Yay, Spring! Peanut (or DeSean as my MIL calls him ;) is due any day or week now and we’re so excited to meet him! I’ve been feeling really good these last few weeks so I’m taking a little time to reflect on my pregnancy… you know, before life changes forever!!

I have some friends who loved pregnancy and some who really suffered. I guess I’m somewhere in the middle. Every month has gotten better for me! And I wouldn’t want to relive those first 20 weeks. Although I did buy a few items for pregnancy*, I’ve really focused my money and energy on other essentials to support my body and spirit. They will all help postpartum as well!

MY PREGNANCY ESSENTIALS:
1. My Doula: Shannon Padlog. I didn’t know much about doulas and still don’t know their history but Shannon is amazing. I had a really desperate day of morning sickness and thought, hey, there must be a coach for this! I looked on Yelp, Shannon popped up, and we hired her the next week. She’s a birth doula (versus early pregnancy or postpartum) so I haven’t even experienced everything she has to offer. Every step of this journey has been easier with her by my side. I get to go into labor with a really knowledgeable, supportive friend who also happens to have experienced hundreds of births.

2. Thorough Birthing Classes: My hospital offers birthing classes, my doctor’s office does as well but I chose to take them through my doula. There were two other couples and the experience was intense. The first week was so uncomfortable for me (and emotional) that I was wishing for the boring Powerpoint version from the hospital :D Every session got easier and more informative though. I learned so much, went through a journey, and feel incredibly prepared.

3. Pilates: I’ve been doing pilates for years with the meticulous and incredibly talented Caitlin. With the exception of all of the horrible nausea, my body has been mostly pain-free during this journey and I know this work is to thank. I haven’t been super consistent during pregnancy but my fitness beforehand has totally helped my strength and posture.

4. A “Do” Date for my “Due” Date: Shannon has a really good idea to plan something special for your due date since it can be a let down for the 50% of women who haven’t delivered yet. I think Greg might be planning something but I’m doing two things. I bought a travel set of some really nice True Botanicals face oils to use either in the hospital or starting on my due date. I also booked a prenatal massage with the fabulous Anastasia. I’m looking forward to the massage but more importantly, she does postpartum home visits within days of birthing!

5. A Breastfeeding Consultant: Again, this is to help prepare for the first week or two after birthing. The lovely Caroline does a prenatal consultation and then can be on call if and when any issues arrive. She’ll also do home visits days after we get home. It’s nice to already have a relationship with somebody I trust and feel comfortable with. Also, insurance can cover this!

++ Acupuncture: Insurance can also cover acupuncture! I did a number of weeks during morning sickness and I don’t know if it helped. At 36.5 weeks, I started acupuncture at a new clinic to help induce or get my body ready for labor. I see Rachel at Mama Lounge and really look forward to it every week. It’s a sweet space, very modern and clean. Again, I’ve been feeling really good recently and I don’t know if it’s from the acupuncture, but whatever.

Those are the things that have been getting me through this last trimester! My least favorite things about my pregnancy have been: morning sickness; gestational diabetes; digestive changes; the sogginess; and the constant congestion. My favorites have been: not getting any colds or flu; softer skin and hair (seriously, I could only take a shower once a week or so in the beginning and my skin was fine!); my strength and posture (see above ;); falling deeper in love with these two men in my life; and all those smiles from strangers!!

+ *I bought a pregnancy pillow early on (and it did help me get through the first hard months when I went to bed in pain every night) but haven’t used it since. There were also some meds and supplements plus those few clothing items.

Hi there! I’m back after a little delay. I’m hoping to get a few more posts in before Peanut arrives and then see what the blog holds after our baby-led hiatus :D. A number of weeks ago, I introduced Essentialism 101, or my fundamental formula for the best and most sustainable method for dealing with the excess in our lives. I’ve written about the first two steps in more detail: Step 1: Stop Digging! and Step 2: Priorities!. Let’s discuss Step 3: Figure Out What’s Working!

(a little nursery teaser as it’s what’s working in my life right now ;)

Once we have examined our habits and worked on figuring out what’s truly important, we can finally start to sort through what we have. This can be physical stuff, calendars full of commitments, or over-stretched budgets (not to mention emotional baggage!). These areas of our lives represent how we use our space, time and money… or really how we show what is important to us.

The process of decluttering can be simple or really complicated. There are so many systems and books to follow and everyone responds to different concepts. There’s also the trend to just ask yourself “Does this spark joy?”. I’ll talk about some of my decluttering thoughts in my next post about removing what’s not working, but for now let’s focus on figuring out what is.

One of the easiest ways to let go of things that aren’t serving you is to start by knowing you already have enough. Starting with a pile of “yeses” makes saying “no” a lot easier when you need to. I recommend entering decluttering from a place of abundance. What’s the best way to do this?

+ Pick your favorites first. When you’re looking at a pile of sweaters or a list of engagements, pick out your favorites first. Simply keep your 9’s and 10’s. If you have ten sweaters and pick your favorite five, you start to feel that you already have enough. Passing on the other five to people who could really use them begins to get easier.

+ Set limits on what stays! Or our stuff can start to control us. Create a budget for anything that overwhelms you so you don't end up with excess. A few examples: own no more than seven t-shirts, maybe have only one bookcase (or even shelf) for books, choose to socialize only twice per week, or spend no more than 15 minutes per day reading blogs. The limits can seem arbitrary but they are experiments and can always change.

+ Live and plan for 90% of life. What’s truly necessary? What do you love and use often in your day-to-day? That’s what’s working. Let go of living for house guests, "just in case", and rare-to-you activities like camping or home improvement. Remember to let the store store those things you might need.

+ What would you pack if you were traveling for a month? Think about how wonderful it feels to travel and have only the bare essentials. No paperwork, no projects, no excess. Do you really need all of the other stuff at home weighing you down?

+ What supports your priorities and vision for your space or life? Look over your priorities from Step 2: Priorities!. What are you currently doing that is essential to them? This will help align your lifestyle with your values. In your home, which items support your vision for the space? In your budget, which expenses are necessary or support your goals? On your calendar, which activities nourish you or bring you joy?

Start where you are. Start from a place of having enough. Start by focusing on what’s already working. It will make it so much easier to let go and create space for the things that truly support your best life!

+ Next step, we’re going to discuss sorting and removing what’s not working!

My Pregnancy Essentials

Essentialism 101: Step 3: What’s Working?