Celebrating Motherhood: Style and Self-Care

It was a special week. My second daughter turned 9 months old! We did a little photo shoot to celebrate the “9 months in and 9 months out.” This time around I don’t feel as physically fit as I did with my first baby. I still love my body though, and will respect what God gave me. There’s something special about wearing a dress that’s comfy, and can easily breastfeed in, and that makes you feel beautiful. This dress does that for me. It’s 100% cotton, and PERFECT for stay-at-home, busy moms! Super comfy, and looks great with an apron! Ha! Shop the link at the bottom.

It’s so hard after having a baby to let go of the pressure to get back into shape. Sometimes, it’s not even our fault we gain the weight such as the lack of sleep and maybe even stress causing the weight. I’ll be the first to say I eat very healthy food, but I won’t turn down a yummy dessert. In all seriousness I am losing weight slowly, but in a healthy way. I am still breastfeeding, so I can’t get too crazy on fasting and eliminating. What I am doing is working, slowly but surely. I weigh myself on the scale every day. Each week or two losing a pound. Sometimes nothing but still grateful for each healthy choice I make and grateful I’m not gaining weight. I just have to give it time. And I think that’s the hardest part. Living almost in an uncomfortable body knowing it’s beautiful but doesn’t feel the same.

I want to discuss the topic of femininity in motherhood. I want other mamas to know that being feminine is NOT wearing dresses and making sourdough like we see so much on Instagram. Dresses are lovely, and sourdough is amazing, but they are not what makes women feminine. What makes a woman feminine is her dedication to her faith and family, being graceful and patient, kind, and forgiving. Being feminine is being soft in the way one holds themselves together. Comforting a baby while wearing an apron. Loving your husband and putting trust in Jesus. Loving God and letting go of worldly views.

Feminine means so much more then just dresses and pink bows. I see so much strength and beauty in feminine women. They carry so much grace. I only hope that I can inspire other women, and mamas out there to channel their inner femininity and lose the worldly views.

Motherhood is a special gift and worth dressing up for. There are plenty of days as a stay-at-home mom that I simply stay in my 100% cotton pajamas with my babies in theirs too. And I’m okay with that. Those rainy days are something to celebrate too. And it’s not all about looks. On the days I choose not to wear makeup and be in my pajamas, I consider a rest day for my body. That includes my face breathing. Make-up isn’t necessarily healthy, but if you buy the clean beauty products (verified by EWG) then putting it on to feel like yourself and beautiful, it is self-care and HEALTHY! Taking care of ourselves is also respecting God. It is said that we should treat our bodies as temples. What we eat, wear, and how we treat our bodies.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19

So instead of celebrating my 9 months out “physical appearance,” I’m instead celebrating my motherhood journey and of course my beautiful daughters that made me a mom. Thank you God for all my blessings. Please help me with patience on my mouth and to inspire and spread the word in a kind, purposeful manner. Please lead me, Lord, on the right path and keep my mind focused on my daily tasks, and not the whispers of worldly views. Amen.