One Year and Beyond!

Hey mamas! Boy do I have a really exciting treat for you. Starting the 8th of May, I will be getting together with ten amazing mamas to bring to you the "One year and beyond" Link up.  In this link up we want to share with you what we've found that has worked for us as new mamas to toddlers. Because we're experts  after being moms for a few years or so, right? Not really, but we have some experience and want to share what we've learned.

Like A Morning Cup of Coffee               The Not Quite Military Wife

From Here To Eternity               Words About Waverly

Pardon My French             Beautiful Family Affairs

My Delicious Adventure                  The Life Of Faith

Running From The Law             The Olive Tree          

  Last month we got together and discussed questions that moms have not only asked us but questions we've asked ourselves and put them together and now we want to share them with you. 

May 8:          Taming the Temper Tantrums

May 15:        Weaning from Breastfeeding or From Formula to Cow’s Milk 

May 22:        Dealing with Mommy Guilt

May 29:        When People Share Their Opinions and How to Lovingly Handle it

June 5:         Traveling with your Toddler

June 12:       How to get your toddler to eat their veggies…or their food at all

June 19:       How to make time to blog in the busyness of motherhood

June 26:       Bedtime Battles (nap or bedtime

We're making this a link up because like I said we don't know it all and we don't have all the answers. Therefore we'd love to see what you do/did. Don't forget to check out all of the mamas each week for their post and then link your own up your own post with us!

Will you be joining us? I'm so excited!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.thenotquitemilitarywife.com/search/label/One%20Year%20and%20Beyond" title="The Not Quite Military Wife: One Year And Beyond"><img src="http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh484/sarbearbenson/Oneyearandbeyond-blogbutton250x1490.jpg" alt="The Not Quite Military Wife: One Year And Beyond" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Surviving the First Trimester with a Little One

Those two pink lines are game changing. When we first saw them with Bug, we were beyond ecstatic. And very nervous. This was a new thing for us. Something we had never gone through before. A new chapter was opening. 

image source: Wikipedia

Fast forward 18 months later, two more pink lines appear. We are once again ecstatic and so excited! Bug was going to be a big sister! But we weren't nearly as nervous as we were the first time around. Unfortunately, those two pink lines didn't last and we lost our precious babe. We weren't going to give up hope and so we decided to keep trying.

The next month...two more pink lines show up on that stick! This time the emotions were raw. There was so much excitement and so much anxiety all wrapped up in those lines. So much anxiety in fact, that it took me a week to tell the hubs and even longer to share with my family. We were very cautious with our excitement. 

Weeks continued and my pregnancy progressed. With this progression came the beloved exhaustion and morning sickness - or should I say, all day sickness. At least that's how it was for me. It was brutal. Having a little one to chase around did not help the situation. 

Here are a few things that got me through my first trimester (and beyond...because it's taken forever to get over the morning sickness and get my energy back):

• Nap when baby naps: Sound familiar? It holds true for being pregnant with a little one. If you have the opportunity to nap, take it! The chores can wait, it is important for you to get that sleep in!
• Accept help: Sound familiar once again? I'm very blessed that my parents live not too far away. On my sickest of days, I was able to call them and they could come over and play with Bug for a little while to help me get over it.
• Don't be ashamed of medicine: I personally hate taking medicine for anything. It's just who I am. But when I was offered Zofran, I jumped at the chance. It helped me a lot. Running after Bug is already hard, it's even harder when you're pregnant.

Most importantly...

• Give yourself grace: Don't beat yourself up over the little things. It's okay to let it slide! You are now pulling triple duty: taking care of your little one running around, taking care of growing your baby, and taking care of you. Your body, mind, and spirit are being pulled three different ways. It's okay to let things go every once in a while and to turn down events and invitations as well.

I hope this helps anybody out there going through pregnancy again. I'm finally (at 22 weeks) starting to feel like myself. But it's moments that are few and far between. It doesn't help that Bug isn't sleep well at night now and is extra, extra clingy (which I have read can be a pregnancy side effect). I'm doing my best to enjoy every minute of this pregnancy just like I did with Bug, and I know that I'm very blessed that this little boy is happy and healthy and cooking just as he should be!

Now to get a certain Bug back to sleep (see what I mean? It's 9:30 and she's still not asleep right now...but at least she's not coughing!)

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We had some awesome links last week as usual. 

Motherhood has its seriousness and frustration as well as its laughs. That's why we are here. Life is much easier when traveled with companions! So mamas, let's join together in the spirit of motherhood and share our moments together. We want to hear the happy, sad, tough, terrible, hilarious moments that make being a mother the best job in the world!

 The top viewed link this week belongs to Paula from Beauty Through Imperfection and her post So You Think You're Pro-life. Paula's post is very thought provoking and challenging for everyone in regards to how we treat young moms and pregnant women! I'm so glad Paula shared this wonderful post with us last week and if you haven't already, I hope you stop by and check it out!

The Life Of Faith

 The Not Quite Military Wife


Beautiful Family Affairs, 

 Like A Morning Cup Of Coffee

Just a Touch of Crazy

Now, link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

Then, explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

Please, pretty please, we'd love it if you would tweet or share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

We would also love it if you could add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/mommymoments" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank">http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/cfa5ba11752f4e898055d03d33cf24e0.jpg

" />

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

Colossians 3:17 
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

An InLinkz Link-up

Oh baby baby: 20/21 weeks

This picture was taken at 21 weeks on Easter!

First up: 20 Week update

How far along: 20 Weeks

Trimester: 2nd - halfway there!

Baby size: Banana

Toes: It's sad, but they're getting harder to see every day!

Gender: BOY!

Movement: This little guy is getting stronger everyday! I just love feeling his kicks and punches!

Cravings: Spinach?

Aversions: My aversions are starting to change daily. 

Symptoms: Heartburn and hip pain is the worst.

Maternity clothes: There is nothing wrong with maternity clothes and I will proudly wear them. Baby has nowhere to go except out and my pants just don't fit anymore.

Best moment of the week: Deciding on a midwife!

What I'm looking forward to: Anatomy scan (it got moved)

And now for 21 weeks (where I'm at currently!)

How far along: 21 Weeks

Trimester: 2nd - less than halfway there!

Baby size: Cantaloupe 

Toes: It's sad, but they're getting harder to see every day!

Gender: It's a...(scroll down to see!)

Movement: More kicks and punches and some rolls even! I'm starting to be able to see him move and the hubs is able to now feel him kick!

Cravings: Spinach and feta

Aversions: They're still changing daily.

Symptoms: Heartburn, hip pain, and it's becoming harder to sleep at night.

Maternity clothes: There is nothing wrong with maternity clothes and I will proudly wear them. Baby has nowhere to go except out and my pants just don't fit anymore.

Best moment of the week: Our anatomy scan and our first midwife appointment!

What I'm looking forward to: Nesting! I'm hoping to start tackling our room soon! 

Silent Sunday

Happy Easter friends!

I'm so thankful for this smiley Bug! She's such a joy to get to spend every day with and I love watching her grow and develop her own personality. I'm so curious and excited to see her become a big sister! I know she's going to be amazing, but for now I'm soaking up as much time one-on-one with my girl that I can!

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Happy Easter! What a wonderful day to celebrate the lives God has blessed us with as well as remembering the life of Jesus, God's Son!
Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We had some awesome links last week as usual. 

Motherhood has its seriousness and frustration as well as its laughs. That's why we are here. Life is much easier when traveled with companions! So mamas, let's join together in the spirit of motherhood and share our moments together. We want to hear the happy, sad, tough, terrible, hilarious moments that make being a mother the best job in the world!

 The top viewed link this week belongs to Brittany from Sweet Country Roots and her post Easton's Home Birth Story. Wow what a story! Brittany had an unmediated home birth and after 4 hours of pushing was rewarded with this sweet bundle. Congratulations Brittany!! 

The Life Of Faith

 The Not Quite Military Wife


Beautiful Family Affairs, 

 Like A Morning Cup Of Coffee

A Lavender Life!

Now, link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

You would be our extra special favorite if you add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

Then, explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

Please, pretty please, we'd love it if you would tweet or share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/mommymoments" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsimage.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

Colossians 3:17 
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

An InLinkz Link-up