Isla Jane got her first tooth. We didn’t even know it until she was playing with her nanny {aka her aunt}. My sister text me “Isla has a tooth!!!”

I, of course, instantly started to cry. How is my baby already getting a tooth?

I made her some {Homemade} teethers and she loved it!  Instead of spending money on a toy I just used what I had.

You’ll need:

1. Ice Cube Tray
2. Pacifier
3. Breast Milk or Formula 🙂
4. Bib {for when you have to use the teether}

First I made 4 oz of formula and then poured it into 3 ice cubes places.  Then I placed 3 pacifiers in the formula. I set it in the freezer on an even surface for 4 hours and BAMMMM. I had some {Homemade} teethers for baby IJ and she loved it!

She chewed & sucked on it with hardly any mess. I assisted her by helping her hold it and toward the end I just took it away and gave her a new one. I didn’t want her to choke on any tiny parts!

I hope this helps all you beautiful mama’s with teething babies!

Love,
J

“You got this baby!”

I hear this statement from my husband on a daily basis. Because he is {my person} and he knows when I am on the verge of madness. Since he left I’ve been on the verge of madness almost on a daily basis.  Lately it has improved drastically but for the first 5 months of my daughter’s life (3 of those I have been alone) madness has been a daily occurrence for us.

When I’ve worked all day I’m exhausted. But so much has to be done. I only have two hands. My darling squish demands my time. No, not demands, beckons. And I gladly answer. She is no job. But then again, she is. The time I spend with this darling is time I cherish. Moments I inhale and don’t want to let go of.

My squish began sleeping 7pm-730am just a few short days ago. Which means I don’t get my normal morning cuddle and giggle session with her. This may seem silly to miss but when I only get my darling for 4 hours a day. These moments are precious. So I cry. I cry on my way to work because I didn’t get that kiss. That smile or that goodbye. And now it will be almost 24 hours until our eyes meet again. I get home around 4pm and the last time she saw me was 7pm the night before.

Heart wrenching.

Being a mommy is heart wrenching. It demands you. All of you. And you gladly answer. Because there in front of you is this tiny human you formed. And you see his eyes on her cute chubby little face. And you know he’ll be home soon… {You Got This}. Because one day this will be a distant memory. And she will be grown and you will want to rewind time and be back in this crazy, exhausting, heart wrenching moment.  When she was tiny and squishy and all she wanted to do was look at you and hold your hand {well your finger}.

{You Got This}. It’s hard as hell and you’re alone. Your husband is half way around the world. Your nights are spent alone and your bed is missing a person. But {You Got This}. Because you are strong. God gave you this man and this darling and this life because you are strong {You Got This}.

And when I don’t feel strong I have him…and Him.  Sometimes I’m not sure how I am going to get through the day. Because the house is a mess, and there is a poopy outfit I left in the hamper that made the whole house smell, and last nights dishes in the sink, and laundry from 3 weeks ago {You Got This}.

And my husbands words play in my head {You Got This}.

But there is her. And she is greater than all that demands my time. Because her demands also grow my heart. Her demand is love. And I gladly answer.

I am alone. Yes.

My husband, this unbelievable|selfless|generous|chivalrous|genuine|honest man is gone. Serving his country. And I am alone.

Mama’s you hear me. I get texts from you all the time telling me you faced mommy-hood alone for a day or weekend and you don’t get how I do it. I feel your prayers. I hear your laments. Being a Mama isn’t easy but it’s so so good. No it’s great. No it’s a word better than great. So in the midst of the madness I find much joy and peace! So I wanted to share 🙂 Because I love you all so much and I know {You Got This} even on your worst days! 

Here is how I survive being a working homemaker alone:

1. Meal planning. Which includes healthy eating {also helpful} and budgeting. I meal plan about 2-4 weeks at a time. I have my grocery list with everything I need for those meals and I don’t diverge.
2. Essential Oils. I use them in everything. Homemade lotion. Homemade lip gloss. Home made immune boosters. I diffuse them at night to calm me down about an hour before bed. I use Young Living and I can help you out if you wanna use em too mama! 😉
3. Prayer & Journaling. These go hand and hand for me. I just sort of download everything in my head onto a prayer journal.
4. Exercise. Go on a walk. It will make you feel better.
5. Friends & family. They are great resources. When you need help a nap is only a phone call away. Thankfully I have many people so willing to help me. I am truly blessed.
6. {Bonus} we used Babywise to help our little squish get on a schedule and she slept through the night from an early age. It’s not for everyone but we loved it!

These are my {Top 5} baby live savers! I’m not sure what I would have done with out these items as a {class b} single parent.  And mom’s who are expecting babies…these are so helpful!

1. SWADDLE YOUR BABY. They may not seem like they want to be swaddled but they do.  When Isla started rolling at 3 months we started using the Magic Merlin Sleep Suit. She loved it. She slept 12 hours a night in that thing.  
   
2. A Rock n Play or a Swing {or both}. Because babe’s love em and you can get things done.
   
3. A good bath that transitions with your baby! This is ours!
   
4. A baby carrier! Sometimes you just need a good baby carrier. When your baby fusses and you just need to get things done. Strap em to ya and do the dishes. I would be careful to not make a habit of it or else your baby will grow accustom to only sleeping on mommy. Unless that’s what you want!!
   
5. A GREAT stroller/carseat combo! We have the Britax BeSafe and I love it!
6. {Bonus} A great monitor! You need a good baby monitor. They are life savers. Ours was a gift. 

{Top 5 For Baby Care}

1. A GREAT cool mist humidifier! I love ours!
2. Some gas drops or gripe water. Depending on what your pediatrician recommends OR what you feel comfortable with. Isla had bad acid reflux and Gripe Water always did the trick for hers.
3. Essential oils & Vicks Baby-rub for colds and flu. There isn’t any medicine for a new baby.  When Isla got the flu I rubbed baby Vicks on her chest and neck. I mixed some Frankincense with Coconut oil and put it on her tiny feet with some sock.  I also got the Vicks Plug in for her wall and that worked wonders for her poor stuffed up nose. It really helped her sleep through the night.
4. Butt cream. We use Lotrimin Antifungal cream for Isla (the target brand). She is so chunky that she gets yeast build up often in those little thighs. We used to get a prescription but our doctor said this worked the same and we didn’t have to come in every time she got yeast. Isla has never had traditional diaper rash. Just yeast.
   

   – We also use Coconut oil with lavender to calm redness and all natural Lanolin to protect against her yeast blistering (because it has).
   – When it blisters I used the coconut oil mixed with my favorite essential oil for healing Purification.  Works wonders. Better than Neosporin.

5. www.diapers.com Ladies…I cannot tell you how much this website has saved me.  For members they have FREE next day shipping. So when I was out of diapers, formula, gripe water, cream, or just needed a new fun toy I would purchase it and within 24 hours it was on my door.  They ALWAYS have sales. We got our $400 Britax carseat/stroller combo 40% off on their website. It’s fabulous. 

I’ll leave you with this thought. No matter where you are in life {be kind to yourself}. You are doing the best you can. {Be kind to others}. They are doing the best they can.

My favorite blogger and writer, Leeana Tankersley says it perfectly: {treat yourself the same way you would treat your best friend}.

So when you feel like a failure or that you are not good enough and Satan creeps in don’t’ let him make you feel like you are any less than you are. Treat yourself the way you would treat a dear friend and show yourself kindness and grace. Encourage yourself the way you would encourage your best friend.

Because Mama, YOU got this.

Love,
J