Elijah Dos Santos Membreno
Born on October 21, 2017 at 6:50am
Weighing in at 8lbs and 21 inches long
He was born in the comfort of our own home in the water. I am so grateful for this! My birth story will be up in the next couple of weeks. I am just waiting on our photos. 🙂
For now here are some awesome family pictures we took this past weekend, by my cousin Kailyn! <3 Thank you Kay! <3
Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great day! I’m happy to finally share my maternity shoot with you! I wish I could have shared them before the baby came but unfortunately, I was having some issues with my photographer.
I did not have the best overall experience with this photographer. I think my vision was somewhat met, but it did not exceed my expectations at all and the delivery was incomplete. I’m happy to at least have some decent photos, but I have learned my lesson.
On that note, I will share some tips on how to choose a maternity photographer.
Tip #1 – Professionalism. Make sure they are professional.
Tip#2 – Make sure they are specifically a maternity photographer. Although a photographer can be good, maternity and babies are a whole other ball game. Posing, positioning, angles are all extremely important because you have a huge belly and you have also gained weight and the point is you want to look and feel good about yourself too.
Tip#3 – Payment. Make sure you are allowed flexibility in payment and set the ground rules from the beginning. You make final payment after photos are received.
Tip#4 – Timing. Maternity pictures shouldn’t take more than 2 weeks to complete.
Tip#5 – Communication. If communications starts to fail and the person is unresponsive to messages then its a already a bad sign.
Tip#6 – Editing. A photographer should know how to edit period. There are circumstances in all types of photography that is needed. For example, tan lines, skin color matching, maybe there’s an object that needs to be removed….etc.
Needless to say I failed at all of the above because I decided to step out of my comfort zone. Oh well! These things happen and it’s a learning experience. I hope you like my pictures that I tried to edit myself. lol…
–Hair is by the amazing Rosi Manto at Xchanges Hair Salon in Kenilworth, NJ
– Makeup is by the one and only Sam Alter
– Photography -I’m choosing not to disclose the photographer for her best interest.
Talk about homestretch, this is no joke. I am 37 weeks and 2 days pregnant and I am so over it. As a matter of fact, I have been over it since I was like 5 months pregnant. Everyone for some reason thinks the second pregnancy is easier because you’ve been through it already but it’s quite the opposite, at least for me it is. I mean your body is all stretched out already but everything hurts more. Your back hurts more, the stretching and pulling of your muscles, not to mention if it’s your second you also have a toddler most likely running around your house.
Remember all the naps you used to take with your first pregnancy? Well that doesn’t happen the second time, plus you’re chasing your toddler all over the place, picking up toys, bending over constantly, changing diapers, putting on shoes and pants, picking up the binky 50xs a day! It never ends. EVER. And now the baby is almost here and you’re already a tired mom and that tired is about to get REAL tired. At least I am more mentally prepared for a newborn than I was for the first. The first time you think its going to be easy right? I mean how hard can it be? And then your sleep deprived for weeks and months with a colic baby, talk about wake up call! This time I know better.
Goodbye sleep. It was nice having you back for a little. I already feel you dwindling away with my pregnancy insomnia so I am prepared to have you leave for another year. Hope you come back sooner than later.
Love you, Tired Mom.
Well, on that note I can’t wait to have my home birth! Super excited actually! 🙂 I haven’t been that great about keeping you all up to date one the whole pregnancy this time since mom life equals busy life. But I’ll keep you all posted. And of course I’ll share my birth story later on.
Meanwhile, we took some cool pictures in a milk bath, thanks to my wonderful husband <3 hope you like them! Xoxo!
Hi! Many of you know I planned on breastfeeding until he weaned himself. Unfortunately, it had to end officially a couple of months ago. 🙁 I am actually quite sad about this. I know it’s normal when you’re pregnant to dry up, but I was really hoping to pull through.
Drum rollll……….
WAIT, let me tell you something first! I just wanted to say, with Ezra I was convinced it was a girl because people kept telling me that and it sort of brainwashed me! So when I found out I was having a boy, I was in complete shock! It took me like 3 weeks to accept. it. I was in total denial, I guess because I just never thought I would have a boy. I mean what would I do with a boy? People who know me, know I’m a girly girl so it was a total shocker. Fast forward to now, my sweet boy is 21 months and he is the most amazing sweet little man, I adore having a boy!! It’s the best! The bond between mother and son is unbreakable.
So this time, I didn’t care if it was another boy or a girl because I love having a boy so it wouldn’t matter. Although, this pregnancy has been so different. In some ways it’s been easier but in other ways harder. I am also carrying differently so I for sure thought, ok it’s going to be a girl this time.
Well? Nope! haha! IT’S A BOY!
I am so happy Ezra is going to have a little brother. They will be 2 years a part and best friends. <3 This is truly amazing. I am so blessed to have a house full of boys. I am their queen and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you Lord for this amazing blessing!
Hope you enjoy these great shots we took! <3
Lies! It gets easier they say. I think almost every single person said that to me when Ezra was born. Wait until he’s 6 months. It will be so much easier. Other would say, wait until he’s 9 months, it so much better. I would be sitting at a restaurant or at the mall and randomly people would tell me that. At first I was excited and started the count down to 6 months and then 9 months and then 1 year. I soon realized it was all lies!
Let me tell you something. It does not get easier. It’s different and there are different challenges but it’s not easier at all. Certain aspects are easier, like once your child learns to sit up and entertain themselves with a toy, it’s a nice distraction, but then they learn to crawl and walk and here we go again, running after them like a maniac. So there are pros and there are cons to every month and age I am sure. Just please don’t say it gets easier. They still wake up in the middle of the night, they still cry when they’re upset, when they’re sick, forget it! We’re a nervous wreck! Oh and teething, that Sh@*% never ends until they’re like 3 so what’s easy about that?
Being a mom is nonstop work, from day to night, from age 0 to age 100. It never ends and that’s not a bad thing. We lose sleep, sometimes we even lose ourselves, some of us lose relationships, a lot of things change for moms. Nothing is easy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t wonderful! Every single headache, tear, yell, disappointment, failure is always filled with so much love. Unconditional love that surpasses every difficult time. Am I right? Who agrees? I’m sure there are moms who make it look easy, but we all know the truth. ( wink, wink)
Let’s keep it real! #realtalk
Hope everyone enjoyed this past Easter weekend! Here are some photos from ours.
Hi everyone! Well we have some new and exciting news! Ezra’s going to be a big brother!!! YAY!!
I am SO glad the secret is out because quite honestly, i cannot hide it anymore. LITERALLY! LOL….I’m busting out of my legging and pretty much all my clothes. Thank goodness I own a slew of maternity clothes because these maternity jeans are coming in very handy right now. It’s amazing how quickly you show with your second pregnancy. I guess i’m all stretched out and ready to go. Lol!
On a not so exciting note, nausea has been kicking my butt and these food cravings and aversions are out of control. Iced coffee and donuts anyone? That seems to be my go to meal these days. Don’t worry, I’m only drinking one cup of coffee per day though. Donuts on the other hand, by the handful. I already feel so different from the last time. I was extremely nauseous with Ezra until about 13-14 weeks, non stop everyday, that car sick feeling that never went away but I never puked. This time, I puked one night, all night long. I was horribly nauseous for like 4 days straight and now it just comes and goes as it pleases so that’s not bad. Except when you ask me to cook or you warm up your lunch at work or you ask me to think about what I want to order out. That my friend, will send me running out the door. Yuughhh! Actually let me stop talking about this because I’m starting to feel queasy.
I’ll keep you posted like last time, we are using The Midwives of NJ again, shooting for a home birth AGAIN, but we will see how that goes based on if I get gestational diabetes again or not. This time at least, I am mentally prepared. See you guys soon! 🙂
Wow, the day is finally here. My baby is one. It’s true what they tell you, “the days are long but the years are short”. I’m so sad and so happy at the same time. He is growing to be such a smart spunky little dude. He has such a sweet personality. It’s amazing to see his development, every single day of his life. I notice the smallest things, like the way he waved today looks a little different from the way he waved 2 days ago. Also, things like, he took one extra step today to get to the other side of the couch. They sound so silly and meaningless but they’re not, it’s important to notice these things. I am taking advantage of all the attention I can give him because I know one day my attention will be shared with a sibling and things will be different.
Being one is fun! I’m really excited to start doing more specialized activities with him, now that he is pretty much a toddler and he can understand a bit better. I can’t wait to see where this year will take us, it should be a wild ride! Hopefully he can learn to sleep longer more consistently through the night. 🙂
Well, here are Ezra’s cake smash photos! I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed putting them together. It was a family affair I might add. My teenage cousin is great with the camera so she took the pictures, while I did the staging. my sister helped with some of the props as well and my friend Linda, who does some AMAZING work! Then of course my hubby and my other cousin helped with getting Ezra’s attention on the camera and keeping the dogs out of the pictures, and last but not least my friend and neighbor Jen helped a few touch up on the pics themselves!! Good times lol! Thank you to all you took part in making this a great shoot for Ezra and helped us create some fun memories!!
PS: Ezra’s cake was made at a Natural health good store near by called Grassroots, who does organic non- gmo cakes for all occasions. I buy all my supplements from there.
Happy Birthday Ezra, momma and dada and Peanut love you!!! <3 To many more!
I can’t believe it has been over 11 month since I’ve had my little one, who by all means is not so little anymore (sad face). It’s so overwhelming to think about all I have gone through this year or I should say in almost one year with my baby. There were so many hard times and amazing times and there still are. I will say I have NO IDEA how single moms do it. It is a major wake up call. I have a whole new outlook on single moms, people with more than two kids, especially so close in age. You ROCK! YOU my friend are a super hero! It is not easy.
I love kids, I always have and I always have been great with kids in general but yes when it’s your kid and they are with you 24/7 (except when I’m working) it is no joke. The sleeping thing, ha! Forget it! I’m not sure when I will ever get sleep again, I have pretty much given up. We have good nights and not so good nights and I will take that but when my baby is not feeling so good and we get a couple nights in a row of not sleeping, I’m pretty much useless. I don’t function properly and I have just learned to accept that. It’s temporary, I remind myself. And it is temporary. All these things are for such a short period of time when you think about it. Your baby will grow up and then they will act like they don’t need you anymore, more independent, no more hugs, no more calling mama for everything and that’s actually sad. 🙁 It makes me sad to think about that so I hug him and kiss him all the time, he actually does get annoyed sometimes and whines but I don’t care, I have to take advantage! lol I encourage all moms to take advantage! Just think about it when the going gets tough, it helps you get through those harder moments.
Anyways, here I am though almost 12 months later, I still have those last 10lbs hanging on for dear life. I don’t get it. They said that breastfeeding helps you lose weight but I can’t seem to shake it off. I have no time to work out and if I do have a moment I am tired so I don’t wanna. I eat pretty healthy but I like cake and ice cream. What can I say? At least I was able to button my pre-pregnancy “fat” jeans because I was already heavier when I got preggo. But lets not get carried away, I said I was able to button them, that doesn’t mean they looked good or were comfortable. I guess I will get there some day. I know I will. I don’t care too much, although I should, but I don’t because I want to have another baby rather sooner than later so what’s the point?
By the way, who knew how hard it would be to keep up with this blog! GEEEEZ! I mean I thought it would be easy to just sit down and write. My creative juices are starting to flow a little better these days though so maybe I can do better this time. I hope you all stick around. I feel like this is a lot like a diary for me, to look back on, and I like that I get to you share it with you.
Well stay tuned because I will be doing Ezra’s cake smash photoshoot later this month and then of course the big first birthday planning has begun!! See you soon!
Well, here we are almost 7 months. I remember my husband asking me at about 2 months in, if I was enjoying breastfeeding and I sort of rolled my eyes and said “unfortunately no, I am grateful to be able to do this but it’s uncomfortable and stressful.” I am SO glad I stuck to it because it’s such a breeze now. It’s the easiest thing in the world. I don’t have to worry about carrying formula around or if I have enough, I just whip it out and there you go!
Now, rewind back to the beginning stages, I was in horrible pain, my nipples cracked, they were sore and the cluster feeding was killing me. I mean there were 3 days straight I remember where he was on my boob for like 12 hours straight. Talk about draining! 😛 Then as things got better, his latch started to get funny so at about 2 months I started to question if he was latching properly. All this talk about, tongue tie and lip tie had me worried. Apparently, he may have an upper lip tie which they say if it’s not getting in the way then don’t do anything about it, the last thing I wanted to do was to have it snipped. Then there was the gas problem. I had to cut out dairy and gluten because I no idea what was causing him horrible gas pains. It was so sad to see him uncomfortable. Once he hit about 3 1/2 months he got much better, the latch was perfect again it was so weird but I was so grateful that things had turned around. I feel like thats when I realized it was worth it, it’s an obstacle for most moms but once you reach that point, it’s amazing. You get to share that moment with your child, just you and him. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I think what made it more difficult in the beginning too was not knowing exactly what you were getting into. For the next baby I will be more knowledgeable, more patient. I think it will be a better over all experience.
Now after all this, here we are almost 7 months, my little guy has his bottom teeth since he was about 4 1/2 months or so and he has already bitten me multiple times. This scared the crap out of me in the beginning especially when he caught me off guard and then I was on edge every time I was nursing him, kind of stressful. I realized he really doesn’t know that he is doing it and he is teething really badly, his tops are almost in so I can tell now, if he is not really hungry and just wants comfort, there is more of a chance he will bite me. So I just pay attention to his cues and I take it from there, it’s working out much better. One his top teeth actually come in that may be another story! Haha!
I know many moms struggle with supply and I am so thankful to be able to have enough to feed my little guy. I am pretty sensitive to most supply boosting remedies such as oats and fenugreek. If I take any of those within hours I breast are full! I have to be careful because it can be quite uncomfortable and I start leaking like crazy. Speaking of leaking, that is one of the most annoying things, having to wear boob pads all the time and apparently wired bras can cause clogged ducts so I wear wireless bras so my boobs also look huge which I’m not a huge fan of either. I’ve had tiny boobs my whole life, I’m like what are these things? What do I do with them? They are constantly in my way! I’m getting used to it though I guess.
Also, this whole pumping while working full time is no joke. It’s time consuming and a big commitment. You mamas that are exclusive pumpers, WHOA! You go girl! I could never! It’s just too much for me. Speaking of pumping, I got the free Medela pump from my insurance which was great in the beginning but I bought the Spectra because I needed something I can charge and bring with me so I can pump in the car and on the go and I LOVE it! Its the best pump ever. It’s a little pricey but if you plan on using it long term its totally worth the investment.
Any who, just happy to say we are more than 1/2 way to our breastfeeding goal of one year! I sure hope we make it, unless he bites my nipple off! Haha! That’s actually not funny. I’ll keep you posted on that one.
Thanks for stopping by!
Joela
