6 Ways To Get Through A Hard First Trimester

Guys. I'm not gonna lie. The first 4 months were REALLY hard. I am SO thankful that I started feeling better!  September was my golden month thank God!!
This pregnancy I was sicker than the previous two. I was pretty sick with the first 2, but mostly just nausea and exhaustion. This time, I had that x2, headaches a lot, feeling like I had the flu non-stop, feeling like I can't breathe, dizziness and just mentally, not myself. Not to mention it was like 100+ here for months which didn't help. That topped with being sick 3 times with never-ending virus' or colds over the summer....it hasn't been fun.
So it was quiet over here as my days consisted of work, working out and then going to bed. I have a really hard time with being confined inside of a house for days on end. But that is exactly what life has consisted of during those months. Just survival mode. The only thing that gave me any life was working out. Even when I was exhausted and feeling like I may puke, I tried my very hardest to workout as much as possible because it was the one thing that made me feel just a little bit like myself.  My eating habits went to hell. I was eating pretty much NOTHING that I used to eat. Which probably also made me feel less like myself. The thought of eating vegetables or meals that I used to love, made me want to hurl. I only wanted to eat carbs, carbs and more carbs. I even drank a root beer! The first soda I've had in over 4 years!!! Pregnancy can be brutal. Literally taking your life and just flipping it completely upside down. Not everyone experiences this but some of us do, right?  I've always said and I will say it again, I am not one that enjoys pregnancy that much and I don't feel guilty for saying so. I am SO thankful and feel blessed that I can carry babies and have had no fertility issues. I think it's amazing what your body can do! There are parts that I do enjoy, I say that as I am sitting here feeling her kick like crazy. Those little moves from inside my stomach I love!!  But there is really only a small portion of time that I truly feel good and enjoy being pregnant. And it is NOT the first trimester, I can assure you that! I am not a fun person to be around for the first 3-4 months. In fact, I don't feel like much of a person at all.  I just have really rough first trimesters. So I thought maybe if anyone else out there is going through this mentally and physically exhausting time, that I would share some things that have helped me.

Here are my personal tips for getting through a rough first trimester.

1. Just eat what you want. But try to keep it in moderation. I literally threw out my meal planning altogether after throwing away like 4 meals that I could not stomach. lol. The cravings or aversions can be REAL so just eat what you can and what you want. Just try not to overeat. That can make you feel worse anyway. This was hard for me because I get what they call nausea-hunger. If I'm eating I don't' feel as nauseous but as soon as I'm done eating, the nausea sets back in. Which makes me want to eat non-stop. I have gained 18 lbs at 24 weeks. This is the most that I've gained at this stage with any of my kids!!  Most always in the second trimester, this tapers off whether you are sick non-stop and can't eat (I lost weight with Scarlett in the first couple months) or whether you were like me this time around and eating was just a hot mess. Now that I am feeling a little better, I am eating better.

2. Work out. My God you can be exhausted during this time! But TRY, TRY, TRY to get in even a 10 min workout if you can. Obviously this only applies to women that are allowed to workout. I've read it can give you more energy to workout as well. I mean, anything is worth a shot! Also, it is counter-balancing the food that you may be eating that isn't so good for you. (in my case anyhow)  I just felt really down the entire first trimester. Those hormones mess with you big time and I found myself feeling moody or depressed a lot. It didn't help that I was sitting in my bed or the couch for days. So working out was my one escape from the torture that I felt like was happening to me. It really did help me to feel less down. I kept track and it seemed to be a pattern that on the days that I did workout, I didn't feel grumpy the next day. If you have no energy to work-out, get outside and take a walk.


3. Try different things. People suggest all sorts of things to try. Preggie Pops, ginger, vitamin B6, Unisom etc etc. Not everything works. And in my case, sometimes nothing works. But some days, certain things did work so I went with them. Vitamin B6 vitamins seemed to make me more sick and ginger as well. Anything ice cold was the only thing that seemed to give me a little relief. That and bananas. So try diff things and see what works for you.

4. Rely on family and friends if you can. I don't have either here in TX but Ty has been my saving grace while I was on my deathbed lol. He took over all the cooking, most of the cleaning, kid's baths, bedtimes and helping more on his own with the kids. Ask for help because it's hard and sometimes you just need some help. I have zero guilt in letting him take over for awhile since my body was doing triple the amount of work that I could ever do not pregnant on any given day.

5. Just know it's going to suck but it won't last forever.
This is basically what it comes down to. With Scarlett I was a little sick. Maxwell a little more sick. And this one, the worst sickness yet. You never know how you will feel. Each person and pregnancy is so different! In my experience, all the old wives tales and things that studies show were opposite. They say morning sickness is more prominent with girls but I was sicker with Maxwell than I was with Scarlett. I was carrying low and prominent, textbook boy style. 90% of people said that they thought I was having a boy when I was pregnant with Scarlett and this baby girl seems to be the same. With Maxwell, I was more round and carried higher like they say girls are carried. There is no way to tell how you will feel or what will happen but just know, sometimes you get a rough pregnancy and it sucks. It won't last forever. Generally it ends after the first trimester or soon into the second trimester. So just look for that light at the end of the tunnel and do the best you can. Rest. Try to be easy on yourself. And maybe book a pedicure or a facial....anything to pamper yourself when you are feeling your worst. You aren't alone! There are so many women out there going through the same thing and it won't last forever.


6. Look forward to the good times ahead. This is hard to do when you feel like crap. I used to try my hardest to think about when I get to hold the new baby. I envisioned the kids meeting her for the first time and all the new adventures that we will bring all 3 of our little ones on! These moments helped a little to forget the temporary struggles and see the big picture. The big picture is that you are blessed to be carrying a baby and some women are praying for the sickness you are going through, just to hold a little baby like you will soon do! Sending lots of love to anyone out there going through a rough time during their pregnancy with whatever it is you are going through. Again, you are not alone.

Weekend Vibes: 21 Weeks & We Picked a Name!!

 21 weeks. I think I may always be behind on this documenting the bump thing. I am 24 weeks as I write this but these photos were taken at 21.
There's been more outings and more living lately. More decorating and less pregnancy misery lol. Oh this glorious second trimester is the part of pregnancy that I can deal with. And guess what?!
We picked a name!!! And we are mimicking what we did with Maxwell and keeping it on the downlow until she is born. I really thought about not finding out the gender this time around. I thought maybe I could do it but I just couldn't! I am too much of a planner. We have shared pretty much everything about this little one that I thought it would be nice to just keep something to ourselves for now until we see her little face. We did this with Maxwell and it just made it that much more special. So she shall remain "Baby Girl" until 2020. ;)  I will say that all of my kids have middle names after family members that we love and/or lost. So we are staying true to that and she will have a middle name after another family member.
I am just SO in love with her name. It just came to me one day as I was pondering names. I asked Ty what he thought and he immediately said, "I like that".  I just knew it was the one! It felt perfect just as Scarlett and Maxwell did to us.
So name is checked off the list....baby gear? Not so much lol. I'll get there. It dawned on me today that we will have 3 kids.....THREE KIDS....a newborn in less than 4 months!!! I often still don't feel like I'm old enough some days. I often feel like I'm still a young 20-something year old. And then I think back and remember my 20's and things I did and realize that I am definitely NOT. Nor do I wish to be. Ha ha. To think that 10 or so years ago, I didn't even know if I wanted to get married or have kids....Sometimes you just have to meet the right person to change your mind.

We just got back from Massachusetts and I have SO many fun pictures coming on the next blog post!! 

Looking back 17 Weeks: How I'm doing now, Nursery Dilema and Baby Names

I just realized that with everything going on, I haven't documented this pregnancy much at all. womp womp....I haven't done any weekly posts or bump updates. So I decided I will start now. No better time than the present. These photos are from 17 weeks but I am much further along now. I will try and squeeze a few posts in for memory's sake.

Phew. Let me catch my breath...
For a couple of reasons. Ha ha. It's been a whirlwind of a month moving and starting new schools and just trying to regain a few ounces of energy. I also started getting these spells where I was standing still but so completely out of breath like I just ran a 1/2 mile and feeling almost disoriented. I started some iron pills and I've been feeling much better.

I started feeling the baby move SO early this time around! I first felt her at about 16 weeks. She is now full blown kicking and squirming around at 22 weeks. I actually love this. This is one of the few things that I truly enjoy about pregnancy. Scarlett and Maxwell have both felt her moving. They get so excited to feel her little jabs.

When we started building the house, we had two bedrooms upstairs close together attached by a jack and jill bathroom that were designated to Maxwell and Scarlett. The other room is further away off the playroom and that is currently the guest room. This was all before we found out I was pregnant. Now, we don't really know where to put the baby's room since we have a 1st floor master suite. For awhile, the baby will be in our room but I feel like the age difference between Scarlett and baby are too far apart to share a room. I imagine Maxwell won't sleep well with a baby in his room. Do we eliminate the guest room?? I also can't imagine running up the stairs every time she wakes. Anyone out there have a first floor master and a baby?? What did you do?

Everyone keeps asking me if I have thought of any names. To be honest....no lol. And I need to! I have looked briefly but all my old favorites are no longer my favorite. And the one I did like got shot down by Ty and Scarlett. It will come to us as perfectly as the other two did. I just have to find the right name to go along with Scarlett and Maxwell.  I am not really worried about it. I just think it will come to me. Anyhow, I am 22 weeks currently and I am finally to that phase where I feel great most of the time.  I am getting things accomplished while I'm feeling good. There's lots to be done and so much going on. I do recall I like it that way...now if Fall would arrive in TX, that would be awesome! I am over the 100 degree days!!

Weekend Vibes: Gender Reveal, Pharm Table & Little Victories

As most of you already saw weeks ago, we revealed we are having another baby girl!! We did a small reveal with the kids with a confetti popper and their reactions were priceless! You can see them on my Instagram Story Highlights: Baby #3. Their reactions are exactly how I expected them to be. And shortly after, I started getting out of the house for the first time in a long time. Which felt great after being confined to the house for months. We just did small trips like brunch or grabbing coffee and going to Walmart for toilet paper and paper towels....lol. My favorite store! Can you hear my sarcasm? Or bringing the kids for a treat. But even these small things seemed like a huge victory. As the sickness slowly subsided, I started to feel myself come back. Such a relief to be able to have some motivation again!!

Now comes the time for "catching-up". I'm catching up on documenting life here, catching up on settling into the new house and eating better, catching up on being a mom to Scarlett & Maxwell...and let's be honest, a wife too. I can't say I've been much of any of those titles the last few months.

Now it's time to prepare for baby girl. I don't know why but I'm so far behind on getting anything for the baby this time around and I don't feel a bit of stress about it at all. I know I will get what I need in time. By baby #3 I feel like I know exactly what I will need. Anyhow, I have a lot of blog posts that I have scheduled for the next week or two so stop by often and read more if you care to follow along this journey of ours :)

Back To Eating Healthy: Meal Plan for the Week

Thank God Ty took over for me while I was out of commission the first 3 months of my pregnancy. But I'm back to eating healthy and craving the foods that I used to love. I thought I would share some of what is inside my fridge on a random week and what I'm trying to do to stay healthy while pregnant. Now in my second trimester, I'm really trying my best to stick to healthy foods. I tell myself before I put something in my mouth, would you feed this to your baby?? Because this is what I'm essentially doing. But, that doesn't mean I won't treat myself now and again. Because I certainly do.

Here is my meal plan for this particular week. I have recently had to incorporate a lot more iron enriched foods into my diet because with both past pregnancies I was anemic and this one seems to be headed in that direction also. So lots of iron-rich foods are incorporated into my meals such as spinach, cashews, pumpkin seeds, apricots, raisins, sweet potatoes etc...I'm not a huge meat eater so I have to double up on other things.

I left out Sat and Sun because I'm more lenient on the weekends, although I stick to the 6 smaller meals a day and try to stick to my water intake. I will admit that when I feel more hungry, I eat more than I normally would and I'm ok with that at this stage of my pregnancy.  I've been mixing up my water because it's been SO hard to stick to my water intake!! Water made me nauseous for a really long time. Anyhow, this is what one week of my meals looked like. Note all the workouts are now prenatal workouts from the Tone It Up app.

My Top Baby Picks

Along my search to find some great baby products, I have compiled a list of things that I love myself or that have come highly recommended that I will be trying out this time around. I'm going to be a bit minimilist this time around. For 2 reasons. 1. I know this is our last, so I don't want to be buying tons of baby things. and 2. I know that half of the things that I got/bought with Scarlett and Maxwell, I didn't use. These are some things I DID use and these are the ones I'm going to purchase this time around.


1. Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper $230-$280
I've never used this before but it was my number 1 recommendation on Instagram when I asked for favorite baby products. I think this would be really helpful for those sleepless first months. I'd feel safer with baby being in her own bed but still being so close. Last time I used a mini crib and it was hard during the newborn phase.

2. Nuna Mixx Stroller $650
I personally used this stroller with Maxwell and I loved it. It was durable and easy to use in multiple different ways. Last time I got to work with Nuna and got their products for free. They have the best colors now in 2019 and have made some improvements! So I may just purchase this splurge. Want a more affordable but similar version? Try the Maxi Cosi Adorra HERE. Looks similar with good reviews.

3. Mother's Choice Breeze High Chair $34
I have not used this but a high chair is one of those things that I don't want to spend a ton of money on. They outgrow them so quickly in my experience. This one is stylish and affordable.

4. Dohm Elite White Noise Machine $50
This was my saving grace when I had Maxwell. He would sleep SO much better when we used this. I didn't have this exact version but this one had good reviews and was listed on the "Best Baby Picks" list so I will try it.

5. Nuna Pippa Lite $400
Another splurge here. When I had the original for Maxwell, it was a bit heavy and that was my #1 complaint. They have now come out with the lite version and this is why I'd buy again. They also hold their value and I sold this for more than 1/2 of what I bought it for after I was done using it.

6. Joovy Boob Glass Bottle $45 (3 pack)
The only bottle that Maxwell would take. This is one of those things that is not going to work for every baby but the nipple on this one was great and very realistic. Also, can't get better than glass.

7. Haaka $13
Another highly recommended Instagram pick from you guys. I'm gonna try it out!! I must say I wasted a lot of breastmilk when nursing one side.

8. Nanobebe Baby Bottle Cooler w/ Ice Pack $11
I wish I had bought this when I had Maxwell. I was always wishing that the bottle I brought would stay cooler for longer. What a great invention and it clips right to the stroller. In Texas, this is going to be a necessity.


Some other things that I am purchasing because I used them a lot with past babies:

A good, comfortable rocker
Changing table/dresser combo
Travel Baby Swing
Crib for when baby outgrows the Halo

Have any good recommendations? I'd love them!

Chapter 35.

So, in true Lauren fashion, this post is totally late. But I guess that is aceptable since I was not really in commission for a few months. Anyhow, I turned 35 this year. Gasp. 

My birthday this year kind of went under the radar since I was sick. Normally my birthdays are a week long celebration with friends, family, lots of pools, nights out and food/drinks. This year, it was spent laying on a blanket on the green of The Pearl in downtown San Antonio, watching the kids play in the water and eating a s'more donut w/ ice cream. And that was about all I had energy for!
I don't know if it's hotter here this summer than last or just feels that way since I'm pregnant but it's been SO hot. Way too hot to do anything except stay inside or in the pool.

So I quietly turned 35. Wow. How did that happen!? The last 10 years went by in the blink of an eye. I met Ty 10 years ago and it's true. The good times fly. You can't fully understand that until you experience that one yourself. This is a brand new chapter in my book. And there are definitely lots of changes coming our way. For one, if you haven't noticed, a new baby will join us in this chapter of my life. A baby girl to be exact. We moved into a new house. A house we built to be exact. And one other exciting thing that I'm very THRILLED about is coming in the future as well. Changes seem to be the theme for this chapter. I will have to get used to loving 3 babes. I'm sure that won't be too hard ;)  I will have to start getting used to living in a 3600 sq ft house after living in a 1200 sq ft rental for the last year and a 1/2. **Maid for hire** I'm really just feeling happy and blessed in this current stage of my life. So many times I hear 20-something year olds talking about how they are so sad that they are nearing 30 and the good times will be over soon. I am living proof that 30's were SO much better than most of my 20's.  Not as many hard lessons and more enjoyment. Not as much insecurity and more confidence. Not as much drama and more love. Don't get me wrong, I've appreciated every stage in my life. There's some I don't like to remember but I know they have built me into who I am. They have sewn each thread of life lesson into my soul and made me the free-spirit that I am today. My 30's are where I started to soak up the moments and wish they would stay longer. They were where I learned that life is what you make it and that I am blessed. My 30's were where I started to take care of my body and eat things that nourished me. And because of this, my 30's were when I started to FEEL so much healthier. So those of you nearing 30....don't fear it. It's a great chapter! I'm so looking forward to Chapter 35. Hoping it's as good to me as the last 5 years have been.