Since I haven’t given you guys a post partum update, let’s consider this as such eh? Ok, now that you forgive me and you didn’t even have to pay me a penny for my thoughts, I’m keeping the intro short and diving right in. If you’re a first time mother or a veteran mom, we all can benefit from another mother’s open book. Today I’m sharing six areas of my life I had to revaluate as we welcomed another little person to our family. 

PLANNING

Things may not go as plan, but plan anyway. Having a strategy or realistic checklist, allows me to be productive and not just goal hungry (less “I HAVE to do it all”, and more “I will TRY to do what I CAN”). 

Thinking of the ins and out before hand can save time, provide quicker solutions, outweigh options, make better use of limited time. This is when soundness of mind come in to help with decision making and planning. (Ecclesiastes 10:10) 

Even the days I feel like “Superwoman”, I know the power beyond normal (2 Corinthians 4:7) is God’s extended hand and support. 

BE PRESENT AND PRACTICAL 

Everything takes time. 

Now-a-days, things take more of my time and I always feel like I don’t have enough of it! 

The best I give, is different each day. 

Give the kids what they need (present tense).  

 

FAITH

Continue to teach them to serve Jehovah through my actions. The words, actions and behaviors I express are the ones I want my children to copy and inculcate in them. 

This is my season for patience and mildness. 

The more anxious and frustrated I became, the more I realized this was good practice for me to work on the mentioned fruitage of the spirit to become a better servant of God, a better wife and mother. 

I’ve never been tested more in my life with self control, mildness, and patience, but the more I put in the effort to sew, the more I reap. (Galatians 6:9)

COMMITMENT 

Mommy and daddy time is essential. 

You must take time out for each other! 

The house will be louder, and messier, but spending quality time with one another is SO worth it. Before them, there was us, and we owe it to our relationship to continue to be present and show active and present love displayed in front of our children. Especially as a young couple (we’ve been together since we were 17) it’s important to constantly “check-in” with one another. Can’t go around with the latest cell phone update and not be updated on your spouse’s (likes, dislikes, concerns, viewpoints etc).

SELF

Doing the little things that help me relax (glass of wine, getting out the house alone, massage therapy, soak in the tub, etc) or clear my head (bible reading, organize, list, notes, reading) makes a world of a difference. Taking time out for myself is pivotal if I plan to help others and be part of a family unit. 

HEALTH

I already know this, but it’s one thing to know something and another to execute it! 

I felt sluggish giving birth this time around and I’m still trying to heal my severe diastasis recti (some days I can easily look 4 months pregnant). Oh, also my pelvic floor muscles seemed to have memory fog too. 

At seven months post partum, I finally felt comfortable enough to work out and regain my physical strengthen. I’ve never cared about “snapping back” because I am more concerned with my mental and emotional health, even though physical shortcoming can affect the other two easily.  

Meal prepping and having nutritious and healthy meals available is easier said than done, but I’m still eating plant based and have a passion for nutrition and wellness, so that helps keep me on track. Lunch is an area I’m always working on, and not just having food available, it’s having time available to eat it. Nothing like trying to eat and having a little person smack a fork or spoon out of your hand (involuntarily of course). 

I’m my best self when I get some sort of adequate rest. Sleeping straight through the night won’t happen for a while as a mother (I pick my battles with motherhood), but I’m a night owl who has come to love mid-day naps. 

As far as accountability, I started a chiropractic treatment plan to get myself realigned and massage therapy, which helps with strain from breastfeeding, tension and stress. 

And self affirmation is also great. Reminding myself that I am capable, can’t do it all, but industrious, and most importantly, loved, can make some feats seem infinitely smaller. 

In May, my youngest, Noah, will be one and I’ll be a year postpartum and we’ll have 1 year in the books as a family of five. As jam packed as our days are, we couldn’t imagine our family without the very people who make it what it is now. 

Hoping my realities and enlightenments can inspire you to make some healthier and wiser choices to overcome the hurdles that parenthood can sometimes throw at us. Continue to count your blessings, find ways to serve others and be a better version of yourself everyday. Everyday is the chance to start anew and not give up on yourself. 

-xo Natasha 

Berry Green Smoothie: Post Partum, Breast feeding, Post Workout Friendly

After I gave birth to my third child, Noah, as with every pregnancy, my appetite came back with a vengeance and I wanted to eat everything at once. 

But with a newborn who wanted to drink all my milk at once, that left me short on time to fix meals for myself. The mister did stay home and help me of course, but with two other kids to tend to, I didn’t mind making myself or grabbing quick snacks to help me get by until I had a prepared meal. 

Now that I could get back to my beloved Vitamix and actually not be mentally tortured by mixing ingredients up, smoothies we’re reincorporated into my diet. 

Today I’m sharing the smoothie I made that was quick, filing and 

nutritional for breastfeeding, post partum, post workout and  even in between meals. 

Recipe:

1.5 cup almond (any dairy free) milk

1 handful of spinach 

1 cup of berries (frozen or a mix of fresh and frozen)

1 ripe banana

1/4 cup of oats 

1 scoop of protein powder  (I use this plant based brand) 

2 tbs of raw honey 

*ice is optional  

 

Benefits in smoothie:

Berries: 

antioxidants, boots immunity, tons of vitamins and minerals, and packed with dietary fiber which is great to help keep your digestion steady. CARBS! 

Protein powder: 

increase strength, regulates blood sugar (great for when you need a quick fix and don’t want to feel hungry and/or have low glucose levels), essential for milk supply, helps with postpartum recovery (cell regeneration.)

Oats:

Known galactagogue to help increase milk supply and after 3 babies, I believe oats personally helped me maintain my supply, but not necessarily increase it per say. I would notice a difference but nothing drastic. Try flax meal or seeds and brewers yeast for supply increase and additional nutritional benefits. 

Spinach: 

Iron (great to have after postpartum blood loss and breastfeeding), detoxing, copious amounts of vitamins and minerals and another source of protein. 

Honey:

Immunity boosting, packed with vitamins and minerals, immunity boosting (childbirth does a number on your immune system, so anti fungal and anti viral foods are key). 

Almond milk: (or whatever nut milk you have on hand)

Dairy free calcium and vitamin d substitute. 

Baby may not respond well to dairy through your milk, so dairy free options are a great alternatives. 

You can add ice to make the smoothie extra cold and not as thick. 

*this smoothie makes a lot, so it definitely can be sipped though a newborn feeding session, which always takes about 30 minutes plus sometimes for breastfeeding mamas. 

What are/were some of your favorite quick postpartum snacks? 

-xo Natasha 

Baby Led Weaning with Raised Real

As I’ve come to make whole foods and nutrition a part of my family and I’s lifestyle, it was essential I would do the same for baby number three. 

For my daughter, we gave her your typical baby food out of the jar, no questions asked. But when we were expecting our second child, I knew I’d want to make his baby food and allow his palate to be open to all kinds of foods (can we say beets, parsnips and spinach). 

Fast forward to today, we have a third, and eager, little mouth to feed, but the time to prep and make his food is nowhere to be found. Granted, I’ve been able to mash some bananas and avocado for him and prepped and froze green beans for him, I still don’t have a stash like I did last time in the freezer. 

With the help of Raised Real, I’ve been able to worry less about the time to prep and store his food, and focus on keeping him fed, full, and open to a explorative and nutrient dense diet. The meals are organic and plant based and even though they have portioned but now pre made, you have the choice to purée, mash or feed it to your little one as finger food. Parents need options, and I’m here for it! 

He is still being breastfed and I make sure, matter-of-fact, he makes sure as well, that he doesn’t skip a feeding. However, with him joining us for meals now, having adding something more hearty to his diet has made him a happier little guy. 

I’m big on getting the kids involved in the kitchen with meal prepping and healthy food choices, so they like helping me choose one of the pre-made packets and helping me blend as well. 

Dad even gets to join in and lend a helping hand with meal time without me having to have meals prepped or stored away on the freezer. 

And though little man can down sometimes up to 7 oz of food in one sitting and the Raised Real packets come with only 4.5 oz, with two feedings a day, I can get at least 10 days of extra help and supplement nutrition for Noah. 

If you’re looking for prepped baby food already portioned for your little one to save time, but you’re worried about your budget (time is money after all) I have a coupon code just for you! 

Head to www.raisedreal.com and use the code: NATASHA25 to save $25 on your first order. 

-xo Natasha