07Nov 2016

First Trimester in Review {Pregnancy Tidbits}

Oh pregnancy. I forgot how you are both glorious and yet terrible all at the same time! I’m hear to tell you ladies that pregnancy amnesia is the real deal. There are so many things I forgot happened when one is pregnant … both the physical and emotional changes. I was reading Jellybean a bedtime story and got all chocked up. It took everything I had not to turn into a blubbery mess in front of her.

We were fortunate to have a two ultrasounds during the first trimester. It was beyond exciting to see Kiwi {nickname for baby #2} on the ultrasound machine. I can’t say for sure what Kiwi was doing in the first scan because the baby kind of looked like a little blob, but Kiwi was very active during the second scan. And seriously, there is nothing like hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the very first time! GAH love that little swishing sound!!

**Note: This post was drafted in early September**

First Trimester in Review

Craving …

Fruit and green veggies! Watermelon and strawberries specifically are my favorites. I admit craving green vegetables is definitely a strange ones. Asparagus, yum!

Food Aversions …

Meat of any kind. While it won’t make me sick to eat meat, I really don’t want it at all right now. I could also do without eggs. Do eggs count as a meat or just a protein? Either way, yuck.

Feeling …

Nauseous ALL DAY LONG and headaches are the biggest first trimester culprits. The morning sickness has been pretty bad and unfortunately eating doesn’t fix the problem (with Jellybean I would eat carbs and feel okay for a while at least). We did so much traveling in August, it was hard to tell what was exhaustion due to pregnancy and what was jet lag. Either way, recovering from jet lag was a lot more challenging while simultaneously growing a baby. Shocker. I know.

Missing …

Wine. There. I said it. I missed wine for about the first 4 weeks of my pregnancy and then I decided all alcohol smelled nasty — with a capital N!

Wearing …

All my normal clothes. Wardrobe go-to’s include: shorts, yoga pants and baggy t-shirts.

Random Tidbit …

The dog absolutely knows I’m pregnant. Fairly early on – we are talking maybe a week after I found out – we were expecting Sophi started becoming extra clingy. Though she has always followed me around the house she is now, well, attached to me. She sits on me or next to me on the couch, always. If I leave the room she’s never far behind and, dare I be so bold as to try to use the bathroom alone, she looses her mind. It’s gotten so bad Jellybean has been telling Sophi to get off me because I’m ‘HER mummy’.

Excited About …

The nausea being over. Being done with the first trimester also means we’ve been telling people about our little bundle of joy that’s on the way. The more people we tell the more exciting and real it feels that we will be a family of 4 in just a few short months. Also, I’m looking forward to finding out if this little munchkin is a boy or a girl!

Nervous About …

Zika. When we found out I was pregnant I was a bit concerned about traveling to the States where Zika was more prevalent than it was (or at least as I understood it to be) here in Bangkok. No sooner had we arrived back in Bangkok did reports start surfacing indicating Zika had made its way here. I’m trying to stay calm and lather the whole family in bug spray, but generally I feel very paranoid about it.

First vs. Second Pregnancy …

So far the my pregnancy with Jellybean was very different than the current one with Kiwi. The only real similarity has been I was nauseous with for both pregnancies, though this time around has definitely been rougher. I often hear each pregnancy is different, but it wasn’t until I experienced it myself did I truly understand it. A review of my first trimester with Jellybean can be found here.

How does your first trimester compare? What was the best and worst part of your first trimester?

20Jun 2016

5 Things I Should Have Done AFTER Baby Arrived

by Nicole ⋅ Leave a Comment

Becoming a parent is totally life altering. My pregnancy was spent reading, mentally preparing and buying things all in anticipation for the baby. After 41 weeks of pregnancy, labor and delivery, my daughter was placed in my arms. My heart melted and I was completely in love.

I now realize no amount of preparation could have ever prepared me for how much I would (& do) love my child. There are, of course, the not-so-glamorous parts of motherhood that preparation plays no part in … like getting pooped on! Believe me parents-to-be, you WILL be popped on. =)

As we made the adjustment to life with a baby at home, navigating the waters of parenthood and attempting to get as much sleep as possible made the time passed QUICKLY. Before I knew it the newborn stage was behind us.

Looking back through non-sleep deprived eyes, it’s easy to identify things I should have done (before and) after my baby arrived.

1. Asked for and/or Accepted Help

There is a reason they say ‘it takes a village’. While we might like to think we are super woman, hear me roar and all that … the truth is you now have a baby and simple things, like finding time to shower, become a little bit more difficult.

Family and friends want to help out after a new baby arrives, but asking for or accepting their help may be difficult. I found myself not wanting to put people out by asking for help. What I failed to see was that I wouldn’t be putting them out, and people are very happy to help!

If someone offers to help, ask them to bring over a meal, pick up a cup of your favorite coffee (coffee is an essential food group when sleep is so limited!), hold the baby while your shower, help you tidy up or just come over and keep you company for it little while. Believe me, you will be glad you did!

2. Nursed in Public

I know, this is controversial (for some) and people tend to lean one way or the other … there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground from what I’ve seen online. In any event I was petrified to nurse in public and I’m not entirely sure why. I’ve seen SO many moms nursing their babes and don’t think twice about it. If I hadn’t been so petrified to breastfeeding in public then we probably would have gone out more (see #3).

3. Gone Out More

Most of our trips out of the house were only for short periods of time. In part this was due to having a winter baby and not wanting her to get sick at such a young age. The other part was the fear of being in public. What if she cried, pooped or wanted to eat (see #2). The unknown variables were overwhelming to me and so we spent much of our time at home.

Little did I know the older and more mobile my daughter got the more difficult going out would be. In retrospect, going out in public was not as daunting or difficult as I thought. Though as luck would have it, be aware your baby will absolutely poop right as you are ready to leave … so be prepared – hehehe.

4. Had Newborn Photos Taken

As I mentioned before despite all the research I did on newborn photographers, I never actually booked anyone prior to Jellybean’s birth. After delivery newborn photos didn’t seem all that important. I convinced myself all the pictures I was taking were enough, but the truth is they weren’t. We have very few photos of the three of us during the newborn stage and had we done newborn photos there would have been plenty of cute shots of Jellybean and our little family of 3 (plus the fur baby makes 4)!

5. Taken Time for Myself

I really struggled with the idea of being separated from Jellybean for the first several months. Sometime after the 8 week mark my husband insisted I go get my nails done and spend sometime with a friend. I somehow managed to tear myself away from Jellybean and headed to the nail salon. After a little pampering and some girl talk I went home feeling rejuvenated!

So, what do you wish you had done after baby arrived? Any lesson learns for those who are expecting?

29Jul 2015

Favorites for Toddlers {months 13 – 18}

by Nicole ⋅ Leave a Comment

Jellybean is a toddler, but she will always be my baby!! So we have moved on from the baby must have to toddler favorites! I think JB is taking a more active role in selecting her essentials and her little personality is really starting to shine through.

She has an opinion on what she will wear each day. I’ve got it down to a science {on those days where she’s acting ‘typical’} … I pick out 2 outfits and say ‘this one or that one’. She usually points aggressively at one and boom that’s the OOTD. But seriously, that girl has style. If I select an outfit she doesn’t like I get a very stern looks followed by “No, No, No, Mommy!”. And yes, those no’s are capitalized on purpose. :)

Over the past few months here’s what Jellybean has been loving the most …

Contigo Water Bottle // This water bottle was recommended by a friend and is actually the same brand as our coffee mugs so I was excited for Jellybean to give them a try. It took her a little bit of time to get the whole straw thing down, but these quickly became a staple in our house.

Baby Buddy Natural Bath Sponge // Amazing product and I’m bummed we didn’t find it when Jellybean was just an infant. Bath time sponge equals a decrease in the amount of laundry {no more… or at least less wash clothes}.

Lovey // My mother always joked she was going to get Jellybean a whole bunch of tags for her 1st birthday, because JB was always eating the tags of her toys. Apparently this is a typical baby thing (wink, wink) and when my mom found the tag lovey she just had to buy it. Jellybean took a quick liking to the lovey and now sleeps with it every night!

Munchkin Bath Letters & Numbers // These are so much fun! They stick to the tub and walls very easily. While Jellybean isn’t totally ready for learning all the letters we do

10 Little Monkey (Poke-a-Dot!) Book // My mom found this book and oh my goodness does Jellybean like it. So much so, the book is starting to fall apart from all the use it gets. I like that it teaches number and is interactive in a way that helps kids with their motor skills.

Ikea Dinnerware Set // Don’t really think an explanation is needed here. Affordable and practical. Done & done.

Circo Folding Stroller and Jenna Doll // I think this is probably in the top 5 toys played with everyday in our house. Jellybean loves hugging her doll and then placing (read shoving) it into the stroller. They then zip up and down the hallways … there is no walking Jellybean insists on RUNNING everywhere. :)

Mega Blocks // Jellybean has found all sorts of uses for the blocks that go beyond stacking and building castles. She hurls shares them at the dog and tries to balance them on her head. Typically these little gems will keep her busy for a while.

My 1st Anywhere Chair // This is definitely one of my favorite things we have for Jellybean. My in-laws asked what we would like for her 1st birthday and this was my pick. She curls up and ‘reads’ a book, has a snack (much to my wishing she wouldn’t eat on her chair) or just hangs out on it with her toys. She uses it every.single.day. So even though the price point is kind of high, I think it’s totally worth it!

In case you missed it, check out the the baby essential series for newborns, 3-5 months, 6-8 months and 9-12 months.

Does your toddler love any of these items? Any recommendations for a 19-24 month old?

20Jul 2015

Things I Should have Done Before Baby Arrived

by Nicole ⋅ 1 Comment

Whether it is the first, second or third (maybe fourth?!) addition to your family, a pregnant woman is never lacking in things she must do to prepare for that little bundle of joy. There’s all the doctor’s appointments, eating right, drinking enough water, registering, buying endless # of baby clothes and gear, remembering to order the nursery furniture far enough in advance so it arrives before the baby, and I’m fairly certain the list goes on and on and well, on.

It’s funny when looking back on experiences I see things through a totally different set of lenses than I did while actually living it. For example, that crib I paid to have expedited, because I couldn’t decided until 8 weeks out what I wanted. I admit I was a rookie and 1st time mom-to-be. Well, baby girl didn’t sleep in said crib until she was 10 weeks old. Didn’t REALLY need that ahead of time hehehe. Hindsight is 20/20, right?

5 things I wish I had done before baby arrived:

Freezer Meals – This was something I read on almost every blog. Make LOTS of freezer meals. I did manage to get some stuff into the freezer, which was a total lifesaver … however there just wasn’t enough meals to sustain us for very long. We were fortunate that friends and family brought/cooked us meals, but if we choose to have a second kid I will learn from our experience with Jellybean and pack the freezer with ready-to-go meals!!
Hired a Newborn Photographer – This was an EPIC fail on my part. I started fairly early on researching newborn photographers. I reached out to a handful of them and then never pulled the trigger. Recovering from the labor & delivery coupled with the exhaustion of a newborn scheduling photos was low on my to do list and I just never got around to it. Once I was out of the haze of becoming a mother it was past that ‘sleepy newborn’ stage which is ideal for newborn photos. If I had hired someone ahead of time I know I would have followed through. Not doing professional newborn photos is a big regret of mine, but I have so many pictures of Jellybean when she was a newborn I have no choice by to give myself a pass on this one. :)
Postpartum Wardrobe – I wrote a whole post about postpartum essentials for mama. I bought so many things, but didn’t make any real preparations for my postpartum a priority. Nursing bras, tank tops, loose clothing and ‘in-between’ items could have been purchased prior to Jellybean’s arrival and would have made me a whole lot more comfortable. I am SO lucky to have family who ran back and forth from the store to get me everything I needed.
Take More Maternity Photos – I’m will admit I didn’t find pregnant Nicole to be the most attractive version of myself. At about 5-6 months I felt like the belly was cute, but once month 7 rolled around I just felt huge. And to be totally honest, people had no problem telling me how BIG I was, which made me a bit more self conscious. I took a few photos of the belly for the blog, but I shy-ed away from being in photos and taking them of myself. I wish I had a few more picture (especially of the hubby and me), because … heck … I was growing a little human inside me!!!
Date Nights – The hubby and I should have done a few more dinners out, maybe caught an extra movie or two and definitely taken an extra vacation before the baby arrived. After my daughter was a newborn I found it hard to be away from her, even if it was just a few hours (if I’m being honest it’s still hard and she’s 18 months old!!!). Also, finding someone I trusted to watch her was extremely difficult.

So there are my lessons learned on things I wish I had done prior to baby’s arrival!! I hope they help you as you are preparing for baby!

What did I miss?

09Jun 2014

5 Months Old {Jellybean}

by Nicole ⋅ 13 Comments

Month 5 was one of HUGE changes. Jellybean’s personality is really quite adorable. She is a happy little soul who spends the majority of her day smiling and babbling. I would give just about anything to know what my little one is ‘saying’. She seems to giggle more each day, which means I spend a lot of time doing the most ridiculous things in hopes of hearing that adorable belly laugh she has.

JB loves to go outside. As we stroll down the street her eyes are wide as she takes in her surrounding. She listens intently to people as they speak. She makes this little furrow brow at people when she first meets them. Within a few minutes of them talking to her she turns on the charm and starts smiling. Although she likes the attention of new people she completely flips out if someone she isn’t use to tries to hold her. We really need to work on that, because it hurts people’s feelings when she bursts into tears!

Jellybean has become quite the busy body wanting to listen and observe new people around her. We took her to lunch a couple weeks ago and she couldn’t focus on eating because her head was caulked to the left trying to see and listen to some folks a couple tables down from us.

Everything and I really mean EVERYTHING she can get her hands on goes directly into her mouth. I wonder how long it will be until we see a tooth! This kid even tries to put my cheeks and nose into her mouth. I am just going to believe that she’s giving me kisses. =)

We have quite the mover and shaker on our hands. Baby girl tummy surfs, rolls back to front and front to back as well as caterpillars all over and OFF her play mat. We have to watch her much closer now and true baby proofing is in our immediate future. When she isn’t trying to make it from one place to another her little arms and legs are constantly moving. It’s no wonder she’s hungry all the time … I mean she is just constantly moving and burning up those calories!!

Sleeping

Jellybean is napping about 3 times per day. The two morning naps are about 30-45 minutes and occur around 9 and 11:30am. I would love to get this down to one consolidated nap lasting about an hour or so, however I’ve had no luck. All the books I’ve read explain how to get a baby down for a nap, not how to lengthen it (suggestions?!). The afternoon nap is anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. In order to keep to the bedtime routine the nanny and I implemented a ~2pm start time for afternoon nap. It has been working out really well and Jellybean seems to adapt well to the scheduled nap.

Nighttime sleeping is improving now that the dreaded 4 month sleep regression is over! Bedtime is anywhere from 6:30 to 7pm. We’ve stuck to the same bedtime routine since Jellybean was 12 weeks … if it aint broke don’t fit it. Jellybean still wakes once a night to eat. We’ve toyed with the idea of a scheduled waking to eat, however I prefer for her to tell us when she’s hungry. There are nights we are up at 1am, but others where she won’t wake until 5am to eat. This leads me to believe she is almost ready to drop the night feeding. I have a feeling at the 6 month doctor’s appointment the doctor will to tell us to stop the nighttime feedings, but we shall see.

Eating

Jellybean is a good little eater. She rarely, if ever, turns down a bottle. As soon as the doctor gave the OK to start the introduction of solids I was all over it! We began with oatmeal and slowly graduated to apples, pears and sweet potatoes. I have been hesitant to introduce too many new foods too fast. I’m more nervous than I thought I would be about food allergies. Next up I want JB to try cauliflower, prunes, peas and avocado. It’s so much fun to watch her expression as she tries new foods. Seems like she is surprised by the taste of food at the beginning of each feeding even when she’s had the food before.

Wearing

JB wears size 2 Pampers Swaddles diapers. For clothing she’s wearing a wide range of sizes. The wardrobe consists of 3 month, 3-6 months and 6 month clothing. It’s kind of crazy how many different sizes she fits into. I guess similar to adult brands each one runs a little bit differently therefore size varies by brand.

Milestones

Smiles ALL the time
Shrieks/Talks – testing out the vocal box
Found her feet {and attempts to get them into her mouth!}
Giggles
Rolls front to back and back to front
Tummy surfs (not sure if that’s a real thing)
Caterpillars

Any favorite moments from your little one’s 5th month?

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