Moments of Musing

Reading is Fun[damental]!

Filed Under: motherhood //


This post is sponsored by Highlights for Children but all opinions are my own. 

When I think back on my nearly 20 years of education (no seriously), I think “woah that’s a long time.” But there is also a small part of me that misses school, learning and the constant reading that went along with it. I know, I sound like a nerd. But I think reading is so fundamental to learning and I don’t do nearly enough of it now that I’m a parent. 

Maybe that’s why I enjoy reading to and with the boys so much. Reading is one of my favorite activities to do with the boys. I started reading to my toddler when I was pregnant with him. And now, I try to fit in a book every chance we get. 



Our nightly bedtime routine with our toddler definitely changed once we brought home our baby. But I’ve realized we don’t need to read to the boys only at bedtime nor should we. We can read to them whenever and wherever!

I’m excited to have received Highlights Hello magazines. We’ve already read a few, and my toddler really liked the one about travel, which is fitting because we’re going away soon.  I’ll definitely be packing a few for the plane rides!

Lucky for you, I’ve partnered with Highlight for a giveaway. Head to my Instagram post to enter! 

Good luck!

From Weaning Blues to Brighter Days

Filed Under: breastfeeding, motherhood, postpartum, weaning //

This is probably one of my more vulnerable posts and I didn’t even plan to write about this today… or any day. But writing helps me and I thought talking about this might help some of you, too. Honestly, if it helps just one of you then it’s worth it.  

————
I recently found myself experiencing more anxiety than usual. And then it all came to a head. I couldn’t keep it to myself because I needed to just let my feelings out. And boy did that help. 

Let’s backtrack a bit to this day:


The day this photo was taken my emotions once again felt all out of sorts. As I stated, leading up to that day I had been going through a weird/tough time emotionally. I think this was due to a drastic decrease in my breast milk production so I’ve since worked to increase it again. I didn’t mean to wean, actually. Work had just gotten a bit busier and so I was pumping less (AKA not at all at work) and therefore my supply was diminishing. (I recently spoke to my doctor recently at my annual physical and she said that it is quite possible.)

I did a bit of research and stumbled upon A Cup of Jo’s blog post about her weaning-related depression. Suddenly, I felt validated. It’s not that my loved ones didn’t validate my feelings, it’s that I myself just couldn’t understand why I’d feel so nervous and down despite having it seemingly “all together” — healthy, beautiful boys; a loving and understanding husband, family and friends… 

I didn’t understand it. But I knew something was not right. I felt way too sad. So that day in the above photo I also took this photo below to one day remind myself that though it sucked in the thick of it… brighter days were sure to follow.


That day was probably the worst I felt and also the last time I’ve felt that way. It felt like nothing I’d ever experienced and I’d be ecstatic to never feel that way again. Today, I am just so grateful to feel like MYSELF again. And I’m grateful for my amazing support system.

I don’t really have advice (sorry) except to say if you’re struggling, please know you’re not alone. You don’t have to carry the weight of your worries alone. Keeping everything to myself felt just like that — a huge weight and burden. It made me feel worse. Sharing my feelings with people I trust helped life the weight. 

And if you struggle regularly, please know you are a warrior. If you’re feeling off, trust yourself. Take care of yourself. Do what is best for you. Find support. Reach out. 

And know there are brighter days ahead. ❤️

She is Tired but She is Fierce

Filed Under: motherhood //

I recently saw this quote floating around: “she is fierce but she is tired.” It’s true. I am both. I am fiercely independent (my husband always jokes about this with me), I believe in myself, I work hard and I love even harder.

If you ask me what I am happiest about it’s my family, especially my kids and being their mom. That being said, it’s been over two and a half years since I’ve regularly slept eight hours straight. Therefore, I am tired—perpetually so.

However, what we say and how we say it matters. 

If I say I am fierce but I am tired, I feel as though I am throwing a little bit of my fiercessness away. I am saying that being tired is holding me back. I would be sorta maybe insinuating that I am not reaching my full potential.

That’s why instead I’d say

 I am tired but I am fierce.

Because being tired doesn’t stop me. I’m a mom (and dang proud to be!) and I am tired. Both of those things are true, yes. But they are mutually exclusive. And you better believe being tired isn’t holding me back. So, you take breaks if you need to, but don’t let it hold you back either. You’re too fierce to let it, mama!

Our Days are Bananas

Filed Under: motherhood //

This post is sponsored by Baby Boxy but all opinions are my own.

Hi, hello there Monday! Nice to see you … and you all, too! I know to many people Mondays are hectic and yes, they can be for us, too. But if I’m being honest many of our days are hectic. 
A year ago, we’d wake up at 4:30AM, leave our house at 5:30AM and get home around 8PM. That would leave us little down time to unwind. We’d watch a couple shows, if that, climb into bed, and do it all over again. Oh, and I was pregnant at the time so those long days were not the easiest for me at times.

After our second baby was born, we realized we wanted to slow down a bit lot more. Maternity leave helped us to do that. And while we have improved our quality of life since our crazy 4:30AM wake ups, our days are still bananas — but in the best possible way now!

Our toddler and our baby, who’s steps away from being a toddler, keep us on our toes every minute of every day. I’ve told you how becoming a mom to two under two was a bit overwhelming. And while we’ve definitely found our rhythm, it’s still challenging at times. But I think it always will be and that’s okay — that’s parenthood, and quite frankly, life for ya. 

  

Work-wise, I juggle my full-time job (my commute for which is three hours roundtrip!) along with  my MOM projects. My work days are kind of unconventional as a result. Sometimes I have evening or weekend events to attend, or photos to shoot, which I mostly do on my days off. Thankfully, my husband shoots most of my content and my kids are included in some of it so it’s a family affair and we still get to spend that time together. I like to think that an upside of my busyness with work is I am setting a good example for my kiddos.

All of that being said, I wouldn’t ever trade our days for calm days. 
These have been my most favorite days. 

Speaking of bananas, R’s cute bananas onesie is courtesy of Baby Boxy. Baby Boxy offers a uniquely curated and beautifully packaged baby gift box set for babies. It features top brands like Kickee Pants & Milkbarn. R’s particular sleeper is from Little Sleepies and it is such a comfy material. (Get 15% off with code MOMENTS15)

If you too are busy (the chances of which are high because who isn’t busy?!), this really is perfect for you. It’s a great way to gift a thoughtful present to those special expectant parents or parents of babies in your life in one simple step — just select a gift box! 
The best part of Baby Boxy is its personal touch. This is especially great because it does all the work for you — each box includes multiple things, such as a sleeper, toy, and teether.

Importantly, Baby Boxy partners with companies that produce eco-friendly products, companies that source via fair trade organizations and companies that give back to the community. 

From the custom, white exterior box to the luxe, extra thick greeting card to the premium white gift box with silver bow to the carefully crafted interior layout, every Baby Box detail is thoughtfully planned to make sure your gift is extra special.

Get yours today for 15% off with code MOMENTS15!

What I’ve been up to recently {via instagram}

Filed Under: instagram, life, life lately, life update //

I have admittedly been a bit absent from here. February threw me through a loop with all of us being sick at one point or another. Before my sinus infection, I hadn’t had a fever in as long as I can remember so having two within as many days definitely forced me to take a step back.

And then, I don’t know, my emotions spiraled and I kind of did not gather my bearings until recently. I explain why towards the end of this post.

Here is what I’ve been up to recently via instagram. (If you don’t follow me, you should because I update that the most frequently of all my channels and platforms.)

1. Moments of Musing turned 2!


March is Spring’s month, and therefore, symbolizes a month of new beginnings. Fresh starts. Change. March is also Women’s History Month. It is therefore fitting that two years ago this month I re-launched my blog, which celebrates all things woman, mom, wife, and more.


2. I have a few cool projects coming up and I’ve been working harder than ever to make my dreams a reality.

“Women, we are nurturers, that’s what’s expected of us. We have our children. We have our husbands if we are lucky enough, and our partners, whoever. But we have to find personal fulfillment. We have to follow our dreams. We have to say, ‘I can do that and I should be allowed to do that.'” – Glen Close

This year, I’m filling my heart with love AND I’m following my dreams. I am excited, I am nervous and I am READY!


3. Motherhood has been wonderful … funny, embarrasing, frustrating, stressful but always beautiful and full of SO MUCH LOVE (and blowouts). 


My toddler threw open my public restroom stall door at breakfast over the weekend leaving me a bit embarrassed (and cracking up) and a fellow mom (total stranger) having to catch said door so it didn’t slam into her + her child. #thisismotherhood


4. WE’RE GOING ON A TROPICAL VACATION SOON!


Since the summer isn’t coming to us anytime soon we decided we’ll go to it! We recently booked our upcoming island vacation and I’m SO excited! Move over weaning + winter blues …this mama is trading you in for a different kind of blues…


5. I am happy with my postpartum body progress… it’s almost hard to believe I weigh the least I have since around my wedding! (I’m sharing a more in-depth postpartum body update in my instagram stories today.)



Mirror, mirror, know what I see? A magical body ✨ It’s carried and birthed two babies, via two C-sections, & has fed them both. I’m just so grateful for the magic of it all. 💕Getting ready for our upcoming island vacation, which means stocking up on swim suits! Funny how I used to be more self-conscious pre-baby. Counting down the days!