Although we were expecting to get pregnant with baby no. 4, we were still pleasantly surprised. But my mother’s reaction was priceless! She had no idea we wanted another baby. Check out our reaction when each of us found out. Wait for it!
4th Baby’s Gender Reveal
Over 2 weeks ago, (before the Shelter-in-place order in South FL) we received the results of our 4th baby’s gender and were able to do a tiny gender reveal with our parents and 2 of our siblings. In the midst of everything happening in the world, we were able to share our joy with our loved ones via FaceTime and Skype (thank God for technology!). And now we are able to share it with you all – thank you for all your love and support. Watch below what our 4th bundle of joy will be:
5 Things Every Mommy-To-Be Needs to Know
(Haz click para Español) Being pregnant for the first time can come with a lot of surprises, whether sweet or downright scary, because everything is new! Things will continue to change when the baby arrives. Life will NEVER be the same – though in a good way! There are quite a few things I wish I knew my first time around that would have made the transition of becoming a new mom smoother.
- Motherhood is selfless. It’s a simple yet raw truth unfamiliar to us until we become mothers. It comes as a shock for new moms when we discover that there’s a tiny human being that solely depends on us and we are to take care of for the rest of our lives. I had no clue a newborn needs to eat every 2-3 hours and although they nap most of the time in the beginning, they constantly eat and poop several times a day. They become our primary concern and their well-being suddenly becomes the most important part of our lives. Simple things like taking long showers, heading to the salon, going out alone, etc. are things we may no longer be able to do at first. Denying ourselves and putting the baby first quickly becomes our new normal. But this is not our forever. The first weeks as a new mom can be exhausting but it helps to accept that we live for someone else too! That does not mean we have to always put the baby first, but there will be times where we find ourselves doing it. And that’s alright, until you adapt to your new life as a mommy.
- Go easy on yourself and your body. Carrying a baby for 9 months is unbelievable. Our bodies go through so much during pregnancy, labor, and birth. You may get stretch marks, have extra skin and weight, feel flabby all around. Once my firstborn arrived via C-section, I thought I would fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans straight out of the hospital but boy was I wrong! I wanted to do things on my own but found myself in pain from the surgery and was still swollen and recovering 3-4 weeks after. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child, I understood that I had to go easy on my body, and the 2nd and 3rd time around I did just that.
- Buy in bulk. If you have a baby shower, chances are you will get most of what you need. However, there are some things you will need to buy often because they are used daily and/or are disposable. After having 3 babies back-to-back in under 3 years, my husband and I have learned to buy in bulk. Trust me, you’ll save a pretty penny! Diapers, wipes, baby soap, etc. are things you can buy in bulk at big stores like Costco. At Costco, you’ll find exclusive offers for Huggies Plus diapers. Through 9/29 you can get them for $9 off! We are currently using Huggies Little Snuggles Plus diapers on our 3rd baby, Darla River, because its trusted 3-in-1 Comfort and outstanding protection.
- Visit http://bit.ly/2kgmxwU to shop Huggies diapers online and have the convenience of not even having to go into the store.
- Accept help. I had a huge struggle with accepting help from my loved ones. Our loved ones offered to cook for us, wash our clothes, etc. It took me a few days to acknowledge that I needed help. Accepting it does not make you vulnerable or powerless. It takes time to adapt to having a new baby around and having an extra hand in the kitchen, laundry, and for other chores helps mentally, physically, and emotionally. It reduces some of the stress and allows you to focus on your baby.
- No more [full night’s] sleep. I have no idea where the term, “sleep like a baby” comes from because in the beginning, newborns do not “sleep like a baby. “They wake up to eat every 2-3 hours. That was the most difficult part for me to learn as a new mom. I remember crying while breastfeeding my 4-week-old firstborn because I was irritable, my mind was tired, and I just wanted 1 night of uninterrupted sleep. As weeks passed, we figured out our new daily routine. The baby started to sleep longer periods and eventually after a few weeks, our baby finally slept through the night. For at least the first month, try to sleep when the baby sleeps. Your body will be tired and recovering. Even if you may feel great outwardly, your womb and other parts still need rest inwardly. And your mind needs to rest as well.
Although I had read a few books before my baby arrived, I discovered there are no perfect mothers nor perfect parenting guidebooks out there because everyone’s experience is different. In moments that you feel overwhelmed as a new mom, just remember, it may seem like forever, but the days go by quickly and soon you will adapt to it all. You will not be able to imagine life any other way because being a mommy is ultimately the most amazing experience and title we can ever hold.
Disclosure: This is a paid partnership post with Huggies and Costco. Although this is a partnership, all opinions in this blog remain my own and I was in no way influenced by either companies.
3 Must-Haves for Taking a Stroll with 3 under 3
Spring has sprung in full swing! What better way to enjoy the warm weather and breeze than to take a stroll, but wait, now I have a new addition to my bunch and the thought of going out with 3 under 3 makes me rethink leaving the house. As a stay-at-home mom, I am able to enjoy my 3 darlings full time which is why I prefer doing different activities that will keep them entertained. Nature walks and being outdoors is definitely a must during this season because the weather is perfect and sunny. Fortunately, I have been able to juggle all 3 babies on my own while my husband is at work. Embracing the outdoors may not be a walk in the park but I have managed to quickly leave the house with them and soak in the Spring sun during our nature walks.
Here are 3 must-have items that are essential for taking a stroll with 3 under 3:
1. BABY CARRIER
Baby wearing is great for bonding and also adds ease especially when your hands are full. And with a newborn that loves to sleep, the easiest way to wear my baby is with the Boppy® ComfyFit® Baby Carrier. All I have to do is simply click, strap, tie and go! I love the lightweight, soft fabric with spandex that moves with me and my baby supporting our nature walks. Most of all, I love how simple it is to put on (no help required) since most of our days are only mommy-and-me days.
A few other fun facts about the Boppy® ComfyFit® Baby Carrier:
- Lightweight, hybrid carrier with a structured seat for a secure position
- One size fits most, which makes sharing the carrier between caregivers quick and easy
- Perfect fit, no infant insert required; recommended baby weight: 8-35lbs
- 2 comfy carrying positions: front face-in and front face-out
- Padded, adjustable waist belt and comfortable wide shoulder straps help distribute your baby’s weight evenly
- Zippered pocket in waist belt to keep small items conveniently in reach
- Stash n’ Go Pouch makes your carrier small and portable when not in use
- Machine washable for easy care because messes happen
2. DOUBLE STROLLER
A double stroller is ideal because I can strap my 2 oldest and make sure they are secure. I am also able to store my purse or wallet, phone, water and snacks for Caleb and Olivia in case they get hungry during our walks. If you do not own a double stroller, another alternative could be for your eldest to hold onto your hand as he or she walks. In my case, Caleb likes to walk sometimes. When he walks during our stroll, I make sure he is next to me at all times and I do not lose sight of him. Toddlers have super abilities to disappear in seconds so it’s important to always keep an eye on them.
3. COMFORTABLE SHOES
Baby-wearing your newborn obviously adds weight, so wearing shoes that fit easeful is key for walks. I remember one time I had the most uncomfortable shoes while walking and was aching to get back home. Whether it’s sneakers, flats, sandals, make sure you wear shoes that you can frankly wear all day.
If you are a mom of little ones, don’t be afraid to leave the house. Catching a breath of fresh air is always a good idea – don’t be confined to your four walls. Put on comfy shoes, wear your baby hassle-free with the Boppy® ComfyFit® Baby Carrier and strap your other child(ren) in the stroller and go for a nature walk. You will love it so much it’ll become a daily part of your routine. Below are photos of an afternoon stroll with my 3 under 3.
Disclosure: This is a paid partnership post for Boppy® ComfyFit® Baby Carrier. Although this product was part of the partnership, all opinions in this blog remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.
Dear Husband… This Is How My Day Was
Dear Husband,
Today I opened my eyes at 3 in the morning as our 4 week old baby girl woke up. It was time to feed her. I quickly sat up to carry her so that her cry wouldn’t wake you up. At around 5am I woke up startled because I realized I had fallen asleep while breastfeeding her – my neck hurt because I fell asleep sitting in an upright position as I always sit in the middle of the night while breastfeeding to avoid dozing off into dreamland (it didn’t work this time LOL). As you woke up at 7am to get ready for your long Monday, I woke up while you showered to serve your coffee to-go and make you a quick breakfast sandwich for the road. From the kitchen I heard our Darla River’s cry, so I ran to breastfeed her on our bed. I was fighting sleep while feeding her because I wanted to kiss you goodbye at the door like I do every morning before you leave to work. But my eyelids were not cooperating and you noticed. You told me to stay in bed, said “I love you” and kissed me goodbye.
I woke up an hour later to take advantage of precious time as our 3 babies were still sleeping to seek God, shower, squeeze into my waistband AKA faja and work on pending things from my mental To-Do List with my coffee mug in hand. Soon after, our toddlers woke up one after the other and I put on my invisible Super Mama cape to tackle Monday although my physical and mental energy were at an all-time low.
We ate our breakfast despite two bathroom breaks from our potty-trained Caleb Beau. A few things that occurred before noon (with our toddlers that we’re striving to raise low-tech) were:
- Made fun shapes with Play-Doh
- Broke up a few possible kiddie fights between our toddlers
- Played with Megablocks
- Said good morning to Darla
- Caleb & Olivia overwhelmed Darla with hugs and kisses
- Our toddlers raced around the house while pushing their little chairs
- Nonstop toddler laughter over simply hearing each other’s chuckles (Don’t you just love their laugh!)
- Changed a few diapers
- Breastfed Darla
- Ran back and forth to the potty
- Bath-time while Darla napped
Our afternoon was a mix of reading, singing, and then eating lunch (did I mention how I breastfed our hungry newborn with one hand and feeding Caleb and Olivia with the other hand? Talk about some serious multi-tasking there.) We played a little more until it was time for their nap. As I picked up Olivia to change her diaper and put her down for her nap, Caleb watched a 10 min. episode of his favorite show. He then asked for “One moa” so I let him watch one more because he is the sweetest little boy who knows he has my heart. Then it was nap time for Caleb.
Finally a sound of silence for what seemed like a solid 10 seconds but then Darla. She was wide awake. I stared into her eyes and spoke to her and she cooed. Then it was Darla’s nap time as well. With at least an hour in the afternoon of “free-time” the ideal [and highly needed] thing to do would have been to nap also, but being the busy-bee mama that I am, I felt like napping would mean wasting my time, so instead I chose to work on things from that mental To-Do List. Boy, did that hour fly! Olivia Joy woke up first. After holding and comforting her for 15 mins., we bonded a bit. Then Caleb woke up, I carried him and also held him for a few mins. They ate snacks and played before you came home. A few minutes before you arrived, I quickly put on a tad of makeup and sprinkled perfume to make up for all the perspiration that comes with breastfeeding a newborn. LOL!
When we heard your keys, our toddlers ran to the door to welcome you and so did I. You ate a little bit and were happy to see your loves. Then you got ready to head to the Men’s Leadership meeting at our church. That ½ hour of seeing their daddy, meant the world to them. Caleb cried a little because he wanted to leave with you. You kissed him and told him how much you loved him. You kissed your girls goodbye as well and off you went.
I fed them dinner, we danced to their favorite playlist, we did several potty stops, I breastfed again, a few more diaper changes for our girls, we read more books, they ran all over the house, we played Peek-A-Boo too many times and once again bed-time was approaching. I prepped them for bed, put Olivia down first, then did Caleb’s bedtime routine. We prayed, said I love you, and off he went to dreamland.
Quickly after, I bathed Darla and breastfed her before putting her down for the night (though she would wake up 4 hours later). Once she went down to sleep, I started to feel my back ache which was actually aching all day but had been ignored due to the busy day. My body ached perhaps because of the moments I had to carry our toddlers. I had a slight headache as well so I decided to get ready for bed and lie down. After, you arrived from your meeting and we asked each other about our day. Both our Mondays were busy but I spared you the details. We spoke and gave each other our undivided attention, all the while, I asked a few questions to things you had indeed answered a day or two before but thanks to sleep deprivation, I had forgotten. Then you picked out your button-down shirt for me to iron as you got ready for bed. We flipped through the channels, spoke a bit more, turned off the TV, looked into each others eyes, said I love you and kissed goodnight.
This was a glimpse of my day. I know you had a good but long day too! When you ask me how my day was, this is the somewhat unabridged version of it. You’ve never heard me complain about my day because through it all, God gave me the wisdom and strength to wisely manage time. But even then, there are a few moments I may feel like I’m running on empty but I get refueled in prayer. You probably have not heard me mention my body ached until now. I know I’ve been quite forgetful lately too, due to the lack of a full night’s sleep. Though I feel better each day, my body is still recovering inside and out from my 3rd c-section in under 3 years. Mentally, physically, and emotionally, I am getting back to my pre-baby self soon.
Thank you for being an understanding and patient husband through it all because I know I wouldn’t be able to do it without your loving support. You are the most loving and caring daddy to our babies. And thank you for providing for our family so that I am able to choose to stay home. You make me feel beautiful, protected, and loved especially in moments like this. You’ve understood that this newborn stage will soon pass and together we’ve learned to embrace it because even through it all, it’s one of my most cherished stages. This is not our forever, this is our now. In the weeks to come, we’ll continue to watch our babies grow and together we will soon turn the page to the next exciting chapter of our rad story where there is definitely more sleep for me.
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