Checking in with Pregnant Elegant Mommy Shelly

1. How has this pregnancy been different than your previous pregnancies? 

I have been much more "laid back". This pregnancy was a big surprise to us and we truly believe that whatever is meant to be will be! I have felt fine this entire time (thank goodness!) which is a bit of a change from previous pregnancies.

2. How has this pregnancy been similar to your previous pregnancies? 

The one thing that is similar is the sleep changes. With each pregnancies I experience insomnia to a certain extent. But if that is the worst part of my pregnancy, I'll take it!

3. What is your favorite part of being pregnant this time around? 

It's fun to be in the store during this pregnancy and feel the "connection" to everyone. I was about 6 months pregnant when the retail store opened and wasn't able to have the same type of "connection" through the entire pregnancy. It's also a lot of fun to have 2 employees who are pregnant as well!

4. What is your least favorite part of being pregnant this time around? 

Life tends to not slow down for pregnancy I definitely tire a lot easier now that I am mid 30's and have 3 other children to take care of!

5. Have you felt good, bad, or both during this pregnancy? Explain 

I have felt good! As I said previously, if insomnia is my only issue, than I'll take it!

6. What is the best thing about working at Elegant Mommy while pregnant? 

The best part about being at Elegant Mommy while pregnant is having the connection to the customers and being able to share the experience with them! Of course, being able to shop for new diapers and carriers is always fun too

7. What are you most looking forward to after baby arrives? 

Snuggles and bonding time again!

8. Show us your belly!

Baby Registry!

Did you know that Elegant Mommy has a Registry program?

Well, now you do! :)

Not only do we offer one, but it's super simple to use. If you are expecting and would like to register with us, just head over to our website (www.ElegantMommy.com), click on "Gift Registry" in the sidebar menu and follow the instructions to get registered with us!

When someone comes in to get you something from your list, you earn money on your Rewards Card and you will also get 5% gift card when you close your registry with us!

We encourage you to register with us for several reasons:

1. Support a Local Small Business! Did you know that by purchasing from locally owned businesses, something like 3 times as much of your money STAYS local, going back to the community, than when you purchase from a national corporation? Elegant Mommy is always looking for new ways to give back to the community, and we will continue to do so. We have been blessed and want to pay it forward!
2. Convenience. People who are purchasing from your registry can select and buy their merchandise either on our website (they just need to go to the same link you did to register) OR in the store. We even have super-awesome staff that will help them get exactly what you want!
3. Continuing Service! Speaking of super-awesome staff, that's what we have! Elegant Mommy takes pride in hiring only the best, most caring, knowledgeable, and helpful staff around! When you make purchases from us (or have someone else make them on your behalf), you get that wonderful down-home service you have come to expect from us. We are here for you, even after the purchase has been made and you've begun using our products. If you need help, just stop on in or give us a call - we are here for you!

Checking in with Pregnant Elegant Mommy Evie

1. How has this pregnancy been different than your previous pregnancy/pregnancies?
Probably the biggest difference is that I can sleep! Woohoo!! The other thing, though, is that I wasn't feeling very well at ALL for awhile. I was SO uncomfortable (and only at 27-29 weeks!). I kept being bombarded with thoughts that my body wasn't doing something right because I felt so crummy. Then I went to an awesome chiropractor last week and have felt like a brand new woman ever since! I'm back to my "I love being pregnant" thoughts and feelings. Woot!

2. How has this pregnancy been similar to your previous pregnancy/pregnancies?
I had similar first trimesters, for sure. I kind of walked around in a "pregnancybrainfog" for the first three months. I also didn't feel very great - kind of like a dull nausea all day long. Thankfully, none of that lasted past 13 weeks or so :)

3. What is your favorite part of being pregnant this time around?
Sharing it with the kids! They LOVE feeling "jellybean" when he moves (no, we don't know if it's a boy or girl, we just didn't want to call it an "it"). They are totally into the pregnancy, love hugging my belly and "protecting" jellybean when we are playing, etc. They talk and sing to him regularly too. It's been super fun.

4. What is your least favorite part of being pregnant this time around?
Up until last week, the discomfort! I'm pretty much all good now, though :)

5. Have you felt good, bad, or both during this pregnancy? Explain
I have felt a combination. Mostly good, but I was thinking that maybe I was getting too old to have an easy pregnancy since I was so uncomfortable, etc. Now I know I just needed a little adjustment and all is well. At almost 30 weeks I'm actually on top of the world right now and I know I can rock this pregnancy and birth! :)

6. What is the best thing about working at Elegant Mommy while pregnant?
Well, unfortunately, since I work from home in Mitchell, I don't get in to EM very often. So, I miss out on all the great classes, etc, that are there. However, I still get to talk about my pregnancy and be "exposed" to awesome people - if only virtually - every day I work :).

7. What are you most looking forward to after baby arrives?
Baby snuggles and nursing! I loved nursing my other two and am excited for this time around :)

8. Show us your belly!
You asked for it! Ha!

27 weeks

Checking in with Pregnant Elegant Mommy Stacy

1. How has this pregnancy been different than your previous pregnancy/pregnancies?

This is my second pregnancy. First one was a girl, this one a boy. I feel that he sits low, below my belly button. And he is very ninja like

2. How has this pregnancy been similar to your previous pregnancy/pregnancies?

I was sick for about the same amount of time at the beginning with both, lucky for me, it was only about 2 weeks.

3. What is your favorite part of being pregnant this time around?

I am rocking the bump this time around. I had to wear the same thing everyday for work when I was pregnant with my first. It's very exciting to be having a boy. The anticipation of having a boy and wondering what things will be different and what will be the same is very exciting to me.

4. What is your least favorite part of being pregnant this time around?

I love being pregnant. But the least favorite has been trying to figure out a name. There are one or two potential runners but way harder this time. Considering I knew what I wanted to name Marlee 10 years before she was even born.

5. Have you felt good, bad, or both during this pregnancy? Explain

I have felt great, pretty tired in the first trimester but that is about it. Knock on wood, I feel like I am pretty lucky. 6. What is the best thing about working at Elegant Mommy while pregnant?

Having so much knowledge around you all the time, from the classes we offer to meeting different moms all day long. And especially, getting first dibs on all the cute clothes that come in for consignment.

7. What are you most looking forward to after baby arrives?

Baby snuggles

8. Show us your belly!

It's a Giveaway!

What could be better than 2 FREE concert tickets to see the Bare Naked Ladies in Sioux Falls on 7/29/14?

How about a YEAR SUPPLY of Rockin Green Soap's Bare Naked Babies Classic Rock Soap in addition to the tickets?

Um....yes, please.

Well, Elegant Mommy has partnered with Rockin Green Soap to offer you a chance to win this fantastic prize pack!

Just head to our website for all the instructions.

You need to submit a super-adorable "bare naked baby" photo (diapers are ok) of either yourself or your sweet babe, then enter for your chance to be one of the finalists.

We will be randomly choosing 10 finalists after 7/22/14, whose pictures will be judged based on originality, adorableness, and the "rockin' factor".

So, get those pictures submitted (either in our store or online), enter for your chance to be a finalist on our contest page, and good luck!

You Can Do It, Baby Girl!

Every time we've gone to a particular park this summer, my 6 year old (Vienna) has looked with longing and hopefulness at some of the equipment. It's been elusive for a long time, and she hasn't been able to master them.

I'm talking of the high, and ever-challenging monkey bars.

One of the first times we went to this park this year she ran up to them and wanted more than anything

to be able to swing all the way across. I held her as I tried to explain momentum, swinging, etc, and helped her get across.

When I would let go, however, she just couldn't do it. She couldn't swing from one bar to the next. She could hang from the first one, then would have to let go.

She talked about her hands hurting. I suggested rubbing some sand on them so they were a little more easily moved when gripping, and maybe she wouldn't get the blister-ish soreness. It did help, but she still just didn't have the strength to get from one bar to the next.

So, we took a little break for awhile. We went to many different parks, she played, had fun, and didn't worry about those monkey bars.

Two days ago we returned to that park.

She played on other equipment for awhile, then when one of the other girls that was playing there hopped on those bars Vienna was drawn to them....like a moth to a flame. She (being the social butterfly she is - one of her favorite things about going someplace new is that she gets to make new friends) asked the girl if she could teach her how to make it all the way across. Unfortunately, the girl had to leave at that point.

Before the girl left, however, Vienna watched her very intently and took mental notes. I could see her sweet little mind working and processing what she was watching.

Right after the girl was done, Vienna had her chance. She hopped up there, hung down from the first bar, and (joy of all joys!) she was able to swing herself to the second bar! And then the third! Oh, the look on her face....it's etched in my memory and I wish I had caught it on my phone so I could share with you all. It was such an amazing look of triumph and achievement. I cheered for her and encouraged her to go even further. At that point she lost her grip, though, and fell.

It didn't matter.

She had figured out how to swing from bar to bar! What an achievement! She was SO excited. She got right back up and tried again. We went back again yesterday so she could keep trying.

She hasn't gotten past that 3rd bar, but I'm confident that she will by the end of the summer.

As I was watching her last evening as she was working so hard, trying and trying, and getting so close to getting further, I couldn't help but think about this and future challenges that she will face and my role in them.

It's difficult for me to not want to help her. To hold on to her so she can make it across - it's what she wants SO badly. I want to help her. I want to protect her from falling and possibly getting hurt.

The thing is, it's something she needs to do herself. I can cheer, encourage, and coach her, but I canNOT do it for her. It wouldn't have the same meaning if she made it across with me holding her as it will when she can do it herself. So I'm not going to help her. Physically, anyway.

My role as her mama is to be an encourager, not an enabler. A cheerer, a support and empower-er, not a dictator who will take over and just do it for her.

And this doesn't just apply to the monkey bars. There will be many, many, many challenges that she faces in her life. As much as I would love to take over for her and control her actions, decisions, and protect her from any hurt, that's not reality. She HAS to learn how to over come challenges on her own, in her own way. Even if it's differently than I would deal with them. She's her own person, and really pretty amazing and persevering already.

I just pray that as she learns to overcome challenges that I can learn and be trained to LET her overcome her own challenges. I'm just here to love her and help her along the way - not do it for her.

Oh, the things you can learn on the playground ;)

~Evie

Breastfeeding with Postpartum Depression

A few weeks ago I posted some thoughts on recent findings about Maternal Mental Illness.

One thing to think about and just prepare for, is your breastfeeding relationship if you do get Postpartum Depression or one of the other Maternal Mental Illnesses after you have baby.

La Leche League has some insight in their book "The Womanly Art of Bre
astfeeding". The following is an excerpt:

Postpartum Depression

Many mothers experience a day or so of "baby blues" in the first week postpartum. They suddenly find themselves crying for no apparent reason, wondering how they can feel so sad when they're supposed to feel so happy. The great changes and responsibilities that come with a new baby may be the source of the sudden ups and downs, and the emotions are magnified by the shifting postpartum hormones. For most women this period of intense feeling passes quickly, but for others, anxiety, sadness, mood swings, and other symptoms persist for weeks or even reappear months after giving birth. This is no longer "baby blues"; this is postpartum depression.

Depression is not something you can just "snap out of," though there may be people who suggest that a mother should do just that. Mild depression may lift with time, especially if a mother makes a disciplined effort to take car of herself. She should eat nutritious meals and snacks, take a daily walk or try some other form of exercise, get help with household tasks, and sleep when the baby sleeps. Most importantly, she should find other women with babies to talk with, friends who can reassure her that she is doing a good job and that she is not alone in her feelings. A La Leche League Group can be a valuable source of support for a mother struggling with postpartum adjustments.

When a mother is anxious about her ability to care for her baby, or is just plain feeling "down," breastfeeding may become the focus of her worries. She may find it hard to trust that her body will make enough milk for her baby, or she may begin to feel that breastfeeding itself is the cause of her unhappiness. While difficulties with nursing can certainly be upsetting, many mothers find that getting some assistance in order to resolve the breastfeeding problems is a more positive course of action than deciding to wean. Ultimately, both mother and baby benefit. It's also important to remember that most of the challenges experienced by new mothers will still be there, even if the baby is switched to formula.

Sometimes postpartum depression needs the attention of a professional, a counselor or therapist, or a doctor. Be sure to look for someone who is supportive of breastfeeding and understands its importance to both mother and baby. Studies have shown that breastfeeding itself does not contribute to postpartum depression.

Depression is often treated with medication, and there may be some concerns about whether a particular drug is safe for the baby. This is a time to consider carefully the mother's need for the drug, the possible alternatives, and the latest information available about the medication. A mother who is seriously depressed may want to include her husband or a friend in these discussions with the doctor, to help make clear her desire to avoid weaning. Ending the breastfeeding relationship can be very difficult for a mother emotionally and sudden weaning may cause hormonal changes that intensify a mother's depression. Any decisions about how to treat postpartum depression should take this into account.

If you would like to plug into a breastfeeding support group, come on down to Educated Mommy this coming Thursday at 6:30 pm! We are here to help you!

~Evie

Pregnancy Pictures

So you all know I'm expecting.

If I didn't gravitate toward any and every pregnancy/birth article, blog post, study, and collection of maternity, birth, and baby pictures before, I certainly do now.

So, yesterday someone shared one of the funniest collection of pictures I've seen. I looked through it last night when everyone else was in bed and my husband came out of the bedroom all groggy and was wondering what I was doing. I clearly was being a bit too loud in my giggles and guffaws.

Anyway, here is the collection of "Awkward Pregnancy Photos" from Belly Belly that I was looking at. You

Um....not sure what to say...

need to take a few minutes and look through them...I mean, seriously...#7? I honestly didn't even know how to react - it's just so ridiculous and wrong on so many levels. I don't even get it. So I laughed. At all of them. HA!

I also just googled "awkward pregnancy photos" and the images that came up are cra.zy. Seriously - you gotta wonder where some of these people got their ideas about what would make a good maternity picture. Bahahaha!!! Some of them are obviously just snapshots and not supposed to be a "good" picture. However, many of them are obviously taken by a professional.

I've contemplated getting maternity pictures with this pregnancy. I've never done that before and think it would be pretty sweet to have memories of at least one pregnancy. Looking at these pictures reinforces what we all already know.

Your photographer MATTERS!

It's important to know that whoever you choose to take maternity pics for you actually knows what the heck they are doing and not just trying to re-create something they saw once - without proper lighting, props, equipment, or skills to make it look decent.

Luckily, we have a pretty awesome group of extremely talented photographers in the area. If you are looking to get some pictures taken, talk to friends, family, and acquaintances about who you should hire. Look at their portfolios and hire the one who most closely matches what you are looking to get out of your photo session.

That way, hopefully you won't ever end up in a collection of "Awkward Pregnancy Photos" online anywhere.

I'm sure there are many other awkward pregnancy photos out there. Where have you seen some? Care to share and give us all a good laugh? We like to laugh.

~Evie