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3 Rise and Shine Goals Before Our Baby Wakes Up

September 29, 2017 By Joceline Raad

*(Floral Print Maternity dress by ShopPinkBlush.com)*

Many people tell my husband and I that we are blessed to have a baby that sleeps through the night 12 hours straight. Caleb sleeps usually from 9PM to 9AM and takes a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. As a wife and mom, I try to take full advantage of when he sleeps! Beside the afternoon nap window I have, I aim to take advantage of his sleep time both in the morning and at night. Here are the 3 GOALS (in no particular order) I’ve set for myself to fulfill before our baby wakes up. (Next week I’ll share how I take advantage at night!)

Shower. Though this may seem like an obvious one, showering first thing in the morning automatically wakes me up and fills me with energy for a new day. No matter what, even if there is an early morning prayer meeting at church, I cannot leave my house without showering! If you do not tend to shower in the morning, try it, and I promise you, you will feel energized!
Make the bed. Ok, here’s a little secret: When I was single, there were times I ran out of my house and headed to work without making my bed. Then, when I married my husband, I realized he would always make our bed every single day. I noticed that my mood would change when I returned home from work to a bed that was made. It made me happier! And now, I cannot go a day without making my bed because it simply makes my world an organized and better place. Plus, it will make you feel like you can go on to your next task on your To-Do list.
Time of prayer and devotional. It could be difficult to find alone time sans baby throughout the day! I believe most moms know how hard it could be at times to be alone, even things like using the bathroom alone can be virtually impossible with a baby (not to mention a walking toddler!!!). Having alone time with God will not only destress you, but will prepare you for the day, and what better way than to start your day with God on your side.
BONUS: Workout. Though I don’t do it as often as I’d like now that I am 8 months pregnant, I enjoy walking sometimes as a form of exercise before the baby wakes up. If you are not currently expecting, try working out or jogging to kick off your day.

Dear wives and mothers, I know time is so precious yet could be so scarce, but when we take advantage and manage it wisely, we can accomplish more day by day! And now, I must prepare myself mentally for my baby girl on the way which will be waking up every 3 hours to eat! However, I know that first month of her being a newborn will go by quickly since we will sleep train her like we did with Caleb and soon she will be sleeping through the night!

Only one month left to meet our princess! Check out some photos of my 8 month bump (Floral print Maternity dress by ShopPinkBlush.com):

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The One Thing Every Mom-To-Be Should Know

August 29, 2017 By Joceline Raad

We’re 2 months away from welcoming our second baby, and I can’t help to reminisce on what it felt like being a first-time mom. Looking back, I remember thinking how everything from breastfeeding to changing diapers was easier than I imagined, but the ONE THING I had a tough time adjusting to was the LACK OF SLEEP during the first month.

Throughout my pregnancy, people would say things like, “Get as much sleep as you can now!” or “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” But no one ever told me that I would be getting 2-3 hours of sleep straight and never a full night’s sleep for at least a month.

Newborns feed every 3 hours and since I was exclusively breastfeeding, it took about 40 minutes to nurse, so by the time I put my son down, I was technically only able to catch some Zzz’s for about 2.5 hours! To top it off, my husband injured his foot a week before our baby was born which bound him to a cast and crutches for an entire month and a half! Not to mention, I had a c-section, but I was determined to breastfeed exclusively. I remember feeling a strength from within that would wake me up every time Caleb woke up to feed and change him, especially during the night. Now, I can’t help to feel somewhat proud of myself and thankful to God for giving us women superwoman powers in times like those. But I wish someone would have warned me what it actually feels like to not get at least 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I literally felt like a walking zombie. Truth is, there is no way to prepare for that. You can’t accumulate sleep when you’re pregnant so even if you do “sleep as much as you can” now, it won’t make you feel fully rested when the baby arrives (though it does feel wonderful to sleep in and rest while pregnant).

However, once your baby starts to sleep straight through the night without a night-feed or dream-feed, boy that night will feel glorious! If you start adapting your baby on a nighttime routine starting at least week 4, your baby will start to sleep through the night in no time. Caleb kept sleeping an hour more through the night week after week and by the time he was only 2 months, he slept 8 hours consecutively! By the time he was 3 months, he slept 12 hours (uninterrupted sleep with NO night-feed!) and he continues to sleep straight through the night from 9pm to 9am (however, you can adjust you baby’s bedtime according to whatever time you wish i.e. 7pm to 7am). Check out my sample bedtime routine HERE.

Dear first-time moms: It is worth every sleepless night! It will be tough but it WILL go by sooner than you think. Simply endure and try to enjoy those moments of intimacy with your new bundle of joy.

Check out a few photos from this past weekend with the two loves of my life and my baby bump. (Floral print Maternity dress by ShopPinkBlush.com):

2 Secrets for a Mommy-To-Be

July 28, 2017 By Joceline Raad

I’m currently 6+ months pregnant and am a mama of a recently turned 1 year old! I’ve heard a few mamas “warn” me about the arduous work that comes with being a mom of two babies. Though I know in the first few weeks, it may be tiring (especially since I’m planning to breastfeed again!) but I believe that it will be easier than expected. From my first pregnancy to now, I have been using 2 secret weapons that I’ve learned through my pastor: Prayer and Declaration.

PRAYER. In my first pregnancy, I learned to place my trust in God COMPLETELY. The thought of being a first-time mom scared me probably like most women. Even thinking of the whole pregnancy and then the delivery filled my heart with fear. It was then that I began to pray for my pregnancy and delivery. God began to remove fears I had and many of these fears came from things I read in the past, movies, and other women’s experience. Most of it was negative. Through prayer, God removed my fear and I was able to have a peace and assurance that I would have an amazing pregnancy and motherhood experience.
DECLARATION. The power of our words can make us or break us. I wrote down exactly how I wanted my delivery to be, and began praying and declaring day and night! Every night I would pray over my pregnant belly declaring positive things. Mostly everything I declared became a reality! I learned not to use negative words like exhausted, I can’t, etc. etc. Of course in the beginning I was tired, but new moms seem to have an innate supernatural energy that wakes us every 2-3 hours to feed our babies. And I did this with joy in my heart.

And now in this second pregnancy, I am practicing the same two principles of prayer and declaration. Though some may say, “What are you going to do with your Irish twins? – I simply have a peace in my heart because I have an assurance that God will guide me to be the best mom and manage my time wisely. Plus, my firstborn, Caleb, is such a good baby boy and when his baby sister comes, he will be the best, obedient big brother. And I have my husband’s unconditional love and support and we have a great supporting family.

Take a look at our day in sunny South Florida (Maternity dress by ShopPinkBlush.com):

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It’s A Girl!

May 25, 2017 By Joceline Raad

*Caleb and mommy rocking pink ’cause baby no. 2 is a GIRL!*

We are having a baby girl! Our princess is due to arrive in less than 5 months and we couldn’t be any happier!

Here’s a little secret, I prayed for a baby girl a few months before I became pregnant. I was inspired after reading Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize who mentioned how she prayed for a girl or boy months prior to conceiving and God always answered her. In all honesty, I would have been happy with either a boy or girl, however, I am currently the “baby girl” of our family and I really felt like it is time to hand down my crown. So just like that, I prayed and a few months later we found out we are finally expecting a girl. We did a gender reveal party and I remember that week, I thanked God for whatever He was blessing us with (whether boy or girl) because all babies are a blessing. But God gave us exactly what I prayed for and God always gives us the best!

We can’t wait to see what it’s like to be parents of a girl! If you’re a parent of a girl, any tips or suggestions are highly appreciated.

Check out our gender reveal video and photos celebrating Caleb’s baby sister. (Maternity dress by ShopPinkBlush.com)

Baby No. 2: Boy or Girl?

April 27, 2017 By Joceline Raad

I LOVE Springtime which equates to floral print maternity dresses and joy! 🌺 [Check out more cute maternity clothes] 🌺

Boy are we excited because by this time next week, we will find out our second baby’s gender! Some women say they could sense what they are having but quite honestly, I don’t understand how they can tell because I absolutely have no idea! There are no physical signs that reveal the sex of the baby, though there are several myths. For example, with Caleb, I had nausea and slight vomiting during my 2nd month of pregnancy. My hair was also full and shining and my skin was clear. On the contrary, this time around, I have zero nausea, I’m somewhat breaking out, and my hair is dry! Does that mean I’m having a girl???

I don’t know. I know that every baby takes a different toll on a woman’s body, and every pregnancy is unique. Considering there are no baby girls in our family (Caleb is the 7th grandson!), I am technically the “baby girl” ready to hand down my crown. However, I’ll be blessed with either gender.

Right now, with Caleb turning 9 months and me being 3 months pregnant, I can’t help but be ecstatic at this stage. Yes, there are those that tell me to prepare myself for what’s coming. And yes, I know there will be times that it may not be a walk in the park having 2 kids under 2 years, but I will always be the kind of positive person that looks on the bright side. Though I know I must brace myself for the sleepless nights in the beginning, I will not worry about that now. I just want to enjoy this moment here, my walk in the park with my baby boy and my pregnant belly and thank God for what’s to come!

Stay tuned next week as we find out the gender of our 4th family member. Woohoo!