WORKING FROM HOME : HOW I BRING IN EXTRA INCOME FOR OUR FAMILY


I always am so skeptical when it comes to jobs that you can "work from home" doing. They always seem too good to be true, or they just never bring in enough money to actually make a difference. At the beginning of Spring I found Magic Ears, I applied up and never really gave it a second thought. Then at the beginning of summer my doctor took me off work because I had pregnancy complications and couldn't safely work anymore. All of a sudden we were put in a tough spot, and the thought of working from home sounded better than ever so I got the ball rolling again and started the interview process.

What is Magic Ears?
Magic Ears is a company based in Beijing that teaches english to Chinese children! Their ages vary from young (2/3) to older students (8/10). The lessons are all made for you, you just have to download their platform onto your computer and when you book a class you can preview the material 24 hours beforehand! 

How long does it take?
The process is long, but they want people who are passionate to teach and are good at it. Learning a completely new language is not easy, so you have to be good at the job! There is an initial interview and you also have to teach 2 mock classes before you are hired. Once you are hired you have to go through a background check, sign your contract, and your schedule opens up and you can start teaching! 

At first it was kind of discouraging because it took so long, but it gave me a good sense of what the job entails and if I was even good at it! They give you lots of feedback and they really do want you to succeed!

Do you actually make money?
It starts out slow, you have to teach 10 classes and then you get promoted to junior teacher. Once you are a junior teacher the chances of you booking more slots are higher. I make about $23 an hour US, which depending on what our dollar is, right now would be almost $30 an hour. They also offer other bonuses and incentives as well! It took me a little while to get good momentum, but yes you can make actual money doing this! As you get more experience and once you teach 100 classes you can apply for secondary positions within the company which brings in more income potential! 

Is it worth it?
I think that if this is something you want to grow into something full time that is totally achievable! There are lots of people who do this full time, and even if you want to do it at night or on weekends it is still great to bring in extra income while staying in pajama pants! For us, we are using the money I make from Magic Ears to help pay down our debt. But lots of people do this as money they would bring in for a job, or some even use the extra money to help save for something! 

Magic Ears as a company is amazing! They truly care about all of their teachers. If there is ever an issue they don't penalize you for having to cancel a class. Life happens! It is so refreshing to be somewhere that does not make you feel guilty for things that are out of your control. 

If you are interested in applying, send me a message! I can refer you to the company and even help you through the interview process so you will be more likely to pass through! It has been a game changer for our family, the fact that I can be at home with my daughter and still make good money to contribute means everything to me!
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17 WEEK BUMPDATE


It is crazy to think that I am 3 weeks away from being halfway done! I feel (and look) way bigger than I am, but so far it has been another great journey. I know I have talked about the differences between both pregnancies before, it is something I just find really interesting. Lately I have felt like I look like I got hit by a bus, I don't feel like myself or feel like I look like myself. When I was pregnant with Everly I felt like I was glowing and I was never more confident than during that time. It is crazy how different pregnancies can be, I know that it sounds vain to talk about looks during pregnancy but I really just feel like a whale floating along. 

This week I finished up the progesterone, it is always nerve racking doing that. Even though the placenta has completely taken over at this point I always get nervous because it's literally my lifeline for pregnancy. 

Everly has started being more interested in the baby and she even calls him Jackson. She has brought the doppler over to me and said Jackson, so we find the heartbeat together and she gets so excited. It is so heartwarming to see and it gets me really emotional. 

So far it has been a crazy ride, this week the weather has been perfect so Everly and I have gone to the zoo and went on some walks. I love being outside when the sun isn't melting the skin off your body. It is getting me really excited for the fall. I am also getting ready to do a series in November on my blog, it is going to be so much fun for the holidays and I also have a bunch of fall themed stuff for September/October! I have been wanting to expand for a while beyond just thoughts and pregnancy updates so I think this will be really fun! 

How far along? 17 weeks

Total weight gain? I'm up 12 lbs which feels like a lot for only being 17 weeks aha. So looks like I have to pay more attention to what I'm eating.  

Maternity clothes? Yep!

Stretch marks? Yeah, but mostly left over from my pregnancy with Everly.

Sleep? It has been better this week, I'm not waking up as much and I feel like I am getting good sleeps overall. Still taking afternoon naps with Everly most days though. 

Best moment this week? Having Everly bring the doppler over and ask to hear her brother.

Miss anything? Nothing really stands out.

Movement? Yes! So exciting.

Food cravings? Nothing really stands out this week.

Anything making you feel sick or queasy? Lately my prenatal have been making me feel sick. I make sure I don't take them on an empty stomach but I still feel like death afterwards.

Showing? Yes, my stomach is actually firm now.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? None.

Symptoms? Still having those awful headaches. They really knock me on my ass. Thankfully they seem to be the worst later in the day so I am able to go rest once Kyle gets home.

Belly button in or out? In.

Happy or moody most of the time? I have been VERY emotional lately.

Looking forward to: Our 19 week scan to see baby!

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16 WEEK BUMPDATE


Things are finally starting to pick up a bit and I'm loving it! I love feeling the movements, starting to show, and nesting. All of which I have done so far. I have gone through Everly's things and brought out all the things that are "gender neutral" and I will be using it all again for Jackson. Those of you who don't follow me on social media, we have found out we are having a boy and we have chosen the name Jackson for our son! I can't believe we are expecting a little boy, I was completely surprised because I was convinced we were having another girl. But the more it becomes real and we are referring to the baby as Jackson, the more excited I am to give Everly a little brother!

I have also been experiencing pregnancy insomnia which is something that I never experienced with Everly. It really is true what they say that no pregnancy is the same, I feel like this has been completely opposite from my pregnancy with Everly. I had almost no symptoms with Everly, if it wasn't for my belly I probably would have forgotten I was even pregnant haha. With Jackson I have had a lot of different symptoms, but I never experienced morning sickness so in that sense I am completely fine with that! I started feeling movement with Jackson around 11 weeks, it was really subtle but if I was on the couch or resting (which is something I did a lot with this pregnancy due to my hematoma) I could feel it. Now that I am 16 weeks I am really feeling those popcorn kicks and it just brings you back to all the feelings again! 

I have been trying to get into a better headspace, with me being off work it has been hard feeling like I have a "purpose." We have taken Everly completely out of daycare to try and save money and also I just love being home with her, it was something I really battled with for a while though because I know she loved it there, but they are just around the corner so we have been able to meet them at the park so she still gets to see her friends! I also started some part time online work teaching english and it has been really fun - it has helped so much with getting me into a better place because it's something that's my own and something I can look forward to. 

I am still taking progesterone even though I am well into the second trimester and the placenta has pretty much taken over. I am finishing up a prescription because my doctor wants me to continue as a precaution since I had a hematoma.

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain? I think I'm about 5lbs now. 

Maternity clothes? As of now yeah I pretty much only wear maternity things or bigger tshirts around the house. 

Stretch marks? Yeah, but mostly left over from my pregnancy with Everly.

Sleep? It has been really difficult, like I mentioned above I've been having some insomnia.

Best moment this week? Really feeling those kicks, I missed it so much.

Miss anything? Nothing really stands out.

Movement? Yes! So exciting.

Food cravings? I have been CRAVING this chicken and cheese tortellini dish from a local Italian restaurant, I've had it twice in 3 days :$ 

Anything making you feel sick or queasy? I have been feeling much better these days! 

Showing? Yes, my stomach is actually firm now.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? None.

Symptoms? Currently the two main ones have been insomnia and also really bad headaches.

Belly button in or out? In.

Happy or moody most of the time? I have been VERY emotional lately.

Looking forward to: Our 19 week scan to see baby!


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14 WEEK BUMPDATE


Hello second trimester! These last 14 weeks have been the slowest on record and I am hoping that things start to speed up a bit. Nothing has really gone on these last few weeks, it has been pretty slow! However, we were able to find the heartbeat about a week ago on the doppler which is exciting! I love hearing their little heartbeats. Everly has also begun to interact with my tummy more, she likes to lift up my shirt in the morning and say "good morning baby!" and then cover my belly back up haha. I am getting more and more excited to see her as a big sister! But I have also been cherishing this time with her. 

How far along? 14 weeks
Total weight gain? I am up 3lbs.
Maternity clothes? I can still get away with wearing some clothes, but I prefer my maternity clothes haha
Stretch marks? Yeah, but mostly left over from my pregnancy with Everly.
Sleep? I have been tossing and turning and I know that it is only going to get worse. 
Best moment this week? Last week I saw our little babe squirming away!
Miss anything? Sleeping on my tummy.
Movement? I have started to feel fluttering and I am so excited about it!
Food cravings? Orange juice still, and recently started wanting chocolate milk.
Anything making you feel sick or queasy? I think the worst is behind me! It has been about 2 weeks since I have felt queasy.
Showing? My stomach is firm and I definitely have a bump.
Gender? Not sure yet, but like Everly we will be finding out as soon as humanly possible.
Labor signs? None.
Symptoms? I have been having some headaches and I'm not sure if it's been pregnancy related or because we have had crazy weather.
Belly button in or out? In.
Happy or moody most of the time? Lately I have been very emotional.
Looking forward to: Finding out the gender, just over a week!


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TAKING A BREAK


Social media is both a blessing and a curse. I have been able to follow along and see the journey of those I may not have seen in years and if it wasn't for social media I would have no idea what they were up to, I have been able to update my own family and friends on my life and milestones all at once, and it has also acted as somewhat of a diary. As great as it has been, it has also been detrimental in some ways. 

Social media is all a fugazi, it's not real. It's essentially a highlight reel of what we want people to see, the great moments, the illusion of a white picket fence, but life isn't always the perfect vacation or breakfast in bed. Truth is, these last 6 weeks although they have been special in some ways, I have been struggling a lot. If you open my Instagram you may disagree, you would see ultrasound photos, days with Everly and I playing, and lots of smiles. Our lives have been difficult these last few weeks, we have been getting by day by day and sometimes I see photos and wonder how I was even able to muster up a smile and post it. Everyone goes through difficult times in life and we all deal with it in different ways. This time I truly feel like the best thing is to take a step back and really focus on myself and my family. 

I have never backed away from social media and taken the time to really regroup, the obsession with constantly updating my apps and seeing what's going on gets out of hand some days. It's even harder when you are going through a hard time and you see the lives of others and it makes you jealous. 

However, I feel like this may be just what I need. To be able to separate myself from the outside world and disconnect. I have a lot of healing to do, this summer has not been easy for me and also for members of my family. We have exciting things coming in the next few months, we have babies, weddings, celebrations, and showers and I really want to be in the right headspace to be able to live in the moment and enjoy those around me during these happy times. 

I'm not really sure how long the break will be, I just know that it is something I have been thinking about doing for a while but dang the addiction is real! I feel like these last 6 weeks it has almost distracted me from facing the things that are truly going on, and it's time I really disconnect and face what is going on head on and move forward.

This fall I actually had a couple fun things planned for this blog, I have a series in November I want to do and some fun fall stuff planned as well. So while I am taking a break I want to get ready for that, because in November I want to do a bunch of holiday posts and also put out one blog post a day. It will be a lot of work and a lot of writing but I want to have a bit more variety on here and I am excited for the challenge! 
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11 WEEK BUMPDATE


Honestly, this year has been quite the ride. January when I sat down to think about all the things I wanted to accomplish this year, a baby was not on the list and that's because at that point I really did not care to expand our family. I was content (and busy as heck) with Everly, she was entering the terrible two's early it seemed, she was spunky and full of energy and I couldn't imagine adding to this chaotic house. I knew a second baby was something Kyle had been wanting for months, and every season I somehow found an excuse to wait a little longer. 

There were many reasons why I didn't feel like at the beginning of the year I was ready, we went through a lot when we were trying to get pregnant with Everly. It's hard to remember what life was like before she came into our lives, but it was challenging and making myself vulnerable again to situations that are out of my control was really scary. 

In April something changed, I started feeling like something was missing in my life. My job was slowly becoming something that didn't fulfill me the way it used to and seeing Everly interact with kids made me want to give her a sibling of her own to bond with. I figured the process would be long so I decided to get a referral to my OB again so I could have the proper prenatal care I need since I am considered high risk. Kyle and I began no longer preventing and we waited for my August appointment with Dr. Will to start to process. 

With Everly from start to finish it took about 2 years to get pregnant and stay pregnant. So I figured why would this time be any different. May came around and my cycle didn't, so I took a test and to my complete dismay, there were 2 pink lines. I was shocked but also knew that it was go time. I couldn't waste any time and wanted to make sure this little bean would stick so I called my OB's office and he prescribed me Progesterone. My body does not make enough, and this is one of the reasons why I have experienced so many losses in the past. 

I talked a little bit about the complications I have had so far with this pregnancy in my announcement post if you want to read more. I am currently still off of work and trying to rest as much as you can with a toddler and a working husband. Last week we went and got another ultra sound because of the bleeding I have experienced, and seeing this little baby got me really emotional. It looks so comfy and perfect sitting there, and I can't help but feel guilty for not wanting one sooner. You forget how amazing it is creating life (hard and draining, but beautiful). I can't wait to start feeling movement and continuing to grow. I can't believe I am going through the same chapter I went through two years ago with Everly, but I am so excited and hopeful for what is to come. 

How far along? 11 weeks

Total weight gain? No weight gain as of yet thank goodness haha. 

Maternity clothes? Not yet, I wore a maternity dress on the weekend for a bridal shower but that's it so far.

Stretch marks? Yeah, but mostly left over from my pregnancy with Everly.

Sleep? So far so good, I always find it's the bigger I get the more uncomfortable sleep is. 

Best moment this week? Seeing my family (some I haven't seen in years) up north at our annual cousin weekend.

Miss anything? I'm not a huge drinker, but man it blows being the only sober person at a family reunion lol

Movement? Nothing yet!

Food cravings? Orange juice has been something that HAS to be in the house all the time, I have also found myself wanting green beans.

Anything making you feel sick or queasy? Around 4pm every night during this first trimester is when I feel really queasy and sick. So far in this pregnancy I have only thrown up once, I'm not someone who gets morning sickness which I am VERY thankful for lol. 

Showing? It's all bloat, I have felt so incredibly bloated this entire trimester. 

Gender? Not sure yet, but like Everly we will be finding out as soon as humanly possible.

Labor signs? None.

Symptoms? Feeling sick around 4pm, crampy, hungry ALL THE TIME which is something I didn't have with Everly during the first trimester. 

Belly button in or out? In.

Happy or moody most of the time? Kyle would probably say moody haha.

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender

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10 BABY NAMES I LOVE BUT WON'T BE USING


I've seen this video floating around on YouTube and I kind of loved the idea of it. Since I'm not a YouTuber, I thought I would make it into a blog post, naming a baby can be pretty difficult sometimes and I think videos/posts like this help with ideas when you just aren't feeling creative. Watching a few of these has given me some inspiration because boy names are probably the hardest for us. We cannot agree on a boy name to save our life! Here I have a list of 5 girl names and 5 boy names I love, but either Kyle and I didn't agree on it or we found a name we like more. 

Girl Names:

1. Harper: This is just one of those names that has always stuck with me but unfortunately there has always been names that I love a little bit more. 

2. Harlow: Harlow was pretty close to being Everly's name actually, and it's still a name I love but Kyle isn't a fan so this one was a no go.

3. Olivia: I have always loved this name but now it is just way too common. 

4. Eloise: This name is so old fashioned sounding and adorable! I love the nickname Ellie to go with it, but I have a close friend who named her daughter Eloise so this one was out!

5. Scarlett: If I didn't already have 2 names that were at the top I think Scarlett would be a serious contender lol. Girl names for me have always been easy to love so it's hard to narrow down a favourite!

Right now, we have 2 names that we LOVE if it is another girl. And I think our plan is to just see what the baby looks like and see if the name fits. I didn't think I would be one of those moms who had a few names and wanted to wait and see what the baby looked like, but I just love both these names so much. If I can't wait until the baby and it is a girl, I may just pick a name out of a hat!

Boy Names: 

1. Oliver : I have always loved this name, I also love the little nickname Ollie. I just think it is the sweetest little boy name! But Kyle hates the name Oliver (mostly because of Oliver from the O.C lol) so that name was out!

2. Benson: This is such a random name lol, but I am obsessed with Law and Order SVU, and Olivia Benson is my favourite character. The more I said this name out loud the more I loved it as a boy's name. Buut like the others, this one was too out there for Kyle so we tossed it. 

3. Liam: This is Kyle's favourite and one he fought really hard for. I just didn't like how common it was, and also it is just too close to our nephew's name so I cut it. 

4. Mason: When I was pregnant with Everly this was a name I for sure thought I wanted. Mason has been one of my favourites for a long time and I thought for sure Kyle would like it too. This one was actually a top contender, but when we found the boy name we have picked out I just loved it way more. 

5. Eli: This was another name I have had in the back of my mind when I was pregnant with Everly and we didn't know what she was yet. 

Boy names have proven to be the toughest for us. When it comes to boy names I like the ones that are a bit more on the unique side, and Kyle likes the ones that are a bit more common. We do have our boy name picked out and it is one we have had for a while (before I became pregnant with baby #2), and I love it so much! It's a good strong name I think. 

I'm always curious when it comes to kid names, are there ones you guys love but know you wouldn't use?!
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