Ashling Drew, Author at Joyful Messes

What to Expect in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Can you believe you’ve made it to the second trimester already? Congrats! This is such a great part of pregnancy as you are starting to feel a little better finally,and you’ve got the wonderful opportunity to feel your baby kicking harder and doing little flips and turns inside (especially after a sweet drink or juicy piece of fruit)! Now’s the time to start accomplishing a few important doctor visits during this 2nd trimester. During the second 3 months of pregnancy, you will be going through a lot of changes. You will start to get used to the changes in your body, and you will also start to feel emotional, or even tired at times.To help you get through the second trimester, here is a checklist of the things you might be experiencing and what you should do about them. Second Trimester Checklist You made it to the second trimester where…

Laundry A Better Way: Dropps Review

Over the past year or so I have found myself looking for ways to improve on tiresome but necessary processes around the house. One of those necessities is LAUNDRY! We all have to do it, some of us have a lot more of it than others, so how can we do it better? I started by looking at the products we used and quickly decided there had to be a better way! Washing Clothes Those messy jugs of liquid laundry detergent that always drip, are heavy and generate a huge amount of plastic waste, had me wondering was there another option? So I did some research and found a couple of options. One was laundry detergent sheets, these are handy, mess free and come in a paper envelope, so there is very little to dispose of. These worked fairly well and are certainly easy to pack for travel and…

The First Trimester of Pregnancy Checklist: What to Expect During the 1st 3 Months

Pregnancy is one of those things that’s hard to understand until you’ve been through it. You may worry about what’s going on with your body, how your life is going to change, and how you’re going to be able to take care of a new baby. This article is a helpful guide to what to expect in the first three months of pregnancy. It has tips for what to do, what to wear, what to eat, and what to expect. Everything you need to know about pregnancy during the first trimester: Buy an at home pregnancy test and see if you are indeed pregnant, or have your primary care physician order a blood test to check for pregnancy Celebrate this amazing moment in your life by sharing your joy with your spouse or partner and telling them the news Schedule an appointment to see an OB-GYN for your very…

50 Self Care Ideas For Moms Who Do Not Have a Lot of Time

The demands placed on your life can make you think that you will NEVER EVER have time for yourself, but there are little things that you can do to treat yourself. Despite being an octopus, steal-away moments DO exist. Here are a few things you can do to show love to yourself! Self Care Ideas to Pick From Meditate for 5-10 minutes a day Write down three things you are grateful for Do at least 25 jumping jacks Sit down at the table for breakfast every morning Read for 15 minutes before bed each night Light incense or a candle when you get home Write a letter to someone every day Write down one thing each day you love about yourself Watch 30 minutes of that show you have wanted to catch up on Make the bed each morning first thing Cook a meal for yourself each day Take a…

Creating Your Personalized Birthing Plan

That little positive sign has appeared and you are expecting – congratulations! Most women get excited about all of the cute baby clothes, the adorable tiny diapers, decorating a room just for their little bundle of joy, and all of the other things that come with pregnancy. One thing that is not always mentioned is a birthing plan. The birthing plan is essentially what YOU want to happen when you are in labor, as you deliver the baby, and during your hospital stay post delivery. Obviously, there are always unexpected surprises and no two labor and deliveries are the same, but by creating a birthing plan, your doctor will now know what you are hoping for and what you are willing to compromise on versus what you are firm about before any of the unexpected surprises come up. Here are a few things to consider when creating your personalized birthing…

5 Tips for Welcoming a New Puppy Into Your Home

Bringing a puppy into your household is one of the most exciting decisions you can make for yourself, your family, and the dog! That being said, there is a lot to think about to ensure that it goes well. From preparing the necessary supplies and pet grooming items to puppy-proofing your home and spacing out the introductions, keep reading for the five tips the whole family needs to know when welcoming a new puppy into your home. 1. Prepare the necessary supplies. Before your new puppy arrives home, you want to ensure that you have stocked up on the necessary basic supplies that will ensure you have a happy and healthy pet. By having the essentials prepared, you and your puppy can focus on settling in together. Folding Metal Dog Crate In the beginning, you want to be sure to have a crate, food and water bowls, food (including some…

How to Keep Your House Clean With Little Kids

It never fails. You put laundry in a basket, and it ends up on the floor. You put toys in a basket, and it gets dumped out. You clean the kitchen, and someone comes in and makes a mess. You feel like the only way to keep your home clean is to clean it and then never enter it again. Your life officially becomes the meme that says, “I’ve cleaned the house, so if you could stop living here, that would be great!” We all know that is not going to happen, but there are some things that you can do to keep your house clean. Give them something to do while you clean—I once saw a mom who put her little one in a box with crayons and let them have at it! Make cleaning a game with a prize at the end—if they can walk, they can help…

Fun Indoor Activities for Your Kids

Kids need simulation. Childhood stimulation is crucial for a child’s brain development. One of the ways that children acquire skills they are going to need in life is via all sorts of activities. When kids play, they not only engage in doing things during their free time. Play also helps kids in other ways. A child can learn how to interact with their peers. Children also learn about the world around them. Kids who are given time to play also have a chance to exercise. That helps them get rid of their excess energy and become fitter at the same time. Many children love spending time in the open air. However, this isn’t always possible when there are difficult weather conditions. Mom life means figuring out solutions to problems and making great indoor activities for both cold and warming weather. Kids who can’t play outside should have indoor activities instead.…

10 Kids’ Gear Essentials to Keep at Grandma’s House (So You Don’t Have to Pack Them)

Babies love visiting their grandparents’ house for all the pure affection, cuddles, and great food (and free rein) they offer. The challenge is traveling to their place with a baby who cries and poops a lot. Mark my words. There will be times when you will inevitably forget to pack a few baby essentials you noted down on your travel must-have checklist. It happens to the best of us. Packing for a baby is a mammoth task. For the sake of your sanity and convenience, keep the following items at grandma’s house and thank me later: Playard or Pack ‘n Play A Playard is an enclosed piece of furniture where babies can play safely. Also known as pack-n-plays, these things are foldable, making them an amazing option for travel. Folded playards are lightweight and don’t take up a lot of space when stored away. So if your grandchildren are going…

3 Inappropriate Realities of Being a Boy Mom

“Another boy?!” “Were you hoping for a girl??” “Are you gonna try again for a girl??” These are the questions I get asked every day as we navigate through our activities. Our pictures show beautiful glimpses of our life. The pretty, happy moments are quite sporadic in between the messy toilets, batman pajamas, runny noses, fingers in noses, and hands in pants. Oh, the joys of being a boy mom! We clean up well for social events, but there are definitely confessions I can share. Here are my three reasons you might be pulling your hair out: 1. Underwear Unwanted Boys do not like underwear, or pants for that matter. They naturally find it more satisfying to throw their pants and undies to the wind whenever outside – not aware of any sort of indecent exposure laws. As soon as I let the boys outside, I’m prepared for them to…

Ashling Drew