Happy Friday, folks! I’m a new voice this week, so allow me to introduce myself. I am Becca, a content manager here at Strongsuit, slipping into your inbox before the weekend chaos ensues.
Just an FYI: Monday is already May. Is it just me, or does Spring always seem to fly by? It resides just before Summer and within a “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” feeling. Maybe it’s all the waiting through the long cold winter months (Midwest resident here) that the Spring season feels fleeting once it’s finally upon us. Or perhaps it’s the grind of all the soccer games, end-of-school-year events, and socializing that blossoms as quickly as the flowers do. Or perhaps it’s because I am now entering the third trimester of my third pregnancy and I’m starting to feel that time is slipping away from me before we welcome another little life into the world.
Weekend Things
Things I Want as a Third Time Mom:
As they say, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve got nearly everything I need for welcoming baby #3, but as I look ahead to the coming weeks before the arrival of summer and this new baby, I wanted to share 6 things I am craving before we soon become a family of 5.
The Doona: If I am being completely honest, I don’t know if I will actually pull the trigger on this purchase, but I am still majorly coveting it. It’s a car seat and stroller combo that works like magic. Thinking about all the times I would no longer have to lug the heavy car seat with the baby in tow or transfer it to a separate stroller system feels heavenly. Because I have a toddler at home, my current Uppa Baby double stroller system will likely see more action than the solo Doona so it’s hard to justify the purchase, but man, do I want one!
New Nursing Bras: It’s time I invest in some decent nursing bras, not just my original Target ones that have seen better days. I am eyeing the ones at Bodily and Hatch.
Household Structure Tools: Our morning routines are loosely goosey, I live within three separate calendars, and I am terrible at meal planning. I suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to get our schedules and routines a bit more solidified. I just bought this chore chart to help streamline morning and bedtime routines with my boys at home and I am committing to Cozi, a family organizing app that streamlines family schedules and meals.
Baby Swing: This is probably the one piece of gear I have never owned as a mom. It’s easy to reject another big plastic piece of equipment in my living room, but now I feel like this could be just what we need. This Maxi-Cosi Cassia Swing has a smaller footprint and isn’t too bulky to move between rooms.
Hands-Free Breast Pump: These were just becoming popular during my last pregnancy. Now with both a four-year-old and a two-year-old at home, it feels more important to not be tied down to my current electric pump. There are lots of options on the market, but the Willow and the Elvie are the most popular options.
Moments for Mom: The fourth trimester, while filled with so much love and baby snuggles, is also incredibly hard for obvious reasons I don’t need to state. My Mother’s Day gift request this year is a subscription service for either flowers or spirit-free cocktails. I think having a special delivery and a small moment of joy each month will go a long way.
Can't Live Without This Week...
Cold plunges, ice baths, and cold showers are all the rage right now in the wellness world. It can be a polarizing concept (pun very much intended) and I am very much on one end of that spectrum. In February, when my therapist encouraged me to wake up early one day and have my coffee outside on a cold morning, my face even over Zoom, was that of disgust. Needless to say, I am not a fan of the cold health craze- give me all the hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, or even just a hot car sitting in the blazing afternoon sun and I am a happy camper. However, I can get behind a crisp splash of water on my face each morning, or better yet, my ice roller. This is my new favorite morning ritual and helps with the pregnancy swelling. This could be a great Mother’s Day gift add-on.