Christal welcomes Chrissy (TLC’s Creative Director and personal life manager) to the show as her new co-host – They discuss why TLC took over a year long break – What they’ve been up to – Pandemic, moving, baby and healthy rituals to set you up for emotional success during IVF.

We. Are. Back.

What did we miss? …*insert recap of this shit storm of we’ve all been going through* JUST KIDDING!

It’s safe to say we’ve all had our fair share of shit happening this year forcing us to adapt. We are living through a pandemic for crying out loud. Even though this year has been full of “WTF” moments, it wouldn’t be fair to ignore all of the blessings that also came with this year.

For me, I moved into our new house that took 10 thousand years to build. Remember me talking about it for forever? We are finally here baby and thank goodness because since the pandemic, most of Vegas was on lock down mode including the casino’s and if you remember, I lived right on the strip in high-rise.

So thankful we were in our new house just in time where I could safely spend majority of my pregnancy.

But the best gift of 2020 was welcoming our son Rowan into the world May 4th! 7 pounds 7 ounces, full of hair and magic. I could cry typing this out because he has turned our world upside down in the best way possible. I’ve learned so much about myself the past seven months thanks to him.

Three Things Your Baby Will Teach You:

1. You’ll miss the most precious of moments if you aren’t present:

In the middle of the night when I’m tired as hell feeding and changing diapers is when Rowan is most playful and talkative. It’s the time he does new things. As tired as I am, I make sure I am absolutely present for those moments.

2. Demand the best:

Safe to say he is the new boss and bosses are pretty demanding but more so, I have been striving to be better for him. Physically, emotionally and mentally. Do an extra set at the gym, read a new book, learn something you’d want to bring to your baby, get a coach, set an empowering routine, define new goals , learn a new language, set out healthy meals for the week, get out of your comfort zone!

3. Complaining get’s you no where:

As a new parent, your tired… we all get it. Andrew if you’re reading this, please don’t tell me how much you need a nap today. In all seriousness, with a new baby, both parents are in the trenches. Tag teaming is necessary. You’re sort of in survival mode until you catch your rhythm. Do what needs to get done and allow your partner some grace. This is hard for me because I’m a micromanager when it comes to my baby… (ok maybe just in general) But your partner is learning also and will have their own way that’s completely different from you. **SINGLE MOMS/PARENTS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO GET A SOLID HALL PASS TO COMPLAIN **… don’t know how you do it.

But let’s talk about the IVF process

OMG I honor all the mommies out there thinking about, going through or have gone through IVF. It is not easy emotionally, physically, or mentally but I want to tell you that even just the thought of starting this process, you are already a mommy.

When you start thinking about having a baby, either naturally or with a little assistants, one of the most important things you can do is to already look at yourself like a parent.

Things to Think About While You’re Trying To Get Pregnant:

Create Space:

What can you consciously do to create space for this child while you are physically trying for?

Lifestyle:

Is your lifestyle conducive to welcoming a new energy into your life?

Environment:

Do you have a healthy environment around you?

Intimate relationships:

If you’re in an intimate relationship, are you both on the same page with life, family and raising kids. Does your partner know what you need emotionally when you are going through the prenatal and postpartum stages?

Emotional Landscape:

Where do you usually land emotionally on normal days? Does your daily habits and routines cater to a healthy emotional well-being or is it negatively affecting or taking away from your emotional well-being? What can you do to change your rituals to cater to your overall happiness?

What can you add to this child’s life:

What experiences do you want to bring or give your new baby. So often we think about having a baby believing it will make us “happier” but when these little creatures come into the world, they are not here to fill a void, save a relationship, or solve mommy and daddy issues, babies will only amplify those issues. They are here for their own journey and we are just the facilitators of that journey. What do you know you can add to this baby’s life?

Now, that you answered some of these very important questions, the next part is focussing on your daily rituals. ESPECIALLY if you are going through the IVF process and injecting yourself with hormones daily.

Injections are timed which means you can set a routine for yourself around your injection time.

Both my Phase 1 (egg retrieval) injections and my Phase 2 (implantation injections) were timed at 7pm at night. I put that time in my calendar and set two alarms on my phone to go off at 6:30pm to start my ritual then 7pm to start my injections.

Here’s how my night looked:

6:30pm:
Shower (10min)

6:45pm:
Played some calming music, then poured lemon balm tea. (So many benefits to lemon balm but one is that it calms your nervous system!

6:55pm:
I connected to the energy that was my baby. I spoke to him. I wished for him. I told him all the things I wanted to with him. I shared all the love me and his daddy had for him. How amazing I thought he already was and thanked him for the journey I was already taking to bring him into the world.

7pm:
Time to poke myself in the lower abdomen or ass haha!

Rituals are important because your emotional well-being is important. It’s already hard to go through the IVF process as it is, but if you are absolutely miserable, you are missing the reason why you are going through all of this to be begin with. TRUST ME… I know it’s not easy, especially if you’ve been down this road several times, but stay connected to the grand meaning of all this and set yourself up for success and limit the stress around you.

I hope you babes enjoy today’s episode and I am so unbelievably thrilled to be back to you! If you have any questions about today’s episode, please feel free to leave below. Or, if you have any future topics you’d like us to cover, fill out form below!

Love you babes,