Hugs and Love,
At the beginning of my first
pregnancy, I had no idea what I was in store for. Excitement overtook me and
all I could think about was the day I’d finally be holding my sweet baby in my
arms. But by the second time I saw those two pink lines, I felt like a seasoned
pro. I’d already experienced the sickness, cravings, spotting, mood swings, and
weight gain, so bring it on! It was nothing I hadn’t already experienced
before, or was it?
No matter if you’re on pregnancy
#1 or #10, they’re all unique from the others. And let’s face it mamas, do we
ever really know what to expect? That answer is definitely “no”, but I do know
that a lot of us experience the same things during pregnancy.
As a twin mama, I’m here to share
some tips based on what I went through, in the hopes that it’ll be informative
and helpful to some other expecting mamas of multiples out there.
1. Morning sickness (or all day sickness for some
of us) will not necessarily be worse while carrying multiples. I was much
sicker with my daughter than I was with my twin boys. And you may not
experience any type of sickness at all.
2. You will more than likely show early on. I mean,
there are two (or more) humans growing inside of you! Embrace that bump.
3. Your heart is going to start beating very fast
around the middle of the first trimester. Your blood volume has more than
doubled to nourish multiple babies, and it takes a while for your body to get
accustomed to this. Once it does, your heart rate will go back to normal. Just
hang in there for those few weeks and take it easy.
4. Being tired takes on a whole new meaning. I
never had that second trimester burst of energy with the twins. It’s okay to
nap when you can!
5. You’re probably going to be very emotional at
times. This too is normal. My emotions where all over the place. One minute I
was crying over a cute kitten, the next I was ready to karate chop the next
person to ask me a question. You’ll eventually stop feeling this way. But, it
may take until after those babies are born.
6. You may have weird cravings. I craved certain
scents. I wanted to smell Pine Sol and spearmint all day, every day. Neither of
which I wanted to smell again after the babies were born.
7. You’ll gain a significant amount of weight. This
is true for any pregnancy, but especially true when carrying multiples. I was
only able to carry my boys to 32 weeks, so I only gained 25 pounds. It’s those
last few weeks where the weight really comes on. Just eat healthy, drink water,
and stay a bit active. You’re bringing two or more new lives into this world,
and you need that extra weight!
8. You will swell. And if you’re one of those women
that doesn’t, you’re lucky. So don’t be too hard on yourself when you feel like
the Goodyear blimp walking around. It’s short lived.
9. Say good-bye to sex. After the six month mark,
it gets very uncomfortable and somewhat painful (at least it was for me). You
will struggle finding a position to sleep in, much less have sex in. The belly
is big and the back aches. Just keeping it real, ladies.
10. You may not feel baby movements very often. This
is especially true the further along you get. They are cramped for space in
there and won’t have a lot of wiggle room. But it just makes it that much more
special when you do feel a kick here, or a jab there. I loved feeling and
seeing the boys move. It’s such an amazing thing to experience.
11. Breathing is very difficult in the last
trimester. The babies are getting bigger and there is only so many places they
can go in your abdomen. Your lung capacity will be compromised. Don’t be
alarmed when you start sounding like Darth Vader.
12. It’s not “two for the price of one”. I heard
this so many times during my pregnancy. No. Just no. You still have to buy two
of just about everything. Double the diapers, two cribs, two nursing pillows, double
the bottles, etc. etc.
When it’s all
said and done, your arms may be full, but your heart will be too. Every ache,
every pain, every bought of sickness, will all be worth it. And honestly, you
won’t even think about the hardships when you’re holding those beautiful gifts
in your arms. If you’re anything like me, then you may even miss being
pregnant. There is something so wonderful about the big belly, and knowing your
babies are safe inside of you and with you every step of the way.
Good luck and God bless all of you
amazing mamas to be out there! Try and enjoy your pregnancy as much as you can.
It comes and goes quickly. So relax and laugh every chance you get, and don’t
be alarmed if you pee a little while doing so. That’s normal too!
Guys and gals....this is a recipe you HAVE to try. I made this the other night just by throwing things together. My husband was going to be home from work within a half hour. I'd been so busy with the kids that I had not even thought about what I was going to make for dinner, much less started making it. I had no it would be such a hit. I didn't take any pictures because it was literally just thrown together. But I will do my best to explain everything in detail!
What You Will Need
1 can all white meat chicken
1 medium onion
1 red bell pepper
1/2 package spaghetti noodles
1 jar Alfredo sauce
1 Tbs salt
1 Tbs pepper
1/2 tsp minced garlic
Olive oil
1 Tbs Italian seasoning
Directions
Slice onion and bell pepper. Drizzle your olive oil in a medium sized skillet until the bottom is slightly coated. Add minced garlic, onion, and bell pepper. Over low-med heat let vegetables simmer, covered, until soft. While that is cooking, add water, a pinch of salt, and spaghetti noodles, to a large pot. Boil until noodles are soft. Open can of chicken, drain and rinse, then add to a separate, smaller pot. I also drizzled olive oil in the bottom of this pot to cook the chicken in. Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to chicken and cook until heated through. Once your vegetables are done (they will be soft), add chicken and Alfredo sauce to that skillet. When the noodles are done, add those also. I re-covered the skillet and let simmer for about 10 minutes so all of the flavors could blend a bit better.
Bon Apetit!
This was seriously SO delicious and only took a total of about 45 minutes to make, start to finish. My husband and my children loved it! I was worried for nothing and wish I had taken some pictures so I could add them to this blog post.
I hope you guys will try it and enjoy it as much as we did!
Hugs and Love,
Hurt people, hurt people...
Everyone on this planet has been hurt at some point in their life. It's part of being human. Some more than others. Sadly, those that are perpetually hurt, tend to grow up with anger in their hearts thus hurting those around them. Anger stems from pain.
There are those that deal with hurt a lot better than others. And there are those that have a glaring fault...hurting those around them, especially the ones they love. There is another saying that is widely known. "You hurt the ones you love the most". That one is also true. Why do we do this? Probably because we know those people will always love us no matter how we treat them, and a lot of the time, that is true.
I have been the one to hurt others while I was hurting. I directed my pain in the wrong direction and I've pushed people away, and hurt those that meant the world to me. I've asked for forgiveness and salvaged relationships, but it was a journey to get there. I believe we've all been the victim and the perpetrator in these types of life events. We're flawed, we're sinful.
The reason I am writing all of this is because it may be a comfort to someone out there beating themselves up for doing this. I've spent many days feeling worthless for having this flaw but, we've all done it. It doesn't make you any worse or a bad person. It makes you human. Many nights I've prayed that God would help me through the pain I was experiencing. To help me forgive those who had wronged me. After all, you are only hurting yourself while they go on and live their lives. It could be a bad divorce, an absent or abusive parent, a lousy friend, anything. You just have to forgive them and move on with your life. There are a lot of people in the world who are going to hurt you, use you, wrong you, and definitely not love you. But, there are a lot of people out there who will love you and treat you right. You just have to focus on them, and do something we've all had a hard time doing before, do not punish them for the wrongdoings of others.
Pain can destroy your life if you let it.
Pain can destroy your life if you let it.
Don't let it.
"Be kind to everyone, we all fight battles that others know nothing about".
Oh how very true that is.
Hugs and Love,
Oh babies.
How I love them so. Growing up, I wanted to have three children: two boys and one girl, just like my mother. And I got them! But I'm only 27...and I would like a big family of my own. So do I really only want three?
But when do you make the decision to stop having children? Don't you think that's such a difficult choice to make? My husband already provides for a family of five (and does an amazing job doing so), but do we add more strain to him, or risk biting off more than we can chew, to add another member to our family? Do we wait and then have them spaced far apart?
During my pregnancy with the boys, Eric and I discussed this at length, (we wanted to make up our minds before they came in case I wanted to get my tubes tied after delivery). Of course finances play a large role in the decision too. It's not cheap to have children, especially when they are close together in age. And we want to be able to provide the best we can for them. We want to be able to buy them their first car and send them to college. Yes, we think it is important to teach our children responsibility, and yes they will have some bills to take care of on their own. I think each child needs to have a summer job once they reach the appropriate age. But at the end of the day, they are just children, and you can't pile all of the responsibility on them alone. They will drown in it and will not succeed. Telling a teenager that they have to buy their own first car, and rack up insane amounts of debt for student loans, is pretty much asking them to fail. Or at the very least, have serious difficulty getting on their feet.
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| ...but aren't they just so cute?! |
There are also a lot of pros when thinking of having another child. You are going to be adding to your family! There is going to be another person to love. How great is that? With each child that I birthed, my heart tripled in size. I love each of my children more than they'll ever know. It's a pure, unconditional love. So, the more the merrier in my opinion! Yes, it can be difficult, and you feel like you're going crazy a lot of the time. But, it's so worth it. And, when I'm gone, my children will have each other. Their kids will have each other. That gives me comfort. So...adding more to my crew could never be a bad thing.
These were all factors we considered when making a choice on whether or not to have more children.
After the twins were born, we had reached a decision. We stayed up late discussing it many nights. I thought about it day after day. I discussed the options with my OB in detail. I even called my mom and talked with her many times about it. If you are in this situation right now, it will not be easy either way. Both decisions will have their own difficulties. Of course every family is unique, and what's best for one family, may not be at all what's best for the next. You just have to do what you feel is right.
These were all factors we considered when making a choice on whether or not to have more children.
After the twins were born, we had reached a decision. We stayed up late discussing it many nights. I thought about it day after day. I discussed the options with my OB in detail. I even called my mom and talked with her many times about it. If you are in this situation right now, it will not be easy either way. Both decisions will have their own difficulties. Of course every family is unique, and what's best for one family, may not be at all what's best for the next. You just have to do what you feel is right.
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| Swinging with daddy |
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| He was bringing mommy a flower |
If you've decided that not having any more children is what's best for you, then be sure and watch out for baby fever. Because that's a real thing!
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| Precious water babies |
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| Izzy decorating Easter cookies |
I hope you are all doing well! If you've been lucky enough to have some beautiful spring weather, then I hope you've been out enjoying it. I know my kids have surely enjoyed being outside more! Hopefully it'll stay nice for Easter this weekend. I will be writing again soon!
Hugs and Love,
I know many of us busy ladies do not have much time to do our makeup these days. Here are my top 10 makeup products that make it a bit easier for me get out of the door feeling pretty and put together! (they're inexpensive too!!)
- E.L.F Mineral Face Primer- This product sells for $6 at Target and Amazon, and is a bargain. It comes with a pump so you can get the exact amount you want. It is clear, so it does not change your skin tone. It fills in small lines and wrinkles and gives your foundation a flawless appearance. (I only use this when I am really getting dolled up for something, it isn't necessary for everyday use ;)
- Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation- This foundation is only around $4 at Wal-Mart and it is really great. When you open the cap, there is a stick attached to it with a little spatula on the end. Makes application easy and mess-free. The coverage is medium to full and gives a nice matte finish. There are also several shades available.
- Real Techniques Beauty Sponge- I LOVE this and don't know what I was doing before I purchased my first one. This is my ride or die. It can be used to apply foundation, concealer, or powder. It makes application so quick and easy. My first one lasted me a year and would have lasted longer if I hadn't gotten it caught in a drawer, which ripped it. I just purchased two more! They clean easily and costs about $8.
- Wet n Wild Coverall Pressed Powder- My love for this product actually came as a surprise. I purchased this at the Dollar General Store while I was in there getting something else. I went down the makeup aisle and remembered I needed powder. I figured I'd pick up some there to hold me over until I could get to the drugstore. I ended up loving it and now it's my go-to. It sells for around $4 and has a small sponge applicator included. It sets foundation and keeps you matte.
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer- I love watching makeup videos on YouTube, and SO many gurus use this product. I had to give it a try and ended up loving it. It has a built-in sponge applicator, so no need for an extra brush, which makes for quick and easy application! Just what us busy mamas need. Also, I get the shade "brightener" and boy does it wake me up! Takes away my dark circles like a pro. It sells for around $6.
- Rimmel Maxi Bronzer- This $5 product is one that I have been using since I was in high-school. I have never found a bronzer that does a better job. I am very pale and always feel better with some color and dimension to my face. I also contour with this. It's build-able and very pigmented, so you don't need to get much on your brush. It goes a super long way! I get it in the shade "sun love".
- Colormates Twelve Long Wearing Eye Shadow- This product was actually given to me by my mom. She had purchased this at Big Lots for ONE DOLLAR. I am not kidding. She has so many that she gave me one to try. Now I'm hooked and use it every single day. I couldn't find an exact picture of the one I have, so I will post one that just has a few different shades in it. The one I have is a dupe for Urban Decay's Naked palette. Which sells for around $60. Do yourself a favor and try these. They are beautiful, pigmented, and with primer they last all day!
- Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer- This is just eyeliner, but it's really good eyeliner! I get the waterproof kind and it lasts the majority of the day. It will wear off some if you are crying or sweating, but it's the best I've found and they have a large color variety (I also like the smudger that comes on the end). It costs about $6.
- Maybelline Falsies Mascara- I have not found a mascara that I love more than this one. And I think I have tried just about every single one. Or at least it feels like it. I was once the person that would get a different kind every time I went to the store. Until I found this one. It lengthens my lashes and makes them more voluminous than any I've ever tried. It's true that it makes them look as much like "falsies" as possible. I put on one coat, let it dry, and then add a second coat. It sells for around $5.
- BH Cosmetics Sculpt and Blend Brushes- I ordered these brushes from bhcosmetics.com a little over a year ago for $21, but they frequently go on sale for $12.50. And that is a steal! These brushes are so dense, have no fall-out, and still look brand new a year later (and I use them just about every day). They clean easily and apply makeup flawlessly. They have really saved me a lot of time in my makeup application because they are so soft and blend makeup so well. I don't have to sit there blending over and over and over. These are a must have!
Most days I just put on some of my concealer, powder, and mascara and still feel like I look great. You seriously can't go wrong with these products. And a huge bonus is how much money you will save not buying high-end makeup. I hope you guys enjoyed my Top 10 Makeup Products, and remember, you don't need makeup to be beautiful! (but it's still fun to get all fixed up sometimes :)
Thanks for reading!
Hugs and Love,
*I am not sponsored by any of these brands. These are my own opinions.
Whew.
I think that is the first deep breath I've taken in weeks.
I'm so glad to be back to my blog and I have so much I want to write about! My family and I took a little vacation the week of February 15th. It's the first vacation we've taken together. Ever. It was just a nice getaway, and also a Valentine's celebration (of sorts) for my husband and I. The week leading up to vacation was somewhat of a blur. My husband was working mandatory overtime, so I was left to take care of all the packing and trip prepping, along with taking care of the kids. It was chaos for all of us. The day before we left, it snowed (AGAIN), and it was a lot. Ugh, I'm so sick of snow and so ready for spring. On the day we left, it was pouring down rain, which was good because it was melting said snow. But it was a slushy mess loading the luggage and kids into the van and getting out of town. We traveled to Pigeon Forge, TN The Great Smoky Mountains. Growing up, my family and I took a spring break vacation there every year. It's not too far away, roughly four hours (tack on a bit more when travelling with small children in the pouring rain.) Seriously, the trip there was so rough. Props to my husband for remaining so calm. We couldn't see the road in front of us at some points it was raining so hard. I was a nervous wreck the whole way there. When we finally arrived, it had stopped raining and I got so excited! Like a kid again! Pigeon Forge is a very family friendly area. There are things to do year round, and the mountains are gorgeous. Since we had our small babies with us, we mainly stayed at the resort. There was an indoor water park and the condo was gorgeous.
Lucas was so eager to explore the place that he's not pictured above. But he was with us! Izzy was so thrilled. Her first vacation! She kept saying "mama, this is the best VEEcation ever!" Melted my heart. And as you can see from the photos, Zachary was pretty happy too!
We got in pretty late that first night and we lost an hour on the way. We all ate Steak N Shake at about 10:30 and then called it a night. I promised Iz that the next day would be a whole day devoted to the indoor water park. She couldn't wait. And to be honest, I couldn't either. They had splash pads, water fountains, indoor water slides, a big pool, and a hot tub! Count me in.
Izzy probably went down the water slides at least 50 times (not exaggerating) and all by herself too! She's so independent for a four year old, and definitely an adrenaline junky. She did not get that from me. I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but it's a lot harder than one would think having your phone around that much water and wrangling 17 month old twins. So the snapshots I posted are the only ones I have from the water park. Did I mention all the pools were heated? Okay, I'm ready to go back!
The next day we decided to get out and take the kids to WonderWorks, or the upside down house as we called it. It's a really neat place (a bit overpriced in my opinion) but still fun! It's described as an indoor amusement park, but I wouldn't call it that. It explains science in a really neat way for children to better understand. I'll post a link here to their website if anyone wants to go read about it! There wasn't much for the babies to do, but even they had fun walking around exploring the place. And there is fun for adults too.
After we left WonderWorks, we headed over to a really neat restaurant called Harpoon Harry's Crab House. It was HUGE and very nice. We splurged and I got the filet mignon while my husband enjoyed the rib-eye. We also had fresh sushi for an appetizer. It was pricey, but I would recommend it. Delicious food!
The next day was spent shopping and we ate at a Mexican restaurant called Cielito Lindo. They had authentic Mexican food, huge portions for a great price. The food was also delicious there. I wanted to take my husband to Knife Works, which is known to be the "World's Largest Knife Showplace". I truly believe that. It's three stories and we didn't make it through the whole thing. My husband bought a new, really nice, pocket knife, and I was able to get a really nice gift to take home for my dad.
We rested in the room that night and my husband took Izzy back to the waterpark. They had a blast, and I believe that was my daughter's favorite part of vacation or uh...VEEcation ;) I really enjoyed just relaxing and spending time with my family.
The day came to come home and disaster struck. Okay that might be a little dramatic, but it was pretty disastrous. My husband woke up more sick than I have ever seen him. He had a horrible stomach bug. We first thought it might be food poisoning, but we all ended up getting it later so that was ruled out. I let him rest and I packed up our entire condo and got all of the kids ready, loaded up the van, and drove us all home. It was stressful to say the least. But I was so worried about Eric. Poor thing was so sick. I ended up getting it that night (after we had arrived home--thank goodness) I can't imagine having that while trying to drive home, I would have had to stop and get a room for another night. And then it made it's way through my children one by one. I spent the next several days bleaching and disinfecting my house. We are all finally well!
Izzy went back to school today and the routine is back in full swing once more. We really had a great trip, but we are all glad to be home. And I am very happy to be back to my blog! I hope you are all well and enjoying life :) I'll post again soon!
Hugs and Love,
I think that is the first deep breath I've taken in weeks.
I'm so glad to be back to my blog and I have so much I want to write about! My family and I took a little vacation the week of February 15th. It's the first vacation we've taken together. Ever. It was just a nice getaway, and also a Valentine's celebration (of sorts) for my husband and I. The week leading up to vacation was somewhat of a blur. My husband was working mandatory overtime, so I was left to take care of all the packing and trip prepping, along with taking care of the kids. It was chaos for all of us. The day before we left, it snowed (AGAIN), and it was a lot. Ugh, I'm so sick of snow and so ready for spring. On the day we left, it was pouring down rain, which was good because it was melting said snow. But it was a slushy mess loading the luggage and kids into the van and getting out of town. We traveled to Pigeon Forge, TN The Great Smoky Mountains. Growing up, my family and I took a spring break vacation there every year. It's not too far away, roughly four hours (tack on a bit more when travelling with small children in the pouring rain.) Seriously, the trip there was so rough. Props to my husband for remaining so calm. We couldn't see the road in front of us at some points it was raining so hard. I was a nervous wreck the whole way there. When we finally arrived, it had stopped raining and I got so excited! Like a kid again! Pigeon Forge is a very family friendly area. There are things to do year round, and the mountains are gorgeous. Since we had our small babies with us, we mainly stayed at the resort. There was an indoor water park and the condo was gorgeous.
Lucas was so eager to explore the place that he's not pictured above. But he was with us! Izzy was so thrilled. Her first vacation! She kept saying "mama, this is the best VEEcation ever!" Melted my heart. And as you can see from the photos, Zachary was pretty happy too!
We got in pretty late that first night and we lost an hour on the way. We all ate Steak N Shake at about 10:30 and then called it a night. I promised Iz that the next day would be a whole day devoted to the indoor water park. She couldn't wait. And to be honest, I couldn't either. They had splash pads, water fountains, indoor water slides, a big pool, and a hot tub! Count me in.
Izzy probably went down the water slides at least 50 times (not exaggerating) and all by herself too! She's so independent for a four year old, and definitely an adrenaline junky. She did not get that from me. I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but it's a lot harder than one would think having your phone around that much water and wrangling 17 month old twins. So the snapshots I posted are the only ones I have from the water park. Did I mention all the pools were heated? Okay, I'm ready to go back!
The next day we decided to get out and take the kids to WonderWorks, or the upside down house as we called it. It's a really neat place (a bit overpriced in my opinion) but still fun! It's described as an indoor amusement park, but I wouldn't call it that. It explains science in a really neat way for children to better understand. I'll post a link here to their website if anyone wants to go read about it! There wasn't much for the babies to do, but even they had fun walking around exploring the place. And there is fun for adults too.
After we left WonderWorks, we headed over to a really neat restaurant called Harpoon Harry's Crab House. It was HUGE and very nice. We splurged and I got the filet mignon while my husband enjoyed the rib-eye. We also had fresh sushi for an appetizer. It was pricey, but I would recommend it. Delicious food!
The next day was spent shopping and we ate at a Mexican restaurant called Cielito Lindo. They had authentic Mexican food, huge portions for a great price. The food was also delicious there. I wanted to take my husband to Knife Works, which is known to be the "World's Largest Knife Showplace". I truly believe that. It's three stories and we didn't make it through the whole thing. My husband bought a new, really nice, pocket knife, and I was able to get a really nice gift to take home for my dad.
We rested in the room that night and my husband took Izzy back to the waterpark. They had a blast, and I believe that was my daughter's favorite part of vacation or uh...VEEcation ;) I really enjoyed just relaxing and spending time with my family.
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| Zachary giving kisses to sissy |
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| The kiddos really enjoyed the jetted tub! |
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| Lucas loves his daddy so much |
The day came to come home and disaster struck. Okay that might be a little dramatic, but it was pretty disastrous. My husband woke up more sick than I have ever seen him. He had a horrible stomach bug. We first thought it might be food poisoning, but we all ended up getting it later so that was ruled out. I let him rest and I packed up our entire condo and got all of the kids ready, loaded up the van, and drove us all home. It was stressful to say the least. But I was so worried about Eric. Poor thing was so sick. I ended up getting it that night (after we had arrived home--thank goodness) I can't imagine having that while trying to drive home, I would have had to stop and get a room for another night. And then it made it's way through my children one by one. I spent the next several days bleaching and disinfecting my house. We are all finally well!
Izzy went back to school today and the routine is back in full swing once more. We really had a great trip, but we are all glad to be home. And I am very happy to be back to my blog! I hope you are all well and enjoying life :) I'll post again soon!
Hugs and Love,
