Mother’s Day is fast approaching. Though the core of what moms really want for Mother’s Day is love, appreciation, and respect, mamas really need some self-care. But not all mamas are alike — this post covers a variety of self-care gifts so that the right one for the mama in your life is bound to be included. Keep reading for the perfect gift.
Do you know fact from fiction when it comes to breastfeeding? The rules of breastfeeding have changed so much in our history that it isn’t surprising that many mamas (myself included for most of my life) believe some things about breastfeeding that aren’t true —even after nursing several babies. You might have nursed two babies and learned something new with baby three or four, or maybe still never learned what I’m about to tell you. Right now, I’m nursing baby number three and completing a program to become a breastfeeding educator. This program is how I learned a lot about breastfeeding that I had no clue about, even though I breastfed my daughter to age 4.5, son to age 2, and am still nursing my last little one. Keep reading to see if you believe these breastfeeding myths and let me know if I missed some! Read more
We wanted to travel somewhere as a family during the big kid’s spring break but weren’t feeling ready to take all three kids on the airplane together just yet so we opted for getting some things done at home then venturing on a 3-day vacation in San Francisco. The only problem was that our kids have such different needs and interests due to their ages (newborn, 2 and 8) so I needed to plan a trip that would entertain all the kids. We’re not big fans of crowds because it’s harder to maneuver around with a stroller — or when chasing a runaway toddler — so we skipped things like Pier 39 and shopping in Union Square and went for a few of my favorite areas instead and some well-planned activities instead. Read more
We had just rushed to the hospital and I was worried we wouldn’t make it into labor and delivery in time before the baby started to come. When I got there, everything was rushed and my son was born within minutes of my kneeling on the bed. But when he was in my arms a relief washed over me — I did it. I had a drastically different birth than with my firstborn (a birth experience I was still bitter about 6 years later). But the journey didn’t end there. Postpartum after my second birth was nothing I’d expected. Read more
I’ve often admired all the fig leaf plants on Instagram and wondered if I could manage one … then remind myself that my toddler would destroy it in just minutes. This, lack of plant knowledge and the fact that my plants usually die has kept me from joining the many indoor plant owners of the world who have anything but succulents. But I recently found a way to bring new indoor plants into my home in a way that I can manage and that’s safe for the kids. The best part? These plants clean the air!
While nesting in preparation for Nora’s Birth, I decided to convert my office into a shared room for Nora and River. Though it’s a fairly small room, the long layout allows each kiddo to have their own side, as well as a shared space to play in. River’s side of the room is all about adventure in the mountain wilderness while Nora’s side of the room is airy bohemian florals. It really came together nicely and is one of my favorite rooms in the house.
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Organizing the heaps of baby clothes you inevitably get from friends and family is one of the bigger pre-baby chores. I advise against washing everything you’re given but am a huge fan of hanging up what you have by size so that you can see what’s available and which sizes you’ll need more of. To do this, you’ll need some great clothing dividers!
I’m a big fan of bohemian chic so something drew me to an airy floral bohemian nursery room design. This style allowed me to seamlessly use fun keepsakes from my Mother Blessing and modern furniture from my son’s old nursery room. But in the end, it’s a unique space that brightens up my day whenever I look at it. Read more
How does a mom go from infertility to postpartum psychosis? “It was a complete snap from reality.” Kayla shares her story, along with some warning signs to be aware of.
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Melody had specific things in mind for her pregnancy, birth and postpartum with daughter, Molly, but life had an unexpected birth journey in store for them instead. She participated in the Navigating Postpartum forth trimester bodies project with Joy Lifestyle Photography to spread hope to other moms who are going through situations. Keep reading for Melody’s telling of her birth story (and to see her project photos).
