GIVE to New MOMmy rather than New Baby

Although I preach less-is-more and all-you-need-is-love I do realize you likely do not wish to show up to showers and so forth empty handed ...

I am not one to always follow this advice, and do have a soft spot those impractical items that all of us cannot resist (newborn knit bunny hats!), but this is what new mommies really want and NEED:

1. 4th Trimester / Postpartum Items :

Basically, anything from the lady section in the grocery/pharmacy...

 'Recovery' Bath Soaks and Salts

Earth Mama Angel Baby products 

Mama Teas (milk and uterus)

Cute hot/cold packs 

After birth:

Food basket

If you know her well:

Real underwear, nursing bras, nightgowns, a robe!

Pretty light scarves as nursing covers, stroller covers etc.

2. Thank You Note Set

Small extra special cards that speak for themselves so mama doesn't have to write much.

3. Books

If you had any go-to's, these will save her soul from the wrath of the internet!!

Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives Deepak Chopra

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding or similar

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer Tracy Hogg

Bringing up Bébé Pamela Druckerman

The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Childcare Morell and Cowan

Your favorite baby books are also always appreciated and usually loved for a very long time ...

4. Siblings

Bring a little something for an older child or hand your gift to that child for 'their baby'.

nesting, naturally

Nesting - the instinct to ready your space for new baby - should be all about cleansing and removing, not about adding and complicating. Go with your gut and protect yourself from acquiring more when waiting for bébé. Hormonal, excited and perhaps a little afraid you are a marketer's dream target. Try your best not to shop and find creative ways to divert superfluous gift giving: ask for books or bare essentials like diapers and immediately donate or pass along overflow before it even makes it into your 'shelter'. Excess will only have you swimming upstream! Instead, go with the flow and follow these no-shopping nesting rituals (click). Basically, nothing will feel as good as clearing out, decluttering, and simply cleaning.

big and round

Rounding into the final weeks of pregnancy is certainly bittersweet. Only a little longer as a family of three, final times with just my 4-year old sidekick and I, and perhaps the last days as a glorious pregnant woman? Perhaps! 

My thoughts on pregnancy are simple :

1. Be present.

2. What a privilege!

a house becomes a home

As we enter into the fourth season in our fresh abode it gradually begins to feel like a home, yet it certainly isn't anywhere near ready for it's interior photo shoot - but, is a home ever finished? Of course not! Here's to evolving and making progress.

20-weeks, halfway, pregnancy #2

Favorite tips for all trimesters:

FAT is your pregnancy friend. 

(Whipped) cream and butter, avocados, olives and their oil, coconut everything, egg yolk...

You are a client not a patient. Pregnancy is not a medical condition; find HIGH-QUALITY care and support that treats you right.

- Midwife - She is your everything.

- Acupuncturist - Keep the energy channels flowing, receive overall wellness assessment (you may even find one to function as you primary care provider, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, in the future.)

- Chiropractor - Get your endocrine system on point and your mama-body perfectly aligned for delivery. Will also ensure baby is in position.

- Masseuse - A great massage is always a good idea.

Natural body care only, please.

- Honey for skin and hair.

- Coconut milk and castille soap shampoo. 

- Apple cider vinegar hair rinse. And drink 1TBSP a day too.

- Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for teeth. Coconut Oil pulling/mouth swishing. 

- Coconut oil and Shea butter all over.
- SpaRitual nail polish.

Other than that - enjoy!!

And take lots of cute pictures to lift your spirits and to see how you look - probably way better than you feel.

Bonus points for waiting until birth to find out the sex of the baby. 

This allows for months of bonding with bébé in utero without any preconceived notions, attachments, or projections. It also makes pregnancy more spiritual and less about shopping. This simple decision will align your principals and priorities, keep you present, and allow you to experience life's greatest miracle and mystery. Which brings me to one last point, do you really need that Ultrasound? ...

calm mama happy baby

Children are pretty well programmed by age five; the rest of their life experienced is determined largely by what happens in these early years... 

Stress lies in the discrepancy between what you believe you should feel and what you actually feel... The reflection of your thoughts, mood, and behavior will show up with laser like precision in the mirror image of your child... When you live in your own center, you teach your child to live in her center, too... 

- calm mama happy baby

How you do one thing is how you do every thing.

And thinking of doing something and actually doing it are not the same thing.

to live is

to love and let go

there are no problems, only solutions

"I do not see problems, I only see solutions."

My mother's secret to success when asked how she remains so positive all the time. (Which she certainly does!)

has worrying ever helped?

We may try to convince ourselves otherwise, but fear and worry are useless.

Useless, undesirable and misplaced. 

No, worrying has never helped.

sorry, Joneses

I'm too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener.

t r a n s p a r e n c y

Secrets make us sick.

Sharing our stories will set us free.