Happy Friday!
To be honest, I kind of forgot today was Friday. My days are all mixed up right now and sometimes I don’t know which way is up and which way is down. We are definitely in the newborn fog over here! We are working on getting into a routine with the girls and when we (hopefully) find a schedule that works for our twin girls, I will be sure to share it here.
In the meantime, I realized I haven’t done a Friday Favorites post in a long time. Today’s favorites are focused on new mom must haves. And these aren’t the typical recovery items like a girdle and mesh underwear, although lets be honest, those are definitely must-haves too. These are some things I’ve loved that have made me feel more human in my first few weeks of being a mom. I hope you enjoy!
Newborn Photos
Even through the sleep deprivation and exhaustion of having two newborns, I know how quickly this phase will pass. One day I will look back and miss my girls being babies and it was important to me to document this time in our lives through newborn photos. Plus who doesn’t love adorable baby pictures? When I was pregnant, I began researching newborn photographers in the DFW area and came across Stephanie Renee Photography. I loved her photos and she was offering a bundle package that included a newborn photo shoot, six-month photo shoot, and one-year photo shoot. I jumped on it! And I’m so glad I did. It will be so special to have professional pictures of the girls’ first year of life and I am thrilled with how their newborn pictures turned out. In my opinion, these are a must-have!
Kat Von D Go Big or Go Home Mascara
Confession time: I have been the stereotypical new mom this last month and lived in some form of leggings and extra large t-shirt with my hair in a ponytail and no make-up. I may even be guilty of not showering every day. Disgusting, I know. But being a new mom is definitely an adjustment and getting ready is not my first priority right now. So needless to say I have been feeling a little haggard. That’s why this next item is one of my new mom must haves. I received the Kat Von D Go Big or Go Home Mascara right after we got home from the hospital and the timing couldn’t have been better. *Disclaimer: I received this product, as well as the tattoo eye liner, from Influenster at no charge in exchange for my honest opinion* On days we leave the house, I try to make myself somewhat presentable by putting on a little bit of makeup and this mascara helps make me feel put together. It also gives my eyes a little oomph, which takes away from the giant bags that are under them right now. Feeling human goes a long way these days!
Student Loans Payoff
If you’ve been following my blog for a little while, you have probably seen a post somewhere along the way about our financial journey. Chris and I took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class shortly after we got married and we have been following the baby steps since then. We are currently on Baby Step #2 and working to pay off all of our debt. Recently we paid off my student loans and let me tell you, that was an exciting day in our house! We even paid them off a year and a half early, which is quite an accomplishment if you ask me. Now, why is this on my new mom must haves list? Because I am currently on maternity leave and I am getting about 60% of my salary for 8 weeks then the rest of my leave will be unpaid. Getting rid of a monthly payment is extremely helpful right now. It’s one less thing for us to worry about when our household income has decreased substantially for a few months. And as any new mom knows, having less stress very important!
Wine
I’m sure I don’t need to explain this one. I’ve only been a mom for 5 weeks and I can already tell it is going to be the hardest, most rewarding job I will ever have. After not drinking alcohol for 9+ months, I’m not going to lie, it’s nice to have an occasional glass of wine in the evenings. In fact, earlier this week Chris and I opened up a bottle of wine we’ve had since our wedding. It was a great way to celebrate our anniversary and relax.
Support
This is my biggest new mom must have. Support is so so important during this huge transition. Becoming a parent is quite possibly the biggest life change we can go through and having a support system is incredibly helpful. I have text several of my friends throughout the day (and night) when I needed advice or just to vent. Family members have given us reassurance that they didn’t know what they were doing either and Chris and I turned out just fine. No one has passed judgment and we have exchanged stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly of having a newborn. It has given me a lot of peace to know that no one has it all together and we’re all just doing the best we can.
There is definitely a learning curve when becoming a new mom, especially a new mom to twins, but we are slowly figuring things out. Some days, at least! Other days we have no idea what we’re doing. But I’m pretty sure that’s normal. We’re all fumbling our way through this parenting thing, right?
I hope you enjoyed this Friday Favorites post. And I hope it gives you some ideas of things that you may enjoy once your little one(s) arrive!
Leave a Comment