POSTPARTUM: MOM MUST HAVES

Postpartum Must Haves by elletdark featuring anastasia makeup

Everyone's must have list is obviously subjective, and mine is more tailored to making myself feel good. Last pregnancy I got so lost in being a mom that I completely forgot about myself. So this time around I'm buying things that make life easier, and make me feel great.

1. Target Tees - My favorite thus far. Long, soft and cheap...I bought a few colors.

2. Old Navy High Waisted Leggings - Technically workout pants. I actually prefer Lululemon, but since I don't plan to be this size for long, Old Navy is much cheaper. I love them too!

3. Celine Sunglasses - Splurge on a pair of sunglasses. Since you won't sleep, to look pulled together throw on designer sunglasses, a clean t-shirt and nice sneakers.

4. Fake and Bake - My secret to looking much better than I feel.

5. Pumping Bra - LIFECHANGING. Seriously makes pumping much more enjoyable. Ok not enjoyable ever, but I'm able to stand it now and not want to blow my brains out.

6. Target Nursing Bras - Simple and cheap, these are super soft and easy to snap on and off when breastfeeding.

7. Anastasia Brow Wiz - The best brow stuff out there in my opinion. The pencil makes filling them in so quick. Having my brows done and some lipgloss is night and day difference.

8. Robes - When I plan to be home for awhile in the morning I'll walk around in a nice robe. I don't feel like a slob, and I'm breastfeeding so easy access is always a plus!

9. Jordan Eclipse - I'm working on getting a few sneakers I love and I just bought another color in these. Seriously so comfy! Even wearing a simple outfit is so much more pulled together with nice kicks.

10. Paper Plates - I caught on to this late, but now I remind myself to use our paper plates for most meals. We have to wash enough stuff as it is like bottles so these help out so much!

To shop, click the thumbnails!

6 WEEK POSTPARTUM: CHECK IN

Six weeks into life with two kiddos and it is going pretty well. Philomena is gorgeous and looks like a chumpy little baby now. Penelope has gotten used to hearing the crying in the middle of the night and sleeps through it. Neither my husband or I are getting much sleep, but I already expected that and to be honest, I was much more tired the first time around with Penelope.

Recovery: It's been frustrating, I've dealt with a few issues here and there during my recovery. But I'm so much closer to feeling 100% and cannot wait to start working out.

Philomena: I'll be honest, this girl is SUPER gassy. So gassy I've looked up colic on multiple occasions just to make sure she doesn't have it. So it's very difficult because she will only sleep if she's held and she has a hard time even eating. It can get really frustrating at times but I say things are going well because they are. She's healthy, beautiful and regardless of all this gas she doesn't cry much...so she's a trooper. 

Nights: My husband wakes up for her feeds which still are all over the place. The only for sure time is she will always be up around 1am and after that it's a toss up. I wake up to pump. A lot of times we happen to wake up at the same times but since we are so zombie we don't even talk lol.

Weight: I've lost ten pounds since we got home which I'm super happy about. I've been pretty much a couch zombie this whole time, so I had to be really tight about my diet. A typical day is oatmeal for breakfast, protein/veggies/rice for lunch, protein and veggies for dinner and two snacks in between. A  typical snack will be greek yogurt or some fruit.

Wearing: Old Navy high waisted workout pants, Target v-neck tees, Jordans.

Loving: Iced water, the invention of high waisted yoga pants, and I can finally do short walks now.

Hating: My pumping schedule.

PHILOMENA AND PENELOPE (1 MO/2 YR 3 MO)

Jeez I can't believe Philomena is already one month old. How quickly time flies kind of creeps me out. It doesn't matter how much I already know to be conscious of that, I still wonder where it went. This first month has been much easier then I imagined, but is definitely still difficult. With the lack of sleep that all new parents deal with (I understand we aren't the only ones!) it's been hard some times to muster up much needed patience. But luckily, patience is not needed as much as I anticipated since Penelope has been amazing with the transition and I already knew what to expect with a new baby.

Penelope has transitioned so well to all of this new stuff that it's really made me proud. From the day we brought her sister home, all she's wanted to do is play with her and help us out. She will run and bring diapers, or grab us a bottle. She isn't screaming for attention when we are tending to Philomena.  But whats really melted my heart is how quickly she fell in love with her little sister. She asks where she is when she wakes up in the morning, whispers "I love you sister" when she's playing with her, and is already protective of her. Such a kind soul.

Right now she's going through a stage where she is very sensitive and using her naps as a way to show us she's angry. Meaning, she refuses to take one no matter how tired she is. I've learned that you really can't make a kid nap and so just lay her down and hope for the best. Besides that she's really into her baby right now and mimicking everything I'm doing with Philomena. Her vocabulary is still insane, she's learning so many new words so quickly. Every day it's "What's that Mommy?" and when I tell her, she always repeats it after me and actually remembers later. It's really cool to see her soak everything up.

PENELOPE
FAVORITE FOODS: Ice-cream, bell pepper

FAVORITE SONG: Anything Taylor Swift

NEW PHRASES: Can I want some? 

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Playing with baby or dancing with lammy, playing music in our bedroom and dancing on the bed

FAVORITE GAME: Hide and seek, catch, dancing

CHORES: Load the laundry, set the dinner table, throw away her diapers, put laundry away, clean up before nap time and bedtime

FIRST TIMES: Put on her own pants, drawing her first pictures, put on her own sneakers

FAVORITE BOOK: Princess Collection book

SIGNATURE MOVES: Singing "Go Mommy, go Lammy when we're dancing", asking for every single morsel of food that exists in our household

Philomena has been so different then Penelope was when she was a baby. She is definitely into being snuggled 24/7 and doesn't like to be put down. Also she has been really gassy, which makes me feel horrible because I have to watch her in pain. But just within the past week I've already noticed a few things. She is freakishly strong and actually prefers standing on her own to any other position. She loooooves talking...seriously she just blabs and blabs and blabs until she's ready to eat. And she's already in love with Penelope. Like she could be about to have a fit and if Penelope comes near, she stops and is suddenly entranced. It's adorable. The girl loves her bath times and belly rubs...such different kids already and it's so interesting to watch. I can't wait to see more.