A Teeny Tiny Announcement

Oh. Hey there. Just wanted to pop in with some exciting news. If you haven't seen on Instagram or Facebook yet, I'm pregnant! I'm nearing 14 weeks and this baby is set to arrive around January 30th. We're so excited to add another Snow Baby to our circus.

Olive: A Birth Story

My due date was 12/11/2016. The day passed without any signs of a baby. I was okay with that because my birthday was the next day. I told Andrew if I shared a birthday with my daughter, the two of us would be having a girls trip to Disneyland to celebrate every year. Unfortunately, she didn't come on my birthday either. The next day came and I started to have some real contractions in the morning, but nothing consistent and nothing very strong. That evening the contractions started to pick up again so I decided to go to bed early in case labor really kicked in. I woke up sporadically throughout the night to random contractions, but was always able to go right back to sleep.

At 4 am on 12/14/2016, I woke up to a particularly strong contraction. I decided to stay awake and start timing. They were regular and getting stronger, but I wasn't sure if they were quite close enough or quite strong enough yet. At 6 am, I woke up Andrew so we could start getting everything together. We still had to drop off Taylor with his grandparents and I didn't want to run out of time if things picked up.

We got to the hospital and I was checked in slowly. I mean painfully slow. I don't think the lady at check-in was aware that I was in labor. It was around 7 am when I was finally allowed into triage. I was terrified that I wasn't progressing or far enough along. I did not want to be sent home. A nurse checked me and I was at... 8 centimeters! I couldn't believe it. My contractions were completely different this time around than they were with Taylor. I remember shaking and crying through contractions with Taylor at only 6 cm (that's when I called for the epidural). Here I was at 8 cm, maintaining my composure. Yes, the contractions were painful, but I was able to breathe through them and then immediately snap back into a happy conversation once it was over. I guess that's why I was so unaware of how far into labor I was - I expected it to be the same as it was with Taylor. The nurse was astounded and quickly told me I would be wheeled into my delivery room (they were afraid my water would break and the baby would come sliding out if I walked).

I made sure that it was known that I wanted an epidural before it was too late and I was hooked up with the magical drugs by 8 am. Again, the epidural experience was completely different this time around. I think with Taylor, I was so focused on the contractions that I didn't feel any part of the epidural process. Since I was able to handle contractions a lot better during this labor, I felt every part of the various epidural needles. It was not enjoyable, but worth it once it kicked in.

Once I was nice and comfy, Andrew and I were both able to get a nap in. My nurse checked me again and I hadn't really changed much so it was decided that I would start pitocin. This was about 10:45 and I immediately started feeling the contractions pick up (not the pain, just the feeling of them happening). At this point my water was still intake, so the doctor that was currently in the hospital came in to break it. As soon as that happened I knew it was go time, but my doctor wasn't quite to the hospital yet. The urge to push wasn't too strong so I was able to relax until Dr. T got there around 12:15. Everything was prepped and I got ready to push. This baby was ready to come because it only took a few strong pushes and Olive was out. Just like our last delivery, Dr. T let Andrew pull baby out and set her on my chest. 

It was 12:46 when I saw my perfect Olive for the first time. She looks just like her big brother did as a newborn. Unlike her brother though who just cooed when he entered the world, Olive decided to let us know she was here by screaming. I enjoyed skin-to-skin time while getting stitched up. (Following in the footsteps of her older brother, Olive made her own episiotomy on the way out. Thanks kids!) She was weighed (7lbs 7oz) and measured (20 inches) and passed her newborn screening test. In all regards, she's perfect and we're in love. 

Taylor has taken quite a liking to her as well which we are so grateful for. He always wants to check on baby sister, points out her nose and toes, and gives her fist bumps. Being a family of four is wonderful.

38 Week Bumpdate

We just got back from Thanksgiving in Nevada with all of Andrew's family. My doctor was a little worried about me traveling while full-term, but I successfully made the trip without going into labor. 

It was a great time and I'm so glad we went, but staying in a house full of small children is a breeding ground for germs. As soon as we got home, I got hit hard with one of the worst colds I've had in years. I've lost my voice, my sinus pressure is ridiculous, and I'm coughing up a storm. This would be my third time getting sick in the past four weeks. I think I suddenly became so sickly because I was thinking about how lucky I was that I haven't caught any bugs in so long. Curse you positive thoughts.

via Let Me See You Sparkle at 28 weeks.

The only upside was that Taylor seemed to have avoided the most recent plague. That is until last night. He started coughing around 10:30pm and couldn't seem to stop. He coughed so hard he started to throw up (all over me). So we sat in the bathtub until he calmed down. Once he was cleaned up, he seemed a little better, but still couldn't sleep with all his congestion and coughing. So I decided I would sleep with him sitting up in our big comfy chair. Horrible idea. I probably got about 3 hours of sleep last night which does not sit well with this sick pregnant lady. Poor little Taylor though, this is his fourth cold in four weeks. And now it looks like Andrew is coming down with our hacking cough which is not good timing since he has finals next week. Our house is a plague zone, don't come over.

Now with all that complaining over, I thought I'd do what most likely will be my last bumpdate. As much as I want baby girl here, I'm glad I haven't gone into labor yet. I really want to kick this cold before she gets here.

via Let Me See You Sparkle at 28 weeks.

How far along? 38.5 weeks. Baby is the size of: a ukele. She is most likely at her full birth weight and height. Maternity clothes? I have about three shirts I can wear that comfortably cover my bump. All others I have to continually tug down to cover my ever-growing belly. Sleep? Sleep is okay. Just very frequent bathroom visits with how low this baby is. Movement? Movement from baby is starting to hurt. She thinks her foot can comfortably kick through my uterus wall. Sorry to break it to you darling, but that's not the way you'll be exiting. Weight gain? I've gained about 25-30 pounds this pregnancy although it could be more. I haven't kept track very diligently. Belly button in or out? My belly button kind of just gets flat-ish? A little bit out I guess since you do notice it through my shirt. Stretch marks? None that I can see. But there's a lot of me that I can't see anymore. Haha. Happy or moody? Very happy that it's the Christmas season and that baby will be making her appearance any day now. Looking forward to: getting this little human out of me and getting to see her perfect little face for the first time. Also being able to bend over without feeling like my insides are exploding Doctor report? 4 weeks ago, my doctor checked me and I was 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and baby's head was at -1. Dr. T told me I could expect the baby any day. Except that the next week I was the same. And the next week. And, can you believe it, I was the same when I went in yesterday. My doctor told me that as soon as I start contractions I can go to 10 cm very quickly, but he's still surprised that I haven't progressed more (I'm surprised playing a round of bowling last week did absolutely nothing, because it sure felt like that baby was about to fall out). My doctor said we can go ahead and strip my membranes next week if I wanted to speed things along. Depending on how long this sickness lasts, I might do that.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Have you ever had your membranes stripped?

Any tried and true methods to get over a cold while pregnant?

The Not So Fun Side Of Childbirth

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhatsInYourBabyBag #CollectiveBias

Let's be real; there's nothing glamorous about labor. Is it empowering? Yes. Is it worth it? Totally. But glamorous? Not so much. I don't think I was really prepared for the whole recovery that comes after birthing a human. If you've pushed a baby out of your nether regions, you know what I'm referring to. I'm talking about tearing (and the stitches that come with that), endless bleeding, hemorrhoids, that darn breastfeeding curve, and wearing those flattering mesh panties as you hobble around to care for your newborn. No amount of research could have prepared me for all that comes with the birth of a child. Thank goodness for cute tiny babies, or no one would go through childbirth.

Thankfully, I've done it once; so I'm a little more aware of what to expect. They say each labor and subsequent recovery period is a bit different, but I feel I'm much more prepared nonetheless. I shared how I'm preparing for baby #2 already, but this post is more on how I'm going to make my postpartum recovery more bearable this time around (and hopefully that will mean bouncing back quicker).

A suggestion I give to everyone is steal from the hospital. No, don't literally steal medical supplies or equipment. What I'm referring to is the fact that they will provide you with some basic items that you will need and you can take them home without feeling bad. This includes the giant mesh panties and maxi pads. Those things are amazing, even if they look awful. If there is a pack of them in your room, put them in your bag to take home. They are way better than wearing a basic pad in regular old underwear when you are bleeding heavily for the next two-four weeks or so. Along with the mesh panties, the hospital provided me with a squirt bottle (called a peribottle) to fill with warm water for cleaning downstairs (again, glamorous), some numbing foam that helps with swelling and discomfort, witch hazel pads, a donut pillow to sit on, and Dermoplast which is a pain relieving spray. You can request things like nipple shields, nipple cream, which you will need if you're breastfeeding, and things as simple as chap stick. The hospital won’t reuse any of these items for another patient, so you are practically throwing them away if you don't stash them away in your bag for home use. (You can also take home diapers, wipes, Vaseline, pacifiers, swaddles, and more for baby, but that's a whole other post.)

I plan on purchasing beforehand all the things that I can’t steal from the hospital at Walmart. I live right across the street from Walmart and it always has everything on my shopping list. Some of the things I've purchased already are Epsom salt for sitz baths (which are definitely necessary), Colace, and Preparation H® Medicated Wipes for those darn hemorrhoids. No one likes to talk about hemorrhoids, but they do happen. I got some on my last go-around and I plan on being prepared this time. Preparation H® Medicated Wipes provide effective hemorrhoid relief, are convenient to use, and soothe as they clean. Also, did you know that 1 out of 3 women get hemorrhoids during pregnancy? If you manage to avoid them during pregnancy, make sure to have Preparation H® Medicated Wipes for Women on hand for post-partum recovery. They are the first and only women's hemorrhoid wipes infused with chamomile, aloe and refreshing cucumber, plus a soothing medication that cools on contact. Make sure to use as directed.

Even though postpartum recovery isn't the best thing ever, you know what is? That sweet newborn phase. A lot of times people will stop by with gifts for baby. While that is sweet, I can guarantee that baby has more than enough (and they're too little to even realize they're getting presents). The person who really deserves a gift is mom. I have a few friends due around the same time as me and I've started making gift baskets. I want to help make those first few weeks as a new mom as wonderful as possible.

Here's some of the fun things I'm including:

Lotion and Chap Stick - Who doesn't love some new lotion and chap stick. It's nice to have on hand, and mom can place it next to the chair she uses most to breastfeed baby.

A Cute Water Bottle/Tumbler - Breastfeeding requires hydration. Mom needs to be drinking water constantly. A nice new water bottle will remind mom to take frequent sips and stay hydrated.

A Good Book - There are lots of idle hours while nursing baby. Sometimes mom gets stuck in a chair with a sleeping newborn on her chest. A good book comes in handy in those situations.

Chocolate - There are going to be days when mom needs some chocolate. I'm going to make sure I provide that.

And here are the necessary items:

Preparation H® Medicated Wipes - We've discussed this already. Mom is gonna need them.

Nursing Pads - There are some really cute ones out there and they come in handy.

Dry Shampoo and Face Wipes - Let's face it - as cute as those newborns are, sometimes they don't give mom a chance to shower. Dry shampoo and face wipes can at least help mom feel a little more put together.

What are some things you love for postpartum recovery?

What items do you give to new moms?

Have you ever had to purchase these before?

Preparing for Baby #2

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeToBe #CollectiveBias

The good thing about being on my second baby is that I feel I have a lot better understanding of what's to come. I've already done it once; and while everything might be a little different this time around, I generally know what to expect. Something I'm doing so much better with this second pregnancy is preparing for baby. A month before Taylor was born, we were moving into a house and Harley just had a litter of puppies. It was hard for me to prepare for him when I was preoccupied with packing, moving, cleaning, painting, unpacking, caring for brand new puppies, etc. Taylor was lucky to have a crib set up in his room and the carseat installed.

Experiencing such a busy time before Taylor was born has helped me make a list of things I want to have done before the second baby arrives. Yes, a place to sleep is really all that is necessary, but there's a lot of things that can be done to make baby's arrival a lot less stressful. This is my checklist for the next few months (and who doesn't love making a checklist and marking things off?)

1. Stock up on essential household items:

This includes things like toilet paper, soap, cleaning supplies, etc. When you have a newborn in the house (and your recovering from birthing said newborn), the last thing you want to do is make a trip to the store for something as simple as toilet paper. You can either make one giant run to get everything you might need, or you can do it gradually as you buy things regularly. I've been doing the latter. When I run to the store and grab some deodorant, I'll pick up two extra ones for my stockpile. When we run out of window cleaner, I'll make sure to pick up an extra bottle the next shopping trip. Doing that slowly makes it less overwhelming as well as spreads out the extra costs over several months.

2. Make some freezer meals to have on hand: 

We are lucky enough to have family nearby to help us with meals, as well as a church that usually provides a week of dinners after someone has a baby. I know that eventually a day will come that I will have an ornery toddler and a newborn that won't want to be put down, and it will be impossible to get something put together to eat. I can only imagine that having a few easy meals on hand that I can pull out of the freezer and throw into the crockpot or oven will be a lifesaver. Anyone have any tried and true freezer meals they love?

3. Pre-wash and put away all of baby's clothes:

Newborns have sensitive skin so it's important to pre-wash all of their teeny tiny clothes to avoid possible irritations. It's also important to use a perfume-free, dye-free hypoallergenic detergent formula in case of sensitivity. all® free clear is a brand that meets all these criteria. I used it with Taylor and I plan on using it again with our second Snow baby, since it's the #1 recommended brand by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians. I love that I can run one big load of baby laundry with the help of all® free clear to I can worry a little less about my new arrival's comfort and care. all® free clear detergent fights tough stains, whitens whites, and brightens colors (which is great when dealing with those unexpected blow-outs).

Last time I was at Walmart, I decided to pick up all® free clear Mighty Pacs® to try. I realize that measuring out detergent isn't that hard, but these detergent pacs are so convenient! Whichever method you choose, just make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging!

Once all that laundry is done, I need to buckle down and put it away! How do these little humans have so many clothes? I'm the biggest procrastinator when it comes to putting away laundry, so this time around I plan on folding and organizing all of baby girl's clothes before she arrives. Hopefully this will encourage me to keep up with putting that laundry away.

4. Spruce up the nursery:

Taylor and new baby are going to be sharing a room. That means most of the decorating is already done, but I still want to add a few feminine touches for baby girl. Since we moved in a month before Taylor was born, the nursery was my main focus and I managed to pretty much finish it before he was born (Do you remember the before? That orange wall color was awful!). There are still a few paint touch-ups that need to be done though, plus new artwork needs to be hung and some rearranging is in order. I know if I don't finish all of this before the baby gets here, I'll most likely put it off (like said paint touch-ups from over a year and a half ago).

5. Pamper myself:

This is the last and final step. Once everything is taken care of, momma needs some TLC. When that baby arrives, there's not going to be time for hair appointments, spa days, massages, etc. There's hardly going to be a spare minute to shower. I plan on getting a pedicure, my hair trimmed, and; if I plan on splurging a bit, some eyelash extensions. Labor isn't the most glamorous thing, so anything you can do to feel better about yourself is a good idea!

How are you preparing for your babies arrival?

(or have prepared for babies in the past?)

Do you have any great freezer meals to recommend?

Have you ever used all® free clear?

Pregnancy Must-Haves

*This post contains affiliate links. Click here to learn more.*

I originally posted this in January of last year when I was pregnant with Taylor. I thought I'd make an updated list, but I realized my list would be exactly the same. So here it is again for those who may have missed it and new readers.

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When I became pregnant, I ate these types of posts up. There was never enough information to satisfy my pregnant, researching self. I wanted to know everything. Now that I do know everything (#sarcasm), I wanted to put together a list of things that have been a necessity for me throughout the last 27 weeks of carrying this baby.

1. Pregnancy Pillow- My back was already killing me at 7 weeks which made sleeping a struggle. I invested in my pregnancy pillow and it was a total game changer. The most popular one out there right now is the Bump Nest Body Pillow. I personally have the Snoogle Total Body Pillow and I LOVE IT (I also loved the price compared to others).

2. Prenatal Gummy Vitamins- The last thing I wanted to do when I had morning sickness was swallow a pill every day. The gummy vitamins make it a lot easier, plus they taste like candy. Win-win.

3. Water Bottle- Being pregnant means chugging water all the time. It's the perfect excuse to buy yourself a cute water bottle. Seriously, don't leave home without your water bottle.

4. Bringing Up Bebe- You've probably seen this all over blog-land, and for good reason. Out of all the baby books I've read, and even glanced through, this one is my favorite! Definitely worth buying.

5. Maternity Leggings- Or really any maternity clothes for that matter. I went from never wearing leggings, to them being a staple in my wardrobe. Just give in and buy maternity clothes, it will make you infinitely happier.

6. Coconut Oil- According to the internet, you can't prevent stretch marks. It's genetics so you either get them or you don't. I decided not to chance it and have been using coconut oil throughout my pregnancy. At 27 weeks, there's not a single stretch mark in sight. Whether that's genetics or the coconut oil, I don't know. But I can tell you that your skin becomes the Sahara Desert during pregnancy so regardless, coconut oil will keep you nice and moisturized.

7. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream- Again, with the dry skin. My face has been covered with dead skin the last 27 weeks. I've tried numerous face lotions and Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is the only thing that has been keeping my face in check. If you're suffering from a dryer than normal face, try it out.

8. The Bump App- I initially downloaded around 10 free pregnancy apps. I quickly weeded out the ones that weren't so great and finally narrowed it down to just 2 or 3 I checked regularly. At this point though, the best one I've found is The Bump App. I definitely recommend downloading it. Plus it's free so there's no harm in checking it out.

What are your pregnancy must-haves? 

Leave them in the comments below.

Baby Snow is a... (only a little late)

I guess it slipped my mind, but I never even posted about finding out the gender of Baby Snow. If you read my last post (or follow me on social media), you might have noticed that we're having a girl!

At our first ultrasound, the tech predicted a little girl, but it was too early to confirm. This same ultrasound tech had also predicted that Taylor was a girl at his first ultrasound so I wasn't putting too many eggs in that basket. But lo and behold, she was right this time around. Baby Snow is a girl and we are excited for all that has in store. Well Taylor hasn't exactly told us his opinion yet of getting a baby sister so we'll have to wait and see how he feels further down the road.

Bring on the tutus and itty bitty bows.

22.5 Week Bumpdate

I figured I better do a bumpdate before this baby actually arrives. I'm shocked that I'm already over halfway through. With Taylor, the weeks and months seemed to go by sooo slow. This time around, it's the complete opposite!

How far along? 22.5 weeks. Baby is the size of: an ear of corn.  Maternity clothes? I'm starting to wear maternity clothes, but mostly just men's t-shirts from Target. I definitely can't fit into my old jeans anymore though. Sleep? Sleep is fine for now. I struggled more with sleep during the first trimester and now it's just the problem of having to use the restroom in the middle of the night. Movement? I'm starting to feel tiny kicks quite frequently. It's so much fun to feel baby girl moving. Food cravings? First trimester my big food craving was corn on the cob which was really random. This trimester I am loving Arby's classic roast beef sandwich. I could eat one every day. Weight gain/loss? I've gained about 10 pounds so far. Last pregnancy I gained almost all my weight in the last trimester so I'm sure that will be the case again this time. Belly button in or out? It's about half-way out? Haha. It popped a lot faster this time around. Stretch marks? None thus far. Keeping my fingers crossed that continues. Happy or moody? Very happy. This pregnancy is flying by. Looking forward to: this baby getting here! I'm pretty sure I'm going to blink and she's going to be here. I guess having a 16 month old makes pregnancy go by a lot quicker. 

Taylor's Upcoming Role!

If you've been wondering where I've been this video might explain it...

 

It's been hard to blog about anything else when I had to keep this a secret. I've been sick, sick, sick, and sleeping any chance I get. Although the symptoms aren't always fun, we are over the moon excited to be adding to our family!

Newborn Products I Can't Live Without

*This post contains affiliate links. Click here to learn more.*

When I used to browse baby products online back in my days of gestating, I would get so overwhelmed. There was tons of stuff that a baby seemed to need and I never knew what would be best to buy for Taylor. Well now that Taylor is here, I can tell you that babies don't need much. As long as you have some diapers and can provide food for them, they're set. 

Of course, there are some things that make life with a newborn easier. I'm sure I'll discover many more products that I absolutely love along the way, but I wanted to do a post of a few of my favorite products thus far. If you have items that you couldn't live without, please let me know in the comments so we can all discover new products that need to be in our lives asap.

1. Baby Swing- This has been a lifesaver at times. When I can't get Taylor to take a nap in his crib, I can almost always get him to sleep in his swing. He's also pretty content in it while he's awake too.

2. Boon Grass Drying Rack- I almost exclusively pump. That leaves me with endless bottles and pump parts to wash. Trust me when I tell you this little drying rack is perfect. Plus, it looks really cute on my counter.

3. Ergo Carrier- Taylor loves the Ergo! As soon as I put him in it, he conks out. I use it whenever we go on walks or grocery shopping. It's also great to use around the house when I need to get things done, but baby wants to be held.

4. Boudreaux’s All Natural Butt Paste- We've been lucky in that we haven't really had to deal with diaper rash yet, but the few times Taylor's little bum has been red we've used this. Within a few hours, the redness is gone.

5. Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets- We acquired a lot of blankets and swaddles as gifts. We quickly discovered the best ones to swaddle with are the Aden and Anais blankets, hands down. Taylor is much less likely to break out of his swaddle in the middle of the night when we use these.

6. Play Mat- Over the past month, Taylor has started to enjoy looking up at all his toys and kicking his legs while laying on his mat. He even started reaching for things this week (it's super fun watching him trying to figure out his hands). Taylor stays entertained for about 20 minutes allowing me some baby-free time to get stuff done.

7. MAM Pacifiers- When Taylor was first born, he was an expert at getting his fingers inside the pacifier rings and pulling them out of his mouth.These ones are perfect for him since they don't have the little ring most pacifiers have. Plus, I like all the cute designs available.

What are your baby product must-haves?
Is there something you and baby can't live without?

39 Weeks and Still Pregnant

Despite my hopeful post from a week and a half ago, I'm still pregnant. No baby yet. So here is my final bumpdate along with a little video of pictures I've taken throughout my pregnancy. I wish I had been more diligent with weekly photos, but I'm still happy with the amount of photos I did take.

How far along? 39 weeks. Baby is the size of: a small watermelon. Doctor says to expect a 7-8 pound baby. Maternity clothes? I'm past maternity clothes. I wear one of Andrew's shirts and no pants if I can swing staying home all day. Pants are the worse. Sleep? Awful. My bladder has no room so that means countless trips to the bathroom at night. Food cravings? I eat at least one (sometimes two) milkshakes a day. Pregnancy is the best excuse to eat unhealthy. Weight gain/loss? I think my total weight gain has been about twenty five pounds, give or take. I haven't been tracking it that closely. Belly button in or out? Out. Which means this baby is cooked and needs to make his appearance already. Stretch marks? I feel extremely lucky to have made it this far without stretch marks. Crossing my fingers that lasts. Happy or moody? Last week I was pretty moody anxiously waiting for this baby's arrival. When he didn't show, it was tough for me. But now that I have my head wrapped around the fact that he might not come for another week (or possibly two), I'm okay and back to my happy self. Looking forward to: this stubborn little baby's entrance to the world. I am so excited to meet baby boy.

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Follow along with my pregnancy:

The Annoucement

17 Week Bumpdate

Gender Reveal

27 Week Bumpdate

36 Week Bumpdate

Final Countdown

Final Countdown

This post is sponsored by PinkBlush. Click here to learn more. 

We are officially in countdown mode. Well I've been counting down since the beginning, but we are in a more serious countdown now.

At my appointment yesterday, my doctor told me that I'm 2 cm dilated and 90% effaced with baby's head dropped and ready to go. My next appointment is on Friday, but my doctor told me that baby boy won't stay put until then. Umm, hello!? I'm only 37.5 weeks! I thought I had until April 8th? We have been in a frenzy to get all the last minute stuff done that we thought we had time for. Luckily, we've had a lot of help from family in our last minute preparedness craze.

With baby boy making his appearance any day now, I'm not exactly sure when I'll be posting next on this blog so I thought I'd leave you with a little giveaway while I'm away. PinkBlush has been my absolute favorite place to get my maternity clothes this entire pregnancy. Their clothes are high quality and so comfortable (comfort is what constitutes good maternity clothing, btw). I think they noticed how much I loved their clothes because they're offering one of my readers a chance to win a $35 gift card to spend on their site. PS- They also have a regular clothing line in case you aren't prego right now so you can use the gift card towards that too.

Top: PinkBlush | Skirt: Target | Shoes: Payless

Here's to crossing my fingers we'll have a baby boy in a few days and crossing my fingers for you to win! Get to entering!

36 Week Bumpdate

We have less than a month until the due date people! I cannot believe it. I remember when we first found out that I was pregnant, I thought pregnancy would take for-ev-er. Well here we are in the final stretch and I'm freaking out a bit because we definitely have a few more things we need to get done before baby boy shows up. I was supposed to be done at work by now so I would have tons of time to check things off our never ending to-do list, but somehow I'm still helping out at my job. I'm sure that we will manage somehow though. Now on to the bumpdate!

(from my baby shower this last Saturday)

How far along? 36 weeks. Baby is the size of: a honeydew.  Maternity clothes? I'm most definitely only wearing maternity clothes now. Regular clothes just don't fit me anymore and I'm having a hard time keeping this belly covered with most shirts. Crop tops are in style now, right? Ha. Sleep? Sleep is hit or miss now a days. Some nights I sleep great and only get up for bathroom breaks. Other nights I can't sleep at all. Movement? Jabs and kicks to the ribs, yes. Sweet little baby kicks and flutters, not so much anymore. Now when baby moves it's more like a scene out of Alien. Food cravings? Not so much cravings, but I pick a food and eat exclusively that. As in I eat the same thing every day for every meal. I have gone through some weird phases. There was the chicken noodle soup phase (that's when I had morning sickness and it was all I could keep down), then the cheese crisp phase, then the chicken nugget phase, then the ramen noodle phase, and now I'm in the Chef Boyardee mini ravioli phase (which I have never liked before). It's pretty disgusting how many cans I go through. Weight gain/loss? First trimester- I lost weight. Second trimester- I gained back what I lost and a few more. Third trimester- I have gained a ton and it's continually climbing! It makes me happy because I feel like the more weight I put on, the more weight baby is putting on. Chubby babies are the best. Belly button in or out? My belly button is... flat I guess? Sometimes it sticks out, but mostly it's just flat. Stretch marks? Not yet, but my stomach is getting itchier and stretching more every day, so there may be a few in my future. Happy or moody? Happy, but I do get stressed out way more easily. I just attribute that to buying a house, taking care of puppies, repainting all the walls, preparing for baby, and still working. That would stress out anyone. Looking forward to: getting the nursery put together! Hopefully within the next two weeks it will be done.

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Follow along with my pregnancy:

The Annoucement

17 Week Bumpdate

Gender Reveal

27 Week Bumpdate

Dream Nursery Inspiration

*This post contains affiliate links. Click here to learn more.*

When I say "dream nursery", what I'm really saying is "the nursery-I'd-have-if-money-was-no-object". But since that's not the case, I'm just going to have to find cheaper alternatives by using my thrifty, deal-finding self (in other words, by searching the internet endlessly). I'm going for a very soft, neutral look for baby boy. I'm thinking gray and white, with pops of orange. Any suggestions for more affordable alternatives would be greatly appreciated!

+I love this Jaipur Pura Vida Dias Vermillion Orange Area Rug I found on Amazon. I think it's the perfect pop of color. 

+I'm also in love with this Hemnes 8-Drawer Dresser from Ikea. I've seen it all over Pinterest and I'm seriously lusting over it. 

+I stumbled across this Elephant Flensted Nursery Mobile that is adorable! But too expensive for me. I'm thinking I could make something similar (but I might be overestimating my crafting ability).

+I'm sure you've seen The Animal Print Shop floating all over Pinterest. They have the most adorable prints! I love this Baby Rhino Animal Print and think it would be the perfect addition to the nursery. 

+Another pop-of-color find is this Dakotah Pillow Set. Super cute, and actually affordable considering it comes with two pillows. 

+My biggest challenge so far is finding the perfect rocker. Why are they so dang expensive? I love the look of this Nuseryworks Sleepytime Rocker. If you find a steal-of-a-deal on a gray rocking chair, let me know! 

+I really like this simple white Gulliver Crib from Ikea. They have an even cheaper option which I'm considering, but I can't decide if I would leave it in its natural state or paint it white. Suggestions?

+My last find is also from Ikea. Every nursery needs a Jonsbo Gryby Table Lamp, right? Nothing like a little touch of simple design. But with the price tag being what it is, I'm sure I can find something similar for half the price.

You might also like:

Nursery: Before and After

Taylor's Nursery: The Details

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Follow along with my pregnancy:

The Annoucement

17 Week Bumpdate

Gender Reveal

27 Week Bumpdate

36 Week Bumpdate

Final Countdown

39 Week Bumpdate

The Birth Story

Hello Third Trimester Bumpdate

How far along? 27 weeks and five days. Seven months already! Baby is the size of: a rutabaga. Baby boy is over a foot long and weighs around two pounds. Maternity clothes? Yes! I live in leggings and loose tops. Sleep? Sleep has actually improved. But to get through the day, a 2-3 hour nap is required. Movement? Lots and lots of it! Baby boy is a mover and shaker. Food cravings? Ramen noodles which is the weirdest thing. I also have been loving milkshakes lately. Showing? I sure am. I think it's all sorts of fun to have a bump. Weight gain/loss? After gaining back all the weight I lost from morning sickness, I have gained an additional 8 pounds on top of that. I have a feeling a lot more weight will be gained throughout the remaining weeks. Belly button in or out? It's attempting to become an outie. It looks quite funny in its in-between stage. Stretch marks? I haven't noticed any yet and I attribute that to slathering on coconut oil. Happy or moody? Still happy. There have been a few tears shed for no reason at all, but my mood is usually good. Looking forward to: ...well, I can tell you what I'm not looking forward to- my glucose test in the morning. Wish me luck!

Dress: eShakti | Shoes: DSW | Belt: (similar)
(Dress no longer available, shoes no longer available, and I can't remember where I got my belt. Fail.)

I have to rave about this dress for a second. I'm sure almost all of you have heard about eShakti by now. I love, love, love them because they'll let you customize your dress by adding sleeves or changing the neckline or lengthening the hemline, ecetra and so forth. But the very best thing about dresses from eShakti? All their dresses have pockets! If that's not the best thing in the world, I don't know what is.

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Follow along with my pregnancy:

The Annoucement

17 Week Bumpdate

Gender Reveal

Pregnancy Freebies

If there's one thing I've learned thus far in pregnancy, it's that babies need so. much. crap. At first it doesn't seem like too much stuff, but it slowly piles up (and adds up, babies ain't cheap). In my quest to be thrifty in this whole gestation process, I've stumbled upon a few great freebies. Most of these things you can get absolutely free, all you have to pay is the shipping costs. Usually these promo codes can be used without limit. That means you can buy one for yourself, one for a baby shower gift, and one just for the heck of it. I mean, free stuff! Why not? 

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1. Get a FREE nursing pillow ($39.95 value) or upgrade to a minky nursing pillow ($49.95 value) for only $5 by using nursing pillow6 at checkout! Just pay $12.95 for shipping. You can also apply this code towards the 3 piece minky gift set ($64.95 value) to get it for only $9.95 plus shipping! 

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2. Use the code TFF14 to get 5 FREE pairs of baby leggings ($50 value)! Just pay $12.95 for shipping.

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3. Get a FREE nursing cover from Udder Covers ($34.95 value) when you use DED081 at checkout! Just pay $11.95 for shipping. You can also apply the code towards the 3 piece gift set ($39.95 value) to get it for only $4.95 plus shipping!

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4. Get a FREE carseat canopy ($49.95 value) by using DED081 at checkout! Just pay $12.95 for shipping. You can also apply the code towards the whole caboodle 5 piece set ($89.95 value) to get it for only $39.95 plus shipping!

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5. Get a FREE baby sling ($39.95 value) by using DED081 at checkout! Just pay $11.95 for shipping. You can also apply the code towards the 3 piece gift set ($46.95 value) to get it for only $4.95 plus shipping!

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6. Get 10 FREE reusable breast pads ($35 value) by using TFF14 at checkout! Just pay $12.95 for shipping.

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7. Get either 2 FREE belly button maternity band ($39.90 value) or a FREE belly button body ($39.95 value) by using TFF14 at checkout! Just pay $14.99 for shipping.

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8. When you sign up for a new account on Shutterfly, get 50 FREE 4x6 prints! Just pay for shipping.

9. Get a FREE sample of Huggies diapers and wipes.

10. Join Enfamil Family Beginning to receive over $250 in pregnancy freebies. You'll receive free formula, coupons, and more.

11. Join Similac StrongMoms and get up to $329 in great offers such as free formula, Similac coupons, a free Messenger bag, a free first trimester, and third trimester OB gift, and a free Shutterfly photo book.

12. Get 7 FREE issues of Parent Magazine.

13. Get a FREE sample of Simply Right diapers.

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If you notice that one of the promo codes isn't working properly, let me know so I can contact the company and get a new working one. And if you know of a great freebie, leave it in the comments below so all us prego ladies can benefit!

You might also like:

Pregnancy Must-Haves
Newborn Must-Haves
Dream Nursery Inspiration
Taylor's Nursery: The Details

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Follow along with my pregnancy:

The Annoucement

17 Week Bumpdate

Gender Reveal

27 Week Bumpdate

36 Week Bumpdate

Final Countdown

39 Week Bumpdate

The Birth Story