My decision to be a stay-at-home mom
To be honest and transparent, this was always my dream. To be able to stay at home with my kids and not have to send them to daycare. To be there for them during their entire first few years of life to just raise them and be there through every milestone.
When I was pregnant with Paxton, I quickly realized that dream was not going to happen because it was not financially smart to quit my job as a teacher.
Oh Crap, I ruined my baby
If you’re a mom I know you’ve all thought this at least once. And if you’re like me, multiple times. I remember the first time this crossed my mind when my first child was a newborn. We were holding him to sleep so much that he wouldn’t sleep in his bassinet. So of course I thought “oh crap! I ruined my baby!” I held him too much. I didn’t give him enough opportunities to try and learn to put himself to sleep. He will never recover, we are doomed.
Wrong. When he was 3 months old he was fully sleep trained. It was almost as if holding your newborn baby a lot DOESN’T in fact ruin them. Crazy.
A Prayer for my Children
There has been so much that has happened in our world already in 2020. It has been a daily challenge for me to be actively seeking the good in every day. With the news and social media constantly ringing in my ears and in my heart it’s been a time of self reflection. I quit my job this year. I added a second baby to our family. I started this blog. It has also been monumental for ME. But as I take a step back I can so clearly see, it is not about me. I truly believe I was put on this Earth not only to be a servant of Christ but to raise servants of Christ. This isn’t about me. It’s about my children.
Honest thoughts about breastfeeding
I want to start off by saying that if you are not expecting, or you're pregnant so you haven't experienced breastfeeding yet, that yes this post is an honest one but it's just one mama's experience. Just like everyone's pregnancy is different, and everyone's birth story is different, so is everyone's breastfeeding journey. With that being said, here are some of my honest thoughts about breastfeeding.
Why I ended my first trimester in the emergency room
July 3rd, 2019 began the scariest week of my life (next to Paxton getting RSV). Colton, Paxton and I were on our way to our ranch to celebrate the 4th with our family. I was 11 weeks pregnant. We were 10 minutes from being there and I had to pee SO bad. Like SOOO bad (all you pregnant mama’s know what I’m talkin about). I was trying to be so patient and not be that annoying pregnant lady in the backseat telling him to step on it! So I didn’t say anything.
My Child Wears Glasses
I have gotten so many questions about how I knew my son needed glasses so I thought I would just do a blog post about it in case you find yourself (or someone you know) in the same boat.
When Paxton was 18 months old he was still in daycare. He was getting sick what seemed like EVERY week. We could not keep that child well. In November of 2019 he got RSV. That was the scariest moment of my life so far. I literally slept on the floor of his room just to listen to him breathing. As soon as he was better he had to go get his 18 month vaccines. That next day after his vaccines I started to notice his eyes going crossed
5 tips on surviving life with a newborn and a toddler
First off, I am no expert in being a mother. I feel like that just needs to be said. However, I have now done this twice. This being surviving the newborn stage. So I feel like I have a wee bit of insight that could possibly be useful to you! And so, after doing this two times now these are the 5 most important pieces of advice I tell to every new mama and now I am telling them to you. And chances are someone else probably told them to me. When I was a teacher we used to say “work smarter not harder” all the time. I feel like that goes with being a mom too. Who cares if you came up with it or if someone else did. Share it! Someone somewhere needs to hear it.
My Child has a Speech Delay
You know what sucks? Baby milestones. No I don’t mean when your child reaches a milestone, that doesn’t suck. I mean the chart at the doctor’s office that says “oh your child is 6 months? They should be eating now.” “You have a 4 month old? They should be sitting up on their own.” “18 month old? Ok at 10 words at LEAST by now.” I mean THOSE milestones. Those suck. Because what if my 6 month old isn’t eating? Do I have a broken baby? What if my 18 month old isn’t saying 10 words? Are they stupid? NO! But man, those thoughts sure do go through your head don’t they?
My child is 2 now. And he has zero words. That is now considered a speech delay.
Baby number 2 pregnancy thoughts
Y’all. I’m going to be honest. Paxton was NOT a planned baby. We were only married one year when we found out we were pregnant and we were just not financially - or mentally - ready. But when he arrived he quickly became our whole world. I cannot imagine life without him. Which I am sure, most of you feel about your first born’s. I always wanted children close in age because I come from a big family and siblings are just such a gift. Lifelong friends are you kidding me? Hadley was planned. We waited until Paxton was a year old and then - a few months later - found out we were pregnant with baby number 2. I was SO excited. And then… I was so sad!!