5 Things For the Brand Spankin' New Mommy

So, I seem to know quite a few women who are at home with their brand new, just weeks old, baby. And, let me tell you, I know what kind of delirium you're in right now! It's magical, overwhelming, and lacking in hygiene! 

There are those women who take their babies out in the first few days and are out to lunch and laughing with friends and brushing their hair and actually getting dressed, but I'm not one of those awesome women! With both of my kids, I went into some sort of hibernation, recluse mode! (I hope I'm not the only one out there!) Sports bras, sweat pants, and my fiance's shirts are what I lived in! Honestly, I was proud of myself if I brushed my teeth by noon. If you don't have kids, this seems entirely gross and impossible, but I'll use those famous words..."You just wait!" Things like sitting down and eating a meal become sacred moments! 

The first few weeks are just plain, magical! It's like you and this little human you made are the only ones in the world. The ONLY job you have is to bond with your child and get to know them and I cherish the memory of those moments. Along with being magical, you get a strange sense of "Wow, I'm a Mom now. I'm like no fun and probably wear mom pants...shoot!" Then you'll start to want to feel pretty and prove to yourself that you are a stylish mom that can look good and carry a diaper bag and hold a child. So instead of hitting this stage with panic, I have 5 tips to make you feel good those first 4 weeks your little one is in the world. They are quite small, but I believe, they really make a difference! 

1. Get yo' hair did, girl! 

Money is probably not something you have lots extra of, especially with your little new born sucking your bank accounts dry, so over your pregnancy put like $5 per week into a hair fund! New, shiny hair makes any gal feel good! Plus, those 2 hours away from your new baby, will feel like a life time, but it will be nice to be outside in the real world, with grown up people.

2. Go buy some nice, jeans that fit your new, curvy body!

Even if the weight "just falls off," it will still take about 6 weeks. It's easier to get dressed if you buy yourself just one pair of pants that flatter your new booty and you don't dread trying to squeeze into everything. Embrace it, the extra weight won't last long if you don't want it to. Do the same, putting like $3 a week away for some new, Mommy pants :). 

3. Get dressed and brush your teeth by 10 am.

You will literally have to force yourself to do these things, because if you have any extra time, you're going to want to conk out and not waste those 10 minutes brushing your teeth. No one but your baby and your man will talk to you today, anyways! Trust me, take the 10 minutes. Put on those new jeans that actually fit you and a sweatshirt. At that point, you'll feel like you're in an evening gown! You will feel rejuvenated and like you're an actual part of society and that you didn't get sucked into a Mommy time warp. 

4. Stretch in the morning.

You should not even worry or think about exercising until your baby is at least 6 weeks old. Our society puts way too much pressure on looking like Heidi Klum after her babies and walking down a runway 5 weeks later. That is just not happening for you and me. That's really just freaky, maybe she's an alien. Something that will make you feel healthier though, is just simply stretching in the mornings (preferably when your baby is sleeping sometime), so you can have a few moments of quiet with your mind and body and know soon enough you'll be chasing that little ball of sunshine around and your arms will be the strongest they've ever been, because you hold 10 pounds 15 hours a day! 

5. Accept any and all help that is offered!

There are going to be lots of people that want to cook for you, hold your baby, let you take a real nap, and offer emotional support for this new world you find yourself in. I'm telling you, take it! Accept it with open arms! I was one of those freaks who wanted to prove to myself I could do EVERYTHING and was just flat out exhausted. I should have let the strangers help me get my groceries in the trunk and open more doors for me. Accept the help, because when your second child comes around--you'll be ready to accept the help and there won't be nearly as much! 

Now, of course I didn't do any of these things, either of my pregnancies or first few weeks of my kid's lives, but if I would have read this, maybe I would have :). Enjoy your first month with your little one, there is nothing else like it in the world!