maternity leave

Mila Rose // 3 Months

October 1, 2018 by Rachel 6 Comments

Oh, sweet baby girl. I cannot believe you are already three months old. You have taught me so much in these last 3 months — much more than I thought I needed to know.

For one, I didn’t know that as a mom of 2 already, I could possibly have any more room in my heart for love. But I do. I have so much love.

And that’s just it — you have taught me that even though I feel completely spent and completely exhausted at the end of each and every day, I still have so much room in my heart for love.

I finally admitted it last month — you are such an easy baby. I was afraid to say it, but it still stands. You are easy peasy. Sure, we’ve had hiccups along the way. Like this darn 4-month sleep regression that seems to have popped up a whole month early.

And speaking of popping, you already have a tooth through the gums. A TOOTH! at just three-months-old! How is that even possible!?

It seems as if Miss Mila Rose is doing a lot of things ahead of schedule. Like rolling over.

Yep, she’s already rolling over.

Admittedly, I was not in the room when she rolled over. But hang on sanctimommies — she was safe. I just happened to leave her on the living room floor for 30 seconds while I went to the bathroom. In that time she managed to roll over. Since then, she’s rolled over two more times from her back to her belly. It’s so crazy to see at such an early age, especially since Remy seemed to be so late on rolling over, crawling, and walking.

And she’s so. darn. chatty.

She talks and talks and talks and talks and talks. It’s insane.

Oh, and she’s teeny tiny. Even for my ‘largest’ baby — born at 8lbs — she’s still incredibly small. However, I’m not surprised. Both other kids were always in the 2nd percentile for weight so it really doesn’t shock me that she’s so little. But we’ll have to wait and see exactly where she falls on the growth curve until her four-month appointment!

Gahh! I can’t believe a four-month appointment will be here before I know it! Time is just flying by. And I can’t wait to see where this next month takes us!

Life Lately // a Balancing Act as a Mom of 3

August 8, 2018 by Rachel 22 Comments

Oh, hi! I promise I’m not just over here having babies and leaving you high and dry. I’m also living a relatively normal life — or at least trying to!

Here’s what we’ve been up to recently:

Bottoms Up Yoga at Sibling Revelry Brewing.

I jumped at the opportunity to meet up with some fellow Cleveland bloggers for an afternoon of yoga, beers, and laughs, courtesy of Bottoms Up Yoga at Sibling Revelry Brewing!

I brought my mom, Mimi, with me so that she could hang with the big kids while I brought Mila in with me. I mean, she’s a newborn and sleeps most of the time anyway — and this was a class with a bunch of gals I know really well anyway!

Well, she started making those newborn grunts while sleeping in her car seat. I spent most of the time rocking her car seat in between downward dogs before I just gave up halfway through our flow and stepped out.

I ended up ordering some food and sitting down with a flight of IPAs to wait for the class to finish and for Mimi to arrive back with the big kids, so it all worked out in the end.

Sometimes you've just gotta put yourself out there and try to do something fun, even if the end result looks different from what you planned Click To Tweet

Sometimes you’ve just gotta put yourself out there and try to do something fun, even if the end result looks different from what you planned, right?!

The Cleveland Flea.

I’m not a big shopper. I’m just not. But one of the events I most look forward to each month is the Cleveland Flea. Perhaps because it combines my love of Northeast Ohio with my love of finding unique items and food? Yep, that’s probably it!

Well, the last Flea I brought both of the girls with me on a little girls day out. We ate donuts from The Vegan Doughnut Company and walked around for a bit before we settled into a cozy spot for some relaxation and people watching.

Remy is such a social child and she really loves to be given a little space to explore, so I let her do her thing for a bit while I fed Mila.

Work.

I’ve been back to work for weeks now and it’s not all that bad. Mila is with me at all times and the bigger kids have the chance to play and get some energy out for a bit in a different environment. I start teaching cycling again in just a few weeks so our schedule will get even busier, but I’m anxious to get back into the swing of teaching again!

Prepping for Kindergarten.

Ari starts Kindergarten in a week. I’m so excited for him and anxious at the same time. Our school shopping is nearly complete and I have his teacher and room assignment! The only thing we have left to do is attend orientation!

It’s safe to say I’m going to be a complete wreck those first few days. I don’t know if I’ll actually cry, or if my anxiety will just go into overdrive. I know for certain he is ready. He’s so excited and hasn’t even muttered a word about being nervous.

Food Fridays al Fresco at Cascade Plaza.

So many amazing things have been happening in my city over this last year. There are so many events happening on a daily basis (oftentimes at the same time), I’m bummed I’m not able to make them all. Such is life with three kids, I suppose!

But one of the events I knew we had to make it to was Food Fridays al Fresco, which happens every Friday during lunch in Cascade Plaza in downtown Akron. Basically, a bunch of food trucks, backyard games, and live music smack dab in the middle of a weekday!

I was adventurous enough to take all three kids out to this while solo-parenting. It was an adventure, but they had fun running around the big, grassy, plaza.

Edgewater Beach, Cleveland.

While searching for new places to take the kids, a friend suggested going to Edgewater Park and walking along the beach. It was a gorgeous day so I thought, why not?

The water was closed due to rough current, but the kids only really cared about the sand anyway. We walked and explored and played before giving in to the heat and heading back home.

Northeast Ohioans are lucky to have so many adventurous places to explore. This was just the tip of the iceberg for us and I cannot wait to continue taking my kids on these little adventures.

In reflecting on all that we’ve been up to lately, I can confidently say that adding a third baby changed everything and yet changed nothing. We’re still doing our thing. We’re still living our lives. We’re still having fun, and working, and playing. It just looks a little different.

In what fun ways

have you been

exploring lately?

Postpartum Update // Two

July 16, 2018 by Rachel 16 Comments

I can’t believe this little lady has been with us for three whole weeks already! Honestly, the last few weeks have felt like months — but I look down at my still-soft belly and feel my organs still shifting back into place and I remember that, oh yes, it’s only been three weeks.

Sleep //

We’re riding the roller coaster of sleep over here. Some nights are great while other nights are completely overwhelming. That being said, this child is still a much better sleeper than her siblings ever were as infants. The other night she slept for 6 hours straight, which to this day is still hit or miss with Ari and Remy.

I know, I know… I’m lucky. Very lucky. But there have been nights with constant screaming and zero sleep as well. And those nights are really, really, difficult. I truly think I have PTSD from Remy and on these nights I get incredible anxiety and flashbacks of her infancy.

One thing that has helped is consistency. If I keep her actively keep her awake in the afternoon (which means she’s screaming and angry) and put her down around 7:30 – 8:00 PM, she’ll sleep for a few hours straight. So we’re sticking to this schedule as much as possible.

Breastfeeding //

Nursing Mila is still going well. My supply seems to have stabilized a bit and I’m no longer engorged. But, gosh, there are days where I wish I wasn’t her only way of nourishment! I know that all nursing mamas have felt this way at some point or another, but there are some days where I wish I could just sleep and hand her off to my husband.

Maternity Leave + Paternity Leave //

Speaking of my husband, he’s still on paternity leave. Actually, he went back to work for two days before I begged him to take two additional weeks off. I was overwhelmed from having a sick toddler and a newborn (Remy contracted Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease the morning of the 4th of July and has been super contagious ever since). So he has been home with us — Thank GOD.

I decided, however, to get Ari and Mila out of the house by returning to work at the end of last week. It was a gentle transition back for all of us. Ari got to see all of his friends from the YMCA and play all morning, meanwhile I handed Mila off to my coworker and snuggled other babies in childcare. It was great!

The Big Kids //

HFM Disease really threw our world upside down. I mean, it was awful. She woke up on the 4th with a fever and threw up. I thought “Oh no — another stomach bug!” But the next morning she woke up without the fever, but with bumps around her mouth and booty. And then all over her legs, feet, and hands.

We did a digital appointment with a pediatrician so I didn’t have to take everyone out of the house and she confirmed that, yes, it was HFM. When she found out I also had a newborn at home she cringed. I had to do my best to keep her away from her new baby sister — you know, the one she’s been obsessed over since the day she was born.

That’s the point at which I begged Chad to take another 2 weeks off of work.

Luckily, at 10 days after the fever, all of her symptoms seemed to be completely gone. Which meant she could finally get out of the house for a bit. So I took her to our favorite place — Target!

This cart hammock from Binxy Baby makes our frequent trips to the store a million times easier. Not only do people seem to compliment it nonstop, but I have the entire cart free for groceries (which certainly wouldn’t happen with her giant car seat in the cart).

Ari, however, has been able to get out and enjoy himself quite a bit lately. I took him and Mila on an adventure to the LEGO Store for their monthly mini build followed by lunch and he was in HEAVEN.

I had zero distractions from him since his baby sister slept the whole time, so he loved having my undivided attention.

He’s also been going to Tot Time in the park still and he participated in our community Goldfish Catch (which is basically filling up the community wading pool with goldfish and sending the kids in to catch them — ha!)!

So he’s been living the good life while Remy has been miserable. But here’s hoping we’re on the upswing for everyone!

Mental + Physical Health //

Mentally, I feel mostly okay. I’m still surprised that I seem to have avoided any signs of PPD/PPA thus far. And my most difficult times certainly seem to be the moments where all of the children are screaming and demanding, which is to be expected.

And physically I’m feeling pretty good. My immediate postpartum weight loss seems to have leveled off a bit. I’ve not ever been one of those nursing moms who drops weight quickly. In fact, my body seems to think it needs to go into hibernation mode while I’m breastfeeding.

So I’m starting back on Weight Watchers to keep myself accountable — plus, they take into account all of the extra food I’m supposed to be eating as an exclusively breastfeeding mom! And I’m definitely looking forward to getting back into my workout routine soon!

We’re still very much in survival mode and I’m certain we have some major changes coming next week when Chad officially goes back to work. So keep sending all of your positive vibes our way!

Disclosure: I received the Binxy Baby in exchange for my honest review. As always, all opinions herein are my own.

Postpartum Update // One.

July 1, 2018 by Rachel 23 Comments

It’s been over a week since my whirlwind delivery of Mila Rose. I really expected things to be different than they are right now. Not in a worse way, but not in a better way either.

Just… different.

Expectation Versus Reality //

We’ve all been going through a bit of an adjustment. I came home from the hospital on Thursday, the 21st, late in the afternoon. The kids were very surprised to see us because Mimi told them we wouldn’t be home until Friday! And, truthfully, we had a really easy first night home. Mila slept for 5.5 hours straight!

But the days that have since followed have not been easy. The kids have been restless and overly energetic. I’m certain that some of it is the adjustment of having a new sibling at home; some of it is the crazy heatwave we’ve had; and the rest is probably the fact that their lives are totally different with having their daddy at home all day.

Sure, our patience has been tried. And sure, we expected quite a bit of that. But expectation versus reality can be a bit of a shock.

But over the last week we’ve attempted to keep their lives (and ours) as ‘new’-normal as possible. Chad took both the big kids to see a movie, they’ve played in the park, had playdates with friends, and ran errands. Basically, business as usual (minus work, plus an infant).

Mental Health //

I’m surprised at how well I’m doing, honestly. But I know it’s still early — and I’ve had a lot of help with my husband being on paternity leave. So I’m taking it one day at a time.

It definitely helps that she sleeps better than the other two kids. Ari had colic so the witching hour was awful; and Remy just never slept (day or night), period. So the fact that this child will sleep some is better than the other two already.

And she absolutely LOVES sleeping in her DockATot. If you haven’t heard of a DockATot, you must go check them out. Mila apparently likes hers so much she’ll fall asleep in it during all of the crazy chaos of the big kids being loud!

Again, it totally helps my mental health that she will sleep — and with this incredible product to help us? Even better.

Physical Health //

I’ve recovered so quickly from this labor and delivery, it’s nothing short of amazing. It’s honestly amazing what our bodies can do. I keep looking down at my squishy belly and I think “I can’t believe this body just had a human in it a week ago!”

I’m happy to say that I’ve definitely lost a significant amount of baby weight already (something that never happened this early for me with the other two) and I can’t wait until I am cleared to workout! I’m itching to sign up for a race of some sort, but I also don’t want to push my body too soon.

Maternity Leave + Paternity Leave //

I’m still planning on going back to work in about a week and a half. The older kids are so restless and we all thrive on a well-oiled schedule. Getting them out to play with friends while I’m working will be helpful.

But I’m honestly dreading the fact that my husband goes back to work after the upcoming holiday. Both kids have gotten so used to having him here during the day that I’m certain another ‘adjustment period’ will be coming when he returns. Our saving grace is that he has 6 more weeks of leave he can take — whenever I need him to!

Yes, I realize we’re beyond lucky that his company now offers paid paternity leave! This is a first for us since it just started this year! And we’re going to absolutely use it!

This Upcoming Week //

We have more ‘tot time’ scheduled, another $1 movie from Cinemark Kids Clubhouse, and a 4th of July without plans! Luckily my parents are coming up on Wednesday so I’ll have some help when Chad returns to work Thursday.

Mila’s newborn photos have been rescheduled for this Thursday (thanks to a baby who refused to sleep during her shoot last week) and we have a weekend with zero on the agenda.

So basically survival. Survival is the only solid plan I have for this week. Everything else is negotiable.

Tell me —

What got you through

the early postpartum days ?!

What’s In My Hospital Bag

June 10, 2018 by Rachel 17 Comments

Nothing. No seriously. Up until a few days ago, I had zero packed. Not for me, not for the new baby, not for my other two kids (who will, undoubtedly, need a change of clothes and diapers when a friend watches them).

But I finally stopped slacking. I packed my bag with everything but the last minute items. I’ve learned a LOT from two previous hospital deliveries — on what’s totally unnecessary and the things that I truly wish I had the first time around. So here’s what I’m packing in my hospital bag for baby number 3 — and what I wish I would have had for my first labor and delivery!

Peppermint Essential Oil.

I do not handle nausea well. I know this will be my downfall if I can’t keep it under control. So the first thing I put in my hospital bag is doterra peppermint essential oils.

I put a few drops in my hand when I’m feeling nauseated and sniff the inside of my hands. It truly was a lifesaver last time.

Nursing Bras.

Essential, but honestly one of my least favorite purchases. I’m still looking for that ‘perfect’ nursing bra, but I found a few with decent reviews to bring with me in the meantime.

In the hospital, it’s all about comfort. I expect my milk to come in quickly, just like last time. And underwires are not my friend — at least not until the gals start to regulate themselves, milk-wise. So something comfortable is key!

Comfortable pajamas.

All of my pajamas from the last two kids are destroyed, so this time I purchased a few different sets of pajamas and loungewear from Cuddl Duds. I’d heard that they’re incredibly comfortable, so I ordered a few online and tried them on — big mistake because I don’t want to wait until labor and delivery to wear them!

I also got a nice long cardigan to cover up with. Those hospital rooms can be a tad bit chilly and it’s nice to be able to take off layers as needed.

Ollie World Swaddle.

I wish I had known about these Ollie World Swaddles for the first baby, but having them for number 2 was a LIFESAVER. If you’ve ever had an infant, you know that the startle reflex is real — and something that all babies struggle with. And on one wants a baby to struggle to sleep, am I right?!

The stretchy fabric is perfect for use for babies of all sizes — and it’s super soft! Bonus? It opens easily at the bottom for easy diaper changes!

Hospital Outfits for Baby.

I don’t allow many visitors at home those first couple of weeks, but I do allow for visitors at the hospital. So a couple of cute hospital outfits for the baby are a necessity. A couple is the bare minimum because it’s basically a guarantee that the baby will blow out of at least one outfit in the hospital.

I got several comfy outfits for this baby girl to lounge around in while we spend our 24-48 hours in the Mommy-Baby ward!

Portable Noise Machine.

Everyone in my family uses a noise machine to help us sleep, and what better way to emulate the noises in the womb for a newborn!? So I’ll be bringing along a portable, battery-powered, white noise machine for the hospital stay, that way I can ensure a semi-smooth transition to naps and nighttime sleep!

I grabbed this one from Target — it’s small enough that I can keep it in a diaper bag and even keep it next to her in the car.

Nursing Pillow.

If you plan on breastfeeding, set yourself up for as much immediate success as possible by bringing a nursing pillow with you to the hospital. Some of my best experiences, postpartum, have been with the help of the lactation consultants in the hospital.

The Milk Boss nursing pillow from Itzy Ritzy is amazing! It’s different from traditional nursing pillows because you don’t have to worry about it falling off of your lap — you loop your arm right through it! How cool is that!?

Other necessities.

Phone charger. Camera. Toiletries (Toothbrush, makeup, hair products, etc). Contacts/solution. Identification/insurance information.

As important as all of this is, here’s what is NOT important to bring in your hospital bag:

Lots of real underwear. You won’t wear it — just stick to the mesh stuff they give you. Just bring one pair to go home in.

Pads. They will have THE best pads in the hospital. In fact? Take some with you.

Diapers/wipes. Again, they will be provided for you.

A water bottle. One of my favorite ‘things’ to bring home from the hospital, aside from my baby of course, is the mega water bottle — oh and the hospital ice! So yes, leave your straw cups and water bottles at home. Take full advantage of the giant cups they give you instead!

Tell me:

What’s on your must-bring list for the hospital?

Disclosure: I received the Ollie World Swaddle and the Milk Boss infant feeding pillow in exchange for an honest review. As always, all thoughts herein are solely my own.

Save Money This Summer + Have More Family Fun

May 23, 2018 by Rachel 21 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiantEaglePerks #CollectiveBias #cbias

It’s hard to believe that Summer is just around the corner. Preschool has officially ended, our Spring activities are wrapping up… and I’m in disbelief that I’ll soon be on maternity leave for baby number 3!

One of many things that has had me nervous about this round of maternity leave is that I am no longer working in a full-time position. Which means my ‘leave,’ much like the maternity leave of most women in this country, will be unpaid. Which has made me get insanely creative, budget-wise, these last 9 months!

Because, believe it or not, I’m still planning for my family to have a pretty awesome Summer of fun. One of the ways I’ve been amping up our Summer spending budget is by simply doing the same things I already do everyday!

1. Shop for groceries, as usual, at Giant Eagle or Market District, using my Giant Eagle advantage card!

Giant Eagle has long been my go-to place for groceries, but with their recent price slashing on everyday items, I’ve been scanning my advantage card even more frequently — and earning fuelperks+ — which quickly add up to savings at the pump and savings of up to 20% off groceries!

I’m lucky that Miss Remy is a really big fan of our frequent shopping trips! Ha! She loves filling up our cart with all of her favorites — yes, even those darn baby food pouches still make an appearance in our cart every once in a while! But how do I say no when it’s healthy AND helps me earn perks!?

Regardless of how many times we end up at Giant Eagle each week, it truly is helpful to see the savings pile on for future purchases, whether they be on more groceries or on a tank of gas!

2. Plan all of your meals — not just dinner!

When I first started meal planning, I was only planning out our dinners. I would (incorrectly) assume that we would have leftovers from dinner for lunches the next day. Not exactly. Either the dinner would be consumed by two tiny, children-sized vacuums at dinner; or they would have zero interest in eating it for lunch the next day.

Instead of heading out for donuts in the morning or a fast-food lunch, I started to really think about easy things I could keep at home for these meals. So in meal planning for dinner, lunch, and breakfast, we have seen a huge savings in our overall budget!

Often times our breakfasts consists of cereal, either hot or cold, and our lunches consist of fruits, veggies, crackers, and cheese (what can I say — my children are just like me!).

3. Purchase gift cards at the checkout for everyday expenses — like home improvement projects, travel, or clothes!

Whenever I know that I have a purchase to make, whether it be at Target or if we’re going out to dinner at Chipotle, I’ll go to Giant Eagle and purchase a gift card so that I also earn fuelperks+. I mean, why not, right?! I’m already going to buy the kids clothes at Target, I might as well also earn some perks from it!

The gift card selection is so big that nearly everything we need to purchase, whether it’s those darn kids clothes (because they just continue to grow nonstop) or items for the home or car, can benefit from a gift card purchase!

4. Fill up the gas tank while running your errands and scan your advantage card.

It’s inevitable. I will need to fill up the gas tank in our new minivan at least once a week — it just doesn’t have the same fuel economy as our smaller car. So when I do hit the pump, I go to GetGo and scan my advantage card first! Not only is their gasoline incredibly competitive as far as price is concerned, but in doing this task — which I have to do anyway — I am also earning those fuelperks+!

5. Cut out the cable and sign up for streaming!

In an effort to save a good chunk of change where we can, we cut our cable and switched strictly to streaming-only. My kids will watch TV entirely too much, if I let them; but, especially during the Summer, there’s just really no need to be tied up to the TV.

Sure, it’s nice to have for a rainy afternoon or, in my case, those soon-to-be late night feedings; but it’s also totally unnecessary. And do you know how inexpensive Netflix is!? Bonus — you can purchase Netflix gift cards at Giant Eagle and earn those extra fuelperks+!

As I continue watch the savings roll in, we’ll be treating our family to a staycation that we so desperately need. My husband will be taking some time off work this Summer in an effort to help our family adjust to life with a new little; but we’re also going to indulge the older kids with trips to the movies, playing at the trampoline park, and a trip to the north coast (that’s the islands off Lake Erie, for those of you not in the Midwest 😉 ).