Surviving Pregnancy with a Toddler and Preschooler ~

For most mothers, pregnancy is exhausting. Being pregnant while taking care of other little children, however, is exhaustion taken to a whole new level. The constant demands, both physical and emotional, combine with the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and can feel overwhelming at times. A little over halfway through my third pregnancy here are some things that have helped me through so far:

Talk to your kids and let them know how you're feeling. When you're feeling tired or sick, explain that it takes lots of energy to grow a baby. Talk about the foods the baby needs to grow strong. Apologize for bad days and reassure them that it wasn't their fault. Engage them in the pregnancy by letting them feel the baby kick, looking at illustrations of growing babies, and talking about how big the baby is in comparison to fruit or other tangible objects. And take them with you on your prenatal visits and let them see the baby when you have an ultrasound.  


Find engaging activities that you can do from the couch. Some of our favourites include puzzles, coloring, matching games and Alfie the learning robot.   When I'm feeling up to it, the three of us will snuggled together with blankets and pile of books for some out-loud reading time.


Teach skills that will increase their independent activity. While this is an ongoing activity throughout childhood, pregnancy is a common time to take stock of what skills your child is able to learn to do on his or her own. Depending on the age of the child, this may include cleaning up spills, tidying toys, using the toilet, increasing their bathroom independence, setting out breakfast dishes and utensils, getting water,  putting clothes in the hamper, and so on. 


Nap. These may not be the long but take advantage anytime you can. If your children still nap, ignore the dirty dishes in the sink and sleep at the same time they do. If they don't nap, you still have options: Settle them into a self-directed activity (don't rule out the TV) and lay down on the couch to close your eyes for a while. Replace child naps with a family quiet time. Depending on what works best for your family, either have each child spend quiet time on their own or have everyone pile into your bedroom with a stack of books and a few small toys. The kids can play quietly, look at books, or nap while you rest. Take a pre-dinner nap while your partner cares for the kids (even better if they cook dinner, too!) Go to sleep when you put the other kids down for bedtime.   An early bedtime can make a big difference the next day.


Don't neglect your own needs. The challenges of parenting while pregnant greatly increase if you allow yourself to get too tired, too hungry, or too worn down. Keep easy-to-grab foods on hand, such as almonds, hard-boiled eggs, apples, and yogurt. Combine carbohydrates with protein and fruit with fat to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Be sure to eat iron-rich foods; nothing saps energy quite like an iron deficiency. Make time for chiropractic visits or prenatal massages if needed. Along with caring for yourself: Let it go. Simplify your daily life, prioritize your responsibilities, and reduce your expectations. Minimize obligations. This is very much a season in which to say no; you cannot be all things to all people. Accept help. Whether from your partner, friends, family, a mother's helper, or a cleaning service, accept help when offered or seek it when needed.


Prepare for morning the night before. Slice strawberries to go with the morning's yogurt, make a batch of waffles to quickly reheat in the morning, or prepare a crock-pot breakfast. If you will be going somewhere the following day, lay out clothing and have snacks and supplies ready to go. Do, however, take into account your own individual pregnancy. If evenings are your rough time of the day, then do some extra prep in the earlier hours instead - put dinner in the crock-pot, lay out bedtime supplies, and so on.


Take advantage of bursts of energy. Use this time to do spurts of housework, bigger activities with the kids, or preparations for low-supervision-required activities. Then when those bad days hit, you can rest without feeling stressed about falling behind, and the kids can enjoy the self-directed activities you have prepared.

What helped you through pregnancy with a toddler or young child or multiple children?

How does your Garden GROW ~

Oh happy day......we have a garden folks. It is a small garden this year cause of all the other projects going on ...including baby #3 coming early fall. :) So this year it is just 2 raised beds. But we have packed in as much as we can into these beds.

In one bed we have watermelons, cantaloupes, Tomatoes { 3 different types} , strawberries and carrots.

 In the other we have red and green bell peppers, cucumbers, and another cucumber plant that is for pickling, squash, zucchini, egg plant, and sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

 Thats one good lookin tomato plant. 

 Chocolate Mint.....smells soooo good.  :)

Around each bed we planted my herbs.  I wanted fresh herbs in my garden BUT i also wanted to  pick herbs that were a deer and rabbit deterrent.  Chocolate mint, Apple mint, Orange mint, lavender, basil and rosemary were what i chose this year.   The kids are so excited for this little garden this year.  I can't wait till they can go out and pick fresh fruits and veggies.  :)   We are also going to plant Giant sunflowers and gourds on the other side of the yard.  And i absolutely can not wait to get those in the ground.   I'm looking forward to the Giant sunflowers growing and getting the kids pictures made with them as they progress.  :)   This is just a stepping stone for us.   Every year we hope to add to the garden and add to the experience for our kids.  In hopes that some day we will be as the hubs likes to say.....Homesteaders.   Living the simple life.   Now if i can just find some spare time to get him to make me a chicken coop.   ME WANTS one really badly.   Not just any chicken coop....a fancy one.   I have been after him to make me one for 3 years now.   Maybe not this year but next year I WILL HAVE ONE....HA!!

22 WEEKS ~

I'm already falling behind.   Going to try to catch up.   I have pictures of my belly but haven't put them on the computer.   Slight computer problems these days.   You see my laptop blew up several months ago.   And it hasn't worked the same since.   A new one is on the list but instead of getting a new one right away the hubs decided to build our HOME THEATER PC.  So while i love it and all that it comes with and how handy it is in so many ways. ....getting on the T.V. to surf the internet or download pictures or edit pictures or update me little ol'blog....sometimes is hard.   Now i have to say that editing pictures is awesome on a 55 inch screen.   But i miss my handy dandy laptop for sure.   So i will update and post pictures later today or tomorrow but for now here is the weekly update.

How Far Along: 22 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby H is the size of a Papaya {12 oz}!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 10 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Already busted out the maternity jeans back at 10 weeks.  Wearing some maternity tops and still in regular dresses!

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: Lots the hubby felt her too this weekend!!

Sleep: I'm so tired but been having sleep issues lately pregnancy insomnia is no fun! 

What I miss: Coffee and Sushi and sleep.

Cravings: Nothing in particular right now....just hungry.   

Symptons: Right now just tiredness, the metallic taste in my mouth and a little bit of heartburn.

Best Moment this week: The hubs getting to feel her for the first time!  AND getting to see her on ultrasound.  Such a sweet little thing.  Her little profile looks just like her big sister.   She is a thumb sucker right now.  She sucked it the whole time we saw her on the big screen.  :)

Here are our sweet little pictures we got to leave with.  SO VERY SWEET.  :)   I can't wait to meet you little girl.

21 Weeks ~

 Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 21 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby H is the size of a Banana!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 8 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Already busted out the maternity jeans back at 10 weeks.  Wearing some maternity tops and still in regular dresses!

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: I've been feeling the baby a lot more lately...and loving it!!

Sleep: I'm so tired but been having sleep issues lately. 

What I miss: Coffee and Sushi.

Cravings: Mexican and Chineese food. 

Symptons: Right now just tiredness, the metallic taste in my mouth and a little bit of heartburn

Best Moment this week: Just being so thankful for this baby!


I have done a lot of growing this week.  I think anyway.  I woke up this morning and caught a glimpse in the mirror and was like wow....my belly is bigger.  And right now i'm loving it.  You know that stage....when your not to huge and have a reasonable sized baby bump and you feel good.  hehe!   

According to my husband i have been nesting.  ALREADY!   I think in my mind i'm just trying to get ready for this 3rd little one to join the family.  Trying to get my life organized so that when she comes i wont have that extra stress.   Cause a lot is going to happen this fall.  Baby coming AND it will be official Homeschooling time.  And i have to admit...i already feel overwhelmed thinking about it.  SOOOOOO i'm in PROJECT ORGANIZATION mode.   Every year i try to get better organized.  And every year i feel like i didn't do my best at trying to make that happen.  Well i'm pretty motivated right now.  And i feel like i've made some headway.   And i tell ya folks.....the less i have the better i feel.   I will try my best to share some of the things that i think are working for our family.  Have you started your "Spring Cleaning" list yet? 

It's been awhile ~

Hello there! I have been away for quite some time....months! But for good reason. You see i have been very busy these past few months baking. A baby that is. Yep, that's right i'm pregnant. :-) In fact very pregnant....like half way done. Baby #3 is on it's way and we couldn't be any more excited. Most of my friends already know but for the few of you that i don't personally know that is the reason for the long hiatus. The first few months were a doozy. I have been sicker with this baby than i ever was with my first two. Plus i had my other 2 littles to look after. I have been pretty tired too. But know i think that i'm over the Morning sickness and i'm getting some of my energy back. We found out not to long ago that we are expecting a little GIRL. And my daughter is over the moon to be having a little sister.   I wanted to start sooner but i just couldn't find the time to take pictures and post and update on the new edition.  But i'm going to try to start having a weekly update {just for me to remember}.  Like i said we are all so excited about our new little baby girl.  What a blessing!!!

                                                      I'm 20 weeks! (Half way there!)

                                                        Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby H is the size of a melon!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 8 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Already busted out the maternity jeans back at 10 weeks.  Wearing some maternity tops and still in regular dresses!

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: I've been feeling the baby a lot more lately...and loving it!!

Sleep: I'm so tired - that I sleep pretty good!

What I miss: Coffee and Sushi.

Cravings: Mexican and Chineese food. 

Symptons: Right now just tiredness, the metallic taste in my mouth and a little bit of heartburn

Best Moment this week: Just being so thankful for this baby!

I have another ultrasound on the 30th and i can't wait to see this little baby girl again. 

Socialization ~

Socialization....that is my topic for today. Ladies/Mommas i have a few questions for you. I know where i stand on socialization of my kids. But sometimes i do question myself. And i don't know quite where to start with my questions. But here i go and i really need your feedback. :) My reason for this is that i recently heard from someone i know that has a child that just got over having Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. She made a comment that just struck me....it went like this. " I know there are germs at playgroup & play dates but his socializing is more important & those germs just help his immune system"....he is 1 i might add. Maybe it is just me....but that statement just didn't sit well with me. I have been thinking about it all morning. Socializing is more important than the health of your child?

Ok...so here are my questions?
Play groups / Play dates from ages 1 to say 4? Do you think it is important? My children interact with other kids at church. I'm a stay at home mom and they have me all day long. We go to the park. They see their cousins several times a year. But is that enough? Once i start a curriculum with my daughter through Homeschooling she will be involved in 1 activity. Has this been/ is this enough? My children are very well behaved {for a 2&4 yr old} and talk to anyone. Ok...so i'm going to leave this short and just see what you guys have to say. Thanks! :)

Cheesy Cornbread Pudding ~

I found a new recipe over the holidays for Cheesy Cornbread Pudding and didn't get a chance to use it but it looks to be very good. I love Cornbread and i LOVE cheese so how could this be wrong. HA! I haven't been a very good blogger over the past few weeks. The holidays came and went...and it is well into January. Have lots of new things in store for this year. But that will have to be for another post. Today i'm on limited time and would like to share this recipe that i found {even though i haven't tried it}.

Cheesy Cornbread Pudding

1 small can corn, drained
1 14 oz can cream-style corn
1 box corn bread mix
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese


Mix all ingredients together minus 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 45 min to an hour.

Looks easy enough and makes me want to go make it right now! It is on the list for this upcoming week. I will let you know how it turned out. :o)