What I'd Do Different

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They say hindsight is 20/20 and looking back at Kenley's first year there really isn't a whole lot I would change. I am so proud of my daughter and proud of the job Jason and I are doing with her. Now that Kenley is over a year old, it's fun to think about what life would be like with a teeny baby around again. I am NOWHERE near ready to add another member to our family, but it is fun to daydream. 

If we are so lucky to be blessed with bambino numero dos someday, there are some things I would do differently based on what I've learned this first time around. 

1. Keep my mouth shut. It was near impossible not to tell people I was pregnant because it was such a shock with Kenley. I think sharing that big secret with just the baby daddy is really fun. You two are the only ones to know for such a short time, that next time around I think I'd like to keep it just between us a little longer. 

2. Save some damn money. This was definitely a plan while I was pregnant with Kenley, but a plan that did not pan out. For #2 I'd like to have a cushion in the bank allowing me to take a longer maternity leave. 

3. Spend more money on maternity clothes. I realize this pretty much goes against the previous point, but the first time around I bought just the bare minimum. I really didn't want to spend money on maternity clothes but I spent most of my pregnancy not feeling cute. I think there's a lot to be said about feeling cute while you have a watermelon budging from your midsection, so next time I will allow myself to splurge a little more. 

4. Take professional hospital photos. I see posts like THIS ONE and it makes me sad that we didn't do a better job of taking photos in the hospital. With #2 I definitely want to have my buddy Sara Jayne visit us with her camera to get some good hospital photos. 

5. Don't get frickin' Bells Palsy. The first few weeks of Kenley's life were so hard on me, mainly because half of my face was frozen in place. I know this is completely out of my control, but I really don't want to deal with that again. I think that taking better care of myself before and during my pregnancy will help with an easier recovery.

6. Don't stress about breastfeeding. With Kenley it was all a learning process. It was new, it was scary and it was hard. I really loved breastfeeding {once I got the hang of it} and was devastated when I dried up, but looking back I just laugh. I know now that the timing was perfect and deep down I was ready to be finished. It's such a commitment and you spend so much of your day with your boobs out. Next time I will strive for the 6 month mark again but I will know that when it's time to stop it means getting my body {and really my life} back and I'll be OK with it.

I asked my sponsors the same question..."What would you do next time around?" They are all at different stages in their parenting journey so it was fun to hear the answers: 

Carolyn from life, love & puppy prints said:

 "My next pregnancy I want to do a better job of taking care of myself. That will definitely be more difficult now that we have Weston, but I'd love to do more yoga, go for more walks, eat better, relax more...I was so busy trying to stay "normal" that I didn't allow myself time to rest and just put my feet up. Weston is such an awesome baby, and I think that Jake and I are doing a pretty great job with him, so it's a little hard to think of things I'd like to do differently. One thing I'd like to make sure to do is to have more time at home with just Jake and I after the baby is born. Because of my long labor, Jake couldn't take very much time off of work. I would really like spending time at home with just OUR family, bonding and creating special memories."


Sara from Sara Jayne Photography said:

"I am currently 32 weeks preggo and looking back on pregnancy so far, one of the biggest things I wish I would have done more religiously is taking bump photos every week, rather than photos randomly every 4-6 weeks."


Celeste from Our Fabulous Life in the Suburbs said:

"Wow...that's a tough one! Hopefully with #2 I'll be able to relax a little more and not worry about every little thing. Also, probably won't buy every single baby item that I've ever heard of...babies need surprisingly little to survive!"


Sarah from Making Babies the Bennett Way said:

If we are blessed with another child, fingers crossed we will be since we have 3 embryos remaining which would mean Madelyn and her brother or sister would be biological siblings, I would definitely change how we put the child down for a nap and sleep in general. We got into a horrible habit of holding Madelyn in our arms when she took naps which has resulted in her taking very short (15-30 minute) naps in her crib. If we hold her she would sleep for an hour or two easily. I should note, she sleeps just find in her crib at night bit there's something about nap times. I'd also "sleep train" her so she could herself to sleep and back to sleep at night. The majority of the time she is able to put herself back to sleep at night but there are some nights when she can't. So any advice anyone has to help with this would be welcomed. :)"

Michele from Baby Bump Bundle said:

"No, I have never had a bun in the oven (yet!) but there are tons of things that I want to do when the time comes! Staying active during pregnancy so I bounce back to my old body in a healthy and quick manner, taking classes and signing up for mom groups but not getting bogged down with too many books and googling everything under the sun, and taking lots of bump pics and keeping a journal of how I am feeling so I can look back at it, are all on my to-do list. I also want to buy just the necessities and items that can be used for years to come, that convert including the "big ticket" pricey items like the stroller, high chair, and crib so I can save money and space! But of course during pregnancy, I believe in pampering the pregnant mom (hence starting my company Baby Bump Bundle) so I am excited to use all the beauty and bath products, fashion accessories and goodies I have in stock from my small biz"


Erica from Charlie Cheeks Vinyl said:

When it comes time for the next baby I would try to breastfeed longer. We only went 5 months with my son because after going back to work, he was getting used to the bottle and preferring that. So I at least wish I wasn't too embarrassed to pump at work, that would have at least helped to keep my supply up. Better luck next time."

Jess from Being Mrs. Beer said:

"When I think about I'd do differently, the main thing that comes to mind is breastfeeding. I wanted to make it much longer than I did and hated that I had to supplement so early on. I really struggled with supply and I didn't respond well to the pump. I think next time, I'll use a different brand of pump or possibly even rent one from the hospital...and I plan on pumping as soon as I can to get supply established. I'm hoping to breastfeed number 2 (when I get there!) for much longer than my first!

What would you do different the next time around?