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TBT: PREGGO PROGRESSION

3/14/2018

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28 WEEKS THROUGH 40 WEEKS
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2017: NEW YEAR, NEW WORD

1/3/2017

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You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way // 
No fear can hinder now the promises you made //
​You make me brave //


this song by Bethel Music inspired my 2017 word of the year. b r a v e.

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AN HONEST LETTER TO MY PAST PREGNANT SELF

7/7/2016

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dear past pregnant self,

it has been almost 6 months since we ended our 40-week marathon. it was this month last year we revealed our pregnancy to the world. how quickly the months went. until the last month where each day dragged as we impatiently waited for eliott's arrival. we experienced a lot of symptoms, both the wonderful -- oh those sweet baby kicks! -- & the not so wonderful -- swollen feet & sciatic pain. but there were moments we had fears & questions. there are a few things i would like to address to you in retrospect:

fear of miscarrying again. it is hard & i don't blame you. but once you hear that heartbeat at 8 weeks, remember the odds are in your favor. better yet, do not forget the promise God made for your family. He is a God of restoration. cast your fears on Him.

anxiety around baby development. there will be a handful of tests. everything is optional. regardless of results, your child is yours. you will love him no matter what the situation. just wait until you see him for the first time. you will have never felt a love like that before.

exercising while pregnant. you're doing great. don't be discouraged on not keeping up with your old routine. you will get back into it, i promise.  the days you don't want to walk, you don't want to go to the gym but you do anyway, your future self thanks you. every step, every lap, every mile. 100% worth it. keep moving.

dressing the bump appropriately. dress however you want. be proud of your bump. wear the tight dresses. embrace your bump.

giving into cravings. this is a hard one for us. the first trimester was filled with nausea & the salty chinese food cravings. go for it. it's ok! you're well equipped in knowing how to nourish yourself & your baby. don't set strict limitations. always be flexible & learn to enjoy. weight gain is a natural part of a healthy pregnancy.

fear of labor & delivery. contractions hurt. but you'll get through it. be brave but ask for help when you need it. remember, nothing goes as planned. the more you try to plan things, the more disappointed you'll be. be open-minded to the delivery process. do what you need to do in the best interest of your baby.

the unknowns of postpartum. this will be the hardest part for you. everything will be a blur the first two weeks. it will be physically uncomfortable. identifying yourself will seem impossible. you will feel like you're in a stranger's body. give yourself time to heal. do not rush into shedding the weight. you will know when the right time is. accept the idea that your body will not be the same as it was at it's prime. however, a woman's body is a gift. continue to treat it with self-care -- eat healthy, never restrict yourself. take it slow while exercising, you'll bounce back both physically & mentally.

becoming the best mother for your child. i have no answer here as i'm still figuring this out. there is no perfect example in this world. but there is the example God is for us & His unconditional & selfless love. strive for that & everything will fall into place.

xo, your current self

photos by gladys jem photography
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MY BOUNCE BACK: POSTPARTUM UPDATE

6/7/2016

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i've been struggling on whether or not to post this. no, i didn't reach my goal of being at my pre-pregnancy weight. that's not why i was hesitant to post. i was hesitant to share that i am still 2 pounds away & the reaction i would receive. before you roll your eyes & think "just 2 pounds", just a little insight: it takes me three weeks to lose 2 pounds. that's 30 miles of running, 105 meal preps & 15 hours of weightlifting. amazing how much effort it takes to lose 2 pounds. it isn't easy but it's possible. i hope this comes across as encouraging & that we don't take a pound of progress for granted. now with that said, i am so pleased with my 12 week transformation with imago fitness (curious about my transformation before pregnancy? click here!) cheers to healthy habits & continuing to pursue the best version of ourselves.

follow my journey on instagram
@thebounceback

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MY DIAPER BAG ESSENTIALS

5/20/2016

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THE BAG // we have three diaper bags. yes, three. one traditional over-the-shoulder bag, one matching backpack, & one "manly" backpack for daddy ;) i guess its always good to have options, ha! however, once i bought myself the diaper bag backpack, my life forever changed. hands-free is the way to be. i would definitely recommend a backpack. the honest company has a very sleek design & good pocket space. the only downside for me was that everyone has it. i was at an outdoor birthday party, and three moms placed their identical honest backpack on the ground. i decided to purchase one that wasn't as popular & at a good price (info below).

THE ORGANIC GOODS // having to explain to my persian family what an organic diaper is is probably the hardest/funniest thing. whether this is just a trend or not, i really do like the diapers & wipes we use. i'm not, though, very brand loyal. i bounce between honest, seventh generation & babyganics. all of which have been fine & eliott has not reacted negatively to any of them. but, we tend to purchase honest diapers, seventh generation wipes & baby organics bath/skin products.

THE EXTRAS // the convenience of having a camera & video camera on our phones is amazing. however, i also carry my instax mini polaroid in my bag. i've been using these specific photos for eliott's baby book so i never know when i'll need it. i also purchased these mini carabiners for my wallet & keys. i hook them inside my backpack and hook the keychain on my wallet & keys so they are never lost. LIFE. SAVER. lastly, s'well bottles are all the rage right now. the modern design is so appealing. i purchased a s'ip one to keep hot water for times i need to use formula. i've tested how long it'll keep the water steaming, & i am happy to announce i've gone 5 hours & it was still steaming. WIN. & its black & so minimal in design. DOUBLE WIN.

below is my full list of items i store in my bag at all times. this caters to eliott's age range (up to 4 months). this seems like a long list but i get the to-go versions of most products to help with space...

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