The Best Mommy Advice No One Gave Me

As we creep up on my daughters first birthday and I've been a parent for all of 11 months now I can't help but stop and look back at my life this time last year.

The holiday hustle had just settled down & we were planning my shower for the first weekend in February thinking I would be having a mid-March baby.

The crib was put together, the diaper bag was bought, the books had been read.
I thought I was ready. I felt prepared. After all I had been married 3 & half years and we had been planning for her arrival, she was no surprise to us.

But no one can prepare you for the way your life changes.
No one can prepare you for the lack of sleep. (Trust me that's the first thing everyone warns you about, but you can't fully grasp it until your a walking #mombie)

No one can prepare you for labor. Not even if this is your second and you have been through it once. Every labor is different.

No one can prepare you for what you body goes through and how it will never be the same again.

No one can prepare you for the look on your spouse's face when he sees his little girl for the first time, falls in love, and then looks at you with these puppy dog eyes & without even uttering a word I know he said "thank you".. Thank you for the best thing that's ever going to happen to us.

& man was he right.

All the planning, prepping, and anticipating is MORE than worth it.

However the best advice I can new mothers, that no one ever gave me is the following:

ASK FOR HELP!

Don't hesitate! When someone lends a helping hand take it! Especially in those first weeks after, let someone make a meal for you, clean your house, sit with the baby so you can take a shower! Don't feel bad. They are not lying when they say "IT TAKES A VILLAGE".

Heck, 11 months in and I go out of my way to ask for help. I have been blessed with a handful of amazing babysitters that literally fight over days to watch Hadley. But I take advantage of it, as well as my husband.
Even if he is home, but needs to work on his truck or the house we will have one of the girls come over for a couple hours to hang with Haddy while he can get stuff done if I'm at work.

I do the same! Just yesterday I had both of them here, so I did laundry, sorted things out for cheer, worked on stuff for the salon & returned emails. Granted they came over to hang with both of us and we really just wanted to veg out on snacks and recap The Bachelor... but I saw an opportunity where I had extra helpings hands and used my time wisely.

Because lets be honest not much is getting done with a crawling, basically walking 10 & 1/2 month old sassy, Taylor Swift dancing little girl.

SCHEDULE DATE NIGHTS <3

When I was pregnant someone gave me amazing advice that has stuck with my and I really try to enforce it. "Marriage came before motherhood. To be a great mother you must be a great wife."

The hubby and I have started monthly overnights at grandma's so we can have date nights. Though they haven't really consisted of big nights out we usually just order Chinese and stay in.

 However they are much needed. Its nice to take a break from the constant role of being parents & take time for your spouse to touch base. 

We just did our first one last month and we both looked at each other the next day like "why didn't we try this sooner?" haha. As much as we missed her, and mostly talked only of her, it was nice to sleep soundly through the night!!

So now we have a first Saturday of every month schedule in place with my parents to allow us the time we need to make our marriage a priority. 

Prep

Every night before bed I do a walk thru and put the house back together, I stock the diaper bag if i know we are going somewhere the next day.

 I try to lay out her clothes before bath time so that there is less fighting me afterwards while trying to get her dressed. I put all her toys back in their places so she will know where to find them in the morning.

It all takes me about 10-15 minutes but it saves hours the next day!!! And lots of headaches! 

It allows me to start the next day in a positive mood not dreading the mess! 

I'm no expert but this last year has taught me so much & being a mom is as hard and rewarding as everyone says it is! 

So ask for help, put time aside for your significant other & try to set your self up for success as often as possible! 

Xoxo- Molly. 

(Photo credit- Justine Linn Photography.)