I would be lying if I said this hasn’t been a stressful couple of months.
I’m expecting baby number 2, while chasing around a high energy two-year-old. Exhaustion is an understatement!
I was practically a zombie during my first trimester. I was beyond tired no matter how much sleep I got. We also received scary news during our first-trimester screening which required additional blood tests. We waited a long and stressful week to learn that everything was just fine! But my goodness, I think I may have lost a few years off of my life! (And gained a few gray hairs!)
Life, in general, is tough. Motherhood is hard. Toddlers are exhausting and pregnancy is draining. Here are a few things that are keeping me sane.
Sanity Savers
Preschool: My two-year-old goes once a week for a couple hours to “preschool” at Plymouth Nursery School. Although it is only once a week, she is obsessed and I am too! I look forward to my couple hours on Wednesday mornings to run a couple errands, go read at the library, or grab a bagel and eat it in silence. Plus, I feel zero guilt because she loves it just as much and gets to spend those couple hours socializing, playing, and learning with two wonderful teachers.
Slippers: It sounds silly that slippers would be on this list, but we’ve had some cold days already here and I found these at Costco for twenty bucks! One of the best deals I’ve found on warm and comfortable slippers. They’re almost like an UGG knockoff for a quarter of the price! If you have a Costco membership, these are definitely worth the twenty dollars and have helped keep me sane by keeping my toes warm these past cold weeks!
Grandparents: I am so appreciative to be able to live 15 minutes from my mom and dad. I’m even more appreciative of their bond with Ava, and quite frankly their obsession with her. They would drop anything to help me in any situation and have helped keep me sane by always gladly helping out with Ava. Whether it’s me dropping her off at their place to get a couple hours to myself, or them coming over to watch her so my husband and I can have a date night, they are the absolute best and I’ll never be able to thank them enough.
Sweet Friends: I will admit I’m not the type of person to have 20 different girlfriends. I’ve blogged about my lack of a mom “tribe” before. But, the handful of friends I have are the absolute best. I don’t know what I would do without them.
I have a couple of friends who are incredibly thoughtful and caring. They are always checking in to see how things are or just to say hi. I’m blessed to have a friend whose husband and her have become like family. I know she is always there for me no matter how insane life gets. I’ve definitely learned over the years that it’s not the quantity of friends, it’s the quality. And as cheesy as that sounds, I have some amazing friends behind me.
Face Wash: Yes….face wash. During my first pregnancy, my face broke out horribly. (So much for that “pregnancy glow,” I have no idea what that looks like.) I began using this SheaMoisture African Black soap face and scrub and immediately noticed a difference. I’m starting to go through that breakout phase again so I’ve started using this once again. It’s a life saver!
Reading: I didn’t read much my first trimester because the second a book was in front of my face, I was asleep. But now that I’ve gotten some energy back, reading definitely helps keep me sane. I just finished Jodi Picoult’s House Rules. I’m now moving on to a book by Stephanie Powell Watts called No One is Coming to Save Us. What are some of your favorite books? I base most of my readings off of suggestions!
I don’t think there will ever be a completely “sane” and non-stressful month in some way or the other, but these things definitely help!
