Tag: mommy

Watch the first episode of “It’s Only Reality”

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Why start a YouTube channel? I used to wonder why many of the mommy blogs I followed also had videos embedded in the content. It was almost identical information in the video and in the text, so it seemed a little redundant to have two mediums within the same webpage.

It wasn’t until my mother had to tell me–for the millionth time–that I should start a YouTube channel that highlights my journey of motherhood that I even considered doing it. I’m an avid reader and I almost prefer reading someone’s blog over watching their video and mentally rushing them to get to the point. But I do understand that many people prefer to watch someone they consider an online friend. Hearing their voice, getting used to their mannerisms, and being invited into a stranger’s home is a unique experience for our generation. However; if I’m going to take on a project, I like to do it well, so the thought of taking on yet another task by choice was almost laughable. Continue reading →

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“Mommy and Me” Style

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Years and years before I had any children, I toyed with the idea of being the coordinated family. Part of me loved the idea of my daughter(s) being a mini me and our son(s) being a mini daddy. The other part of me couldn’t stand it. Now that I am a mommy, it’s become a mixture of the two. When we go out for a special occasion like church, parties, family date night, etc. we definitely coordinate our clothing, but on a daily basis, our style is usually dictated by the weather. Living in Southern California that means summer clothing for most of the year (Yay!). Continue reading →

Becoming you again…

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Your body, free time, and brain function may never be the same after becoming a mom, but at your core, you are the same amazing, wonderful, and beautiful you! I think it took me about six months post-partum to get my head above water and exit survival mode, and maybe a full year to not feel guilty doing things for myself. There were certain activities that really helped me get in the right head space, and I’d like to share them with my fellow mamas. Some of these may not apply to you, but I’m hoping anyone who stops by to read (hey you!) will find a few of these tips helpful. Continue reading →

Welcome to Co-Sleeping

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At our daughter’s 15 month checkup last October, my husband and I were asked by her pediatrician about Petra’s sleeping arrangements and how she was sleeping through the night. She sleeps very well throughout the night (disregarding teething, sickness, or the night before a developmental leap), but we informed him that she was still sleeping in our bed.

He was concerned that she wasn’t falling asleep on her own in her crib. I was surprised that he had an opinion on this. I politely said with a laugh, “We’re not bothered by it, and I’m sure she’ll be sleeping on her own by the time she goes to college.” He raised an eyebrow and replied “Well, I know families whose teenagers still sleep with them.” Continue reading →

You don’t have to be grateful.

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AMommyGroup

I read an article recently of a mother who went through one of the worst horrors you can imagine. She conceived a child only to have him stillborn many months later.  In her post, she offered a suggestion to other new moms she knew stating that they should remember her when their baby is up at 3am crying for hours. She implored that they shouldn’t complain, but instead should be grateful for the newborn cries that she would give anything for. She asked that they not describe the struggles of breastfeeding because she would be left with milk in her breasts and no baby to feed. She went on to say how they should be grateful for all of the ups and downs that came with having a baby because hers had unfortunately died.

Years ago, I would have agreed with her. Continue reading →

DIY Family Portraits

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I’ve been taking my own portraits ever since I became a model and a photographer over eight years ago. Being able to control the environment and practice my craft without a demanding crew waiting for me to get it right was how I became comfortable in front of and behind the lens.

When my daughter was born, it was only right to start taking her portrait as well. We did this every month for her first year of life in order to document the drastic changes that happen over a few weeks’ time. Dealing with the illogical emotions of a child has really put my patience and skills to the test. If you can get ONE good photo of a baby/toddler/child, then you are great at what you do.  Continue reading →

I’m a mom now, what do I wear?!

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First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who read my last post about breastfeeding. I got over 2,300 page views and over 1,950 visitors in a few short days after posting it, so I’m glad I was able to be of some help to those of you stopping by. If there are any specific topics you’d like to hear about in the future, please let me know.

So…

It took me a while to get motivated to dive into fashion after having a baby (about a year to be exact). A lot of my pre-pregnancy clothes will never fit again, so it immensely cut down my wardrobe by default. Trying to make sure I’m comfortable, stylish, and have access for breastfeeding is a lot to consider when getting dressed on a daily basis. I’ve never been the type to live in yoga pants, but I can definitely see the desire to do so when you’re usually too tired to figure out which skirt matches which top. My hope in this post is to encourage you and inform you of tips you can use when getting your flair back after baby (or even just finding your flair as a woman!). Continue reading →

30 & 31 Week Pregnancy Update

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Hello and welcome back to the blog. Hey look, I didn’t wait an entire month to post again. Hahaha. Things have been intense, but not as intense as they were several weeks ago. There’s been a lot of amazing things and wonderful progress happening and I’m so grateful for that. Let’s start off with the baby shower. Basically everything is set and we just need to get the invites out. I really thought the process was going to take a lot longer, but once I asked family and friends to help me plan this wonderful event, everything seemed to fall into place. I don’t believe in coincidence or anything, so I know this is all God working behind the scenes and making sure all the elements are covered.

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26-29 Week Pregnancy Update

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Wow, has it really been that long since I posted?! Geez, where did I go? Well, we just went on a trip to Seattle to attend our Godson’s baptism, and I meant to post before we left. There was just so much going on. I was kind of hesitant to fly this late into pregnancy, but according to my doctor, I’m not really that late into my pregnancy where it would affect me flying anywhere. I guess we got our Babymoon–a trip couples go on before the baby arrives–and that was really cool because our friends who are the parents of our Godson actually flew us up there on their dime and hosted us in their home. Pretty sweet!

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24 & 25 Week Pregnancy Update

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This is random, but I just have to comment on it. No one has really done this to me, but I have noticed so many incidents of other people’s unsolicited advice regarding pregnancy. I’ll see Instagram posts, Facebook pictures, or just status updates from my pregnant friends, and almost every time, someone has to leave a comment like “Are you sure you should be doing/eating/wearing/talking about that?” Or even “You better stop doing that because of this, this and this.” It’s usually an innocent post, and mostly subject matter that a lot of people are ignorant about and have misconceptions regarding. I think it’s inappropriate to expect anyone to have to explain themselves to you or your opinions, but that’s just me. Believe me, most pregnant women do a ton of research and ask their doctors before deciding on anything, so please give them the benefit of the doubt that they’re not trying to harm themselves or their baby. Now on to your regularly scheduled programming… Continue reading →