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Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I shared how I’m doing in stories today, we made it through the holidays but it was a lot harder than I thought. I’m sruggling in a few ways. Struggling on social media with the comparison game, struggling in general as a stay at home mom of two, struggling with a fussy two month old that doesn’t sleep, struggling that I’m unable to do things for me right now (like even go to the bathroom or shower alone), struggling with the omnipresent grief and anxiety, struggling with guilt — guilt over not giving my oldest enough attention, over wanting him to start back at school again, over not being happy and grateful 24/7.⁣⁣⠀
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If I learned anything last year it was to accept my feelings as they come and not label any as “bad,” so that’s what I’m working on, that’s my daily reminder. As my friend said to me today, this is hard, it’s the trenches!! Be gentle. It’s hard and wonderful all at once.⁣⁣⠀
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Check in below👇⁣⁣⠀
❤️ - I’m feeling great⁣⁣⠀
🧡 - I’m feeling ok⁣⁣⠀
💛 - I’m surviving⁣⁣⠀
💚 - I’m struggling⁣⁣⠀
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Let’s show up and support each other and remind each other we’re not alone in these hard days🖤
Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. M Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. Mixed feelings about a new year is not foreign to me, this is how I felt last year going into 2020. 2019 was Liam’s year, it was the worst but it gave me a perspective I’ll never lose and one I carried into 2020.⁣⁣⠀
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Through hardship you grow.⁣⁣⠀
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2020 saw more focus on me, on my mental wellness + on my family. Less worrying about what people think of me, less apologizing, more doing what makes me happy (or gets me through the day). More of that in this space also. I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea so might as well be me, ALL of me💯✌️⁣⁣⠀
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I’m not a resolution or goal setter when it comes to a new year, I try to focus on reflecting, releasing what doesn’t serve me any longer + manifesting/using affirmations to bring the good. Still working on what those are exactly for 2021!⁣⁣⠀
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In the meantime I wanted to share some of my big 2020 memories and wish you all love, light, peace and healing in the new year✨⁣⁣⠀
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1-2. Our new family unit🧡⁣⁣⠀
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3-4. The birth of our daughter, Elora, the best thing to come out of 2020. She is the brightest light.⁣⁣⠀
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5. Luca’s love for his sister + once again navigating a “new normal” in our family.⁣⁣⠀
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6. Pregnancy after loss. Amidst a global pandemic. While wrangling a toddler. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done, it was pure survival mode (+ still is postpartum).⁣⁣⠀
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7. Growing the most beautiful dahlias and diving more into gardening than ever before, mostly as a form of therapy, AND sharing it all with you guys — connecting through our gardens was one of my favorite parts of the year + growing this community has brought me so much joy!⁣⁣⠀
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8. Finding my groove and launching my oils business — never thought I would make more than my blogging income + be able to pay off debt😭⁣⁣⠀
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9. Luca turning 2 and weaning + potty training at the same time — his decisions, not mine!⁣⁣⠀
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10. Liam’s due date in April. I remember wishing more than anything for the chance to deliver him healthy and full term, pandemic and all. We miss our boy + are moving forward WITH him, we’ll love him forever from afar❤️
Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and awesome❤️ exactly how I want to remember this day. We’re sending you big love this Christmas, complete with our best “ewie smiles” (Luca’s term for silly faces🤣). I love how Doobie snuck his nose in there too!! Swipe for some special moments/things of the day❤️❤️
⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ ⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀
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You have been here in our arms for almost two whole months and my heart still skips a beat when I wake up and see you next to me. You are truly here. I still can’t believe you’re real and you’re ours.⁣⁣⠀
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At 8 weeks you’re not such a tiny babe anymore, you’ve doubled your birth weight and grew four inches — a testament to how much you love to eat😅🍼 (pic four is day 3 for reference!). Your chubby cheeks are also a testament to your love of milk😍😍 The super sleepy newborn days are over😭 You’re waking up more and more, crying more too (see pic three🤪), but still giving us good stretches of sleep (4-5 hours) at night. You don’t love cuddling with me as much as your brother did, I’m still in denial over that! And you’ve broken out of the swaddle, sleep sackin it up already! Luca loves you more than anything and is always wanting to hold you and help me clean your “spiggups,” he calls you “mista baby” and it killssss your dad and I every time🤣⁣⁣⠀
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I feel like you just arrived but also like I’ve known you forever. Happy 8 weeks of life Elora, you are so loved💗⁣⁣⠀
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#8weeks #eloraleigh #watcheloragrow
Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard wh Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard when you’re struggling.⁣⁣⠀
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Gratitude, when forced, feels like shame. As the wise @sitwithwhit said the other day, it’s  the new toxic positivity — if we’re going to feel sad, then we better be grateful too.⁣⁣⠀
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The pressure on the bereaved to feel and express gratitude in their grief is REAL.⁣⁣⠀
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So here is my reminder — It’s ok to *not* balance out your pain with gratitude. ⁣⁣⠀
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To me, when gratitude is forced I feel inauthentic and ashamed. When everyone is talking about gratitude journals and how to “focus on the good,” I feel left out.⁣⁣⠀
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Let’s normalize expressing pain and grief without following it up with “BUT... gratitude.” It’s like saying that makes our pain seem more bearable from the outside. I get it. Grief is uncomfortable. Pain is ugly. It’s easier to look away. It’s easier to engage if the griever ends their thought on a positive, that’s the pressure. But what if I don’t feel positives in my pain?⁣⁣⠀
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If gratitude helps you to process your grief, that is really great. Everyone grieves differently. I spoke about this in stories today and 100s of you wrote in saying you felt heard. I’m happy it resonated, I’m always nervous to express these opinions but there are ALWAYS people out there who relate and need to hear it. You are my people❤️⁣⁣⠀
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So here are your reminders if you’re grieving or struggling this holiday season, or just reflecting on a hard year:⁣⁣⠀
❤️Be gentle with yourself, your feelings are valid.⁣⁣⠀
❤️You don’t owe anything to anyone, especially in your grief.⁣⁣⠀
❤️It’s ok to feel shitty, period. No ifs, ands, buts or justifications necessary.⁣⁣⠀
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Love you guys🤟🤟🤟⁣⁣⠀
📷: @mymotherhoodstory
This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Do This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Don’t let the cute faces fool you, it’s HARD to get a toddler to stay still and a newborn to not cry🤣 But we snapped a couple gems, these two quite literally light up my life💖 http://liketk.it/34ldF
Just love this little Christmas corner with all of Just love this little Christmas corner with all of our stockings🌲🥰 Anyone else getting snow tonight!? I’m excited! I love the snow and I love seeing the magic in Luca’s eyes, he just lights up over the littlest things and it makes this season so much brighter for us✨
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I linked everything I could in the @liketoknow.it app or head to the link in my bio for my blog and holiday home decor post with all my winter home inspo❄️ http://liketk.it/345gU
Third postpartum, second c-section, a little more Third postpartum, second c-section, a little more prepared for recovery this time and it’s going a lot smoother. I shared some of my postpartum favorites/must haves in stories today as well as on the blog (link in my bio)! ⁣⁣⠀
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Also shared some tips I wish I knew the first time around like to not feel ashamed to ask for help or guilty for taking care of myself. That’s my biggest tip —⁣⁣⠀
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Take care of yourself.⁣⁣⠀
Take care of yourself.⁣⁣⠀
Take care of yourself.⁣⁣⠀
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I can’t stress this enough. It’s the norm in our society to focus more on the baby than the mom but during the fourth trimester she needs care and attention now more than ever. You can’t take care of your baby without taking care of yourself first❤️⁣⁣⠀
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Some other postpartum tips:⁣⁣⠀
🌿take all the pictures and take pictures with you in them, they will be absolute treasures to look back on, especially the ones where you look like crap (I promise you don’t actually look like crap, it’s real life though, which are the best to look back on)⁣⁣⠀
🌿you may not know what you’re doing but listen to your instincts, the mama instinct is strong and it’s REAL⁣⁣⠀
🌿take home all the things from the hospital (pads, disposable undies, abdominal binder, all of it)🙌⁣⁣⠀
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If you are postpartum after loss you’re still postpartum but it’s even harder without your baby. Cabbage leaves, peppermint essential oil and a tight sports bra to help get rid of your milk supply. Find a grief counselor and a support group, validation and acknowledgement is everything. I’ve been there and it’s the literal worst, be gentle with yourself. You are still a mother❤️
📷 @jessicamicciophoto
How I’ve eaten dinner for the past 6 weeks😂 I How I’ve eaten dinner for the past 6 weeks😂 I basically live in this spot from the hours of 5pm to 10pm, either nursing or calming the babe — toddler not pictured but equally as demanding🤪 — cluster feeding is hardddd!! I know it doesn’t last forever. I know I will miss these days. It’s still hard. And nope, don’t need to supplement, milk supply is killin it. More encouragement, less unsolicited advice. Sometimes we just want to voice the struggles without being told what to do✌️
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Christine Covino

- The Blog -

Baby Must Haves for 6-12 Months

January 9, 2019 / Mom & Baby

This post may contain affiliate links. Original photography by Victoria Gloria.

It's hard as a new mom to determin what you need for babies, here is my baby must have 6-12 months that have made my life so much easier! Check it out!

Ok mamas, it’s time for part two of my baby must-haves post series! I got so many comments and messages about my Newborn Essentials post requesting to do the same thing for the next stage of baby-hood so, here you have it! I love sharing my favorites Must-have baby stuff with you guys because if it works for me, hopefully, it can work for other mamas out there!

Let’s get right into it, I explain below each specific item why they made my list of must haves! And remember, click any PINK WORD or image to shop the product!

Baby Must-Haves for 6-12 Months

Feeding Baby

NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils

We chose to do a combination/hybrid approach when introducing solids to Luca. I share more about this in Luca’s 8-month update post BUT, these utensils are my favorite! Luca feeds himself things like peanut butter, oatmeal and yogurt now – messy as all hell, yes – but he can actually use these utensils and successfully get food in his mouth. It’s also super cute to watch!

When feeding him purees these soft-tip spoons are my favorite! And we, of course, are huge fans of puffs and creamies – currently also using these to teach him to sign for “more” and “thank you” which has been fun – a post will be coming on this later so stay tuned!

While we’re on the topic of food, a must-take course (if you’re into that!) I’d like to recommend is the Infant BLW course by Feeding Littles! We did the course around 7 months and it was a total game changer for our confidence when introducing solids and they have a course for toddlers as well! Use code CHRISTINECOVINO for $10 off (making it just $49)!

Bapron Bib

Next, on our Baby Must haves for 6-12 months are these bibs. They are my favorite bibs and also came highly recommended by Judy and Megan at Feeding Littles! They cover most of the body (like an apron) and come in really beautiful and fun prints!

ChooMee Pouch Tops

An absolute baby must-have if you feed your baby pouches! We started Luca with pouches recently and these special tops allow him to handle it himself while keeping it mess-free! The contents of the pouch can only come out when the top is sucked on – genius!!

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup

Luca’s favorite cup! It took a little while for him to figure out (and me too if I’m being honest LOL) but we love them now! Also super easy to take apart and clean (dishwasher safe) and promotes dental health as far as teeth development! That being said, Luca also likes sipping through a straw so I have used these as well!

Peg-Perego Siesta Highchair

Another item that has been on my baby must-have’s list since the first few months (see my Newborn Must Haves post). Once we started solids with Luca he has loved sitting up in his highchair and joining us at the dinner table!

It's hard as a new mom to determin what you need for babies, here is my baby must have 6-12 months that have made my life so much easier! Check it out!

Baby Playtime

Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym

This play mat was also on my Newborn Essentials post because we started using it around 6 weeks! Still going strong at 11 months – it’s versatile, packable, affordable and it’s one of the things we’ve used every single day!

Play Gym by Lovevery

The piano gym I described above was/is our number one play mat, however, I am adding this one to the list not as a must-have but as a “nice-to-have.” Before he could sit up and play in his own (8-9ish months for Luca) I needed to switch him between different play gyms/jumper/chairs. It was very nice to have a second activity center at my disposal! Plus I love this one because it comes with a helpful book that guides you through the different developmental phases of the first year and gives you tips on how to help your baby with each skill.

Fisher-Price Go Wild Jumperoo

We started Luca in this jumper around 5 months and so far it seems with each passing month he loves it more and more. Now at nearly 11 months old, he’s definitely outgrowing it but he still has so much fun so I’m just going with it! We also have this great portable jumperoo that we travel with or keep it at my parent’s!

Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat

I wasn’t sure which category to put this in because it is SO useful! This basically replaced the boppy lounger for us once Luca started to roll. It’s a safe place I can pop him in if I have to do something quick. He started using this chair around four months, around when he could hold his head up well. The seat has enough structure to support the rest of baby’s body. We are still using it at 11 months!

Zany Zoo Wooden Activity Cube

Seeing a trend here?? LOTS in the toy category haha – anything to keep baby entertained! I literally set up stations and just keep switching him to a new place every 10-15 minutes so he stays happy and doesn’t get bored. Anyway! This activity cube is AWESOME. I bought it as a Christmas present back in October but quickly realized we needed to break it out asap. There are so many great features, right now Luca sits and plays with it but soon will be standing to play. I know this will be another long-lasting item!

“Indestructible” Books

These books are THE BEST. Literally indestructible! So you can let your baby do whatever they will to them – Luca is very hands-on and these have just been perfect for us!

Yay! Mats Baby Play Mat

We broke this mat out around the time Luca started sitting up and playing on his own (8-9 months) and not only has it been a great, safe space for Luca to play it LOOKS pretty in our home as well! It’s the most aesthetically-pleasing play mat I have found yet. And since it’s made from large connecting pieces it’s also super easy to pack up if need be!

O-Ball Go Grippers Toys

Honestly, anything O-Ball has been a huge asset since birth! He STILL plays with these and that’s saying a lot because over the last 11 months Luca has grown out of a lottt of things, especially in the toy dept!

Recently I have been focusing on getting him educational toys because he is learning and growing so quickly, here are a few other toys and books we are loving lately:

  • This Leapfrog Learning Remote
  • These stacking cups
  • This wooden sorting cube
  • These Mega Bloks
  • Will be getting Luca this table activity center soon!

It's hard as a new mom to determin what you need for babies, here is my baby must have 6-12 months that have made my life so much easier! Check it out!

It's hard as a new mom to determin what you need for babies, here is my baby must have 6-12 months that have made my life so much easier! Check it out!

Baby Sleep

Nested Bean Zen Sack Classic

We’ve been around the block when it comes to swaddles and sleep sacks!

Luca was in the Love To Dream Swaddle until about 3.5/4 months and then we tried out the Merlin Magic Sleep Suit for about a month or so, and then the Zippadeezip (he did not like having his hands covered), but we ultimately settled on the Nested Bean Zen Sack. The bean pouch on his chest helps him feel safe and secure (it emulates your hand on his chest, it’s not heavy at all just comforting!) and it also allows him to wiggle around freely.

Not to worry if your babe is a tummy-sleeper, they can wear the sack backward! In the summer we dress him in a short-sleeve onesie and for the winter, long sleeve, footie PJs. We keep our house at 70 degrees and he is plenty warm with just the sack!

Marpac Classic White Noise Sound Machine

Still our favorite sound machine! Turning it on is part of our nightly bedtime routine. Also, check out the portable and rechargeable version – this comes everywhere with us!

We bedshare with Luca (more on this in my upcoming cosleeping post) so there’s not much else we do for the sleep category except use a diffuser! This one is my favorite!

Baby Gear

Lillebaby Carrier

I was so sad when Luca grew out of the wrap (Solly was our fave) but we transitioned him right into this carrier and it was so smooth! I love it because you can wear it six ways, I normally wear him facing in but it’s nice because it also fits Alex (6’1″/220lbs.) and he would wear him outward-facing. This makes my must-have list for many reasons but number one, I LOVE babywearing, and number two, I worked every day at our family farm during September and October for apple harvest season and I was able to have Luca right there with me, it worked so well!

Summer Infant 3D-Lite Umbrella Stroller

We actually just purchased this stroller so I can’t speak to it from an in-use perspective yet but it came very highly recommended by friends and family! (Not to mention it has a 4.5-star rating on Amazin from over 1k reviews!!). An umbrella stroller, in general, is a must-have in my opinion if you are traveling or want a lighter-weight stroller option. and this one is for sure a winner for under $80!

Nuna Rava Convertible Carseat

Luca is a tall baby and as of 10 months as outgrown the infant car seat (cue mama tears!! Milestones are always so bittersweet!). We used the Nuna Pipa infant car seat and LOVE it (and the brand) so much. Its super easy to install (legit 5 minutes!), I love that he seems cozy and supported (especially the head area), the seat is ventilated so he doesn’t get super hot (this is important to me because Luca is a sweaty baby lol) and it meets all of our safety expectations! Not to mention aesthetics are not compromised!

Boppy Pillow

This pillow is so versatile! I did not use it as a nursing pillow (I used the Nook) but it’s a nursing pillow and a positioner. We used this from moths 6-10 religiously to prop Luca up until he was stable enough to sit on his own!

Summer Infant Portable Playard

This is what we use instead of a pack n’ play! We kind of just skipped over the pack n’ play phase altogether but this is the one we have in case you are interested! But I love this playard because it’s a safe place to put Luca down, its big aka lots of space for him to scoot around and it’s extremely light-weight/portable/easy to pop up and down!

Fisher Price 4-in-1 Sling ‘n Seat Tub

We have used this since birth and it is one of our long-standing favorite baby must-haves because of that! When Luca was younger we placed him in the sling portion which was cozy and relaxing, but now that he wants to sit up we’ve removed the sling and he sits right in the tub part! We also love the toy accessories that came with the tub! For shampoo/body wash we use Tubby Todd and this rinser bath cup!

Infant Optics DXR-8 Baby Monitor

This is the baby monitor we use – no complaints here! And apparently, over 26,000 other people love this monitor so much to rate it 5 stars on Amazon!

Some other random must-haves for baby care I just want to quickly mention are:

  • Essential Oils – These have truly changed my life over the last year in every possible way (baby/cleaning/beauty) and I am SO thankful I was introduced to them!
  • Fridababy NoseFrida – Absolute must-have for when baby gets a cold!
  • Oogiebear Baby Nasal Aspirator – Scoop those boogers out!!
  • Garlic-Mullein Ear Drops – These prevented Luca from getting an ear infection with his first cold (consult your pediatrician first!!)
  • Gerber Soother Probiotic Drops – Healthy gut, healthy immune system!

Shop All My Baby Must Haves 6-12 Months Below!

Plus some extra items that were “nice-to-haves”

It's hard as a new mom to determin what you need for babies, here is my baby must haves 6-12 months that have made my life so much easier! Check it out!

It's hard as a new mom to determine what you need for babies, here is my baby must haves 6-12 months that have made my life so much easier! Check it out!

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Comments

  1. Caren says

    January 10, 2019 at 2:38 am

    Lots of good stuff- We have a bunch of those things for our nine month old! My mom has been most impressed by the whale 🐳 thing for the bath to keep the water out of his eyes haha! I thought that was funny coming from a Grandma.

    Reply
    • christinemcovino says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:53 am

      Haha oh my gosh too funny! It really is a great invention because it’s curved perfectly to their heads!! The simple things right? LOL, thank you for the comment!

      Reply
  2. Sandra says

    January 10, 2019 at 3:12 am

    The sit me up was such a go to for us during this time! My daughter loved sitting up and watching others and momma loved being hands free! Haha!
    And yessss nose freida all the way!!!
    And the wonkey donkey! Haha! I need that book! That YouTube video of the grandma reading it is literally *the* best! 🤣

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Newborn Essentials - Baby - Christine Covino Blog says:
    January 10, 2019 at 10:24 pm

    […] If you have an older baby check out my Baby Must-Haves for 6-12 Months! […]

    Reply
  2. Ten Ways to Easily Babyproof Your Home - Christine Covino says:
    January 15, 2019 at 5:04 am

    […] I asked my Instagram community last week for some tips on how to babyproof and, as always, they did not disappoint with their feedback! Thank you so much if you were one of the people who responded, I’ve rounded up the recommendations below. If you’re looking for other helpful baby items check out my recent post Baby Must-Haves Months 6-12! […]

    Reply
  3. Luca at 8 Months - Christine Covino Mom & Baby says:
    June 17, 2019 at 2:05 pm

    […] few months back (which are both MUST-READS for sure!!). I am also publishing a post next week on my Must Haves for Months 6-12, so be on the […]

    Reply

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Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I shared how I’m doing in stories today, we made it through the holidays but it was a lot harder than I thought. I’m sruggling in a few ways. Struggling on social media with the comparison game, struggling in general as a stay at home mom of two, struggling with a fussy two month old that doesn’t sleep, struggling that I’m unable to do things for me right now (like even go to the bathroom or shower alone), struggling with the omnipresent grief and anxiety, struggling with guilt — guilt over not giving my oldest enough attention, over wanting him to start back at school again, over not being happy and grateful 24/7.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
If I learned anything last year it was to accept my feelings as they come and not label any as “bad,” so that’s what I’m working on, that’s my daily reminder. As my friend said to me today, this is hard, it’s the trenches!! Be gentle. It’s hard and wonderful all at once.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Check in below👇⁣⁣⠀
❤️ - I’m feeling great⁣⁣⠀
🧡 - I’m feeling ok⁣⁣⠀
💛 - I’m surviving⁣⁣⠀
💚 - I’m struggling⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Let’s show up and support each other and remind each other we’re not alone in these hard days🖤
Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. M Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. Mixed feelings about a new year is not foreign to me, this is how I felt last year going into 2020. 2019 was Liam’s year, it was the worst but it gave me a perspective I’ll never lose and one I carried into 2020.⁣⁣⠀
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Through hardship you grow.⁣⁣⠀
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2020 saw more focus on me, on my mental wellness + on my family. Less worrying about what people think of me, less apologizing, more doing what makes me happy (or gets me through the day). More of that in this space also. I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea so might as well be me, ALL of me💯✌️⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I’m not a resolution or goal setter when it comes to a new year, I try to focus on reflecting, releasing what doesn’t serve me any longer + manifesting/using affirmations to bring the good. Still working on what those are exactly for 2021!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
In the meantime I wanted to share some of my big 2020 memories and wish you all love, light, peace and healing in the new year✨⁣⁣⠀
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1-2. Our new family unit🧡⁣⁣⠀
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3-4. The birth of our daughter, Elora, the best thing to come out of 2020. She is the brightest light.⁣⁣⠀
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5. Luca’s love for his sister + once again navigating a “new normal” in our family.⁣⁣⠀
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6. Pregnancy after loss. Amidst a global pandemic. While wrangling a toddler. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done, it was pure survival mode (+ still is postpartum).⁣⁣⠀
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7. Growing the most beautiful dahlias and diving more into gardening than ever before, mostly as a form of therapy, AND sharing it all with you guys — connecting through our gardens was one of my favorite parts of the year + growing this community has brought me so much joy!⁣⁣⠀
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8. Finding my groove and launching my oils business — never thought I would make more than my blogging income + be able to pay off debt😭⁣⁣⠀
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9. Luca turning 2 and weaning + potty training at the same time — his decisions, not mine!⁣⁣⠀
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10. Liam’s due date in April. I remember wishing more than anything for the chance to deliver him healthy and full term, pandemic and all. We miss our boy + are moving forward WITH him, we’ll love him forever from afar❤️
Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and awesome❤️ exactly how I want to remember this day. We’re sending you big love this Christmas, complete with our best “ewie smiles” (Luca’s term for silly faces🤣). I love how Doobie snuck his nose in there too!! Swipe for some special moments/things of the day❤️❤️
⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ ⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀
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You have been here in our arms for almost two whole months and my heart still skips a beat when I wake up and see you next to me. You are truly here. I still can’t believe you’re real and you’re ours.⁣⁣⠀
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At 8 weeks you’re not such a tiny babe anymore, you’ve doubled your birth weight and grew four inches — a testament to how much you love to eat😅🍼 (pic four is day 3 for reference!). Your chubby cheeks are also a testament to your love of milk😍😍 The super sleepy newborn days are over😭 You’re waking up more and more, crying more too (see pic three🤪), but still giving us good stretches of sleep (4-5 hours) at night. You don’t love cuddling with me as much as your brother did, I’m still in denial over that! And you’ve broken out of the swaddle, sleep sackin it up already! Luca loves you more than anything and is always wanting to hold you and help me clean your “spiggups,” he calls you “mista baby” and it killssss your dad and I every time🤣⁣⁣⠀
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I feel like you just arrived but also like I’ve known you forever. Happy 8 weeks of life Elora, you are so loved💗⁣⁣⠀
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#8weeks #eloraleigh #watcheloragrow
Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard wh Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard when you’re struggling.⁣⁣⠀
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Gratitude, when forced, feels like shame. As the wise @sitwithwhit said the other day, it’s  the new toxic positivity — if we’re going to feel sad, then we better be grateful too.⁣⁣⠀
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The pressure on the bereaved to feel and express gratitude in their grief is REAL.⁣⁣⠀
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So here is my reminder — It’s ok to *not* balance out your pain with gratitude. ⁣⁣⠀
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To me, when gratitude is forced I feel inauthentic and ashamed. When everyone is talking about gratitude journals and how to “focus on the good,” I feel left out.⁣⁣⠀
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Let’s normalize expressing pain and grief without following it up with “BUT... gratitude.” It’s like saying that makes our pain seem more bearable from the outside. I get it. Grief is uncomfortable. Pain is ugly. It’s easier to look away. It’s easier to engage if the griever ends their thought on a positive, that’s the pressure. But what if I don’t feel positives in my pain?⁣⁣⠀
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If gratitude helps you to process your grief, that is really great. Everyone grieves differently. I spoke about this in stories today and 100s of you wrote in saying you felt heard. I’m happy it resonated, I’m always nervous to express these opinions but there are ALWAYS people out there who relate and need to hear it. You are my people❤️⁣⁣⠀
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So here are your reminders if you’re grieving or struggling this holiday season, or just reflecting on a hard year:⁣⁣⠀
❤️Be gentle with yourself, your feelings are valid.⁣⁣⠀
❤️You don’t owe anything to anyone, especially in your grief.⁣⁣⠀
❤️It’s ok to feel shitty, period. No ifs, ands, buts or justifications necessary.⁣⁣⠀
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Love you guys🤟🤟🤟⁣⁣⠀
📷: @mymotherhoodstory
This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Do This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Don’t let the cute faces fool you, it’s HARD to get a toddler to stay still and a newborn to not cry🤣 But we snapped a couple gems, these two quite literally light up my life💖 http://liketk.it/34ldF

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