midwife.  After almost exactly 48 hours of labor, many spent at home, 3 of them where I was pushing, I had the natural birth I had been hoping for, thanks in large part to a supportive husband and an amazing midwife.  I did not expect labor to be nearly as long or hard as it was, but after going through it, I can say it was not only the hardest, but most rewarding accomplishment of my life!  I seriously felt like superwoman afterward and know that if I could make it through a 48 hour labor and an unmedicated birth, I can do anything!

♥ Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

The most wonderful, hardest thing you will ever experience!!

To hear more from Holly be sure to visit her blog Hollybbaking.

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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