Make Monday: Make It A Classy Summer/Pregnancy

With the warmer weather coming, I've been thinking, how am I going to keep cool? I'm not due with this baby until August! My youngest son was born (in the super heat) of early July, so I've already made it through a June before...but July, August? It's going to be hot.

What I know I won't be doing is exposing myself. You probably just chuckled at that, didn't you? But isn't that what we do when we wear a two piece? I think being pregnant is a beautiful thing, HOWEVER, are we not told to be modest by the Bible?

I came across an article, written by a friend of mine and I have to agree with everything she writes. Since I've been married, I haven't worn a two piece. You don't need to wear a bikini to swim, a one piece suit does just fine. The only thing a bikini does is cause men to lust after you. And as a married woman who takes her vows seriously, this is something I want to avoid.

She writes, "Another issue to consider is that God calls all people to control their thought lives, so as women, we should not cause men to lust: "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-29). When we cause men to look upon our bodies lustfully, we are inducing them to commit the sin of lust and this is displeasing to God."

I think this falls under the "exposed belly" pregnancy pictures category as well. If the pictures are for your personal family album, fine. If you post them to the internet? No. Once they're out there, anyone can snag them, sell them and use them for unintended purposes. Were you aware there are men who have a pregnancy fetish? I don't understand it, but it does exist. As a married woman and mother, I think it is wrong (and displeasing to God who has blessed you with a child) to expose your body in a manner that may cause others to lust upon you.

So if you see me this summer, know that I'll be wearing a top and shorts to keep cool. No belly exposed. Yes, it will be hot...but if one does not follow the letter of the Lord, it is hotter, well...you know where.

"D is for DRUMS!"

My second son turned three on Friday and we had his party on Saturday. I had posted a picture of him playing drums earlier in the week on my Facebook and said "This kid needs a drum set". Thankfully, a friend mentioned he had a drum set for kids that he was looking to give away. I was willing to take it off of his hands. My husband thought I was kidding. I went to the Guitar Center and asked for "a set of drumsticks for a three year old." The kid behind the counter asked me "how long has he been playing?" Really? He's three. He still wears diapers! But boy, did he love the drums. Our neighbor claims she can't hear them (amazing) and the sticks go on top of the fridge when we don't want him to play/need quiet time. Here's some video...I call it a win.

Spring Break!

Hello and thank you Mommy's Recess readers! Between the birth of a child (and recovery) of one author, a pregnancy of the other author, birthdays and life in general, Mommy's Recess has been on a much needed spring break! We will get back to posting soon! Thank you all for reading!

Tip Tuesday: Keep That Baby IN!

I'm so thankful today. I've hit the 20 week mark of pregnancy. And as I posted to my Facebook account, I'm halfway there. With the scares we had early on (being on restrictions and considered high risk) I'm so thankful.

Yes, pregnancy IS 40 weeks. Don't let anyone tell you different. Now, if you've had a medical reason, like my co-author and her gestational diabetes, that's different.

I had a chat with my mother in law's neighbor the other day. She, too, is expecting. But it's her first. And she said to me, "You're so lucky! You'll be scheduled. I'm such a planner, I'm hoping my doctor will schedule me too, a few weeks early since it'll be hot."

And if you know me, you know it took everything in me not to punch her in the nose.

Babies are not on YOUR schedule, you're on theirs. And the sooner you figure that out, the better. I found out the hard way, with my first. We were due November 15th. That day came and went. People were even asking why I wasn't at the hospital having him. Ummm...because he's not ready?

Liam finally arrived, ELEVEN days late, and only after some coaxing. AFTER his due date came and went, we tried the driving over the train tracks trick (and got yelled at by my Doc), spicy foods...nothing worked. He just wasn't ready to come. When he finally did, my mother (a nurse) was upset because she could tell he was WAY overdue. And you could tell. They had to add amniotic fluid and his skin was dry and wrinkled. He had almost no vernix left.

It breaks my heart to see babies born at 28, 30, 32 weeks and have to spend time in the NICU. It even breaks my heart to see babies born at 36 weeks when they get sick shortly after they're born...because they just weren't ready.

I don't care if you're uncomfortable, suck it up. I don't care if it's hot. Women have been hot for thousands of years (without air conditioning, mind you) and managed. You can too. My youngest was born in July. It was hot. I was miserable. And I had back labor at home for a full day before going in...because he just wasn't ready. This baby is due in August. It will be hot. But I won't be going in early just because I'M miserable. Because guess what, it's not about ME. It's about the health of my baby.

Suck it up. Put your big girl panties on. Be a mother and think about what is best for your kids, not what works for you.

I've always had my Docs wait until I go into labor. And I do. They don't run the show, I don't run the show. It's my baby's birthday. And HE will decide when HE'S ready to come.

Make Monday: Make It Natural

What can I say? I've been on a natural kick lately. I saw a news report on Fox News that talked about how we're "poisoning" our pregnant women (me, eeep) and our children. And I kind of freaked out. They were tying it in with the increase in ADHD in our children. Again, eep.

So what is the culprit? There are many, but one is our cleaning products. Yes. The theory is our cleaning products are poisoning us (yes, they used the word poison). We do so many things when pregnant to make sure we're healthy and it's the cleaning products that are harming us? That was enough for me to research more natural methods.

If you're a regular reader of the blog, I posted a few weeks ago about how I've been using fresh lemons and limes to clean. Honestly, my house has never been cleaner or smelled better. And I don't have to worry about the chemicals affecting me, my boys or my unborn child.

I bought a steam cleaning mop off of woot during their last woot-off and instead of the Swiffer wet to clean our wood and tile floors, I tried the steam mop. It was so easy, did such a great job and left the floors cleaner (more clean?) than I've ever seen. And again, no chemicals.

I've been trying to live by the phrase "research then react". Seems to be working for me. Have you tried natural cleaning methods in your home? What has worked for you?