My husband has numerous talents that come naturally to him. He sings really well. He’s great with computers and other electronic devices. He’s absolutely amazing with directions and remembering how to get places. However, being supportive of me when I’m in labor doesn’t come as naturally to him. I think this is the case with many men. … [Read more...] about Dozens of Ways Dads Can Support Moms During Labor
pregnancy
7 Surprising Items to Include in Your Hospital Bag When Having a Baby
I’ve seen dozens of checklists for what to take with you to the hospital when you head in to have a baby. I feel like if you’ve seen one of these, you’ve seen them all. I’ll soon be giving birth to my third baby, so I don’t really need someone else’s checklist when packing my bag. I know what I’ll need! Interestingly, there are a few … [Read more...] about 7 Surprising Items to Include in Your Hospital Bag When Having a Baby
10 Things You Shouldn’t Tell a Pregnant Woman
There’s something about seeing a pregnant woman that seems to loosen tongues. I’m not sure why it is, but people seem to throw off all restraint and say whatever is on their minds. This obviously isn’t beneficial to expectant mothers. Thankfully, each of us can exercise restraint and choose to say uplifting things instead of things like … [Read more...] about 10 Things You Shouldn’t Tell a Pregnant Woman
8 of the Best Snacks for Pregnant Women
At certain points during pregnancy, I tend to feel really hungry. I’ll want to snack throughout the whole day. Unfortunately, unrestrained snacking isn’t good for mom or baby, so I have to put the brakes on and be judicious about what I eat. I may desire foods like pretzels, cookies, and ice cream, but these aren’t the best … [Read more...] about 8 of the Best Snacks for Pregnant Women
Why I Don’t Care if I Have a Gender Balanced Family
My husband and I have two wonderful girls. We’re expecting a third child. We don’t yet know if this baby is a girl or boy, but since we first started sharing about the pregnancy, we’ve been hearing questions and comments like these: “Trying for a boy, huh?” “Maybe you’ll finally get a boy.” “You must really want a boy.” “Surely … [Read more...] about Why I Don’t Care if I Have a Gender Balanced Family
Dear Mom, I Didn’t Really Understand
Dear Mom, On occasion I hear you make self-deprecating comments about your abilities as a mom (e.g., “I know I wasn’t that great of a mom,” “She’s the mom I wish I could have been,” “I could have done so much better”). Before I became a mom, I brushed off these comments because I didn’t really understand their inaccuracy. Before I … [Read more...] about Dear Mom, I Didn’t Really Understand
Another Blessing Has Arrived!
Though I still have posts publishing regularly, Of The Hearth’s social media pages have been pretty quiet this past week because I’ve been a little busy with this precious one: We welcomed our second daughter, Nitara Irene, on June 24th. Nitara means “deeply rooted” and Irene means “peace.” She weighed 8 lbs 7 oz and was 19 in … [Read more...] about Another Blessing Has Arrived!
Inessential Baby Items That Are Worth The Splurge
When I wrote about inessential baby items a few weeks ago, I intentionally limited the number of items I mentioned. The main reason for this is that the post would have been really, really long if I would have been inclusive. Another reason is that there are a number of inessential baby items that I think are worth the splurge. Though I … [Read more...] about Inessential Baby Items That Are Worth The Splurge
