Second Pregnancy at 25 Weeks

It's a lot harder than the first, I have to say! Especially if you're a full-time work at home mom with your toddler - there is NO time to rest or relax. I felt like I never really did with my first pregnancy either because I worked full-time on A Little Bundle and started a second business. 

My second pregnancy came unexpectedly and so quickly, I can't even believe I'm 25 weeks already! Where has the time gone? It's true as they say - you look, feel, and are pregnant much faster than the first. All the symptoms comes sooner and I already feel like I should give birth with this sciatic pain and back pain eating at me each day!

Oh, did I mention it's harder because you have a toddler tugging at you, needing you to hold her, and playtime with her gets more and more tiring as your belly grow!
There's no sugar coating here, I never really LOVEEEEE being pregnant. I think it's uncomfortable, the frequent doctors visit is time consuming and that glucose test is my least favorite of them all. 

In fact, I'm so busy all the time I haven't even had time to "get excited" for the second baby. Poor baby. I am excited to meet her - but most days I'm consumed with so much work, to-dos, house chores, and running around with Indie Rey to classes, playgrounds, playdates, etc, there's just no time! 

This is where these photos are incredibly special to me. I'm so glad I took the opportunity for us to arrange to have the talented Amy Jayne Photography to capture these moments while we were in Maui for 10 days! She was so incredibly patient and warm to work with - I highly recommend her for any family, maternity or couples photography if you're out in Maui, HI! 

I also loooooved our Hakus and Lei by House of Haku! They were so beautifully done with a lot of attention to detail. Be sure to book both your Lei / Haku together with your photoshoot :) You'll thank me after! 

SnapChat Snap Snap

Find us - @alittlebundle

Solly Wrap Baby

Now that I am a mom, I would modify my registry list so fast and it would include a Solly Wrap on the very top of the list. 

It's the one thing that's allowed me to keep indie Rey close and be able to do things around the house, answer emails, pack bundles and even cook. I also love taking her for a walk in it when it's not so hot. Definitely a must have! 

Fourth Tattoo: Rey

Simply because I will love her forever.

Written in my handwriting

Indie Rey found her Hands!

Around 1.5 months, Indie Rey found her hands! She started realizing she had these two weird little limbs always moving around and finally moved them to her mouth.

Now she can't stop sucking on her fist!

She also started grabbing at my hair, my clothes and her toys! This is where the amazing Finn and Emma play gym comes handy. We now have a routine of nursing, playing for 30 minutes, and then going down for a nap. 

The Finn and Emma Play Gym comes with a variety of toys that you can switch out. If your baby is like mine, she gets bored easily looking at the same toy! This is especially useful in keeping her engaged and entertained. 

• Supersoft organic cotton - 100% G.O.T.S. certified and stuffed with 100% Sheeps wool

• eco-friendly and non-toxic dyes

• Lacquer and stain used on frame free of lead, phthalate, mercury, formaldehyde, nickel and ultra low VOC's

• indian hardwood finished with vegetable seed wax

• knit dolls are fair-trade and hand-knit by artisans in Peru

I love this because I can leave her playing while I get some chores done around the house or even do some work! 

Indie Rey and Cousins

My sister and I grew up with our cousins just as if we were siblings. No kidding. We slept, ate, and bathe together every day. And I wouldn't trade those memories for the world.

It teaches a person a lot on how to share, how to be with so many different personalities and how to love and care with such a large family. We're lucky we were in a family so close, so loving and so on - top - of each other (even today). 

I'm lucky my sister lives in the same city and already has 2 kids before I had Indie Rey. I can call her whenever I'm unsure, but I'm also lucky that so many of my friends surrounding me are already Mamas, too. Everyone's experiences are different, but the most important aspect about having Mama friends is the support and encouragement. Motherhood is not easy. 

Motherhood can break you down. Motherhood can make you vulnerable and share your weaknesses but motherhood also shapes you into a completely new person. You're literally rediscovering yourself along with your partner. That's why date nights are so important. You're completely different now. You both are living in different priorities because frankly every stage of a baby's life requires different parenting needs. 

I'm just so happy Indie Rey can grow up with her cousins and extended cousins (that live in Houston) - because at the end of the day, when you need someone the most, you look to your family. They can be blood related or not, but it's how you surround your circle with the people you trust. I'm so happy to surround Indie Rey with all her loving Aunties and Uncles that love her dearly. 

Sisters

What they don't tell you ... and You wish they did.

The first few weeks goes by very quickly. You're up all night, you're barely awake, and you're nursing all day and night. When your baby is uncomfortable, you start to wonder if she/he is colic or has acid reflux - both very common. 

While every baby is different, I've come to realize just looking back at the experience that I wish someone would have just told me what to avoid to prevent the possibility of colic or acid reflux...or simply that their baby little digestive system simply can't keep up and they ARE uncomfortable. And sorry, mom and dad, you'll just have to deal with it. 

I honestly don't know how our parents were able to adjust to parenthood without the Internet. Whenever something new comes up, Kyle and I are always googling and reading up on things. I'm also involved with different mom groups and I have so many Mama family and friends that my resources are endless. I guess that's how our parents got by - family and friends. 

I wish someone would have told me simply to do the following before breastfeeding:

• Just stop eating dairy. anything dairy. just don't do it!

• Buy the gripe water and try it - it doesn't hurt to try. If you're super natural, make it yourself!

• Parenthood really tests your patience, but the first few months of an infant really makes you PROVE you have patience. Start meditating people.

• Some days are harder than others, but it'll pass no matter what. It's temporary.

• Drink so much water, more water than you've ever drank before - and buy a HUGE ass container to lug around with you. I do!

• Whether your baby is colic or not, just love them. love love love them. they will feel it.
  
  And lastly, goodluck :)

Look how different she looks here! Hat: Goumi Kids | Swaddle: Margarux and May

Indie Rey Contino

LABOR

A few weeks before I unexpectedly went into early labor, I became intrigued with asking my friends and family their labor stories and even going online to read about other labor experiences! I was terrified of the unknown. What would the contractions feel like? How will I handle the pain? Can I really successfully have a natural birth? Am I strong enough for this? 

And before I knew it, my baby girl had decided to come early. I was in the middle of shipping bundles for the month and I had expected ten days or so later - and sure enough, my mucus plug came out. I went to the bathroom and saw a little bit of blood and I immediately thought, "oh shit! is it really happening now?!" I wasn't even packed. I wasn't even prepared. It was 1 am and all I had planned for was to enjoy my Sunday working on the shipment. 

I immediately called my doctor and at the time, I wasn't feeling much of any contractions, so she told me to go to sleep for the night. About 30-45 minutes later, I felt the contractions occur much more frequently and I just couldn't sleep. I called the doctor again letting her know the contractions were about 3 to 5 minutes a part and she said, "Sounds about right. You should come in." And there we were, at around 2:30am, packing our bags and going to the hospital.

When we arrived, I was about 3cm dilated and my contractions were stronger and stronger over time. I survived 12 hours of natural labor and just couldn't get to 10cm. I was hanging out at 9cm for four hours before my doctor suggested c-section or an epidural. I had planned for a natural birth, but like they say, birthing never goes your way. I chose epidural. Another (yea, really) 12 hours later, and 3 hours of pushing, my Indie Rey Contino finally entered this world! (After 27 hours!)

Now that I am a mom - I understand now. It's a full circle. Love Your Mother. The women body is a temple of adaptation and creation. It's absolutely incredible what we can do. The strength and will power to give birth is one thing, but mothering and loving another human being forever is an incredible gift and journey that I am so lucky to experience.  We try our best every day, and to be a mom and try to accomplish everything else - well, I think all moms are super heros and unicorns. xx - Annie

Follow my motherhood journey on @alittlebundle + @annielinco

Belly Bandit - Wear it!

Yup, I love the belly bandit. When I was in my third trimester, I had to wear the Upsie band to help me with the pressure of my belly onto my bladder. After delivery. I wore the belly bandit bamboo under and over my clothes. 

Shoot. I went out with it - I didn't care! Getting back in shape is really hard, but it's even harder when you work all day and mother all day, like me. I hardly have time to take my dogs out, let along run to a Yoga class. Therefore, I do a few exercises at home when I can, but honestly the first 6 weeks you're not allowed to exercise without the approval of your doctor. 

So, enjoy the first 6 weeks with your baby, let your body image go (I know it's hard). Enjoy every bit of the skin to skin, body hugging, breast feeding sweat. :) You'll have time to get back into shape! 

Babies and Puppies

One of the nights that Kyle came home to see Maddie and Macaron while we were still in the hospital, he took home the swaddle Indie Rey was delivered in and one of her shirts. This allows your puppy(ies) to be able to smell her scent and realize that something/someone is coming home, soon. 

When we brought home Indie Rey, our littlest baby, Macaron, was still unsure of what/who she was. He still wanted all the attention. Maddie is much more maternal and was cautious to stay away from her. The hardest part was adjusting the way Maddie and Macaron would sleep with us. Before Indie Rey, they would sleep with us in bed - and they still do. But Maddie would sleep on my head - above my head on a pillow. And now that I'm up every 2-3 hours, she can't sleep there anymore. 

Overall, they've been really amazing with her and now have grown to protect her. Mini Australian Shepherds are really smart creatures, but it also depends on the owner. You have to take the time to teach them - like your kids :) 

Update: 2.5 months and still in love.

First 2 Weeks Home

SLEEP

The first 2 weeks home was the hardest 2 weeks ever. I felt like I was back in college, but I wasn't up all night partying and eating cold pizza - I was mothering a child. 

The good part is that when your baby gets home from the hospital, they're sleeping about 95% of the time, and 5% waking up to eat. I was also really lucky that I didn't have any problems with breastfeeding and she was such a good eater (and she latched on great!). 

So, the transition with welcoming Indie Rey for me was really easy. I would work when she was sleeping and nurse her when she needed to be fed every 2 hours. 

The hardest part was nursing her during the night every 2 hours, but after 2 weeks, your body adapts and you don't even need sleep anymore (what is sleep?). So, it's true when other Mama friends say this, "Hang in there, it gets better." It really does, but really. Hang in there. :)

April 27th, 2016

...and We're Parents

After giving birth, depending if you had a vaginal delivery or c - section, you're obligated to stay at the hospital for x amount of days - for us it was 2 nights, 3 days. It was hard for us to stay since we had Maddie and Macaron at home.

We had arranged for our dog sitter to look after Maddie and Macaron, but labor came so unexpectedly and in the middle of the night. My contractions came quickly that we didn't have time to drop them off. My mom, luckily, was able to go see them, and the following nights Kyle would go home and check on them and grab us dinner while I stayed at the hospital with Indie Rey.

The moment I got home from the hospital, I was working and mothering non stop. When you're an entrepreneur - there is NO maternity leave. There's not a stopping point - unless you ask for one. A lot of my friends and family asked me "how are you doing it?" and honestly, I don't know. I literally just take it as it comes and I just keep going. I'm thankful, though, that motherhood has welcomed me so easily and transitioned into my life fluidly that I felt like I've always been made to be a mom and work just doesn't stop. 

I did read a comment somewhere that if you can not worry about money in the early years, than enjoy your baby. And I absolutely agree and wish that was the case for me. Not that we worry about money or living, but we're not well off where I can take months on end to be at home focusing on Indie Rey. Likewise, just with my personality, I'd go stir crazy not working or doing anything on the side. You can never win or have it all - but I am grateful that what I do is what I love and also being able to be at home with my baby is a luxury. I couldn't imagine giving her to day care at 3 or 4 months. I would cry. (And to all the mamas that has to do that, you're a strong mama!). 

xo - Annie

James Fox Co - Birthing gown

I swear, hospital hats and swaddles are THE BEST. Take some home if you can. We stole some :) 

Daddy and Baby Girl :) 

Week 38

Week 37

Week 36

Week 35

Week 34

Week 33 + James Fox Co.

I can't believe I'm already 33 weeks pregnant. Time really does fly by and even more reason to slow down a little and really look around. I started lactating a little (whoa!) and my sciatic pain is shooting up the roof. Other than that, I just can't wait for her to be out. 

Now that I'm approaching the home stretch, I started thinking about what I really need to prepare for i.e. my hospital bag, install the baby's car seat and where should Maddie and Macaron be when my water breaks!

I'm also more curious to meet our baby girl! I wonder what she'll look like, how she'll be and although the first six months will be tough, it'll be such a crazy experience to see how I can juggle everything. 

One of my close friends, Karla Quiz, started her gorgeous small business James Fox Co. A patent pending hospital gown that'll make you feel even more beautiful while giving birth instead of their provided gowns used by a previous mom. I love the easy access to nursing and the material of the gown is light weight but offers a good amount of coverage.

You can purchase this gown curated in my Hospital Bundle over at A Little Bundle. It's the perfect starter gift for you or your Mama friend that's currently preparing for their big day, like me :) 

Week 32