Semester Ends in Disappointment

I knew that juggling a baby. school, and two jobs would be hard but I wanted to face the biggest challenge yet. I was confident that I could complete the semester and earn the grades and classes I needed to graduate in time. At the start of the Spring semester, I missed classes in result of giving birth. I missed syllabus week and the week after. I enrolled into four classes for the Spring semester, two online and two in-class. Quickly I noticed that I was behind and had missed work for those classes. Upon my return to class I did inform my professors of the circumstances and most were understanding.

As I got more into the semester I became stressed with having to take care of John and work on homework/papers at the same time. Trying to calm a crying baby and attempting to study for a midterm is not easy at all. I didn’t realize the changes that were about to occur in my life when I applied for classes. My main concern was graduating in time and how much that meant to me. I could’ve taken a semester off but I feared losing my scholarships and financial aid which have helped me immensely. Instead, I enrolled with no prior knowledge of how difficult it would be to manage as a mom and student.

Prior to getting pregnant I attended class during the day and would visit the library to study in between classes. I was motivated and eager to succeed. Though I am enrolled in online and night classes for the Spring semester it doesn’t feel like I’m in school. With my mind in so many places at once I’ve neglected one of the most important things to me: my education. Without an education I can’t provide for myself nor my family the way that i’d like. My dreams and aspirations becoming only a faint memory. I should’ve considered how difficult it would be in the beginning of John’s life and take time off to adjust. I felt brave and confident that I could succeed. Now here I am feeling disappointed that I didn’t meet my fullest potential and that I neglected my education.

Rather than dwell on what I did wrong I will focus on what I need to do for the fall instead. Summer break will give me the break I need to prepare for my senior year. I hope that this semester will serve as the example of what not to do next time. During my first two years I procrastinated and was fine but this time around is very different. I have many responsibilities including a tiny human to care for. I’ve learned that I need to leave my habits in the past and focus on better time management.

Turning 21

I am 15 days away from my 21st birthday. To me turning 21 means turning a year older. It also means being of age to consume and purchase alcohol legally, gamble, and check into a hotel. I am curious as to what life will be like when I turn 21. Will I go out any more than I do now? Will I shrink when they ask for my ID? Will I feel any different? These are all the questions I am currently asking myself. I know that turning 21 means that there are new found freedoms.

As with all of my past birthdays there will be cake, ice cream, and balloons. The details will be different this time around though. I’ll have the iconic barbie spit-up birthday cake, the essential “2” and “1” 40 inch balloons. For me its important that I go all out as you only turn 21 once. I’ll have a backdrop to take photos with friends before the night begins and i’ll do the ritual of popping a bottle of champagne. I look forward to a night all about ME. While I’m not exactly sure where I plan on partying I do know that I want to dance. I’m thinking a club but I plan on doing my research first. I need to know ahead of time which locations are worth checking out and which aren’t.

Turning 21 takes much time, thought, and preparation at least it does for me. I still need to book a makeup artist, appointment at the salon, and find an outfit. I want to look and feel the part. Your birthday only happens once a year so it’s important that you look your best. As a mom I don’t get much time for myself to get dolled up and do my hair. So, doing so will be a well-deserved treat to myself. I look forward to a day of relaxation and rejuvenation. As excited as I am about officially becoming an adult and entering a new year of life, I’m terrified of what becoming an adult actually means.

What your baby actually needs

There are some things you know and there are some things that you don’t know when it comes parenting. I can recall making my registry and turning blank when I began to consider what John needed. I just starred at the screen wondering and then I turned to Pinterest and Youtube. After reading blogs and watching videos I was well informed on hit/miss items. I carefully selected the items I felt were perfect for myself and my new baby. As three months have gone by I have learned for myself which items are loved and true. So, this is my take on “What your baby actually needs”. My selection is short and sweet for those mommas in a pinch. I have included the items I couldn’t live without.

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles These bottles were referred to me by my cousin and sister-in-law. Both of them loved these bottles and recommended that I get them. I feared having a baby with bad gas. Dr. Brown’s bottle have helped immensely in my experience. However, I must inform you that these bottles include 2 parts necessary for it’s function. It can be very time consuming and frustrating to clean when you don’t have any clean bottles and your baby is screaming Hail Mary.

Dockatot This lounger makes babies feel as if they are still in the womb. I can ensure this will keep your little one snuggled all night. We placed the lounger into our Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper where he sleeps every night. It’s works like a charm and has easily become one of our most-loved products. YES, it is costly but worth every penny. I scored it on clearance at target for $63, lucky me! I purchased the Deluxe which is meant for children ages 0-8 months.

Rock ‘n Play This has been our go-to since we brought him home. Primarily, we use this in the living room downstairs. John takes his naps in here and even sits quietly to gaze around. This product is super lightweight and convenient to move around. Though, recently news has spread that this item has been recalled due to infant deaths. Parents in fact were not using the item properly and not strapping infants in while they slept. As a result infants would turn over and suffocate. If it weren’t for this item I would’ve lost my mind when he got fussy.

Mam Pacifier Initially, I purchased a $6 pacifier from my favorite seller @Ryanandrose. I loved the aesthetic and figured he would like it because it resembled the nipple on his bottle. Turns out moms are not always right and he prefers the Mam pacifiers which are priced at 2 for $7. These are lightweight and work well in calming my baby. John only takes flathead pacifiers so this is perfect.

Zipper Onesie These are essential for easy diaper changes especially at night when you can barely make it out of bed. I love how functional these onesies are, I’d like a million more! Their soft and lightweight material make it easy for baby to sleep and be active. John has grown out of the ones we have so I definitely need to stock up .

While these items worked for me they might not work for you. Keep in mind that all babies are different and what works for one might not work for the other. These items were a life saver during his first three months. I’m still learning what works and doesn’t work, parenthood is trial and error. Thank you for visiting and I hope now you are well informed.

You can learn more about the recall on the Rock ‘n Play here.

Nursery Reno

I’m so excited to talk about our nursery renovation. We pushed off this project for so long before we began the renovation. We were a month away from our due date when we began the project. For months I had looked through Pinterest trying to find the perfect color and decor ideas. Our renovation started in December and lasted for almost a month. Both my fiancé and stepdad worked on the room after work throughout the week and weekends. It seemed like it took forever to complete and I grew anxious everyday awaiting the completed project. I’ll be sharing the before and after pictures.

BEFORE

I didn’t capture a picture before the process so this is throughout. You can see the bold purple that was on the walls before the renovation……awful. While I didn’t get a picture of the floors, there used to be a pale pink tile throughout the room.

While the nursery was being redone everything was moved into our bedroom for the meantime. I tried to organize it to the best of my ability but it was still a huge mess. This drove my hormones wild and gave me anxiety everyday. I was so claustrophobic and couldn’t wait to move all this out. I wanted so badly for John’s room to be completed so I had to keep calm despite the mess.

AFTER

Here’s a look at the completed project, a new and improved nursery to welcome our baby boy.

The completed room has a fresh set of floors, paint, new ceiling, ceiling fan, and crown molding. I am in love with the end result and it’s everything I wanted for his room. The dusty blue walls, white bases, and ashy grey floors compliment each other beautifully. The furniture adds the perfect touch of rustic we wanted. We’ve replaced the swing with a glider which I plan to use to read to John before bed. It was well worth all the headaches during the process. I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to have his room complete. I hope he loves it as much as I do.

A Step Into Motherhood

It was the summer of 2018 when I found out I was expecting. When I learned that I was pregnant I was not initially overjoyed by the news. I cried because I felt as though I had failed both myself and my family. While I am not the first to attend college in my family I will be the first to finish. I had so much to look forward to in the coming year and was only two years away from obtaining a BA in Corporate Communications. I was certainly not ready to become a parent so soon especially while working and going to school full-time. I waited to share the news with my mom, once I did I could see the disappointment in her eyes. She was worried that becoming a parent would prevent me from continuing my education. After the news, I gave her and myself time to come to terms with our new reality. Finally, when I talked to her I assured her that nothing would get in the way of my education. My concern was not only to secure my own future but also that of my unborn child. Not only would I become his mom but also his role model. Thankfully, with the support from my fiance and family I began the fall semester with no intention of taking time off. I enrolled in six classes totaling eighteen credits for the fall semester. Despite swollen feet I went to every class and worked my butt off. For that semester I earned four A’s and two B’s as a result of my hard work. I was proud of myself for balancing two jobs along with a heavy course load and preparing for my baby. Despite being due in January, I enrolled in the spring semester anyway. I only missed two weeks of the spring semester and returned as soon as I regained strength after delivery. I avoided taking the semester off as it would have postponed my graduation date. For this semester, I am enrolled in four classes two online and two hybrid. This semester has definitely been difficult as I am still adjusting to becoming a mom while working and attending school full-time. Having to care for a baby while studying and completing work is not the easiest task to master. When I feel like I can’t manage, I remind myself that everything will be worth it in the end. I’m glad that I have my family and fiance to lend me a helping hand whenever needed. My transition has not been easy and I’ve learned to take things day by day. The best advice I’ve received on this journey has been to take help whenever offered and so far I’ve done just that.

John’s Birth Story

Before I share my experience, I’d like to remind you that not every birth story is the same. On 1/16/2019 I met with my OB for my weekly prenatal appointment. My due date was January 19th. At the end of my appointment, I learned that I had only been dilated 1cm. As I was not yet dilated enough I scheduled an appointment for the following week. The next appointment would have determined whether I needed to be induced or not. The news terrified me as I did not want to be induced. I went home not expecting to have him any time soon and assuming I would have at least a week left until his arrival. However, he had other plans as I began to experience contractions later that night. My contractions began at 11:30pm and occurred every 5 minutes. I had experienced lower back pain which was the worst pain I’ve felt in my life. With no intention on having him that night I dealt with the pain for as long as I could with my mom and fiancé by my side. My contractions went on until 4:00am when I finally determined that he was coming. Despite the pain I remained calm taking deep breaths between contractions. Once I arrived at the ER I was sent up to maternity where I learned that I was 8cm. Things quickly progressed from there.

Before I knew it my nurse was preparing me for delivery. I couldn’t have asked for a better nurse, she cared for me like one of her own. As soon as I got into my room things happened quickly and the anesthesiologist arrived to give me an epidural. I was mid-contraction when the epidural was shot in my back. From then on I didn’t feel any pain and was ready to push. John wasn’t positioned correctly so a peanut shaped medicine ball was placed between my legs. As I was waiting my water broke, greenish/brown liquid come out which then revealed John pooped in the bag. My nurse began to aid me in practice pushes, after a few the doctor came in to deliver John. After about 47 minutes pushing, John made his arrival weighing 7lbs 7oz and 22 inches long. Finally I released all the tears I had kept inside while trying to ensure his healthy arrival. Because he pooped in the bag he was taken immediately to get observed for jaundice. Thankfully, nothing was wrong and he was brought back so I could hold him for the first time. During my delivery I had three people beside me including my mom, fiancé, and fiancés mom. I couldn’t imagine being there without my mom holding my hand and assuring me I would be okay. Neither would I have had such a smooth experience without John comforting me through the process. After a few pushes I met the greatest blessing in my life, John Francis Oczkowski IV.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello and welcome to Laylaslocalife!

Blogging is something that always caught my interest and I’m excited to start this journey with you all.

Let’s begin by letting you know a bit about me. My name is Layla Martinez and I am twenty years old. I’m from Philadelphia and attend Penn State Abington. I am a corporate communications major and business minor. Currently, I am in the second semester of my third year expecting to graduate in May 2020. Not only am I a full time student but also a full time mom to my sweet baby boy, John Francis. I’m a fiance to my high school sweetheart. I spend my free time browsing Pinterest, Facebook marketplace, and Instragram. I love target, frozen yogurt, and bargain shopping.

Once upon a time I read fashion blogs but as other media platforms evolved I shifted elsewhere. Since then I only use platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration regarding my love for home decor, fashion, lifestyle, and weddings. Whether its figuring out what to wear on vacation, what products are best for my baby, or deciding what color palette to use throughout my home these platforms have always been my go to. It’s interesting to see that there are many others who share my obsession with target especially. I am there almost three time a week, no kidding. Over the past few years I’ve gained a new outlook on sharing my life through a personal blog and today I start on that journey.

I look forward to sharing my interests and life with you all. Thanks for reading!

Thanks, Layla Martinez

#newblog #lifestyle