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Making Room To Give with Sam’s Club

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This post is sponsored by Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s hard to believe that in just a couple of short weeks I will be turning 34. It’s weird because if I can nearly be considered ‘middle aged’ then what does that make our parents? As much as I hate to believe it, my parents and my husband’s parents are getting older. And since we are pretty much the only family around, I’m certain that their care will eventually fall to us. Whether or not we care to admit this, this day is coming. That’s why we are preparing now.

Here’s what we’re doing to prepare for when this day comes:

1. Clearing space.

Our home is not big by any means. In fact, I’ve prided myself on the fact that we do not have more space than we need. We are content in our cozy home. I grew up in a home that was ‘cozy’ and so did my husband. But, as our parents’ age, the idea of additional space is a necessity.

So we’ve been literally and figuratively clearing space. Space in our home, space in our lives, and space in our hearts. Having three kids of our own is hard and, eventually taking on the role of adult-caregiver, it will get harder. The best thing we can do is to minimalize — toys, kitchen gadgets, stock-piled goods — it all needs to be less.

2. Using Sam’s Club Caregiver program to understand what we will need.

I am the kind of person who likes to make a plan rather than being blindsided. And with the help of resources, like the Caregiver program at Sam’s Club, I can feel ready for when that day comes. Their focus is on family caregiving and they provide resources and solutions for every situation.

Sam’s Club offers a large variety of products like Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna with options for discreet purchases (such as club pick-up and shipping) to specifically help caregivers get what they need without making their family members uncomfortable.

We recently did a big haul to make sure we are prepared for when that day comes. We purchased Glucerna shakes, Ensure shakes, Poise liners, and Depend underwear.

Having these items on-hand means we have one less thing to worry about when the day to become caregivers comes.

3. Making legal decisions now.

One of my biggest fears is that something will happen to our loved ones and we won’t have any legal authority to make decisions, whether it be financially or medically. So we took steps to make sure that we would not be in the dark.

Establishing a medical power of attorney is incredibly important. Having this means we have discussed details with our loved ones and will be able to make decisions that are in their best interests based on their desires while lucid. I realize that this can sound insensitive, but we would much rather discuss these issues now and have a plan versus being blindsided by an event.

4. Keep lines of communication open.

This may be the most difficult of all of the important line items. Communication needs to be open between all parties. Do you have siblings to keep in the loop? Discuss important things now, like who will ultimately make decisions and how those decisions will be made.

All of these things will help us to be as prepared as possible for the moment when we become caregivers to our elder generation. In all of the inevitable chaos, it’s heartwarming to know that Sam’s Club is on our side and will be there for every step of the way.

 

 

7 Must-Haves for Baby’s First Cold Season

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I don’t know about you but I, for one, am very excited that Fall is nearly here. I look forward to the crisp air, fallen leaves, and cooler weather. But, as with every changing season, a new set of illnesses is on the horizon. In fact, Mila caught her first bit of something last week, which flooded back all kinds of ‘first cold’ memories from the previous two kids.

But truly, cold season is no joke. What starts as a common cold can easily turn into RSV or croup. It can get ugly fast, that’s for sure. So I’m sharing my trust mommy-must-haves for cold season!

01.  The Nose Frida.

I know I’ve talked about this thing over and over again, but the Nose Frida is truly a lifesaver. Let’s cut the bologna though — it’s a snot-sucker. That’s all it is. But you’d be amazed at how important a snot-sucker can be when your teeny, tiny baby is struggling to breathe through congestion.

But the faint at heart must know that you won’t actually be sucking snot from your child’s nose with your mouth. So rest easy, friends. There are an apparatus and a filter to block your mouth from the gunk.

02.  A Humidifier.

Nights are the absolute worst when your baby is sick. Before we bought a humidifier we would run the shower for steam constantly, but that was more of a defensive technique. To stay on the offensive with a cold, we use a cool mist humidifier to help them breathe more easily.

Each of our kids actually has this exact humidifier in each of their rooms and we run it from this time of year all the way through the Winter months. Just be sure to use distilled water in it to avoid mineral build up in the humidifier!

03.  Infant Probiotics.

We start pumping our babies with these probiotics at the very beginning of cold season. We try to get in a few doses before they are even exposed to boost their immune systems. And they have been super helpful!

Whether or not your baby is breast or formula fed, it’s important to get that extra push of the good gut bacteria in them to help kick the colds as quickly as possible!

It comes with a teeny little syringe which makes it super easy to make sure they’re getting the appropriate amount.

04.  Vicks Vaporub for Kids. 

Nothing hurts a mama’s heart more than seeing her little one stuffy and struggling to breathe, so this is an absolute must! We apply the Vaporub to the chest and the bottoms of the feet and it really helps them out tremendously — especially at night and during nap time.

05.  Boogie Wipes. 

Before becoming a mom I would probably laugh if you told me that there are ‘special’ wipes specifically designed for babies noses. I mean, regular tissue will work fine, right? Wrong. So wrong. Boogie Wipes are a genius invention. They are super soft, extra gentle, and help to get even the toughest crusty boogers off of a newborns face.

Traditional baby wipes are not nearly as gentle and soft, so you may laugh at this concept, but I promise you these Boogie Wipes are a must-have for cold season.

06.  Have Baby Sleep on an Incline. 

For the first few months of our babies lives we’ve had them sleeping in a Rock ‘n Play sleeper next to our bed. But did you know that it can also be helpful for a baby to sleep at that kind of incline when they are congested as well? Whether it be in a rock and play or on a wedge mat, the incline will absolutely help with the drainage.

07.  …and, as always, GRACE.

Mama, whether it’s your first baby or your 7th baby, the first cold season can be absolutely brutal on us. Expect long days and even longer nights, so give yourself a healthy dose of grace to get through it. Because you will get through it.

If you’ve been through it before

 

what tips

 

do you have

 

for cold season?

 

9 Postpartum Must-Haves

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Bringing a new baby home is a huge adjustment — both for the new mom and the family. But one of the best things that you can do as a mom is to take care of yourself. It’s taken a few years to learn these things, but here is my list of postpartum must-haves for all moms!

1. Motrin.

I’ve been through three very different deliveries and each time I’ve needed help with aches and pains postpartum. Whether you’ve been through a drug-free delivery, a vaginal delivery with an epidural, or a c-section, Motrin will be your new BFF — at least for a few days.

Birth is traumatic, ya’ll. Even when it isn’t, it is. Whichever way you bring a new life into this world, it’s rough on your body. Don’t be a martyr, take the Motrin and take it often. I learned the first time around that it’s not a good idea to wait until you need it; instead just take it when you’re allowed.

2. Meals. 

Ready-to-eat frozen meals, restaurant gift cards, a meal train — all of it. Whether you’re adding baby number one or baby number 7 to your family, the last thing a new mom wants to do is prepare food. In fact, you’ll need to eat as soon as you get a free moment.

If anyone asks if they can bring you a meal or a gift card to a restaurant, absolutely accept it. I felt so guilty about doing this the first time around, but I realized long afterward that I could do this for other people and pay it forward. So with baby number two and number three, I accepted every meal gift. Mostly it’s just moms who have been there and know how difficult it can be.

3. Comfortable clothes/pajamas.

The days (and weeks) that follow the birth of a new child will be days (and weeks) of hunkering down at home. If it’s your first child, you may think you need to wear real clothes. I’m here to tell you, just don’t. I mean, sure — shower and try to get yourself together because it will make you feel better. But you also need to feel comfortable. Your body, regardless of what kind of birth you’ve had, has been through trauma. So make sure you have several sets of comfortable clothes whether it be pajamas or sweatpants or whatever.

4. Depends.

Everyone will tell you how much you need the giant pads but I’m here to tell you that I’m not about that life. Did you know that Depends Silhouettes exist?! Because they are glorious! They are not like diapers in any way, shape, or form; in fact, they are (almost) comfortable. So ditch the pads — buy the depends.

5. Stool Softeners. 

Whatever experience you’ve had with birth, a child has exited your body. And for 40-weeks a baby has grown inside of you. Your organs have shifted to make room and then shifted back very, very, suddenly. This and hormonal changes wreak havoc on our digestive systems. Whether or not you think you need them, take the stool softeners. They’ll be offered to you in the hospital — take them. And make sure you have a small pack of them at home to get you through the first week or two.

6. Breastpads. 

Whether you decide to breastfeed or formula-feed, your breasts will leak — and you should most certainly be prepared. While I so desperately want to be a supporter of reusable breast pads, I have to say that I’ve tried the silicone breast pads and they are massively uncomfortable. Either get yourself the fabric reusables or the disposables.

7. Comfortable Nursing Bras + Tanks.

Comfort is key postpartum! Your tatas will hurt. So make them comfortable by finding bras and tanks that are secure but also not too tight.

8. Air Conditioning.

Hormones do crazy things. One of those things is making us sweat our booty off postpartum! Even after having my January baby, I was sweating like crazy — so much so that my husband had to sleep in the other room because I was freezing him out! So you’ll need air conditioning or, at the very least, a really good fan to circulate the air.

But no worries, because your hormones will even out and you’ll be back at a normal resting temperature before you know it!

9. Grace.

I’ve talked a lot about grace and motherhood. But I promise you it is not to be cliché. It is the one thing that has saved me, often times from myself. After becoming a mom for the first time I realized that I had put way too much pressure on myself, especially in those first few postpartum weeks. I accepted too many visitors and I stressed myself out by trying to ‘keep up’ with housework.

Just don’t. Breathe. Delegate. And give yourself all of the grace.

What are some

of the items

on your postpartum

must-have list?

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

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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

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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.

Tips For an Active + Healthy Pregnancy with Ajoyo

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From the moments you find out you’re expecting a new baby, things change. There is so much to consider — keeping the baby healthy, eating right, exercising, maintaining some normalcy, and working through the stages that come with each trimester. It can all be a bit… overwhelming, to say the least.

And, I’ll admit — my previous pregnancies haven’t exactly been the healthiest. But there’s something about age and wisdom and whatnot that really offers some perspective. So I’ve learned a lot in the span of 6+ years (nearly 3 years of which I have spent pregnant).

Here are my tips for maintaining a healthy balance during your pregnancy:

1. Find ways to move comfortably.

For me, this has made a huge difference this time around. I was basically sedentary during my first two pregnancies. This time around I’m still go, go, going with my kids; but I’m also finding time to workout.

Sometimes this just means going for a walk, with or without the kids; with or without a fun place in mind. 

Sometimes it means tackling the household chores instead of sitting down on the couch. 

Sometimes that means getting in some stretches before bed. 

Just make yourself move comfortably. Period.

Which brings me to my next point… 

2. Make exercise fun, not a burden. 

Working in a gym has been a huge blessing, that’s for sure. But for the first trimester of this pregnancy, I just couldn’t work out. I could barely hold food down, so workouts weren’t on the agenda. But when the second trimester hit, I knew I had to get back into the swing of things.

And I enrolled myself in a few classes to hold myself accountable.

Between circuit training classes, kickboxing, teaching cycling classes, and finding a passion for zumba, I’ve been keeping a pretty regular exercise routine ever since.

 

Here’s the thing — it’s definitely NOT pretty. Cycling has gotten a lot more difficult (bending forward at the waist with my belly is starting to hurt a bit), and I’m probably the least coordinated person in my zumba class; but it’s fun and it’s getting me to work out.

And continuing to workout has created a sense of normalcy in my life — when not everything can be controlled, my workouts make me feel… well, not pregnant. Ha!

3. Eat with balance.

My first pregnancy was all ice cream and carbs; my second was whatever I could keep down (mostly toaster strudels); but this third pregnancy is all about finding a healthy balance.

While it would be a complete fabrication to say that I’ve eaten completely healthy this pregnancy, I definitely have eaten intentionally this pregnancy.

What does that mean? Well it means that I’m making myself a smoothie in my Vitamix each morning — it consists of a mix of frozen fruit, frozen vegetables (think kale, spinach, etc), some protein powder, and Ajoyo Almondmilk.

Ajoyo Almondmilk has been a staple in my pregnancy for a few reasons. One of which is because I need to keep my diet as dairy-free as possible. Dairy caused some issues for Remy when I was breastfeeding and I’m trying to avoid that ever becoming an issue this time around by eliminating dairy now.

It also happens to be delicious and sustainable — it’s non-GMO and loaded with nutrients like B12, calcium, and the always needed (especially in pregnancy) protein.

But I haven’t denied myself access to my cravings either. I’ve eaten my fair share of burritos and donuts (#weakness); and I haven’t given up coffee (I. just. can’t.). So intentionally eating has been key.

Want to try Ajoyo? Head here to enter to win a year supply of Ajoyo Almondmilk AND enter my giveaway (using the rafflecopter widget below) to win a month’s worth of Ajoyo Almondmilk right now!

4. Sleep, sleep, sleep. 

One of the most important things i’ve done this pregnancy is to listen to my body. There have been many days where I feel like I could fall asleep at 6pm. And, instead of fighting it, I just listen.

Sure, that means I’m missing out on some other stuff (like dinner, lol); but sleep is essential for remaining healthy during pregnancy. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve also given my 5 year old an iPad to watch Netflix in bed next to me so that I could take an occasional afternoon nap.

Ya know why? A healthy mother is a better mother. Fact.

5. Give yourself grace. 

I say this a lot. I know. But if there’s one thing I’ve truly come to understand as a mother, it’s that grace is an essential part of my day.

I look at my to-do list and add to it daily. I also scratch a few things off here and there, but I’m always going with the flow. The other day I had two more errands to run after running to the DMV. And guess what? The DMV ran extra long — during naptime (Remy’s and mine).

Instead of forcing us all on extra errands, I gave myself (and my to-do list) a healthy dose of grace. The errands can wait.

This is all to say this — know when you’re doing too much and know when it’s time to let some of it go. And, as Elsa (and Remy) would say — Let. It. Go.

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At the end of the day, pregnancy and motherhood are all about this: SURVIVAL. We are all just doing our best to get by and make it out alive. So cheers, Mama! Now go get some sleep!

Disclosure: I received a supply of Ajoyo Almondmilk at no cost to try and review. As always, all opinions herein are my own.