If you are anything like me, you are probably spending hours prepping your hospital bag for your recent arrival. Packing a hospital bag can be a detrimental task. You don’t want to under-pack and forget necessary items. However, you also don’t want to over-pack just to bring it all back home with your newborn in tow.
If you are wondering what essentials to pack in your hospital bag, take my word for it: less is more. Check out my Essential Hospital Bag Checklist below, and feel free to comment with any must-have items you also had in your bag.
For Mom:
Robe
Maternity Gown (if you don’t want to use the ugly ones at the hospital)
Shirt dresses
Comfortable Pajamas
Nursing Tank Top
Nursing Bra
Going home clothes
Big, comfortable underwear
Pillow and Blanket from home
Nipple cream
Toiletries (makeup, hair dryer, shower items… things that make you feel “human”)
For Baby:
Onesies and Sleepers x 2
Cute outfit for Pictures
White swaddle blankets (these can be used as a fun backdrop for the pictures)
Hat and Mittens
Going home outfit
Newborn socks
Car seat
Car seat cover
Extra bag for items you’ll be bringing home
Extras:
Camera(s) + batteries/charger
Phone + chargers
Birth Plan, copies of Insurance Card and ID + Emergency Contact List
Hand Sanitizer (lets face it, not everyone knows to wash their hands before touching your baby)
As I woke up this morning, curious as to who won the President Election of 2016, I began praying for Donald Trump. I stayed up last night knowing that I would have to be up in five hours. I could not stop watching the results of the national polls coming in. At this moment, you need to pray for President Elect Donald Trump, too.
As I am rocking my sweet baby boy to sleep, I can’t help but feel a sense of empowerment as a mother. This has been the very first time since I have been a mother that I have truly felt like a mother. While rocking him to sleep, I pray for the President Elect Donald Trump.
I feel like I need to protect my son, I feel like I would do anything it takes to ensure he will have the best life ever with the new president.
You see, my small, 9 month old baby boy had no choice in his future. He was not able to vote for his future, and he has no say as to what his future holds. It makes me a “mother bear” to know he is completely unable to protect himself. It is my job, as his mother, to make sure I hold him tight during this next generation of America’s future with a new president.
My son, in his 9 short months of life, has already lived through two presidents. That is unbelievable.
And today, I am praying to God, that He guides and protects Mr. Donald Trump, our 2016 President Elect of the United States of America.
You see, that is a HUGE job. Donald Trump has the next four years of America’s lives in his hands. He also has my baby boy’s life in his hands, AND his future. HIS FUTURE.
I need everyone who has decided to read this today, to pray for Donald Trump. That God guides Mr. Trump to manage our country the way he promised during his electoral run. That God uses Mr. Trump to unify America. That God brings back what this nation is all about: freedom of speech, but responsibility to hold strong morals and values in the name of God’s word.
In the past, God was the center of the United States Government, and I truly believe Mr. Trump will bring that back again.
I recently blogged about wanting to lead a healthier life, and as I am sketching out my program (coming soon!), I couldn’t help but want to share what kind of exercise I will be doing to get my butt in shape.
It is called Barre3 and it’s inspired by ballet barre, yoga and pilates.
I have been doing some type of Barre method for the last few years, and find it very addicting. It targets your accessory muscles, resulting in a very toned body.
The workouts look easy, but they kick your butt! If you’re like me and have a pear shape, then you have a hard time toning your legs and your butt. I have been incorporating these into my exercise routine for the last few years, and find the quickest results from it!
Within two weeks, my butt has a significant “lift” to it, and my thighs look toned!
The best part about Barre3 is the cheap, monthly $25 subscription, and flexibility on choosing what type of workout you want to do. Are you a beginner? There’s a workout for that. Are you pregnant? There are multiple workouts for that!
All you need are small 5 pound weights, a yoga mat, and a Barre ball (you can find one at Wal-Mart). If you do not have a yoga mat, I recommend wearing yoga socks to prevent slipping and sliding around.
There is also a huge section of healthy recipes to choose from, and amazing challenges you can join to add to your motivation tank!
If you’ve tried Barre3, please comment and tell me what you thought! Even if you haven’t, please share how your going to get your butt in shape. This is an open forum to brag about our successes, as well as our struggles, hopes and dreams! I want to hear it, ladies!
I recently went to a concert this past weekend, and was absolutely dumbstruck by the performer. She had so much energy on stage, and stomped across it with high heels for almost three hours. She also has a little one year old son, an incredibly successful career with twelve singles hitting number one. Somehow, I was in awe how she could literally do it ALL. She was kicking butt at life. She is the best version of herself. This made me think… How can I be that person? How can I be the best version of myself?
In case if you’re wondering, this performer was none other than Country Music superstar Carrie Underwood.
To say this concert was life changing was an understatement. The night before, she attends a CMT awards show, and hops on her plane to fly to the concert. Carrie wakes up, gets in an hour-long work out and manages to spend plenty of time with her son, do her laundry and her hair and makeup. She also manages to have a beautiful marriage to withstand all of this chaos. When I say this girl can do it all, she can DO IT ALL.
Which makes me think — here I am, a budding mommy-blogger-still-working-full-time, with an 8 month old baby boy. I can’t remember the last time I ate healthy, let alone worked out. My marriage is pretty good, although we do get in our arguments occasionally.
I reflected on this. For a LONG time. I still have that voice in the back of my head whispering “You need to be better.” If I am not being the best version of myself, my husband and son are being cheated of a wonderful wife and mother. So, TODAY, I am going to be the BEST VERSION of myself. Here’s how to be the BEST version of YOU…
1. Prioritizing Exercise
A healthy body results in a healthy mind. I have NO excuse to squeeze in at least 20 minutes of exercise every day. More importantly, YOU have NO excuse either. Worried that you haven’t exercised in forever? Yoga is incredible! Unroll that yoga mat and lets GO!
2. Drinking Water
I can’t remember the last time I drank 8 glasses of water a day. Seriously, that is so sad. I drink 8 cups of coffee a day with no problem. You know what? I have bags under my eyes, so that coffee isn’t helping anything. Time to chug that miracle juice.
3. Stop Eating Sh*t
Our culture is all about conveniency. Conveniency is fast food, TV Dinners loaded with sodium, restaurant meals with 2,000 calories. This is disgusting. Our food is disgusting. I am throwing away my chips, nixing fast food, and starting to meal plan. Are you with me?!
4. Find Something You’re Good At
Being a mom is exhausting. Some days, it’s very unrewarding. Who has ever tried to feed their 8 month old mixed vegetables, and they fight every single bite? My child is the light of my life, but when he is cranky, I need an outlet to run to. For me, blogging and photography are my niche. It’s what I am good at, and it’s how I find some sort of achievement when I feel like my son is drawing me to the edge. Find something you’re good at, that you can get in to. Every mom needs that outlet. What is something you’re passionate about? Go find it!
5. 30 Minutes of “Me” Time
Moms are trying to squeeze in so much in a days time. We never get time to sit back, and live in the moment. Think you’re too busy for some “me” time? Think again. So, you haven’t slept all night, and the baby needs a bottle at 5AM. I get it, I’ve been there too. Take a lunch break, go for a walk, do yoga, meditate, anything to be alone. Hell, go hide out in the bathroom if you have to! You owe it to yourself!
Starting today, will you vow with me to incorporate these 4 things into your life? I am needing an accountability buddy, will you join me? I don’t want to hear any “I’ll start tomorrow” bullsh*t because you know what? If you don’t start NOW, you never will. NOW LETS GO!
