What to expect 9 month baby

Wow! 9 months already?! Where has the time went? I still look back at picture from a few months ago, and I can say that she still looks the same. However I do see the stronger features in her face. Of course babies have to grow up but my question is why so fast. *sad face* I can definitely see her mobile skills are advancing, every morning is something different. So, my big what to expect during this ninth month journey is....

Keep up...

She is actually crawling on both hand and feet and not to mention pretty fast. I put her down and voom she is not insight. How I manage, is trying to keep her occupied. It's hard to cook and clean and watch a baby. It's all about time. I try to keep and schedule and manage the free time to the best of my ability. Putting her in her walker while I'm cooking is helpful. She can run around and I'm still able to keep an eye on her. When I'm able to take a quick shower I make sure it's after she has eaten and diapers has been changed.. this way I can get a little extra me time.  

Safety first..

Now that she knows how to pick, stick and lick... her tongue is on everything. She is pulling things out the wall and stick things in places where it's not so safe. We have baby proofed the house to the best of our ability but some way some how she manages to squeeze through the creases. We put baby proof items in the outlets and she either try to pull those out or pull out the plugs in the wall. At this point I'm exhausted from picking her up and moving her again and again. I want to by a playpen but she thinks her crib is torture. Even with all of her favorite toys placed in there. 

Never to early to start teaching...

I have read like everyone else, babies store so much knowledge. Even though we can't see it paying off until they actually start talking. This never stopped me. I talk to her like she can understand. I ask her what she would like to eat not like she can understand. I ask her would she like to wear "mommy favorite dress"  and she shakes her head no but she doesn't grasp the concept of no just yet.

I hope this was helpful.. let me know in the comments!

Being a new mommy!

I know what you're thinking...How hard can it be being a mom? You have a baby, you change its diapers, feed it and wallah!.. Incorrect, it has its challenges and it's not at all peaches and cream...especially as a single parent.

I'm not a single parent however, it does feel like it at times. Especially, when your husband is a work for 12 hours a day. You're taking care of the baby and when he gets home... he's pretty much exhausted and ready for bed..then the cycle repeats its self. So the answer to it is... How do I manage being a new mom? 

First 

Make a schedule..

Not just a schedule for the baby eating and sleeping time but a schedule for you and your spouse. 

A schedule helps keeps things in order. It aligns your daily rituals. It simple and makes things easier! As for me and my husband he cleans the bottles and gets the baby a bottle during the night. I know what you're thinking... "You make him get up in the night and he has work in the morning?"  Yes! What works for him and I, might not work for you. We pretty much wake up at the same time to get things in order. When he leaves for work my day begins. 

Penelope schedules goes a little like this...

6 am- Feeding

8 am- Wakes up/ eat solid food

9 am- Play time

10 am- First nap

12 pm -Wakes up/ eat solid food 

12:30 pm- Learning time

1 pm- Play time

2 pm- Second nap

7:30 pm- Sleep for the night

Keep in mind my baby is 9 months, so it does varies for each child.

I would've went  more into detail, but she's a baby and it isn't much going on right now.

Stay Focused

It can get a little discouraging when your baby is fussy and it seem like you can get much work done. In the beginning maybe the first month or two, you need to sleep when the baby is  sleeping. Now that doesn't mean, EVERY TIME  the baby sleep, you sleep... Because they are babies and that's what they do, you on the other hand are an adult. Adults take responsibility and make things happen. With that being said, you have to cook, clean, wash etc. Don't allow the baby to drain all of your energy, so that you can get back into the swing of things. Also, don't let this down time keep your passion away. Maybe start journaling, blogging, vlogging, or keeping a scrap book to keep you occupied.

Get help!

It's easier said then done, especially when everyone works during the day. Try having  grandparents over to help cook dinner the first few weeks, or maybe even help fold laundry. Having a newborn can take a lot of energy so any help is always good. Also be appreciative of the assistance, and show your gratitude... Simply, by writing them a little note or making dessert.

Hope this was helpful. Please leave a comment!

 

 

Finding Comfort in Confusion

When you are so overwhelmed and weeded from the everyday life of being a new mom, how do you find the balance? How cliche is it to say pray?! Well, that just it... I have been there and don't that but you can't  pray and still worry. I'm kind of like a hippie when it come to worrying... I'm like la la la la la, it will work itself out. And guess what?! It always works out! Sometimes not the way I want it to work out but it always do. I like to say I have that mustard seed faith. Not to little faith but not doubtful that God won't pull through. Patience is literally a virtue. Wait on God to send you a sign. Ask him to give you favor and a sound mind to hear him when he calls. A few ways to do this is by....

1. Praying-

Their is a scripture and solution to every problem in the Bible. Start there... Before you pray, ask your self what do you want to happen?...Then lift it up in prayer, and talk to God like you would talk to a friend. Like this "Father God in the name of Jesus, I come to you to say thank you. Thank you for your abundant grace and mercy you have had over my life. I ask that you show me favor with a better paying job, and if not give me increase at the one I'm at. Amen!" The funny thing God doesn't always work the way we want him to, however he might bless you with another source of income that you wasn't expecting. 

2. Planning-
Faith without works is dead, meaning you can pray all you want but if you do not put no action behind it, you are basically staying at square one. Things don't always go according to plan, however if you are working towards that goal, it will eventually transpire. It's kind of like being at job you do not like, and you want to seek better employment but you are not applying  yourself.

3. Seeking advice-

Seeking advice is just that, looking for someone to give you their standpoint. It can be as simple as  praying, asking a close friend for guidance or a mentor or even reading a blog.  It's easier to see results from other people's perspective. Maybe, someone have been in the same situation and know how to get out.

Hope this was helpful! Comment please!









Verse: My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

How to start your own company

1. Timing is everything

We mean this in two ways: 1) Picking the best moment to launch your company. This is always a balancing act determined by a great many factors including: the ebbs and flows of your industry, the success or faltering of competitors, the availability of startup funds, and your own personal circumstances (having a baby in a month? Maybe don’t try to start a new company right this minute. Want a baby in 3 years? Jump on it right now.) And 2) Getting your business plan completed and making decisive moves to get your business off the ground quickly. We’re not saying to rush – by all means, take the necessary time to develop your plan carefully – but so many startups fail simply because they wallow in early development and never even get off the ground.

2. Set a budget

A common mistake new business owners make is thinking as long as they can get their hands on a big enough chunk of money, they can plop it in a business checking account and surely it will suffice to cover their expenses. This is wrong and stupid and no – we’re not even going to pick nicer words to say that. It is crazy important to have a super detailed budget before you spend a single penny. If you aren’t an expert at budgeting, enlist the help of someone who is. Considering that a lot of startup CEOs tend to be more “big picture” thinkers, crunching numbers is not a popular favorite task. As such, is too often glazed over. Just…don’t. Every area of the business should be carefully accounted for and the budget should be adhered to as closely as possible. Speaking of which…

3. Self-control

We aren’t only talking about money here, but to be sure, exercising self-control and sticking to your budget is definitely a must. In every way, running your own business – especially during its startup phase – requires discipline in all areas. Our tips: decide ahead of time on goals for each day/week/month, rather than just deciding on what hours you will work. We’re all about a work/life balance, and are not ones to suggest letting your startup take over your life completely, but the simple fact is that startups require a bit more nurturing than established companies. Decide what needs to be accomplished by when, and force yourself to stick to your benchmarks. It’s better to pull a couple of long days than to get woefully behind.

Oh, and stick to your budget.

4.Know your target market 

If you and your team happen to know key people in high places (“high” in terms of their position in your industry, or “high” in terms of the number of zeros on the investment they want to give you), then fantastic. You’re ahead of a lot of people. If you don’t, being tirelessly committed to leveraging your existing network and seeking out opportunities to make connections with powerful people is part of your job description. Either way, having an ability to form new relationships and nurture and maintain existing ones is important for the vitality of your business.