When I think of Rudy’s birth story, all I can think about are the weeks leading up to his birth. The whole month of August, we were anticipating his birth! He was initially due on the 7^th, yet he didn’t join us until the 31^st.

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Starting in July, I started to experience prodromal labor, and at the beginning of August, I was dilated and effaced, making me think that maybe this baby will come sooner than my others. But my due date came and went.

After being a week overdue from his initial due date, I tried even more things to get labor started. One of which was castor oil, which I had taken before in previous births. It never worked for my oldest daughter, Harmony, who went to 42 weeks before being induced at the hospital. But it did work for my next daughter, Floralee, who was my VBAC at home at almost 41 weeks. My third, Chet, came on his own at almost 41 weeks.

I took the castor oil in the morning, and by the evening, I started to feel some minor contractions. I began timing them, and they were close together and somewhat consistent. My midwife decided to start heading my way, and we got the kids ready to sleep at a friend’s house.

After I started moving around more and the midwife arrived, the contractions completely fizzled out. I slept that night and woke up in the morning with no contractions, and was pretty discouraged. My midwife suggested castor oil one more time that next morning, and still no contractions resulted from that. I tried other herbal remedies as well throughout the next week, but the baby had no desire to come out yet.

A week after the initial castor oil, I took it again, but puked it all up. I tried it one last time, a fourth time, the next day, and still no contractions. We were trying to remain hopeful.

As we approached my 43-week checkup, we reviewed the due date and pushed it back a few days to the 12^th. We also went to get an ultrasound per my midwife’s recommendation, just to make sure the baby was still doing well. The ultrasound went great, and a few days later we also did a non-stress test, which went very good as well.

However, if the baby didn’t come soon, we knew we would have to go to the hospital and get induced, which was not our desire at all. We were praying fervently, and many others were praying for us as well. The Lord answered our prayers, and starting around 9 pm on the 31^st, contractions finally began!

When they started to become painful, and when I started to clean the house ferociously, I could tell that this was the real thing. My midwife and her assistant arrived around midnight, and we all rested for a few hours while I focused on relaxing through the contractions.

Around 3:30 am, I was nearing transition, and my midwife was getting everything ready. He came flying out of me at 4:06 am, and we saw that he was a boy! Our Rudy had finally arrived! Everyone felt relieved and so joyous. He was healthy and big, weighing 9 pounds and 11 ounces. He was 22 inches long and 42 weeks and 5 days of gestation.

I had no tearing and very little bleeding. It has been my best postpartum recovery yet. Rudy is breastfeeding great, and the whole family is enjoying having him here! Overall, it was about a 7-hour labor, at home, and a wonderful birth, all things considered. Glory to God for this amazing, sweet blessing that has been added to our family! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The post The Birth Story of Rudyard Reid appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

If you have a second baby on the way, you may wonder what you can reuse for baby #2 and what you will need to purchase again. While you can reuse most things, it’s essential to be prepared! Plus, your budget will thank you.

It can be hard to imagine your family in the future with a new baby. Things will be different, and the adjustment won’t come easily to everyone. Your motherhood will kick up a notch.

But don’t fret! I’m here to encourage you that the beauty of giving your child a sibling is truly something you will cherish forever. As a mom myself, currently pregnant with baby #4, I can tell you from experience that it is all worth it!

I hope this list of baby items will make your life a bit easier as you prepare for your second baby! You can know what to save, what to declutter, and what to budget for in the future. Congratulations, and remember to soak in every moment!

Let’s check it out…

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Tips Before You Start

The first tip is to create a second baby registry checklist. It will be an easy way to keep everything organized. But, most importantly, it will be an easy place to send people who want to bless you with more gifts, even if you aren’t having another baby shower.

That way, you can receive the items that are a necessity to you and not more junk that will just overwhelm you!

Here is my post all about setting up an Amazon Baby Registry. It definitely makes things easier the second time around having everything online in one central location. It’s free and you will also get a free welcome box!

My second tip is to always check thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay for baby items. You can find so many barely used things for an incredible deal. So, if you don’t receive as many items as gifts this time around, you can still keep things very affordable.

Related Post: How To Create The Best Amazon Baby Registry In The World

What You Can Reuse For Baby #2

There are so many things you can reuse for baby #2. I am sure I am missing something, but here is a list of things you probably have saved from your first baby.

Changing Pad –            Just wipe it down and get it clean for your new baby. You can also get new changing pad covers or wash the ones you have.

Crib –                                This depends on the age of your first child, but if you don’t need a second crib and can move your first child into a pack-n-play with a mattress or toddler bed, definitely reuse your crib and mattress!

Bassinet  –                      You may not need to move your toddler/second child out of their crib right away anyways if baby will be sleeping in a bedside bassinet. Definitely reuse this! If you co-sleep, it’s even easier to reuse your bed.

Crib Sheets –                          Wash and clean all your crib sheets and reuse those. Only replace them if you feel they are too frayed and unsafe. Our crib sheets are still holding up after three children!

Infant Car Seat –          Yes, you will need a second car seat, but you should have your older child out of the infant seat and into a bigger convertible one. You can reuse the infant one, just check the expiration date on it.

Cloth Diapers –            If you cloth diapered your first baby, then be sure to get those pulled out again, washed and sorted! The best part of cloth diapering, in my opinion, is that it saves money and you can reuse them for years and years!

Swaddles/Blankets/Diaper Bag – Of course, pull these out of storage and use them again.

Baby Clothes/Hangers –        Depending on gender of your children, you have the potential to reuse all or some of your baby clothes. I keep all our baby clothes in vacuum seal bags in our attic organized by age and gender. It makes it easy to pull out exactly what I need.

Baby Carrier –                             Reuse the carrier that you ended up loving and sell whatever carrier you didn’t end up using as much. Now that this is your second baby, you know what works and what doesn’t for you!

Swing/Bouncer/Toys/High Chair –    All these larger baby gear items you can reuse again! But, maybe you want to include some of these toys on your baby registry checklist.

Monitor/Sound Machine –     Keep using these unless you need a second one for separate rooms of the house.

Stroller/Wagon –          You should reuse these again, but you may want to upgrade to a double stroller or a wagon. Sell the stroller you currently have if you do. We personally love this wagon and it has been all we need for all of our children.

Related Post: Top 7 Must Have Baby Items For Two Under Two

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Related Post: 5 Empowering Slow-Living Motherhood Practices For The Whole Day

What You Can’t Reuse for Baby #2

Second Car Seat –      While I listed that you can reuse the infant car seat, you will need a second car seat. You may have to purchase a convertible car seat for your first child and begin to transition them into it if you haven’t yet already.

Second Car Mirror – With another car seat purchase often comes another car seat mirror.

Wipes/Diapers –          Get stocked up on wipes and diapers (if you aren’t using cloth diapers) because obviously those run out!

Baby Clothes –             Depending on gender and seasonality, you may not be able to reuse some of your baby clothes. Prepare as best you can by getting the new clothes you need.

Bottle Brush –               I find that my bottle brushes that I use to clean my kids water bottles get pretty nasty, especially if I haven’t used them for a bit. I like to get a new one and have it on hand for when I need it.

Breast Milk Storage Bags –    If you use a disposable version, don’t forget to purchase more of these if you use them!

Pacifiers –        I don’t personally use pacifiers with my children so this was not something I knew about. But, you shouldn’t reuse pacifiers with your second child because of germs and potential damage to them. If you want to save them as back up, sterilize them and examine them really well before baby arrives.

Bottles/Nipples –        Just like pacifiers, I didn’t know this about bottles because I exclusively breastfeed. But, you should purchase new bottles (or just nipples if you have glass bottles, which I recommend) because of the germs and damage they may have. Thankfully, they are not expensive.

Breast Pump Parts –   If your pump parts have been sitting for a long time it is best to replace the parts because of bacteria and possible damage. Look at the tubing, valves and membranes. Hopefully your breast shields are just fine.

Related Post: The 7 Best Baby Led Weaning Books You Need To Read Today

Other Things To Stock Up On

Pstpartum Care Products

Diaper Cream

Bath Soap

Remedies for Breastfeeding, Teething, Sickness, etc.

Which of these items listed was most helpful to you? Let me know in the comments below, and congrats on baby #2!

The post 19 Things You Can (& 11 Things You Can’t) Reuse for Baby #2 appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

I’m sure you’ve heard of people eating more whole foods, ancient grains, and fermented vegetables these days. But did you know there are cookbooks and books on the traditional foods movement that are sparking a generational shift in how we understand food?

As a homesteader myself I am all about eating food straight from the source! We raise all of our meat and protein – rabbits, chickens, venison, fish, and eggs (with pigs and sheep coming soon) – and love growing vegetables, herbs, and various fruits on our property. We source high-quality dairy, nuts, grains, and beans since we can’t grow those ourselves.

While this isn’t exactly possible for everyone, we should all start to pay more attention to the food we are eating. Where does it come from? How is it processed? Is it nourishing to my body? And why am I choosing it eat in the first place?

People are indeed waking up to the scams of previous health advice and the convenience of processed foods. Our bodies need nourishing foods straight from the earth! These books on the traditional foods movement will provide you with all the information you need to get started on your journey to a healthier life.

Let’s check them out…

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1. Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon

To me, this book is the icon of The Traditional Foods Movement, along with the accompanying books: Nourishing Broth, Nourishing Diets, Nourishing Fats, The Nourishing Traditions Book for Baby and Child Care.

Nourishing Traditions covers everything you need to know about eating foods that your body craves for energy and sustainability. I recommend starting with this one. Next read Nourishing Broth for a deep dive on the science and healing power of broth, along with recipes so you can make it correctly in a variety of ways! It also has lots of incredible soup recipes.

Nourishing Diets will take you around the world as you look at how each continent and people group used different healthy and natural fats throughout history! It is fascinating to compare their diets to our standard American diet. I especially appreciate the chapter at the end “What to eat?” because it goes over all the diet questions running through your head, almost like an FAQ section. There are some recipes at the end too.

Nourishing Fats will make you start eating animal fats tomorrow if you aren’t already! I had no idea about all the benefits of animal fats because they just aren’t talked about by our country’s leadership. There is data, science, and pure facts to read in this book today! Plus there are recipes for cooking with animal fats to help you ease into this diet change.

Last, as a mother myself, I appreciate learning about the safe way to introduce these nourishing traditions to my family! It goes all the way from before you get pregnant, to pregnancy, the newborn stage, and beyond. There are so many natural remedies in this book and the baby book that can help a mom in a dire situation!

Check it out on Amazon here!

Related Posts: The 7 Best Cookbooks On Ancient Grains, Einkorn, And Milling Flour

2. The Nourished Kitchen: Farm-to-Table Recipes for the Traditional Foods Lifestyle Featuring Bone Broths, Fermented Vegetables, Grass-Fed Meats, Wholesome Fats, Raw Dairy, and Kombuchas by Jennifer McGruther

This is one of the books on the traditional foods movement that I proudly display on my bookshelf. Not only is it beautiful but also so informative, helpful, and thorough.

The introduction of the book tells you everything you need to know about the traditional foods movement. It involves sustainability, balance, tradition, and community involvement. Then the author helps you understand what is important to eat in each category of food before jumping into all the recipes of the cookbook.

I love that the cookbook has every single category of food with nothing left out. The categories are from the garden, from the pasture, from the range, from the waters, from the fields, from the wild, from the orchard, from the larder. The resources page at the back is extremely helpful as well, as I even found some new websites and companies to check out.

Check it out on Amazon here!

3. Broth and Stock from the Nourished Kitchen: Wholesome Master Recipes for Bone, Vegetable, and Seafood Broths and Meals to Make with Them by Jennifer McGruther

From the same author as The Nourished Kitchen above, comes a cookbook all about nourishing our bodies with broth. Our family consumes broth for almost every single meal if I am being honest, especially in the winter. We never tire of it!

But I always stick to my same standard chicken broth with our chicken carcass and vegetable scraps in the Instant Pot. This book was a wonderful resource for me to try some new versions of broth, from pork to fish to mushrooms to greens!

There are also several recipes for using chicken broth, beef broth, fish broth, and vegetables in various broths. I am excited to try even more recipes from the cookbook on nourishing our bodies with traditional foods.

Check it out on Amazon here!

Related Post: My 10 Time-Saving Kitchen Mom Hacks I Can’t Live Without

4. Vegetable Literacy by Deborah Madison

A part of the Traditional Foods Movement is eating vegetables, although I don’t think veganism is the way to go personally. This book dives deeply into each vegetable family and then provides delicious recipes to make yourself!

For example, the first chapter is The Carrot Family. You will learn everything you need to know about carrots from varieties to cooking companions and using the whole plant in your cooking. Then there are six incredible recipes to make incorporating more carrots into your diet easy!

This book is large and not a quick read, but that’s one reason I have to recommend it. It brings you on a journey. Or, should I say that it comes alongside you on your journey of eating healthier and changing your habits?

Check it out on Amazon here!

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5. Duck Duck Goose by Hank Shaw

If you read this book then be sure to read all the books by this author: Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail; Buck, Buck, Moose; Hook, Line, and Supper; Hunt, Gather, Cook. They not only help you learn the importance of eating a variety of meat but also widen your pallet from the traditional American meat diet of mostly beef and chicken.

He explains the troubles of sourcing new animals for your diet like duck and goose in this book. But, asking around with local farmers could land you some great connections, even to online sources. The pictures in this book are fantastic to help you in preparing the meat.

Most of the book is recipes, which I am so excited to try. If you want to start eating a certain food group more, like duck, moose, or fish, then check out Hank Shaw’s books! It will be a learning curve at first, but it will result in one of your new favorite books on the traditional foods movement.

Check it out on Amazon here!

6. Folks, This Aint Normal by Joel Salatin

The Traditional Foods Movement is a wake-up call, just like this book! The way the government controls our food, makes labeling confusing, and limits us from real food education is awful. Joel Salatin does a fantastic job at breaking down all that’s wrong with our food culture today and what you can specifically do about it.

It’s like you’re talking to your old wise grandpa when you read this book. He sure does need to release an updated version soon but all the information in the original still drives the point home. Plus, I appreciate the five-ish bullet points at the end of every chapter with action steps. It eliminates the question, “But how do I get started?”

Check it out here!

Related Post: The Top 10 Cookbooks Every Homesteader Needs In Their Kitchen

7. The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz

This book is huge and packed with information! I need to have this book on my shelf because it answers any question I have regarding fermentation plus new ideas on things I can try fermenting myself for the first time!

If you wondering what the importance of fermentation is, then just read the first few chapters of this book. Don’t let the size of you intimidate you because the information and drawings are easy to understand.

This is one of the books on the traditional foods movement that inspired me to start adding more fermented food back into our diet! Like I used to, I now put sauerkraut back on our table for every evening meal, yum! For a less intense book, check out Wild Fermentation, another one I love by the same author.

Check it out here!

There you have it, the books I love on getting back to real food and living a healthier life from fantastic authors that support The Traditional Foods Movement! Which book will you be reading first? Let me know in the comments below!

The post 7 Must-Read Books On The Traditional Foods Movement For A Healthier Life appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

How can you establish peace in your home, consistently? These homemaker habits and skills will help you not perfect homemaking, because that’s unachievable, but pursue the best version possible of it!

I’ve heard it said that we should find a happy medium in our homemaking. As mothers, we shouldn’t be disappointed when it isn’t perfect. But we also shouldn’t just allow chaos to define our motherhood and homemaking. Instead, we can find the happy medium, the balance, of having a lived-in yet peaceful and beautiful space.

I’m grateful to have had role models in my life, specifically coaches, who taught me to always pursue excellence. That didn’t mean just doing my best in sports but striving to be the best version of myself in all areas of my life.

While I’ve transitioned from being an athlete to being a mother, I’ve slowly learned how to apply that skill to my homemaking. I can have a peaceful home and be the best homemaker I can be when I humble myself, sacrificially serve my family, and pursue excellence!

If you want to achieve this peace, try adding these homemaker habits and skills into your daily routine. And remember, work hard but with the right mindset and perspective!

Let’s check them out…

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1. Prayer

As a Christian, I can’t have a peaceful and productive home if I don’t turn it over to the Lord each day. By relying on His strength, I can be the best mother and homemaker I can be!

By sending up little prayers throughout my day I can remain grounded in intense moments, stay on track when everything gets derailed, and remind myself of the truth when lies of self-doubt flood my head.

I’m not saying I’m perfect, and I’m not saying it is easy. But, with prayer, I can stay focused on what truly matters throughout my day. It’s nothing fancy, just whispers to the Lord.

It is one of the homemaker habits and skills that is truly a secret weapon in my back pocket! These blog posts dive deeper into the topic:

6 Powerful Reasons To Pray For Your Future Children

The 7 Best Books For Christian Moms To Read Over And Over

2. Music

Listening to calming and peaceful music throughout the day will keep your mind and nerves at ease. I’ve noticed that when I play worship music, even kid versions, it keeps my mind from wandering to areas where it shouldn’t.

Instead of focusing on more worry or doubt, I can instead hum the tune or sing the lyrics. Even after the music gets turned off, the songs remain in my head throughout the day. It truly helps me stay positive and be a better homemaker!

Check out these related posts:

10 Essential Ways To Prevent Mom Burnout And Stay Joyful

11 More Unique Things I Have Given Up As A Mom Since Staying Home

3. Outside

I constantly tell people that I love having animal chores because it guarantees to get me out of the house at least twice a day, no matter the weather! Before we were homesteading, I found that it was very easy to become lazy in the morning or at night.

I would so easily plop on the couch and mindlessly turn to some sort of lazy and unproductive media. Now, I have to go outside and tend to our animals, and I don’t have a choice because I need to keep them alive!

Getting outside always makes me feel more productive, happier, and more equipped to conquer my day! Make it a point to get outside every day to be the best homemaker you can be.

Here are some blog post suggestions for you:

11 Easy First-Year Homesteading Goals To Make And Achieve As A Newbie

The 7 Best Books About Unschooling And Finding Education Freedom

The 7 Best Books On Getting Children Outside More For Parents

4. Clean

If I could, cleaning would be the one task I skip every day. I don’t naturally enjoy it and often feel so much dread before conquering a cleaning task.

However, I’m sure you’ve experienced this too, it is incredible how much it changes a space after you clean it. And in turn, it’s amazing how much it changes everyone’s attitude. My children are more excited to entertain themselves and my husband and I feel more at peace when everything is tidy.

One of the best homemaker habits and skills is to just constantly clean! I know that isn’t rocket science but it’s something I have to remind myself of daily to be the best homemaker I can be.

If you are struggling in this area, check out some of my favorite books on the topic here:

The 7 Best Homemaking Books For A Cozy And Peaceful Home

7 More Books On Homemaking You Can’t Miss Out On

5. Limit Screens

Mindlessly scrolling on your phone or staring at a screen for too long is awful for your brain, just look at all the studies done. Set limits on your phone and computer to avoid this.

I use Newsfeed Eradicator on my computer and Minimalist Phone on my smartphone to help me set boundaries in this area. You can also do a Detox here:

4 Reasons To Perform A Christian Social Media Detox

6 Practical Phone Boundaries For Parents To Set A Healthy Example

13 Screenless Things To Do While Breastfeeding To Enjoy The Moment

6. Read

Instead of scrolling on your phone, pick up a book and read! I especially love to read books on a topic I am interested in at that time, whether it’s gardening, cooking, home remedies, parenting, homeschooling, birth, or home inspiration!

Reading is one of the easy homemaker habits and skills that you can do to stay in tune with what truly matters and avoid distractions. Check these out first:

The 7 Best Books For Christian Moms To Read Over And Over

7 More Christian Motherhood Books For Christian Moms

7. Set The Mood

As a mother and homemaker, you set the mood for your day. If you’re happy and pleasant to be around, it’s easier for your children and husband to be in pleasant moods as well.

I’ve been on a mission lately to radiate true joy in my mothering. Instead of focusing on the things that annoy me or y to-do list, I pause and find some way to express joy. Usually, that’s reading a book, singing a song, or playing a game with my child for a few minutes!

How To Be A Peaceful And Calm Stay-At-Home Mom Today

How To Cultivate Contentment In Motherhood And Be Grateful Everyday

8. Baking

Do you know that baking is one of the homemaker habits and skills that you can always get better at? I’ve improved dramatically over the years since staying home with my children. The more I practice the better at it I become.

I’ve been learning how to have patience as I incorporate my children as I bake and teach them what I’m learning. These books have especially been helpful to me:

The 7 Best Cookbooks On Cooking From Scratch With Real Farm Ingredients

The Top 7 Pregnancy Cookbooks You Need To Stay Happy And Healthy

The Top 10 Cookbooks Every Homesteader Needs In Their Kitchen

9. Hobbies

This blog is my creative outlet as a mom. It gives me the chance to express myself, help others, and share my heart! But, perhaps your hobby is motherhood is different. What hobby do you enjoy doing once you put the kids to bed?

Do that hobby more! Don’t let it overcome your homemaking tasks, but do allow it to improve your life by giving you an outlet to express yourself after long homemaking days.

If you are interested in starting a blog check this out:

How To Easily Start A Blog Today

10 Reasons To Start A Blog After You Graduate College

8 Aggravating Things No One Ever Told You About Blogging

10. Saving Money

As a homemaker, I don’t bring in an income. My husband provides for our family, yet I consider it my job to save our money and spend it wisely on the things we need. As they say, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

By saving money and budgeting wisely, I help our family just as much! I share more about it in these posts here:

How To Save Money On Groceries As A Stay-At-Home Mom

11 Natural Household Items To Make Yourself And Save Money

7 Multiuse Reusable Items To Save Money In Your Homemaking

7 Ways Homesteading Saves You Tons Of Money When Done Correctly

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11. Make The Bed

I once watched a video of a navy seal sharing the impact of making your bed in the morning can have on your day. And he was right. I always feel more productive in my day when I start completing the task of making my bed.

Start changing your mindset here:

5 Incredible Mindset Shifts For Moms That Need To Be Made Today

12. Plan

Do you have a planner? How do you stay on top of all your tasks as a homemaker? One of the homemaker habits and skills that you need to stay on top of everything is just to plan it all out!

While that looks different for everyone, consider how you can start or update this habit so that your household runs smoothly each week. I share some of my favorite tips here:

11 Things I No Longer Do As A Mom Since Taking My Job As A Homemaker Seriously

Need Meal Ideas? Here Are My Top Go-To Meals As A Homestead Mom

13. Hydrate

Drink your water! Eat healthy! Move your body! The simple, physical things of just taking care of yourself go a long way. I’m just saying this to remind myself, and you, that something as simple as drinking enough water is a valuable skill to maintain.

21 Quick Ways To Be Healthy In Your 20’s

My 10 Time Saving Kitchen Mom Hacks I Can’t Live Without

14. Think of Others

I’ve been truly learning what it means to live a selfless life as a mother and a homemaker. It’s not easy, but being sacrificial and putting everyone else’s needs before my own truly changes me for the better.

I need to continually think of others, serve my family, and die to myself each and every day. Before you get out of bed each morning, remind yourself to be humble, yet joyful, as you serve your family again that day! Check out these posts where I go into more depth:

6 Incredible Ways Having Children Changed Our Marriage For The Better

12 Powerful Motherhood Lessons I Learned During My First Year

15. Ready For Anything

While I encourage you to plan as one of the homemaker habits and skills to have, I also encourage you to be adaptable. How true is it that nothing ever really goes to plan?

The baby skips their nap, the neighbor stops by to chat, the weather is changing, and before you know it you don’t have dinner on the table in time. Life happens! Being a mother means we have to just let some things go and that’s ok.

11 Things I Have Gained Since Becoming A Mother And Wife

16. Marriage

Put your marriage first. It’s some of the best advice I have ever received, but now, after being married for several years I understand why.

It’s so easy to put my children’s needs, even the needs of our homestead, before the needs of my marriage. Marriage requires being intentional and I have to daily chose to do this homemaker skill! Check out these resources:

The 7 Best Christian Marriage Books You Need To Keep On Your Shelf

How To Strengthen Your Marriage With Love Notes

What Is The Best Genuine Christian Advice For Newlywed Couples Today?

17. Be Present

Lastly, chose to be intentional with everything each day. That’s a lot to ask, isn’t it?! You will fail, and you won’t be perfect, but as you pursue excellence your homemaking will improve, your family will thrive, and your home will be glorious!

The 3 Best Books To Help You Decide To Be A Stay At Home Mom

The 7 Best Homeschool Mom Books That You Need To Read Today

The 7 Best Homeschooling Books For Beginners You Need To Read Today

How To Find Great Read-A-Loud Book Lists For Christian Families

Sacrifice, intentionality, and humility are some of the hardest things we can learn as a homemaker, but they are vital homemaker habits and skills to practice all the time! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

The post 17 Homemaker Habits And Skills That Will Make You The Best Homemaker appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

While I can’t claim to be a medical expert, I’m just a three-time mom, I can’t help but share what works best for us when it comes to putting a baby to sleep on their tummy!

I truly believe that babies thrive best when they are put to sleep on their stomachs. Yet, in today’s modern culture, doctors and other health professionals will say that you should only put your baby to sleep on their back. Some even claim that if you don’t, your baby will die. They continue to fear-monger mothers.

They often link putting baby to sleep on their tummy to SIDS or other health concerns. But the research doesn’t quite justify this and in fact, new research is being released showing no correlation at all. (I would encourage you to do your own research, as I am not linking any scientific studies here.)

However, I knew from my mother, and the mother’s all before her, that babies have been going to sleep on their tummy for generations. When I tried it with my babies, I could see the benefits immediately!

With my first child, a daughter, I tried putting her on her back throughout the first few months and could see she hated it. When I consistently put her to sleep safely on her tummy, she slept so easily and peacefully. All my babies after have only slept on their stomachs and have had the same wonderful results.

Let’s talk about those here…

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1. Self-Soothing/Suck Their Thumb

When you are putting a baby to sleep on their tummy, they can easily find their thumb, fist, or finger to suck. I encourage thumb and finger sucking with my children because it allows them to soothe themselves whenever necessary. It is comforting to them and gives me a much-needed break from pacifying them at the breast.

I also love that I don’t need to rely on a plastic pacifier, as I choose not to use it with my babies for several reasons. When my children are a few years old, I break the finger-sucking habit and teach them how to fall asleep and comfort themselves when they are upset another way.

Around three or four months old my children have all consistently started sucking a thumb or finger and easily put themselves to sleep in their crib. They enjoy the security of always having it right with them. Sleeping on their tummy encourages this habit faster. I also notice that my babies cry very little with this method.

Related Post: Simplified And Easy Babywise Schedules For Your Baby’s First Year

2. No Tummy Time Needed

I see a huge push from doctors and health professionals to spend a few minutes or even up to an hour of tummy time with your child each day, depending on their age. That has never been necessary for me with my children.

Because I put them to sleep on their tummy, they are constantly having tummy time in their crib. Before they fall asleep or when they wake up, they are working all their appropriate muscles to strengthen their neck and back.

As a busy mom, it is one less thing for me to worry about fitting into my day! I have found that all my babies sit up faster and are stronger than the average baby, and I don’t do any sort of extra, specific tummy time.

3. No Swaddling Necessary

When you put your baby to sleep on their tummy, you don’t swaddle them. They naturally feel the pressure of the mattress under them to comfort them and help with sudden reflexes, like a swaddle would.

You also don’t need to train your baby to use a swaddle and then slowly train them to transition out of it once they begin rolling. Your baby instead learns how to sleep appropriately outside of the womb from day one and continues to sleep that same way!

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4. No Flat Head

Going along with the tummy time point above, if your baby sleeps on their tummy you don’t have to worry about them getting a flat head. This often happens to babies that sleep on their backs and also spend a lot of daytime on their backs as well, such as in a car seat.

You do want to check that your baby when sleeping on their tummy, rotates their head to both the left and the right. If you find your baby only sleeps with their head pointed one way, be sure to see a chiropractor who specializes in babies to get it corrected.

Related Post: Top 7 Must Have Baby Items For Two Under Two

5. Helps Relieve Gas And Burps

This was the biggest benefit that I saw with my children when I put them to sleep on their tummy. My babies all spit up quite a bit and constantly have burps and air bubbles. (They were all exclusively breastfed.)

When they sleep on their tummy, that pressure it puts on their stomachs helps release all the gas and pain. It naturally burps them sometimes too. They are way less fussy and upset when they sleep on their stomachs.

6. Baby Feels Comforted

Lastly, all of these things together help babies feel comforted when they sleep. I find that babies swaddled and put to sleep on their backs often cry more because they feel abandoned.

My babies all love to sleep on their tummy and I hear the same from other moms. However many mothers never consider these things because it isn’t talked about. They often don’t want to go against what their doctor advised them to do.

Trust your gut and do what is best for your baby! And always make an informed and educated decision. Any questions? Let me know in the comments below!

The post 6 Important Reasons To Put Baby To Sleep On Their Tummy appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

It’s no joke that having children changed our marriage! But with so many negative articles on the web, and even comments in real life, everyone says children only make your marriage worse off.

It can be so disheartening to see and hear. Children are only viewed as annoying, a nuisance, and they stop you from achieving all your dreams and goals in life.

Instead, we choose to view children as a blessing! It’s all about perspective. When we found out we were pregnant with our first only seven months into marriage we were thrilled! It wasn’t exactly planned but we knew the joy that would come from welcoming this little one into our arms.

Yes, children are hard, and being a parent is definitely challenging. It requires you to become more and more selfless each day. You need to be more intentional with your marriage than before. And it feels like a huge responsibility!

Now after being married for several years and having multiple children we can confidently say that though our marriage has gone through hard seasons, our children have ultimately strengthened it for the better!

Let’s dive in…

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1. We Always Need To Be On The Same Page

Raising children and disciplining them requires that each spouse is on the same page as one other. You need to have the same boundaries, rules, and consequences for your children, so they aren’t confused or manipulating you.

Being consistent isn’t easy at times. But having children changed our marriage by strengthening this aspect. We had to learn to communicate with each other more so we were consistent!

Children don’t pull you away from your spouse if you are intentional about staying on the same page with one another. Rather, they give you more opportunities to grow in this area of marriage.

Related Post: The 7 Best Christian Marriage Books You Need To Keep On Your Shelf

2. We Enjoy Each Other More

Because taking care of children can take up a lot of our day, we now treasure the moments we have alone together more!

We even have to schedule time to spend with each other some weeks because things get so crazy. And while that may not sound like a positive way children changed our marriage, it is!

When we value our time together as husband and wife, we connect on a deeper and more intimate level than before! We understand each other in deeper ways and appreciate the other person more.

Again, intentionality is hard, but it is so worth it for a happy and thriving marriage after children!

Related Post: 6 Encouraging Reasons To Quickly Have A Baby After Marriage

3. It Strengthens Us Spiritually

We realized children changed our marriage for the better spiritually when they started keeping us up all night! With no more energy and time to commit to regular bible study during pregnancy and postpartum, we knew we need better systems in place.

There are always seasons in life where consistent quiet time with the Lord just isn’t feasible. But, when it is, we have to be more on top of it now that we have children!

Because we are more intentional we actually are getting more out of time with the Lord! Children challenge us regularly to find the time to grow spiritually and as a result, they make us better people!

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4. We Connect On Deeper Levels

Topics that never came up in conversation before children now regularly do. As parents, we think deeper about the world because we are raising the next generation!

We care more about how we raise our children, what our future looks like, where we spend our money, and so on. Children cause you to use that new responsibility to care deeper about things.

These topics make us connect on deeper levels as a couple. As parents, we have wonderful conversations that challenge us and grow us, instead of just staying happy with the area of life we are in.

Related Post: How To Strengthen Your Marriage With Love Notes

5. It Forces Us To Be More Intentional

Children changed our marriage for the better because overall we are just more intentional about everything! As I mentioned earlier, we are more intentional about our time together, our time spent with the Lord, and our conversations.

We are also more intentional about the difference we are making in this world. How we care and interact with others is definitely more of a focus!

None of this is easier with children, but it is certainly for the better! Again, it’s all about your perspective. How do you view children? As something that can challenge and equip you to become a better person? Or would you rather choose to selfishly keep doing what you are doing?

6. We Have New Perspectives On The World

Lastly, as parents, we view the world completely differently now that we have children. Suddenly, it’s not about us but it’s about them. How can equip them to live in this world and how can we change the world for the better?

And also, how can we set the best example for them and raise them well? Your perspective on the world will be a driving factor in how you raise your children!

Children can make life hard but they also make it so much more joyful! And they will cause you to work for your marriage! Being more consistent and intentional in your marriage won’t come easy but it is worth it.

They change you as a person in countless various ways, and they change your marriage for the better when you put in the hard work!

Children changed our marriage for the better. Do you agree? Let me know in the comments below!

The post 6 Incredible Ways Having Children Changed Our Marriage For The Better appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

If you’ve been told all the negative reasons to have a baby after marriage, then you are not alone. In our culture today having a baby right after marriage is usually frowned upon.

“You need time to get to know your spouse first.” “You’ll regret not having the freedom to travel and have more experiences while you’re young.” “Once you have children everything changes so soak it in while you can.”

All these things and more are often said to newlywed couples, and it breaks my heart. Why is having a baby right after marriage, whether it’s a honeymoon baby or in the first few years, looked down upon?

After marriage, the desire to have children is completely natural! In fact, children are only considered a blessing from the Lord in the Bible. Yet, today they are labeled as cumbersome, freedom-stealing, and just plain hard work.

There are certainly times and reasons when it makes sense to wait to have a baby after marriage. But, for the most part, we shouldn’t be discouraging others from pursuing the higher calling of parenthood.

Let’s dive in…

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Our Story

When my husband and I were first married we planned to wait to have children for a few years by using NFP (natural family planning). With prayer, we considered it wise to both continue working for some time, pay off our mortgage, and save money for our future goals.

It’s not wrong to want to start your parenting journey off on the right foot financially. However, our desire to have children grew quickly. We purchased two puppies on our honeymoon and quickly realized that even pets can’t fulfill the desire the Lord gives you for children.

Only seven months into marriage we became pregnant with our daughter. We were thrilled but also nervous because this now meant that we had trust God in a new way. We were pulled out of our perfect five-year plan and out of our comfort zone, and had to leave the future in God’s hands!

Now several years later, we look back and are so thankful the Lord blessed us with our children when He did! It has been incredible to have a baby after marriage and I can’t wait to share all those benefits with you below.

But it all boils down to your perspective and your heart’s motive. Do you view children as a blessing, especially when you have a baby after marriage? Do you trust that God is sovereign to provide in any season of life? Or do you selfishly want to keep enjoying life as you intend, and a baby will only get in the way of that?

Related Post: 6 Powerful Reasons To Pray For Your Future Children

1. No Need To Reorder Your Life Later

Waiting several years to have a baby after marriage means that you will have to completely reorder your life when it arrives. And yes, at any point having a baby will cause change. But, when you have a baby after marriage you will avoid more of that change in the future.

After we found out we were pregnant only a few months after marriage, we took a leap of faith and purchased 80 acres to begin homesteading. Moving right after she was born was crazy, but it allowed us to establish our dream life right from the start!

We didn’t have to uproot everything because we were already newlyweds working our setting up our lives together. Now that we were married and going to have a baby after marriage, we could start investing in every area of our lives without worrying about it changing one day when we decided to start a family.

Related Post: What Is The Best Genuine Christian Advice For Newlywed Couples Today?

2. Grow Together As A Couple

So many people told us to wait to have children so we could grow together as a couple first. I completely disagree with this statement. You don’t need time to grow together before you have children when you can do that while you have children!

In fact, having children has only made us stronger as a couple because of all the conversations it has brought up. It causes you to start thinking about discipline, schooling, community, and so much more!

Before we had children, we were both still living our separate lives in a way. We would both go to our day job to come home and only crash at night. We also didn’t have much more freedom to travel or go to events than we do now post-children.

Now we just take the children along now with us with everything we do! It makes it so fun to all be together as a family! Our children have truly brought us so much joy.

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3. Peak Fertility Years

When you are younger, especially in your 20’s, you are in your peak fertility years. It is easier to have children! From conception to staying active during pregnancy, to having the energy to keep up with your toddlers, it is easier the younger you are.

As you get older, having children can wear on you more. It’s just a fact of life. Why not give your children the best of you while you are young?!

Related Post: 6 Extraordinary Benefits To Natural Hormone-Free Birth Control

4. Have An Accurate Budget From The Beginning

When you have children, your budget changes. While children aren’t extremely expensive when you don’t mind second-hand items, the expenses can still add up at times.

If you have a baby after marriage, you can start understanding what your actual financial needs are from the very beginning. It gives you the opportunity to trust God with your finances more too!

Like us, so many people don’t want to have a baby after marriage because of their financial state. There is wisdom in that, but also, our perspective needs to change. We are considered rich to the rest of the world in our Western culture! We have more than we could ever need in a lot of ways and are extremely blessed.

With creativity, almost everyone can find a way for a baby to financially work for their family! Even if you are becoming a stay-at-home mom immediately like I was, just downsizing your lifestyle in various ways makes it easy to financially have a child!

Related Post: Can You Become A One Income Family? Here’s How We Survive and Thrive!

5. Enjoy The Blessings Immediately

I can’t tell you how much joy our children bring us. It is so fun to experience the world through their eyes. We love teaching them new things every day and spending time with them!

Children are not easy all the time, but those kisses before bed or “Mommy I love you” throughout the day make it all worth it! Now that we are on the other side of it, I totally understand why having children is such a blessing.

Don’t let the negative comments about children keep you from experiencing these incredible moments as a parent yourself!

6. Enjoy The Time With Your Spouse Before Grandchildren

So often people want to use the years of their youth for selfish reasons. They want to travel or go to concerts or focus on their schooling and career before having children. But, do those things really last? Of course not.

Nothing is more significant and valuable than the higher calling of being a parent!

Instead of spending the years of your youth on selfish endeavors, spend them on your family! Your spouse and your children are the relationships that will truly matter for the rest of your life. Family is worth investing in and not worth putting off for years and years.

Instead, realize that when your children move out of the house and you wait for grandchildren to arrive, you can enjoy those years with your spouse! You can travel together, soak in all the memories you’ve made, and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

I hope these reasons to quickly have a baby after marriage were encouraging to you! Let me know, do you agree with me? Leave a comment below.

The post 6 Encouraging Reasons To Quickly Have A Baby After Marriage appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

I used to drink multiple cups of coffee every single day. However, now I choose to drink caffeine-free chai teas instead!

When I became pregnant with my first child, I knew I had to wean myself from three or more cups of coffee a day. It wasn’t safe for my baby, and it was high time I made this change in my life.

Weaning off my coffee addiction was certainly not easy. I suffered from massive headaches, lack of energy, and just plain not feeling great. At that moment I knew I never wanted to go through this again.

I also knew that I didn’t want to rely on caffeine to live my life. At this point in my life, if I didn’t get my morning and afternoon coffee in I was almost entirely unable to function. And while small amounts of caffeine can arguably be good and healthy, I just wanted to get rid of it completely. Coffee controlled my life and I never wanted to give it that authority again.

Now as a mom of two, I still haven’t picked up a coffee since that day, and I’m not sure if I ever will again. For now, I choose to avoid all coffee and caffeine and look for wonderful alternatives instead.

Let me share some of my favorites with you…

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Caffeine Alternatives

Some of my favorite caffeine alternatives, in terms of drinks, are fruit-infused water, sparkling flavored water, homemade cider, homemade hot chocolate (see below), warm milk, and all sorts of caffeine-free teas.

Especially during our long winter months, I would much rather drink warm tea than water. But most caffeine-free teas are herbal or fruity, and I was craving a chai tea.

I started searching to see if there was such a thing as caffeine-free chai teas. I knew that most chai teas were made out of black tea and had a high level of caffeine. But after some hunting, I came across several options online and narrowed down my top three.

If you are also looking to eliminate, or just limit, your caffeine level, consider drinking these chai teas instead. They are caffeine free, delicious, and have great ingredients.

I have them listed below in order of least favorite, to most favorite, but I do drink each of these brands regularly, especially in the winter.

1. Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea, Bengal Spice, Caffeine Free

Compared to most chai teas, this definitely has the most spice kick and flavor. It almost borders on “too spicy” for me, but I’m pretty weak when it comes to spice.

The ingredients include Cinnamon, Roasted Chicory, Roasted Carob, Natural Spice, and Vanilla Flavors With Other Natural Flavors, Ginger, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Cloves, and Nutmeg.

I love the amount of flavor you get when you drink this caffeine-free chai tea, but I do wish it didn’t include so many natural flavors. Instead, I hope the brand switches to using the flavors in their original form.

This chai tea also does not come individually packaged so it is a bit more difficult to take on the go.

Out of all the caffeine-free chai teas, this one is spicy, warming, and certainly cozy. I suggest adding some milk and using a frother like this for a great experience.

Buy it on Amazon here!

2. Stash Tea, Spice Dragon Chai Tea, Naturally Caffeine Free

The flavor in this chai tea is such a subtle balance. It is not too spicy but still has a great amount of flavor. The ingredients are simple, only Cinnamon, Rooibos, Ginger Root, and Clove.

I can drink multiple cups of this tea in a row without getting sick of it or feeling like it’s overwhelming.

Stash actually has several different versions of chai tea available, but most of them are full of caffeine. One thing I wish Stash did was make all their teas certified organic. This one is not, but it is GMO-Project Verified.

Buy it on Amazon here!

3. Numi Organic Tea Rooibos Chai, Herbal Teasan, Caffeine Free

Of all the caffeine-free chai teas this one is my favorite for several reasons. I love that it is certified organic; made with biodegradable, unbleached, non-GMO Manila hemp fiber tea bags instead of plastic; verified fair labor organic rooibos; and from a company that works ethically with small farms.

It makes a delicious chia tea latte when I little milk is added and then frothed up. The ingredients are Fair Trade CertifiedTM organic Rooibos, organic Cloves, organic Allspice, organic Ginger, organic Nutmeg, Organic Cinnamon, and organic Cardamom.

It is certainly a healthy alternative to my daily coffee!

Buy it on Amazon here!

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Homemade Diary-Free Hot Chocolate

I also wanted to share my favorite homemade hot chocolate recipe this winter season. It actually comes off of the back of the Native Forest Coconut Milk Powder package.

Buy it on Amazon here!

I doubled the recipe and added maple syrup to sweeten it as well.

First, place two cups of water in a pot on the stove and heat until it is close to a boil. Then add two tablespoons of this organic cocoa powder and six tablespoons of the coconut milk powder. Then use a frother like this to mix it all together.

Add as much maple syrup as you would like to sweeten it and some homemade marshmallow fluff, the recipe is included below.

Enjoy! It is so delicious, and while it’s not one of the caffeine-free chair teas, I couldn’t help but share.

Related Post: How To Make Homemade Split Pea Milk In The Instant Pot

Homemade Healthy Dairy-Free Marshmallow Fluff

I learned this recipe from ThreeRiversHomestead on Instagram. First, combine one cup of warm water with three tablespoons of gelatin. Thoroughly mix it and let it sit for a minute or two.

Then add one cup of honey and whip it in a mixer of any kind. It will begin turning white in color and turning to marshmallow texture. That’s when you know it is done. You can also add in vanilla or peppermint extract near the end!

It has been so tasty to top my caffeine-free chai tea lattes or homemade hot chocolate with it!

I hope you enjoy these caffeine-free chai teas and let me know in the comments below what your favorite winter drink is!

The post 3 Caffeine Free Chai Teas You Need To Try Plus A Hot Chocolate Recipe appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

Ever since I started my journey with Natural Family Planning, I have become extremely passionate about natural hormone-free birth control!

Before I was engaged and considering the options for preventing pregnancy, I thought there was only one option for birth control: the pill.

The hormone pill was the only contraceptive I had heard talked about. I had never even heard of Natural Family Planning or, in fact, any natural method to prevent pregnancy!

But I can’t share that whole story again, because it’s already up on my blog here: How To Easily Prevent Pregnancy Without Birth Control

Once you’re done with that post, come back here and check out why natural hormone-free birth control has so many benefits and may be the best option for you!

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1. Understand Your Body

I have never been more in tune with my body than when I started with natural hormone-free birth control.

I have been using the Ava bracelet to track my cycle for almost a year now and it’s amazing the warning signs our body gives us when we just listen to it!

When you track your cycle, you understand the rhythms your body goes through. Here’s a quick summary.

Your cycle begins on the first day of your period. Typically periods last for a few days. Then your body enters the follicular phase, which lasts for 7-10 days. Then your body will go through ovulation, where you create an egg. Lastly, you enter and complete the luteal phase until you reach around 28 days.

When you get your period again, that marks the end of your current cycle and the start of a new one.

If you track your menstrual cycle, you can anticipate and prepare for each of these stages of your cycle!

For example, I always track my cycle with my Ava bracelet and a period app so that I know when I will be in the PMS stage and can warn my husband of my mood swings. (;

Basically, instead of my emotions simply overcoming me, I can anticipate them. I know that on certain days of my cycle I am moodier than others.

Besides my mood, I also track what is discharging from my vagina. I once heard a story of a woman that tracked her cycle and found out she was bleeding just a few days after ovulation. She knew this was way too soon for her period and so she contacted her doctor. Turns out, she had a rare internal disease that she was able to detect before anyone would have ever known and it saved her life!

It is vital that we are aware of our cervical fluid rhythms and patterns so we can detect and notice any warning signs our body may be giving us. In fact, I love this article from Ava that talks about the importance of tracking our body’s cycle.

You can also track different symptoms your body has throughout your cycle. Do your breasts become tender three days before your period? Do you feel tired a few days after your period? Well, when you track your cycle you will start to notice helpful trends like this.

Even if you just want to begin tracking in a journal, here are some things you should begin to take note of each day:

Mood – Angry? Anxious? Aroused? Content? Disinterested? Energized? Exhausted? Happy? Irritable? Sad? Sensitive? Stressed? Tired?

Cervical Fluid – Sticky? Egg white? Watery? Creamy?

Body – Breast tenderness? Back pain? Dizziness? Headache? Migraine? Skin Impurities? Nausea? Bloating? Constipation? Cravings? Diarrhea? Stomachache? Cramps? Ovulation pain? Painful intercourse?

When you start tracking your menstrual cycle, the trends you begin to see provide you with wisdom on how to best take care of your body. Only you know what is best for your body.

One day you may become ill and have to go to the hospital. Without history or knowledge of your body’s cycles over the months and years, your doctor will have less information to help you. You help others help you by keeping an accurate record of your body’s cycle.

It is your responsibility to know your cycle to take care of yourself!

As women, it is our responsibility to track our menstrual cycle to better understand the patterns and rhythms of our bodies.
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2. Learn Your Cycle

As we’ve already determined, you understand your body by tracking your cycle. But how do you begin to study and learn your cycle? How do you identify patterns and trends that you need to be aware of?

It takes intentionality. You have to want to learn about your body as a woman. You need the desire to understand the intricate design that God created as a part of your body.

First, find a free app on your phone or start a journal. Begin tracking the three categories I discussed above: mood, cervical fluid, and body.

Do this for three months.

Second, examine those three months. Did anything occur around the same time each month? Did you always feel moody at that same time? What is discharged during each section of each month?

It’s important to note that you can’t be a perfectionist here. Your cycle changes slightly from month to month. This is because the people you are around change, your diet changes, and your exercise routines likely change. Also, stress levels and just life happening can cause your cycle to fluctuate!

No one has a cycle that is exactly the same every month, so examine what is similar around the same time each month. Did you find anything eye-opening?

Your assignment today is to take the time to really learn about your body. Natural hormone-free birth control requires you to know the patterns of your body.

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3. Get Rid Of Side Effects

Although I have personally never taken the birth control pill, I have been horrified by the numerous testimonies I have heard from friends and family that have experienced side effects from the hormone pill.

According to Healthline, the effects of the birth control pill include a change in weight, change in mood, change in sexual drive, bloating, yeast infections, the chance of cancer and so much more.

I just have to ask, is it really worth it?

But, I also know that not everyone experiences these side effects. I have heard from several people on the opposite side of the spectrum as well. They use the pill and have few side effects.

Ultimately, you do have to find what works best for you and your situation. However, I beg you to consider natural hormone-free birth control first before messing with the natural rhythms and hormones of your body. They may never return back to normal again if you take the pill!

The simple solution to preventing pregnancy is to abstain from sex the days that you can get, which is typically days 8-19 for most people in their cycles. This is sometimes called the Calendar method, or Natural Family Planning.

Abstaining from sex has no internal side effects. It does require some self-control, sacrifice, and open communication but it in a way harms your body.

When you leave your body in its natural state, it’s amazing what you can do to care for it and cultivate it. Check out this article on why anything that is not natural only works against your body.

When you take the pill, you pump hormones and chemicals into your body that are not meant to be there. In fact, it fights against your body to prevent you from having a baby!

However, Natural Family Planning works with your body! It works alongside your natural rhythms so that you can stay healthy and naturally support your body as it was created to be. I can attest to that myself.

4. Prepare For Marriage

I am so grateful I learned about natural hormone-free birth control when I was engaged because it helped me prepare for marriage quickly and easily.

Instead of spending time and money on costly birth control pills, I was able to spend my engagement season having open communication with my husband about the knowledge I had about my cycle. It slowly started to unify us, even before we had even kissed.

We were able to learn about Natural Family Planning together. It required my husband to learn about me on a deeper level than would have otherwise been discussed.

From the other perspective, I have noticed that the pill allows the husband to have a more off-hand approach. He doesn’t have to know about his wife’s cycle in as much detail as sex can happen at any time it is desired.

This quote in an article I stumbled upon stood out to me. “NFP helps strengthen marital relationships. On the most basic level, since the spouses are not constantly sexually available to the other, it keeps them from taking the other for granted. Often women rightly complain that the use of contraception has lowered their sense of worth.”

But for us, my husband is actively aware of what day I am on in my cycle. He knows that I am approaching my PMS time and can show me more grace than usual. He knows why I am randomly crying or extra sensitive. My husband knows the pain I am having during ovulation or my period because he can come to anticipate and expect it.

Actually, my cycle gives my husband the chance to be a better husband. By anticipating my mood swings he can prepare for the right words and actions. And he knows why I am saying or doing certain things. He’s not left in the dark.

In marriage, Natural Family Planning requires the partnership between a husband and a wife to be open communication. We regularly communicate about where I am on my cycle and plan for our period of abstinence. I love how well this blog breaks the benefits down.

With NFP, we have a shared responsibility in understanding my fertility and it is a joy to do it together!

5. Plan For Pregnancy

But, even beyond all those reasons to avoid hormonal birth control, natural hormone-free birth control helps you prepare for children extremely easily.

If you are taking the pill to prevent pregnancy, you have to stop taking the pill and wait for the effects it flushes out of your system. Basically, you have to let your body get back into its natural rhythm once again. This could take several months and there’s no clear way to know when you can try for a baby because everything is out of wack.

However, with Natural Family Planning, you can start trying for a baby immediately. If you and your spouse decide you are ready to have a baby, then you can simply have sex during your fertile window (days 8-19 typically of your cycle) instead of abstaining.

In fact, with NFP, a natural hormone-free birth control, you can plan the exact day you have a baby. You can know the day you conceive and start planning for your future.

Natural hormone-free birth control could potentially also lead to a safer and easier pregnancy because there are no synthetic hormones in your body.

There are so many benefits to allowing your body to stay in its natural form, but if this still isn’t enough to convince you I would encourage you to dive deeper into your own research to see what works best for you and your situation.

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6. Promote A Healthy Lifestyle

Lastly, like anything natural, natural hormone-free birth control promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Just like essential oils are a natural way to support your body – from respiratory support to hormone support to digestive support – there is a natural way to prevent pregnancy.

To live a healthy lifestyle, you can’t pick and choose. Your body can’t be supported halfway to have full results.

You may not want to participate in natural hormone-free birth control because you see abstaining from sex as a negative thing. You might view it as a loss of freedom or have fear of missing out.

From my personal experience, a healthy lifestyle requires an attitude change.

A healthy lifestyle requires an attitude change.
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You can’t start a journey to a healthier life without making natural choices for your whole body. If you are eating healthy, working out, and participating in emotionally stimulating activities, but yet pop a pill every morning full of synthetic hormones that are not natural to the body, it’s time to take the time to consider the alternative method.

Ultimately, natural hormone-free birth control through Natural Family Planning is what has worked best for me and my husband. It is up to you and your husband to make the best choice possible for you.

I pray that this information encourages you to consider both options as you make a wise decision on how to prevent pregnancy.

Questions? Think of something I missed? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! I would love to discuss this topic with you further.

The post 6 Extraordinary Benefits To Natural Hormone-Free Birth Control appeared first on GoodPointGrandma.

If you’re here to set up an Amazon Baby Registry then I am so excited for you! Congrats!! You are about to welcome a brand new life into the world and that is an amazing feeling!

Setting up your baby registry on Amazon is one of the best decisions you will make because it is easy, convenient, and has the largest selection, meaning you will get everything you need to enter this new season of life.

And, I mean, you know everyone’s going to look on Amazon for your items anyways. (;

One of the biggest benefits of an Amazon Baby Registry is that you get easy returns and exchanges. We all change our minds from time to time and Amazon makes it easy to get exactly what you want. But, on the registry, you can 35-day returns! That is unreal.

The Amazon Baby Registry also offers the largest selection of products. You can manage the registry on the go with the mobile app and easily add products as you think of them with the Amazon Assistant.

Also, get a one-time 10% discount (15% discount for Prime members) when you select the remaining items on your registry that weren’t purchased for you by friends and family.

Another absolutely amazing feature (that I just found out about!) is that you get a free welcome box valued at up to $35! You just have to have $10 of purchases as a Prime member. How sweet and thoughtful!

One last benefit I have to share is the option to contribute any amount to a gift! Let’s say you have a new crib in the registry. Your friends and family can pitch in and you can still receive a high-ticket item as a gift.

Ok, now that you are done hearing about all the benefits of the Amazon Baby Registry, let’s talk about the steps to take to get it set up correctly, efficiently, and effectively!

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HOW TO CREATE THE BEST AMAZON BABY REGISTRY

The first thing to do is click this link or find your way over to www.amazon.com and search for “baby registry” in the search bar. You’ll see this page:

Click: “Create a new Baby Registry” and begin filling in your information.

If you are skeptical about putting in all your information, I would encourage you to enter as much as you feel comfortable but don’t hold back too much.

The more information you provide Amazon, the easier it will be for them to tailor the correct products for you.

I would suggest also making your registry public so that it easy to find and access (and perhaps more gifts for you!).

Make sure you have the box “Allow my gifts to be shipped to my address from all sellers.” is selected. That way, your gifts can arrive right at your doorstep. It truly is hassle-free!

I also suggest connecting your registry with Bump.com so that you can connect all your baby items together. I don’t really see a reason not to do this.

Other moms will be familiar with this website and will be able to relate to your needs and desires when they see the items on your baby registry.

This is just another way of making it easier for guests to purchase the items you want them to purchase. Don’t get stuck with a bunch of gifts you didn’t even ask for.

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If you are thinking about signing up for Amazon Prime now is the time to do it! Amazon Prime is simply a yearly subscription program. When you sign up for it now with your baby registry you will receive some huge benefits from it.

Amazon Prime offers fast, free 1 or 2-day shipping on millions of products along with access to exclusive deals, shows, movies, songs, and more. You can check out more information here.

Then just click submit and you are ready to go!

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WHAT TO ADD TO YOUR AMAZON BABY REGISTRY

Now the fun begins! It is time to start adding items to your registry…

Here’s a big secret/hack that I learned when I was getting started with Amazon registries: don’t just shop big-ticket and popular items.

While Amazon has a great checklist for you to follow and will feature its best-selling products for you, most of these are not universal when it comes to a baby registry.

Here’s the thing, each mother is different and has a different preference. By simply getting the featured items, you are failing to select gifts that will bring the biggest blessing to your family, especially yourself and your newborn.

Do your research. Which items best fit your needs? Only add the item to your registry once it passes the test of aligning with your needs and lifestyle. Just because it is purchased a great deal and is a popular item does not necessarily mean it will work for you.

One fatal mistake I have seen time and time again is mothers going crazy, desperate to get all the things they need, that they fall into temptation. They add things to their registry they don’t even end up using or things that don’t make sense of the season of the life they are about to enter.

While it’s good to think ahead to the future, nothing is guaranteed. Put things on your registry that are necessary for the immediate future.

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To create the best Amazon Baby Registry in the world let’s begin with big-ticket items that are harder to afford. Be sure you consider all the factors necessary for each one before adding to the registry and that you do your own research.

Only add items to the registry that you are sure will fill your great needs. You can always make changes and add other items that are not as necessary later.

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Here are some great Amazon Baby Registry big-ticket items to consider:

Car Seat: Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat

Travel System: Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Travel System, Millennium White

Playard: Regalo My Play Portable Play Yard Indoor and Outdoor, Bonus Kit, Includes Carry Case, Washable, Aqua, 6-Panel

Carrier: Ergobaby Carrier, Omni 360 All Carry Positions Baby Carrier, Pearl Grey

Stroller: Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Stroller, Phantom, 50 Pounds

Crib:  Dream On Me Chelsea 7-in-1 Convertible Crib, Storm Grey

Mattress: Dream On Me 2-in-1 Breathable Sweet Dreams 88 Coil Spring Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress, 6 Inch

Changing Table: Delta Children Eclipse Changing Table with Changing Pad, Black Cherry

Rocking Chair:  Windsor Glider and Ottoman, White with Gray Cushion

Baby Monitor: Baby Monitor with Remote Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera and 3.2” LCD Screen, Infrared Night Vision

Feeding Pillow: Boppy Best Latch Breastfeeding Pillow, Gray Penny Dot

Booster Seat: Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1 Harness Booster Seat, Proof

High Chair: Ingenuity SmartClean Trio Elite 3-in-1 High Chair – Slate – High Chair, Toddler Chair, Booster

Baby Gate: Summer Infant Multi-Use Deco Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate, Bronze (28.5 – 48 Inch)

Humidifier: FridaBaby 3-in-1 Humidifier with Diffuser and Nightlight by Frida Baby, White

Play Mat: Bammax Play Mat, Folding Mat Baby Crawling Mat Kids Playmat Waterproof Non Toxic for Babies, Infants, Toddlers, 70″ x 77.5″ x 0.6″

Bottle Sterilizer: Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Sterilizer

Portable Changing Pad:  Skip Hop Pronto Signature Portable Changing Mat, Cushioned Diaper Changing Pad with Built-in Pillow, Black Stripe

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Here are some smaller, but just as necessary items to add to your registry!

Bedding: Baby Crib Bedding Sets for Boys and Girls — 4 Piece Set Includes Crib Sheet, Quilted Blanket, Crib Skirt and Baby Pillowcase — Bamboo Design in Grey

Bath Tub: Angelcare Baby Bath Support, Grey

Bottle-Feeding: Medela Breastfeeding Gift Set, Breast Milk Storage System; Bottles, Nipples, Travel Caps, Breastmilk Storage Bags and More, Made Without BPA

Pacifiers: Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, Green – 6 Pack

Nursing Carrier: Nalakai Luxury Ring Sling Baby Carrier – Extra-Soft Bamboo and Linen Fabric – Lightweight wrap – for Newborns, Infants and Toddlers – Perfect Baby Shower Gift – Nursing Cover (Sage Green)

Breast Pump: Haakaa Manual Breast Pump 4oz/100ml,2019 New Style

Birth Clothes: Little Me Unisex Baby 2 Piece Footie and Cap, Welcome World, White, Preemie

Diapers: Amazon Brand – Mama Bear Gentle Touch Diapers, Hypoallergenic, Size 1, 49 Count

Cloth Diapers: Gerber Birdseye 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers, White, 10 Count

Clothing for You: Ekouaer Birthing Gown for Women O Neck Nursing Short Sleep Dress(Black,XXL)

Lotion: Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment – Advanced Therapy for Diaper Rash, Chapped Cheeks and Minor Scrapes – 14. oz Jar

Toys:  iPlay, iLearn 10pcs Baby Rattles Teether, Shaker, Grab and Spin Rattle, Musical Toy Set, Early Educational Toys for 3, 6, 9, 12 Month Baby Infant, Newborn

Diaper Pail: Dekor Classic Hands-Free Diaper Pail | White | Easiest to Use | Just Step – Drop – Done | Doesn’t Absorb Odors | 20 Second Bag Change | Most Economical Refill System

Bottle Dishwasher Basket:  Dr. Brown’s Options Dishwasher Basket for Standard Baby Bottle Parts

Nursing Pillow: Boppy Original Nursing Pillow and Positioner, Notebook Black and Gold, Cotton Blend Fabric with allover fashion

Breast Milk Storage Bags: Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags, 100 count

Breastfeeding Nipple Pads: Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads for Breastfeeding, 200 count

Car Shades: Munchkin Brica Sun Safety Car Window Shade with Heat Alert, Helps Block UVA/UVB Rays, 2 Pack, Black

Remember, don’t put items on your registry that you will regret! Do the research, take your time, and happy shopping!

Let me know in the comments below what items you put on your Amazon Baby Registry!

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