Stekki Bebe + Disneyland

Adventure in Adventureland! Also, this @stekkibebe wrap is SO handy! Use the code TDP for 15% off their {also waterproof} wraps!👶🏼 Back to jewelry posts soon!😉 Getting away with the family is so much fun! This wrap has saved my booty multiple times. We forgot the jump seat to our triple stroller {working in a coupon code on that one, because it's A-MAZ-ING for my 4 kids 4 and under! But since we didn't have it and Disneyland is so much fun and so tiring for the littles, they needed to take turns in the stroller, so I whipped out my Stekki and all was right again. Haha!:) Stekki Bebe for the win. Again!;)

XO

Sarah

Solar Charger + Favorite Blazer

When I asked my hubby if he had seen my solar panel on the way out the door, he legitimately made fun of me! But really, this solar charger that I bought last year has become my favorite invention here on our vacation! Hahaha! Moms know that taking pictures of your kids at Disneyland and doing a quick Periscope can drain your battery, so it was nice to just have this on top of my bag and charging my phone throughout the day! I also get paranoid about having a charged phone in super public places because if we get separated for some reason, I want to be able to call my hubby! Haha!:)
Also, as we drove to California, I-15 was closed because of a fire, and my hubby and I want to take a second to thank all of our armed forces who protect us! Thank you!

XO

Sarah

{Glasses: BB Styled Boutique via Jane.com}

{Shirt: Lucy and Lyla via Groopdealz}

{Blazer: Coco and Main-Use coco10 for a discount!}

{Backpack: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale}

{Shoes: Jane.com Click Here.}

{Necklace: The Dainty Pear. This one.}

{Lips: LipSense in Razzberry. Click Here.}
{Solar Charger: jane.com CLICK HERE!}

Sphincters and Childbirth

*Quick note about the video: In one line, I say, "The more comfortable you are, the more successful it's going to be." Just wanted to make a note so that it's perfectly clear that it's referring to the sphincter relaxing that will be more successful! There's no such thing as a birth that isn't successful! Every Mom, every Baby, every avenue of labor and delivery, it is ALL beautiful, perfect, and successful in its own way! Yay for birth and for celebrating it in every way, shape, and form that it may come!*
Who says childbirth has to be a serious and scary? {Of course, in the right situation, with an uncomplicated labor, which the great majority are!} things can actually be really fun! Afterall, you are about to bring new life into the world...and although it can seem heavy and maybe even overwhelming, that also seems like a pretty exciting thing! I understand that it can be scary, though, there's no denying the anxious jitters or plain out fear that can take over when you don't know what to expect. So it feels important to say that women have been birthing for thousands of years! Your body knows what to do. And if you are having a medicated birth, or an Unmedicated birth at a hospital or birthing center, your medical personnel know what to do, too. Even though three of our four births have been Unmedicated, I still have always loved being at the Hospital where people smarter than me in these types of situations are there to help and make sure everything is going smoothly! But as for my sweet friends who love their Home-Births, during an uncomplicated  childbirth {and MOST are!} that's a great option too. Your body really does know what it's doing! And how lucky are we that for the most part, we can choose where and how we birth! We aren't limited to the woods, or the plains, or in a stream, {although some people legitimately choose to do that!} And no matter the avenue of birth, it's all beautiful!:) And fun! My hubby is pretty convenient to bring along to births...okay, he's the best thing ever, not only because he's my rock and support, but also because he's funny. He can crack me up even during the nervous moments or in between the toughest contractions.

Here is some science behind laughter during labor! We've talked about low noises before {here,} and laughter has the same effect. When your sphincters are relaxed, {the cervix is a sphincter!}they an function properly, and as t relates to this, you are able to dilate and progress in labor. Laughter not only sends signals to your brain of happiness and therefore being relaxed, but I want you to try to clench up every muscle in your body right now. Now try to laugh out loud while still being clenched! It doesn't quite work too well. When you are giving a natural laugh, your muscles are automatically more loose. And THAT is a plus!:) If you need a laugh today, below is a little video that I found that had me cracking up! Don't be afraid to make labor and delivery an enjoyable, fun experience!:)

XO

Sarah

Childbirth Classes

I know it's a debate among pretty much everyone about to have a baby: DO we take a childbirth class!? My hubby and I were in the exact.same.situation. And for the first two babies, we decided, "Nah!" "We'll know what to do when we get there!" Haha! Does that work? Yeah! If you don't have any expectations of what it should be like or what you want it to be like, it was totally fine! I did want to have an unmedicated birth with our first, and I just went for it! I had bought some CD's instead of classes, and listened to those throughout pregnancy. When I got there, water was broken, IV and Pitocin in place, I toughed it out for a long time. Hours. And Hours. And hours. I bore through the pain clenched. I didn't know that being clenched up could keep you from progressing! I didn't have the resources to have a "Natural Birth," and when it came down to it, tens of hours later and a C-Section was on the table, we opted for the Epidural, and it did help me relax and my cervix to progress. After 3 1/2 hours of intense pushing, our little boy was born! All 7 lbs. and 12 oz. He was perfect! And my birth was perfect because we made the right choices in the situation that we had. Next baby, I was {again} determined to do it unmedicated. When I went in for my induction, I was set on it. And I did it! I will say that an unmedicated induced labor can be intense. It was doable, but I found myself wanting to be more in control and more relaxed. If that was possible. With our third baby, we decided to get some help. We needed the resources to make it happen again in a more relaxed way. So, we decided to take a HypnoBirthing Class! There were definitely pre-conceived notions about taking the class. Especially from my hubby. Liiiiike, "Do we need to bring our own granola?" "What crazy things will we do when we are hypnotized?" Hahah! Kind of kidding. When we took the class, we fell in love with it. We found it helped us not only in preparing for the birth, but in everyday things. Tom found himself using it at work to relax. I found myself feeling more in control of my breathing, and being more "okay" with being relaxed. I have such a go-getter and sometimes anxious personality, that sometimes it is so hard to relax fully. {Isn't it crazy that it can be hard to give in to the relaxation!? I know it sounds weird, but I also know that I'm probably not the only one out there!} During labor, I was in the zone. I was relaxed, vocal noises were at a minimum, and I found myself breathing my baby down into the hands of the doctor. It was a beautiful experience. Just like my other births. Because all birth is beautiful. This time, it did feel good to feel more in control and to understand what was happening when my baby was moving down to be born. The class had explained all of it, and gave me the tools to have the experience I was hoping for! We enjoyed it so much that we decided to take it a second time for our 4th baby. Again, we learned a lot and it was a great re-fresher. When our fourth baby was born, it was such an empowering experience.   Letting your body take over, {of course, when the situation permits!} moving where you feel you need to move, is an incredible thing. After the nurse checked my cervix, I decided to use the potty and take another walk. When we were half way down the hall, I said, "I need to get back to the bed." I knelt down on the bed, leaned over the back of it like a chair, and said, "Get the Nurse! I'm pushing!" As the overwhelming urge to push set in, I followed suit. My body was giving birth with no coaching, no help. It was an amazing feeling. When the Nurse got there, {who also happened to be my friend from College!} our baby's head had already made an appearance! She prompted me to wait one second,  then she put one glove on, grabbed a receiving blanket, and said, "Okay, push!" And out she came. Everyone was emotional because it was the craziest thing in the best way!

SO, when it comes to classes? I'm team classes. Even though we didn't take one until baby #3, I am all about it! Which class you take will depend on what experience you are aiming for. There's no wrong answer, and yes it is worth the money if you find the right one!:)

I hope that helps demystify the Child Birth Class debate a little bit! Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions or suggestions for material, please leave a comment below!
XO
Sarah

Noises during labor!

Noises can be a valuable tool during labor to keep your body relaxed, which helps the cervix to dilate! I know it can sound a little bit ridiculous in the video, but practicing during pregnancy can make it come as second nature on your birthing day!:)
XO
Sarah

Jane.com

Let's be honest. Jane.com is awesome. If you haven't tried it, do yourself a favor and click this link below. Or don't. Because really, it's kind of dangerous!😁 Haha! Up to 80% off Women's Clothing, Baby and Kids, Home Decor and other handmade items from Jane.com! Shop today!

A couple of months ago, we had the opportunity to be at the Entreprenuer of the Year Awards. The CEO of Jane actually won one of the awards, which was so exciting! They are good people, which makes me love supporting the cause even more! I leaned over to my hubby and said, "See?! All my purchases were for the greater good!" Just trying to do my part.;) Hahah!

This is my friend Margot, who runs a gorgeous fashion page called House of O'Leary. {You can find her page here!}

The sweet wife of the one who won the award. {But let's be honest, she has put just as much into building the company as her hubby! She was beaming! Behind many great men is a great woman!}

XO

Sarah

Baby O's Birth Story

I thought I would switch it up a little bit today and post a birth story! I love birth and everything about birth! I also love talking about birth, so if you ever want to chat it up about fun birth stuff or have any questions, [I'm not an expert, but can offer anything from my experience that may help!] feel free to message me on Instagram, or e-mail me!:) We had our fourth baby 4 months ago, and my friend Mimi was there to capture it in video and my cousin Val was there to capture photos. I can't even say how much I love it and the sweet memories that come from watching it and looking at them!:) Even though we've had 3 out of our 4 babies unmedicated in the Hospital, this baby was such a unique experience. We had about 10 people in the room, including just my hubby, moms, cousin, sisters, friends, and she was born while I was on my knees, holding on to the back of the bed. There was no doctor in the room, but as soon as I said I was pushing, my family was running out to get someone. My friend from college, who is an RN there, came in and saw that her head was already out and caught her! That part isn't in the video, [although it looks like something out of National Geographic, haha!] because my bum is in full view, but I love how she edited this!:) *Be sure to click "HD" on the bottom of the video so that it isn't grainy!:) Thank you so much, Mimi, and also Val from Valory Jean Photography for our birth story Photos, which are such a treasure to us! So, here is Baby O's Unmedicated Hospital Birth!
XO
Sarah