Feeling Balanced

I have another baby on it’s way into this world. It is cooking and growing inside of me, just as the other four did for nine months. People ask, “Isn’t that crazy that you are expecting number five already? Can you believe it? How do you feel?”

As long as I have somewhat of a balance in my life with my most important needs being met, the thought of adding another newborn to the mix makes my heart swell. Of course, I wonder about how the kids will transition, how baby will be and sleep (please, please be a good sleeper like the others!), and how the rhythm of our days will change. But overall, I am excited to meet this little one and welcome him (is it a him? Am I right?) into our family.

This winter has been a breather for me. We’ve been lucky to go on multiple vacations, Nic’s work hours haven’t been crazy like last fall. We have made date nights a priority. My mental health has been good overall, I must be at a space where my hormones are balanced. Most days I wake up feeling excited about today’s possibilities and feeling so grateful for all of my blessings. That in itself is a blessing, to feel truly grateful.

There are moments that I feel overwhelmed by my life, but they are simply moments. I have been conscious of my needs and I make them a priority so that I feel like I can handle life. So that I can bounce back quicker when I fall into those ruts. In those hard moments though, I can’t imagine adding another baby to the mix. I can’t see how I will be able to do all this – plus a newborn.

The solution? Create balance before baby is born.

Find your non-negotiables. What are the few things that you need on a regular basis in order to feel like your life is mostly under control and you enjoy living? Make those your priority and work at putting them into your daily rhythm. It will shift when baby is born, but if you have the habits started it will be much easier to continue.

Allow the simple things to fill that space inside of you. Sometimes it would be nice to get out for a whole day at a spa, to travel somewhere new, or do something more extravagant, but it just isn’t realistic. DO schedule that in for when it’s possible, but don’t wait for that day to come to get a breather. Let the twenty-minute walk reset your mind. Stay up the extra ten minutes after the kids go to bed to write down three things that you are grateful for. Let these be enough.

Know what makes you happy, what makes you light up, and actually put it into practice. That’s the hard part. It’s so easy to know that going for a walk would make you feel better, but instead you sit down with your phone and waste those minutes doing something that doesn’t recharge you. The more often you do it though, the easier it gets to choose it.

Choose to do what lights you up. Your kids see that too.