Over my journey in pregnancy and motherhood there are a few advice I would like to give those expecting mothers and those starting motherhood. Now I'm no expert and I'm still learning myself but if there's anything I've learn I don't mind sharing.
In pregnancy:
1. Stay hydrated- I know you hear it often but this truly makes a difference in the way you feel and your moods. Along with all the other benefits to you and baby.
2. Drink your prenatal vitamins- I know I know. They stink. They're big. You forget. But boy oh boy are they important.
3. Don't Stress- not too much anyways. You will always worry. About any little thing and everything. But have faith that things will work out as they should. Don't go to google every time you don't understand something or get worry because reading something unexpected will only make it worse. Instead stay healthy and happy for your baby. Remember that he or she feels everything you feel and can sense your stress level as well as it can affect him/her. So try your best to stay as happy and healthy as you can.
4. Take Maternity Pictures- whether they're professional or not take some pictures. Over the weeks. Over the months. Or even just once. You may say that you don't need them because you'll be pregnant again but remember that although that is true, you will only be pregnant with that child once. You want to remember that time and I'm sure your child would enjoy those pictures just as much when they are older. I would love to have a picture of my mother when she was pregnant with me.
5. Enjoy every minute of it- stay positive. Every pregnancy is different and full of surprises enjoy it. Every bit of it. Even the morning sickness because what your body is doing is beyond amazing. Nurturing a fetus that will one day be an adult just like you and me. Love your body, even the stretch marks that come with it because like I've heard before they are just the scars of a mother protecting her child for nine months. You should be proud of what you've done. Wear them proudly.
6. Get your read on- research research research. You can't never research too much. Educate yourself. Know what to expect. What's to come and how to handle it. Be ready, or at least as ready as can be. Read other stories. Find a support group of girls going through the same changes as you. And most importantly be open-minded. Don't get stuck in your own ways but rather be open to try other things.
In Motherhood:
1. Ask for help/Take the help offered- things can get overwhelming so don't be afraid to take a step back and as for help. Even better take the help when someone offers it. Whether is some cooking or cleaning or even watching the older kids. You need to ease into things. Don't just jump into your old life because that old life is no more. Now you have a precious bundle of joy that will change it all. For the better of course ;)
2. Rest- they say to sleep when the baby sleep and boy is this right on sanity. I'm sure the hubby won't mind that there are dishes on the sink or that you're running late with dinner. I'm pretty sure he'd rather see you happy and sane then have a clean kitchen. Do only as much as your body allows and take it easy. You just did something amazing. You deserve a break from house duties.
3. Take plenty of pictures- time will fly by in the blink of an eye and you'll be left wondering where did the time go. And as long as you have those pictures you'll be able to go back in time and remember where they went. Your baby's face will change way too fast, you'll want to have those pictures to think back on. Trust me.
4. Live in the moment- enjoy every minute with you sweet baby and your new family. Don't worry too much on when your maternity leave will be over, who will babysit the baby, how you're going to handle being separate from your baby. Just enjoy the time you have now, make those moments count because one thing that you can be certain of is that you'll never get them back.
5. Get out of the house- go out for a walk at a park or the mall. Go to a friends house. Out to dinner. Anywhere. Just get out of the house. It will do you good to get the fresh air.
6. Find time for yourself and your spouse- bringing a new baby home can bring on stress on a couple. Make sure you keep date nights going even if its for an hour or two, breakfast or lunch, inside or out just make time for yourselves to reconnect and keep the love growing. Certainly things will be different but don't forget how you got here in the first place.
Well. This got pretty lengthy. I hope you find my advice helpful in anyway.
At last though I'm caught up with this link up. :)
Writing these heart-felt post get harder and harder each time. I say this because it requires a lot of thinking from my part. Thinking about things that I might have not given much thought in the past with great detail. So as I sit here today, thinking of my goals in motherhood these things come to mind.
Patience - I resently had a conversation with my son where I said "patience is a virtue". I honestly believe this and I am learning to have more and more patience with each passing day. This is something hard for me because I tend to "lose my cool" fairly quick but with children in your home this is something that must be worked on. For the sake of everyone in the home.
Role Model - I want to be a role model for my kids. I want to teach them to never give up. That it's never too late. And that even when all things seem impossible they can always find a way. To be positive and push away negativity of any form and shape. To have compassion and to follow their dreams.
Manners - I want to teach them good manners. Yea yea we all want that for our kids I know. But I remember being a little kid and my mother telling me certain ways I should and should not do/behave as and they have stuck ever since. I hope to do the same for my kids. To tech them how to behave in public and how to behave in such way that they are happy with themselves even when in private. I want them to know the proper way a man should behave and how I man should treat women.
Not to settle- I want to push them to the best of their abilities. I don't want them to settle for less when they deserve so much more. Most importantly I want them to know their worth.
Make memories and live in the moment- I've mentioned this before but one of my biggest goal is to make amazing, happy memories. Memories of us as a family whether we are on an exciting vacation, a weekend at the beach, a day at a park, or a simple day at home. I want to capture those moments where years down the road they can look back at pictures or simply remember how much fun they had as kids and how happy we were. Even if they remember the bad stuff that would only serve them as a way to know that even when things are bad they can always pull through, just like we did. I want us to make the best of every situation and make every moment count.
Listen and be understanding - I want to build a relationship with my children so that they know I will always be here for them. To listen, to support them, to encourage them. I don't want them to ever hesitate about coming to me with anything that they might be going through because they think I won't understand. I never had that type of relationship with my mother as a teenager and I don't want it to be like that with my kids because just like I did I don't want them to go through life feeling alone.
Love and forgiveness - I want to teach them what true love really is. That true love does exists. I want them to see their parents and see nothing but love not only for each other but for our family too. I want them to know that forgiveness means everything. Without forgiveness they'll never know the true meaning of love and peace.
Last but not least I want them to know that God is always first. I want them to grow up knowing the word of God and how much good it can do for their soul. I want them to have faith and believe in miracles. Of course that only they can make such decisions but is our job as parents to teach them to the best of our knowledge.
I've been wanting to join this link up for quite sometime now but I never knew how to start it. I mean there are endless of tbt I can talk about. My mind goes wild from the ideas but when I go to write I get nothing.
Then today, as I looked through an album I made for myself of the pictures I had from way back when the pictures made me giggle. Not only that but I was taken to the exact days those pictures were taken. My childhood may have not of been perfect but I had my family and that's what really matter. We celebrated holidays just us. Birthdays just us. Park trips and play dates... us. And honestly I don't regret it or wish I had it different. The pictures speak for themselves. You can't fake a happy moment on time.
From siblings that can't take a picture without making faces
To embarrassing pictures in Jammies
To a simple Sega game of Sonic
Ohana means family and I wouldn't trade mine for a million bucks. Or would I now? Jk. I love these people more then life itself just like I love the little family I have of my own now. I'm going to make sure I capture those moments in time when a simple night of board game will ten years from now be a Throwback Thursday Pic ;)
Thank you mother for giving birth to us. We might not be perfect but perfect is not always happiness.
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