Fab Finds Friday: Mothers' Day Gift Guide

Hello Friends!

Today is my birthday!  I apologize for the laziness lack of posts lately, I've been giving myself a slight "break" for my birthday week.  Thanks for understanding!  

How convenient that my birthday is on "Fab Finds Friday"!  I thought it would be perfect to post some things I love that would make great birthday or Mother's Day gifts.  With spring underway and summer just around the corner, these Ray-bans and this floppy hat will be perfect for beach days or TPC next week!  You also can't go wrong by spoiling her with a new watch or David Yurman bracelet.  Crossbody bags like this one from Tory Burch are perfect for moms because they keep her hands free to chase and grab runaway children, haha.  And what woman doesn't love bath and body goodies like these Philosophy & Clarisonic gift sets?  If you want to give her a gift that will really warm her heart, get her a journal and have your child(ren) write messages to Mommy in it each Mothers' Day (swoon!).  I'm certain she would also love this necklace (or necklaces depending on how many children you have) with her child's name on it.  I have one and love it!

I hope this guide helps you find the perfect gift for your wife or mother!  Have a great weekend!

Confessions of a Worried Mother

It was the day after my son's first birthday party. 

As I always do I put off cleaning until the next day. 

I took down the streamers, deflated the balloons, disassembled the sign of pictures from his first year.  Each picture a memory. A reminder that this year has passed in the blink of an eye.

A reminder that my son is growing up.

A reminder that he doesn't need me for nourishment anymore.

A reminder that this has been the best but fastest year of my life.

And that's when an all-too-familiar feeling came back. I knew exactly what it was because I felt it a few days after delivery. Almost a year ago to the day. Why was this happening again? I have no reason to not be happy. I am so blessed.

My mind started to run wild. I pictured Graham going to school, leaving for college, getting married. My mind started to fear. What if something happens to him? What if something happens to me and Josh and we can't take care of him? How much time will I have with my son?

Worry. Anxiety. Fear.

These are the things I didn't truly grasp the depths of until I became a mom. What little fear I had before I became a mother became amplified.  I thought I would worry less once I finally had my baby in my arms but I was wrong. Most of the things I used to worry about became meaningless and minuscule compared to the significance of raising a child. 

I used to worry about my weight. Now I worry that I don't eat enough to produce the milk he needs.

I used to worry about advancing my career.  Now I worry that I spend too much time at work away from him.

I used to worry about not being a good enough friend. Now I worry that he'll miss me when I'm having a night out.

Worry. Anxiety. Fear.

I just wanted these feelings to go away. That's when I turned to the #1 person in my life who I knew would understand: my mom. And what she said will stick with me forever. "You worry because you love him so much. You're a good mother."

All of a sudden the heaviness began to lift.  She reminded me that I'm not alone; all mothers feel the same way.  If we didn't love so much we wouldn't care. The depth of our love can create depths of worry & fear. 

Sometimes I wonder if we're supposed to have these feelings, almost like our motherly instincts.  But then I remember that His Word says, "there is no fear in love." (1 John 4:18) Christ came in the form of perfect love and as it is written in 1 John, "perfect love drives out fear."  We don't have to be afraid, worrisome, or frightful.  We can trust in God to lift us up when we're down.

As a mom I often try to fix things on my own without asking for help. But I know the peace & strength I need can only come from Him.

The strength to enjoy each day with my boy without anxiety. 

The strength to make sacrifices in my life to enrich his.

The strength to let him learn from his mistakes.

The strength to share my struggles with all of you.

My hope is that my openness and transparency blesses your life. I want my experiences to be an encouragement to you. And I hope and pray you will encourage others.  I want us all to be blessed and to learn to trust in Him, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, at all times.

And always remember - you're a good mother.

With love & gratitude,

Heather

"Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)



Motherhood: What They Don't Tell You

One year ago today I thought I would be delivering my son. 

God had other plans.

For a control freak like me, labor & delivery was a lesson in trusting The Lord.  I had planned out in my head how everything was "supposed" to go.  However, things didn't work out that way.  On Friday I'll share Graham's complete birth story with you. Let's just say it was one of the few moments of my life that God clearly spoke to me. 

As I mentioned above, I'm a bit of a control freak. Type A if you will. When I was pregnant I spent those 9 long months reading books, blogs, forums, whatever I could find to help prepare me. Looking back I've realized there are some facts that are rarely ever mentioned. With so many of my friends becoming moms I feel the need to share. 

1 - You will lose an OBSCENE amount of hair!  Seriously. I thought I was balding. No I take that back - I was balding! I looked at some beach pictures from this past summer and I definitely had premature balding at my hairline. Lucky me, now it's all growing back.  FYI - baby hair in adulthood is terrible. I can't control it, it's all over the place!  For me hair loss started around 4 months postpartum and lasted about 4 months.  Every time I washed my hair I would leave literally a ponytail in the shower. I felt like a shedding dog, my hair was everywhere. Poor Josh.

2 - You will be in pain.  And I don't mean the obvious pain of stitches, tears, abdominal surgery that so many of us experience. I'm talking about your joints! I literally thought I was 80 years old. I couldn't walk up the stairs without my knees popping and cracking.  It started a few weeks after I delivered so I had no idea what was wrong with me. After researching and finding some (barely any) information online, I realized our changing hormones affect our joints. Ouch, I was so glad when that was over and I could exercise again. 

3 - You will be a hormonal MESS.  You might think something is wrong with you. Don't worry, it's normal.  It started a few days after delivery for me and lasted less than a week. I had no idea why but I would just get so upset. Luckily my mother stayed with us that first week and she knew exactly what was going on (aren't Moms the best). It helped me to talk about it and take a break.  We were still living in our small 1200 square feet condo after I had Graham and it would feel like the walls were closing in on me. Mom would watch Graham while I took a walk around the neighborhood. The sunshine and fresh air helped tremendously. Then after a few days I felt like myself again.

(If you have similar feelings that seem to last more than a couple of weeks, contact your doctor. Postpartum depression is real and affects many women.  You don't have to suffer!)

So mamas, if you just delivered and start experiencing any or all of these don't worry! You're not alone! Just know that being a mother is the BEST feeling in the world. I wouldn't trade it for anything! Your heart is going to experience a love like you've never known. Get ready!

Did I miss anything? Was there something you wished someone would have warned you about when you were pregnant? 

Source

With love & gratitude, 

Heather