Postpartum Updates

 

Just over four weeks postpartum and this is what I know...

+ I continue to feel like a feeding machine. I switch off every hour and a half to nurse and pump. Our little guy is slowly gaining so I know it will all be worth it.

+ Having a few productive moments outside of newborn care each day feels life giving. Baking cookies or a simple craft with the big kids allows us to spend time together while also feeling like I'm accomplishing something. I don't usually care for doing laundry but doing a load a day feels so good right now. Even a little online shopping (picked out my mothers day gift!) put a bounce in my step. 

+ Being able to get outside changes the tone of our day immensely. Praying for sun daily.

+ I can still get a bit teary eyed about things. But my crying at least daily for the first two weeks has finally ended and I'm feeling a bit more like myself again. The baby blues were strong this time around.

+ Recovery has been going well. Until one of my children jumped on me and kicked me in the lady parts! Bleeding has come back and it's my reminder to take it easy even when I start feeling like I'm ready to do more.

+ Gentleness may need to be my word for awhile. Gentle with myself. Gentle with my children and husband. Slowness and lots of kindness always feel better at the end of the day than busy and impatient.

+ And that sweet baby makes this all worth it. Trying to savor every moment, even the challenging ones, to fully embrace this sweet and short time.

+ My husband went back to work this week and though I will miss the help, I think it is the companionship that I will miss the most. Family leave time is always a unique experience. We joke it's like a very exhausting staycation! And lucky for me his work still means working from home.

This time together has made me even more grateful for his partnership as we navigate parenting three little ones. The unending time together is a blessing and seeing him bond with our children is always so sweet. He does so much to serve our family and I am forever grateful.

These three are so lucky to have him. And I am so thankful to do this life with my best friend.

My Favorite Bath Bombs: Sugar + Spruce | Fredericksburg, VA

 

I love a good bath. And for me, the key to a good bath is a great bath bomb. It wasn't until I became a mom that I realized the amazing relaxing powers of a bath. It is a simple form of self care that I can do at home - while my children sleep or at the end of a long day.

There are a lot of little things I miss about living in Virginia. But luckily one of those little pieces included a local shop, Sugar + Spruce, that sells my favorite bath bombs and ships nationwide! So every time I take the time for a luxurious soak, I have these beloved bath bombs and a little bit of Virginia with me.

I have tried other bath bombs before and they truly do not compare. It is tempting to pick up a few small ones at TJ-Maxx but then I would need to use two in order to get the same amount of aroma and foam. Plus these are all made small batch in their shop which makes them free of a lot of the chemicals and fillers you might find in products from big box stores.

I have shared my love for this shop before on social media but just realized that I could share a link with you to save $5 on your first order! Shipping is flat rate $7 and totally worth it in my opinion. You also save money when you buy a bundle, so be sure to order five bath bombs for a reduced cost and a quick way to stock up.

This makes such an easy gift for yourself or for others. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Use this link to get $5 off your first order!

Kids Shared Room: Brother And Sister

We recently transitioned our daughter out of the nursery and into a shared room with her brother in preparation for our third child to be born. I will admit I was pretty anxious as our daughter was only newly two years old and we weren't sure how she would respond to the change. So we planned to give it plenty of time to transition before the baby was born (about a month and a half). 

Surprisingly it only took a few days for her to get comfortable in the new shared room and then a few weeks for us to figure out a new rhythm. 

Our son was very excited to be sharing a room with his sister. We had been talking about it for awhile and had the second twin bed for a few months before moving her in. But he is pretty responsible and has helped guide his sister as to stay in bed. 

Though most days they are chatting and jumping on their beds well past bedtime and early in the morning! But they are both staying in their rooms until it is time to get up (we use an okay to wake clock) which ultimately was our main goal.

As for the room, I knew I wanted to get a matching bed for our daughter. We kept the room mostly the same but added a few elements that would be special for our daughter. The room is fairly neutral with a little pop of color.

We do "play time" in their room on most days where they can both play together or independently in their room (while I get a moment to myself!). This has helped me simplify what I keep out in their room as they usually end up tearing the room apart while they play! 

The simple shelves and baskets make everything accessible and easy to clean up. I take all the baskets down for them before they start playing.

As for nap time, we tried a few different scenarios where they both napped (or at least some quiet time for our four year old son). But I found that they were just keeping each other up. So for now, we are having our son spend nap/quiet time in the nursery on the couch with his clock that tells him he can get up and play. For now it is working well but of course we will have to transition when we need the nursery. And with my husband still working from home, we don't have that as an extra room for naps. So we will remain flexible as things change!

For our daughter's side of the room, we got new linens from Ikea and I used one of the quilts I made her as a pop of color. We got this unicorn head from Target and added a photo of our daugther to the wall.

The taller shelf by her bed holds some of her special decorative items and her piggy bank.

Each kid also has their own basket that holds all their stuffed animals. They each can have some in their bed while they sleep but I try to only keep around what fits in the basket.

We have quite a collection of books. All the board books get placed in the wire baskets on the side. I love that the books are neutral from the side. But when you take the baskets out, you can see the spine which helps them find certain books.

Next to the door is a photo of our son as well as a small board for holding photos and art. I love the sweet photos of the two of them together. 

And on the backside of the door holds bows, hats, and accessories. They are easy to grab here but are nicely hidden behind the door when it is open. And as I have mentioned before, one of these days we would like to switch out the door with a new white one.

I am so pleased with how their shared room came out. With a just a few new items the room came together to incorporate a mix of our kid's taste. It is just decorative enough to keep me happy while remaining simple and fun for the kids to use.