Since we didn’t know the gender, we kept the nursery neutral yet fun and went with a puppy theme!  The best part about our choice to wait on finding out is that we can use all of the items we bought for the next child in the future.
A nursery is not only for the baby but for the parents as well. I wanted a cozy room that I didn’t mind hanging out in at night, and I feel like neutral colors are more relaxing. We went with the puppy-themed because we are dog-obsessed in this house, and hopefully, our son will be too. I LOVE how our room turned out, and I’m constantly hanging out there. I usually bring my loads of laundry in there to fold, I do tummy time with bugs with the sun beaming through the windows, and sometimes I type out emails while he’s asleep in the crib. I love being around him, and the nursery is the coziest spot. 

 
We tried many sample colors and fell in love with Filmy Green by Sherwin Williams. Kyle put up a board and batten in the nursery, the loft, and the hallway leading to the nursery. Our loft is also set up as a kid-friendly zone. We did the play mat, play gym, tv area, and a cozy couch, and we currently have his Snoo set up in there. That way, I can watch T.V. while feeding him in the middle of the night. I still need to get some fun artwork up there, but I’ll get to that eventually. 

Batten Color / Filmy Green by Sherwin Williams

I love the light wood and wicker details throughout the nursery. I thought it looked soft with the filmy green accents. 

Wall Mounted Wood Floating Shelves / Wood Round Mirror / Wicker Light Fixture


This is my favorite spot to sit in the morning with my coffee while feeding bugs. The sun rises in the backyard, so we watch it together before starting our day. 

Embroidered Alphabet Pillow / Swivel Glider with Ottoman in Performance Cream

I found this light wood shelf at Hobby Lobby for organizing all of the books, toys, swaddles, and other miscellaneous items. When Bugs gets to the climbing stage, we will have to attach it to the wall since it is lightweight. 

Dog Basket / Wood Shelf / Fern & Avery Swaddles / Metal Mesh Basket with Wooden Handle / Baby Blocks / Musical Bug Toy / Stacking Circle Rings for Play & Teething / Mushi Muslin Blankets


I love our changing table setup! I have a diaper cart next to the changing table with all the extra diapers, wipes, products, and more. This helps me from having to run to the storage closet to grab an item while Bugs is on the changing table. When I’m changing him, he likes to hold on to the musical toy, making everything go super smooth. Putting a rubber changing mat on top of the changing pad has prevented a lot of laundry cycles. It’s easy to wipe off and portable, so you can take it places if you need to. 

Wipes Dispenser / Changing Pad / Peepee Teepees / Ubbi Changing Mat / Baby Support Pillow / Changing Pad Muslin Cover /

His drawers have remained pretty minimal with clothes that are his size. I’ve already had to store his newborn outfits since he’s outgrown them these past few weeks. I’ve learned not to keep things in the nursery you don’t use, or it’ll become too cluttered. I bought clear bins to store all that stuff the next time around.

Organizing Trays / Muslin Cloths / Rolling Organization Diaper Cart

I ordered the shades from Amazon, and they came in a few weeks! They make them custom, and you also have the option to add a blackout lining. They do a great job with the curtains to black out the room during the day completely. I am going to order more for the loft area and our bedroom.

The toy chest was such an incredible $5 Facebook Marketplace find. We painted it the color of the board and batten. I haven’t put anything in it yet, but I just signed up for the Lovevery subscription and planned to store the items there. He’s a little too young for most of the packages now, but I can’t wait to see him play with everything as the months go on. He’s now starting to grab toys and social smile at us. 

Wood Window Roman Shades (Pattern 9) /Parsonburg Area Rug / Goldendoodle Rocker / White Blackout Curtains / Rattan Mini Accent Lamp Stand / Accent Lamp Shade / Bean Bag Chair


I just had to get the doodle rocker! It looks so cute in the puppy-themed nursery. 

Babyletto Hudson Crib / Wicker & Polka Dot Laundry Basket / Babyletto Changing Table With Topper / Fitted Crib Sheet / Crib Mattress 100% Breathable / Hatch Light & Sound Machine /
I went with the breathable newton mattress for the crib and topped it with the Mushie sheet. I also like the Burts Bees fitted mattress sheets. They were super inexpensive, so I bought several of them. We also purchased the Nanit but have not set it up yet. We will set it up this weekend since we plan on trying to get him to start napping in his crib. 

Lil Spot Doggy Blanket Pad (SO SOFT!) / Goldendoodle Muslin Swaddle / Goldendoodle Woobie Baby / Puppy Hug Warmies / Natural Wood Frames / Dog Prints

It took a while for me to pick out prints for the nursery. I found these adorable puppy prints on Etsy and fell in love! I downloaded them digitally, had them printed on Shutterfly, and framed them with super inexpensive frames from Michaels. I love how they turned out.
I am obsessed with this puppy mobile! 

Puppy Mobile
 
The light fixture and area rug are some of my favorite nursery items. I’ll use them in the guest room once we turn the nursery over to a big boy room. 

Doggy Stuffed Animals | Bashful / Toffee / Fuddlewuddle / Squiggle / Fudge / Barnaby / Huggady / Hudson / Dashing / Otto /

Touch & Feel Dog Books / The Scruffy Puppy

The bathroom is next to the nursery, making everything so convenient. We still have to decorate the kid bathroom, but it’s at least functional now. Putting a bath cart next to the bath has made bath time easy!

Bathtub // Turtle Bath Cushion // Bandana Bibs // Turtle Thermometer// Cart // Hair Brush // Bath Toys // Bath Towels 
 I hang out in the loft most of the day, and it is so cozy there! We will eventually get some kid-themed pillows for the couch that match the play mat, some fun, colorful artwork, window shades, and a few bookshelves in there.

Sectional Couch / Shelf Floor Lamp / DockATot / Curtain Rods / Play Mat / Boppy Pillow / Boppy Pillow Cover / Baby Play Gym / Black & White Activity Pages /Arm Table
I hope you enjoyed this nursery blog! Let me know if you need more links that I may have forgotten! 

Questions for you!

1. What nursery theme did you do (or would you like to do in the future?)
2. Are there any nursery items you cannot live without?

39 Weeks 3 Days

Around 9 am, I leashed up Leo and headed out for our morning walk. My walks had officially turned into waddles, but we still hit our goal of one mile. I headed inside to shower and get ready for my 39-week appointment. I knew there would be no progress in labor as I didn’t feel any different from my 38-week appointment. The only symptoms I had been experiencing were lightning crotch (gosh, it’s a real thing), swollen ankles, severe heartburn, and the typical aches and pains of being 39 weeks pregnant. I started to dread appointments once they turned into weekly things. It was a repetitive process of getting your weight, urine, and blood pressure, telling the doctor how you felt, and leaving. I had refused all cervix checks after the 36-week one. First off, no one told me how painful they were, and they are also not that necessary until you’re past 40 weeks or in active labor. This time, the doctor had mentioned “induction” if I hadn’t gone into labor by 40 weeks. I didn’t want to go that route, so I decided to do everything to go into labor. I was still eating a ton of pineapple, drinking raspberry tea, walking, sitting on my exercise ball, and consuming dates. After googling a few things, I read that spicy food could help speed up labor. I know many of these things are bogus, but after I heard the word “induction,” I was willing to give them a shot. On the way home from my appointment, I stopped at Homegoods to pick up a new wreath for the door and grabbed some extra spicy sushi (pregnancy safe) from my favorite spot. Kyle and I ate dinner, put up some blinds in the nursery, sat on the porch, and headed to bed after watching Jeopardy.

4:30 am 39 Weeks 4 Days 

I woke up at 4:30 am, the same time I do every morning. A few minutes later, I felt a little gush, unlike the gush you see in the movies when a woman’s water breaks. When you’re pregnant, peeing a little when you sneeze or cough is expected, so I wasn’t getting too excited. I said Kyle’s name a few times to get him to wake up, and when he didn’t respond, I did the arm punch move and shouted his name a bit louder. He woke up in a panic since I probably kicked him out of a good rem cycle. He was still trying to catch his breath as I whispered, “I think my water broke.” It took him a few seconds to register what I was telling him. I never pranked him about my water breaking during the pregnancy because I didn’t want him to think I was kidding when the actual moment happened. I stood up out of bed and walked into the bathroom. I pulled my shorts down, and there was a big water spot. Again, I wasn’t sure if it was pee or my actual amniotic fluid. Kyle and I were getting so excited, thinking this could be it! I decided to try to pee to see if any more came out, and when I wiped, there was blood on the toilet paper. I knew for sure it had to be my water!

Kyle started getting dressed fast, and I was moving like a snail. He was concerned that I wasn’t that eager to throw on my shoes and head to the hospital. He asked me as I was figuring out what to wear, “shouldn’t we be hurrying?!” I just laughed and said I needed to shower, have my morning coffee, and go to the bathroom. We had all of the hospital bags downstairs in the office ready to go, so while I showered off and had my morning coffee, he packed the bags, took the dogs out, and got everything prepared for us to go. I made him nervous by going about my morning as if I wasn’t in labor.

5:30 am

The car was packed, and we headed to the hospital. It was only a 14-minute drive, and since it was so early, we didn’t face any traffic. We called our moms and told them we were heading to the hospital. My mom planned to stay with our dogs at the house while we were gone, but I told her I’d let her know if we were admitted or if it was a false alarm. Aside from the leaking, I wasn’t experiencing any signs of labor. I had no contractions and hardly felt Braxton Hicks during my pregnancy, and if I didn’t feel the gush, I probably would have gone about my day. We arrived at the front desk, and the hospital was a ghost town. I casually let the nurse know that I thought my water had broken, and she laughed at how relaxed I was. She had Kyle fill out paperwork as she got a triage room ready for us.
 

6:20 am

I was more nervous about this being a false alarm than being in actual labor. I did not want to go back home or feel embarrassed about peeing myself and thinking it was my water breaking. Because I tested positive for GBS, I needed to get there as soon as my water broke or there were strong contractions to ensure I could have a few rounds of antibiotics in my IV before delivering. The triage room felt like a hot yoga studio, so as soon as I put on the hospital gown, we had to leave the door open until the air kicked on. It must have been 90 degrees in there!

The nurse came in to do a quick swab to see if the leaking was urine or my water breaking. By the time I got to the hospital, I was pretty sure it was my water breaking since I had saturated a pad on the way there. It took a bit for the nurse to come back, so I made Kyle go to the station and look at the test. We were both smiling so big when we saw that it was positive. We were going to have a baby! Spicy sushi…just saying.

A few minutes later, I had to do the dreaded cervix check. I don’t know if it’s like this for anyone else, but they are almost more painful than giving birth. I would rather have multiple epidurals than a cervix check. At my 36-week appointment, I wasn’t dilated at all, and even though my water broke, I was only 1 cm dilated.

8:00 am 

Our room was finally ready! Kyle went down to grab all of our bags, and the nurses wasted absolutely no time when it came to getting things rolling. As soon as I settled into the uncomfortable delivery bed, I received my IV filled with fluids, antibiotics, and Pitocin. I planned to get the epidural but wanted to wait until the pain was unbearable. Bringing your fluffy pillows and cozy blankets to the hospital is necessary. I would have been miserable without them!

9:00 am

Kyle hooked up our firestick (I highly recommend bringing it to the hospital!), so we spent the morning watching Netflix. We even had our YouTubeTV hooked up, so more than local channels were available. Having something to watch made the morning and afternoon fly by. As I sat there eating my popsicles and sipping ginger ale, Kyle found the snack bag and started stress-eating all of the trail mix and snack bars. When you can’t eat anything, it’s hard watching someone else eat. I finally get why everyone told me to pack snacks for the husband!

12:00 pm

I cannot tell you where the day was going. Everything felt like a blur, and with so much going on, I lost track of time. I binged the entire season of Selling Sunset by the afternoon. I finally met the doctor who would be delivering our baby, and she let me know that I could ask for an epidural at any time. We did a quick cervix check, and even though I had been on Pitocin all morning, I was still only 1 cm dilated. It was time to up the Pitocin!

3:00 pm

I finally started to feel stronger contractions. These felt like the most intense period cramps and gradually worsened each time. I finally asked for the epidural because I wanted to enjoy the labor experience.

4:00 pm

The anesthesiologist finally came in to give me the epidural around 4 pm. It took him a bit to get into the room, so I recommend asking before you’re in excruciating pain, just in case it takes a while for them to arrive. I was not nervous about getting the epidural, and I know many people see it as their biggest fear with labor. Trust me, if your contractions are terrible, they’ll distract you from everything going on back there. After signing all the paperwork, he put a bunch of tape on my back, numbed the area with a shot, and then proceeded to do the epidural. It was more of a pinching sensation, but it was done quickly. While getting the epidural, I leaned on Kyle and stayed very still. I could hardly remember what it felt like since my contractions were so strong. After fifteen minutes, my epidural kicked in. Unfortunately, it only kicked in on my right side. I was nervous I’d have to go through it again, but they tilted my body, and a few minutes later, I couldn’t feel anything from the waist down. I could still wiggle my toes but had no sensation down there. The contractions go away instantly! As soon as the epidural kicked in, my legs felt 1000 pounds each. I remember my feet getting so cold, so my fuzzy socks from my hospital bag post were great to have!

5:00 pm

I was feeling excellent by the time 5 pm rolled around. I was still only dilated at 2 cm, so I decided to put my sleep mask on, plug in my earbuds, and get some sleep. I told Kyle to wake me up when Jeopardy was on. I was nervous about how slow dilation was going, and I hoped sleeping and relaxing would move things along. The Pitocin was the highest you could give someone at this point.

7:00 pm

I felt Kyle poking me, telling me to wake up because Jeopardy was about to start. We were super invested in watching Mattea on her win streak. I wasn’t asleep anyway since it’s impossible to get shut-eye when nurses come in and out. After the episode ended, the doctor checked dilation, and miraculously, I was at 7 cm! I was so excited because that meant we would likely have a baby soon! She said jumping from 7 to 10 could happen fast. She also ended up breaking the rest of my water.

7:45 pm

I met my new nurse since they had a shift switch, and they checked me for dilation again. I was officially 9 1/2 cm dilated, and they called the doctor to come in and start getting all the tables ready for delivery! I was so so so excited. I was still feeling good and took some time to text my family that it was time to push!

Instead of spending time putting together gift baskets for the nurses, I ordered a giant box of Crumbl cookies for their break room. I ordered another separate box for the amazing nurse we had during the day. I was so sad when she left her shift. I loved her!

9:00 pm

I spent about 45 minutes with the nurses pushing through contractions. One of the nurses recommended having my epidural lowered so I could feel more pressure for pushing. The anesthesiologist came in thirty minutes later and lowered my epidural.

10 pm

Things started to go a little south. Suddenly, I felt like my kidney was exploding, and my lower back was being cracked in half. When you have an epidural, you’re not supposed to feel that type of pain. I kept telling the nurse I couldn’t push through the pain because it felt like my bones were dislocating. It was one of the worse pains of my life. She said this was normal, and I kept arguing that I shouldn’t feel this pain with an epidural. I just knew things felt weird. This is why it’s important to advocate for yourself when something doesn’t feel right.

10:30 pm

It’s as if every bit of the epidural wore off. I could have gotten up and walked off the bed. With the Pitocin being so high, the pain was even more excruciating. My ribs felt like they were cracking, my back felt broken, and I could feel each contraction, and they were 100x more painful than the ones before the epidural. I told her that it felt like I had fallen 70 feet, broken every bone, and could not push through this pain. She eventually realized that maybe it wasn’t normal and had the anesthesiologist come back to check if my epidural had gone out of my back. While waiting for the anesthesiologist to return, we kept changing positions to make pushing more comfortable, but nothing worked.

12:00 am

It was two hours of excruciating pain before the anesthesiologist finally made his way back into check. At that point, the pain was so intense that I was projectile vomiting, and nothing is worse than throwing up through intense contractions while your body feels like it was thrown off a building. It turns out my epidural had shut off hours ago. I knew it wasn’t normal! Going from no pain to feeling everything while 10 cm dilated and on Pitocin was brutal. Once he plugged the epidural button back in, my body relaxed, and that pain went away. So if someone tells you it’s “normal” and you know it’s not, advocate for yourself.

1:30 am

Since the pain was so bad and my body was tensed up, labor slowed down a lot. As soon as the epidural started working again, my body cooperated, and it was time to have our baby!

2:30 am

I was so exhausted but determined to have this baby! Usually, after pushing so long, a c-section would be mentioned, but our baby had great vitals, so there was no concern.

3:20 am 

After another hour of pushing, I was SO CLOSE to delivering. His head was right there, and the nurses said I had about five pushes left to go. I was already crying happy tears, but a nurse came rushing to the door to let my doctor know that a baby was seconds away from being born in the hallway. I started laughing, thinking I was in some sort of prank show. The doctor told me to stop pushing, and she left.

3:38 am 

Ten minutes later, she was back. I could not hold back the pushes anymore! Once she sat down, I pushed, and I heard Kyle yell, “We have a baby boy!” and I just lost it. We both started crying, and I could not believe I finally had my son here. I thought it was a boy this entire pregnancy, and most people guessed it was a girl. Kyle was shocked! After birth, it was truly a blur because all I could do was stare at him! He was so perfect and so healthy! He was worth the 7 1/2 hours of pushing. That moment was one of the most incredible experiences, and as soon as my son was in my arms, my entire life changed. I never knew I could love someone so much, and nothing else mattered but our family. All of the things that once used to preoccupy my mind and my time no longer had any importance. He is my whole world. I still find myself just staring at him, crying.

7:00 am

I spent the next few hours holding him and staring at every little feature of his. All of the pain was overshadowed by this moment. A little later, they had our recovery room ready for us. Kyle held our son while the nurses helped me get up for the first time in 24-hours. As soon as I got up, I remember feeling so dizzy, and I felt like I would pass out. After a few minutes, I started to level back out and feel a little more conscious. During this time, Kyle packed up the bags while the nurses helped me use the bathroom and set me up for post-partum recovery. I plan to write a post-partum blog about all the products I’ve been using to help me get through (like puppy pads for leaking!) The hospital does provide everything you need, but there are a few products you can bring from home that are better quality.

8:00 am 

We finally got settled into the recovery room. I had been up for over 24-hours, but getting sleep after giving birth was impossible. Nurses come in every thirty minutes, and all I wanted to do was hold my sweet baby. Plus, I had a few phone calls to make to our family.

11:30 am

The hospital does bring meals, but since you don’t get to pick the meals out, I didn’t want any of the food they brought (not that they weren’t good, just didn’t crave the heavy Thanksgiving style meals.) Of course, I took photos just for those foodies curious about what the hospital served. Kyle went out to one of my favorite local delis and picked up my favorites! Because you can’t eat during labor, I was excited to have a sandwich. While he was out grabbing food and coffee from Starbucks, our son had his first shots, a hearing test, and a vision test, and he passed everything!

The entire day flew by, and I didn’t get any sleep since so much was going on.

1:00 pm 

Kyle headed home for 30-minutes to bring back swaddles with our baby’s scent for the dogs. This helped a ton with introducing the dogs to their new sibling.
 

7:00 pm -4 am

We turned on Jeopardy, got ready for the night, and I was looking forward to some sleep! I had trouble closing my eyes because our boy kept breaking out of his swaddle with his strong arms. No matter how tight, he was breaking free. I couldn’t stop thinking about him getting caught under the swaddle, so I decided to hold him, feed him, and cuddle him all night. I was going on almost 48 hours of no sleep, but my adrenaline kept me awake. Every time the nurse came in, she was shocked to see me awake. I highly recommend bringing a zipper swaddle to the hospital if you are paranoid like me. Around 3 am, I passed him to Kyle so I could shut my eyes for a bit. As soon as I passed out, the nurses came in to grab my blood. I’m telling you, those TikTok joking about the people coming into the recovery room is so spot on! It’s hilarious.

5:00 am

I decided to wake up. We somehow convinced the hospital to let us go home around noon! They wanted us to stay another night, but we didn’t find it necessary. I just wanted to be in the comfort of my home and get a good night’s sleep. I was looking forward to taking a hot shower.
 

8:00 am

I was in the mood for some oatmeal and coffee, so Kyle headed to Starbucks and picked us up for breakfast and some snacks for the morning. 
 

12:00 pm

Kyle packed up the car, brought up the car seat, and we made our way home! I was excited to introduce the dogs to their new brother and see our little man in his nursery!

These past few weeks have been filled with ups and downs. A few days after giving birth, I had a D&C surgery for retained placenta fragments, causing severe bleeding, pain, and delayed milk. It was so scary, and spending the entire day away from my son was the worst part. Navigating motherhood has been a trial and error process. Motherly instincts kicked in, and all the books I had read before went right out the window. It’s almost been a month since bringing him home, and we have finally created a good routine, and things are getting easier around here. We are absolutely in love with him, and it’s been so much fun becoming parents. I plan to catch up on blogs, but it’s been so lovely to spend these moments with him. He’s been sleeping like a little bean on my chest this entire blog, and I feel this is how I’ll be writing blogs for the next few months.

I’ve always loved hearing about other birth stories because they are so different! Some people have it easy, and some have it a million times worse. I love how much it changes you and the empowerment you feel once it’s all over.

I’m excited to be back blogging, and my goodness, we have SO MUCH to catch up on! Xo, I’m sorry if my birth blog was a little all over the place. The entire day was a blur, and piecing it together was challenging. I have my nursery blog, third trimester, postpartum recovery, and many more blogs to work on this month!

Questions for you!

1. Did you have easy labor or tough labor?
2. Do you have any questions for me?
3. What would/was your go-to meal after labor?

It is currently 88-degrees here right now, and it’s only April. I have a feeling a hot summer is ahead of us. I’m sitting outside on the patio writing while Leo’s sunbathing in the grass. I have approximately 20-minutes before my fingers and toes start to swell up. This heat triggers my pregnancy edema. Yesterday, I had to keep elevating my feet because they were so swollen. I wake up fine, but they are twice their size at the end of the day. A lot of it has to do with the fact that I’m never sitting down and constantly doing something. I’m drinking so much water, but the swelling is typical this late in the game.

It’s crazy to think this could be my last recap blog for a while! I’m hoping the baby decides to come this week or this weekend, but they seem to be pretty cozy right now. I’ve heard that first babies come late, but we’ll see! I will work on a third-trimester recap this week and a few other blogs while I’m home. I’m trying my best to stay put but having such a hard time right now sitting down to do anything. I’m constantly wanting to organize, clean, cook, and distract myself from the baby waiting game. The good thing is I’ve been able to spend so much time with the pups, and I feel like giving them my attention before the baby comes is important, so I apologize in advance for the extra dog content this week. Speaking of dogs, Kyle is going on full-time dog dad duty when the baby arrives to make sure they are also getting the attention they need during this new transition. We are going to keep their routines as normal as possible!

I managed to get out for my one-mile walk with Leo every day this week. I’m so happy I’ve been able to continue our walks, and even though they are super slow and a tad uncomfortable with all the pressure, I love this time with Leo. It’s mentally and physically good for both of us! I’m excited to get back to our 3-mile morning walks this summer! Of course, we’ll have to start at 6 am since it gets so hot. Kyle will be working from home for a while, so he’ll be able to help out before work.

I’ve been making the same smoothies each day using the Orgain protein powder (vanilla plant-based) Dole fruit packets, almond milk, water, and ice, and I love topping them with granola. I usually go to bed around 7:30-8 pm each night, so I’m most hungry in the mornings, and smoothies keep me full and hydrated way longer! I’ll usually work a bit outside in the garden and come inside for a refreshing smoothie.

On Monday, I made some roasted vegetables in the oven and chicken with habanero ranch on top. I seasoned the chicken with Trader Joe’s ranch seasoning. It was delicious, and the vegetables are always great for leftovers the next day.

I’ve been spending my mornings pretty much the same. I walk Leo, garden, have a smoothie, and then work on something inside. When I run out of things to do, I start cleaning out drawyers, clothing and even rewashing bed sheets. People have told me that the last few weeks fly by, but it has felt like the longest part of my pregnancy. Towards the end, when EVERYTHING hurts, you feel like it’s never going to end. Luckily, it’s spring, and I can be outside for the most part. I would be going crazy if it was winter and I had to stay inside.
 My dahlias are making their way out of the ground  
I had my first rose of the season on Tuesday. Now, I have hundreds of roses blooming. I’m going to do an updated garden tour on Friday (assuming I’m still waiting on baby!) I know my garden obsession is unhealthy, but I sometimes come outside to see what flower opened up after an hour.

After my doctor’s appointment on Wednesday, I picked up lunch at Tega Cay Deli. I am obsessed with their bagel sandwiches! I get the Carolina with chicken instead of turkey (but only while I’m pregnant because the turkey is so much better), and it comes with honey mustard, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, Havarti cheese, and I add cream cheese, bacon, and put it on a wheat bagel. It comes so big that I eat half for lunch one day and the other half for the next. I had their pasta salad and broccoli salad mixed as my side.

How cute is Tux? He now sleeps with us in our room It’s so cute! He wakes us up in the morning by licking our feet and putting his nose in our faces. His little personality comes out more and more each day.

I try my best not to stop at Crumbl Cookies, but it’s next to the Tega Cay Deli. When I heard they were taking the pink sugar cookie off the menu and they had the Boston Cream Pie cookie on their themed week, I just had to go in and grab it. Kyle and I love cutting them up, trying the new flavors, and rating them together. The cookies were so good (per usual), and we cut up the leftovers to save in our freezer.
 The good news is that the custom shades we had ordered for the nursery were finally shipped! We are hoping they arrive this week so Kyle can install them. Once they are installed, I can get a nursery tour up. I won’t have any artwork yet because I want to wait to find out the gender, but it’ll still be 90% done!

One of my favorite new additions to the nursery is the Papayo: The Peruvian Puppy! One of my good friends wrote it, and it’s the cutest book ever! I cannot wait to read it to our baby, and it is the perfect addition to our puppy-filled nursery. The illustrations and story are so good, and it just makes me smile every time I open it up. It would mean the world to me if you supported her AS A NEW AUTHOR and purchased one of her books! It’s on Amazon for under $8.00, and it makes for the best gift! The book is based on Papayo, a puppy she met while traveling in Peru!

I had a leftover salad from Tega Cay Deli and an egg scramble with my roasted vegetables for Thursday’s breakfast. I spent the afternoon reading some baby books, taking notes, and sipping a coffee.
 Thursday afternoon smoothie!

I’ve been trying to save all of the new shows coming out for the hospital stay and postpartum when I’m with the baby. I hate when I run out of shows to watch, and since that’s one of Kyle and I’s favorite things to do in the evening, I have already been through so many shows! It’s killing me not to watch some of the new releases now.

Now that Tux is so comfortable coming up the stairs, he’ll come up to the loft and sit outside and watch me. He’s not sure about the loft just yet because of the carpet, but I think he’ll eventually make his way in! It’s so fun seeing him work up the confidence. He’s going to be SO GOOD with the baby. I feel like he’s going to want to be everywhere we are.

When I saw him at the top of the stairs just staring down at me, I cried. It was the cutest thing, but it also was so sweet because this is where Grumples used to sit. Tux has so many of Grumple’s personality traits, so I know he was meant to be in our lives to heal our hearts, and I know we were meant for him. I love him so much, and every little progress he makes melts my heart. He’s also been the best thing for Leo! They play, lay, and do everything together now. They jump all over each other and wag their tales when one of them comes back from a walk is so cute to watch.


I told you the dog content was a lot today

On Friday, Leo and I went on a walk, picked up pup cups from Starbucks for him and Tux, sat in the backyard eating popcorn, and then brought the pool out since it was in the 80s. The ice-cold water feels so good on my swollen feet!

Tux has gotten a bit braver and now watches the pool activity from the patio instead of running inside the house. Hopefully, he will join in one day! I didn’t care how ridiculous I looked to my neighbors, I sat in the pool with Leo drinking my matcha latte, and it was the best! These are the times when I wish we had a swimming pool.

I met up with Caitlin and Emily for dinner at the Pumphouse on Friday evening. It was our last get-together before the baby arrives, and we had so much to catch up on and celebrate.

I started with a No-jito (I need to put this recipe on the blog!), and they brought out cornbread muffins for an appetizer.

I ordered the Carolina greens salad with jumbo shrimp. It came with local strawberries, shaved spring radish, asparagus, goat cheese, pickled red onion, and a champagne vinaigrette. IT WAS AMAZING, and it’s all I can think about now. I want that salad right now!

I also ordered truffle fries with aioli for the table. When you get a salad, it’s only fair to get fries to go along with it. Balance is key Plus, the fries are out of this world. This restaurant was a 10/10.

Leo and I did our walk bright and early on Saturday. It’s been getting way too hot by afternoon!

Breakfast smoothie after our walk!

Kyle and I planted some new rose bushes, limelights, and mulched the back garden beds before noon.

Inizio opened up in Fort Mill, so we treated ourselves to a delicious lunch after dropping off bags of stuff at Goodwill.  We had the caesar salad and the Raffael pizza (with pepperoni!) It was AMAZING! Dangerous it’s so close to the house but grateful. 
Kyle had the best idea after a day of nonstop work around the house. He suggested we get a banana split! I was not going to argue that, so we headed to Abbott’s Custard. It was DELICIOUS! We ended the evening walking the dogs and catching up on Jeopardy. We get so invested when they have a repeating champion.

The most relaxing Sunday morning! I love having my coffee out on the back porch while the dogs wrestle around. I love that it’s finally light outside at 6:30 am!

They are both OBSESSED with the SmartBones! They don’t have any rawhide, and they’re peanut butter flavored. When Tux gets one, he starts running around doing zoomies with it in his mouth until he finds the perfect spot to chew it.

I sat on the porch with my tea while Kyle worked on treating our lawn. He’s working on removing the dead grass, weeds, and reseeding.
 Later on, I reorganized the doggy closet! They had stuff all over, and I love that it’s now in a confined space. I bought those extra hanging wired racks at Lowes.   Everything is starting to get full!

I wanted to make a steak dinner last night, and it turned out pretty dang good!
We ended the evening with some brownies, a root beer, and a good movie!

If I’m not in labor yet, I’ll be back with some more blog posts this week!

Questions for you!

1. What are you most excited about this week?
2. Did you try any new restaurants this past weekend?
3. Have you ever had a banana split?

*I have edited this post since giving birth!

I have learned a lot from watching “what I packed in my hospital bag” videos on YouTube and reading some of your comments here on the blog. They have been so helpful when it comes to putting my bags together. I know every labor and delivery experience is different, and some people find things more necessary than others. Some people make it to the hospital just in time to have the baby without any bags and still are completely fine! I don’t know why there is so much stress when packing a hospital bag, but the anxiety of not having everything you want with you is real. During our labor and delivery class at the hospital, our instructor gave us a list of items to bring for mom, dad, and baby. She also said that the hospital would provide you with so many essentials. 

What I packed in my hospital bag

Today, I’m sharing everything I’m packing in my hospital bags. I will come back and update this blog after giving birth with things I used and which items I didn’t use. But just because there is something I used or didn’t use doesn’t mean you won’t need or want it. I used the guide my hospital gave me and the help from others. If there is any item you believe I’m missing that you loved, let me know in the comments! 

Hospital Bags

Mama Bag 
When I saw the “Mama Bag” on Amazon, I had to get it! It was under $20, and I thought it would be a perfect-sized bag for the hospital to keep snacks, electronics, and the miscellaneous stuff. If you have to get a gift for an expecting mama, this would be an adorable bag to include.

Diy Baby Bag 
For some crazy reason, I felt like making my baby their little hospital bag. I purchased some iron-on stickers from Hobby Lobby and added them to a purple tote. I used this bag for all of their essentials, and it has room for additional products the hospital provides for them. I felt like they needed an official hospital bag as well.

Belly & Bag Baby Bodly Hospital Bag 
The perfect way to cut all of the packing and shopping in half. I’ll talk more about the Baby Bodly bag towards the end of the blog, but what a time saver this was!

Baby Things & Mommy Things Bag
After purchasing the “Mama Bag,” the baby things and mommy things bags popped up on my recommendations. Of course, I fell in love with them and had to get them. They were under $12, and I figured I could use them for the years to come! I love the quality of them. I put the baby’s little mittens, hat, and socks into theirs. I put my phone charger, earphones, and USB chord in mine.

When to Pack Your Hospital Bag

This is totally up to you! I usually follow what my apps tell me to do regarding my pregnancy timeline. I wanted all of my bags to be packed by 37 weeks. I was born just before 36-weeks, so you never know when the baby will arrive! Once 37 weeks gets here, and you’re in the final stretch, moving around and packing gets harder. I also am ready to go if anything happens before my 40-week mark. You should start getting those bags put together towards the end of your third trimester! You can even put some items on your baby shower registry to help get things rolling. 

Hospital Bag Clothing for Mom:

I am packing clothes for coming home, clothes to change into after giving birth, and an extra pair of pajamas if the stay is more extended than expected. With the weather being warmer in May, I didn’t know what to pack when it came to shorts or pants, so I did a mixture of both. I made sure to pack the softest, breastfeeding-friendly, and non-restrictive clothing I could find. It may seem like a lot to some, but I still feel it’s not enough. I know I’ll be in the hospital gown they provide most of the time, so that can help limit the clothing. Some people prefer to purchase their hospital gowns, but I didn’t want to get too carried away. Let me know if you wore the hospitals or brought your own, and if I should reconsider! 

Super High Waisted Silky Jersey Shorts
I have been living in these shorts my entire third trimester. I purchased them at the Express Outlet store in a few colors, and they are the most amazing shorts I’ve ever worn. I plan to pick out a few smaller sizes for postpartum. Did not use

Maternity Leggings
Over the belly maternity leggings have been my best friend since my second trimester when clothing started to get a little snug. This brand is incredible for the price. They feel like my Lululemon leggings and have managed to last throughout my entire pregnancy. I think they’ll be perfect for holding things in and making me feel comfortable for the ride home. So many were telling me it’s good to have comfortable leggings but ones that help hold everything together after birth. I purchased these in four different colors and have worn them every single day. Wore these on the way home. 

Cozy Ribbed Sweater 
I’m not sure if I’ll need this, but it’s cozy and soft! I figured it might be an excellent cardigan to have to go over a tank top or t-shirt. 

Silky Jersey Tee Shirt 
These Jersey Tee Shirts go with the high wasted silky jersey shorts as a set, and they are just as soft! I plan to wear them forever! Used

Nursing-friendly Nightgown
I’m not sure if I’ll use it, but I brought a comfortable nightgown that is nursing friendly. The material is so soft, and it buttons down in the front for nursing. I read that bringing a nightgown is a must just in case you have to heal from a c-section. Did not use it, but used it as soon as I got home. 

Nursing Bra
I should probably purchase more online, so I have them, but I found a super comfortable bra with great reviews, no back clasp (I can’t stand those!), and a great price on Amazon! Did not use it – I went braless for comfort. 

Soft Robe 
One of my sweet friends bought me the most comfortable robe to bring to the hospital. I’ve heard that the nurses are constantly coming in to check on you, and getting dressed and undressed is not comfortable while recovering after birth. She said she pretty much lived in underwear and the robe postpartum. I feel I’ll probably do the same, and it makes it easier to do skin-to-skin with the baby. Used

Oversized Sweatshirt
I figured an oversized sweatshirt for the ride home would be comfortable! Used

Loose Fitting Pajama Set
Again, I don’t know if I’ll use these, but I am bringing them in case we are there longer than expected. I made sure all the pajamas I purchased were easy for nursing since I’ll use them during my postpartum journey. I will most likely be living in them for the following weeks that we are home. Used

Postpartum Belly Band 
So many people recommended bringing in a postpartum belly band because it feels weird when the baby is out of your uterus. They described it as mushy, and your organs are just hanging around, ready to go back into place. I laughed when someone told me that, but sign me up if a postpartum belly band helps keep everything together! I purchased one in a peach color; I can wear it for the following weeks under my clothing. I didn’t end up using this. I just wanted to be comfortable, and the belly band felt restricted. 

Postpartum Frida Mom Disposable Brief Underwear 
These were highly recommended! I bought a few boxes of the postpartum Frida Mom disposable brief underwear. I read that it feels good to hang around the house in these with padsicles and an oversized t-shirt. I know the hospital provides a lot of postpartum necessities, but I thought it would be nice to have these as a choice. I used these at home for postpartum recovery during week four and wore what the hospital provided. I had a lot of bleeding/fluid that required a huge pad, and it fits better with the hospital’s brief underwear. Once I got home, I switched to the large Always Discreet postpartum disposable underwear. You may want to bring a few of these to the hospital with you as well. The Always Discreet underwear worked so much better for postpartum recovery.

Vionic Sneakers 
I’m bringing the most comfortable shoes that I own to go home in. I have purchased these shoes over three times in multiple colors because they are my absolute favorite. I wear them when I travel and all summer long. They are made with canvas and can be thrown into the washing machine. They slip right on, so you won’t have to do any shoe tying. Wore these to and from the hospital.

Headband 
I am not a headband person, but this is a must for keeping hair out of my face during labor. Used

Socks with Grips –
I am bringing my fuzzy socks with grips to keep warm during labor and keep myself from sliding on the hospital floors. Everyone has said they are so slippery, and socks with grips are on most people’s hospital bag list. I LOVED having my warm fuzzy socks with me. As soon as I got the epidural, my feet were freezing. 

Shower Shoes 
I purchased some unisex shower shoes on Amazon for Kyle and me. They are great for post-birth showers to keep you from falling and to keep your feel clean! Did not use (but only because I didn’t shower at the hospital– read why here)

Memory Foam Slippers 
I am bringing my favorite memory foam slippers for walking the halls during labor or for postpartum comfort. Used

Sleeping Eye Mask –
You can’t control all of the lights in the room, which will make it super hard to sleep. I found the most comfortable sleeping eye mask on Amazon and packed one for both of us! Used

Miscellaneous & Tech Items for Hospital Bag

Portable Fan 
I’ve heard that the hospital rooms can be either super cold or hot! But during birth, you’ll want the fan on you! I bought a fan that can attach to the arms of the hospital bed. The best part about this fan is that it is wireless, and I can use it on the stroller in the summer. Used

Extra Long Cell Phone Chargers
You will want to have a phone charger that can reach your hospital bed. After an epidural, there’s no more getting up. Used

Laptop + USB cord to stream movies.
The hospital may have poor internet service, so pre-download the shows and movies you want to watch on your devices in advance. Did not use it/or bring it, but we brought the firestick to hook up to the T.V. 

Cell Phones / White Noise
Instead of bringing a portable sound machine to the hospital, download a calming sleep app to listen with your headphones or download a sleep machine noise app that you can play on your phone. We use the white noise app every time we travel. Used

Wireless Earphones 
I use my wireless headphones (the AirPods knockoffs) religiously. Make sure they’re charged up, and bring them with you! You may want to watch videos while your spouse is sound asleep, or it may help get you to fall asleep by listening to calming tunes or a podcast. I listen to a podcast to fall asleep every night. Used

Heating Pad –
I’ve been married to my heating pad this entire pregnancy. I put it on my back, and it helps take away my heartburn pain instantly! I hear it’s great to have with you during contractions. Did not bring it, but wish I would have!

Breast Pump for Lactation Consultant Session
I don’t plan to use my breast pump for a few weeks after giving birth, but the hospital provides a lactation consultant that can help navigate me when it comes to using the pumps and measuring for the right sizes! I’m seriously overwhelmed with pumping, so I’m glad they have someone there to help navigate it all. I purchased a pump through my insurance, so I hope it arrives in time! Did not bring it because it did not arrive in time. 

Birth Plan
I don’t plan to have a plan, BUT there are a few things I’d like to happen if I can, and I’ll write those all down on a notecard to keep in my bag just in case. I think it has EPIDURAL in caps and in bold, which is about it.  

Gifts for Nurses
I know that some people make gift baskets for the labor and delivery nurses, but I think I’ll just order Crumbl cookies and pizza for them to share that evening! This was recommended by one of my good NP friends who works in the Nicu. I ordered Crumbl cookies instead of doing any gift baskets and they loved it! 

Snacks For Hospital Bag 

Sugar-Free Hard Candy
Our birthing instructor said that sucking on sugar-free hard candy is super helpful. She told me the sugar-free help you from having a dry mouth, so I went ahead and purchased some Jolly Ranchers! Did not use them, but we did eat the gummy bears postpartum

Muscle Milk –
You can choose any kind of protein drink you want, but Muscle Milk is one of my favorites. I love how much protein it has, and it’s the perfect post-birth or even pre-birth protein source. The birthing instructor also recommended this. She said you’d be surprised that sometimes food is the last thing you want, but a quick protein source like Muscle Milk can help. Used

Trail Mix

Crackers

Lactation Cookies and Bars – Boobie Bars

Hydromom Electrolyte Drink Mix by Boobie

Prenatal Gummies

Trader Joe’s Snacks
Dried Mango
Unsalted Cashews
Figs

Yogurt –
We have a refrigerator in our room, so hopefully, I’ll have some fresh apples, yogurt, and other healthier options to bring with me before I leave! 

You never know what your body may crave so you can bring some change for the vending machines, and your partner can even head down to the hospital cafeteria. 

*packing snacks was a great idea. Kyle ended up eating so many of them during labor, and it was nice to have healthier options postpartum. I didn’t want anything heavy after labor and take the risk of getting sick.

Comfort Essentials for Hospital Bag

Pillow
I’m bringing an older pillow from home that I can just toss out when I’m done. Used! This was such a game-changer. The hospital pillows are like paper. I highly recommend bringing one or two pillows! 

Cozy Blanket
I bought a heavy and cozy blanket at Homegoods to take with me. I read that the hospital blankets and pillows they provide are thin as paper. Used. Just like the pillow, it was so nice to have a warm cozy blanket. The hospital blankets are thin as sheets. 

Nursing Pillow
I’m bringing my Boppy nursing pillow for breastfeeding, and the lactation consultant recommended it. Did not use. 

Towel
They also said that the hospital’s towels are like sheets. I am bringing some older towels that I can toss out when I’m done. Did not use it, but if you plan to shower at the hospital, you’ll definitely want to bring one.

Water Bottle
I have not parted ways with my water bottle since getting pregnant. I drink about 140 fl oz of water each day. I’m even waking up to chug my water bottle in the middle of the night. I used to go days without craving water, but it’s all I have wanted since getting pregnant. I’ve heard it gets even worse when you’re nursing. Used

Exercise Ball
I thought hospitals provided these, but it was on our what to bring list from the hospital, so I purchased one and will just bring it in the box and have Kyle inflate it once we get to the hospital. I’ll leave my other one at home! It’ll be nice to have one for the downstairs and one for the upstairs when I get home. I remember my niece loved being bounced to sleep with the exercise ball. Did not bring and did not use. 

Lavender Essential Oil Roll-On
You don’t want to bring a diffuser because the scents can carry into other rooms, and you’ll want to be sensitive to other patients. I plan to bring my lavender essential oil roll-on to put on my pillows and wrists for breathing. Used

What I packed for baby 

Going Home Outfit 
I wasn’t too picky about what they’d be going home in, especially since I won’t know the weather or the gender. I just bought a cozy white outfit and some zipper onesies for their comfort. It was good to have options because he didn’t fit a lot of the clothing!

Multiple Swaddles 
My sister-in-law told me that the nurses come in to check the baby a lot, so you won’t want to keep dressing and undressing them. Keeping them in a swaddle helps make it easier for them and you. I brought about five swaddles for the baby. We also plan to take home the swaddles and let our dogs sniff them before introducing them to the baby. We will also put a dog toy with the baby as a gift to them from the baby. Highly recommend bringing zipper swaddles! I mentioned this in my labor blog, but you’ll get better sleep at night if they have a safe swaddle instead of being wrapped up. My sweet boy kept breaking out of the hospital swaddle. 

Zipper Onesies 
I bought several comfortable onesies for them to make changing in and out super easy! I also like that they’re soft and lightweight for the May weather. The Old Navy NEWBORN onesies fit the best. 

Mittens –
I know that babies have super long nails, so I purchased some mittens for them to protect their faces from getting scratched. Used

Custom Swaddles With Our Boy/Girl Names!
I had an Etsy shop make some custom muslin swaddles with our boy name and girl name! This is going to be a fun way to announce the gender and name to our friends and family.

Baby Bodly so kindly gifted me with a packed hospital bag with all the carefully-sourced birthing essentials. This eliminated so much time purchasing products and putting shampoos and soaps into travel containers, and it helped me decide what to bring. It contained items I would have never thought of. This would be an incredible gift for someone expecting in your life. The bag is filled with essentials, and I plan to use it after birth as a diaper bag! It’s easy to clean, comes with a changing pad, and it’s so conventional. The bag has so much room for clothing and other essentials. 

What the Baby Bodly Hospital Bag Has in it:

• Weekender Bag + Changing Pad 
• Waterproof Toiletry Bag
• Grippy Socks
• Travel-size Shampoo + Conditioner + Body Moisturizer + Body Wash + Bath Bar
• Aluminum-free Deodorant
• Cotton Balls + Cotton Swabs + Mini Nail File + Shower Cap + Fillable Spray Bottle
• Organic Maxi Pads
• Bamboo Toothbrush + All-natural Toothpaste
• Hairbrush + Hair Ties
• Beeswax Lip Balm
• Facial Towelettes
• Honey Sticks
• Massage Ball
• Thank You Cards + Pen
• Disposable Bamboo Nursing Pads
• Organic Nipple Balm
• Reusable Water Bottle
• Universal Portable Phone Charger
• Flip-flop Shower Sandals

Extra Products I packed for my Hospital Bag

Burt’s Bees Lotion
This is one of the products I mentioned in my second-trimester blog. I cannot live without my nighttime Burt’s Bees facial moisturizer. Used

Hatch Mama Nipple + Lip Butter
I use this day and night! I plan to put this in my bag as well. Used

Burt’s Bees Facial Wipes
The Baby Bodly bag provided the facial cleaning Burt’s Bees wipes, so I also threw in the refreshing Burt’s Bees wipes! I love the coolness of the cucumber. Used

Hair Ties
One thing you never want to leave the house without! You can also donate items you don’t use to the hospital for other mamas. So if I bring an entire pack of hair ties and do not use them, I can donate them if I want! I think that’s a great idea. That’s why I don’t feel bad about overpacking. Used

Postpartum Healing Spray 
The hospital will provide you with healing spray, but just in case, bring some! Used

Mascara 
I haven’t worn makeup during my pregnancy. I can count the number of times I’ve worn makeup, and it’s on one hand! I put it on for my baby shower and some maternity pictures, and that’s about it. I don’t plan to bring my makeup to the hospital aside from my mascara and the foundation I put on my dark circles. Call me crazy, but I don’t want a glam shot after giving birth or feel the pressure of putting on makeup. But if makeup is your thing, bring it! No judgment at all. Used

Tarte Clay Foundation 
I always use the clay foundation from Tarte. It goes on like butter, and I only apply it underneath my eyes to hide my dark circles. Used

The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist

The Baby Bodly bag provides the ultimate hospital bag checklist that includes your driver’s license, insurance cards, paperwork, a  birthplace, and more!

Preparing for Postpartum At-Home

Not only should you be prepared for your hospital stay, but being prepared at home is a big one as well! You don’t need any added stress when bringing home the baby. I’ve been making sure our house stays spotless, our home is organized, all baby items are clean and put together, and I’ve created a little station upstairs to keep my postpartum necessities together. My mom will be staying at our house while we are at the hospital to take care of our dogs, and she is going to do some grocery shopping and meal prep while we are gone. 

Disposable Underwear Highly recommend! I went through two packs.

Padsicles
Placed in the freezer!

Nursing Pads

Peri Bottle 
Highly recommend bringing this to the hospital. It was much better than what the hospital provided. 

Frida Mom Wipes

Nursing Nightgowns
Washed and placed at the front of my closet.

Nipple Frozen Gel Packs
I placed it in the freezer! I used these a ton the first few weeks but eventually, the pain goes away!

Water Bottle

Lactation Cookies 
I love the How Sweet Eats recipe and will have a massive bag of them in my freezer ready to eat. I also have other location bars, snacks, and water bottles upstairs for the middle of the night feeding sessions. 

Postpartum Healing Spray 

I hope this hospital bag post helped you! I will come back to update this post in a month or so! If there is anything I’m forgetting, please let me know in the comments!

Questions for you!

1. What was the number one thing you used in your hospital bag?
2. Are you expecting? Have you packed your hospital bag?
3. Is there anything I’m missing?

Today’s blog post will not be as organized as other recaps. I haven’t taken that many photos the past three weeks, so I’ll compile all the ones I took and a few from over the weekend. We get one of those unorganized and wildly out-of-order blogs now and then, but that’s what my life is right now. We had a few days where the weather jumped into the 80s. Those are the mornings I like to sit outside on the porch with my coffee while the dogs play or cuddle up next to me. All of my flowers have been budding, and even our trees are starting to get their leaves. This is the weather I live for!

On Wednesdays, I go in for my prenatal massages. Lucky for me, it’s right next to Homegoods and Starbucks. I love to treat myself with a little post-massage cappuccino and a stroll around Homegoods. I’ve also had most of my prenatal appointments every other Wednesday, so it’s a full day for me!

During this pregnancy, and even before it, I dealt with some of the most excruciating back pain. Over the past month, I started to get that same unbearable pain underneath my right side rib cage. It felt like a burning and bruised sensation. I thought it was a pinched nerve this entire time, and I even had my gallbladder ultrasound a few years back. Last week, the new doctor I saw thought that it may just be severe heartburn and not a pinched nerve. She told me to start taking two Tums after every meal and prescribed me Pepcid if the pain didn’t go away with Tums. Get this; I have not had that pain in over a week. It turns out it was most likely heartburn I was experiencing and not a pinched nerve at all. I didn’t think heartburn would cause terrible back pain, but it does! I can’t believe I’m actually pain-free.
  
 
 

I have been cooking a lot lately and sticking to easy meals healthy snacks, and sometimes we’ll get the occasional takeout. My food cravings are always all over the place. I try to make extras to keep in the fridge to heat meals when I’m hungry throughout the day.
 Many of these recipes are on my TikTok! My spring flowers are still coming up, and now my tulips have begun to catch up with the hyacinths. I love this spring weather.

Last Thursday, my dad helped us pick up 15 giant privacy trees for the yard! I am so excited to get these into the ground. I live in a neighborhood outside the city where the houses are close. Even though I love my neighbors, I just want to be able to walk outside without a bra on
 One thing I’ve loved these past few weeks is my homemade shamrock shakes! It’s on the lighter side. A weekend ago, I decided to wash all the baby clothing, baby blankets, swaddles, and more! I wanted to get that out of the way so we can finish up the nursery. It wasn’t too hard since I kept the baby’s clothing minimal. I can fit all of the clothing into one drawer, making me feel super stress-free. The more clothing you have, the more laundry you’ll pile up! Plus, babies grow out of their clothing so fast, so I’ll have room to purchase what they need as the days go by.


One of my favorite things to do is bake. Kyle asked me if I would bake a cake for his boss’s 15th work anniversary, and I was so happy to do it! I will look for any excuse to bake. His boss loves Snickers, so I made a triple chocolate layered cake with caramel, snickers, and peanut butter buttercream between the layers. I topped the cake with a chocolate caramel ganache drip, more snickers, peanuts, and peanut butter chocolate buttercream.
 I always make cupcakes so we can test out the cake first! They were AMAZING! I can share this recipe if you’d like.

I think the cake turned out pretty great
  After a day of cake baking, it was time to take Leo out on his walk!
 I still need to get the nursery blog up soon, but we’re working on more decorating. We purchased a $5 toy chest on our neighborhood marketplace and painted it filmy green to match the board and batten. I LOVE how it turned out! I wanted a sturdy place to put my morning coffee and a lamp. I had an end table there, but it was too wobbly on the carpet.

On Wednesday, I headed up to Charlottesville, Virginia, to photograph one of my friend’s weddings! She’s having a destination wedding in late April but decided to have a wedding here in the states with family to celebrate before heading to the islands. I’m so sad I will miss her island wedding, but I won’t be allowed to fly by that time.

Speaking of my friend, Emily, is now a published author! This is such an exciting time for her, and if you’re looking for the perfect children’s book to add to your collection, please consider checking out Papayo: The Peruvian Puppy! She wrote the story after meeting Papayo in real life while traveling Peru! The book is so incredibly sweet and I’m excited to read it to my kids one day! You’re going to love it!
 Before heading to the winery to shoot Emily’s wedding, I had breakfast at Farm Bell Kitchen in downtown Charlottesville. My mom tagged along with me since it was a 4 1/2 hour drive, and we had so much fun watching movies at the hotel and exploring the city and wineries a bit. We want to come back when the weather is warmer! The city is stunning. We split a three-cheese and veggie omelet, potatoes, a blueberry scone, and bacon! I had an oat milk cappuccino, and everything was so delicious! I loved the atmosphere, and the staff couldn’t have been any friendlier!
I can’t wait to share some of the photos from the wedding!
 I had the most delicious meal at the winery before finishing up photos and heading back to the hotel for the night! The wedding was an absolute dream, and Emily was a stunning bride.

I was up at 3 am the next day because of my pregnancy insomnia. It’s been a battle, but I can usually fall back asleep after a few hours. My mom and I decided to grab a quick hotel breakfast and get on the road before the Friday morning traffic. I forgot how good fruitloops were
 After shooting the wedding, I felt like I was hit by a bus! My feet and body were sore, so I had a morning rush juice from Whole Foods to help with the inflammation. I also had a massage this morning, and I’m feeling back to my usual self! I told myself that I would hang around the house and relax the next month before the baby comes. I have so much to do around here, and it’s time to relax my body! My tulips!!! I can’t wait for them to open.  Leo was happy to have mom home!

These are the only two photos I took all weekend. I told Kyle I didn’t want to do anything all weekend unless it involved watching movies and sitting on the couch, so that is exactly what we did! Sometimes, you need those weekends, and it’s been a while since I’ve just sat still.

I hope you all have a fantastic week, and I’ll try to get a bit more organized for next week’s recap blog! xo

Questions for you!

1. Do you ever need “do nothing” weekends?
2. Are you a Shamrock Shake fan?
3. Do you have any St. Patrick’s Day plans?

I am feeling so incredibly grateful and lucky to have such sweet friends. I wasn’t planning on having a baby shower since most of my family live throughout the U.S., and I wanted them to save the trip for when the baby arrives. Some of my close girlfriends wouldn’t let me off the hook and decided to throw me the sweetest baby shower lunch. These girls you’ve seen pop up in my blogs throughout the years, whether traveling to Hawaii, running a half marathon, having a wine night in the living room, driving the coast of California together, or eating our way through Disney World. We’ve been through a lot together! I cherish our friendships, and it truly made me feel so loved when I walked through the doors on Saturday afternoon. I wanted to cry! Sometimes, when you’re pregnant, it’s hard to be a good friend and show up for the people in your life because you’re either sick, feeling moody, uncomfortable, or tired half of the time. My girls have been so understanding and have never made me feel bad about staying home.

I wanted to share some photos and special moments on the blog today!
The amount of time and detail that went into this baby shower blew me away. Although, I’m not surprised. If I ever needed to hire a group of girls for a last-minute event, they’d throw something extravagant together within an hour. I thought we were going to have some lunch together, so when I walked into Emily’s house and saw these gorgeous green (the colors of our nursery) balloon arch, I about fell over! They nailed the green team theme!
Caitlin had her sister, a local baker in Fort Mill, create gorgeous cookies, macaroons, and a stunning cake to celebrate. If you live in Charlotte or the Fort Mill area, you need to check her out! I had her make our cookies and macaroons for our wedding, and they were stunning! Everything she made was a dream!
Inside the cake was funfetti  Look how pretty these cookies are!


I had a lot of questions about my dress on Instagram. I ended up buying this dress last minute at the Express Outlet. It’s so stretchy and comfortable, perfect for maternity or even postpartum. I plan to go back this week and pick up a few other colors because I want to live in this dress! Being comfortable in your third trimester is already challenging, so when you find something that feels good, you get a ton of them! I purchased the softest long ribbed cardigan to wear over the top since it was pretty cold on Saturday, and I loved how cozy and comfortable I was. I found these super comfortable flats at Saks Off 5th!
They say dogs know when you’re pregnant, and Emily’s dog was very interested in my belly!
 
We had so much fun playing games, opening gifts, and eating all the desserts!
 Look how stunning this setup was! Caitlin made me a grapefruit maternity mimosa, and now all I want is grapefruit juice! It was delicious  




A HUGE thank you to these girls for making my day so darn special. It’s crazy how life is flying by. Friends are getting married, having babies, building houses, and moving across the country, yet we all get together to celebrate these special moments. I feel so lucky to have them in my life.


Thank you all for stopping by today to read the blog! I hope you enjoyed the photos, and I hope you have a great week! I have a gardening blog scheduled for Wednesday!

Questions for you!

1. Did you have a baby shower?
2. Were you team green, or did you find out the gender?
3. How did you feel in your third trimester?
4. What are your gender predictions? Am I having a boy or a girl?

If you’re reading my second-trimester recap after finishing up my first (first-trimester recap), I have good news for you! It DOES get better; well, it did for me! I remember reading so many first-trimester recaps online and getting frustrated with the “perfect pregnancy talk” and “luckily, I never got sick.” I even doubted the relatable ones when they said they eventually felt better, but now, I’m less bitter about it all. I feel like my pregnancy has taken all sorts of turns. I traded in those terrible side effects for more physically uncomfortable ones, but I’ll take these over being sick any day!

Can you believe I only have a few more months before our baby arrives?  People are not kidding when they say, “it will all go by so fast!” Today, I’m sharing my second-trimester journey, answering a few of your questions, and sharing maternity products I have purchased and loved so far! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve genuinely enjoyed the second half of my second trimester.
 

Favorite Maternity Clothes

Luckily, most of my pregnancy has been through the winter months, so I’ve been able to wear my oversized sweaters, baggy sweatpants, and leggings. I haven’t purchased too many maternity items, but the ones I have purchased have been incredible! I know I’ll be living in those oversized Target T-shirts, tunic-style dresses, and soft shorts when April and May roll around. I don’t want to go out and buy more clothing, so I will put my fashion on hold and wear whatever fits. I’ll continue hiding out from the fashion police.

ZJCT Women’s Yoga Sweatpants Comfy Loose Casual Wide Leg Lounge Pants with Pockets

Every morning and night, I LIVE in these lounge pants. They are so loose and soft. The bands don’t even feel like they’re wrapped around you! It’s the closest thing to wearing pants but feeling like you’re naked. I purchased them in grey, blue, brown, and green and will grab a few more. I want to wear them postpartum as well! Even if you’re not pregnant, these pants will make anyone happy.

POSHDIVAH Women’s Maternity Leggings Over The Belly Pregnancy Yoga Pants Active Wear Workout Leggings

The Poshdivah Women’s Maternity Leggings are INCREDIBLE! I purchased one pair when my regular leggings started getting tight. I fell so in love with them that I ordered six more pairs in different colors. I purchased several in black because I figured I’d be wearing these daily. They are inexpensive and feel just like my Lululemon leggings. I bought the medium and have been able to wear them throughout my pregnancy. You will not regret this purchase! They don’t shrink or wear down in the wash, either.

Old Navy Maternity Jeans

I LOVE the Old Navy maternity jeans. I only bought one pair since they’re a bit pricy and I don’t plan to wear jeans that often. I was not expecting them to be so darn comfortable and cute! They don’t have buttons or zippers, and they are regular jeans. They slide right on!

Bras

I have purchased some new sports bras at TJMaxx that are super soft and went up a few sizes to give myself extra breathing room. I didn’t realize how restricted I would feel after week 22. I love that the TjMaxx bras come in sets and are pretty inexpensive. I also found some nursing bras there that zip down the front! I hate bras with back clamps, and most of the stores and online have those.

What Products Are You Currently Using?

I have changed out almost ALL of my products. I only use Tarte Clay Foundation under my eyes and the Honest Company Mascara for makeup. I wear makeup maybe once a week.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I traded all my products for pregnancy-safe ones. I think I’ll end up sticking with these from here on out!

Native Deodorant
Earth Mama Deodorant
Gentle Facial Cleanser Burt’s Bees
Honest Beauty Deep Hydrating Face Cream (do not put on after the shower)
Night Time Cream Sensitive Skin Burt’s Bees
Burt’s Bees Mama Body Oil
Origins Hand Cream
Down Girl Hatch Mama Foot Lotion
Nipple + Lip Balm Hatch Mama
Hatch Mama Belly Oil 
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Conditioner 
Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo
Love Mama Honest Relief Soothing Jelly
Burt’s Bees Belly Butter

Are You Taking Any Medications?

I am not taking any medications other than my prenatal and iron supplements. During the first trimester and the beginning of the second, I took Unisom + B6 to help with sickness. It was a game-changer! I had to slowly wean myself from Unisom and B6 because I immediately got sick the first time I tried to go cold turkey. From week 16-22, I only took 1/4 of each tablet until I didn’t need them anymore. I only took Zofran a few times to help break a cycle, but that was if I couldn’t keep food down for over 24-hours. I haven’t experienced any nausea for the past ten weeks!

Second-Trimester Diet

It’s MUCH better than the first. My food aversions have finally gone away, and I’m able to eat fruit, fresh vegetables, proteins, and better-for-you foods. Now, I still get the crazy cravings, but nothing like it was before. My appetite is much more robust, and I have to eat more frequent meals throughout the day. I have been loving berries, cantaloupe, pizza, romaine lettuce-based salads, decaf cappuccinos, smoothies, cereal, oatmeal, grilled chicken, steak, and cooked vegetables! My sweet cravings are for things like cake and cookies.

Are You Having a Baby Shower

I wasn’t planning on having a baby shower because my family is all over the place, and they’ll be visiting in May/June when the baby arrives. My good girlfriends are doing a little shower for me to celebrate the baby this weekend.

Have You Picked Out Your Baby Names?

Yes! We are 100% sure of our baby names for our boy/girl. I love that we are both so mutually in love with the names, so there is no back and forth arguing. I don’t think I’ll share the names online, but maybe their nicknames!

Is Your Husband Allowed at Your Appointments?

He was allowed at my appointments during the first five months, but they’ve changed it now where husbands cannot come in with you. This makes me mad because I believe the husband is just as important in these appointments as the wife. It takes two to make a baby. It also doesn’t make too much sense to me because if he has covid, then I most likely have it. It’s rough seeing 75k maskless people gather for a football game, but my husband can’t come to a doctor’s appointment with me. It makes me sad for partners that want to be involved, and Kyle is just as excited as I am. He would have loved to listen to the heartbeat, and I think it’s a crucial way to help dad and baby bond. I know there are so many opinions on this, and I’m not trying to start any kind of debate (so don’t even try to leave hateful comments because I won’t approve them), but it’s a frustration of mine. I can understand why people are tired of all of this. We listen to the rules by social distancing, wearing masks, staying home if you don’t feel well, and getting vaccinated, but when does it all end? And half of the rules don’t even make sense. So no, unfortunately, I have to go to the appointments alone.

What Symptoms Are You experiencing?

My sickness and weird first-trimester symptoms have turned into more physical ones. A few have stuck around!

I feel like the baby is sitting on my bladder at all times. It feels like I have to pee, even though I don’t. I’ve dealt with ligament stretching these past few weeks, so my ribs are finally taking a hit. I’ve mentioned this before, but I had a horrible pinched nerve in my back before getting pregnant. I was regularly seeing a chiropractor, but that didn’t help. Since getting pregnant, it’s excruciating. If I trigger the pain, it’ll be an all-day thing. Walking without good posture, cleaning, cooking, or even driving for too long can trigger the pain. It’s like sharp burning and stabbing pain in the middle of my back. I’m now getting prenatal massages to help with the discomfort, and I find that my heating pad works the best for instant relief. I’ll have to take care of this after having the baby since it’s a pain I’ve had for years.

I still have swollen gums, which the dentist said should clear as soon as the baby arrives. It’s due to the extra hormones. The good thing about the hormones is that my skin and face have never been this soft or clear in my entire life. I feel like I have my second-grade complexion back! It’s true what they say about the pregnancy glow.

Aside from that, I was fortunate to feel GREAT during my second trimester. I deserved it after the first

How much weight have you gained so far?

I didn’t think I’d ever share this, but I just want to be relatable. So many people have asked this question, and I know it’s so personal. When I first started blogging, it always revolved around my body, so I get the focus on it still, even if I’ve managed to stay away from that focus. Pregnancy is beautiful, but yes, I’ve put on the expected weight. Even though I’ve been walking a ton, eating well, drinking water, and getting good sleep, I’ve put on 36 pounds so far. I’m 5’8, so I do carry it pretty well. I know that would scare some people, but I’m not even slightly concerned. Being pregnant means storing extra fat, growing a different organ, retaining water, gaining up to 10 extra pints of blood, carrying a baby, and so much more! There are so many weight factors that are simply uncontrollable, and every body is different. Some people hardly gain weight, and some just pack it on quickly. It started creeping up later in my second trimester. I’m sure I’ll put on another 10 or 15 pounds in the next ten weeks, but it’s all worth it!

There are some people who are absolutely adorable while pregnant. I am just not one of them

Weight is temporary. Sure, it SUCKS not to fit my cute clothes, but it’s just something I’ll work towards when the doctor gives me the green light to work out and diet. I plan on breastfeeding, so I won’t be beating myself up after labor because I know even breastfeeding can cause extreme hunger. The best thing you can do is listen to your body.  I can’t wait for long walks in the stroller, hot yoga, and tennis to start back up. The good thing is I’m having a baby in the warmer months. I know so many women struggle with weight, so I wanted to share that I’m right there with you, and it’ll be so worth it! Your baby doesn’t care how much weight you’ve packed on. They care about you being the best parent to them. Pregnancy is beautiful and a blessing. As long as the doctor tells you you’re healthy and everything is fine, just keep enjoying it. I plan to share all about body changes and my journey after postpartum.

What Have You Enjoyed The Most?

I have enjoyed experiencing all of the beautiful changes my body has made. Sometimes, I’ll sit for hours, holding my belly and feeling the baby kick. It’s my favorite part, and we have one active baby! The doctor told me to start doing kick counts. You want to make sure your baby moves ten times in 1 hour, but having a posterior placenta and a very active baby, I get ten kicks in about five minutes. And these kicks are strong! You can see them bulging on the outside of my stomach. It’s super fun, and I love it. I should post some videos for you all soon!

I have enjoyed the learning process as well. Every time I read a pregnancy book, I find it fascinating and just want to learn more and more!

This has been such a fun way to bond as a married couple. We have so much fun working on the nursery, making trips to BuyBuyBaby, and just going through this experience together. We often talk about what we think our child will be like, and it’s fun to imagine how they’ll look, sound, or what gender they’ll be!  I also love using the pregnancy card around Kyle shh! The other night I woke up so thirsty, and he insisted on going downstairs to get my ice water, or he would make the trip up the stairs to grab something I forgot. He’s just the best partner! He’s very attentive and always asks if I need anything. He was like that before, but now it’s extra! I think dads try to make up for not going through the discomfort of carrying a child.

The two anatomy scans we had were amazing! I loved seeing our baby moving around in there.

Are You Still Waiting to Find Out The Gender?

Yes! We are so excited about the surprise. Every time we go to an appointment or ultrasound, it’s the first thing that comes out of our mouths. We don’t want the surprise to be ruined. We have waited this long, so it would be sad if the gender were to slip. I have zero sense of what I’m having, but kyle and I have our bets on opposite genders. He thinks we’re having a girl, and I think we’re having a boy. I am carrying pretty low, which most people say is a boy! But all of that is just a bunch of old wives’ tales. I’ve kept everything in the nursery neutral, but I’ll have to buy a set of bows to go with some of the outfits if it’s a girl.

Have Your Dogs Noticed You’re Pregnant?

I’m not sure! Leo is exceptionally clingy with me, but that may be because he’s my little walking buddy. He has also stopped jumping up on me and will come to lay his head on my belly. The baby sometimes kicks him when Leo puts his head on my stomach. I’m not sure if he notices, but I read that dogs can hear your baby in the womb after 27-weeks. I know he’s going to be the best doggy brother! Tux has always been sweet and gentle, so it’s hard to tell if he notices.

Second-Trimester Workouts?

Walking! I still walk every day, even if it’s just one mile. I am pretty active around the house doing things, and I’ve also tried incorporating prenatal YouTube yoga videos into my weekly routine. Sometimes, I get a little bored with those videos and end up laying on the floor doing my stretches, but it’s the effort that counts, right?

I have noticed more discomfort this past week that makes walking harder. I get awful bladder pressure and need to sit down for a second. I try not to drink anything a few hours before my walk to help.

Are You and Your Husband Taking Any Classes?

Yes! We had our first class through our hospital on Saturday morning. It was a 4-hour class that covered everything! I loved taking the course through the hospital because they explained everything they offer, gave a tour, and told us what we could expect. All hospitals do things differently, so I felt prepared after that class. I have also been reading so much!

Are You Feeling Over Emotional at All?

I figured pregnancy would put me in hormonal overdrive. I don’t think I’ve been this calm and relaxed in my entire life. Nothing seems to bother me, I’m not crying all the time (my period hormones would send me into a crying frenzy), and I feel extremely stress-free. I had a bit of anxiety during the first few weeks of pregnancy, but that went away pretty quickly. I’ve been very happy and taking everything as it comes. I used to feel super restless, but that has gone away. I think my body wants me to chill out now and then.

How did your 1-hour glucose testing go?

I don’t know why I was so nervous about taking this test. I’ve heard so many awful things on the internet about it. First off, I chose the orange flavor. It was DELICIOUS! You have to wait an hour after drinking the glucose before getting your blood drawn, but I had an appointment directly after with my OBGYN, which helped make up for some of the time sitting in the lobby with a sugar high. Like many people warned me, I didn’t get dizzy, have a headache, or have a wild sugar crash afterward. I was more tired later that afternoon, but I think it’s because I didn’t have my coffee, and I slept terrible the night before.

I got my results back a day later and had passed. I was shocked because so many people said they failed the first test (i guess they make it easy to fail just to make sure they don’t miss GD), and I was surprised because my blood sugar was low. I think the range is 65-139, and I was at 62. The doctors said that is completely fine. I go on many walks, drink a lot of water, and get a good amount of sleep at night, all of which contribute to managing high blood sugar levels.

If you’re worried about your glucose test, don’t be! It was a breeze, and if you fail the first time, most people pass the second test! I’m upset I worry about a glucose test based on internet opinions. But again, everyone is different, so your experience may differ from mine!

Is Your Nursery Finished?

Just about! We have everything done that needs to be finished before the baby arrives. The only thing we’re waiting on is wall art and the roller shades. I thought I wanted to get it done now, but I think I’ll wait until we know the gender. It’s been the hardest thing to pick out. I may even have someone install wallpaper. I did buy a few wall pieces we’ll be hanging this weekend. It’s so cozy and calming in there! Even though the baby will be sleeping in our bedroom for the first few months, we’ll hang out in the nursery often. The room gets super dark and cozy! I’ve been working on organizing everything in there!

I will do a nursery blog post soon! (update – check out our nursery blog post!)

Do You Have Your Bags Packed?

Yes! After finishing everything else, it was the only thing I had left to do. I love that there are so many hospital bag recourses out there, and I loved hearing what people used and didn’t use. I’m keeping it pretty simple since I know the hospital provides a lot of things, but during our birthing class, the RN gave us a list of things we definitely should bring. I’ll do a separate post on that with everything I’m packing! This will give you experienced moms the chance to tell me what I’m missing and what I don’t need!

What Baby/Pregnancy Books Have You Read?

I have LOVED diving into pregnancy books. I feel like I cannot get enough information. I even read the Newborn 101 book twice.

Newborn 101: Secrets from Expert Nurses on Preparing and Caring for Your Baby at Home

The Newborn Handbook: Your Guide to Bringing Home Baby

Pregnancy Day-by-Day

Lactivate!: A User’s Guide to Breastfeeding

I’m ready for my next book, so please leave recommendations in the comment section!

Will You Have a Doula?

No. The only person I want in the delivery room with me is Kyle. We will do a lactation consultant before birth and after birth, but that’s as close as we’ll get to having anyone else help. I think the nurses do a good job coaching you through delivery, and sometimes it’s a bit much when people are in their way (I’ve heard this from many nurses.) I’d probably consider a doula if I didn’t have such a supportive husband! I know a lot of people who have loved having doulas, though.

Do You Have a Birth Plan?

I’ve learned that having a birth plan can set you up for many disappointments. I have a few things I’d like to happen at birth, like epidural, skin-to-skin, and a few other small requests, but I understand that anything can change, and there are uncontrollable moments, and I’m ready to take them on. I will prepare myself for anything to come and hope for the best. I feel so calm about giving birth and weirdly excited for that moment. I’m feeling ready!

Are You Going on a Baby Moon?

We decided not to go on a babymoon. I’m kind of regretting it because I could use a warm vacation right now, but trying to find a getaway in January and February seemed impossible. All of the hotels are booked up and insanely overpriced. We also decided not to go with omicron and the flu being highest in early January. We are planning a big beach vacation in late summer, and I know the purpose of a babymoon is to have a final trip without kids, but I’m more excited to have a vacation with our baby.

Things You Miss Now That You’re Pregnant?

I miss my endurance. It’s crazy how slow and out of breath things make me now. I still keep up with my walks and doing things around the house, but it takes me twice the time to do them. I’m huffing and puffing when I get to the top of the stairs. I love walking Leo 3 miles a day, but now it takes me over an hour and a half to do it. I used to be able to knock out a three-mile walk in 45-minutes.

I miss gardening. I’m still doing a few gardening things here and there, but I’m nervous about getting toxoplasmosis. The chances are low, but we have a neighbor with two outdoor cats who often like to hang out in my garden. I can’t enjoy it when all I can think about is toxoplasmosis. I did some rose pruning yesterday, which is fine since I’m just cutting down the roses and staying out of the dirt. My mom is coming this weekend to help me do more in-ground things to prepare for spring. Thank goodness for her!

Let’s be honest. I miss fitting into cute clothing! Every time I see my clothes in the closet, I just want to squeeze into them, but I’m grabbing my leggings and stretchy shirts for the time being.

I can’t wait to return to my tennis group and do hot yoga! Kyle works from home three days a week, so I’ll use those mornings to escape to hot yoga. Walking and hot yoga will be my postpartum plan to get back into shape. I don’t mean getting my body back, but just that endurance and some muscle strength I’ve lost.

I miss turkey sandwiches, sushi, and a few other off-limit foods! Oh, and sleeping on my back!!!

I appreciate you all stopping by to read my 2nd-trimester recap blog! If I missed any of your questions, feel free to leave those in the comment section below!

Questions for you!

1. What part of pregnancy surprised you the most?
2. Did you purchase a ton of maternity clothing?
3. What things did you miss most while being pregnant?

Catch up reading on our BIRTH BLOG!!!

I have had a lot of questions about Tux and walks. Kyle wakes up at 5 am every day to walk Tux around the block. He’s still terrified of parked cars and people (but loves other dogs.) And when he’s afraid, he freezes. The only way to get him to start walking again is to pick him up and walk a few feet. It’s adorable to watch, but he’s way too heavy for me right now to lift. Plus, he looks forward to his morning walks with Kyle, and he’s up pouncing around and wagging his tail before we even get downstairs. Sometimes, I’ll sit in bed and watch him on the camera because it’s so dang cute. He throws his toys up in the air and pounces on them. I never thought I’d see the day, but he’s transforming right before our eyes, and it makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

On Tuesday of last week, I finished writing my recap blog, made a smoothie, and headed out for a three-mile walk with Leo. My smoothie had frozen raspberries, bananas, frozen peaches, unsweetened almond milk, and vanilla plant-based protein powder. My walks are a lot slower now and sometimes uncomfortable with the baby putting so much pressure on my bladder, but I know they’re good for me, so I push through! I always feel so relaxed and calm afterward. When I first found out I was pregnant, there was this crazy rush of anxiety (even though I was so excited), but walking was the only thing that helped! Eventually, it went away, and my doctor told me it was a rush of hormones, but I’m a massive believer that walking is one of the best exercises for your body!  After walking, I had Homegoods and Chopt Salad date with a friend. Those are two of my favorite things!

I had the Harvest salad with egg, kale, sweet potatoes, cranberries, falafel, chicken, brussels sprouts, avocado, goat cheese, and pepitas. This is one of my favorite combos! I usually get the house vinaigrette on the side for my dressing.

My cravings change almost every week. This week, I couldn’t get enough fruit! I wanted grapes, peaches, berries, apples, cantaloupe, and anything I could get my hands on. I watch my movies or shows during the evenings while snacking on big fruit salad bowls. I usually eat a big lunch around 3 pm, which keeps me full until evening. I can’t stomach big dinners, or I end up feeling sick or sleeping terribly. Since I go to bed by 7:45 pm, I like eating early to help digestion.
I spent the entire day cleaning the house on Wednesday. I always dedicate one day a week to power cleaning and laundry. I was going to hire a cleaning service while pregnant, but I kind of love doing it myself. I put on some podcast and start cleaning away! I consider it as being active, and it gets me up moving. One of my friends dropped off a lunch sandwich from Tega Cay Deli, and it made my day! It had chicken, tomatoes, onion, lettuce, bacon, Havarti cheese, and mayo on a wheat bagel.  Leo and I headed out on Thursday for a three-mile walk! The weather was so warm, and it started to feel like spring. I already need new walking shoes because my feet feel like they’re growing! These shoes fit perfectly a few months ago, but now my toes are touching the tips. Pregnancy does some weird things to your body!  I had a Chobani Cheesecake yogurt with bananas and almond Cheerios on top when I got back. If you haven’t tried the new almond crunch Cheerios yet, you’re missing out! I am so obsessed! They have the almond extract flavor that I love!

I was worn out on Thursday evening. I headed upstairs around 6:30 to fall asleep! One thing I wanted to share was this humidifier. I have had bad bloody noses, cracked lips, and dry skin the past few months. I know those are all pregnancy side effects. This past week, I used the Miko Humidifier, and it’s magically cured me. I cannot recommend this humidifier enough! I love how big it is because it can cover up to 500 + sqft. It has light-changing settings that are so calming, and it’s super easy to clean and use. I am purchasing another one for the baby’s room because I don’t think I’ll ever give this one up. My mom bought it for my birthday, and it was life-changing!
For breakfast lately, I’ve been having my protein oats. I mix protein powder and almond milk with oatmeal, blueberries, and bananas. It’s so delicious and warm for the cold mornings.
I finally found pots for my blueberries! The others I had were too small, and I’ll use them for, you know…more plants I have been gravitating towards bright colors lately, and when I saw these, I knew they’d be so fun to have on the porch this summer!

My indoor plants have made so much progress each week. If you go back to last week’s blog, you’ll see the crazy growth difference in these blueberries, the lilac tree, and my raspberries! I may have a bit of an obsession.

After getting my plants in order, I headed to the pharmacy to pick up some vitamins and then stopped at Starbucks on the way home. I ordered a double decaf cappuccino with oat milk and one pump of pistachio sauce! It was perfect, and not too sweet! I spent Friday organizing the nursery. The drawers are not complete yet because I need to order dividers and wash everything, but I wanted the clothes to be put away. My goal was to fit the baby’s clothing into one drawer. I don’t want so many clothes where laundry gets overwhelming because I let it pile up or end up with clothes we don’t need. I went with the neutral route, and I’ll be able to just at bows to some of these outfits If we end up having a girl. I’m better off not knowing the gender because if I did, I would NOT be able to keep the clothing minimal. I’d be buying so many themed outfits. After getting a ton of advice on Instagram, I did add some tie onesies and more zipper onesies to my list, but aside from that, I am done!  On Saturday morning, I had my almond crunch Cheerios with almond milk, blueberries, and bananas. I have craved this combo since my first trimester. Cheerios are just the best! I have almond milk mixed with 4 ounces of Califia farms iced coffee every morning. I’m so happy my love for coffee is back because those aversions to coffee were terrible. Whenever Kyle would make coffee, I would have to sit outside until the smell went away. Or if he tried to kiss me with coffee breath, I would want to punt him across the room. Don’t mess with a pregnant woman going through it!

On Saturday afternoon, we headed to the outlet mall to do a little shopping. For lunch, we ended up splitting some food court Chinese food. I had been craving bourbon chicken since my 8th week of pregnancy. I was excited about having it but was a little disappointed because it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. That’s probably a good thing, though, because I do not need that much salt at the moment! But the rice was the best part

Oh, and look at my hydrangea’s new growth! During the ice storm we had, I took them in, and they decided to come out of dormancy. I won’t put them back outside until the temps reach the 60’s.
We had a delicious dinner Saturday evening! I roasted carrots, zucchini, and squash with avocado oil, honey, garlic, onion salt, and dill. Kyle cooked a filet minion on the cast iron to go with our vegetables.
My body has been craving steak lately, which I think has something to do with iron levels. I guess we’ll have to make this more often! We treated ourselves to chocolates from a local chocolatier, the Chocolat Boutique in Baxter Village. It’s one of my favorite chocolate spots, and I love picking out chocolates (they have hundreds to choose from!) and taste-testing them with Kyle! We did the red velvet, double-dipped mint, toffee, and creamy peanut butter. They were all equally divine!
I made a cup of hot lemon water and dove into a few books on Saturday evening. I’m currently reading the Newborn 101 and The New Born Handbook. They have a lot of great information about labor and raising your baby once you get home!
On Sunday morning, we decided to try out a local coffee shop, Chatty Cathy’s Coffeehouse.
I cannot believe I hadn’t tried out this place sooner. It was so cute and cozy, and the coffee was delicious! I ordered one of their carrot walnut muffins to go with my oat milk cappuccino, but I’ll be back soon to try their food menu! I can’t wait to visit there in the summer and sit out on their patio. What a gem this place was!

I worked a few hours pruning my backyard climbing roses on Sunday afternoon. I have a lot of work to do in the front garden to prepare for spring, but my mom will come to help me out later this week when the weather warms up. I have 20+ rose bushes in the front of my house, and I’m excited to have her help me with those! I love spring garden cleaning because it gets me excited for what’s to come!

I am over the moon excited about my tulips and hyacinths coming up! In about a month, they should start blooming! Kyle and I planted them in late October.
I ended my evening with a much-needed 90-minute prenatal massage. It truly helps my pinched nerve in the back, and I can’t wait for the next one!

Overall, I had a pretty great week! I hope you all have a fabulous Monday, and I can’t wait to share some exciting blogs with you this week  

Questions for you!

1. Do you have any bulbs coming up yet?
2. Did you overbuy baby clothes?
3. Do you use a humidifier in your bedroom at night?

I’ll write my recap blog tomorrow, but today I wanted to share some photos I had taken over the weekend to document my pregnancy. I wanted to have pictures to remind me of how I felt during this time. My mom told me she regretted not taking photos during her pregnancy, so this is a reminder to all of you mamas to step in front of the camera.
White Dress Details | My Boots
I feel like I’ve grown up in front of many of you for the past 12 (almost 13) years. It feels really special to be going through this with you all, and I appreciate all the kindness and sweet support you’ve sent my way.

I’ll see you all for tomorrow’s recap! xo

On Wednesday, Kyle and I headed out for a little local shopping at some cute stores. I love seeing all the Christmas-themed gifts. I ended up buying some wax melts because I can finally stand the smell of them now. I bought cinnamon, cranberry, and fresh pear.

I’m still weirded out by the taste of coffee but have been able to tolerate sips as long as there is cream or flavor in it. We stopped into Knowledge Perk coffee shop, and I picked up some of their K-cups for Kyle’s mom and a peppermint oat milk mocha blended drink for the road. It was so good (way better than Starbucks!)
 
We picked up Kyle’s mom at the airport on Wednesday evening and watched King Richard on HBOmax. It was such a good movie! Then Kyle’s mom and I binged Season 4 of Selling Sunset on Netflix. I’M SO OBSESSED with that show My mom got me hooked on it last year.

I spent Thanksgiving morning binging more Selling Sunset while making scotcharoos, cranberry sauce, and fresh green beans to bring over to my parent’s house for Thanksgiving. My mom LOVES to host Thanksgiving, and I’m so happy she took the reins, so I didn’t have to cook this year. She does it better anyways.  I WAS IN HEAVEN. This was the first Thanksgiving where I did not care about bloating or filling up on too many carbs. After months of not being able to eat like a normal person without getting sick, I was so excited about this meal. I think I called my mom every day for a week leading up to Thanksgiving to tell her how excited I was. Every bite was pure heaven.

My mom doesn’t know this yet, but when she gets home from her trip, I’m going to ask her to make me another batch of that sausage stuffing. When we ran out of the leftovers, I think I shed a tear  We sat around for a few hours chatting while diving into pumpkin pie, apple pie, and scotcharoos! I’m not craving too many sweets, mostly savory foods! Stuffed bellies and feeling so blessed this Thanksgiving!   When we got home from Thanksgiving dinner, I leashed up Leo and headed out for a long walk! I was so ready to fall asleep on the couch, but I knew a walk in the brisk air would give me some energy. He didn’t mind it. On Friday, we headed to Southpark Mall to get in on the fun of the Black Friday shopping. I didn’t find anything worth standing in line for, but we did have lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I had the Chinese Chicken Salad, and WOW, WAS IT AMAZING! My mom used to get this when I was in high school, and now I understand why. I’ll be craving this salad for the rest of my pregnancy.  The best part of Thanksgiving for dinner, the leftovers!

These boys have been getting closer and closer lately. Tux went over and fell asleep next to Leo, and I think I started crying.

On Saturday morning, Kyle’s mom and headed over to Versona to shop. I knew she would love this store, and I needed some maternity-friendly pieces! My clothes have been getting so snug, and I can only wear my pajamas for so long.

On our way home, we stopped at Sonic and split mozzarella sticks and cherry diet cokes!  That afternoon, we headed to the theater to see Spencer. It was beautifully shot, but so sad to see what Diana went through. Kristen Stewart did an amazing job in that role! Definitely a must-see. This was my first time going out to see a movie in over two years.
 We headed to Burton’s Bar & Grill for dinner after the movie. I had the superfood salad with steak! I’m so happy that I’m finally able to enjoy actual veggies again. I thought I’d never see the day. The food was excellent!  Before dropping Kyle’s mom off at the airport, we headed to the outlets to walk around while killing some time. I picked up a few new sweaters but also picked up a penny on heads. That never happens to me, so I threw it in the fountain along with my wish.

It took some convincing, but I finally got Kyle to agree to Living Kitchen for lunch. Although he enjoyed it, it’s not his first choice in restaurants. When I get cravings for vegetables or anything extremely healthy, I try to jump on them asap before they turn into “I’m too hungry, I’m just going to have mac and cheese.”

I filled up on a fire and brimstone burger on multigrain bread, broccoli Waldorf salad, Caesar kale salad, and pomegranate tea! The food was delicious. I want to have it again for the next few weeks! I wish I lived closer to Living Kitchen, but my bank account is probably happy that I don’t.
It just feels so amazing to be back to feeling more like myself. I’m taking a super casual and relaxing approach to the holidays this year, but I will still try to get some fun Christmas content up this December! xo

Questions for you!

1. Did you snag any deals this weekend?
2. How was your Thanksgiving?
3. When is the last time you’ve seen a movie at the theater?