Journal

As my first bit of advice, I echo my dear friend Whit, "Keep a journal."

If you're trying to conceive, keep a journal.  You will want to look back on it to remind you why you wanted a child in the first place!

If you are pregnant, keep a journal.  You will wonder why you complained about the little sleep you got those last few months!

If you are a mommy, keep a journal.  Each day flies by, as I’m sure you’ve heard a million times, and you will want to cherish each one!

I kept my journal as a blog.  It was easy to log on every couple of days and jot down my thoughts.  Whether you write or type it, do it!  You will be glad.  For fun, I’ve included below a few quotes from my first pregnancy journal entry:

“I went to the bathroom and peed on a stick. It was no more than 30 seconds later that "Pregnant" showed up on the digital screen!”

“I don't even know how to explain this feeling...the feeling that there is a little alien growing inside me. It's amazing and totally weird at the same time.”

Intro

I’ve never been great at keeping a journal, but when I found out I was pregnant, one of my dear friends gave me some great advice.  She said, “Keep a journal throughout your pregnancy.  You will forget if you don’t.”  I followed Whit’s advice and I’m glad I did.  “Pregnancy brain” is a totally real symptom of growing a child.  And, frankly, it seems as though it may be a permanent one. 

Anyway, the point of my babbling is to say that I may have some advice that could be helpful to those soon-to-be mommies.  First of all, I have to say congrats to those of you who are newly pregnant, good luck to those of you who are trying to conceive, and heaven help you to those of you who are new mommies!