This week my little one turns 3 months old. Yes, I am one of those people now that count their age in months! ( Or if you want to get technical she is 13 weeks ) And I am finally on a schedule. Feeling good ( most days ) And can get to things like posting photographs and writing blogs :)

It was this week last year ( according to my calculations ) that she was conceived. That means I have been carrying a baby ( inside and outside ) of my body for a year now. And now that I have her, I finally understand all the mom jokes, and posts, and words and thoughts, that I have read from others over the years. It is like Aladdin sings, being a parent is “a whole new world! ” Every day is so so different, and time goes by fast and slow at the same time. As my dad says, The days ( and lets be honest, nights ) are long. But the months & years are short. Time is really a whole new concept!

And of course, because I have many things to say, and want to share all I have learned so far with you ( as well as some cute little tiny person photography ! ) Here are some lists of items and thoughts that helped me get through this last year. During my pregnancy, my birth experience, as well the postnatal days while raising a newborn. The pregnancy photos are by the talented Sophia Mayrhofer an the newborn photos are mine :)

For Me Pre Baby. During my almost 42 weeks of pregnancy.

1. 4 New Bras / Maternity Bras. My breasts grew 3 sizes in my 3rd month. This was very surprising! And they didnt stop. I use these pre and post baby. ( bought new )

2. New Bathing Suit. Ha as if i could fit into my old bikinis. My 5 round parts were much much rounder this past summer than last. ( bought new )

3. A Round Malible Sleeping Pillow ( starting the 25th week ) Making space between your knees and shoulders while sleeping on your side will save your nights and sore muscles. And you can use it afterword as a feeding pillow. ( bought new )

4. Water Bottles, Chairs, Door Frames, Elevators and Public Transportation. These items used to be a small part of my everyday. Now you will rely of them much much more then before! Take your time, and think of your health first! ( I finally bought a transport pass and put away the bike in my 35thish week )

5. Black Out Curtains. Saved my life many times and make it possible for us and then new baby to nap in the heat, cold or bright light. ( new )

6. 1x materinty leggings, 1xJeans, 1xMaxiDress. Don’t waste your money on too many Prego clothes. Borrow them or buy them cheap. You will only wear them a few times anyway. I got lucky with being very pregnant in the middle of summer. And borrowed a few used items from a friend.

7. Lots of Salty Snacks & Fruit & Nuts & Milk. During my pregnancy ( 2 & 3 trimesters) I ate as much as when I was a elite training athlete in college. Keep your pantry full! Otherwise the nacho chips won’t be there when you need them in the middle of the night. And trust me, You will need them!

8. Arizona Birkenstock Sandles. If you have to work on your feet this is the only way to go! The last weeks of my pregnancy, my feet were so sore. ( already had these )

9. So much almond Oil. My olive skin has never in 35 years been this dry. Buy in Bulk! ( bought from La companie des sens )

10. Black Roll Balls & Yoga Matt. For working out the kinks and muscle cramps before bed. Stretching saved me ! ( already had these )

11. A water bubbler. Because carrying litres and litres of sparking non-alcoholic drinks up into my apartment is not only tiring, wasteful and stupid. It‘s way to much work. And at some point drinking still tap water is very boring. Making mixes of so many tasty combos was wonderful. ( bought used )

12. Clean linen sheets. And clean floors. This may seem silly, but this is what i needed and make me comfortable and happy. I did the sheet cleaning. My partner the vacuuming. Nesting is very very real !

For Me for the Birth Day ( s ) & Hospital Stay Afterward

1. Water Bottles. Plastic, silent, and with some sort of sucking system. These will be saviours !

2. Sports Bra. Soft, comfy, & quick drying. I wore mine for 36 hours straight. ( i wore this one from Patagonia )

3. Snacks & Drinks ( For you and your partner ) I found fresh fruit and salty nuts best. Make sure you also have a full stomach to start the birth. You will need the strength !

4. Warm & Cool Clothes ( for you and partner ) Don’t buy new things, they will get sweaty and/or stained. Its better if they can slip easy on and off. Your partner may want a clean shirt after many moments of labor.

5. A Notebook & Pen to write down the main events/memories. If you have the time of course.

6. Plastic/Washable/Waterproof Sandles/Shoes. Pee, placenta water, vomit. Yes this was my reality! Your feet may get dirty, and you don’t want to walk around a hospital barefoot! I wore my old pair of Tevas.

7. Cozy Pyjamas/comfies to spend the nights/days in. Make sure they are soft, breathable and easy access to breastfeed if you are doing so. But do not but new, they may get stained post birth too.

8. Phone & Chargers & Camera & Headphones & Music. I used all of these at different times throughout labor as well as afterword. Super important!

9. A labor room bag. And a hospital station bag ( if you are giving birth at a hospital ) You will need different things for before & after birth. So why not keep them separate to stay organized. This helped a lot!

10. All the paperwork and wallets and ids for you and the baby in a closed folder. This way you dont lose anything.

11. Hair Ties. Make sure to have hair ties/clips etc.

12. A towel and soft soaps for showering. My hospital didn’t offer this. And man does it feel good to take a hot shower !

Post Baby – For Me

1. Lots of Old T-shirts & Underwear. My breasts leaked so much the first weeks. And always at night. And while my hormones were changing I also sweat a lot! Keep these grabbale and change to stay dry and cozy.

2. Plastic/Silent Water Bottle. Drinking during the night time is key, and not waking others with loud metal bottles also! I drink at least a litre a night.

3. Maternity Pads/Period Underwear/Cotton Pads. Keeping yourself fresh and clean is a bit of a chore at the beginning. Make sure these are bought and stored easy access next to the toilet. This is the „only“ thing i allow myself to produce as waste for the bin.

4. Night Light in each room. Key for insuring safe and easy routes to and from the changing station, bathroom and beds.

5. Breast Pads. Your breasts will only leak exactly when you don’t need them too! And usually when your wearing white. Keep these handy. I have reusable cotton ones ( mine are actually upcycled face wipes ) And used them the first two months daily.

6. Yoga Polsters & Pillows. Great for building cozy corners on the couch, floor, bed etc. This is the time to snuggle ! Babies love to be close, cozy and cuddled.

7. Laundry Soap! And whitening wash soda. I used to do 2-3 small loads of laundry a week. Now I do 5. Make sure you are ready for this. These are my recipes here.

8. Pre-made Freezer Meals & a Fully Stocked Kitchen & Fridge. We cooked a lot on days off. But not having to cook 3 meals a day was very very helpful! But be sure to leave out items like cabbage & garlic & onions & tomatoes, some babies like mine don’t digest these well. And it will be noticeable when they wake in the middle of the night with stomach cramps. And super super tiring!

9. A printer, scanner, computer and smart phone. I think we had 10 different applications to fill out, sign up for, scan, send etc. plus all the appointments and doctors afterword! Having these at technologies at home ( and full ink cartridges for your printer ) will save you time and money.

10. Pants. After loosing the initial baby weight, I needed A few pairs of in between pants. I am no longer ( at least for now ) the toned size 4 I was last summer, so 7 of 10 of my pants are a size to small. I bought myself 2 used pairs of Mom jeans and feel much better in my skin. My old jeans may or may not fit in the Sprung. And I am okay with that.

11. Books & Pen & Paper. thought I would read a lot during my pregnancy. I read nothing. I filled my time instead doing things I knew I couldn’t do with a newborn. Now I read and write as much as I want while she sleeps on or next to me :)

12. A mantra – BE HERE NOW. I know time will go fast. And I am trying to remember to be in the moment now. Don’t wish for tomorrow, or a better day, or a easier moment, or more sleep. Take 3 deep breathes, and then be here now. Time will go so so fast! I do this daily. Its so important!

Post Baby – For the Baby

1. A dresser /change table. We convinced the in-laws to give us one from their basement that they didn‘t use anymore, and made a change table frame and pad for the top. This is stocked with all of babies things. Changing babies on beds kills your back!

2. A Baby carrier. Babies want to be close to you! We have one Manduka wrap & one Babybjorn carrier ( used ) If you buy something, invest in this. It will save your muscles from carrying, and free your hands!

3. A stroller/car seat. Depending on your set up. We have a 2 in 1 model from MaxiCosi to keep us mobile in many situations ( used )

4. Many second hand clothes & onesies ( don’t look at the label sizes but rather the actual size, all brands are so different! ) Sort them well in your drawers for quick access, and try to get ones that open on the bottom for easier diaper changes ( always used ! )

5. A Crib/Basinet & Mattress. We bought a new coconut fibre mattress for a 40+ year old used crib. It sits at the end of our bed. Your baby should sleep in your room with you, but in its own bed for safety.

6. Blankets/Spit Up Clothes. You will need lots! 10+ for wrapping, swaddling, sun protection, and spills & spit. ( used )

7. A Warm Winter Outdoor Suit. Better quality over quantity here! Babies are happy when they are warm and cozy. Calculate well their size for the winter months. ( ours is from HessNatur )

8. A place to sit/lay your baby when you are not holding them. A Babybjorn Chair or Nest Situation. ( used )

9. Diapers & Wipes & Cream. We have a mix of biodegradable diapers & cotton diapers, homemade wipes, warm water, baby balm, and almond oil. Just know you will use way more then you think! ( new & used )

10. A good diaper bin. I thought this wasn’t so important until I realized our dining table is next to the changing table and diaper bin. We have a used one and upcycled xxl yogurt tubs for the reusables for wash prep.

11. A portable changing/day bag/backpack. It stays by the door to take with. Has room for our stuff as well as babies. We take it 80% of the time when we are out of the house. Restock it directly once you come home. Otherwise you may forget and that is very dramatic! ( trust me i have been there )

12. A keepsake box & printed photos. We received so many cards & gifts etc. the first weeks and months of her birth. And at some point i will organize these photos and keepsakes into a book, but having a place to throw all the memories at the beginning when things are busy will help for later.

And last but of course most most important of all, hence it is not on any of the lists because it belongs on them all at all time is : SLEEP & AIR & WATER

SLEEP – I have always valued sleep, but its healing powers ( and mood changing powers ) But in the case of pregnancy, post-partum, and baby raising, it is life changing !

Force yourself into sleeping when the baby sleeps. You and your baby and your partner will only profit from it. And make sure to ask for help when you need it :) Giving over the baby to someone else for an hour so you can nap, makes you a good Mom. Not a bad one! You can only properly care for someone else when you care for yourself too!

BREATHE – Breathing deeply is so underrated. I didn’t really understand breathing techniques when I first started doing them in my yoga classes. Then I realized how hard it was to follow along, and how bad I was at breathing into my belly. Now I remember to take ( at least ) 3 long deep breaths a day when I am overwhelmed or stressed or anxious. And try to take a walk outside every day Breathing is Life !

WATER – I can not imagine not having access to clean water. Drinking 3+ litres a day has got me through a very hot summer pregnancy, and has grown my baby and nourished me and her by breastfeeding.

That’s all for now folks. I am new to being a Mom, but loving it, and so happy and grateful for my body for doing all this hard work, and for hers as well. Plus my partner M. Holy smokes, what would we do without our partners! ( Single Parents are actually Hero/in/s )

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and not to stressful holiday season spend close to family & friends and all the best for 2024 !