Mama's View of 16 Months Postpartum

Hello my wonderful readers. Sorry that this post is a few days, ok like almost a week and a half late, we have had a sick toddler in our house and have not been sleeping at all pretty much so I have not been able to get much done. I have been wanting to do a post about how I feel 16 months postpartum. It's been a hard thing to get going on and is a hard thing to write because it has a been a long but quick journey if that makes any sense. I cannot believe my baby is about to be 16 months old this week but when I think of it in postpartum terms it seems like a long time. Some days are longer than others and some go by so quick it seems like I can't get everything done in time. I am a stay at home mom, my husband and I chose this together because we believe it would be best all around for us at this time. 

With being a stay at home new mom comes emotions of loneliness here and there. I have mommy friends but my daughter is pretty much on the younger side so I believe this keeps us from being invited to some playdates and such events. Also right before P was born we moved 2 hours away from everyone we knew so I don't even have my pre-baby friends to hang out with and our friends here have all known each other for awhile so we sometimes feel like we don't fit. Add hormones to all that and you get a pretty depressed person at times. I think that I had postpartum depression for a little while around the 10-11 month mark or so but I think that I am almost out of that completely. I have the Lord and my husband to thank for that for sure. 

Weight wise at first I lost all my baby weight, which I didn't really gain much because the doctor said not to gain any. I have gained some weight back over time which I am not ashamed of, that's life and if anyone tells you different they are lieing! I walk with a stroller walking group once a week and have been trying to eat a little better here and there. I honestly want to feel good about how I look and feel. I think that is more important than what the scale says honestly. I am hating the way any and all moms are being body shamed by people for their bodies changing (more about that someday in another post). I am partly there I think to feeling good about myself.

Emotionally I am worn out with P growing up so fast. Right before I wrote this I scheduled her 18 month appointment, CRAZY!!! I feel like we just celebrated 6 months and her 1st birthday. I am ready to have another one I think but as a family we need to sort that out before that becomes a reality. 

I will be posting an 18 month update of me and P when the time comes around and you can see how much she has really grown. We are coming up on our first real road trip with her in the next couple months so that will be emotional as a family, pray for us. Hope your day is going fantastic!

Skin Care Routine

Hello my wonderful readers. Like I promised a few weeks ago a skin care routine was on the way. Here it is today. My new skin care routine for 2016. I just want to start off by saying that if you wear makeup it is good to clean your makeup brushes regularly as part of your routine since they do go all over your face. You don't want bacteria getting on your face if you can help it, in the picture I just cleaned mine with a Benefit brand brush cleaner, so they are standing up to dry. Also part of your skin is your body too, I have some homemade bath salts and sugar scrub here that I love. I made the salts in one of my moms groups and when I get to take a bath every once in awhile I use some, they are wonderful and relaxing. The scrub was giv to me by a friend and I love the creaminess of it, the scent of peppermint is amazing and it makes my skin so soft after I use it.

My Morning face routine:

1. I put some Simple Cleansing Micellar Water on a cotton round and wipe my face down to get anything that has gotten on my face overnight off (After I brush my teeth so to get off excess toothpaste too).

2. Wash my face with my Clean and Clear Morning Burst scrub, I have used this since I was in high school and just love how it awakens my face.

3. On a cotton round I put some Simple Soothing Skin Toner.

4. I then put some Olay Fresh Effects roller ball eye cream under my eyes.

5. I then apply Simple Moisturizer to the rest of my face and neck.

6. Apply my makeup

7. Enjoy your day because you are beautiful! :-)

My Evening face routine:

1. Micellar Water again on a cotton round to take off my makeup (even if I don't wash my face for some reason at night I always do this to get all the grime off my face before bed).

2. Some days I just wash my face normally with Simple Foaming Face Wash; Once a week I use the Clarisonic with the face wash it comes with or the Simple Foaming Face Wash; In the shower when I wash my hair I use the Clean and Clear Deep Action scrub (it's pretty intense so I don't use it all the time).

3. Wipe my face down with a cotton round with Simple Soothing Face Toner.

4. Simple Moisturizer all over my face and neck.

I am really seeing with just a few weeks of this changes to my skin and it starting to look better in general. I am so happy I have stuck with my goal of better skin routine this year so far. Hope is good thing to have in life.

Bouncing Baby - 15 Month Update

Hello my wonderful readers. I cannot believe my little girl is 15 months old!! I have no idea where the time went or anything. She is running all over now and babbling all the time. I want to just know what she is saying so bad haha since she is always talking. She is pretty heavy to carry around now, I almost can't hold her for more than 15 minutes at a time. She still loves Daniel Tiger and Curious George. We have started introducing movies here and there but she gets through about half of it and has no attention span left. She loves whole milk and drinks that all the time now besides her night time drink which is toddler milk drink. We are completely off bottles now!! I'm so proud of her, she had no problems really after we found the kind of cup she liked. She is loving the fruit pouches again for some reason and apple sauce pouches. She is also trying more snacks, we have been trying out which work for her and which don't. She loves raisins, of course she only has them when I am right next to her, I'm still the paranoid mama that thinks she will choke on everything. Other than that she is being transitioned into the big tube from our small tub for bath time, Aaron is one who gives her baths so he is working on that with her and she is doing good so far. Hope you enjoy the big smile she is giving in this picture as much as we do. Smiles are contagious!