We believe motherhood starts at conception. We know there are some mothers who have had unfulfilled pregnancies. We know unfulfilled pregnancies were either from choice and were not by choice. Our hearts are open to your story today. We LOVE you and our virtual arms are giving you a ((HUG)). We at Pregnant in Minnesota know personally it isn't easy navigating this grief of unfulfilled pregnancies.  If you would like to share your story with us, please send us an email at pregnantinmn@gmail.com. 

For ALL mothers, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY from us to you. ​If you would like to share your story with us, please send us an email at pregnantinmn@gmail.com

You have been anticipating this day and dreaming about it since you were a little girl. Pregnancy. Today you woke up to hear more about the pandemic across the entire globe, you feel your belly and you breathe deeply, but anxiety and fear are knocking. Peace Power Mama. 

1. Power for Peace: Life is growing inside of you and your ability to go deep and KNOW you have the power physically, emotionally and spiritually to stay in peace will provide health to both you and the baby. Limit your time watching the news. Increase your time with healthy options that allow you to feel calm and encouraged. Limit your interactions with people who speak to your fears, but find the people who encourage you with wisdom and guidance. Remember your breathe is powerful. Take a deep breathe.

2. Power for Connection: Connection is still in your power. The limits of direct contact during your pregnancy and birth wasn't in your birth plan, but today is the day to find a doula or someone who you can connect with online about your hopes and dreams. A doula has been known for being supportive during birth, but even more important they are an advocate and knowledge resource for you during your pregnancy. A doula will listen to you and assist you to navigate decisions for your pregnancy and birth during the pandemic. Even with limited internet capacity, a phone call is a power connection between two people.
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3. Power for Decisions: You feel emotionally exhausted and your hormones are crazy, how could anyone expect you to make decisions with the looming pandemic? When you focus your mind on your baby and only the decisions that you need to make today, you can do this. Create a mindset that sees a healthy baby, a strong mama and a supportive family. Don't loose sight of your vision and dreams and continue to be creative in your decision-making to accomplish the same outcome you had before the pandemic. You've got this!

4. Power for Happiness:  We can hear you and see your rolling eyes as your read this statement Power for Happiness. Happiness may seem unrealistic in the season of uncertainty but you can choose to be happy. Surf Babyli.st to see all the cute baby products and allow your senses to experience happiness. What makes you happy? Flowers? Writing in a journal? Taking photos? Baking? Coloring? Knitting? Talking to your best friend? Choose these happy actions and you and your baby will feel happiness. 

5. Power for Life: Live day-by-day. You have what you need to get through today. Even before the pandemic, our futures were unknown but we lived life to the fullest, taking in opportunities and possibly some risk. The opportunities and risks are different today than they were two weeks ago. Some of you are experiencing change of employment, knowing someone who has COVID-19, fear of contracting the virus, broken relationships and lack of toilet paper. We (the writer of this blog) are also walking day-by-day through this historic pandemic where there are no instructions. We are in this together and will get through it. 

Reach out to us because we love and care for you. Let us know what we can do to encourage you at pregnantinmn@gmail.com.

1. Have the kids make her a valentine.
There is nothing that brings tender tears to a mom's eye than to receive a handmade card from a child. From the youngest scribble to a teenager's two word poem, it doesn't have to be fancy. You also don't need a lot of supplies, use what you have and get creative. A piece of paper can be folded and then cut to be a heart. With a pencil you can trace a small hand and then have the child color it. Show us what you come up with.

2. Arrive with a smile ready to help with something.
No matter who you are, if you are going to be visiting a mom. Put on your biggest smile and genuinely find an opportunity to help. You are bringing energy of support and a smile is contagious. Let us know how you have helped a mom.

3. Know a product she loves and buy it for her.
If you have a special mom in your life, watch around for her favorite products. Many moms have a favorite purse brand, food item, lotion products and/or clothing. If you don't know, you can always give a gift card for a service like a manicure, pedicure or massage. What are the favorite products of moms?

4. Make her a valentine card.
Adults being creative making a card can be one of the most heart-warming gifts to receive. It doesn't have to be Picasso. Add a nice note that conveys how they make you feel and how appreciative you are for them. If you do this, let us know.

5. Discuss a plan to give her an outing with you. 
Moms need a break and sometimes this isn't easy to coordinate. Give her time to plan out an opportunity to take a day and/or evening off for some love and relaxation. Let her decide what she would like to do. Many of us don't realize how hard it can be when you are nursing and/or the CEO of a home to get away. Be patient and kind. Show us a photo of you and a mom out having fun.

Happy Valentine's Day to all the families! 

Where do you live?
Chaska, Minnesota

How many children do you have?
Two girls (4 & 1 years old)

How old were you when you first became a mom?
22 years old

What has been the best thing about being a mom?
Watching them get really excited when they understand something they are being taught. 

What has been the hardest thing about being a mom? 
How have you overcome or worked through it?
Probably, trying not to get overwhelmed with everyone’s opinions on parenting and trusting my mom instinct to do what is right for our family in the season of life that we are in. 

Tell us why you want to be featured on our site?
What makes you or your family different from others?
I would like to be featured because I believe there is much insight that I could offer as a Hispanic mother. Our family is different from others because we are an interracial family. I believe that many families that are like ours would benefit from our experiences. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us that we should know about?
Please list any organizations/website or fundraisers here.
I am a breastfeeding counselor as well and like to inform women on breastfeeding and like to empower them to reach their breastfeeding goals. 


Would you like to be featured on a Mommy Mondays and share your story and wisdom? - Register HERE.

Last night as I stepped up to pay for my groceries and saw the customer ahead of me was a mom. The cashier had the manager looking at her receipt and notifying her she had purchased the incorrect milk for her WIC voucher. She was getting ready to put everything back and get the correct milk when out of my mouth came "I can pay for it." and before I knew it the transaction was done on my credit card. She looked at me and said "You didn't have to do this.". I responded "Yes, I did. I've been where you are at.".

There were two thoughts that I had from this experience as I drove home.

1. How many of us are willing to help out a mom? Do we judge or think, yes I remember those days, bummer for you? Step up and commit to helping a mom. Kindness has many forms of currency.

2. Do people know that even though right now I can purchase the food I want to eat, there was a day as a single mom I didn't have those options? We don't know where people have come from or where they are going. Lets commit to stop shaming and judging moms.

Share your stories and let us see kindness in action. 

We have all been there, you are invited to a baby shower and are now trying to decide to shop for a gift off the big box store registry or purchase something else. Today we are encouraging you to shop local for the baby shower gifts. Here are a few recommendations.

Do you know a quilter or knitter? They may be willing to do something on commission for you OR possibly they have an inventory they would have you look through to purchase. Baby blankets will never go out-of-style. Many kids carry around their favorite blankets that were handmade with LOVE.

Families with newborns sometimes would like to have help with cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, babysitting, yardwork or other non-material items. We really love the Babyli.st app. Babylist allows new moms to add non-material items to their registry. Get creative and make up some coupons for your baby shower gift. 

Give a gift certificate to a professional photographer or a gift certificate to purchase photography prints and/or frames. These images are priceless! 

Pregnant in Minnesota has local maternity products and services to make sure you have the best baby shower gift for your special expecting family. If you don't see your favorite maternity or baby business, please let them know to request their FREE Birth Business listing. 

Dear Friends,
I am writing to you as we reflect on the past year, as well as the past 2 decades.

Do you remember what the turn of the century was like 20 years ago? I know I do!  When 2000 hit people started talking about what the 20's that would be like.  Never in a million years would I have guessed life would turn out this way.

The past 2 decades and the past year, has had many ups and downs for all of us but - we are here.  We have done so much, and have much more to look forward to!

In the New Year, I look forward to learning new skills, tackling new business opportunities and spending much more time with my family.

Being a work from home mother who is constantly online, I try my best to separate my work life and home life.  It can get hard at times but it is so worth it.  I know both Faith & I have been spending much more time with family and friends because what is more important in life than loved ones?  We all get into the hustle and bustle of working day in and day out.  Don't forget to nourish other aspects of your life as well.  You will not regret it.

I challenge you all to set one day/night a week to do something special with family.  For us, each Saturday we have a very big brunch as we lounge around the house in the morning.  We don't rush to do things and let the kids chill out as well.  It is a great time to regroup and decompress after a long week of work, school and daycare for the kids.

So, as we look forward to the coming year - We wish you and yours all the best!

What are some things you look forward to in 2020?

Happy New Year!
​Amanda & Faith

Dear Yule Mama:

We see you and you have pulled it off! All the shopping, decorating, laundry, pumping, unexpected guests, parties, sick kids, nursing, cravings, clothes that don't fit, baking, late night bottle feedings, canceled date night, children performances, meal preparations, diaper changes and the list never ends. Let the list be a blur TODAY.

We know you can get lonely. We know there are disappointments. We know there are situations you don't know how to navigate. We are writing this letter to you. Let the worries be a blur TODAY.

Enjoy TODAY. Give extra hugs and keep smiling because you are loved at Pregnant in Minnesota.

Love,
Faith (and Amanda), Yule Mamas

This week I would like to take the opportunity to write about being a ‘mompreneur’.  By unofficial definition MOMPRENEUR is a neologism defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur (Wikipedia).

However, being a mompreneur is so much more than being just a mom or just an entrepreneur.  Being a mompreneur will break you down both mentally and physically. Mompreneurs are the strongest women I know.  They do it all. Work 24/7 in their home life AND their business life. Finding the life balance is extremely difficult to master (but can be done).

Pregnant in Minnesota is dedicated to supporting families in connecting with local businesses and services (especially for mompreneurs).

So, for this holiday season, I wanted to shed light on the extreme gratitude mompreneurs and other local/small business owners have when you buy or shop locally.

I have been a small business owner for the past 5 years and it is NOT easy.  In that time I have failed many many many times. I have lost money, wasted time and run myself ragged.  It is a daily struggle of making the right business choices. It is an entirely new ball game when you add kids or a family into the mix.

Most people think that small business owners have a lot of money or are privileged because they get to be their own boss or work from home.  These things are simply not true.

We are NOT made of excess money and the luxury of working from home, being your own boss is a catch 22.  We are directly responsible for EVERY aspect of a business. We are the faces and voices of a company. Many times, mompreneurs are a one woman show.  We wear many hats - from accounting to marketing and customer service - we do it all.

Most jobs you leave for work, and are there from 8-5.  Then go home without work following you. When you work from home or are your own boss, you are on call or on the clock 24/7.  Even though my work hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am-3:30pm I still get phone calls, texts and even Facebook messages all hours of the day & night.  Emails, I strictly do not check unless it is during my business hours.

I have done my best to separate my home and work life despite being a one woman show.  For other mompreneurs here is what has worked for me to “to it all”

Mompreneur Hacks

1. Have a set work schedule - my personal work schedule is during the week Monday through Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm before I have to pick up my son from daycare.  I RARELY schedule any phone or in person meetings outside these hours. I have created this work schedule to work best FOR ME.
   
2. Keep Family Time Outside of Work Hours - my husband works outside the home from 8am to 4pm and is back by 4:30 every day.  I do not work past this time because personal relationships will take a toll if you do not make sure to set time aside to be with the ones you love.  My children deserve 100% of my attention when they are not at school or daycare but so does my husband. We talk about our days, play with the kids and take care of regular household needs TOGETHER.  It is quality time that I do not want to miss out on.
   
3. Routine is KEY - routine for both your work and home life are essential to keeping it all together and having the physical/mental capability to do it all.  Obviously there are going to be some shift in your day BUT having a general routine will help keep you on task. For example, I completed X tasks on M,W,F for work and for my home life I run the dishwasher every other day but only do laundry Sundays & Thursdays each week.  Simple and short routine patterns can make a world of a difference.
   

Circling back to gratitude - mompreneurs are extremely grateful for each and every purchase made.  Every time you buy local or support small business you are literally helping parents keep the lights on, buy school supplies and supporting a child's sports dream.  There is also so much gratitude from small business owners who have customers that understand we are also parents, and have families to take care of. We appreciate the boundaries those clients/customers respect.  That is why I provided the 3 hacks above.  

If you are a business owner OR a customer of small business, remind the mompreneurs in your life to follow these 3 hacks so they have the ability to keep “doing it all”.

Be a gift to the families in your community this holiday season by supporting your local mompreneurs. 

Happy Thanksgiving,
Amanda

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