The first pregnancy, now I know, I had all the time in the world to take care of myself,
to make a green juice in the morning, to craft nutritious lunches and snacks, to take naps, to go to bed as early or wake up as late as I want, to exercise for two hours everyday, without having to schedule anything with anyone.
The first pregnancy I had a chance to put in practice, almost to a tee, all the wonderful tools that I learned at the LEAN expectation certification course. (Coming soon mamas! I am so passionate about all the info, tools and benefits about this workshop)
But emotionally there was so much expectation and so much to learn: the hormonal changes, the monthly body and baby changes, the doctor visits, the labor options, the breastfeeding, the sleeping adjustments…What kind mother will I be? What type father will Tim be? How was I going to juggle me, motherhood, baby, work, friends and everything else? And what to do with all the well-intended advice from people about what you should and should not do?
Sometimes it doesn’t even look like you are pregnant!
Well this second pregnancy is kind of the opposite. The other night my mother said, Sometimes it doesn’t even look like you are pregnant! Not because I am small, my baby bump is pretty big (like a real watermelon, someone told me another day!), but because life is not centered around my own needs anymore. I need, actually want, to feed my 3-year old daughter before I eat. I usually shower her, brush her teeth and make her cozy before I allow myself to relax. No matter how tired I am, reading books and snuggling with her in bed are daily and joyful priorities.
Some days are far from perfect! !
Some days are far from perfect! I know I should have slept more, ate better, exercised for a bit, and spent more time with Sky, instead of trying to finish my to-do lists. But I have learned not to be too harsh on myself. If I didn’t sleep well for a few days, I tried to take a long nap on the weekend. If my diet was less than ideal during the day, at night a big colorful salad with salmon will provide hopefully what I missed. If I worked more than spending time with Sky, bedtime was delayed a bit so we could catch up with hugs and kisses. Or some nights, if all I wanted was ice-cream, I treated myself!
Nowadays, a balanced lifestyle seems to me to be more about giving and taking, and by the end of the day, feeling content that you did the best you could. The next day is a fresh start to do your best again!
Nowadays, a balanced lifestyle seems to me to be more about giving and taking, and by the end of the day, feeling content that I did the best I could. The next day is a fresh start to do my best again!
So nutritionally and physically this second pregnancy is not as ideal as it was the first time, but emotionally it’s easier! We know, at least we think we know, what to expect. And we are ok on being imperfect and in not having everything figured out. We know there is so much to learn everyday and forever. And for me the joy of seeing Sky so excited to be a big sister takes all the little worries out of my mind. She is already planning on helping mommy change diapers, give baths, sing songs, “read” books, show and hopefully “share” her toys. I have a lovely assistant that will help mommy to be a better one.
Baby number two, we can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to our sweet chaos.
We already love you more than you can imagine!
Mamãe
