We recently collaborated with Wonder, a new kind of in-home dining experience, and now, there's no going back to regular takeout. Ever. Exceptional dishes from Renowned Chefs, James Beard Award winners, Food Network stars and Michelin-starred masters like Bobby Flay, Nancy Silverton, and Michael Symon, cooked in minutes and placed right at your doorstep. Genius!

Here's how it works: diners select, order and pay for their dishes with the Wonder app then Wonder's mobile kitchen vehicle comes to you and crafts your dishes on board outside your home, and serves them right to your door with no service or delivery fees. ​

Playrooms are incredibly fun projects when it comes to designing. Your children will spend hours in there — playing, learning, and everything in between — so you have the freedom to cater to their tastes more than you would in other parts of your home. 
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But, that’s only half the battle. Underneath the aesthetics, a playroom needs to be functional. By setting up a Montessori play space at home, you are encouraging concentration and independence. Even the smallest change can impact your child’s behavior.

We’ve compiled a list of ideas to help you create a room that is fun to look at while also serving its larger purpose. 
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Here’s what to do: 

My boys immediately fell in love with the little reading nook that we created for them. I made sure to keep everything at kid level so they could easily access a book. Same with the world map. I wanted them to be able to touch, point and learn from it. Keeping it eye level was essential for this. 
 
Another little nook we created was the activity nook. A table with art and craft supplies so that they could get creative. 

​Montessori environments have plenty of workspace, both on the floor and at tables, once the child is old enough to sit at a table independently. Having open space in the room also allows for plenty of movement, which is essential for young children.

Young children like order in their daily lives, and also in their physical environments, but they definitely need some help to establish it.

Montessori environments support this desire for order through giving everything a specific spot. At Montessori play spaces, each toy has a space where it belongs on a shelf. Toys including multiple pieces, like blocks or play animals, are often organized in small baskets or trays. 
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You may think this would make it more difficult for the children to put their things away, but it’s really the opposite. It turns out it is much more satisfying to put something in the perfect spot where it belongs, than to toss everything together in a big bin. Always finding things in the same spot is calming because it’s predictable, for both children and adults. 

This might seem like a lot to think about, but the great thing is you can totally pick and choose what works for your child and your home. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You may decide to simplify or you may choose to have low, orderly shelves, but also keep a big bin of stuffed animals. Whatever works best for you and your little(s). 

In addition to having lots of doughnuts to eat at your party, make sure the decor reflects the party theme. Pastel colors are a good choice for a doughnut party. Decorate with donut balloons like these, confetti-filled balloons, doughnut-shaped inflatables and hang a donut party banner.

Here are some of the decor items we chose:
Donut Grow Up Cake Topper
Donut Tableware Kit
Donut Balloons

Don't forget donut themed party favors.

We gave these to each guest:
Pull Back Donut Trucks
Donut Notebooks
Donut Sprinkler Pencils with Eraser Top

Use a peg board, a wooden stand or acrylic stands as a creative way to serve doughnuts at your party. We used this one. Or try a tiered party tray or cake stand. You also can create cute donut bouquets to use as centerpieces.

The instant pot is life changing. My mother in law gave us one and I use it almost every single night. I'm sharing a few of my favorite recipes here - they are filing, easy to make and best of all, quick. The perfect combination for busy moms. All you have to do is a little bit of prep work, add the ingredients into your instant pot and boom, dinner is done. 

When I'm making these for the entire family, I'll serve the boys the shredded chicken with cheese on top. I also give them a few slices of fresh avocado.  I also leave out the chipotle peppers. Instead, I'll slice up a bunch of jalapeños for my hubby and I to use as a topping since we both love spice.  You can find the recipe here. 

This one is my husband's favorite. I could make this every night and he'd be a happy man. I substitute the cherries for dates because I just like them better. Richie goes crazy for this one because the dates make it sweet. The quick 30 minute recipe can be found here.  

This one is the easiest of all as there is very little prep work involved. Another great thing about this mouthwatering soup is its super inexpensive to make and there are always a ton of leftovers. You can find this yummy recipe here. 

It was such a lovely weekend spent at the beach with our babes for the Fourth of July. So many memories made that I couldn't help but share some pictures especially of Ryder because he was his first. 

Ps- Many of you were asking about Ryder's hat and the boys one piece bathing suits. They are all from iplay baby via Green Sprouts and can be found here. 

These adorable pjs from My Nest Designs are made with organic cotton and bamboo. Did you know that bamboo is a ‘rapidly renewable‘ raw materials and will decompose into reusable nutrient rich composted soil? We just love this! 

As soon as you take them out of the package, you feel how high quality they are. Both babes slept like champs last night. We highly recommend. 

​Bamboo Long Sleeve Sleep Suit, $45. 

These photos represent 18 months of hard work; 9 months of pregnancy and 9 months of postpartum bliss. I loved having my sweet boy on the inside. Pregnancy is such a magical journey but having my little babe earth side and playing on the beach with him today was oh so lovely.

I'm almost back to pre-pregnancy weight and since so many of you asked how I dropped the weight while breastfeeding, I'm sharing a some tips below. 

Exercise safely 
Once your doctor has cleared you to exercise, gradually ease back into it. My favorite is yoga. Also, long walks with the baby. I try to nurse before I leave the house to avoid engorgement. 

Stay hydrated
I have made it a goal to fill my 24 ounce bottle four times a day, totaling 96 ounces of water consumption a day. This is so essential for weight loss but also really helps produce more milk. Producing milk burns calories too so its a win win. 

Eat less carbs
I aim to eat more fruits, veggies and proteins instead. This is a hard one because I crave carbs when nursing but I try to limit them as much as possible. I never deprive myself of them but if I'm really craving then I try to eat them earlier in the day so that I can burn them off more quickly. I just focus on eating a healthy diet without restricting too many calories since I'm breastfeeding.

Rest when you can 
This is also a hard one for me but I try to go to bed as early as possible. Rest helps your body recover and can help with weight loss. 

Don't skip meals
Skipping meals can slow down your metabolism and cause your energy to drop. It also decreases your milk supply. On super busy days, I'll eat smaller meals/snacks throughout the day instead of an actual meal because let's face it, sitting down with a baby and toddler is just impossible most days. I always make it a goal to sit down with my husband for dinner though. 

Don't compare 
It took nine months to gain the weight during pregnancy, so be kind to yourself.  Some women find it takes six to nine months to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight. For others, it can take one to two years. 

The weather was oh so perfect on Easter making another holiday as a family of four super memorable and fun! We celebrated it out east at my in-laws house. My favorite place for a photo shoot. Here are some snaps from the day. 

Our car is our home base. We are always in it. Whether we are taking Richie to and from school, going to the grocery store or taking a trip out for the day, we spend a ton of time in it. I'm a freak about it being clean, organized and safe so I've rounded up 10 of our favorite car must-haves that will free up space and make your life a lot easier.  

{Links to purchase all items below can be found HERE.}

Yes, this may seem like an obvious but I didn't know a good car seat until I got a Diono.  We were gifted with two of the Radian 3RXT seats (one for each boy) and it was a game changer! I don't know how we went so long without them. 

Diono is the only company that fits three car seats across (in most mid-size vehicles). We currently drive a Jeep Cherokee and the backseat is so very small. Their sleek and slim design has given us so much extra space. I can easily sit between the boys when we are on a road trip. I couldn't do that with the car seats we had before. I also love that I can now nurse Ryder in the backseat. Should we have another baby, we can easily fit him or her in the one row backseat as well. We also will never need another car seat because the Radian 3RXT provides safety from birth to 120 lbs (12 years approx.). Its truly a fantastic investment especially if you have more than one child. 

My car has an outlet and two USB portals in the front seat but somehow I am still finding myself needing more USB ports. This car charger is a lifesaver on road trips when we are needing to charge Richie's ipad, headphones, both our iphone, etc. You can never have enough USB cords!

This car air humidifier diffuser is a lifesaver for calming down the boys in the car.  It opens up and has these little absorbing pads and you can drop essential oils on the pads then you hook it on your air vent. We put lavender drops in it so they get really chill and sleepy. And your car will smell amazing! 

This is self explanatory - organization at its finest and easiest. Just clip this trunk organizer on and load it up with essentials. We keep a change of clothes for the boys, extra pairs of shoes & socks (I feel like someone is always losing one of these), diapers, baby wipes, toys, Clorox wipes for spills, diaper rash cream and sunscreen. 

You can see the Ultra Mat Full-Size Seat Protector we have from Diono in the shot above. Its really sleek looking and matches the black leather nicely. These protectors are great for keeping the leather or upholstery from dings, dents or rips from the car set. 

Although it is something that none of us would like to think about, there is always a chance that we could need a way to break out of a car in an emergency situation. This emergency escape tool is double-sided. There is a steel strike point to break the side window glass (not windshield) if you ever need to escape for emergencies. If the seat belt cannot be released, you can use the protected razor-sharp blade to cut through the seat belt, then free trapped driver and passengers. Its an essential to have in your car especially if you have children. 

Putting in a car seat in correctly and safely can be super challenging especially for a newborn. An angle adjuster is very helpful in getting the perfect rear facing position. This Diono Angle Adjust has been crafted from high-density polyurethane foam that is supremely durable and perfect for daily use. 

This activity tray is a lifesaver for long trips. Richie loves to use it to color, watch movies on his iPad and to eat his snacks. Its super easy to clean and store. A plus, plus for us! 

 {A link to purchase all these items can be found HERE.}

Our first Valentine's Day with two babes and it was the sweetest one yet. The boys had such a fun time at a little party we went to. Here are some of my favorite snaps of them. 

A more of just Ryder because it was his very first Valentine's Day.

First Christmas as a family of four and it was amazing. It goes down in the books as one of my favorites. I can't tell you how sweet it was to snuggle Ryder all day and have Richie running around opening gifts. My heart was so full. Next year will be even more fun when they can both open presents. Ah, such excitement. Children really do make the holidays so much better. 

I'm sharing my favorite photos of the boys leading up to Christmas as well as Christmas Day.

These are the photos we used for our Christmas cards. 

Christmas morning was so magical. I couldn't stop smiling looking at my boys in front of the tree.

Celebrating Christmas the four of us. Heart melt. 

Halloween was the first holiday we celebrated together as a family of four. Rich took the day off and we spent time together. There were a ton of treats involved and we got outside because the weather was just perfect - crisp, cool but seasonably warm for October. It was an absolute blast. 

Richie was a scarecrow, the cutest one I've ever seen but I know I'm bias. We tried for the raffia (since it looks like hay) to make it look a little more realistic but he hated the texture so overalls, a flannel, hat and face makeup it was! I feel Halloween will be a lot of fun once he is a little older so we can really go all out and he can help decide what he is going to be. 

I had this cute bunny hat for Ryder so I just decided I'd match and be a bunny rabbit too. My little snuggle bunny kept me so warm - a huge plus when baby wearing. I'm such a big fan of carrying him in the sling. 

It was a great first holiday for us. We loved all the special family time. Happy Halloween! 

The most depressing part of breastfeeding is the ugly nursing bras. They remind me of brassieres our grandparents used to wear: Boring, full-coverage, and made of unflattering material. When I was approached by You Lingerie, I was in shock that their undergarment collection for mothers was so beautiful. Their nursing and maternity bras, sleep and lounge wear are designed to not only be sexy, colorful and luxurious, but they also have been crafted to provide great support and functionality to pregnant and nursing mothers.

In the blur of motherhood its really easy to not feel sexy so, do yourself a favor and invest in a great nursing bra, it works wonders for your self esteem. Well, at least, it did for mine. 

​Whether you're a first-time parent, second- or third-time parent, you can still ensure that your birth announcement has all the necessary information. When to send announcements, who to send them to, and whether paper or electronic are okay—we've compiled everything you need to know about birth announcement etiquette below.

Information to include: 
Full Name of the Baby
Names of the Baby's Parents and Siblings
Baby's Birth Date
Baby's Weight 
Baby's Length

When should you send it?
That depends on you and your schedule. You've just welcomed a new baby into your home, so friends and family will understand that you're too busy to send them right away. There's no official cut-off time to send an announcement, so don't stress if a few months have passed. We sent ours 5 weeks after Ryder was born but I definitely rushed to get them out. 

Who should you send it to?
This is entirely up to you. You don't have to send it to everyone you know. We didn't. We sent it to everyone who we consider close to us and of course, those that would feel hurt if we didn't send one their way. If you're working with a budget you could send printed announcements to just your immediate family and closest friends and then do an email announcement or a Facebook post to let everyone else know.

Electronic or paper announcements? 
The type of announcements you choose to send depends on your preference and what you think family and friends will appreciate. Electronic announcements can definitely be more cost-effective, but printed announcements are lovely as keepsakes. We went with printed announcements. 

We chose Basic Invite for our prints and could not be more pleased with the outcome.  Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. They also offer more than 40 different color envelopes. Their foil options - silver, gold and rose gold - are super pretty too. 

Basic invite offers so many unique baby announcement cards to chose from. Since we had so many beautiful pictures to share, we decided to go with a folded option. That way, we were able to showcase multiple images of the baby, a family portrait as well as a shot if the two boys together. The name of the card we went with was called "Modern Magazine Mini Fold" and we customized all the colors of the card. We were so impressed with how many options there were.  

Basic Invite also offers custom business cards. Their holiday card selection is also beautiful and right now they are offering 30 percent off with code HOLI30.  We'll be ordering our Christmas cards from the site for sure. 

PLAN
We planned our newborn photo shoot well in advance and I would suggest this for anyone planning to do one. Babies are the easiest to move into positions and photograph within the first two weeks they are born so its important to have it set up a month or two before the baby arrives. The photographer will likely slot you in around your due date then have you text or call them once the baby is born so that they can fit you in within that time frame of two weeks. 
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PREPARE 
Preparation is key. I bought a few items for the baby to be photographed in but also allowed the photographer to use her own props, outfits and creative design. That's why it's important to choose someone you trust to take the photos. Also, someone whose work you like so do your research.

​Our photographer, Ella Blue Photography did an amazing job, was easy to work with and her studio was super clean (so important for a brand new baby). I also really liked her work so I knew they would come out the way I wanted. 

THEME
Come up with an idea of how you want the shots to look - soft and light, bright and colorful or dark and moody. I liked the idea of using light colors against a white backdrop for the shoot. 

CLOTHING
Keep it simple and skip busy patterns because they don't photograph well. I wore all white and we dressed Ryder in white, grey, tan, and taupe outfits/swaddles. I wanted to add a touch of color so  I had Rich and Richie wear matching light blue shirts. They also both wore tan pants to match one of Ryder's outfits. We all stuck within the same "family" of colors/shades. 

COMMUNICATE 
Your baby’s safety comes first. If there is ever a point where you become uncomfortable, just let the photographer know. Also, don't be afraid to let the photographer know if you don't like something or if you want something done differently. Communication is key to a successful shoot.

FEED
A well fed baby is a happy baby so most photographers will tell you to feed and burp your baby right before your session to ensure a happy, sleepy (“milk drunk”) babe. Same thing applies to a toddler. We made sure Richie had a great breakfast prior to the shoot and brought a ton of snacks. 

RELAX
Photoshoots can take up to four hours so its best to be patient and enjoy it. Moms tend to stress out when it's a new experience for them and they aren’t used to the waiting game that is newborn photography. They see their baby being fussy or having a difficult time getting settled and panic. Choose a photographer that has plenty of experience and knows what they are doing so you don't need to worry. 

As a breastfeeding mom I have a double duty. My job is to nourish my baby and myself. What I put into my body is my top priority.  It’s ideal to ensure my food choices are full of nutrients that may have a positive impact on Ryder and myself. 

One of the most important nutrients to consume is calcium.  A breastfeeding mom has a storage of calcium in her bones. Should their diet be lacking in calcium, the body will remove calcium from the bones to supply it to the breastfeeding infant. Some studies have shown a 3 to 5 percent reduction in a mother’s bone mass during breastfeeding, most likely due to insufficient intake of calcium from diet. This can lead to osteoporosis later in life.

Breastfeeding moms should consume 1,000 mg of calcium per day to protect themselves from this bone loss during lactation. Also, your baby needs calcium to develop healthy teeth, bones, muscles and heart.  That said, it's important to have three servings of calcium every day. In addition to milk or yogurt and cheese, I'm a huge dark leafy greens fans. Broccoli and kale are life!

I also love Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews as a calcium supplement because its difficult to meet the daily calcium requirement of 1,000 mg every single day especially when I'm chasing a two year old toddler and nursing a newborn. The Viactiv chews also have Vitamin D which is an important nutrient to absorb the calcium. I took them while I was pregnant as well because many prenatal vitamins provide only 20-30% of the recommended daily amount of calcium for women who are expecting .

The Viactiv chews are available in either milk chocolate or caramel flavors. I'm a huge fan of the milk chocolate. I purchase them from my local Rite Aide but they are also available nationwide at supermarket, drugstores and major retailers, including CVS, Target and Walmart. You can find all locations here. 

You can read about my favorite breastfeeding foods here.

Ryder Anthony was born August 23, 2018 at 11:22am, two weeks before his actual due date. He joined us weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 20 inches long.  That’s a pound heavier than his brother who was a week late! I knew from the very beginning that Ryder was going to be a big baby and that he was going to come before his due date. I just felt it and like they always say, mama knows best.

​At 37 weeks, I started to lose amniotic fluid. My water didn’t break but it was a high leak, which means that the amniotic sac was punctured from up top and was leaking slowly. By 38 weeks, my fluid was so low they decided to induce me. I was a little nervous at first but I knew in my heart he was going to be just fine. 38 is full term but I would have liked to have gone into labor on my own like I did with Richie. The nice thing about being induced is that we were able to plan, set up everything for Richie and take our time getting to the hospital. It was a bit of a blessing really because we were able to officially say goodbye to Richie. We weren’t rushing to the hospital at 2am like we were the first time around. AND we were able to get these cute photos of him.  

That evening before we left, we stocked the fridge, took our time getting dressed and most importantly said goodbye to our sweet Richie before he went to sleep. We cuddled, watched TV and told him how much we loved him before putting him in his crib and saying goodbye. He really didn’t understand what was going on but we did and it was important for us to have that moment before we would become a family of four and everything would change. For all of us!
 
I cry as I type this because it’s nearly impossible for me to put into words what that moment was like. My heart was so heavy because I was so sad that it wouldn’t just be Richie anymore but also so full because I knew we were coming back with his best friend for life. Those emotions all at once are indescribable.

As soon as we got to the hospital, they gave me Cervidil to loosen my cervix, which worked slowly overnight. While it was working, Rich and I watched TV and talked about how excited we were to meet this little man. As I became more and more dilated, I used a medicine ball to help with the contractions and to bring the baby down. I highly recommend it. It helped so much. 

By 8am, my water officially broke and two hours later, Ryder was born. I pushed for just 10 minutes this time. It was a breeze but I felt everything. I got a small dose of an epidural when my water broke that nearly wore off by the time I had to push.  And when they took Ryder out to hand him to me/lay him on my belly, he put his little arms out to hug me. My boy embraced me within seconds of his life on earth. That image of his little arms reaching out is one that will forever be ingrained in my mind. 
 
Ryder nursed within minutes of being born, just like his brother. He came out hungry and ready to eat. He didn’t poop on everyone like Richie did but he did pee all over the nurses once they took him from me for his first wash. What can I say, my boys like to eat and go to the bathroom. Ha.

My husband went home to take care of Richie after Ryder was born and the next day, he brought him to the hospital to meet his brother. I didn’t think I could be in the hospital alone without my husband who was there the entire time when Richie was born but it was so beautiful to be there alone with Ryder for the first few days so that we could bond. I also felt so much better knowing my husband was taking care of Richie and no one else. They have such a great time together and Richie was in his own home so it was perfect.

The boys meeting for the first time. Richie was so eager to hold him. It was seriously the sweetest . ​

Welcome to the world sweet Ryder. Our hearts are so very full. 

Richie went crazy for his cake which was filled with cannoli cream. We didn't even cut him a piece, we let him eat straight off one side of it just like we did for his first birthday cake smash. He was an absolute mess but enjoyed every minute of it so it was perfect. Below is a video of him enjoying his cake. 

That face. He was a true ham for the camera on his big second birthday.

It was so hot that I took over Richie's kiddie pool to cool off. He didn't mind at all. He's such a good babe. 

Richie loved these little mini flags. He walked around with them almost all day. 

I was so excited when Delta Children asked me to tell you guys about their amazing, new line of Jeep Brand strollers because they are such a great company and we were looking for a jogger to exercise with. 

We chose the Cross-Country Sport Plus Jogger from the collection and fell in love the second we took it for a ride. This stroller is so lightweight, provides such a smooth ride and I'm obsessed with the fact that I can adjust the handle bar almost 180 degrees. You really need a jogger like this if you’re going on runs. A regular stroller doesn’t provide enough versatility. The babe is also in love with it. It’s so roomy and the snack tray is huge - right up his alley. We are huge fans!

Their expansive collection of strollers include everything from double strollers and joggers to easy folding and lightweight options. The technology they use features shock absorbing wheels for rides on rough terrain - exactly what we were looking for.

Delta Children also offers nursery furniture, kids' furniture, baby gear, toys and more. Use code babiesandbackbends at the link here and get 15% off any of their fantastic items. 

One thing I regret when I was pregnant with Richie is not having professional photos taken of my big, beautiful belly. This time around, I was going to have professional family shots of my husband, Richie and myself. That was until Richie and I were chosen for a FREE Mommy & Me Maternity session. I cannot tell you how excited I was! At first I was a little bummed that my husband wasn't going to be involved but then, I realized how beautiful it was that it was just my first born and I because one of my biggest worries about having my second baby is that it will no longer just be Richie and I. That I might not have enough energy or time to divide my love between the two of them. That being said, the idea of JUST US being professionally photographed, made me cherish it that much more. 

Here our some of our favorite snaps taken from One Spilt Pea Photography. 

Gender Reveals are such a fun, creative and exciting way to get your family involved in revealing the sex of your baby.  They are so popular today but many people don't know how to plan one especially without knowing the sex themselves. Today, we are explaining the key steps in planning your own. 

Around 16 weeks, your doctor will be able to offer a blood test that will determine the sex of your baby. You tell the doctor and all the nurses in the office that you do NOT want to know the results. Instead, ask them to write down the sex of the baby and seal it in an envelope. One thing that is very important to note: tell them to make the result CLEAR. For example, have them write the sex of the baby on just a plain piece of paper instead of enclosing the actual report from the lab. The report can be very confusing and you want whoever you choose to read the letter to pick the appropriate colored balloons (or whatever props you choose) and plan a successful reveal.  

This is a tough one because you want all your close friends and family to be surprised but you do need one person that you really trust to know the gender first and help plan the actual "reveal" part of the party. 

Before the event starts, make sure you’ve setup a way to document the event. If you have a nice budget, you can hire a professional photographer or videographer for the event. Alternatively, assign one of your friends to take photos. Or, be creative and grab a Polaroid. Have guests write well wishes for the baby on the back of the Polaroid shots as they come out of the camera.

We used a tripod for the video and assigned my mother-in-law to take the photos. 

The entire point of a gender reveal party is to work your way up to one big moment to reveal the gender. We chose to use confetti pops (pictured above). We gave the job of popping them to my husband's nephews because we knew it would be a super fun way to get them involved. Here are some of the most popular ways to reveal the baby’s gender:

• Bake a cake with the with either pink/blue color inside (you can give the envelope to a local baker or to a trusted friend, and they can make or pick up the correct cake)
• Have a friend put pink or blue helium balloons into a sealed box; open the box and let the balloons fly out to reveal the baby’s gender (if you want to be fancy, you can use a trunk or chest)
  
• Get a piñata and fill it with blue or pink items inside, based on the gender of the baby (this one is particularly popular if you already have kids, or if there are going to be lots of kids at the party)
  

They say all pregnancies are different but I didn't believe them. Not one bit. When I was pregnant with Richie, I was a superstar champ. I had zero morning sickness, worked out the entire time, only gained 25 pounds, and overall, I felt amazing. This time around I was a walking zombie barf bag. Sick as a dog. Name a symptom and I had it. The worst part was the constipation (TMI, I know) but really. I looked pregnant right away because of the severe bloat in my belly. I didn't only have morning sickness, it was ALL day sickness.

I was convinced it was a girl. How could I feel like this when I didn't with my boy? But nope, I was wrong. I'm pregnant with a boy and at 18 weeks, I started to finally feel better. Don't get me wrong, I am still so insanely tired ALL. OF. THE. TIME and I don't feel amazing however, that I-want-to-die feeling has dissipated. Here are a few remedies that worked and still continue to work for me.

​I take this supplement in addition to my prenatal vitamin. The extra dose (50mg) of it is essential for a healthy nervous system and metabolism. It helps to produce amino acids and metabolize macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Consuming enough Vitamin B6 is a crucial to the function of nearly every aspect of your body and health, from blood cell production to brain function.

You can combine vitamin B-6 with Unisom (at bedtime to sleep at night) and that helps big time as well. This combination (vitamin B-6 and Unisom) is what you will find in a prescription drug called Dicelgis. My doctor gave me this and it made me so much more constipated. It also made me drowsy. I found that the at-home remedy of vitamin B-6 with Unisom (when I needed it at night) was a much better alternative. 

​This was so hard for me because I have an extremely active toddler to take care of and I hate being stuck in the house for long periods of time BUT my body wouldn't let me do otherwise. I had to take it easy so that I could get through the worst of it. Even now, I rest when my body is telling me to. Growing a baby is hard work. Add a toddler to the mix and its double time exhaustion. I let myself be a little more lazy then I ever have.  Sometimes the dishes don't get done or the laundry folded and that's all good. I've learned to give myself a break. It's essential. 

​Prenatal vitamins are aggressive. They are very heavy, hard to digest and can make you feel more nauseous. Gummy prenatals have the same amount of vitamins needed to grow a healthy baby but are much easier on your belly. I love these because they have added folic acid. 

This was another hard one. As soon as a meal hits my belly and the warm blood rushes through my body, my eyes glaze over and I'm ready to jump into bed but I learned my lesson when I woke up from a nap and vomited everywhere. In the first months of pregnancy, your metabolism slows down so you have to move more after meals otherwise, the food just sits in your belly. It will either cause nauseousness and you'll vomit or you'll get severe heartburn. I, unfortunately, experienced both so I made it a goal to clean the house or go for a walk after a big meal. 

​Staying hydrated has been key. It has helped with my headaches, constipation and overall sickness. If I drink plenty of coconut water and regular water (I love to squeeze lemon in it), I feel less nauseous and don't get as many headaches as I did before. 

There are foods that you could eat before you were pregnant that you just may not be able to eat now. Keep a diary of what you eat and when you get very sick, so you can weed out what is no good for you during your pregnancy. ​My trigger foods include red meat, soda of any kind (some suggested ginger ale for nausea but it had the opposite effect for me), and tomato sauce (holy heartburn!). 

Pregnancy effects your balance and can throw off your equilibrium. I learned this the hard way. I was twirling around Richie and it made me so nauseous that I threw up. Long trips in the car make me extremely car sick. I also find that if I look down too long at my phone or a book then try to stand up quickly, I get extremely dizzy. Be conscious of fast movement whether it be yours or your surroundings (i.g. a car, a moving train, airplanes, etc.). If you plan on going on a long trip, Seabands have been known to help with motion and morning sickness as well. 

In addition to three meals a day, its important to snack! I have almonds, Lara bars, and tangerines in my bag at all times so that I can easily eat something. You never want your stomach to be empty. That's when the nausea sets in.