Moments of Musing

We’re Springing Back Outdoors

Filed Under: spring //

This post is sponsored by NABISCO but all opinions are my own. 


Spring is proof you don’t have to like every part of a season in life to be able to enjoy it.

Spring’s rainy, cloudy days are admittedly not my favorite. But I love the cherry blossoms and blooming flowers, the longer days, and the increased warmth. 
 


With the weather warming up, I’ve been able to take the kids outside more. It’s been such a treat because we all love getting some fresh air!

Having conveniently packed snacks, such as NABISCO Multipacks, is a huge treat, too! I just grab them and go so we can have more time to enjoy our spring activities. It’s one less thing to stress about and makes for an easy clean up. If you’re a parent, you know what I’m talking about. 😉

These snacks are even adult-approved. I’ve been a fan of them for as long as I can remember. 

If you’re heading out more with the nicer weather, check out the Chips Ahoy! 18 Count and RITZ Bits Variety 20 Count Multipacks! They’re available at your local Walmart in-store or via online grocery order. 

Maternity Photos – Spring 2021

Filed Under: maternity shoot, motherhood, pregnancy //

During my first maternity photo shoot, I was self conscious about how big I was since it was toward the end of pregnancy (we had to reschedule our original date due to the weather). When I got the photos back, though, I loved them and was so grateful to have them. We skipped newborn photos that time and took our own. 

Next pregnancy we did the opposite: I took my own maternity photos and we got newborn & family photos professionally taken. This pregnancy, we’ve decided to go all in. We did a maternity mini shoot (Now, Tim’s new favorite thing is mini shoots if taking photos in public! haha) and are getting family photos taken after the baby is born, too–both with Cait from Cait & Will Photography.

We recently got our maternity photos back from Cait and I almost cried. I can blame it on the pregnancy hormones or the fact that these capture our little fam in the current stage we’re in perfectly …or both!

All in all, my advice to current and future pregnant mamas would be to embrace your beautiful body that’s doing an amazing and miraculous thing–growing a human. If in doubt, go for the maternity shoot AND the family shoot! 

This is a time to celebrate ourselves, our growing bodies and growing families, not put ourselves down. 

 

New Road Trip Snacks for My Kids

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

This post is sponsored by Simple Mills. All opinions are my own.

The days are getting longer, the sun is starting to shine and flowers are starting to bloom! Spring is finally here!

In the meantime, I still like to try to get my kids to experience new activities and foods even though we are home much more.

We recently went on a road trip down South and I packed a few new snacks I was excited for my kids to try out.  I’ve been wanting to try Simple Mills products, and their Almond Flour Crackers and Soft Baked Bars are yummy and full of nut & seed flour. Even the Bars have real fruit pieces! That’s a win-win when trying to feed littles new foods. 


I used to use almond flour often for baking and cooking so I was pretty excited to introduce these fun new grain-free snacks to my children. They’re conveniently packed so they’re great to bring on-the-go or to eat at home. 

The Almond Flour Crackers are tasty snack crackers made with a blend of almond and seed flour. The Soft Baked Bars, naturally sweetened with honey & molasses, are full of nuts, seeds, and fruit pieces for a delicious blend of textures and flavors.

The kid-approved snacks are available at Walmart and right now you can save with cashback offers from iBotta HERE. Who doesn’t like to save money when grocery shopping? I know I do! Plus, if you’re looking for even more convenience, you can add both of these products to your next Walmart Online Pickup and Delivery order HERE.


Hello Third Trimester!

Filed Under: baby #3, motherhood, pregnancy //

It’s the final countdown!!! We’re in the last trimester. I have not updated you all since the first trimester so here’s a recap, including my 3-hour glucose test results.
Physical vs. Emotional Feelings
I have to admit – while this pregnancy has been my physically toughest (and I already weigh about as much as I did at the end of my second pregnancy!), I have felt the most emotionally prepared. We are so excited and looking forward to his arrival but first we have a bit to do (celebrate his little sprinkle (on Mother’s Day with very little family); build his bassinet and crib; redo the boys’ room; and figure out what the heck I’m doing regarding birth… lol!
Low Placenta

At my 17/18 Week preliminary anatomy scan (because the baby was too big when I went for the nuchal scan), I was told my placenta was low. Of course, I started to freak out because I did not want it to attach to my C-section scar. Thankfully, at my 20-week scan, my placenta was no longer low. 

Glucose Test
Unfortunately, I failed my 1-hour glucose test. I also failed during my first pregnancy and then passed. This time around, I felt so sick after my 3-hour glucose test. I was therefore worried I had gestational diabetes but I received my results… and I passed!!! SO grateful. 

Birth Plan
This being my third pregnancy, “birth plan” just sounds silly to me because not much in my previous two births went as planned. I went into this pregnancy with an open mind regarding a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) but finding a provider supportive of that after 2 c-sections, during neither of which I dilated fully, has proven to be nearly impossible. I even had one doctor tell me my best bet would be my placenta remaining low so the birth decision would be automatic (C-section) and I wouldn’t really have to wonder … As she said that, I thought “Uhh excuse me? Who would want their placenta to remain low?”

All in all, though, I am feeling great and looking forward to enjoying this next trimester. I know the very end gets uncomfortable so I am trying to soak in the time now! 

A Pandemic Pregnancy

Filed Under: baby #3, motherhood, pregnancy //

pregnancy, pandemic pregnancy, pregnant mom, boy mom, latina mom, blogger mom, working mom,

Being pregnant is a blessing and brings me much joy, overall, each and every time despite life’s circumstances. Of course, there is stress and sometimes sadness, too, because life around us is still happening. 

Close to the birth of our firstborn, my husband lost his cousin who was his closest cousin growing up. Close to the birth of our second baby, I lost my younger cousin, Abby (the first person I have ever witnessed dying).

My whole second pregnancy was filled with sadness and at times, I was worried my baby was absorbing so much of my negative emotions. During my last month, I was worried I would develop postpartum depression. 

But then something happened when Rafael was born (his name, which we picked months prior, meaning “God has healed” … talk about a sign).  It felt like he healed the hurt I was feeling and many of us were feeling. No, he didn’t replace Abby — no one could ever do that — but I noticed moods and spirits lifted. I know she’d be happy about that.

This time around, I am pregnant during another tumultuous time–a global once-in-a-100-years pandemic. Constant anxiety and concern. A period of not seeing many family and friends. No hugging many people. No commuting. No time in the office. No school for the kids. No hands-on activities for them, either. No traveling by plane… and the list goes on.

There is so much I’d like to do and so many people we’d like to see but either can’t or don’t due to fear of exposure. And while I am not pregnant during what was the most uncertain and scariest part here in New York (spring 2020- shout out to all the strong mamas who were!), much is still uncertain and at a standstill. Do I get the vaccine? Is there really enough research on the affects to fetuses/ newborns when breastfeeding? 

And once again, the new baby growing inside me is helping me in ways he doesn’t yet know. He is keeping my mind off what we can’t do as I look forward to his birth and a life together in which we will do so many things together. He, along with his big brothers, provide much optimism and hope. 

Because I know this time shall pass and it’s all a part of our story. 

Mamas, we will be stronger for it.

pregnancy, pandemic pregnancy, pregnant mom, boy mom, latina mom, blogger mom, working mom,