Ready To Be Parents Again?

The "perfect" family size, spacing children as closely, or as far apart as we please. Family planning has come a long way. It used to be that women birthed babies frequently, and at most times unexpectedly.

When my husband and I first talked about family, we had decided that we would like to strive for a large family of 5. We both come from families of 5, children spaced, ages 3 years apart. Without really every contemplating it too heavily, we thought it was the perfect plan. Now that we have had Eli, our thoughts have shifted.

When I first held my little bundle of 5 lbs 8 ounces of joy, I immediately was bitten with a mommy hood bug. I already wanted to try, for yet another baby. I guess we could all partly blame that on the morphine? Now that my son is 6 months, the thought of having another child has not subsided like I thought it would. It has only progressively gotten worse.

Which brings me to the question. Are we ready to be parents again? I believe it is in my next child's best interest if I try to hold out for a few more months before we try again. Ideally be pregnant when our son is at least the age of 1, my husband and I have come to an agreement that we would like try to space them closer together. Studies have shown that children spaced closely together have less sibling rivalry, they have more in common, play great together, and can prevent any struggles children may have with the welcoming of a new baby.

We understand that having children spaced so closely together is going to be difficult. Doable, fun, joyous, but yes difficult. However that will only be in the younger years. Perks to the trade would include my children sharing experiences, toys, clothes, and fun, as well as us as parents getting over the special challenges of the baby and toddler years as quickly as possible!

The only thing left to contemplate, would be me as a mother, and my well being. Am I ready physically, and emotionally, to be a parent again?

Studies have shown that 18 to 23 months apart is ideal. Pregnancies spaced less than one year have had an increased risk of low birth weight and or preterm birth.

It is very important for a mother to take good care of herself between pregnancies, especially if you plan on spacing them closer together. Women need time to lose their pregnancy weight, increase their exercise strength, improve their body tone, (especially their abdominal and pelvic muscles.) Most important of all, nutrition. Having a baby depletes you of your iron. One needs to be sure that their iron levels are regular, and that their body is nutritionally ready for another pregnancy.

Having children "back to back" can have many rewards. As mothers and women, we just need to remember that it is very important that we take care of ourselves physically, and mentally during and between each pregnancy.

What I spend money on.

" A penny saved is a penny earned."

I have been reflecting on my spending habits these days. I am quite proud of my accomplishments! It used to be that I would spend as much as I wanted, whenever I wanted. It was fun, it felt good, I had lots of "stuff."

I have always been good at saving money, but I am even better spending it. I think it's because I grew up the first 5 years of my life literally having nothing. My biological father had a drug habit. He would sell our clothes, and furniture for drugs. We opened up cardboard boxes with donated toys from the community for our Christmas. We ate a lot of canned sloppy joes (gross)!

I was 4 when things started to look up. We met my dad (step dad). He did well for himself. He fell in love with my mom and us children, and took her, and her 4 children under his wing. Don provided quite well for us all.

My dad did so much for us, paid for us to be in just about every school sport there was, buy us horses, bikes, snowboards, clothing etc. I believe most important of all, he taught us how to save money, and learn how to budget. It was nice to be taken care of, and have "things."

Eventually I got married, and living in Oregon, Jamie and I started out with having no money. We ate ramen noodles, or Carl's Jr. a lot ( I worked at a fast food joint, so it was free.) I didn't ever have enough money to buy anything extra, we lived paycheck to paycheck. Paid our bills, and that was all we could manage. We were happy mind you, living a minimum wage lifestyle.

However we moved back to Wyoming, Jamie and I landed well paying jobs. I again became quite materialistic! I wanted everything I laid my eyes on, and I bought it. Then Jamie started making even more money, and I started seeing him less and less...oh the joys of the oil field! So I had a void to fill, and I filled it with spending money on STUFF!

I am happy to say that I have found a happy balance, and I save even MORE, and spend even less! It feels really great.

Now that I have Elijah, I am more grown up and responsible. Before Eli was here these are things I would spend money on.

•Pedicures and Manicures Facials, and massages

•Haircuts and colors

•Home decor

•Clothing ( I still find clothes that have tags on them)

•Makeup

•Electronics

•Eating out at restaurants

•STUFF I can't even begin to remember lol

Now my spending habits have rhyme and reason! Now my money goes towards things like this:

•Diapers/wipes/formula/clothing- Things for Eli.

•FOOD. Grocery shopping. I mean I spent money on food previously, but now that I stay home I have MORE TIME to do one of my FAVORITE things, COOK and BAKE. I stay away from most items that are frozen...bad bad bad bad! I LOVE raw, fresh foods, and cooking healthy, fulfilling meals from scratch.

•Donating to credible foundations

•Activities such as city league volleyball/Zumba/swim lessons for Eli.

Really that is pretty much it! I do facials, manis, and pedis in the comfort of my own home! I still get my hair done, but I do it every 3 months, and I quit coloring it, gonna let me natural color come in! I am a mom, so I really don't wear makeup, and I have such a huge array of clothing, that there is no need to buy any at the moment!

I have come a long way over the years, some of you might find this blog topic a little silly. I however feel a need to celebrate my accomplishment, BY TAKING A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND! hahaha no no no...by just posting a simple blog, to share with my loved ones. :O)

Galactogogue, say it, it's a funny word.

Breast milk production. Yup. In the process of trying to up it! It WASN'T low, I was just drinking Mother's Milk herbal tea, to up my milk production a bit more, so I could pump more for my back stock. It was working like a charm!

However, I may be strictly breastfeeding, but I have indeed started to mensturate. The first time I didn't notice Elijah have an unfavorable reaction to it. But this second time around, I am!

Poor fella is not only not liking the taste or consistency, but he isn't getting enough. He has been extremely fussy the past couple of days, because he hasn't been getting enough. So I have been dipping into my back stock.

Good thing is that the hormonal fluctuation only lasts the first couple of days, and will level out and go back to normal.

In the mean time I will try the tricks of the trade. Mother's Milk herbal tea (main herb ingredient Fenugreek) and I will start on the herbal supplement as well. But beyond Fenugreek I will try herbs like goat's rue, fennel, hops, blessed thistle or oats are all thought to boost a low or waning milk supply in nursing mothers.

If it all works great! I only hope he isn't too disgusted with the taste of my milk. I don't like to dip into my precious backstock lol. I try to keep it for when I have to go to work, or for snowboarding. But if he needs it, then he needs it!

Any of you mother's gone through something similar? Needed to produce more? What did you try? I would love to hear!

Mommyhood

Wow, certainly has been awhile! So I have had the baby :O) hence, no time to post a thing! He was born September 27th @ 9:15 am. 5lbs 8 ounces, 17.5 inches long. The ECV didn't work, lil man did not turn, so we ended up doing a c section, but I have had the easiest/quickest recovery!

Within a week I was back to working out, mind you not lifting anything heavy, or doing crazy abdominal pilates workouts! Just light walking, and arm/leg sculpting.

Motherhood is amazing! I keep telling people that if I would have known I was going to enjoy it this much, that I would have given in to Jamie's request 4 and a half years ago to start a family.

The first thing out of my mouth when I held Elijah for the first time was " I wan another one" I think we have decided to speed up the process and have them more frequently than we had originally planned! I kinda feel bad for being so selfish. But at least we had some time to be married and enjoy our time with one another, and get our lives in order- Because it won't be the same ever again!

Elijah is so precious. He has been such a great baby! We had one rough week, when he had his days and nights mixed up, but we over came that quickly. Thank goodness! I take him everywhere with me, and he just sleeps, or looks around the room, or just watches me. We go to the gym just about every day, I am thankful he does so well, so that I am able to get my exercise. We love taking long walks with Summit, down by the river, and enjoy our cuddle time like no other!

I have really enjoyed watching Jamie be a father. He is a natural. You can tell he loves it so much. Jamie is certainly the best daddy and hubby ever! Our whole marriage, I was anxiously awaiting the day that he would be a daddy, I have always been so awe struck at how he interacted with his nephews and nieces. I couldn't wait to see him in action with our own child. It truly warms my heart.

We had such a busy and hectic past 6 weeks. Especially this past weekend! We went down to SLC Thursday, had dinner and shopped with some friends of ours. Then Friday we went to the Temple to watch Nat and Nick be sealed. Saturday we had Nat and Nicks amazing reception. Such a great time! Followed by EJ's baby blessing on Sunday! And Monday my first article that I wrote for Shred Mommies was released! Can you say "best weekend ever!"

If you would like to keep track of my articles you will find them here... http://www.shredbetties.com/articles/archives/section/shred_mommies/

I also started back to work on Monday. The Dr. has allowed me to make my own work schedule, so I will only be working afternoons, on some of the days that Jamie is not working. So it equals out to about 30- 40 hours a month. I am very excited to find such a healthy balance. I am so thankful for all the great people in my life that make that possible!

Shopping...BABY STYLE!

I have loved searching, and shopping for neat little finds that bring out Jamie and I's personality, and lifestyle!

And I thought shopping for myself was fun!! Shopping for Elijah is SO MUCH more than that! I have been picking up a few things here and there, my favorite find this week were the beanies and plaids I found for newborns! You all know me, and my infatuation with plaids, and beanies...lol I am certainly handing down the love to Elijah!