Well, I have been back at work for three weeks now! The first week was the toughest. Leaving my baby in the morning when she is all smiles and most snuggly is the hardest! It has been an adjustment, but good to get into a new routine and schedule I suppose!

I have not mentioned it yet, mainly because I wanted to be positive it really helped...and now I can confirm that it did! I made the decision to have my placenta encapsulated after reading many reviews of other mom's results! My post-partum bleeding was not much of anything and I can say that it is because of taking my capsules! As many people know "baby blues" is something a lot of women face. I did not go through that because I was able to take my capsules as my hormones changed and my daily moods fluctuated. A few times when I felt temperamental I took a few and it really made a difference in my mood! (Just as my husband!! haha) I feel that I was able to "return to normal" after pregnancy because of the help from my capsules! The final test that proved they really helped my mood: The week I returned to work. I felt saddened as I got ready to leave the first couple of days back to work. I teared up a few times while getting ready and decided I should take a capsule to help boost my mood. I can honestly say that I felt better, more stable and positive after taking them...Even a co-worker mentioned how well I handled the transition back to work! I know that positive thinking helps, but I can honestly say I am so thankful that I did the placenta encapsulation!

Lisa is known as "The Placenta Lady" in the St. Louis area. She is very experienced when it comes to prepping and delivering your capsules! I am very happy with the results and wanted to share the info with you! This is her website:   http://stlplacentalady.weebly.com/

I know the subject can be seen as "taboo" because normally your Placenta is whisked away in a biohazard bag at the hospital! We spend nine months creating a human, why throw away the very thing that sustained life inside us when we can benefit from it! I'm only writing this to be transparent with you and share something that helped me!!!

Everyone does things differently...no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" way. Just different. I'm really happy I chose to have my placenta encapsulated! I actually have some capsules saved in my deep freezer. I've read it can help with hormonal changes or imbalances in the future such as menopause, for instance. We shall see how that helps ;) I figure it can't hurt anything!!!

Anyways...you can take or leave this information! I hope it helps if some are considering it! Lisa is great! I figure using something your body created is far better than some sort of artificial drug to aid with post-partum healing!!!

Hope this helps ;) Even if you think I'm a weirdo. lol

-andreanewkirknaturalliving

Today is the 21st, which means my sweet baby girl is one month old already! I'm reflecting on the past four weeks and realize time goes by SO QUICKLY! I'm thinking about my favorite moments so far as a mom, thinking about my most frustrating ones as well - and ya know what? Sometimes the things that were frustrating wouldn't have been if I hadn't been so "planned" with how I thought things should go...I'm learning one day at a time to take things as they come. It is good to plan ahead - but sometimes it is also good to throw plans out the window and just roll with it. I'm liking that plan more and more!! ;)

Life is too short to worry!!! Worrying is like praying for what you do not want to happen! LOL. 

Matthew 6:25-34English Standard Version (ESV)

Do Not Be Anxious

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?^[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I know we all set goals for ourselves, which is important to have direction. Without any sort of plan we would not accomplish much. I guess the main thing I am focusing on today is that sometimes our plans can get in the way of how life's cards will inevitably fall...God already has it all figured out. Our job is to do our best and be good stewards with our lives. We should always strive to be the best version of ourselves as possible. That means our character, our relationships, our health, etc. The whole package. Stress will NOT add a single minute to your life. I am guilty of stressing over STUPID things. I am working on getting better at it! I don't know if it is a "woman thing" - we think we have to be concerned and fix everything....but news flash ---- WE DON'T. That is where prayer comes in. I am working towards living a healthy, carefree life! I know anyone I ask would agree that a healthy and carefree life sounds like a good plan! ;) 

Enjoy today. It will not be repeated. Make today count. You are exchanging 24 hours for whatever you spend today doing. Make sure it is something you are happy with! 

Life is beautiful. 

If you haven't noticed that yet today then slow down and pause to appreciate the small things! 

Oh yea...

Don't worry, about a thing, 'cause every little thing's gonna be alright! ;)

-andreanewkirknaturalliving

Summer is in full swing and for many that means vacation(s), long weekend trip(s), or fun evenings out! It is important to LIVE and enjoy "splurging" here and there with friends and family! The only issue we sometimes run into is that too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing...lol. I want to share a quick detox with ya that can help you get back on track in only 3 short days!

The 3 day refresh makes it easy since it is all spelled out for the three days you dedicate to detoxing. It is a great way to hit restart and have a clean slate! Nutrition is important and this 3 day program keeps that in mind while keeping nutrition in mind as you "re-vamp" your body!

Life is too short to miss out on fun opportunities - ya just gotta keep in mind EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!!! It is about finding balance! We all get off track...(either intentionally or accidentally!) As long as you jump right back on track you are good to go! ;)

This made me laugh and I have to share it:

I hope you are having a wonderful summer! If you are from Missouri and reading this you can relate to our weird weather pattern that has gone from weeks of rain to high 90's! Crazy! Maybe it'll even out so everyone can enjoy being outdoors for a little bit! If you've fallen off your path and want a way to jump back in consider the 3 day refresh! Message me for details on Facebook or click my "shop my store" link on my blog!! Keep in mind - everything in moderation! 

-andreanewkirknaturalliving

It's been a little while since my last post! I'm slowly getting into a routine as I figure out this new mama role! It takes a lot of work figuring things out at first, but SO rewarding!!! It hasn't been three weeks yet and I already feel like I've known my daughter for a long long time! She's truly a blessing in my husband's and my life! She is our new favorite thing! haha.....

My last post was about waiting for God's perfect timing...I can definitely say looking back at my labor and delivery experience it was important for me to surrender and give it to God. His perfect plan is always better than when I try and make things happen on my own. I had a set idea of how my labor and delivery would go. Let's just say that my own little plan didn't end up happening exactly as I had imagined....BUT - knowing now what the Doctor said about my size and how things went, it is much better that delivery ended up happening the way it did! God truly knows best! We have a happy, healthy baby girl and all is right with the world!! LOL.

One thing that I am realizing is that God does not automatically give us the things we pray for....instead He gives us opportunities to learn what we've prayed about! Many times I get an idea in my head of how I will do things and then when it doesn't go that way, I get discouraged. I am slowly learning to go with the flow and keep an open mind as God paves the way...Parenting, as I can already see will be trial and error...lol...I can have an idea of how things will go, BUT until I am there in the situation and actually experiencing it,  I don't know the end result, and that is okay. I love this stage of my life. What is exciting to me is it will only get better as Nova grows up and develops her own little personality! It is so fun having a new little family!

Another lesson for me: after a C- section I cannot jump into regular workouts right away! That changed that plan for me, haha. So plan B it is. Since I am limited to walking right now diet is KEY for dropping some baby weight. My answer: Shakeology! It is a super healthy meal replacement option with TONS of vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, etc....It is important for me to be eating right while breastfeeding and wanting to drop a few pounds! ;) Plus - I can make it quickly with one hand! Haha...for other mamas reading this YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN when it comes to multitasking with a newborn! ;)

Slow and steady wins the race! For now it is walking and drinking Shakeology.....in a few more weeks when I get the green light it will be PIYO and Shakeology consistently! I want other ladies to join me on this journey so LET ME KNOW if you want in! Accountability makes it easier to stay committed! I will be here to push you as you join me to get fit together! I'm excited to see who is serious about putting some skin in the game and making changes! 

I'm learning to "go with the flow" - not the easiest lesson for me to learn, but hey! We are all works in progress!!! I'm gonna work with what I've got...I'm going to take each day one step at a time. I'm going to enjoy life as it happens.....I've always loved surprises...every day is a surprise! haha....Have a great day and let me know if you wanna join me!!! (message me on Facebook, I'd love to have ya!)

-andreanewkirknaturalliving

This week's lesson is patience. 

I have always said "Anything worth having is worth waiting for." It has been what I've said since high school when I really dug down and started praying for my future husband. I knew that by praying, getting out of the driver's seat, and allowing God to write my love story, I would be with who God wanted me to have. 

I met my wonderful husband in 2007 and sure enough, God's blessing on my love life was definitely worth waiting for! Jacob and I decided to once again be patient and WAIT for marriage, remaining pure as we put God first in our relationship. Was that easy? UM. NO. That was the LONGEST 14 month engagement! HAHA! But once again - ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IS WORTH WAITING FOR. Can I just say that our wedding night was one of the most incredible moments of my life? Not because we were "pros" - lol - but because we felt God's blessing on our life, in our relationship...It was a pure, perfect moment - and it was because we allowed God to be the center of it. 

The same lesson can be applied to my life right now as I have recently felt impatient as I am 39 weeks pregnant this weekend! Last week I felt frustrated that my "time" had not come yet and I was trying EVERYTHING to induce labor naturally! Haha - I'm sure there are some other mamas reading this who can relate! Ya know what though? God gently reminded me Thursday evening that I need to stop focusing on what I think is best and allow Him to create the most perfect story. Hasn't He already proven to me that when I allow Him to write my story it turns out better than if I had forced it myself?!! I stopped and prayed as I journaled and the feeling on stress and control was gone. It is crazy how we can get to narrow minded as to how everything is supposed to play out. Whether it is in our relationships, our jobs, our finances, WHATEVER it may be you are stressed about - STOP trying to make it work on your own! Something absolutely beautiful happens when we allow God to come into our lives and paint the picture He has already created! We just have to give HIM the opportunity to show us. 

Today I am back to my original mindset that "Anything worth having is worth waiting for." It took me a little while to realize I was focusing on ME trying to make things happen when I wanted them to. Without taking a step back to evaluate myself it is SO EASY to get wrapped up in feeling the need to control everything. I don't want to miss the beautiful details in waiting for God's timing. I am trusting in HIS plan for when my daughter is ready to make her way into this world. God's plan for my life is greater than what I could ever create for myself! I am excited as I wait to see this exciting chapter unfold! It will all be in His perfect time - So I know it will be a beautiful story! 

I encourage you to take a step back in your own life and allow God's perfect plan to take place. Some of you who are reading this may think I'm kooky, crazy, or eccentric for how I have chosen to live my life...and that's okay with me ;) Lol. I just know that when I take myself out of the equation and lean on God, the most abundant life unfolds!

-andreanewkirknaturalliving