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Postpartum Journey

To the Mama who doesn’t recognize herself

August 21, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

To the Mama who doesn’t recognize herself,

You’re not alone. It finally happened to me the other day. 3 p.m., still in my husbands t-shirt and yoga pants, hair in a very messy bun, bags under my eyes darker than my coffee. I caught a glimpse in the mirror and had no idea who was looking back. My baby has been earth side for 11 months. I thought I’d look like Kim Kardashian by now. But instead, I literally show the lack of sleep and care that I receive.

You see all over to make sure you put yourself first. I’m not the last to say, how do I make that happen? My husband works the night shift, my child wakes 4-5 times a night, I’m lucky to shower once a day, meals are whatever is quick and easy. I might be making excuses, but what I’m really saying is that I’m struggling with balancing being a mother, wife, and a woman.

Recently, I glanced through photos pre-pregnancy where I was in very good shape, glowing, and my hair was healthy. I looked so full of life. Hours were spent taking care of myself. Now, those hours are spent taking care of a home and family 24/7. As a mother, you put everyone before yourself. It’s ironic because what happens when we do that? Empty cup. You know the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. It’s true.

Self-care is such a movement these days. Learning to value the smaller moments has helped me get by. A hot cup of coffee before the baby wakes. A face mask and a glass of wine. A hot bath with candles lit. Heck, even going to the grocery store alone.

Here’s to the mamas figuring this all out. Figuring out how to squeeze a 30 minute workout in. How to feel sexy again. How to manage multiple kids and a home. How to literally do life as a mother. I’m with you.

Filed Under: Postpartum Journey Tagged With: motherhood, postpartum, self love

The Best Swimsuits for Moms

August 18, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

https://www.liketoknow.it/ltk/5kd75FMzILEadcBH7U6gRZ

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!

If you’re reading this then I’m assuming you’ve had a kid or two and dreading swimsuit shopping. I’ve been there, actually I am there. Trying to find the right bikini that makes me feel like I have my 21 year old body back feels impossible. But, it doesn’t have to be that hard. There are so many cute and flattering options for every single body type. String bikinis aren’t the only thing in style… can we say hello high waisted EVERYTHING?!

One Pieces

One pieces are perfect for new mamas as they can hold everything in and still feel modest. I actually love one pieces regardless baby or no baby! Who doesn’t love being able to eat whatever they want and not worry about bloating.. right?! Here are my favorites!

High Waisted

We all have to be honest that this is our favorite trend returning from the 90’s: high-waisted anything! Can I get an amen?! I love high waisted swim suits because it hides the mom pooch and gives your body a nice curvy shape! I own a ridiculous amount of high waisted things because my but is just too dang big!

Cover Ups

I don’t know if I’m the only one who ends up spending so much time reapplying sunscreen to their toddler that they forget to apply it to. themselves. Happens every single time! Wearing a cover-up always help cover a quick sunburn and get back to the toddler marathon LOL

We live in Florida which means endless beach days and swimsuit season all year long! I’d love to see if you snagged one of the suits I recommended, tag me on Instagram @firstcomesfamily.mama .

Filed Under: Postpartum Journey, Uncategorized

Productive Things to Do While Staying Home

March 25, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

I’ve been a stay at home mom for almost one year and the thing I’ve struggled with most is how to be productive. It has taken me this long to actually get a routine and structure to get things done. Having an idea of what your day will look like helps have a mental to-do list opposed to sitting in jammies while your toddler runs around. Now I’m no expert on being productive but here are a few tips you can implement to get going!

Meal Plan for the Week

This takes about 20-30 minutes a week to actually write down meal ideas for the week. Nothing takes the stress out of your kid’s “What’s for dinner?” than having it laid out in front of you. I have been meal planning since I started home and it helps me feel less scattered throughout the week. I love this meal planner from Rifle Paper Co.

Choose One Chore a Day

The easiest way to keep up the never ending cycle of a messy home is to chose one chore a day. For example, Mondays are dusting, Tuesdays are the floors, Wednesdays are bathroom sinks, Thursdays are kids rooms, Fridays are the kitchen. You could even pick a room a day to clean instead!

Laundry Each Day

Depending on the size of your family, aim for a load of laundry each day! If it’s just you, then pick 2 days a week to do it. The key is to not let it sit in the basket for days after they’ve been dried. We all know it takes 7-10 business days to fold and put away laundry. So a load a day will help keep it manageable and easy to fold especially while watching a new episode of the Bachelor.

Change out of your PJs

Okay this one is hard for me! BUT, I feel most productive if I immediately get dressed for the day when I wake up. I’m more apt to do more things throughout the day if I get out of my comfy pants and oversized tee. It also helps me feel put together and not so drab.

Turn off the TV

I’m guilty of leaving the tv on with Friends or The New Girl on in the background while I scurry around the house. Then I catch myself glued to an episode for longer than anticipated and before I know it, my little one is up from her nap. Try blocking times out where you turn the TV off and turn on music instead.

Exercise in the Morning

This is the hardest to do because we all want to stay in our comfy pants and drink coffee on the couch in the morning. Gear up and hit the gym in the morning! It’s a fact that you have more energy to last the whole day when you move your body in the AM.

What is your favorite way to stay productive?! How do you get things done? Share with me below!

Filed Under: Newborn Life, Postpartum Journey, Uncategorized Tagged With: productive

You’re exhausted, mama. I am too.

February 10, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

Dear mama,

It’s okay to not want to change another diaper. Its okay to not want to pick up all of the toys day after day. It’s okay to want someone else to feed the kids while you take a shower. It’s okay to want to go grocery shopping alone. It’s okay to not want to do another load of laundry, even if theres a mountain of it in the laundry room. It’s okay to sit in the bathroom for 10 minutes while your kids an husband go haywire. It’s okay.

You’re exhausted, mama. I am too. Some days you just want to be the irresponsible twenty something year old who would take tequila shots and sleep in until 11 on the weekends. You thought hangovers were exhausting? Now you don’t even think of drinking too much because there’s no one else to turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the kids while they run around at 6 am.

But sometimes, it would be nice to just let go and not worry. Go shopping, lose track of time, get a pedicure, stay in a hotel overnight, and not wake up to a crying baby. Those days will come. They’re actually closer than we think. I know it doesn’t seem like it now but doesn’t it feel like just yesterday you gave birth to your first born? Exactly.

I’m trying to say, it’s okay to be exhausted and just want to do nothing. You’re not alone in this. We all feel defeated after a day of chasing kids, changing diapers, cooking meals, and errand running. Being a mom is hard. Hang in there mama, we’re going to miss these crazy exhausting days. For now, take a bubble bath and pretend you’re in the islands.

XOXO

Filed Under: Postpartum Journey Tagged With: dear mama, exhausted

Dear Mama, It’s okay to love your body after baby

January 13, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

Dear Mama, it’s okay to love your body after baby. We as women have become accustomed to the idea that we are supposed to hate our bodies after children. Well, I’m here to break it to you mama…IT’S OKAY TO LOVE YOUR POST BABY BODY! Even way before kids, we go through the roller coaster of our body image. We get pregnant and get amazing glow as well as being able to blame the baby on the extra cookies. Some embrace it quickly and for some it takes a bit to accept our growing body. We then get this anxious feeling, like we know that we may very well feel the worst we ever have about our body after we give birth. Well, SURPRISE, some of us actually love every extra pound on this new body we have!

I gained an enormous amount of weight during my pregnancy, like double the suggested. I struggled to be happy with my pregnancy body until about 28 weeks when I had a full on bump. The thought of how much I’d dislike my body after birth kept me up at night. I remember looking in the mirror at the hospital the night after I gave birth and expecting to look still pregnant and to HATE it. But, to my surprise, I thought “Dang! I just pushed a healthy baby out of me and I look like this?! Okay, I’ll take it!”. Seriously, I was not expecting to be happy with how I looked. The weeks following, I didn’t expect to have my pre baby body back. My body underwent the LARGEST change it will ever endure. So instead of hatred, I gave myself grace.

Other new moms around me complained of their extra skin, stretch marks, baby weight still on, and so on. They’d tell me of their insecurities expecting me to agree and chime in with what I disliked about my body. In those moments, I realized that I LOVED my body. I appreciated the extra pounds, skin and double chin. All of that is here because I carried a baby for nine long months and am soaking up every second I have with her.

But the other half of me was so guilty that I didn’t feel the same as my other mom friends. I felt guilty that I couldn’t agree with them to make them feel better. It broke my heart that they didn’t feel as great as I did about my extra inches. I wished I could sprinkle my appreciation and love on them so they didn’t have to feel that way. This really weighed on me and made me question if I really was happy with what I saw. In fact, I really do love my body and still do to this day.

Moral of the story, don’t feel bad that you are happy with your body. You are a freaking goddess who just gave birth! Yeah, I don’t care if your 2 days post partum or 2 years post partum…you JUST gave birth. Love that body that created your precious child and never feel guilty for it. ALSO, you’re not alone mama.

XOXO

Filed Under: Newborn Life, Postpartum Journey Tagged With: post baby, post baby body, postpartum, self confidence

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firstcomesfamily.mama

mom life + messy house and all
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shieann | tampa mom blogger
1 4 W E E K S ✨ I can’t believe we’re coas 1 4  W E E K S ✨

I can’t believe we’re coasting into the second trimester already! Second pregnancies truly fly by probably because I’m chasing after a toddler all day 🤪 I’ve only taken one bump pic at 5 weeks and figured I should document being 1/3 way to meeting our next babe👶🏻 I feel like I’m definitely starting to show way earlier this time around! 

2nd time mamas🤰🏻 When did you start to show with baby #2?! 

#momblogger #momblog #pregnantmama #pregnantmom #14weekspregnant #maternity #bumpdate #secondtimemom #tampamom #momsofinstagram #momsofig #babynews #newbaby #babynumber2 #pregnant #pregnantstyle #pregnantlife #bumpstyle #ltkbump #targetstyle #pregnancyjourney #pregnancyfashion #maternitystyle #babybump
Happy Easter from our family to yours ❤️ Also Happy Easter from our family to yours ❤️

Also, please know this is the best photo I have of her because she’ll only somewhat smile while eating m&ms😂

#tampablogger #tampamomsblog #momblogger #momsofinstagram #easterbasket #catnjack #targetstyle #moments #momsofinsta #2yearsold #toddlerlife #toddlersofinstagram #toddlermomlife #toddlermom
Some people have asked if we know the gender and t Some people have asked if we know the gender and thanks to @sneakpeektest , we do 😆💙💗

@sneakpeektest is an early gender DNA test that can be done right at home! It takes about 20 minutes to do and has 99.9% accuracy. Once you send your sample in, you can find out the gender as fast as 72 hours (you can even have the results sent to a third person to do a reveal). 

Stay tuned for the reveal this week! What do you think we’re having?! Comment a 💗 or 💙 below! 

#gifted #momlife #momblogger #sneakpeektest #genderreveal #pregnancyannouncement #bigsister #pregnancyjourney #tampabloggers #tampamom #boyorgirl #babyonboard #12weekspregnant #motherhoodjourney #motherhood #momoftwo #momsofinstagram #momsofig #momtobe #maternity #momblog
Our fam is growing by one little babe 🥰 We’re Our fam is growing by one little babe 🥰 We’re thrilled to announce that Baby #2 is arriving October 2021 💙💗

#pregnancyannouncement #pregnancyphotoshoot #pregnancystyle #babyannouncement #babynumber2 #12weekspregnant #momblogger #mombloggers #secondtimemom #genderreveal #pregnantstyle #maternityphotography #pregnancyreveal #momsofinstagram #momlifeisthebestlife #babyfever #momtobe #tampamom #tampablogger
We spent 1 week in NY (where I’m from) to see fa We spent 1 week in NY (where I’m from) to see family that we haven’t seen since 2019 and it was the best ever! We had plans of traveling up there often last year but well we know how that story goes 🙄 

Every time we visit our family, it makes me wish I lived in the same city as them or even just driving distance. Being able get breakfast with my papa or hang out at my mom’s. But until they all move to Florida this is our usual.✈️

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Does your family live near you?! 

#momblogger #mombloggers #momsofinstagram #momsofinsta #oldnavystyle #oldnavykids #toddlerfashion #rochesterny #treetowncafe #toddlermomlife #traveling #mommyandme #tampamom #tampamoms #momswhoblog #momlifeisthebestlife #familytime
#AD When I was a teenager, I always thought I had #AD When I was a teenager, I always thought I had the worst skin yet everyone told me I had great skin. I think it was mostly because it didn’t look airbrushed like girls in makeup ads. Eventually into my twenties, I learned to love my skin. To love the way my cheeks get rosy. To love the way my eyes are shaped. To love the glisten of oily skin at the end of a long day. 

It makes me sad that I spent so many years wondering why my skin didn’t look like a magazine model’s. But it makes me even more happy that now at almost 27 (yikes that makes me feel old😆) I have finally accepted and embraced the beauty that I’ve had all along. @tula helps me day in and day out with their clean skincare products made of probiotics and superfoods! Let me tell you, I feel like my skin just left a spa after every cleanse ✨ 

Join me in @tula #EmbraceYourSkin and share your honest and real journey to loving your beautiful skin❤️ 
 
#TULAxUltaBeauty #embraceyourskin #TULAPartner @TULA @UltaBeauty
I remember being a little girl and helping my Dad I remember being a little girl and helping my Dad pack up our @igloocoolers for a day out! #AD 
#IglooPartner So it’s nostalgic to pack up our @igloocoolers Little Playmate for a picnic on the beach 
with my little one (obviously we have a pink one!) Two things are certain during our beach picnics: sand 
EVERYWHERE and cold snacks in our Little Playmate! This year the Playmate is celebrating 50 years since being released! To kick off the party, they’re rereleasing this retro design with the OG side button, The 
Little Playmate! You can watch the Igloo Playmate documentary to learn all about how it started here: 
http://bit.ly/3bKGNgI

#IglooCoolers, #IglooAnywhere, #LittlePlaymate, #50YearsofPlaymate
Hey, @lee_boogy can we go to Savannah, GA again an Hey, @lee_boogy can we go to Savannah, GA again and eat for 3 days straight? 😋 This breakfast was from @bmatthewseatery  and I’m still dreaming about that biscuit 😍

Every vacation, I like to thoroughly plan out where to eat. Literally, we never eat anywhere unless I’ve stalked it on IG, Yelp, and Facebook. I mean hey, I like good food and don’t want to be disappointed 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

👋🏻Anyone else like this?! 

#bmattewseatery #savannahgeorgia #savannaheats #savannahfoodie #breakfastlover #travelgram #momblogger #momsofinstagram #couplestrip #yelp #savannahga #savannahfood #thingstodosavannah #weekendgetaways #weekendgetaway #georgiatravel #georgiatravelmoments
DIY 1st Birthday Set Up💕 Vivian turned 1 right DIY 1st Birthday Set Up💕

Vivian turned 1 right in the middle of quarantine last year so we opted for a virtual party (everyone tuned in via FaceTime) but of course I still had to decorate for my girl! Here’s a few tips for anyone wanting to DIY their kiddos birthday party!

•Balloon Garlands from amazon are only like $10 and SO easy. Probably took us 20 mins to this (we blew them up with a bicycle pump)

•Pinterest everything! The tassels and name banner are both made by me and I found the tutorials on Pinterest!

•The cake is all box and store bought but I bought small cake pans to give it the cute small look! Again easy especially since she smashed it. Most grocery stores offer free smash cakes (ask the bakery!)

•Make an amazon wish list of gifts you’d like for your kiddo that way it’s easy for friends and family to mail them to you!

•Take tons of pictures! I can’t believe I’m already planned her 2nd birthday 😭

🎈What are your DIY party tips!? 

#tampamom #diypartydecor #diybirthday #firstbirthday #firstbirthdayparty #smashcake #pinterestinspired #diymom #balloongarland #graco #oneyearold #partyplanning #firstbirthdayparty #firstbirthdayphotoshoot #firstbirthdayideas #firstbirthdaydecor #mombloggers #momsofinsta #momsofinstagram #newmom #momanddaughter #mommyanddaughter #diymama #pinterestwin #diyballoongarland #diyparty
I talked on stories yesterday about how Vivian’s I talked on stories yesterday about how Vivian’s speech isn’t as advanced as other kiddos her age. It’s something I don’t chat about too much, but maybe I should. When I share these struggles, I’m simply doing it so that some other mom who is in a similar situation doesn’t feel alone. ❤️

It takes a lot to be vulnerable and open on social media. Opening up with things that weigh on my mind isn’t easy, but I can tell you that the love and support I receive on here makes it so worth it. My favorite thing about this community is the support! It’s crazy how we live in a world physically lonely at times yet so full in our social media family!

⬇️Soo, share your favorite blogger or IGer that is open, honest, and makes you feel like their friend! 👯‍♀️
#AD Tell me if this sounds like you.. Picking up #AD  Tell me if this sounds like you.. Picking up toys ALL day long, running errands, giving baths and singing songs then realizing you forgot to feed yourself?! Because it’s literally me and it’s why I love Dole Boosted Blends® Protein for lunch when I’m busy with ya know, mom life 😅 

Dole Boosted Blends® Protein are made with blueberries and banana that blend perfectly with a protein boost of whey and almond butter to deliver a delicious smoothie that packs 10 grams of protein per serving that helps keep me full. Best part is that they are Gluten-Free and Non-GMO 🙌🏻

If you’re looking for a quick snack to keep you on track this new year, check out Dole Boosted Blends® Protein at your local Publix 🫐🍌 

#GetBlending #ad #DoleSunshine #DoleBoostedBlends @dolesunshine
Kicking off February the only way we know, with sw Kicking off February the only way we know, with sweets 🍓 We went to @parkesdale for strawberry milkshakes and strawberry shortcake. It was AMAZING (we have an extra milkshake in the freezer 😋) 

🥰I’m declaring that a trip to @parkesdale is now a February tradition for our family as it is for many other Tampa Bay families. 

💌What are your February traditions?! Valentine’s baskets? Heart pancakes? Share with me! 

#tampamom #plantcity #tampabay #momsofinstagram #momsofinsta #traditions #parenting #parents #firsttimemom #strawberryshortcake #strawberryfestival #momanddaughter #toddlervalentine #toddlermomlife #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerfashion #tampaflorida #motherhoodjourney
Are you even a mom if you don’t make cinnamon ro Are you even a mom if you don’t make cinnamon rolls into the shapes of hearts for Valentine’s Day?! I’ve seen this all over Instagram the last few years and had to do it with Vivian! She loved them and even ate them breakfast, lunch and dinner😆 

Lately she has been the pickiest eater and she is soooo choosey with what she eats. I know kids get in phases but dang it makes me feel like I’m failing. Makes me feel like I’m not doing a good enough job of feeding her. I know I definitely could give her more fruits and veggies but still 😫

What’s the craziest thing your kid demanded to eat instead of the delicious meal you prepared?!😆

#toddlerlife #toddlervalentine #valentinesnack #valentines #cinnamonrolls #heartshaped #mombloggers #momsofinstagram #momsofig #tampamom #momblogger #diymom #toddlermomlife #toddleractivities #bakingwithkids #pillowfort #momproblems #kidslunchideas #firsttimemom #motherhoodthroughinstagram #momproblems #toddlerfood #valentines #craftymom #momlifeisthebestlife
Ya know what’s ironic? Yesterday I hopped on sto Ya know what’s ironic? Yesterday I hopped on stories to chat about how I handle my toddler’s tantrums and the rest of the day was a nightmare of tantrums and today was the same 🙃 

I got a DM yesterday saying that I’m a super mom and while that’s flattering, it’s far from the truth. Instagram is a highlight reel and while I try to be super transparent with y’all, not everything makes the cut to IG. Kinda like how I sat in my laundry room to take a few deep breaths while my kid was freaking the f out. Or how I just want to crumble and cry because I’m trying so hard but sometimes I just can’t keep up with the big feelings of my toddler 😭 

Although things look like rainbows and butterflies on Instagram, it definitely does not mean we have it all together. We’re all just hanging on by a thread by bedtime 👏🏻😓

#momsofinstagram #mombloggers #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodunhinged #honestmom #tampamom #toddlerlife #toddlermomlife #toddler #toddlerfashion #parenting #parentingtips #momlife #momlifestyle #motherly #postpartumjourney #momblogger #momproblems #bloggersofinstagram #theeverymom #motherhoodinspired #motherhoodsimplified #momssupportingmoms #igdaily #firsttimemom
Do you remember the last time you went on a vacati Do you remember the last time you went on a vacation to sleep?!

As a mom, the thing I look forward to on any trip is S L E E P😴  It’s crazy how you take for granted simple things like sleep and sitting in bed watching the show of your choice. But sometimes it’s SO needed. I’ve recently been focusing on filing my own cup up and this was exactly what I needed.😌

This past weekend my sister in law and I had a girls trip that our husbands actually surprised us with at @omniorlandofl 👏🏻 (they were buttering us up for their golf trip) We spent the day at the Spa and had my first hot stone massage 🙌🏻 Swipe to see the making of this pic and my SIL falling off the bed😂

If you were to take a kid-free vaca right now, what would you be doing?!

#omnichampionsgate #momblogger #mombloggers #tampamom #orlando #orlandotrip #lovefl #girlstrip #momvacation #momsofinstagram #momsofinsta #momlife #travelphotography #travel #travelgram #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #theeverygirl #spaday #momswhotravel #momlifeisthebestlife
Today, I lost my patience. More times than I’d l Today, I lost my patience. More times than I’d like.

And I can’t help but feel so guilty because of it. It’s not her fault that I’m having trouble handling my emotions while she’s learning to understand her own. But how many times can you say “Please stop touching that”?! Not every day is perfect. Some days she’s an angel, other days she’s a little devil. Each age has come with new challenges and boy is the toddler stage the hardest yet 😣 Constantly reminding myself that she still doesn’t have an understanding of her actions and emotions! I have to admit I use that as an affirmation almost and it truly has helped me parent better at times.

How do you handle the BIG feelings of toddlers? Help a mama out 😖

#momsofinstagram #toddlerparents #toddlerlife #momsofinsta #tampamom #momsofig #mombloggers #momblogger #parenting #parenthood #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodjourney #parentingadvice #mamasgirl #toddlerfashion #20monthsold #momblog #momshelpingmoms #parentingtips #toddlertantrums #motherhoodunhinged
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