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June is 6 months old

February 26, 2020~ Baby

My precious baby is 6 months old today. I can’t believe we’re half way to a year. Time is crawling and flying, and I can’t wrap my mind around it. Can you?

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was writing her birth story,  and then it literally was yesterday that I was sharing our pumping and breastfeeding story. I’ve learned so many things about myself, our marriage, and our partnership, as well as about this tiny little human we created (I did all the work though).

The Fourth Trimester

I did updates on the first trimester, the second trimester, and the third trimester, but I held off on doing one for the fourth. I had plans to write one, but then I got wrapped-up in work and raising a baby, so it didn’t happen.

The first 3 months were hard. No way around it Between the cluster feeds, the new person in our house, the sleepless nights, and juggling work, I was spent.

Dan’s Paternity leave

Dan had two months off, and they were so needed. We say that he could have easily taken until Christmas, but his work situation didn’t necessarily allow it. Having Dan home allowed him to be a parent, and actually take as much of the load as he could. The majority of it fell to me – as the one with the boobs – but he did his best to get every single diaper, bring me as many glasses of cold water as possible, and do housework etc.

When I needed to work, he was good about taking her out of the house for a few hours, and once we started getting her bedtime routine in order, he took charge of that.

Sleeping through the night

She started sleeping through the night around the 6-7 week mark. I’ll never forget the spring in our step as we met in the kitchen at 6am one morning to get her bottle sorted, while I was getting set-up with the pump. We felt like we had a whole new lease on life with 6 straight hours of sleep under our belt.

I felt like my boobs were gonna fall off me after going that long without being drained, but once we figured-out that she would sleep more regularly through the night, I devised a pumping schedule that allowed me to get 8 straight hours of sleep if I stayed-up late enough to pump. 

The Buggy Roo

I look back at the photos and videos of that time, and can see glimpses of JB’s personality. I see a teeny tiny nugget that just wanted to snuggle, and was endlessly excited to explore with me. I also see a milk monster and a water baby. Not much has changed! 

The holidays

By the time Christmas rolled around, JB was 4 months old. We decided to start her on solids while my family was visiting, and it made for really enjoyable mealtimes. We managed to keep her schedule mostly the same, and we all made it through the season in one piece.

we also made it through the holidays with stylish DIY party hats

She was a shining star atop our crazy family Christmas tree, and brought so much joy to our family. We haven’t had that good a Christmas since the years before my brother’s passing. 

Self Employment and a baby

I wrote my own version of the Boss Ladies Who Had Babies questionnaire, and then followed it up with a series from other inspiring ladies who are self employed and juggled maternity leave.

I felt like I hadn’t done anything to its max potential because of the two competing needs, and I felt frustrated by it. I still am. I know I’m a good mother, but I’m still an entrepreneur, and I’m forever finding ways to make the two aspects coexist with the other part of me. I’m multifaceted, what can I say!

Some days one version wins-out over another, but at the end of the day JB takes precedence. A lot of clients have received emails that start with “sorry for the delay,” but it would seem I still haven’t adjusted my timeframes and output predictions. I still think I can do it all – I can – I just need more time for JB.

JB thrives on a Schedule

When Dan went back to work in November, it was really hard to manage JB’s needs with my own, without help. We struggled in the beginning, and I took a lot of drives to get her to nap on a schedule.

In November when my mom was visiting, she helped me get June to nap in the house (in a swing), and then over Christmas we moved from the swing to the crib. I was really pleased to be breaking the cycle of sleep aids, and I’m very proud of how good a sleeper she is. We all get good sleep, and are better for it.

Getting to a place of good naps and good sleep, means a routine I can plan around (and so can she). 

Sharing photos of JB

I’ve obviously decided to share some photos with the world, but I’m still torn between doing it for a profit, and just for fun. I definitely enjoy sharing her Outfit Of The Day (#OOTD) on Instagram, and always do it with the sunglasses because I want to maintain some privacy.

It’s a fine line, and we continue to walk it every day. But I couldn’t resist sharing these photos of her in the nursery.

Post Partum Depression

While I don’t believe I’ve got PPD, I do believe that my medication for anxiety has kept a lot at bay. I have down days, I have good days, just like a regular person.

But I find that when I get bogged down by deadlines, and problems, and tech issues, and just end up spiralling into feelings of anxiety and sadness. Being self employed has made this season of life harder than I could have imagined.

I think that if I wasn’t getting at least 7hrs a night, I’d be in rough shape.  Up until we started her on solids, I had to stay up till 11pm to pump, and then was up at 7am with her. I was running on empty, which is one of the reasons we started her “early” by New Brunswick standards.

I am a better person with my anxiety medication, when I get solid sleep, when I see sunshine, and when JB naps. Simple, right?

Things I’m happy we did

Although it’s been a shlep, and at some points it was the blind leading the blind, we have done some things right:

  • We hired a cleaning service to come every 2 weeks.
  • Pumping to allow Dan to feed JB, and to create a stash.
  • Developing relationships with babysitters who started coming early-on. It allowed them to get to know JB, and for her to get comfortable with other people.
  • Room sharing. We were comforted by having her in the bedroom, but were ready to transfer her into the nursery when we did.
  • Taking her to the pool weekly. I was a water baby (Dan was not) and our respective comfort level with the water as adults, is a direct correlation to how much exposure we had as children. 
  • Speaking to her in multiple languages. I’m bilingual, and Dan is sorta bilingual. We’re raising her in French and English (with a bit of Spanish).
  • Reading books with her, watching Jeopardy, and listening to podcasts. Get that word exposure in baby!

There are so many other things that we’re so glad we’ve done, but I won’t bore you with them.

Here’s to the next 6 months! I’m sure they’ll fly by.

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5 Comments

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Comments

  1. Laurie says

    February 26, 2020 at 7:14 am

    Just the cutest little bug ever! ❤️ HER LITTLE crown suits her to a t! ❤️

    Reply
    • Ariel says

      September 11, 2020 at 6:33 pm

      and I love that the crown was made locally!

      Reply
  2. Michelle says

    February 26, 2020 at 10:21 am

    Thank you for allowing us a small glimpse into your first 6 months as a mama! Your little girl is just precious and of course the most stylish baby ever!

    Reply
  3. Angie says

    February 26, 2020 at 11:59 am

    Very well written….very proud! Such a good mama!

    Reply
  4. at home with Ashley says

    February 27, 2020 at 7:48 am

    What a cutie! It only gets easier. Loved reading this 💕

    Reply

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Hi! My name is Ariel and I'm the voice behind PMQ for two. I create bright, bold, colourful, and eclectic home decor, DIYs and lifestyle content.

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PMQ for three

Time For A Cocktail

pmqfortwo

Ariel - PMQ for two
I am this week’s feature on the @littleyellowcou I am this week’s feature on the @littleyellowcouch podcast and I gotta say - FAN 👏🏻 GIRL 👏🏻 MOMENT. I had been listening since there were 2 hosts, and really got into it when I went full time with the blog during our first year posted to Gagetown. I found my colourful voice, and started making things like this beautiful glossy blue sideboard. 
There wasn’t really anyone else doing “colour” my way in the decor space at that time (everything was white farmhouse). And while there are definitely many more who do it now (and who do it better!), I’ll never forget the freedom I felt when no one was watching what I did. It has been so incredibly bittersweet watching new accounts lap me in a matter of months (and oh so humbling), but I like to think I’m exactly where I need to be. 
My growth has been slow by today’s standards, and I’m ok with it. I still get to do what I love. 
So, if you’ve been following me since then, the very beginning, or last week - stick around! Let’s see what the next stage is like. 
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#eclecticdecor #eclectichome #eclectichomedecor #eclectichomemix #sodomino #hgtvcanada #hgtvmagazine #apartmenttherapy #behrpaint #upcycledfurniture #thriftedhome
Y’all Après Ski is a mood,and it is the spirit Y’all Après Ski is a mood,and it is the spirit with which I decorate for winter. Cozy furry things? ✅ Champagne ✅  Oversized sunglasses? ✅ hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows? ✅ a roaring fire? ✅  what’s on your chilly winter must list?
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#apreski #apresski #winterwonderland #winterdecor #winterdecorating #winterdecoration #glamdecor #vintageski #skichalet #bhghowiholiday #vintageholiday #vintageaesthetic #eclecticdecor #eclectichome #cozyvibes #cozyhome
JB’s Montessori playroom is looking pretty good, JB’s Montessori playroom is looking pretty good, especially now that all the Christmas decor is gone. Bear in mind, this is what it looks like before a child has actually had a chance to play in it 😂 
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#montessoriathome #montessoritoddler #montessoriinspired #montessoribaby #montessoriplayroom #playroomdecor #playroominspo #playroomideas #bhghome #society6 
#eclectichome #lorenacanals #thrifteddecor
It’s winter. It’s snowing here, and it’s col It’s winter. It’s snowing here, and it’s cold. Time for snowflake shaped tea cup cookie rims, and @jacksonmorgancream in your afternoon tea. ✌🏻🫖🍫
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#hyggehome #hyggelife #hyggelifestyle #whiskeygram #teatime☕️ #teatime #afternoonteatime #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktailrecipes #bhgstylemaker #bhgfood #anthropologiehome
I think we’ve all been feeling a little powerles I think we’ve all been feeling a little powerless these days, but @laybabylay made a great point in her stories the other day: you can always do something nice. You can buy the order of the person in line behind you at the drivethru. You can donate to charitable organizations doing things you believe in. You can make a meal for your neighbour who might be having a hard time with lockdown. It’s amazing how much better I feel when I do something nice, and I bet you will too ❤️
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#lookforthehelpers #dogoodfeelgood #dogoodthings #colorfullife #colorfulhome #wallpaperdecor #sodomino #mymitzi #bhghome #eclectichomedecor #rugsusa #atomicranch #retrohome
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans” - John Lennon. 😎 As a family who moves a lot, we’re ready for a new chapter/ new house, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to leave all the memories! We brought June home here 😭 she learned to walk here, and said her first words here. I wonder what other “firsts” she’ll have before we move. [pictured, June in a messy kitchen last year]
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#babygirl #toddlermomlife #memoriesforlife #lifeiswhathappenstoyouwhileyourebusymakingotherplans #stokketripptrapp #stokke #westcoastkids #behrpaint #wallpaperwednesday #aestheticwallpapers #momlife #mommyandme
We sold the house! ✨ After 2.5 years were moving We sold the house! ✨ After 2.5 years were moving on. No, we’re not posted. We’re just ready for a new adventure! 😎✨ big thanks to our dedicated realtor @ang.ripped.realtor ✨ We’ll be staying local, and can’t wait to share our plans and next steps (once they’re more firm) And yes, the chickens come with us. 
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#movingontobetterthings #movinghouse #movinghome #behrpaint #targettswindowsanddoors #atomicranch #houseandhomemag #midcenturymodern #bhghome #bhgstylemaker
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