Answering a commonly asked question from the past few months, “what are your pregnancy/maternity must-haves?”
Below you’ll find some of the items I’ve leaned on the most in the past 8-9 months. Below the collage I go into more details as to why I love them. To shop, simply click directly on the item or find the associated number below the collage.
I would never have gotten through either pregnancy without these leggings. I also love these. I also cling to a few great pairs of maternity denim (though after about month 7 jeans are no longer comfortable for me).
This pregnancy I bought a pair of overalls (the exact ones I bought are sadly no longer available) and they have been GREAT. Super comfortable and easy. I also love these and these.
I have this tee in white and black, and while not technically “maternity,” they have side slits that make them perfect for a growing baby bump.
This $36 oversized sweater was a great buy for fall and winter and is long enough to work with both jeans and leggings, which was awesome. Similarly, I’ve had this coatigan for a few years now and it’s THE BEST. So comfortable and a great layering piece pregnant or not.
Maternity underwear. Once I get to the third trimester it’s game over with anything but these or these. I also have three of these nursing bras that I already started wearing instead of buying a larger-sized bra during pregnancy. They are, by a landslide, leaps and bounds better than any nursing bra I used with Hudson.
A pregnancy pillow. I used this one with Hudson, but this time around I pulled it out much earlier. This baby is positioned much more uncomfortably and my back hurts constantly. I sleep soooo much better when using it. On that note, a beautiful and comfortable pair of slippers is always appreciated. Along with my 40 oz. tumbler I lovingly call my “big gulp.”
These pajamas have been amazing for pregnancy and postpartum. They’re super soft and stretchy and I have 3-4 pairs.
Lastly, I bought this sequined duster cardigan right before I got pregnant thinking it would be such a fun piece to have to dress up a basic black maternity dress. And during the holidays it was a HIT. I could layer over a maternity black turtleneck dress, add sparkly earrings and boots and it looked so much more thoughtful than a plain LBD. Win!
If you have any super favorites during your pregnancy, I’d love to hear. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
I saw this taco salad recipe on tik tok and made it last weekend for a big lunch. It was so good! I added chopped grilled chicken to Christian’s salad and kept mine meat-free.
I am going to share the dressing first because I think that is the best part. It keeps for over a week and it means you can really put it on any base. I’ve since made a hodge podge salad base and just added this dressing. Delicious! I also think it would be great on scrambled eggs or in a breakfast taco or burrito, but that may just be me.
I would recommend not tossing it all together as the lettuce will only keep in the fridge for about 24 hours after being tossed.
CREAMY AVOCADO DRESSING RECIPE:
1 avocado
2 cloves garlic
2 cups cilantro (I subbed parsley because Christian doesn’t care for cilantro)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt (or more to taste)
optional: 1-2 jalapeños
SALAD BASE:
2 hearts of romaine, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/3 chopped red onion (or more to taste)
1 cucumber
1 can drained black beans
1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds (also good with sunflower seeds)
optional: grilled or shredded chicken
I served it with blue corn tortilla chips and a cold topo chico (the best!). For more loaded salad recipes I would highly recommend Kat Can Cook on Tik Tok. She has some amazing recipes!
Thanks so much for reading, and for more of my favorite recipes check out the “food & drink” category at the top of this site under “home.” I made this salad the week before and am still so obsessed with it. Thanks for reading – XO –
– felt cute after church, took a pic (similar outfit linked here) –
What a week! It has been a busy one, maybe too busy for a person this pregnant. This is the last week that I have this much on my social calendar before this baby comes, and it’s probably for the best. I feel ambitious making plans but truthfully, I canget tired just looking at too many things on my calendar. I need a few nesting days to get the baby’s closet and drawers organized (but the 0-3 month clothes have been washed – so that’s something!).
One thing that has been really nice about having things on the calendar is that it has forced me to really get dressed, curl my hair, put on makeup and an outfit. It really is amazing what putting your best foot forward can do for your mood and confidence. It takes a little more effort to dress around this bump, but I’m grateful to see my reflection and say, “good for you.”
We hosted our small group in our home this week and I made a coffee cake that is so easy and good. I made it a few times over Christmas break but was able to photograph it this time so I will be sharing that recipe very soon!
Would you guys want to hear about hospital bag packing this time around? Honestly, I’ve made my list based on this post I did when I was pregnant with Hudson. But I didn’t know if an updated post was needed or not. Would love to hear any feedback!
Thanks so much for reading and hope you have a beautiful weekend – XO –
I saw this chopped cabbage salad all over tik tok and I HAD to see what the fuss what about.
And it’s amazing. Seriously. Christian ate it, the babysitter ate it, I ate it for a week. You can also tweak it a few ways to make it your own, so we’ll talk about that as well.
I have only made this recipe once and it makes a HUGE portion. So next time I will consider halving it. Just a thought! Scroll for recipe –
SALAD BASE:
one head cabbage, finely chopped
2-3 cucumbers, finely chopped
1/4 cup chives, diced
1 bundle green onions
DRESSING:
juice of 2 lemons
1/4 cup olive oil
2 TB rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic
1 shallot
1/3 cup chives
1/4 cup walnuts or cashews (I actually did 1/4 cup of both!)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup fresh spinach
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
Optional: 1 avocado (I used this), 1-2 fresh jalapeños
DIRECTIONS:
It’s a lot of chopping – but I promise it’s worth it!
Blend all dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth and delicious. Taste and season additionally as preferred.
The original recipe shows the creator eating it with blue corn tortilla chips (as pictured), but I’ve also put it on top of a toasted low-carb tortilla that had refried beans spread on it. Top with the salad and it’s like a quick and easy tostada.
If you try this – let me know what you think! Thanks so much for reading and you can find more of my favorite recipes under “home –> food & drink.” XO –
This past summer we were able to gather for a private outdoor dinner with a few couples. It was such a blast and a super sweet memory! My dear friend and interiors expert, Theresa Costas, set such a beautiful table that I had to take the opportunity to document it. This is the same gal who spearheaded our mega primary bathroom remodel (and killed it). So girlfriend has epic taste.
Now that we are in winter and looking to spring, I wanted to share this beautiful spread along with her tips for setting the scene for a special and memorable dinner for friends and family.
The concept of “tablescaping” has become quite the thing over the last two years – thanks in large part to Instagram and influencers like Kathleen 🙂 – and some of these tables, complete with doves flying out of the million-dollar centerpiece, can most certainly make it feel unattainable and intimidating if it’s something you aren’t used to doing – but I assure you, it shouldn’t be…
Not only is setting a table something you can (and I’d argue should) do for special occasions, with the right arsenal of goods, it’s something you can easily pull together to make a Tuesday date night at home feel special.
You won’t find me in the kitchen – not willingly at least – so setting the table has always been the task I’ll happily take on as my contribution to holiday dinners or get-togethers. When we are hosting a dinner party, the meal we are serving is a total after-thought to me. Much to my husband’s annoyance, all I concern myself with is the table – which is probably how we have ended up serving pizza at a dinner party or two. But let me tell you – with a bomb table, even take-out feels elevated.
Over the past few years I have been able to build a pretty impressive stash of linens, plates, candlesticks, glasses, vases, etc. by putting them at the top of my birthday or Christmas wish list. When your mom or mother-in-law is looking for ideas on what to get you – I’m telling you, add something for your table to the list and before you know it, you too will be throwing out your kids’ school work you thought you were going to save because you need somewhere to stash your new napkins.
I’m sure when Kathleen asked me to put together my top tips for setting a table, she didn’t think I’d include my thesis on tablescaping, but here we are.
So if you’ve made it this far, here are my top five tablescaping tips:
This isn’t your mom’s table – throw matchy-matchy out the window.
Instead, pick a unifying color and choose things that work in that family – that can go for napkins, glasses or even plates. Don’t be afraid to mix prints, patterns and textures.
Just like Shelby in Steel Magnolias, everyone should have a signature color they love and repeat throughout their life – find yours and when you come across something you love in “your” color, buy it and chances are it will work perfectly with what you already have – helping you build a versatile collection.
The more layers, the better.
Sure, the plates, napkins, utensils and glasses are a good start – but they should be just that – the start. Fruit, flowers and even figurines scattered down the table can help add layers and interest to your table.
Even better if you can mix in a few special heirloom pieces here or there – a great conversation starter. If you don’t have anything heirloom, why not start the tradition? I only have a couple pieces that have been passed down through family, and they are my favorite by far. And I’d love for my grandkids to one day pull out a platter and say, “this belonged to my very chic and favorite grandmother!” So I keep that in mind and try to buy one quality and timeless piece every year with the hope that they are coveted one day.
Oh how I’d love to build a collection of these dishes to pass down – choosing a pattern or brand that has been around for generations helps ensure whoever inherits it will likely be able to keep adding to the collection!
I’m most definitely a flower person, and a table looks naked to me without at least some kind of greenery. If arranging fresh flowers isn’t your thing, even a potted plant will work. And think outside the one big arrangement box – it’s much easier to put together a small bud vase with flowers – do multiple of these down the table, sticking with one flower type per vase to make it easiest for you. Plus, lower arrangements make it easier for people to carry on conversation across the table.
Just like at a good restaurant, good lighting is key to set the ambiance. Seems silly, but installing a dimmer switch on your dining room fixture is cheap and actually pretty easy to do and makes a world of a difference. Also think about the lighting on the table – mixing different heights and sizes of candles (taper, pillar, tea lights) can also be an easy way to add dimension and height to the table without blocking the view.
I’ve been seeing these new small, battery-operated lamps being used more and more and I love the idea of mixing those with candles. They can get pretty pricey, but these are more reasonably priced with the same look as the $$ ones. Taking my own advice, this is on my birthday list.
Set yourself up for success so you can enjoy the party.
Nothing kills the vibe of a party faster than a stressed-out host. If you can, start working on putting the table together in the days leading up – unlike food prep, the table can’t go bad if you make it too early.
I even go so far as to set out the platters I’ll need and put little sticky notes in them of what food is intended to go in each piece – that way, if someone else is lending a helping hand day-of, they don’t need your oversight. Another small hack that saves more time than you think – I buy a gallon or two jug of water at the grocery store and chill it and use that to fill up the water glasses at the table. Not having to fill each glass from the fridge water source saves more time than you think. Finally, if there is something that stresses you out – outsource it! For whatever reason, picking the music is that for me, so designate someone – can even be a guest (is usually Kathleen for me) – to be in charge of a playlist. Take your stressors off your plate – make them somebody else’s problem 🙂
What a TREAT to have such a pro share her top tablescape tips. Another tablescape post here, but not nearly as detailed and chic. For more home content, be sure to check out the “Home” category at the top of this site.
You can find every rug in this house linked under the “house tour” tab under “home” at the top of this site.
Each rug (that has an available link) is linked here in this rug post and each room has its own reveal with links! So you can also find the link to the bedroom rug in the Bedroom Reveal blog post.
Do you think you’ll get another pet anytime soon?
We aren’t entertaining the idea right now. We had Bailey for 14 years and Lula for almost 9. I loved those girls so much and not only do I not feel ready, but I also know that I am going to have my hands full with two children under 2.5 pretty soon. So I think the kids will be my clean-up and discipline priority until they’re in elementary school. By then we will definitely be ready to get a new family pet!
Sweet Bailey’s ashes are still in our den. I don’t know if we’ll ever be ready to bury them.
How do you really feel about And Just Like That?
I love it. I love seeing the ladies again, I love seeing the fashion, the apartments and “post-pandemic” city life. I miss Samantha and Stanford (RIP) but I’m loving the addition of Lisa, Seema and Professor Wallace. I can’t wait for Thursdays!
I have… a lot of plants. Arguably too many. But my indoor favorites are my fiddle leaf fig trees, snake plants, elephant ear, various orchids, and bird of paradise.
For outside I love jasmine, foxtail ferns, magnolia trees, limelight hydrangeas, camellias, gardenias… the list goes on!
Do you have interns?
I do not. I don’t have a big team, and currently, that’s how I prefer it. The low overhead and low maintenance elements of my job are some of my favorite things about it!
Teeth whitening advice?
I recently started using Lumineux and really like it.
Where is your flatware/silverware from?
Sadly it’s about 10+ years old and was discontinued many years ago. This is semi-similar, but I haven’t been able to find anything super similar.
Can you share the coffee cake recipe again?
Yes, right here! I’ve made it twice and it’s super easy and SO GOOD. A great recipe to bring as a house guest too because it is room temperature.
Link to small locket necklace?
I’m not totally sure which necklace this is, but I recently got this one and love this one too.
If you could only buy one – Chanel classic flap or boy bag?
Classic flap with caviar leather for sure.
Favorite Trader Joe’s treat?
The frozen almond croissants. Pull them out the night before and let them rise in the oven. Bake in the morning. We have them every Saturday as a happy hack treat!
How has the pandemic impacted your style preferences? Will you ever go back?
Great question. I have thought about this before and I had our first baby, moved back to the South and the pandemic began within a six-month period. So it’s hard to say if the past two years have impacted my style because of one of those things or all of those things combined.
I wear sneakers a lot more and heels a lot less.
I wear my hair back 80% of the time.
I wear less trendy pieces and more classic, solid, everyday pieces. But I think that could be a part of getting older?
Other than that, I can’t think of any huge differences. I’ve worked from home for almost seven years, so the denim and fitted tee or loungewear aspect is pretty standard for me.
I’m always happy to have a reason to get dressed up but I don’t mind being more casual, as long as I still feel like some effort was made so that I feel good about how I’m choosing to present myself.
How to build a weekly menu for the family?
On Sundays, I dedicate a portion of time to making the grocery list and looking online or in my “favorites” folder in my bookmarks for recipes for the week. I don’t have a special system other than that. Sometimes it’s super easy to put together menus and other times it feels really hard.
But it changes week to week depending on how much time I have that week with work/life/etc. So some weeks are more instant pot and grilled cheese + tomato soup. Other weeks I have time to make chicken pot pie and lasagna. It just varies from week to week!
But Hudson always gets a serving of what we’re eating and we eat together at the table. I will also give him fruit, yogurt, applesauce, etc. in addition, but he always has some of what we are having also. That doesn’t mean he always eats it, but I want the option to be presented.
I read in a parenting book, “it’s not your job to force-feed your children. It’s your job to present them a nutritious and balanced meal and it’s THEIR job to eat.” It released a lot of pressure for me. All I can do is provide, I try to let him make his own choices. Sometimes he will surprise me!
Thank you so much for sending in these questions! If you’re interested the pregnancy/maternity/baby Q&A, you can see that post here. XO –
This week’s wish list is of course red and pink items for the month of February! The past few weeks I shared some Valentine’s Day gift ideas for her and for him, and today it’s just cute red and pink stuff for fun.
To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I have and love this fragrance, so I know the oil has got to be amazing. I love that it is a lower price point for those who want some of the scent for their own!
I have a few of these lipsticks and the packaging is the most gorgeous lipstick I own. I might be the only female who doesn’t have this lip mask, but it’s on my beauty list for the next time I have a Sephora order. Along with this self-tanner.
There are so many cute Valentine’s Day pajamas out there. These and these are my faves.
If you’re looking for a gorgeous pair of slippers, look no further. I’ve never seen anything as gorgeous as these, and I wish they were real shoes.
I have my first massage in years scheduled for today (a Christmas gift from “the baby!”), and I can’t wait. I have only had a 90-minute massage one other time in my life, so this is going to be a real treat. I can’t think of a better Valentine’s Day gift, truly!
Last week I shared a chicken pot pie I made for a friend on social media and how I made a few small changes to make it our family’s favorite. This gal has a newborn baby, so I took over a pot pie, salad with homemade dressing, mini bottle of champagne and some of Trader Joe’s “brookies.” Yum!
I snapped some quick photos so I could share the recipe with you guys here. The light was fading, so apologies they’re not the most beautiful photos of all time. But more importantly, let’s get to the pot pie…
2 | I cooked the chicken ahead of time in the instant pot with this seasoning and shredded it.
3 | I boiled the veggies in chicken broth rather than water.
4 | I bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
I think you can still cook the chicken with the veggies if you are short on time, but I would replace the water with broth and add extra seasoning.
I think this is such a great recipe to bring a family because it’s great warmed up and usually everyone (including small kids) will eat it. Double it, make one for your own family and it’s a win-win.
I’m always looking for good “take a meal to a friend” ideas, so if you have any favorites, please share! Another one I like is pesto tortellini with shredded chicken, parmesan cheese, pine nuts and fresh basil. So good, so easy, filling and warms up well.
Thanks so much for reading and find more of my favorite recipes under “home –> food & drink” at the top of this site! XO –
I decided to split these up into two different Q&A’s so those that were looking for pregnancy chat can find this post and those who are not can check out the other one (to be posted next week!).
Many of you are also pregnant (congratulations!) and have requested more pregnancy/maternity content, but I’ve also heard from those trying to conceive or not in baby-land right now how much they appreciate not feeling like pregnancy chat is all we are about. While my main focus for this site and brand is adult fashion and home, I did link some pregnancy and maternity content from 2019 when I was pregnant with Hudson that some of you may be interested in checking out.
SO, this post is for those who choose to find it. Let’s dive right in with the most popular questions!
Are you going on a babymoon this time around?
We haven’t planned one. The last month my doctor wants me traveling would be this month and it’s so cold and gloomy outside. I also don’t feel great about travel at the moment with virus numbers, so I’d rather nest and plan a big, fabulous trip in late summer or early fall when the baby is on a better sleep schedule, I have energy and can enjoy a few cocktails.
In fact, we are planning something extra amazing for the two of us to celebrate both the new baby and our 10 year anniversary this fall. And I can’t wait to have something like that to look forward to!
Have you done a pregnancy skincare roundup?
I don’t and I intentally choose not to share many “pregnancy-safe” recommendations as everyone’s definition of safe can vary. My San Francisco and Georgia doctors even have differing opinions about skincare, so it really depends on what you are comfortable with.
I discuss any ingredients I’m unsure about with my OBGYN and read the labels on my skincare to make my own assessments. For a shortcut, I have found it really helpful to look up items on 15 Minute Beauty.
When are you due?
March! I am so looking forward to a spring baby. Christian’s birthday is in March as well, so they will hopefully be fellow Pisces.
Can you recommend a great pair of maternity leggings?
I also have a few pairs from this brand and they are so comfortable.
Do you share the baby’s name with friends and family before birth? Trying to decide how to handle.
I don’t mind sharing the name with family and a handful of very close friends. But maybe it’s because we feel confident in our choice(s). With Hudson, we were back and forth between two names (the second name will be this child’s name if the baby is a boy), so I liked asking people I respected for their opinion so I could feel out their first impressions. I found it helpful, as a name is so often a first impression.
However, if you’re someone who is more sensitive or doesn’t want to be swayed, keeping it to yourself might be the most wise route.
What was that nursing/maternity bra that you liked?
This one – I have all three colors and followed the sizing chart. LOVE IT.
Which diaper bag do you plan to use?
I used this insert in a tote bag (Goyard, Louis Vuitton, whatever you’ve got) with Hudson when he was small.
Once he became toddler and was going to church nursery and such, I found a backpack like this one that fully seals was a better option.
I also wasn’t sure if I needed a double stroller, and after doing my own research and asking other moms of multiple kids, I decided against it for now. I will buy a stroller ride board like this one or this one for Hudson for walks or weekend adventures. But at 2 and 2 months he already will only sit in the stroller for a short period before he tells me, “mama, I want to RUN!” or is begging me to get out.
So if we take a big trip that involves a lot of walking… I will likely just borrow a friend’s double stroller.
Do you plan to take maternity leave?
Yes! I will be taking a period of time off of contracted work. I plan to hop on the blog and social media organically when/if it feels right, but I am not going to be putting any pressure or expectations on myself. Then I plan to dip back into work part-time before coming back completely full-time in May.
I now know that I didn’t take enough time off with Hudson. But he was a difficult newborn experience and truthfully, some of that quiet time in my office was really good for me. It helped me to feel like ME. So if coming back to work earlier than May is out of a need or desire, I’m open to that too.
Just planning to listen to my gut and my instincts and am grateful for a flexible job that allows me to do so!
You’ve shared you didn’t enjoy breastfeeding the first time around. Do you plan to try again or no?
I did share my first breastfeeding journey in this post. I was able to nurse Hudson for 8 weeks. For anyone else in the same boat – we have only had one ear infection in 2 years, Hudson has never had the flu or covid and has managed to meet every milestone on time or ahead… so please do not beat yourself up about how you feed your baby!
To be transparent, I didn’t really want to share it because it felt really personal to me. But I was repeatedly asked about breastfeeding, which I didn’t see coming. I feel it’s an intimate experience that differs woman to woman. All babies are unique and experiences can even vary between your different children.
I do plan to try again and will be working to set myself up for success, whatever that even means! But I also plan to follow my instincts and will likely keep my experience to myself this time around. Being asked and feeling like I had to address it put me in a position I wasn’t comfortable with and wasn’t prepared for. Live and learn!
Do you have any postpartum blog posts? Or postpartum style ideas?
I’ve been asked this before and I went and looked and… I actually don’t. I think like anyone else, that “fourth trimester,” was spent taking care of myself and Hudson as well as I could. I also didn’t take much, if any, maternity leave and continued to work in various capacities, so time was limited all around.
Because I do plan to take more time off this time, postpartum fashion isn’t a topic I plan to focus on. I will likely be in loose, comfortable clothes from my closet until I feel good enough to put on pants with buttons. Although I did buy some larger sized denim last time around I’ll probably pull out. My hope is that by the time I come back full-time in May I’ll be ready to discuss fashion and style for all women!
My best advice is to try to put on a little bit of makeup each day, spend 5 minutes on your hair (even if it’s just a neat ponytail) and put on something that isn’t pajamas if you can. Even just drawstring pants and a cardigan. Anything that makes you not feel embarrassed to answer the door is a win! When I do that, I carry myself with more confidence and when I catch my reflection in the mirror I don’t feel sad or blue. That’s what it’s about – how YOU feel about yourself.
Did you get stretch marks during pregnancy? Any tips?
I didn’t get them with Hudson and am using a belly oil daily on my breasts and belly. I also just got this stretch mark cream in from Nemah and am trying it out.
I start using belly products as soon as I have a bump and continue through postpartum. I don’t have any other tips other than crossing my fingers, hoping my genetics does me some favors and saying a prayer!
What will you do the same or different with this baby?
I haven’t thought much about what I plan to do differently. I think children are unique and what works for one baby may not necessarily work with the other.
For example, Hudson was a fussy baby and very challenging during the day. But I think he exhausted himself being so unhappy during the daytime, so he slept like a champ. Sleep training was a breeze (we followed Moms on Calland Taking Cara Babies). He was in his crib that he sleeps in now by 8 weeks through the night.
BUT this child may a beast to sleep train – who knows! I plan on following my instincts and getting to know the new baby before making any big plans or assumptions on what they will be like or how it will go. I’ve learned to try to walk into new situations with little or no expectations and it makes it a lot easier not to get frustrated or feel as overwhelmed.
What did you buy for baby #2 that you didn’t already have? Or products you used with Hudson and plan to use again! Anything you’re changing for the next baby or that you didn’t love with Hudson?
I haven’t bought much, if anything, for this next baby. We were fortunate to have a lot for Hudson – bassinets, rockers, swings, clothes, bottles, bottle warmer, bouncer, toys, car seat, etc. I liked what I used with him.
I do have this little play gym/tent that was gifted to us by Lalo that I look forward to using. And we received this precious busy bee Dock-a-Tot as a gift.
I also know how quickly those first few months go by and you don’t need that much. You just don’t. Personally, I think it’s worse to have too much and feel like there is baby stuff everywhere. It can make me feel quickly overwhelmed.
How did you get in the mental place where you were ready for another baby?
I am in my 30’s and want our kids to be relatively close in age. So it was less about being ready and more about math and reality. I also want to leave space for a third baby which meant… the show had to get on the road.
This baby and Hudson will be 2 years and 4 months apart. I won’t lie, my lower back is in a lot of pain from the weight of a toddler while being pregnant. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it again with this close of an age gap!
How do you manage living far from family? Struggling with this with a 2-year-old and currently pregnant.
It can be hard sometimes. A lot of my friends have parents within two hours, or even in town, and I just can’t relate to that.
But rather than focus on what I don’t have I try to focus on what I do have. And I make sure to have friends whose parents are also out of state. We get each other, and it’s nice to feel like you’re not the only ones who can’t drop off the kids on a whim and go have an easy adults-only vacation.
Also? Be proud of yourself. You’re doing a lot and you’re learning how to do it on your own. That’s impressive! I hope you are proud of yourself for seeing what you’re capable of – go girl!
When is Hudson moving to his big boy room?
When we think he’s ready or when we need his crib for the baby. The new baby will be in a bassinet for a while, and I’ve talked with our pediatrician about the transition for Hudson to his big boy bed and room. We will start with naps in the big boy bed and room and once those are going well, make the full transition. Hudson has shown us to handle transitions pretty well, so I feel good about it!
I would recommend consulting your pediatrician for their advice as every toddler is different and may be ready at different times.
Going home from hospital looks?
I will probably be in anything loose. We didn’t take any memorable photos or anything with Hudson on the day we went home. I just wanted to be comfortable and not have anything too tight considering what my body had just been through.
Comfort wins in the fourth trimester! ASOS has some really great options like this and this.
Can you share baby names? I’m due in March and haven’t found our name yet!
I don’t have a long list of names, unfortunately. I have one boy name and one girl name (both happen to be family names and were options when I was pregnant with Hudson) and not much extra on the list. In fact, we still have to finalize the boy middle name!
BUT a few names I love that we aren’t using:
Lola, Seraphina, Liv, Rosie, Philippa or Pippa
Hampton, Sawyer, Leo, Crew, Alexander (Hudson’s middle name)
How many kids do you want?
I’m not really sure. We are both from families of 5 (total), so I think we always assumed we would have three. But we are also open to having two if that’s what is meant for us. I think we would be happy with two children, but we both loved growing up with more than one sibling and want to give that to our kids. I think we’ll just have to see how we feel.
On my side, we are all 2 years apart and on Christian’s side, the kids are a little more spaced apart. He has said he wished they could have been closer in age, so we worked hard to ensure at least two of our littles would have that. More about trying to conceive here. This time around took twice as long as Hudson did, so they could have been less than two years apart. I think God knew what He was doing giving us a little more time. All is well that ends well!
A few more baby-themed blog posts for those who are interested:
Last week I shared some Valentine’s Day gift ideas for her here, and this week we are onto the guys. Truthfully, Christian and I usually just share a nice meal and some chocolates, but when I told him I was working on this, his response was, “wait – so you’re saying guys get gifts on Valentine’s Day?”
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Some of these items listed are things he loves, and I’ll get into it more at the bottom of the post. To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I’ve shared before that I discovered this brand for workout clothes for Christian a year or two ago. He likes fewer logos and more simple pieces that don’t necessarily have to be worn for exercise. Almost a middle ground between lounge and fitness so it works for lots of different kinds of activities without being blatant Nike shorts. Since then, I’ve bought him more pieces and also got my dad a few pieces for Christmas. A win all around!
When it comes to joggers/tees/underwear, Tommy John always takes the cake. Their pieces are so soft and hold up really well. We are both BIG fans.
Christian bought himself these adjustable dumbbells not too long ago and they’re a great long-term investment that don’t take up a ton of space.
I bought this wooden drawer knife block this week and can’t wait for it to come in. One less thing on the counter is a win for me.
You know how I feel about Mexican Train Dominoes. A fun game and a bottle of bourbon = perfect gift.
Christian has and loves these sneakers. They have some cool color schemes but know they’re not for actual sports sports. He wore them to play pickleball recently and blisters ensued. Moreso a sneaker for living life rather than exercise. I can’t see C wearing these high tops but I love them. How cute are they!?
Would love to hear what your Valentine’s Day plans are this year. Lay low or dinner out? Gifts or chocolates? Let’s give each other some ideas! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
dress (old) – similar styles here and here | coat (old) – similar style here | boots | hat (old) – similar style here and here
We have some seriously cold weather ahead of us, and I thought I would round up some of my favorite ways to pass the time on the weekends when we are all trying to stay entertained and warm.
Back when this pandemic first started, I put together this post of 10 At-Home Activities to keep us entertained… when I thought it would be a few weeks/months of time at home. Granted, this post is more of a cold-weather theme (or maybe a brief quarantine theme), and some of these may sound repetitive. BUT I’m going to try to get a little more specific here with this shorter list!
Dominoes, Scrabble, Card Games
My new favorite game is Mexican Train Dominoes. It is so fun and easy, and you can also watch a show or movie while playing. I love games like that that don’t require 100% of your attention so it can be more lighthearted and social.
Tea Party with Hudson
Hudson just turned 2 in November, and it’s been so fun watching his imagination develop. Over Thanksgiving, my mom had a little tea party for him and his 3-year-old girl cousin. He loved it. So now I will often turn afternoon snack time into mini “tea parties.” We will lay out the different snacks (crackers, gummies, fruit), and I will serve him “tea” in an espresso cup and saucer (which is actually water or lemonade) at his mini table and chairs. Sometimes stuffed animals make their way to our tea parties.
He asks for tea parties all the time now, and though I tried to rebrand the experience to “tea time” in an effort to make it a little bit more masculine… Hudson very much still prefers tea parties. So tea parties it is!
“Mama, I want tea paaarr-ty.”
At Home Pilates
We are at the place where being on the treadmill or bike is too risky with Hudson around because he will get too close to the machine or put something on it… I digress. It doesn’t work for us at this current time.
BUT I can do mat workouts with him nearby without a problem. I will pull up YouTube for a class or use the OpenFit classes available on my MYX bike (blog post about bike here). Andrea teaches some killer pilates classes on there!
Read a book… and set the scene.
When I say read a book, I don’t just mean read a book. Set the scene. Turn on the fireplace video on YouTube, grab a blanket, elevate your feet, brew a cup of tea. Really make it an enjoyable, relaxing, indulgent experience. Even just doing this for 20-30 minutes can make a big difference in my attitude and tension level.
We tend to overestimate how long it will take to tidy up a hall closet, drawer, or cabinet. A lot of times it just takes an hour… maybe even less. And that feeling of productivity and pat on the back is tough to beat. I recently did this with our hallway closet, ordering a few sets of these baskets and acrylic risers (for toddler shoes). The start-to-finish took me less than 30 minutes and the impact it has on my happiness is much more than that.
For more small happy hacks, I have two other posts worth checking out. These are some of my own happy hacks, and these are some reader-submitted happy hacks. I LOVE small changes like this to bring a little moment of joy into your day. It all adds up!
If you have some favorite cold-weather activities, I’d love to hear. Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
Cheers to Friday! This week flew by but I must admit, after a whirlwind November and December I really do value these slow weeks of January. I think I really needed them and I have enjoyed the quiet. Anyone else?
I think the nesting is slowly beginning (finally!). I’ve pulled out all the bottles and 0-3 months clothes that need rewashing along with some postpartum things I used last time (that part felt a little PTSD, but it will be ok). I am both so ready and also not ready at all. But isn’t that how we always feel getting ready for a new little person that is joining the family?
We have more cold weather ahead of us and next week I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to spend these super cold weekends when everyone we know seems to be under the weather (omicron has been sweeping our city). In the meantime, I hope to keep allowing myself the rest that I know I need. I’ve been so much kinder and gracious to myself this time around about lying down, elevating my feet, reading a book, etc. I am really proud of myself for that.
We watched Don’t Look Up last weekend and it has really sat with me. A crazy movie about a crazy situation that isn’t entirely… unbelievable? Maybe it’s the hormones but it was both powerful and nuts. Who else has watched it?
I don’t have much to report other than stay warm, give yourself rest and y’all stay healthy out there. Big hugs – XO –
