Living A Bold Life As A Second Time Mom

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and The J.M. Smucker Company, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #1850Coffee #1850CoffeeatTarget http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

It is no secret to my friends, I'm a coffee lover and I look forward to my morning cup of java each day. I use the time while I enjoy my morning coffee to help me clear my head, plan my day and start out on a positive note. One thing I'm currently focusing on is being bold, both in words and actions. To me, the boldest a person can be is when they are completely truthful and don't try to act like life is always 100% perfect. Because it isn't. Sometimes to be bold, you need the help of a bold coffee to start you on the right foot. I'm currently enjoying the bold yet smooth flavor of 1850 Brand Coffee, a new premium coffee from the makers of Folgers. It wakes me up and starts my day in a positive way.

Now that I've been a second time mom for a bit more than three months, I've had plenty of time to gather my thoughts and truly reflect on how different our lives look. There is a cute little quote that grandparents often say, "If I knew how much fun grandkids were, I would have had them first." That is how I feel about being a second time mom. If I knew how much more relaxed I would be the second time around, I would have chosen to be a second time mom first. :)

I feel like a completely different mom with my second baby than I did with my first. I feel free, I feel in control and I actually find myself enjoying every aspect of newborn life. Yes, often even those middle of the night feedings can be enjoyable because I know he won't be that little for long. I wish I could invite every new mom I know over, brew a cup of 1850 Brand Coffee which will help her to feel more awake, and share my insights with her. I even wish I could go back five years and tell past Lindsay everything I'm going to share now.

Experience is truly a great thing. With my second child, I'm not crippled with fear and anxiety. I'm not begging my husband to let us stay in instead of living our lives. I'm not second guessing every choice I make.

Here is how I imagine the conversation going with first time mamas:
"Mama, I know it's hard.
I know you are tired and I know how desperately you want to look like you have it all together. The truth is, NO ONE has it completely together when they have a new baby. No one. And don't let anyone fool you into thinking they do. Life is different, yes, but you can still hold onto the normalcy you crave. To help yourself feel normal and not so crazed, I highly suggest giving yourself some "me time" each day. Even if it is only three minutes. My me time often is when I'm enjoying my 1850 Brand Coffee. Don't eliminate that me time from your day. It is important, it will help you still feel like yourself.

I know right now that you think your life will always be this crazy and unpredictable. It won't. It will go by in the flash of an eye and you will one day look down and see you have an almost five year old, getting ready to start Kindergarten at the end of the summer. You may find yourself wondering, where did the time go? How is she already going to leave me for five days a week when I'm so used to spending most hours of the day with her? Mama, truly hear me: You WILL gain control over your life again.

They say that the days are long and the years are short. I've never heard a phrase more true. Just remember mama, one day soon you will know your child's schedule. You will be able to predict when they will eat and sleep and want to play. You will eventually feel in control. I know at the beginning it doesn't feel that way, but it will - sooner than you think. Make a conscious effort to not confine yourself to your house. YOU still need to live. YOU still need to take care of yourself. I know it is easier said than done, but that little baby will only be tiny for a few months. Don't spend your days wishing for "I can't wait until the baby does this" because the next time you blink, you will be there and the newborn snuggles will be gone."

As I said above, coffee is my me time and it is how I start everyday. Quieting myself with my 1850 Brand Coffee helps me think about how I'm going to go after everything life has to offer...even with a new baby in the house. Were you someone who used to love going to coffee shops to enjoy coffee shop strength in your java, but because you are a new mom you don't think you can? Then pick up 1850 Brand Coffee and brew it at home. It is bold and smooth, but never has a bitter taste. It is evenly roasted for a consistent coffee flavor with less bitterness. And it can be available in your home 24 hours a day.

You can still lead a bold life as a new mom, you just need to start with a bold choice. Every bold day has a morning. Make your choice to live a bold and truthful life while you savor your coffee. 1850 Brand Coffee gets it's name from the year 1850 when J.A. Folger started something new and innovative to help the prospectors as they sought their fortunes. Mamas, your fortune is a bold life alongside your newborn and not living a life stuck inside your house. Get after your bold life with this bold but smooth cup of coffee. Use 1850 Brand Coffee to help fuel new ideas, to declare that TODAY will be the day you and your baby experience life. Be brave, use your me time to become more than just coffee, but an ally to reclaiming your life and hustle.

And here is my best piece of advice. Don't quit your weekly (or more than weekly) trips to Target. The car ride there will likely soothe your baby to sleep, allowing you time to still wander the aisles like normal. Don't become crippled with panic thinking your baby might freak out while there. Just come prepared with your nursing gear or a bottle. And if the baby cries, so what, they all do!And while you are at Target, pick up 1850 Brand Coffee - Target is where you will find it! 1850 Brand Coffee is available in four signature blends of Ground and K-Cup coffee and will also be available in three ready to drink flavors. So you can have your Target run and drink your coffee too!

I'd love to share a special offer with you! Visit Target from 5/20 - 6/30 and take 20% off any 1850 Brand Coffee Product with the Target Cartwheel coupon (while supplies last)!

Decor Plans For Kids Rooms

We are a little less than a month away from moving into our new home. That means that I've had home decor on the brain basically 24/7. While Tolar might be thinking about how much more space we are going to have and Kendall thinks about playing on her swing set at the new house, I've been imagining how I will decorate and organize every room.

I've been most excited about decorating the bedrooms for each of my children. Their rooms are much more fun to decorate because they both have themes. Kendall has decided on a mermaid theme because she really wants me to keep the jellyfish that I made for her birthday party last summer. And I will decorate the nursery with mustaches.

Even though we have chosen specific themes for their rooms, I am still trying to include neutral pieces that can be used for years to come. I'm sure as both of them get older, their tastes will change and new decor choices will be needed. By adding some neutral pieces keeps me from having to completely redecorate down the road.

One of the easiest ways, in my humble opinion, to add texture and dimension to a room is to add an area rug. Sometimes, just the simple addition of a rug can really take your decor to the next level. I love adding rugs to give a bit of a cozy feel to a room. However, adding a rug to a child's room can be a bit daunting. I've certainly wondered "do I really want to spend money on a rug that could potentially be spilled on and dirtied by little ones?" My answer now is YES because I've discovered something amazing...washable rugs that you can wash AT HOME from Lorena Canals.

Lorena Canals has machine washable rugs that can fit in a conventional washing machine. At home machine washing 100% seals the deal. A busy mom does not have time to be lugging a rug to a dry cleaner and with Lorena Canals, there is no need. All you have to worry about with Lorena Canals is deciding which rug you will choose.

Keeping with my use of neutral items, I selected the Little Biscuit rug in white. Most people would say that white should be off limits in a child's room, but I simply adore the cleanliness of white and the aforementioned machine washable factor made this an easy choice. The Little Biscuit rug comes in other colors as well. I like the white because this rug can be used in either room, gender doesn't matter. I have not fully decided which child will get this cute rug. I love the scalloped edge and it is no secret that I am a huge fan of polka dots.

Another great feature of Lorena Canals rugs is that they are eco-friendly, with 100% natural cotton and non-toxic dyes. The rug is plush, super soft and extremely comfortable. If the rug ends up going into the baby's nursery, I feel completely confident laying him down. I think the polka dots would be perfect for tummy time and would give him something to focus on. Since the rug is extremely light, it can easily be moved from room to room until I decide where I like it best. If you have opinions and thoughts on who should get this rug, please share them in the comments below.

I'm excited for us to move into our new house and to share pictures of how I will decorate and organize everything. Hopefully by the end of June I will start to have things unpacked and somewhat decorated so I can start sharing!

2 Months Old In The Blink Of An Eye

Stats: Our boy weighs a very healthy 11 pounds and is now 22 inches long. I'm super hopeful that he will be very tall.

Development: Knox can clearly see as his eyes often track with us as we move around the room and he will turn his head towards sounds (especially his sister's voice). During tummy time when he was seven weeks old, he rolled onto his back. I was completely amazed and did NOT expect him to roll so early. He can hold his head up really well and has had terrific neck control since birth. He has started smiling at us and we cannot get enough of his precious smiles. Our fabulous pediatrician is confident that he is not behind in any developmental milestones even though he is technically considered a preemie baby, arriving four weeks early.

Loves: The relationship that is already forming between Knox and Kendall is so special. They both LOVE the other so much!!! I know I said this in last month's update, but if he is crying, his sister's voice will calm him down. He also loves the gallery wall above our couch and will stare at that for long periods of time.

Dislikes: If this boy is hungry, he isn't happy until he is fed and I can't blame him one bit!!!

Sleeping: The Lord has blessed us with two children who sleep!!!! Knox has been a pretty great sleeper for a newborn and recently started giving us six hour stretches most nights. We plan to use The Baby Sleep Solution with Knox just like we did with Kendall. That book is fantastic and has also helped a lot of my friends teach their babies to sleep.

Diapers: He is still wearing size 1 Pampers diapers, but I think he will move up to size 2 very soon. We were gifted tons of diapers and still have four full boxes of size 1 diapers left. I imagine I'll be exchanging some diapers in the very near future.

Eating: Knox loves to eat! He is mostly on an "every three hour" eating schedule, but sometimes will want to eat earlier. I luckily have quite the oversupply of milk and produce double what he eats - my freezer is already full!!!!

Clothing: Currently Knox is still wearing size 0-3 month clothing. I think I'm going to try some 3-6 month pieces soon. He hasn't grown out of the 0-3 month in length or width, but his feet are bigger than the little feet on his sleepers.

Miscellaneous: At Knox's 2 month check up, we discussed with our pediatrician that Knox is still breathing fast. His breathing isn't always fast, but it happens enough for us to notice it. We have been referred to Pediatric Pulmonology and are hopeful that nothing will be wrong.

Baby Products I'm Loving

I received products in exchange for a review. As always, all opinions are completely my own.

It is amazing to me the day and age in which we live. We have so many products and technological advances at our fingertips, making life so much easier. With almost five years between my children, I've discovered some pretty great baby items that have helped make newborn life easier the second time around. I use these items quite often and find myself saying "I wish I had this with my first born."

1.) The Ollie Swaddle

From day one with both of our children, we have swaddled our babies when they sleep. Swaddling helps to keep a baby's startle reflex from waking them up, gives them a sense of protection and keeps them warm. We credit the use of a swaddle with helping to build a foundation of great sleep in our children. We used muslin blankets to swaddle Kendall when she was a newborn and they worked alright. But this time around I discovered the Ollie Swaddle which makes any other swaddle pale in comparison.
The Ollie Swaddle is so easy to use. There are no tricks or multiple steps to this swaddle, you simply wrap your baby and fasten with the big velcro strips. Swaddling your baby with the Ollie Swaddle takes all of 30 seconds. The velcro strips are long, making it so the swaddle will grow with your baby - no need to buy multiple swaddles. Also, the swaddle features moisture-wicking fabric so your baby won't overheat when swaddled. And perhaps the best part about the Ollie Swaddle: the bottom is open so you can change your baby's diaper without having to completely unswaddle them.

Knox's Birth Story and Newborn Photos

Ever since I had Kendall and shared my own birth story, I've been obsessed with hearing birth stories from other mamas. I've also found that so many of my friends enjoy swapping stories and sharing the exciting details that make every birth story unique. So today, I'll be sharing the fast and furious birth of Knox! (Please keep in mind that I'll be sharing the majority of the details - bodily functions and all. Read ahead at your own risk!)

I actually have to start this birth story from a place that, at the time, I wasn't even aware was going to be a part of Knox's birth story. On Thursday, February 15, I woke up like any normal day and realized that I was having very mild cramping in my lower abdomen. I wasn't alarmed and didn't even tell Tolar about the cramping because I was sure it was nothing and would stop soon. More often than not, I get all worked about things that end up being nothing. It's the theatre person in me - we are dramatic with everything. :) I was only 36 weeks anyway.

The cramping didn't stop after about 2 hours, so I called Tolar and told him about it. He suggested I call my doctor to see what they said. After all, Kendall was born at 37 weeks so an early baby was certainly possible! Before I called the doctor, I immediately started packing our hospital bags since I hadn't gotten around to that yet (I was actually planning to pack my bags that coming weekend). When I called my doctor, they asked me all sorts of questions including had I felt the baby move recently? Honestly, I was so distracted by my hurrying to pack that I didn't pay attention to if the baby had moved, so I said no. Well this sent up a huge red flag, so my doctor told me to go ahead in to the hospital to get checked out. I called Tolar, told him to get home asap and then off we went.

By the time we reached the hospital, the cramping had turned into very minor contractions that were very inconsistent with their timing. The contractions were not painful at all, I could totally manage them. The hospital nurse strapped some monitors on me to check on the baby and let me lay down for about an hour and a half. I had several contractions while at the hospital, but the timing was all over the place: 3 minutes, 8 minutes, 13 minutes. They tested to see if I was leaking amniotic fluid and found out I wasn't. So they sent me home with instructions to rest and to drink TONS of water; one glass per hour.

I listened to the nurse and drank as much water as I could. I napped on the couch for a bit and realized that the contractions stopped around 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. I went about my day like it was any normal day. Then the contractions started back up again around 10 p.m. Again, the pain was very minor so I wasn't that uncomfortable. And the timing was still all over the place which made me think I was just having another episode of what I assumed were Braxton Hicks contractions. I drank some water and decided to go to bed. The contractions kept on through the night but they never got worse. I drank water and kept thinking "when is this water going to work and make them stop again?" I was able to sleep off and on through the night. Sometimes the contractions would wake me up, but I was able to get some sleep since they were not that painful.

Around 4:45 a.m. my eyes shot open because I all of a sudden felt like I was peeing my pants! I ran to the bathroom and barely made it. I found this so strange because this NEVER happens to me, I'm always able to hold it, but I did drink a ton of water to get the contractions to stop. However I kept thinking something was off. So I googled (yes, I did!) what it feels like to have your water break. My water never broke on its own with Kendall, so I had no clue what it felt like. I read something that said you will often feel a pop right before it happens and I was 95% sure that I also felt a pop. So I decided to wake up Tolar to see what he thought. Not long after waking up Tolar, I had two instances where water started leaking down my leg and I was unable stop or control it. After that happened, I KNEW that my water had broke. Then I immediately started having really intense contractions. Tolar got on the phone with my doctor and I called my parents so they could come stay with Kendall. The timestamp on my phone said that I called my parents at 5:08 a.m.

The contractions were pretty steady now and VERY intense. We had to repack the few items that we had taken out of our suitcases and I was having contractions every three minutes apart, so it was about 5:30 a.m. before we finally left to head to the hospital. The contractions continued to be intense and I had several in the car. Poor Tolar, he had to listen to me scream the whole way to the hospital. They say that you forget the pain of childbirth - it is true! I do NOT remember my contractions being this intense when I was in labor with Kendall.

Once we got to the hospital and walked inside, I had another very intense contraction at the nurses desk. The nurse even made a comment about how intense it seemed. She didn't take us to triage and check me out first, she walked us straight to a room - this baby was on his way!