My name is Andi, and I’m a stay at home mom! I’m married to my wonderful husband Tyler. We have a 19-month old- Liam, as well as another baby boy due May 31st. We live in a small town where my husband serves as youth minister at our church. I am a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and am on my journey of becoming a godly wife, mom, and woman in general. I am a weekly contributor over at GLOW Live As Light blog as well as a part time employee of Re-Vision. I’m always ready to break out a board game and will never hesitate to rise up to a MARIOKART challenge.  I’m passionate about motherhood as well as encouraging women in their walks with Christ!

I’m so excited to be guest blogging over here today. I joined one of Becky’s Online Fitness Accountability Groups last March, and I can honestly say that was one of the greatest decisions I made as I tried to knock off those last stubborn baby pounds. The accountability and support she and the group offered were unrivaled. I am certainly glad I made that decision!
I am a mom. Sometimes I feel like that identity is my ONLY identity. I know you can relate, mommas! Entering into motherhood was tough. Figuring out newborns is…interesting. I’ve been peed on one too many times! Once you feel like you’re starting to master newborn stage, they’re out of that stage in a flash! Currently, my 19-month old and I are figuring out this whole toddler thing. Liam is a BUSY BODY. I don’t know if you can relate or not, but he does not sit still. He’s an amazing sleeper but once he’s up, he’s hardly ever sitting still! Once our other baby gets here in May, we’re going to NEED to keep Liam busy! So what in the world is a momma to do?!

I have compiled a little list of some ideas and activities that might just help you keep your toddler busy as well. So, let’s dive in!

> Engage them in what you’re doing. This has been one of the best things I’ve done with Liam. If I’m (trying) to clean, I try to allow him to help. Now, I’m type A to the MAX, but I’m slowly learning to let that go a bit. Sure, he may miss a little dust with the Swiffer duster, but who cares! At least he’s engaged in what I’m doing! And he’s learning to be a big helper! He LOVES to sweep. He’s not great at it, but even if I am vacuuming, I let him follow me around with the broom so he feels like he has a part and a place. Another simple way to engage them is to let your toddler help you transfer your clothes from the washer to the dryer. Liam LOVES to do this. He’s even made it a game! He throws the clothes (mostly socks and smaller items) into the dryer like it’s a basketball hoop. But much harder! It’s great! Sure, it slows the process down and you could do it on your own much more quickly, but they are learning valuable lessons by helping. Plus, why are we in such a hurry anyway?

>Figure out their interests and encourage them. Our son LOVES balls. That was one of his very first words. So, we’ve tried to really encourage that area of life. He had a little VTech basketball goal since his first birthday and even upgraded to a Little Tykes one at Christmas. So, we encourage the ball playing. Sometimes I’ll stop what I’m doing and play but other times when my hands are tied up, I just encourage him with “Go Liam Go!” He grins from ear to ear, and plays by himself! His interests are growing more now, as he loves cars, trucks, and Play-Doh. So, allowing our toddlers to explore the items they take interest in is key. And relaxing while they do it is key for us. Yes, it may get a little messy, but we will survive!

>Household items can save the day. We buy kiddos hundreds of toys and then a plastic cup is what entertains them for days. Our son likes to stack things and put them inside one another. So, give him a few plastic cups or bowls, and he will play by himself for a while. Sometimes I even get involved by allowing him to play how he wants to but adding another aspect like, “Let’s count the bowls, Liam!” He loves it when I chime in every so often! Just me acknowledging that I’m there and I see him doing a good job means the world to him. And BALLOONS. Those have been a hit around our house! I buy a few packs every now and then and blow up a balloon for him a few times a week. He hits and kicks that thing all day. Hey, a plus is it works on his hand eye coordination too!

>Bring back the simplicity. Sometimes days at home get long. Your toddler is fussy, frustrating, and tiring at times. They can get over stimulated, which isn’t fun for anyone! So, bringing it back to something simple can be key. Some days I’ll break out the stickers, and we have fun putting them on coloring pages or even sticking them on each other! He also has a newfound love for reading, so I make sure I have books accessible throughout the day. He brings me one to read several times a day. I get my momma cuddles in and we get to read his stories. Win-Win!Also—REFIGERATOR MAGENTS! Liam enjoys playing with all the magnets on the fridge. We let him play with any of them that hang out down on the bottom. He has alphabet ones that he enjoys, too! They’re so simple, but it really helps keep him busy, especially while I’m cooking dinner.

>Art. One of my favorite things to do with Liam is make artwork! For our very first project, I took cardstock, plopped on some globs of paint (pink and red), put it in a gallon Ziploc bag, sealed it up, and I let him move the paint around with his fingers. Finger painting without the mess! He loved it! The paintings turned into his grandparents Valentine’s cards. Lately, we’ve been doing handprint art with some of our friends. Yes, it can get messy, but Liam is always engaged! I try to let him glue things on as well. He loves to be a big helper! And he always giggles at the paint on his hands!

>Play Outside. I’m sure you guys know that this is important! This is so hard during the winter, but spring is just  around the corner! Getting toddlers out in the fresh air is good for everybody! Liam loves to play Frisbee with our dog Kyla, swing in his tree swing, ride in the stroller for walks (exercise-bonus!), go to the park, and kick a ball in the yard. Some days when it’s nice out we just grab a blanket, put it on the grass, and build towers out of blocks. The fresh air does wonders for momma’s sanity!

>Busy Bags. A new idea that I found on Pinterest (thank the Lord) is called a Busy Bag. My plan is to compile several of these activities for a big busy bag to pull out for Liam just when I’m feeding our next baby. Especially if nursing works out because no one else can do that but me.  That way Liam will have something SPECIAL for him and him alone to do while the other baby is getting my attention! Find the many ideas for busy bags here. I love them!!!  You know your child best, so find which ones he or she would love to do!  Keep the busy bag for special times, so it continually captures their attention. Then, switch activities out every now and then.

Oh, what a gift it is to be a mom! We are entrusted with these precious lives! We have a great responsibility in  motherhood. Aren’t you so thankful for the grace God gives us to become better moms? I know some days are tough and tiring, but hang in there, momma! You can do this. Always remember to gain strength first from the Lord. Spend time with Him. He will equip you to be a better mom! And when I see you in the store with your screaming toddler too, I’ll give you a smile. Solidarity, sister…we’re in this together!

So what about you? What are some of your fantastic ideas to keeping your toddler busy? I’d love to hear!

Before being a mommy, I was always experiencing new and inventive ways to wear clothes.  I loved to be 
creative with mix-matching my outfits… I loved to be what people say today, “ON POINT” with what I was wearing.  It was a BIG deal to me to set a unique fashionable tone to my wardrobe each day.  At one point in my college years, I spent some time really researching how to start your own clothing business. I wanted to eventually design clothes and sell them.  I wanted young girls, teens, and women to know how to stay fashionable and modest at the same time. I was a teacher, so I thought, what better way to teach modesty than being in the school system.

Well… that dream began to fade once I got pregnant with my little spit-fire.  Around 23 weeks, I started to put on the pounds… I MEAN PUT ON SOME POUNDS.  My body started to change drastically and I didn’t like it one bit.  I wanted to be this cute little pregnant woman with a great wardrobe… What was I thinking?  Then, by 30 weeks, I was put on bedrest for extremely high blood pressure and excessive weight gain.  Talk about a kick in the gut.  I had to lay around ALL DAY LONG.  In my mind, I thought I was going to have to give up fashion and live in my pajamas for the rest of my life.

After my sweet Charleigh arrived, I had to take it easy for another long period of time due to complications with healing from a c-section. I didn’t want to go anywhere anyways… I looked like Oger version of Pheona off Shrek (I am not exaggerating).  I stayed in big and comfy clothes because I had to have something easy and accessible for my little piggy to be breastfed (literally like every five seconds).  I actually put all of my time, money, and effort into making Charleigh the most fashionable little baby on the planet.  I had completely given up on buying anything for myself or even trying to look half-way decent.  I couldn’t find anything to wear anyways.

One day, I was cleaning out one of our closets and came across some old pictures… I looked through them over
and over again. At this point, I was so disgusted and proud of myself all at the same time (pregnancy hormones
take a long time to leave after birth). Disgusted because I looked like I had eaten 2 to 3 of my old body AND proud because that body provided a safe and healthy place for my baby girl to develop.  It was after a couple of minutes of flip-flopping from the two emotions that I heard God say, “You are still my precious girl.” I had spent so much time on what the world viewed as fashionable and beautiful that I forgot to focus on what was most important. After some days of fighting with myself, I gave in.  I started realizing that I was still a precious jewel who didn’t have to impress anyone but God.  My greatest wardrobe and accessories had become a beautiful red-head on my hip and all the gross and sweet things that came with her… spit up, throw up, boogers, poop and all!! 

I am here to tell you beautiful, caring, self-sacrificing (in all areas of life), loving, hardworking MOMMIES: You are worth it all.  You are a rare gem. You are loved and adored by the most wonderful God.  You matter a great deal.

“What you say and think you are; you will eventually become.” -My wise Mema has shared this with our family for as long as I can remember.

Don’t spend wasting time like I did worrying about what the world viewed as beautiful and perfect.  You were created by a God who makes no mistakes.  Wear those clothes with your head held high know just how beautiful you truly are.  Don’t be ashamed of how your body has changed.  Use your wardrobe as a way of expressing who you are on the inside. 

Here are a few ways that I maintain my sense of style with very little to no effort:

1. I add a little flavor to whatever I choose to wear (T-shirt and jeans… Sweat shirt and yoga pants…etc.) I will add some red lipstick and a little bit of mascara and find a cute “bun on top of the head” how-to tutorial on Pinterest and go on my merry little way.

2. I invest in really good jeans.  I know that my lower stomach isn’t where I want it to be, so when I go shopping, I may spend a little more on jeans that are compatible to that c-section pooch. I will just spend less on shirts so that I can spend more on jeans.  “Invest wisely and wear liberally.”

3. I found this idea on pinterest a while back… On the days that I am feeling the most confident or I really like the outfit that I put together so effortlessly, I snap a picture of it and put it in my phone so that I can always refer back to it… If I need to change it up a bit, I always can… I just don’t want to forget about it!! Everyone likes to feel confident!

4. Flannels and booties are my go-to… You can dress them up or down. 

5. I snap pictures of other women and their outfits online or sometimes out in town if I find their outfits unique and something that I would like to try for myself.

6. Who wants to fix their hair EVERY DAY…? I don’t! I have invested in several hats of all styles and accent them with my outfits… works EVERY TIME.

7. Biggest tip: BE YOU! IF YOU LIKE IT… WEAR IT! We weren’t created to be the same.  If people look, LET THEM LOOK and see it as a compliment that they are taking the time to keep staring at you!!! We are our hardest critics… LET YOURSELF OFF THE HOOK!

Have fun with it!!! Charleigh and I have fashion shows all the time! Enjoy this life, ladies!

Age: 1 month

Milestones: More alert the last 2 weeks.  Working on pooping.  (She grunts a lot) She's taken several 10-15 minute neighborhood walks with Momma, including the first one in the double stroller with Landon!  She's also been to Wal-Mart (Landon included) and Target.

Nicknames:  During week 3, she had really goopy eyes.  Ben called her "Goopy Eyes" at one point and Landon overheard and started calling her that too.  We've had to work on NOT calling her that and choosing other nicer nicknames.  :)  I call her Sis or Sister a lot.  I also call her Sugar, Sweet Sister, Sweet Girl, and Sugar Britches. 

Sleeping: At night, I feed her at 7/7:30pm and then she usually goes until 12/12:30.  Occasionally 10/10:30pm.  Then up again around 3-4:00 am.  And then anywhere from 6-7:30am.  If she's up at 7 or 7:30, we stay up and start the day.  If it's closer to 6:00, I put her back to sleep - try to sleep a bit more myself, if I can and Landon isn't up - and then get her up about 8/8:30am for the day.  Our first night home was awful.  She fussed a LOT.  We've had a few nights here and there that have been rough - mostly related to something I've eaten or her learning to poop.  Sometimes, she'll be wide awake after the 7/7:30 pm feeding and won't go to sleep well.  That's exhausting when it happens.  As far as napping, she's napping 1-2 hours at a time.  She's sleepiest after the lunch time feeding and crankiest at the "witching hour" around 5:30-7:30pm.  Because of belly or pooping issues, there have been lots of naps where I've held her and she's slept on me.  All in all, though, I'd say she's doing great!  I treasure those snuggles much more this go round!  I know it won't screw her up and I know she's our last baby.  I'm soaking them up!!

Eating:  We do a Babywise eat, wake, sleep schedule.  BUT I'm way less strict on this with her than I was with Landon.  Simply because I can't stay home 24/7 and make sure her schedule goes perfectly.  :)  It's different with a 3 year old at home too!  She eats anywhere from 2-3 hours apart in a given day.  It just varies.  I try to start her day around 7/7:30am and end it at 7/7:30pm.  I try to keep the lunchtime feeding around 12/12:30 because that helps with Landon's nap time and MDO pickup days.  I try to keep her supper time feeding around 5/5:30 because that helps with Ben getting home and supper.  She's a good nurser.  I offer both sides and sometimes she takes both and others just one.  She spits up quite a bit so we're always using burp cloths and burping her good.  She usually gives a few good burps.  She was super lazy nursing the first couple weeks and has gotten better.

Highlights:  Conquering my first week solo - with no help - at home!  Whew!  Exhausting, but we made it!!  We've also conquered our first solo sink bath, Wal-Mart trip (with both kids), using the double stroller, getting out the door for MDO, bath/bed time routine without Daddy (he had a meeting), and two doctor visits with both kids (one with Daddy and one by myself).  Her umbilical cord is still on so we're working on drying that thing up!  Her eyes were goopy for a week and then cleared up, and her nose was congested sounding (no cold though) for the first 3 weeks of her life and then cleared up on week 4.

Allie's Likes:
- Sleeping.  She snoozes all the time!  It's hard to keep her awake during the day.
- Walks in the stroller.
- Her swing.
- Sink Baths.  She doesn't cry and just sits and enjoys them.  She does cry once she's out and cold though.

Allie's Dislikes:
- Being cold.
- Pooping
- Changing clothes.
- The time from 5:30-7:30 pm.
- Getting her nose suctioned.
- Getting her eyes wiped.
- Taking gas drops or her Vitamin D.  She acts like they taste like acid.

Favorites at this stage of parenting:  The snuggles.  The cute noises and grins.  Watching Landon love on her.  He's OBSESSED and can't keep his hands off her.  It's a challenge to make sure he's easy with her, but I'm so thankful he's so smitten with her. 

Challenges at this stage of parenting: The tummy and pooping issues.  Juggling two kids.  Having patience with Landon when I'm exhausted or just annoyed at his threenager tantrums.

Doctor appointments this month:
1.  1 week: weighed 7.75 lbs, 20.75 long
2. 2 weeks: weighed 8.31 lbs, 21 long
3. 4 weeks: weighed 9.44 lbs, 22 long

Diaper and clothes sizes:
Diapers - Newborn
Clothes - Newborn and some 0-3 months in the last week.  We've been living in sleeper PJs because they're easy and comfy!

How Momma feels: 
Emotionally - The first 2 weeks were ROUGH.  My hormones were all over the place.  Having been through this before, I knew it was normal, but I was so ready for them to level out.  I felt like a crazy lady.  I had more "baby blues" then I did with Landon.  I got really sad and depressed around 5:00pm each night.  I hated the unknown of what the night held.  Since I couldn't do our stairs, I hated missing out on the "regular" nightly routine with Landon.  I also hated how inpatient I was with Landon and how much our relationship had changed.  All of that was just hard to accept and process while my hormones were so whacko.  Week 3 was when I finally started to feel them level out and felt like myself again.  Now, I feel much more like me and don't cry at the drop of a hat anymore.  :)  I think knowing this is our last kid, our last newborn, I'm soaking in each day.  I'm way more laid back this time.  I'm not worrying about stuff.  I'm more go with the flow.  I'm adjusting to (and accepting) my new relationship with Landon.  I'm just enjoying the little girl that God has blessed us with!!  I have  a friend currently suffering a miscarriage, I have another who has suffered two in the last several years, a friend put on bed rest and a family at church who lost their newborn baby boy after holding him for less than 2 hours.  It's just all in a different perspective this time.  I feel so lucky and thankful to be Allie's (and Landon's) Mommy and to have such an amazing little family!  So thankful to have had 2 healthy pregnancies which gave us 2 healthy and happy babies and a happy and healthy Momma!

Physically - Everybody was right....the 2nd csection is easier.  My theory though is that it's easier because I don't have the time to sit or lay around and think about how sore and limited I am.  I have a 3 year old who is go-go-go and I'm not sitting around thinking about it this time.  I'm up and going!  I'm still sore, but I just don't have time to dwell on it this time.  I borrowed a binder belt from a friend and have been using it all day every day (even to sleep) starting this week.  I notice a big difference when I don't wear it.  It helps support my muscles, keeps soreness at bay, and makes me feel stronger in my core.  Plus, it's helping to flatten out some of that gross C-section bulge around my incision.  I don't think I had stitches this go round on the outside.  My glue (TMI I know) is starting to come off now and things are healing up nicely.  We've taken several 10-15 minute walks around the neighborhood as well as several Target and Wal-Mart trips.  I'm always sore after those, but it's getting better each time.  I tried some straight arm planks around week 3 and I was SO SORE the next day.  Whew.  Not doing those again for a while.

Tidbits:
- I've made Landon's MDO days my "relaxing" days with Allie.  I get things done at home and soak up her newborn love.
- I've also declared Tuesdays and Thursdays (and some Fridays) my "Mommy gets dressed in real clothes and puts on makeup" days.  It helps me feel human again.  :)
- Ben was home the first 2 weeks and it was SUPER helpful again.  Our motto in those days was divide and conquer.  He took Landon duty and I took Allie and resting from surgery duty. 
- Allie sleeps in the Rock N Play at night because it helps with her tummy.  She naps in it some and her pack-n-play too.  She sleeps in our closet (we can hear her....no worries) because she's such a loud grunter.
- We had newborn pictures made at 2.5 weeks.  That was the first time I went upstairs too.  Now, I'm going up daily, but just 2-3 times a day.
- I can carry Allie in her carseat carrier, but still not picking up Landon.  (I have picked him up a couple times out of necessity only)

My name is Danyell. I’m a married, full-time working mom of two kiddos – Levi is 3 and Lana is 1! I love Jesus, the beach, and building muscles!

I bet you moms out there are thinking “how in the world does she have time to build muscles with 2 toddlers?!” Well, for the last year I’ve been exercising on my lunch break. I know, I know – You don’t like that idea because you’re thinking “I don’t want to come back to work all sweaty and stinky”.  But to be honest, by the time I cool down and get back to change I’m mostly dry and if need be, I just pull my hair up the rest of the day. 

Now, let me tell you my schedule. I actually work out with Becky’s sister at lunch now so it’s keeping us both accountable. We go 3 days a week and we shoot for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  Sometimes we have to adjust our schedule based on appointments or things that may come up, but for the most part we get in our 3 days. And it’s SO much easier than you think! We get a good solid 40-45 minutes in (we both have about a 10 minute commute to the gym from our work). And let me tell ya – you don’t HAVE to have a gym to get this done! I used to do this at the park on my lunch!

There is such a variety that you can do – run, walk, climb stairs, tabata, an hour of lunges (just kidding!), the list could go on and on! But today, I’m going to give you a really quick but effective workout that you can do on your lunch break and it doesn’t require you to have any tools!

It’s up to your to set your pace, but the faster and harder you go the more calories you burn! It’s a great, short but effective workout that works multiple muscles in your body. I guarantee you that you will be sweating when you’re done with this! And if not, PUSH YOURSELF HARDER!!

Alright Y’all – that’s all I have for today. Thanks to Becky for asking me to blog for her while she’s out!! I’ve enjoyed sharing my tips and hopefully she’ll have me back soon.  Have a blessed day!