Category: Uncategorized

Some people wait until the 3rd month to share their news, we wait until the 3rd trimester.  There were some challenges along the way, but the excitement – and some anxiety – is finally starting to build… this is happening!  This will be our first little one, and it kinda feels like we don’t really know what we’ve gotten ourselves into.

Over the past several months I’ve come across many pregnancy resources, some helpful and some not so much.  So, for the benefit of any moms-to-be out there, I thought I would share a list of those I found most useful —

Apps to download: 

• What to Expect.  The app is part of the “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” brand and it is filled with daily blogs and weekly videos to help you understand what’s going on with your body and the growing baby inside.  This is one of my favorite resources and I check it pretty much daily.
• Sprout.  The app delivers daily and weekly information about you and the developing baby.  It has a personalized pregnancy timeline for a general overview of what to expect, as well as daily blogs and checklists.
• BabyCenter.  The ‘My Pregnancy & Baby Today’ app delivers similar weekly videos and daily blogs as the others, but it also has some nifty tools like a Baby Names finder, Birth Class videos, and Birth Club chat forum.

Books to read:

• What to Expect When You’re Expecting.  Per the cover, this is the “#1 Bestselling Pregnancy Book” and it seems like a good one to have.  Shortly after my first positive pregnancy test I picked up the book on one of my Target runs, and I wish I’d gotten it sooner!  There’s a whole section on preconception, as in things you might want to know or think about before you conceive.  Much of the information in the book is available online or via the app, but I like having the physical book on my nightstand to flip through.
• The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy.  A practical, honest, and funny guide written by a mom of 4 who is super candid about what really happens to you and your body during pregnancy.  I have not been blessed by the pregnancy gods with glowing skin, thicker hair, or any perks really; so it was comforting to read stories of others who talk for real about the nausea, fatigue, breakouts, bloating, heartburn, nerve pain, and more that has been my pregnancy experience.

Registries: 

Despite this being our first baby, we were going to skip the whole registry thing… until we read about the perks!  There are some companies out there that give you 10-15% off your entire registry as you approach your due date.  And you can make the registries ‘private’ so that only those you want to find it can. So if you’re going to buy the stuff anyway, why not get a discount?!   Here are the two registries that we went with, and both had helpful online checklists to guide us.

• Amazon Baby Registry.  Amazon offers free shipping on orders over $49 (and free 2 day shipping for Prime Members), a 90-day return policy, and what seems to be the largest selection in one virtual place.  Amazon also gives you a registry completion discount of 10%, or 15% for Amazon Prime members, once you are within 60 days of the baby’s due date.  The discount is good toward most things, though there are some exclusions.  And if you’re a Prime member, once you’ve populated your online registry and made at least $10 in purchases, Amazon will send you a little ‘Baby Registry Welcome Box’ filled with  samples and some full sizes of various baby products.
• Target Baby Registry.  Create a baby registry at Target and you get to pick up a ‘welcome kit’ from Guest Services for $50 worth of coupons and samples.  Then 8 weeks before baby’s due date Target will send you a 15% discount for most anything left on your registry (there are always exclusions).  And returns/exchanges are accepted for up to one year.  Wow.

xoxo
-ash

 

Feeling blue this month?  You’re not alone.  

January is hailed by many as the most depressing month of the year.  The holiday spirit fades, work resumes, gift-giving bills arrive, resolutions are already being broken, and the weather is ick.  Bummer, huh?…

Snap out of it!  Easier said than done sometimes, I know…  Here are some things to try to help break away from the winter blues –

• Do something for someone else.  It’s the unselfish selfish thing to do!  Not only does helping someone else give you the feel goods, but it can also help to remind you of the blessings you have.  Sample activities:  play with a shelter dog; offer to babysit for free;  help a friend with spring cleaning;  take a friend/relative/mentor to dinner and listen to them.
• Tackle a project.  A project, big or small, can give you a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and pleasure.  All good things.  Sample activities:  plant a garden (you can start with seedlings indoors until the weather improves); get a head start on spring cleaning; learn how to build a website or write a blog.
• Go for a walk.  It’s free, relatively easy, and the benefits are touted all over the WWW – everything from clearing your head to combating depression.  Go ahead and have a google.  Some even claim that going for a walk may be better than going to the gym.  So don’t beat yourself up if you’ve already neglected that new  gym membership, have a walk instead.
• Commit to doing things you like to do.  It is so important to set aside time on a regular basis (at least monthly, but weekly is better) to fill with plans that you will look forward to — like coffee with friends!  Make a list of fun little things to do that can be done anytime, and start putting them on the calendar.  I’ve talked about this before (here and here), and I continue to put it into practice.  Make the time to do the fun little things.
• Express gratitude.  Make a point to actively express your thankfulness in the moment and watch the magic happen!  Whether it be to your spouse, friends, family, co-workers, a barista, bank teller, etc. – verbally express your sincere gratitude, even for the little things.  You may be surprised that doing so will help you realize all you have, and it makes the person receiving your thanks feel good too!  Win win. #bethankful
• Make real friends.  Yes professional networks are good for career building, but it’s important to cultivate good friends outside of work.  And social media ‘friends’ don’t count.  I’m talking real relationships with people outside the office who you actually see face-to-face, enjoy hanging out with, and chit chat about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.  If you have a solid group of real friends, then cultivate those friendships- get together when you can, and stay in touch on the regular.  If you don’t have a solid group of real friends – invest the time and energy to make some now!  Need a push?  Research has shown that not having strong social relationships with real friends significantly increases your risk for mortality.  That means death people.  Yikes.  Go get yourself some awesome friends, it’s worth it all around.

xoxo
-ash