I did a Q&A on my Instagram story yesterday and got so many great questions I thought I’d answer ten more here! I used to do these Q&A posts on a weekly basis and I’m thinking of bringing them back in a monthly format if that’s something you all would be interested in. It’s helpful for me to know what you want to know more about!
January Q&A
1. What were your favorite wedding registry items or things you’d recommend?
We registered at Bloomingdale’s and Pottery Barn and I would say the wedding gifts we use most often are our everyday china, our highball and old-fashioned glasses, serving pieces like this one, and these white bath towels with a big navy monogram. Pretty and practical!
2. How to best support a first time mom? My sister just had her first baby!
Congratulations to both of you! I would say dropping off dinner (or sending them takeout if you’re not local!), offering to hold the baby so she can shower in peace, or if you’re close, doing a bunch of dishes or doing a quick sweep with the vacuum to give her a moment to relax with the baby and not feel overwhelmed by all the usual household tasks are all thoughtful gestures. But little things like a quick text to let her know you’re thinking of her and think she’s doing a great job can go a long way too. (And here’s a blog post I wrote mostly for myself when Teddy was one month old with the words I needed to hear as a new mom!)
3. Can you share your most valued items in your closet?
I love all my straw and wicker bags and look longingly at them all winter counting down the days until it’s warm enough to bring them out again. 🙂 Especially my Nantucket lightship basket that was an extra special gift from my mom at my bridal shower! I also have my wedding shoes in a little display case. Those are probably the most sentimental items in my closet but my everyday wardrobe MVPs are more like an assortment of button-down shirts from AYR and J.Crew, a couple pairs of Mother jeans, and my favorite ballet flats and ankle boots.
4. How did you handle body image during pregnancy? Pregnant + struggling!
I’m sorry you’re going through this! We have all been there and it’s not fun. I would try to remind yourself that everything (pregnancy, newborn phase, toddler years) is a phase and one day you will look back and realize your body made you pretty proud, even if it didn’t look exactly the way you wanted at the time. Your body is doing something miraculous every day right now! And if you can find a maternity outfit or two that make you feel a little better in your own skin, that can be a big mood-booster (for my first pregnancy it was these white maternity jeans and for my second and third pregnancies, I’ve been grateful for this nap dress!).
5. How to survive hyperemesis in pregnancy?
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this! I wish I had a better answer but I took prescription Diclegis in my first pregnancy from 9 all the way to 40 weeks, every day and sometimes twice a day. If you haven’t talked to your doctor about going that route, I would highly recommend it as something worth considering! It’s the only thing that made me feel remotely functional in those months. Other than that, small meals of whatever sounds most appetizing, things like these sour raspberry drops and peppermint oil to combat nausea, and letting yourself rest as much as you can. It felt impossible to believe when I was in the thick of it but the nausea/vomiting completely disappear the second your baby is in your arms! Sending you love as you soldier through it.
6. Due with my first boy in June! Tell me what you love about having sons 🙂
Congratulations! Of course I don’t know any different but I love their big hearts, boundless energy, and totally unique interests (no two kids are completely alike and it’s so wild to see that play out in siblings!). They can be every bit as sweet / snuggly / sensitive as their friends who are girls, but I think the amount of energy and just nonstop movement is what generates the most camaraderie amongst boy moms. Welcome to the club! 🙂
7. How do you and Will navigate your parents living with you? Thinking of doing the same!
I’m excited for you! Both Will and I would say it has been the greatest gift in this stage of our lives. I think it’s important to note that we have separate spaces — our bedroom is upstairs with our kids’ bedrooms and my parents are on the other side of the house in the loft above our garage — but we spend a lot of time together and it works for us. I would definitely suggest upfront conversations about how much time you plan to spend together and any kind of help you’re looking for, but I also think if it’s something you’re strongly considering, you’re likely to fall into a pretty good rhythm in due time.
8. Cute baby gate recs?
We love our chippendale baby gates! I would say they are best for single doorways (the double gates in the cased openings to our playroom are easier for a toddler to open) and I’ve heard from some moms that they think their children would attempt to climb up the railings, but that’s not something we’ve dealt with personally. If it’s not something you’re looking to invest in / keep up for several years straight, we’ve also used these more affordable Amazon baby gates and they worked just fine!
9. What was your stroller situation for 2 under 2?
I loved our Uppababy Vista stroller for one child and with two! (If we’re on a walk with all three, one is usually on a scooter or on the Doona trike!) We probably should have invested in a side-by-side double stroller at some point along the way but I love how solid the Uppababy Vista is. You can read my original Uppababy Vista review here.
10. Pregnant with baby #2. So excited but also terrified! Advice going from 1-2?
Congratulations! Honestly I just wish I had been better about asking for help and increasing our nanny’s hours right when we welcomed our second. We didn’t have a nanny until Teddy turned 1 and I just thought I’d be able to do it all the same plus a toddler in tow? Looking back I think I put unnecessary pressure on myself to do things exactly the same as I’d done them when we only had one baby (breastfeed for a year! hours of tummy time every week!) and it wasn’t very realistic or very forgiving. At the same time you have a much better idea of what to expect in terms of labor and delivery, postpartum recovery, the newborn phase, etc. so I think you’ll find you won’t sweat the small stuff in the same way the second time around. Give yourself grace and try to go with the flow — you’ve got this!
11. Newly pregnant, currently have 2 under 2. Best tips for going from 2 to 3?
Congratulations! I think you probably already have a better idea of what challenges to expect and how you might handle them having navigated the transition from 1-2. Are there any transitions you can take on toward the end of your pregnancy (potty training, transitioning out of a crib into a bed if that’s part of your plan, considering different childcare and preschool scenarios) to give yourself a little cushion during the newborn phase? Having 3 under 3 is wild because on the one hand you’re like, “I’ve got this, I’ve done this twice before!” and on the other you’re like, “But my oldest is only ~2 and change so I still feel like a new mom?” Rest when you can (easier said than done I know!), trust your intuition, and know that I’m rooting for you big-time. xx
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