The Mama Coach

4 Months Young. . When my daughter reached the 4 month old stage I had a hard time finding positives, honestly, she was a tough baby, and was very sensitive to all the changes that occurred around this age. To say it was TOUGH is an understatement. So if you are here, I see you, I too have been there. . This little guy it’s truly emphasizing to me that each baby is so unique, what was the hardest time with my daughter has brought me so much joy with my son. The engagement, t...he coos, the smiles and giggles and increased awareness has been the light we all needed in this time. . Now to talk logistics.. . Current schedule: 8:30 - awake for the day 9:00 - feeding 9:45 - 1045 - nap 1 12:00 - feeding 12:15 - 1:30 - nap 2 3:00 - feeding 3:15 - 4:00 - nap 3 5:30 - feeding 6:00 - 6:45 - nap 4 8:30 - feeding 9:00 - bedtime . I know I am going to get questions about his schedule because it’s atypical then what you will read elsewhere but it WORKS for him and our family and that’s all the matters. This to point out: 1. He sleeps in - he is grumpy if he wakes up earlier 2. He only really eats well with three hours of spacing - he is distracted and needs to be hungry! 3. His awake windows are between 1.25 - 2.5 hrs but I mostly follow cues 4. Naps range in lengths day to day 5. He goes to bed late and it works because our daughter goes to bed at 8pm and it gives us some one on one time with him!! 6. He wakes in the night to feed twice typically around 2-3am and 6am! . Who else has a 4 month old out there!? @ Vancouver, British Columbia See more

... and since there’s no place to go... Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow... . What are some fun things you have on your list to keep your littles busy during holiday break!? What are some of your Vancouver area favourites?! @ Vancouver, British Columbia

Happy Holidays. . From my family to yours, I wish you all the brightest and maybe quietest Holiday season. We are so lucky to have these little bundles of joy and chaos to keep us busy this year. . I am sending you all hope and joy and most importantly health in the upcoming year @ Vancouver, British Columbia

Three months of Frankie . Well we did it you guys, we made it through the fourth trimester and I honestly feel sad to see it go. This little guy has been such a pleasant baby this month (for the most part, he is still a baby haha). He is engaging with us, so many big smiles, learning to reach for objects, trying to roll over, loves his tummy time and is just overall a really jolly guy! . Currently he falls asleep while being rocked to drowsy(or all the way to sleep) and then... gets put down. He is still sleeping in our room and always ends up cosleeping at some point. My biggest thing around sleep is if it’s not a problem for you, then it’s not a problem and right now, rocking my sweet guys, holding or cuddling to sleep is not a problem. I am starting to think he may sleep better in a separate sleep space though so we will see what the next month brings us. . Current schedule - awake for 1-2hours at a time but he has lots of sleep cues so I typically follow this as well. He tends to take shorter naps 2-3 times a day with usually one longer nap in there somewhere. This is pretty typical. . 8:00 - 8:30 - awake 9:45 - 10:30 - nap 12:00 - 1:30 - nap 3:00 - 3:45 - nap 5:30 - 6:15 - nap 8:00/8:15 - bedtime . He naps in the crib, my bed or on the go, stroller or carrier. Really just depends on the day and what needs to happen! . Feeding wise he feeds typically in the middle of his awake periods so every 2-3hours or so and he still wakes to eat usually twice over night. He is a big boy and gaining lots of weight! I think that if I woke up and did a proper feed at night he probably would only do one but I am sort of letting him snack twice at I want to go back to sleep quickly! . In general he has a very easy going nature, he falls asleep quite quickly with minimal effort and I think that’s just who he is and less about what I have done. I can get him drowsy and put him down and he will fall asleep which my daughter never did so taking this as a big win! . He is just the sweetest thing! See more

New Year . I just want to say thank you, Because in many ways this year has been a mess .... But you . You’ve been the light in the darkness . The calm in the chaos . The joy in the midst of a whole lot of hardship and pain and frustration . So thank you little one, Thank you for allowing me to be grateful for this year, . Because it gave me you - @kissessfromboys @ Vancouver, British Columbia

If you have any extra diapers, please send our way for our diaper drive!!

Holiday Diaper Drive . Mama’s - parenting during any season is hard but this year in particular has been a heavy load. Giving birth during this global pandemic has been very overwhelming, isolating and challenging for myself as a mom and I am sure I speak for a lot of women. It has been a challenging year for many families and I am excited to have the opportunity to give back to my community! . Here at the Mama Coach we have partnered with @hellobello to bring a diaper drive... to our community in Vancouver! . HOW IT WORKS - On Monday we will announce our drop off locations throughout Vancouver - I am happy to come and grab them or DM for drop off location in Mt Pleasant - Diapers of any size can be donated - Diapers can be in an open or unopened box (if the box is open, please only packaged sleeves for easy cleaning) - Wipes will need to be unopened . We will be donating all collected diapers to @mamasformamas.vancouver - a nonprofit agency helping Mamas and families in need I am running the complain along with my lovely colleagues @themamacoach.hollyhorvat and @themamacoach.lindsay from November 27th - December 18th 2020 Have any questions? Please message me on my instagram @amandathemamacoachvan or email me [email protected] . Together we will help families in our community and help make a difference this holiday season! @ Vancouver, British Columbia

2 months loving on you. . Oh boy, where do I begin.... 2 months of loving this sweet boy and I am amazed at how I already do not remember life without him, it’s like he has always been here and fits in to our family perfectly. . I was anticipating his peak stage of fussiness this month (possibly some purple crying) and I am so relieved that thankfully he seems to be on the low end of crying. He is a completely different baby than my daughter so it’s interesting to find a new ...groove with him. He seems to hate all the things she liked and likes all the things she hated (whats with that universe! Ha)... just trying to keep me on my toes I guess! . Feeding: currently be nurses every 1-2hrs during the day, this is intentional, I am trying to feed twice in his awake periods, once at the beginning and once at the end. This is in hopes that he starts increasing daytime calories and starts to stretch night feeds. Overnight he seems to be set on taking 2 feedings although this will vary. Unfortunately I am still have soreness due to his tongue tie, so trying to decide if we need this looked at again :( it’s tolerable but not perfect! He has gained almost 3lbs just this month, so he is getting what he needs! . Sleeping: he is sleeping like a newborn still, although starting to see some patterns emerge. bedtime seems to be falling between 9-9:30 now, he naps every 60-90 min and just increased his awake time near the end of this month. He naps SO much better than my daughter ha varying in length from 45min- 2hours. He sleeps during the day all over the place, car seat, carrier, grandmas house, crib... and at night he is in the crib next to my bed(although he seems to sneak in to my bed in the night somehow ;)). He is not sleeping independently yet but requires very minimal help which is nice! . Development: currently he is smiling, putting his fists to his mouth to suck on, trying to roll from tummy to back and chatting up a storm! . Continued in comments <> See more

Happy Friday from me and my CREW! . I am no longer just a friend showing up for a walk, I have a whole crew! . Anyone else feel like a bit of a circus when you pack up and head out the door!?!

The emotional labor pains of becoming a mother are far greater than the physical pangs of birth; these are the growing surges of your heart as it pushes out selfishness and fear and makes room for sacrifice and love. It is a private and silent birth of the soul, but it is no less holy than the event of childbirthperhaps even more sacred."Joy Kusek . Here I am again, navigating the fourth trimester... a crash course, sink-or-swim, best thing ever but ohmygosh-it's-hard rei...ntroduction to the newborn stage and motherhood. . Everything explodes: your heart with love, your mind with this new reality, and your body with, well, a baby. As daunting as that sounds, let me reassure you: You will pass the course. You will swim. You won't sink. . I would not give up this season for the world, even if it comes with tears, hormones and milk stains. I am still here, although I have been quiet on the social media, life has been loud in different ways... I am just soaking all this in, every little scent, the little coos and smiles, trying to ingrain every little thing in my memory as I know it is so fleeting. See more

"I wanted you more than you ever will know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go. . Today is a day to bring about awareness and share in the love and acknowledgement of all our babies gone from this world far too soon. . I know that as soon as you get those two pink lines or make the decision to try or have your first visit at the fertility clinic that you are dreaming and creating your future. When things don’t come to fruition the way we had hoped there is immense gr...ief, not only for that life lost but the future you had imagined. It is soul crushing and awful to move through this alone and I hope you know that you are not. I am so sorry that you are experiencing this, it’s awful and it hurts so much and I hope you find the support you need in this time. I know there is no one right way to grieve and no one right thing to say but allow yourself all the grace. . These are the birthdates of all my children... two here with me on earth and five angel babies that I carry in my heart: - September 2020 - November 2019 - June 2019 - February 2019 - November 2016 - January 2016 - October 2015 . I am lighting a candle today for these babies and for every mother who feels a piece of there heart lost in the journey to find motherhood. @ Vancouver, British Columbia See more

Two weeks with two kids.. things I’ve learned.. . Two weeks. I cannot believe that it has been two weeks since my little man was brought into this world. Two weeks since I have been the mom of a preschooler and a newborn. I am now responsible for taking care of two tiny humans. . So what have I learned... ... . 1. Just because I’ve done this before doesn’t mean I remember everything- in fact I think I blocked out specific things on purpose... things like after pains, sore nipples, cluster feeding... but also how much newborns sleep, cozy cuddles and sweet newborn noises. I definitely forgot a lot of things and find myself asking my husband what did we do last time? 2. Dealing with the older sibling can seem more overwhelming than the newborn at times - honestly It feels a bit like she has forgotten all the house rules in an instant. It’s requiring a lot of patience to not only help her with the transition and shift in our family but also keep routines and some normalcy. She is looking for lots of connection and attention of course as she sees me pulled in a different direction. It’s TOUGH! 3. Just because breastfeeding went well the first time doesn’t mean you won’t have challenges the second time - every baby is unique, this little man had a tongue tie and I was S-O-R-E ! Feeling good now but the first week of cluster feeding was tough! 4. Call in your village- the first time around I felt self conscious asking for help... this time I don’t think I could ever have enough help. Friends offer dinner, take it, family offers to take the sibling for a walk, say yes, auntie wants to drop by with coffee, amen sista! It’s not because can’t do things alone, it’s that I don’t want to this time! . **I know everyone’s experience is SO completely different and I can only share from my perspective. I have been so lucky to have what I would consider an easy recovery personally and I know this is not always the case. This is a privilege I am very well aware of and so grateful for a quick recovery!** See more