Pregnant with a Baby at Home

Me at 40wks pregnant

10 Tips to Surviving Pregnancy with a Baby

I searched for ideas online but there's not much support on the subject more on how to decide when your ready for #2. Well, when God blesses you with a new addition you just have to live and learn. Here's my first hand tips:

1. Sleep: Duh! You're a busy mom! Taking care of a baby and making a baby is exhausting. When the little guy goes to sleep-try to catch a few minutes too! It also doesn't hurt to go to bed a few minutes early. 
2. Big brother in training: I didn't want to grow my baby up too fast, but even at 8 months old we taught him some important big brother skills. Look forward to that blog coming soon!
3. Floor time: He wants held and played with but that can be exhausting. I made 5-10 minutes in morning and afternoon (when I was home) for playing and read a few books in the evening. You could sit together and read books, let him play on your lap or make time to play on the floor together. 
4. Cleaning can wait: Yes its frustrating to have a messy house. But spend 15-30 mins doing cleaning and try to get help with the big stuff. This isn't the time to try to spring clean or clean out the garage. 
5. Ask for help: Ugh! I hate asking, but its ok to go to your OB appts without the baby. Maybe you shouldn't try and pull out boxes of baby clothes without your hubby's help. For me, I was contracting early and was told to limit my time carrying and lifting my little man. No fun!! 
6. Talk to someone: Unless you were planning to have two bundles of joy, or you really love babies, you probably have mixed emotions, plus the hormones talking. I remember worrying that C would know he wasn't planned, and feel unwanted. I also was scared that I would go nuts with my two boys.  I'm thankful for friends, my church family, and others with close children and my husband who always responded with a casual but calming "you'll be fine"
7. Have some fun: Go take family pictures, go on a date, take a weekend trip. Make memories. We only live once-and your first born will only be little once. Don't put life on hold while your pregnant. One day you'll miss this chaotic chapter of life. 
8. Make a baby proof space: Morning sickness, emergency needs to pee, or even a deathly contraction can happen. For my very mobile child, I had to have somewhere to put him. For me it was the crib. I just grabbed a few toys and told him I would be right back. As he got bigger, I just took him to the potty with me (jumpstarting those potty training cues)
9. Set a routine: I learned in my Ed. Classes that children thrive in routine, it rang true for student teaching and I carried it through to parenting. If you haven't made one yet. Find one that works for you. It also helps keep your big kid if you stick with it when you bring the new little one home. 
10. Chill out: We stress ourselves out so much and it's really unnecessary. Its ok not to make the homemade mac n cheese or have the house clean by 10am.  Stay positive and be confident in your Mom-hood.