Boy Moms – Living The M Life

Boy Moms, Fashion and Beauty, Fave Products, Motherhood

Why I Switched to Shopping Small for Children’s Clothing

September 7, 2020October 4, 2020by courtneyimade2 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you know that I love to share children’s and infants’ clothing from big retailers like the Gap, Zara, Ralph Lauren and Carters. I still love those brands, but this year my boys’ wardrobes look a little different. Most of their items are from small shops I discovered on Instagram. I share a lot of my finds in my Instagram stories. If you’re wondering why I made such a dramatic shift, here are the reasons why I decided to start shopping small:

Great Boy/Gender Neutral Options

I’ve frequently discussed how boy moms get the short end of the stick when it comes to kids fashion. A few large retailers like the Gap and Zara do a good job of providing fashionable options for boys, but there are some small shops that really understand that boy moms (and dads) want more options. Small shops make shopping for my boys fun- seasonal colors and silhouettes feel well thought out and special. Some small shops also specialize in gender neutral items. And I’m able to find options that are comfortable enough for play but feature high quality (and often organic) fabric that holds up well and makes it easier to pass items down to siblings or friends. As a mom of three boys close in age, I’ve learned that quality definitely matters when I try to pass as many items as possible down from one brother to another.

Support for Women Owned Businesses

Most of the small shops that I frequent are women (and mom) owned businesses. I have a lot of respect for female entrepreneurs. Several years ago I started a small vintage and retro clothing company with my husband. It was a lot of work and I remember how excited we got every time we heard the sound of a new order (we’re running on autopilot right now with plans to relaunch soon, but we still get excited if there’s a new Etsy order). If I have a choice between handing my money over to a large corporation or to a woman who’s chasing her dreams, I’ll choose the latter.

Resale Opportunities

The most frequent complaint I hear about shopping small for children’s clothing is that the cost is too high. I’ll admit it took me a little while to get over my sticker shock. Most large retailers are able to offer clothing at a lower price or with frequent sales because they can absorb the costs. When I researched this issue, I found out that making children’s clothing is actually quite expensive. Factories often charge a premium for smaller sizes, especially when they have to apply additional safety and quality standards. While it’s unfortunate that these costs have to be passed on to the consumer, I think it’s worth it to invest in quality you can trust and to avoid the hidden dangers of fast fashion. Some small shops also make items by hand and the price is a reflection of materials, labor, and love.

One of the ways that I get around the higher costs is by making money back when I’m done with an item through resale markets. This is my #1 tip to save money over time. There are many groups on Facebook that allow users to buy and sell clothing via paypal. Some are specific to one brand and some cover a variety of brands. You can usually find them by searching for “[brand name] BST” in groups. And some brands have a very high resale value; I have been able to resell some items from Childhoods Clothing for more than their original retail value when I changed my mind about a particular style.

Here are some of my favorite shops for baby and children’s clothing. If you have any favorites let me know in the comments.

In an upcoming post I’ll share some of my favorite small businesses for toys, educational resources and sensory play.

Xo,

Courtney

Boy Moms, Fave Products, Motherhood

My Must Have Clothing Items for Boys

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020by courtneyimadeLeave a Comment

As a mom of 3 boys, I jokingly refer to myself as a VIP member of the boy mom club. One thing I’ve noticed (and have mentioned here before) is that boy moms have far less options when it comes to finding cute clothing for our sons. Over the past few years I’ve gotten a lot of items from a handful of brands that I think consistently make cute options for boys (you can read more about them in my blog post here) but there are some items that have really stood out to me. These are the things that I find myself rebuying in new sizes and colors every year because they’re such a staple in my children’s wardrobes. If you don’t have boys, some of these items also make great gifts. Here are my faves, click the title of each item to shop:

Gap’s Icon Denim Jacket–

It doesn’t get much more classic than a denim jacket. I love The Gap for baby and children’s clothing because the quality is excellent and they always make cute items for boys. Every time Mason outgrows his Icon jacket I get a new one and pass down the old one to Myles. They’re all in such great shape I’ll be passing them down to Maxwell as well. This jacket is definitely a staple from spring through the fall. You can add it to a pair of sweatpants and a tshirt for a more put together casual look, or put it on top of a button down shirt and a pair of pants.

Gap’s Fleece Cargo Pants–

These are my favorite casual pants for the boys. They’re super soft, have held up well through lots of washing, and have the ease of a sweatpant with a slightly elevated cool factor. I have these in 3 colors for both of my toddlers. They frequently sell out, but there are a few sizes left right now and they’re on sale.

Oshkosh Overalls–

Overalls from Oshkosh B’gosh are classic, cute and nostalgic. They make me think of my own childhood. Even though its a relatively simple item, my boys get a lot of compliments when wearing them. The quality is also high enough to pass down.

Gap Slim Cords in Camel–

These camel corduroys are a staple in the fall and winter. They work with a wide variety of tops and the slim design is a more modern spin on a classic corduroy.

Gap Chambray Slip On Sneakers–

This is another item that I try to buy every time Mason outgrows them, but they’re so popular that they sell out very quickly in the Spring and Summer. It’s definitely best to grab these early if you can. This simple Chambray sneaker looks good with just about everything, and is so easy to slip on and off.

Ralph Lauren Polos–

There is something about a polo that looks so preppy, polished and adorable on little boys. I love the quality of these, and if you shop Ralph Lauren’s end of season sales you can get them at a steep discount (often less than $10).

Gap Baby Brannan Sweaters–

Gap makes these adorable sweaters with animal ears in neutral colors and cute prints for both boys and girls. Every sweater that I have purchased has held up well over time, so they’re another great item for gifting and for passing down to siblings.

Zara Puffer Coats–

Zara is one of my favorite places to purchase outerwear for the boys. Their winter coats are warm and stylish. They also tend to run a little big so your child has room to grow.

Carters Sleep N Plays–

My boys have spent practically every day in these popular one pieces from birth to nine months. They’re affordable and come in a variety of really cute prints for boys. Carters even makes a two way zipper version now that makes diaper changes easier.

Those are the items that have been on repeat the most in my boys’ wardrobes, and that I continuously buy because they’re so useful. If you have any boys items that you love, or stores that you recommend, let me know in the comments!

Xo,

Courtney

Boy Moms, Fave Products, Home Decor, Lifestyle, Motherhood

My Favorite Things: Home Edition

January 19, 2020by courtneyimadeLeave a Comment

I realized that home decor is one subject that I haven’t really talked about much on this blog, but I’ve always been a fan of interior design. My style is a bit minimalist, a lot bohemian, and a bit farmhouse inspired (I’ve seen way too many episodes of Fixer Upper). My home is still a work in progress, but there are definitely some pieces I’ve collected over the years that I love, and thought it would be fun to highlight them here rather than do a traditional home tour. It’s funny how certain objects can take on meaning in our lives. I’d love to hear about your decor style and favorite things in the comments.

Dining Room Sign

I have a farmhouse style dining table and this sign from Smallwoods hangs behind it. I love the sentiment behind this sign. This quote by Walt Whitman (that is actually paraphrased from one of his poems) reminds me to appreciate my time with my family. Looking back we’ll remember the time spent with people we love rather than the small grievances and annoyances. Smallwoods makes a variety of cute signs and even lets you customize framed photos and quotes.

Photo Wall

I know that some people love to hang family photographs but I always preferred to keep my walls looking pretty minimal. I usually also prefer artwork to personal photographs. But that made things look a bit impersonal, so I compromised with this Mixtiles photo wall. I love the cohesive, clean lines. Mixtiles is incredibly easy to use: just download the app, upload photos from your phone, and choose the style of frame that you would like. When they arrive you can just stick them straight onto your wall- no nails and hammer required, and you can rearrange or add to your wall anytime.

My Boys’ Nursery

My boys’ room has always been one of my favorite rooms. I love the soft, soothing colors. You definitely do not have to use dark colors for a boys room (although I’ve seen many beautiful rooms that do). I chose to decorate in shades of mint and light blue with white accents. There is also an animal theme going on. Their wall tapestry is from Society6. I’m getting ready to transfer Mason to a “big boy” room and I’m currently researching ideas.

My Hat Wall

As you can probably already tell from my Instagram feed, I love hats. I also love head wraps and pretty much hair accessories of any kind. After seeing so many hat walls on social media, I decided to display my own this way. I have more than what’s pictured here, and some have come from places like H&M, Banana Republic, and Nordstrom, but my favorite hat style is available on Amazon for less than $20! I have it in multiple colors.

My Children of War Art Print

I used to live in Old Town Alexandria, and one of my favorite day dates in my neighborhood was browsing the art at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. I fell in love with a painting from Michael Fischerkeller’s Children of War series. Unfortunately the original wasn’t for sale at the time, but I was able to score this signed print. I really appreciate that you can get to know the artists at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

The Boys’ Play Kitchen

Three boys means that I have a ton of toys everywhere. But this Kidkraft Farm to Table Play Kitchen that we purchased this past Christmas is one of my favorites, despite the fact that it took half the night to put it together. My boys love to play with everything in sight in the real kitchen, so I wanted to get them their own to hopefully keep them out of mine (so far this has been unsuccessful). I love that this particular set looks gender neutral and the colors complement my real furniture. It’s available on Amazon.

My Grandad’s Swords

My grandad passed away after battling pancreatic cancer in 2017, and he and I were very close. I grew up visiting my grandparents every Sunday, and my grandad was present for every major life event that I experienced before his passing. During his life he traveled to many different countries thanks to a long career in the Air Force. He picked these swords up in South Korea. I keep them on top of my fireplace in remembrance of him.

Those are some of my favorite items in my home. What items have special meaning for you in your home? What’s your favorite home decor style?

Xo,

Courtney

Boy Moms, Motherhood, Pregnancy and Postpartum, Uncategorized

Welcome to the World Maxwell

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019by courtneyimade2 Comments

On Friday I welcomed my third little M into the world. Maxwell (aka Max) made his debut at 37 weeks. I thought this might be a good time to post a quick update on how we’re doing so far and share his birth story. Although things didn’t go exactly as planned, I had a safe delivery and I’m so grateful he’s here and healthy.

I started having very mild contractions on Thursday afternoon. I thought they were Braxton Hicks contractions and that I needed to hydrate and take a walk as my doctor had previously advised. I took my boys for a walk and they went away, but my intuition told me to start prepping for the hospital just in case that evening. Around 1 or 2 am they came back and were strong enough to wake me up, and by 4am they were intense but irregular. I knew to call my doctor once the contractions were 3 minutes apart so I timed them on my phone and gave him (and my mom) a call around 5 am. He told me to head to the hospital.

By the time I got there my contractions were very intense but still a few minutes apart and I figured I was close but still had a little while to go. Apparently it was a very busy birthing weekend at the hospital so I sat in triage for a while. When the on-staff doctor finally came in to check me she was shocked, I was already fully dilated and ready to go. She told me to avoid pushing no matter what and they scrambled to get me into a delivery room in time and get ahold of my actual doctor. Thankfully he made it in time, but coming in fully dilated meant that I didn’t have time for an epidural. I was pretty scared beforehand, I’ve never had a natural birth and wasn’t prepared for one this time. Pushing without an epidural was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but thankfully it was all over in about 8 minutes!

Since it was my third delivery I was discharged from the hospital the next day. We’re settling in and doing great, although I have to admit the first couple of nights have been tough. My second child was a great sleeper from the start, but so far Max is more like his oldest brother. Hopefully we get through this stage and into a routine quickly. Thankfully I have a lot of help right now- my husband, Mom, and sister are keeping my head on straight this week and my mother in law will be here on Sunday.

Maxwell is so sweet and adorable, I’m soaking up all the cuddle time I can get. And his brothers are showing a lot of interest in him. They keep rubbing his head and Mason has even been giving him a few kisses. I can’t wait to see the three of them playing together eventually.

I’ll be posting more updates on my experience with three under three here. Thanks to everyone who sent us well wishes!

Xo,

Courtney

Boy Moms, Marriage, Millennial Life Advice, Motherhood

Our New Arrival + How to Get Professional Photography for Less

April 23, 2019April 23, 2019by courtneyimade4 Comments

We took the above photo during the Cherry Blossom festival in DC. I love this photo despite my windswept hair. This was a very special shoot for our family because it’s the first time I’ve taken a family photo with both of my sons while pregnant. Yes, we’re expecting baby #3 (already!)

This pregnancy came as a bit of a shock to both me and my husband. We were planning to try for another baby next year to (probably) finish off our family. But you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Once the initial shock wore off we were both filled with a sense of calm. We’ve experienced the joy of adding a new family member twice now, and all of the love that the experience brings along with all of the work. Plus there’s not much to do now except prepare ourselves. We both want at least three children and we’re grateful for our family size. So we quickly got accustomed to the idea of another arrival happening earlier than planned.

That being said I’m still nervous. What kind of personality will this new baby have? Myles is probably the easiest baby in the world, but my oldest Mason is *ahem* a bit more challenging. How will I juggle three? Will I ever sleep again? There are a million questions running through my mind. But there’s also a feeling of happiness because my family is growing again. We can’t wait to find out if we’re finally having a girl (fingers crossed) or another little boy (and I can’t complain if its the latter, my boys are the sweetest). Most importantly I’m hoping for a happy, healthy baby. Now that I’m in my second trimester and sharing this news publicly, I’m sure I’ll be chronicling my pregnancy and my experience with three under three on the blog.

Shifting gears back to my cherry blossom photoshoot, I’ve had a few people ask me details about my family photos (we’ve taken Christmas and fall photos in the past). So I thought this might be a good time to discuss how I save on professional photography. When I first started looking into newborn and family photographers in the DMV area I was astounded by the prices. For many professionals, the cost of a session and prints can easily add up to over a thousand dollars, and sometimes as much as two or three thousand. I’m not saying it’s not worth it, but that was way more than I wanted to spend. I learned to get around this by taking advantage of mini sessions.

Some photographers offer mini sessions at peak times during the year (usually once a season plus Christmas time). The photographer books multiple clients back to back at one location. These mini sessions are usually 20-30 minutes long, taken at a fantastic location, and only a fraction of the price. I usually pay $150-$200. This gets us an album of 7-12 professionally retouched images that I can download and print myself through CVS or whatever inexpensive photo printing service I want. Because I usually only need a few good images for framing, holiday cards and social media, mini sessions are perfect.

Our photographer for this shoot and our fall family photo shoot was Danielle Hunter. She shares upcoming mini sessions on her facebook page. If you want to find photographers that offer mini sessions in your area, google is your best friend. Try searching by season or holiday, like “spring mini sessions” in your area. You can also search hashtags on Instagram based on your location (#dcminisessions etc). Make sure you vet the photographer’s website or social media pages to make sure their work is in line with what you want.

And there are other ways to save. If you have a friend or acquaintance that practices photography, try talking to them about a rate for a short session. You can also take your own photos that look professional with the right camera and staging. Here are some tips for taking newborn photos at home.

If you have any other tips for saving on photography or or going the DIY route let me know in the comments.

Xo,
Courtney

Boy Moms, Millennial Life Advice, Motherhood

Two Under Two: An Update

March 25, 2019March 25, 2019by courtneyimadeLeave a Comment

I’ve been talking a lot about my family dynamic with friends and family lately. Although I don’t technically have two under two now, I do have two boys who are very close in age (15 months apart) and my youngest is approaching his first birthday. All of this inspired me to write an update to my original Two Under Two blog post. Now that I’ve gotten to a point where I have a very comfortable daily routine with my boys, I can reflect more on the pros and cons of having two children close in age, and why I personally love it. Hopefully this will provide some insights to anyone expecting a second child close in age or thinking about having children close in age in the future.

Pro- Once your youngest passes the newborn stage, both children do pretty similar activities.

Of course my boys aren’t in the exact same developmental stage, but their stages are similar enough that they like many of the same toys, shows, etc. This means I’m not dividing up my time as much as I would between two children who are in very different stages, and I can often put together one activity for both of them.

Con- Having two under two can be physically demanding.
In addition to the demands of back to back pregnancies, it can be draining to go through the sleepless nights and sleep regressions back to back. Getting your kids on the same schedule as early as you can makes things much easier. And its important to remember that these stages are temporary. I moved my oldest out of my bedroom at 6 months, and my youngest at 9 months (although in retrospect I wish we had done it a little earlier) and both times the change helped us get to a more normal routine.

Pro- You become very efficient.

Those first kid vs second kid commercials are very true. There are a lot of things we tend to do as first time parents that you just won’t have time for anymore when you add a second child, especially one close in age. But some of the things that get cut can make your household more efficient. I’ve also become more efficient at changing diapers, making bottles, and general baby care. My husband and I also share more responsibilities now, and that makes some activities like bath time more fun.

Con- Your oldest may feel frustrated during the transition.
I mentioned this in my original blog post, but some toddlers need time to adjust to having a new baby in the house. This was hard for me. It’s a big change for any kid, but it can be especially difficult for some toddlers since they can’t even express their emotions well yet. The toughest part of the transitional period lasted about three months for me. But one of the pros to having two kids close in age is it doesn’t take long for your oldest to forget there was even a time before they were a big brother or sister.

Pro- Having children close in age can make planning for a large family easier.

I don’t believe there is any perfect family size. There are some couples who are happy without children, some who love having one child to devote attention to, some who love having two, and some who want to have as many children as they can handle. If you know that you want to have a big family of three or more children, having children close in age may make things logistically more practical. For example, close planning can put less stress on your biological clock. And some women including myself prefer to get it done in one big swoop so they can focus on the infancy/early childhood stage and then move on to the next stage. This is especially true for me because I’m currently a stay at home Mom but I do plan to return to the workforce eventually.

Those are some of my thoughts on having two children close in age. I’d love to hear your thoughts on spacing in your family. What worked for you or what would you like to do in the future?
Xo,
Courtney

Boy Moms, Fashion and Beauty, Fave Products, Motherhood

7 Brands That Actually Make Cute Clothing for Girls AND Boys

February 21, 2019February 21, 2019by courtneyimade1 Comment

I’ve always loved fashion so I look forward to trying to put together cute outfits for my boys. As other boy moms can probably tell you, it’s a challenge to find cute and trendy items for boys. We typically get the short end of the stick- scrolling past delicate dresses and coordinating headbands on instagram, walking past aisle after aisle of colorful leggings and t-shirts with darling details, only to head to our much smaller section of dinosaur and truck prints in the same shades of blue, brown, and green.

Thankfully I’ve learned where to shop to pick up items for my boys that are actually fashionable. Right now I’m in spring shopping mode so I wanted to take some time to share my favorite brands that I feel really make an effort to give Moms of boys and girls equally cute options.

Zara-

Zara carries trendy pieces, classics with a fun twist, and minimal/natural styles. If you’re a bit of a hipster it’s easy to find styles you’ll love at Zara. They also have really sweet messages on some of their tees and sweatshirts.

Gap Kids–

The Gap is my go to for denim, outerwear and accessories. They have a ton of cute options for boys, and their pieces are great quality and on-trend. One of my favorite Gap items is a denim jacket, they always offer a classic version but they also put an adorable spin on their denim jacket pretty much every season.

Janie and Jack–

If you love to dress your children in classic styles, Janie and Jack carries adorable high-end pieces that are the perfect blend of classic and preppy. I love this brand for special occasion pieces.

Hugo Loves Tiki–

If your style is modern and fun, Hugo Loves Tiki offers playtime friendly styles in really bright allover prints. You can also shop their end of season sales for amazing discounts.

Jamie Kay-

If you prefer neutral and natural styles, Jamie Kay has perfected the minimal look in their online shop. A lot of pieces are gender neutral and they’re made of soft, high-quality fabrics.

Ralph Lauren–

I love Ralph Lauren tees and shirts, the polo brand is so All-American and iconic. I find great deals by shopping Ralph Lauren’s end of season sales online.

Carters-

Carters is my go to for onesies, casual t-shirts and pajamas. They typically offer email discounts daily.

Those are my top brands that don’t make me feel like I’m sacrificing style when I shop for my boys. I love brands that focus on producing cute clothing for everyone. What are your favorites when shopping for your little ones or buying gifts for others? Let me know in the comments.

Xo,

Courtney

Boy Moms, Millennial Life Advice, Motherhood

Two Under Two

December 15, 2018by courtneyimade3 Comments

I can’t believe my oldest son Mason will be two in just a couple of weeks! My days of having two under two are coming to an end, soon it will be two under three which sounds somewhat less daunting. Mason’s approaching birthday inspired me to write a post reflecting on what life with two littles so close in age has been like. As I mentioned before, when I was pregnant with my younger son Myles, I got a lot of negative comments about how hard life was going to become with such a close age gap. Everyone from nurses to well meaning coworkers had strong opinions about it. Now that I’ve actually experienced it for several months, here’s what I have to say about life with two under two. If you’re thinking about having children close in age one day or already expecting a close younger sibling hopefully this helps.
Things are difficult, but doable– For me, the hardest part of caring for essentially two babies is feeling tired all the time. But that’s one of the hardest parts of being a new Mom even if you have one child. Things were fairly easy for me in the beginning. As a newborn Myles slept all the time, so I felt more refreshed than I expected to, and I still had some alone time with my older child. Things got harder when Myles started waking up more often because I was so drained. It’s difficult to meet everyone’s needs when you have little energy and both children are on different schedules. I’ve had plenty of moments where I felt overwhelmed, but some strong coffee and leaning on my husband more or another family member helped me get through those tough moments. And sometimes I just have to take a break (more on that later).
Thankfully things have started to get easier again now that their schedules are syncing up and Myles is starting to sleep through the night. Getting everyone on the same schedule or close to being on the same schedule is essential for thriving with two under two! I like to change diapers back to back, bathe them at the same time, and put them to bed at the same time. Then my hubby and I can enjoy some netflix and wine or I can read a book (or let’s be honest browse social media) at the end of the day to decompress.
The older child may need some time to get used to the baby– Mason had a bit of a learning curve when it came to interacting with his younger brother. Not only was he not used to sharing me, but he also didn’t know how to gently handle someone so small and fragile and I had to watch him like a hawk around the baby. It took about three months for him to get used to Myles, and Myles is still growing on him. Now they’re even starting to play together. Myles is completely enamored with his big brother and it’s beautiful to see a budding relationship that is separate from my own relationship with them.
Self-care becomes more important than ever– When I was pregnant with Myles I once had a friend remark that I would be walking around with mismatched clothes and makeup smeared on my face after the baby because two under two would turn me into a zombie. Thankfully that’s not true. I don’t really get dressed up while I’m sitting at home with the boys, and sometimes things do get a little messy, but in general I love getting dressed in real clothes, getting my hair done, and putting makeup on. Those things actually mean more to me now with two under two, because it helps me maintain my sense of self. It’s important to prioritize yourself physically and emotionally so that you’re not pouring from an empty cup.
If I’m feeling really overwhelmed, sometimes I just hand both kids over to my hubby and go spend some time by myself. I usually come back feeling much more recharged and capable, so I don’t feel guilty about doing that. Self-care is essential for a happy household. It’s also important to make time for activities that have nothing to do with the kids. I recently started a meditation program. And my resolution for 2019 is to schedule more dates with my friends and to start doing yoga again.
That’s my take on two under two. I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’ve experienced life with two kids close in age, please feel free to share your perspective.
Xo,
Courtney

Boy Moms, Millennial Life Advice, Motherhood

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

September 16, 2018September 16, 2018by courtneyimade4 Comments

Recently I wrote a post about 3 things I wish I had known before I got married. I wanted to follow that with a post about 3 things I wish I had known before I became a parent, because motherhood is definitely one of those things where expectations sometimes don’t match reality. Hopefully this helps some new or future moms out there. And I would love to hear from experienced moms who have advice to give.

Don’t worry too much about labor– Before I gave birth for the first time I obsessed over what labor would be like and how I could prepare myself. I read every book, article, and forum I could find. But the reality is, if you’re having a hospital birth with an epidural, most of that is unnecessary. The whole process is painful and tiring but relatively simple, and doctors and nurses who help with labor every day are there to assist. You’ll have way more work to do when you actually go home with your baby.

But, it doesn’t hurt to do some research. You should educate yourself about your options in case there are complications. And if you’re planning on a natural birth without an epidural then you should prepare yourself as much as possible beforehand for the physical and mental task you’ll be undertaking.

Breastfeeding can be really hard- When I was pregnant with my oldest son Mason, I didn’t think too much about breastfeeding. I knew that I wanted to do it, but I imagined it wasn’t any harder than just putting my baby to my breast. But when he was born and started breastfeeding the whole experience was incredibly painful for me. And my milk didn’t let down as much as it should have as a result.

It turns out the pain was due to an improper latch that took me a long time to correct, even with help (some people also think breastfeeding with boys can be a little tougher for sensitive moms). I kept going and breastfed for 9 months, and it eventually got much easier, but I regret not preparing more beforehand. Some women don’t have any trouble with breastfeeding. My own mother breastfed my little sister for 2 years with no problems. But for others, it can be a struggle. You should study up on latches and positions before your baby comes. Also many hospitals will send a lactation consultant to see you automatically, but if they don’t, then ask for one. Even if you think things are going well right out of the gate, it doesn’t hurt to make sure.

You don’t need much stuff- I have a ton of baby gadgets for my sons. Some things are amazing, but sadly many things I’ve purchased have gone unused because they weren’t interested. Every baby is different, and you never know if something will work for your child even if it worked for a family member, friend etc. For example, Mason loved his swing but hated his Jumparoo and never used it. Myles isn’t a big fan of the swing. So don’t feel like you have to spend a ton on baby gadgets. Even the things that work only last a short period of time before your baby outgrows them. Babies really only need the basics (and your love and attention) to thrive. Anything else is extra.

Those are three things I wish I had known before I had kids. What are some things you wish you had known? Or if you haven’t had kids yet but want them, then what are you looking forward to or worried about?

Wishing you self- care,

Courtney

Boy Moms, Millennial Life Advice, Motherhood

Stay at Home Mom Life: An Update

September 6, 2018by courtneyimade2 Comments

I’ve been home with my boys full-time for about 2.5 months now. The #1 question people have been asking me lately is how that’s going, so I decided to give everyone an update on what it’s been like so far. Overall I’d say I’m pretty happy as a stay at home mom. I love that I get to wake up with my boys every day and plan their schedule and activities, and know that they’re safe with me. But there are some challenges I’ve had to overcome (and some that I’m still working on). Here’s an overview of the good and the bad:

The Good– Even though I’ve taken on more work in terms of childcare and household duties, it’s nice to feel like I actually have less on my plate because I’m not responsible for projects and deadlines in addition to the duties involved with two children under two years old. My kids are of course pretty demanding, but I get to decide how crazy I want my day to be. If I have a sleepless night (which doesn’t happen too often thanks to the boys’ schedules) I can get some fresh air and nap when the boys are napping. Physically I was worn out the first time around before my oldest son started sleeping through the night, and back then being so exhausted and going in to the office was really hard. I got through it of course, but it’s nice to be able to do things differently this time around.

This time also goes by way too fast. I feel like being home allows me slow down time a little bit and cherish these fleeting moments. When my oldest son Mason crawled for the first time our nanny captured the moment on video for us. This time around I hope to see all the milestone moments in person.

The ~~Bad~~ Challenges– Everyone knows that being a stay at home mom can be socially isolating, and I was prepared for that. But it’s also pretty isolating for my sons, especially since my youngest isn’t old enough to play with his big brother yet.This should get better with time, but I’ve had to make an effort to meet other stay at home moms in my area and to take my boys out to social activities (and it can be exhausting taking two babies out on my own, I’ll admit I’m not very good at this yet). So far I’ve used facebook groups and an app called Peanut to meet a few local moms. It also doesn’t help that our current neighborhood isn’t the most kid friendly, but we plan on moving to an area with more amenities for children next year, and will hopefully meet more parents naturally that way.

The other challenge is learning to take more time for myself. Watching my children 24/7 can be tiring and a little monotonous if I don’t make an effort to shake things up with our schedule and to take breaks from mom life. I fall victim to mom superhero complex sometimes, where I refuse to take off my cape and hand over more responsibilities so that I can focus on myself. I know that’s a quick and easy way to get to the point where I feel burned out though. I’m slowly starting to make more plans away from my children again, and letting my husband take on more responsibilities when he’s available.

So those are the highlights of my life as a stay at home mom so far. I guess we can summarize that by saying stay at home mom life can be amazing, but there can also be challenges to overcome. I still feel like both staying at home and working have unique advantages, so either way it’s important to appreciate all of the positives that you have access to.

If you’re planning on staying home in the future, what are you looking forward to or dreading? And for the experienced parents (both working and stay at home) what tips do you have?

Wishing you lots of self-care,

Courtney