Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Hudson’s Birth Story

I’ve been looking forward to writing Hudson’s birth story so I can hold onto it as I’m sure my memory will fade over time. So I wanted to write it while it was still fresh!

I’ll admit, I went into his birth with little to no expectations. Every woman’s experience is different, our bodies and babies are so different. Our next child’s birth could be completely unique and nothing like our first! So I had a three step birth plan: have the baby in a hospital, get the epidural and have a healthy baby however that may happen. I really love the hospital and doctors we chose. I completely trusted them to do what was best for the baby and myself.

After praying the baby would come early and be healthy (as probably all 9 month pregnant women do!), at 2:30AM on Friday, 11/22, I woke up with some lower abdominal cramping. I thought it could stick around or go away, so I tried to drink some water, reposition and get comfortable. I quickly realized there was no getting comfortable and at 3:00AM I got out of bed to walk around the house.

Around 3:30AM I used an app called Contraction Timer (recommended by my brother’s wife and so helpful) to start timing what I was feeling. I started to realize this could really be it. So I finished packing up my things, organized the pets food, ate some leftover pasta at 4:30AM and got dressed. I tried to let Christian sleep until 5AM as I knew he had been really tired the night before (I feel I now deserve a gold star sticker for this).

At 5AM, I woke Christian up. I told him I thought I was in labor and after timing my contractions they were consistent. He asked if I wanted to call my doctor first and my response was, “no, I don’t want to wake her up if it’s a false alarm.” Which is hilarious to me – typical daughter and wife of doctors. I never want to be the cause of waking anyone up!

Christian calmly got up, finished packing a few things and we hopped in the car by 5:20AM.

When we rolled into the ER, they asked if I wanted a wheelchair, and I said I preferred to walk. I would periodically stop to breathe through a contraction as we made our way up to the third floor. Then I was checked by a nurse… only to find out I was already between 8 and 9cm dilated. As in, we were almost ready to push.

That’s when I started to get anxious. I thought I had more time! What about the epidural!? That was literally one of the only puzzle pieces to my “birth plan!” Christian could see my face start to shift once we heard we were much further along than we thought, and he stepped in to give me a little pep talk. He said that if I could be this calm without medicine this far into labor, that I would be tough enough to push without the epidural if it was too late.

While I appreciated his vote of confidence… having a natural birth is just not something I felt ready to do. I absolutely respect and admire anyone who does, but personally I am grateful to modern medicine and welcome it.

The nurse swiftly rolled me straight to labor and delivery and within minutes I was surrounded by wonderful nurses (who were all at the end of their long shift no less) taking blood and filling out paperwork. They were moving as fast as they could to gather all the information and testing necessary before I could hopefully be seen by the anesthesiologist.

They made it happen, and an anesthesiologist walked in the room with 10 minutes to spare before a scheduled c-section. He got me fixed up real nice, and all was well in the world in minutes.

From there we debated even calling our families and thought we could just let them know after the baby had been born since things were moving so quickly. But the epidural slowed things down a little bit. We had a few hours of downtime before it was time to push, so we called our parents.

You never know if your actual doctor will be available to deliver your baby, and I was so happy to see my doctor walk into the room. Everyone at the practice is great, but I felt so lucky that she was there to help these newbies, as she is exceptional.

In what felt like no time, we were ready to push. There were just four of us in the room – Christian, myself, my wonderful doctor and an amazing nurse. The energy was so relaxed, so calm and happy. After an hour of pushing during contractions, I felt this wave come over my lower body as our son was born. I can’t describe it as accurately as it deserves to be described, but it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I hope I never forget it.

Christian actually recorded the audio of Hudson’s arrival and it’s saved in the “CBL Bebe” saved stories on Instagram, but every time I listen to it I have tears in my eyes. I had no idea that labor and delivery could be so wonderful, so zen, so joyous.

We were between two names for the entire pregnancy. However once we met our boy with his head full of dark hair and inquisitive blue-gray eyes, I felt that his name was Hudson all along.

He is named after Christian and his maternal side as well as my maternal side, our Hudson Alexander Barnes.

robe | photos by Christian Barnes

We spent two nights in the hospital. The nurses were absolutely amazing and took such great care of us. When it was time leave I was ready to be in our own space again, but I knew recovering without those ladies was going to be a buzzkill.

Did I cry the first night home because I felt overwhelmed? Sure. But now, two weeks later we have a little bit of a rhythm. Christian’s parents, my parents and my sister have met the baby. We have an amazing NICU technician helping us a few days a week so I can get some work done. I’m able to both learn from her and have a few time blocks of independence. Hudson is a great eater and sleeper so far, and we are all just adjusting to life with him on the outside!

I wanted to share this story because I felt like during my pregnancy, women were so quick to tell me scary or stressful stories of pregnancy, labor, delivery and recovery. I know everyone’s journey is different, but I have been amazed at how pleasant and happy the process has been. And I know there is every kind of story out there. But to anyone who is a little anxious or nervous about becoming a mom and the path required to get there, I hope this story will be reassuring and comforting. Know that you could absolutely have a totally mellow, calm experience. Those exist too!

Thank you so much for reading, for all of your kindness, love and encouragement. December has been pretty busy for all of us, but I am hoping to slow down in January and really enjoy some downtime with my boy. Having a newborn around the holidays has just been really, really special. Gratitude to the max. Love you guys and thank you for so kindly welcoming our Hudson to the CBL fam – XO –

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Friday’s Five | Two Weeks with Hudson

– my parents decking our house indoors and outdoors for the holidays (magnolia garland tutorial coming next week!) –

– and sprinkling in a little holiday into some spaces throughout the rest of the house –

– the dining room wallpaper being finished while I was recovering in the hospital –

– some of the most beautiful flowers welcoming little Hudson –

– and two weeks knowing this guy (bassinet | outfit) –

I had so much fun getting back in the swing of things this week! I can’t believe Hudson joined our crew two weeks ago. It both feels like he’s been here forever, yet also like he just got here. Maybe it’s the sleeping in 3-4 hour increments that has me feeling that way… #Godbless that newborn life.

All jokes aside, we are so thankful and overwhelmed with gratitude that this baby boy is healthy and is ours. He is a great eater and sleeper, and I don’t know how I got so lucky. I plan on sharing his birth story next week – I’m looking forward to writing that as we really had the happiest while still super calm day. More on that later!

Ever since Hudson was born, we have had our parents in town. It was so incredibly wonderful to have people here going to the grocery, preparing meals for us and helping around the house while we focused on our new addition. My mom left Thursday after my sister popped in for a short visit, and now it’s just the three of us, adjusting to our new life.

That being said, we do have a wonderful nurse helping us several days a week through January so I can not only work, but also so we can both have some time to feel like ourselves and get some rest. She just started with us this week and we absolutely adore her.

Other than that, we are just cozied up at home. I’m making sure to allow myself some time each day to slow down and enjoy some newborn cuddles, as everyone tells me this phase goes so fast. We snagged a fireplace screen and tools on Cyber Monday, so I’m hoping a fabulous fire is in our future. We have never had a mantle or fireplace – so it’s extra special! I hope y’all have a great weekend and thanks so much for reading – XO –

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For the Ladies Under $100 | Gift Guide

I shared a gift guide for girlfriends and coworkers here, but I wanted to share another selection under $100 for the sisters, moms, mother-in-laws, etc. on your list! I would love to receive any of these, and I’m going more into detail below.

Shop the items by clicking directly on the collage below or clicking the associated number at the bottom of the collage –

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

I love these pajamas – thermals are my favorite for winter! And for some under $25, these are FAB.

I have several silk pillowcases and they seem pricey but once you have one… you get addicted.

I think everyone needs a diffuser. Such a useful gift that keeps on giving.

For the gal who likes a good time, a chambong is a super fun gift. I’ve also been looking at these for over a year now. It’s an investment but I’ve heard such great things!

I think games are a great gift. This card game looks like it sparks really meaningful conversations and everyone loves backgammon.

I’ve had one of these for about seven years and I love playing vinyls on it. I recently acquired tons of my grandmothers vinyls and I’ve loved putting them on!

And you can shop and see all holiday-related content under “holiday” at the top of this site, including all the gift guides I’ll be working on in the coming months!

Thank you so much for reading – XO –

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Holiday Gift Idea + Mocktail Recipe

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen how much I’ve loved our SodaStream. During my pregnancy I loved making myself different concoctions that felt both special and delicious. It was like having my own personal little mocktail machine!

I’ve also been amazed at how much our guests have loved seeing how this machine works. They’ll pick a flavor and we’ll ask if they want it low, medium or highly carbonated. Ta da! In fact, two people who have seen it at our house have bought machines of their own.

SO, if you have a soda or sparkling water lover on your Christmas gift list, you can actually save $50 on a SodaStream and flavor bundle on Amazon, which makes it $109.99. And then they can make all the drinks they want – it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

I think the flavors are great on their own, but I wanted to share a little holiday mocktail recipe as well for any of you who are also looking for a little something extra to sip on. And you can always add a little vodka to this if you aren’t in a mocktail season of life… I hear you and I see you. #Respect.

Pomegranate Cider Spritz

1/2 cup apple cider

1/2 cup sparkling water (I used my SodaStream with the lime flavor)

1/4 cup pomegranate juice

1/2 a lime

Combine ingredients and garnish with pomegranate seeds, lime or a rosemary sprig. Really you just want to add equal parts cider and sparkling water and a heavy splash of pomegranate juice. My intent was to jazz up my garnishes up more… but we took these photos six days after Hudson was born, so this was my best (and it was delicious!). I even had to keep everyone from drinking all of my cider so I could make my mocktail! But a rosemary sprig would be so pretty!

photos by Christian Barnes

Are you a carbonated-everything lover too? I’d love to hear if you’ve tried SodaStream before. Don’t forget that you can save $50 right now on a SodaStream One Touch Bundle on Amazon!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

brought to you by SodaStream

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BEST OF CYBER MONDAY 2019

Friday I shared my Black Friday picks and shopping strategy for the best of the week’s markdowns. Today I wanted to share what I’ve actually bought or pieces I have that are on major sale!

You can click the item directly below or see it’s associated number + the discount at the bottom of the collage –

1 | 2 – 40% off | 3 – 25% off | 4 – 25% off | 5 – 25% off | 6 – 32% off and also marked down here | 7 – save $150 | 8 – 40% off | 9 | 10 | 11 – 40% off | 12 – $11 off | 13 –40% off | 14 – 40% off | 15 – 25% off | 16 – 35% off | 17 – 25% off | 18 – 25% off | 19 – save $66

A few callouts I want to make –

DENIM | I featured these in Friday’s post too, but they’re some of my favorite Levi’s. I have them in multiple washes.

HOME | We bought our Dyson as soon as we moved to Georgia and it was worth every penny (and we paid full price!). We also need a fireplace screen and tool set for our first-ever mantle, so I took the 25% off opportunity to snag a duo. I also have two of these gorgeous mirrors and they’re currently 30% off! Considering getting a 7′ one for our bedroom…

BOOTIES | I have all of the booties above and they are on major sale. Leopard goes with everything. This color blends in with your skin so well it makes your legs look super long. White is so on trend, and you know I can’t get enough of python.

BABY | I bought Hudson the mamaRoo to keep him entertained when there aren’t hands to hold him and he loves it. So glad we snagged it!

SLIPPERS | I love these. So much. Wear them everyday!

KITCHEN | We have been wanting a Breville toaster oven and seeing it marked down both here and here, we finally pulled the trigger. Can’t wait for it to come in!

Now that brands hype “cyber week” more than the individual days, a lot of the sales are the same from Friday – but there’s still just a little bit of time left to shop so don’t miss out if you’re holding out for something!

Abercrombie & Fitch | 50% off everything

AmorePacific | 20% off sitewide

Ann Taylor | 50% off everything with code CYBER

Annie Selke | 25% off sitewide + free shipping on orders over $150 with code CYBER19

Anthropologie | 30% off everything, including this gorgeous mirror!

ASOS | 30% off with code BIG30

Banana Republic | 50% off entire purchase + free shipping

BaubleBar | 35% off sitewide 15% off custom gifts through 12/3

Bloomingdale’s | take $25 off every $150 you spend on items labeled TAKE $25 OFF + up to 25% off (the more you spend the more you save)

Crate and Barrel | 20-30% off sitewide (furniture and select items excluded)

DL1961 | 40% off sitewide

Express | 50% off everything + free shipping

Framebridge | 20% off black frames with code BLACKFRIDAY

GAP | 50% off everything with code GAPCYBER

Gigi New York | 30% off sitewide

Gorjana | 20% off sitewide

H&M | 30% off everything

J.Crew | 50% off your purchase with code MONDAY

J.Crew Factory | 60% off everything

Kendra Scott | 25% off everything or 30% off when you spend $300+

Levi’s | 40% off sitewide with code CYBER

Lisi Lerch | 30% off everything

LOFT | 50% off your purchase + free shipping with code CYBER

Madewell | 30% off your purchase + extra 10% off with code YAYINTERNET

Marc Fisher | 25% off sitewide with code CM19

Minted | 25% off all orders

Outdoor Voices | 25% off online and in stores with code THANK25 through 12/2

Pottery Barn | 25% off everything + free shipping with code CYBER

Ralph Lauren | 40% off orders $125+

Rebecca Minkoff | 25% off orders $100+ with code THANKS25, 30% off orders $250+ with code THANKS30, 35% off orders $300+ with code THANKS35, 40% off orders $350+ with code THANKS40

Sam Edelman | extra 40% off with code CYBERSAM19

Sephora | 50% off select items

Serena & Lily | 25% off everything with code THANKFUL

Shopbop | 15% off orders $200+, 20% off orders $500+, 25% off orders $800+ with code MORE19

Spanx | 20% off everything

SSENSE | up to 50% off designer styles

T3 | 25% off sitewide with code MONDAY19

Tory Burch | 30% off $250+ with code THANKS

TULA | 40% off supersize Day & Night Cream with code CYBERMONDAY19

Urban Outfitters | $75 off $200+, $50 off $150+, $10 off $50+

Vince Camuto | 40% off your purchase with code CYBER40

West Elm | 20% off + free shipping with code SHOPFAST

World Market | 15% off $50+, 20% off $100+, 30% off $200+, 40% off $300+

Yumi Kim | 30% off with code THANKS

Let me know what you scored! I’d love to hear which categories have peaked your interest most – fashion, beauty, home, accessories, etc. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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2019 BLACK FRIDAY SALES

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

Happy Thanksgiving!! I can’t believe it’s already here, and I must admit that I prayed that I would not still be pregnant by today. Praise be that Hudson is here, I am most thankful for that this year.

As you guys know, Cyber Week is not a drill. Most of Black Friday’s sales have already begun, so I wanted to share my favorites below as well as some of my picks. No time like after a food coma to do some online shopping and get your selects in before items sell out!

A few things I would prioritize scoring on sale…

A great pair of booties. These look twice as expensive as they are and they’re 30% off.

Loafers + ballet flats. I can’t have enough and as a new mom I am even more confident I’ll be living in flats. These look so luxe I would have thought they were twice the price. These are classic and these are an animal print that would go with everything.

Slippers. Because I mean… duh. Love these and these (20% off!).

A chunky turtleneck sweater. My favorite kind of sweater!

A faux fur. Because I honestly can’t have enough.

High waisted denim. The only kind I wear honestly, hoping I can squeeze into my old jeans by spring but is probably worth getting a size or two up in these or these (40% off).

The beauty item you’ve been waiting to splurge on. I think this blow dryer and this curling iron set are top of market and will last forever. I’ve been using mine for years!

A sweater dress. I lived in these while pregnant this fall and postpartum but they’re fab whether you’re in that season or not.

Loungewear or pajamas. Such a great time to treat yourself to some fresh joggers or pajamas! Love these and these. Or these if you’re feeling extra!

And of course – all of the best online sales:

Abercrombie & Fitch | 50% off everything

Ann Taylor | 50% off everything with code BLACKFRIDAY

Annie Selke | 25% off sitewide + free shipping on orders over $150 with code CYBER19

Anthropologie | 30% off everything

ASOS | 30% off with code BIG30

Banana Republic | 50% off entire purchase

BaubleBar | 35% off sitewide 15% off custom gifts through 12/3

Bloomingdale’s | take $25 off every $150 you spend on items labeled TAKE $25 OFF + up to 25% off (the more you spend the more you save)

Crate and Barrel | 20-30% off sitewide (furniture and select items excluded)

DL1961 | 40% off sitewide

Express | 50% off everything + free shipping

Framebridge | 20% off black frames with code BLACKFRIDAY

GAP | 50% off everything with code BLKFRIDAY

Gigi New York | 20% off $125+, 25% off $250+, 30% off $350+, 35% off $500+

Gorjana | spend $100 get $25 off, spend $150 get $50 off, spend $200 get $100 off

H&M | 30% off everything

J.Crew | 50% off your purchase with code SHOPFIRST + 60% off sale styles

J.Crew Factory | 60% off everything

Kendra Scott | 25% off everything or 30% off when you spend $300+

Levi’s | 40% off sitewide with code INDIGO

Lisi Lerch | 30% off everything

LOFT | 50% off your purchase with code INDULGE

Madewell | 30% off your purchase with code GIFTWELL

Marc Fisher | 25% off sitewide with code BF19

Minted | 20% off all orders $150+, 15% off all orders with code BF2019

Outdoor Voices | 25% off online and in stores with code THANK25 through 12/2

Pottery Barn | 25% off everything + free shipping with code THANKFUL

Ralph Lauren | 40% off orders $125+

Rebecca Minkoff | 25% off orders $100+ with code THANKS25

Sam Edelman | extra 30% off with code SAM2019

Sephora | 50% off select items

Serena & Lily | 25% off everything with code THANKFUL

Shopbop | 15% off orders $200+, 20% off orders $500+, 25% off orders $800+ with code MORE19

Spanx | 20% off everything

SSENSE | up to 50% off designer styles

T3 | 25% off sitewide with code FRIDAY19

Tory Burch | 30% off $250+ with code THANKS

TULA | 25% off all orders with code BLACKFRIDAY19

Urban Outfitters | BOGO 50% off

Vince Camuto | 40% off your purchase with code FRIDAY40

West Elm | 15% off $150+, 20% off $500+, 25% off $1000+, 30% off $3500 with code SAVEMORE

World Market | 40% off all furniture

Yumi Kim | 30% off with code THANKS

I’ll be updating this post throughout the weekend as well as putting together a Cyber Monday post, so be sure to check back!

I hope you guys have a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend and take some time to think about how you’ve been blessed this year. Maybe I’m extra emotional from having our first babe, but I feel pretty overwhelmed with gratitude this year. I can’t even begin to describe how differently my heart feels this year compared to just one year ago. Oh how things have changed so quickly and I feel so, so thankful.

Love you guys and thank you so much for all the warm wishes for our Hudson! Thanks so much for checking in and happy shopping – XO –

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Gift Guide | For Friends + Coworkers

Ooohhh girl, gift guide season is upon us! I have several that I want to put together for you guys in the next several weeks. If you have something specific you would like to see, please let me know in the comments!

You can find some of favorite picks from Bloomingdale’s here, and I’ll be categorizing all of the CBL holiday content in the pink “Holiday” tab at the top of this site. You can shop the guide below by clicking the item in the collage or by finding its coordinating number below the collage.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | mama ring | vanity case

So I realized I didn’t number the mama ring or the vanity bag, forgive me! I have been working on content ahead of time in preparation for baby, so my mind as left me in moments here and there.

BUT, I wanted to share some of my favorite gifts for the ladies in your life. These vary in price depending on your relationship with the recipient (coworker, bff, sister, etc.).

Cozy socks, pajamas (also recently bought these under $25), a great candle – so many great options!

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow and then we have both Black Friday AND Cyber Monday! I’ll be sharing the best in sales on this blog, so be sure to check in before you start shopping to make sure you’re getting the best deals!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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A Letter to My Son

My boy,

Today is your due date, although you happily decided to make your entrance four days early. Things moved along so quickly – you were ready!

I found out you existed on March 19th. And every day since then I’ve looked forward to this day. I have so much excitement to meet you, to hold you, to love you. It’s been you and me for the past nine months, and with every kick, every hiccup and every time I see your little behind jutting out of my upper left side (!!), I think of what it might be like to know you and be a part of raising you.

In every moment I spend in your nursery, I dream of the baby, boy and man you might be one day. I think about kissing your cheeks and seeing you smile. Standing you up in front of the mirror to show you how perfect and squishy your legs are! Tucking you into bed and reading you a book. Feeding you in the middle of the night, appreciating that time of having you all to myself again. Just like it’s been day by day this year as you’ve grown in my belly.

You are the luckiest little guy because while you don’t know it yet, you actually have the best dad. He’s brilliant, loving, patient and will always be able to make you laugh, even when the days are tough. He’s done that for me for twelve years! I knew when I was dating him that he was going to be a great dad one day. And now you get to experience that – how lucky you are! He took this photo of you and me on our seventh wedding anniversary. It was hard to look serious because he kept making me laugh. You’ll soon see – he’s the best. Marrying him is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I finish writing this letter with tears in my eyes because I am so grateful and overwhelmed with happiness to be your mom. I promise to do my best to raise you to be patient, respectful, brave and loving like your dad. And to chase your dreams no matter how crazy they might sound, to take risks… with the ability to laugh at yourself and not take life too seriously as I like to think I am.

Hudson, thank you for making us parents and for joining our family. We love you so, so much and even though we’ve just met, you are already the center of our entire world.

Love,

Mom

photos by Christian Barnes

dress, also love this one, this one and this one | hoop earrings | bar earring

Thank you guys for being a part of this journey with us! XO –

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Third Trimester Q&A

outfit linked here

What do you eat in a day?

I pretty much eat the same pregnant as I have pre-pregnancy. My sister is a nutritionist and told me that a pregnant woman actually only needs an extra 300 calories a day!

I’ll have a banana, smoothie, yogurt or bowl of cereal for breakfast. Confession: I’m extra hungry in the mornings so sometimes I’ll have a banana at 6:30AM and a second breakfast at 10AM.

String cheese, a honeycrisp apple or some crackers for a snack.

Lunch is usually last night’s dinner leftovers or a pb&j.

I’ll cook dinner for Christian and have a sparkling water, caffeine free soda, SodaStream concoction, pomegranate juice or something fun to drink.

For dessert, I’ve been eating one of these a day. My favorite holiday cookie… lethal!

Favorite maternity brands?

I shared my pregnancy must-haves here and some of my go-to’s in the Second Trimester Q&A.

Baby gear and products you’ve bought?

We have two strollers (one for travel), two baby monitors (one for travel), a travel crib, a bouncer, etc., and I’ll be sharing these products on the blog and social media in our nursery reveal and as we begin to use them. I want to have more intel on convenience/functionality and that will require actually using them first!

How did you pick a stroller and car seat? There are so many options!

Christian looks at Consumer Reports for basically everything. Definitely every gadget or tech item.

What were your sister’s tips when you came to visit?

They were mostly in regard to organizing the changing table and dresser. Folding baby clothes a certain way, organizing by size and style into drawer organizers, etc. She is more of a minimalist and just made me feel better about not having a ton of stuff. I don’t want three bouncers and 30 swaddles. It’s too much! She said she only had six bottles with her daughter and it’s all she needed, she just washed them and that’s that. It’s honestly so true… who really wants that much stuff in their house!?

She went through the clothes I had for him for 0-3 and 3-6 months and recommended I buy a few more of this and that to have enough but not too much.

We set up a second changing station downstairs and organized a little basket of diapers, wipes, creams, etc. for that station.

If you have a mom friend or sister who can walk through your nursery like this for you – they really have the best intel into what you actually need and don’t. It’s kind of specific to what you already have going on if that makes sense!

I took my sister-in-law with me instead of Christian to register for wedding gifts back in the day and it was one of the smartest things I did. She walked around with me in each store and knew what I would and wouldn’t actually use. It was incredibly helpful!

Tips for flying while pregnant?

I shared some international travel tips here! For long flights I bought compression socks, made sure to have plenty of snacks and water, hand sanitizer and airborne and just tried to get up and walk around on 10+ hour flights. I also opted for dresses over pants or leggings as the waistband would become uncomfortable after sitting for many hours.

I know they say to travel in your second trimester but is it impossible in your third?

Everyone is different, so I do think that answer is relative based on how your pregnancy is going. Personally, I was uninterested in traveling in the third trimester. Christian tried to get me to go to the mountains with him a few weeks ago and I was like… you can go by yourself!? Ha! Some of that had to do with us being super busy getting settled into our home and getting the nursery ready + baby prep and nesting.

I think weekend trips or travel by car would be totally do-able, but most airlines aren’t going to want you to fly past 36 weeks and your MD likely won’t want you traveling after 35-36 weeks.

Can you do a blog post on pregnancy outfits?

I have tons of pregnancy outfits tagged as ‘maternity outfit’ – just search for maternity outfit or click here!

Can you still fit in all of your shoes? My feet got bigger.

Thankfully my shoe size hasn’t changed. I was wearing heels at 38 weeks, this belly won’t keep me from my beloveds! Somehow I can still put my shoes on and off myself.

I also haven’t dealt with much swelling so my rings have all fit the same. Very thankful for that!

Do you plan on nursing?

Yes I plan on trying to nurse and we will see how it goes! I have all the accessories and am going to do my best, but I firmly believe a fed baby is a happy baby. We’ll do whatever we have to do.

Are you going to do any belly wraps or postpartum belts after the baby gets here?

Yes! I shared the one I bought here.

How did you find a doctor since you moved mid-pregnancy?

I always find my doctors by word of mouth first. I asked all the women I knew in town. Then I did my own research on their training and education. I really love the practice we chose and have now rotated through almost all of the partners so that I have met them all, and they’re all wonderful. I would feel confident having any of them deliver our babe!

Did you have back pain and if so, what did you do to ease it?

Everyone in my family has bad backs. As in one has had surgery, one has thrown his back out numerous times throughout his 20’s and 30’s, one has a pinched nerve and the other just recently went to a specialist to inquire if they needed surgery. Now that I’m thinking about it, I have the best back of the group and that’s not saying much!

I have loved my heating pad in the bed on a two hour setting to help me fall asleep. I try to do prenatal pilates to stretch as well as walking and staying active to keep my core strong so it will support my back and additional weight. Keeping your core strong makes a huge difference in supporting your back. One of the many reasons I love Pilates.

I think moving and constantly working on house projects has also kept me on my feet and moving around.

How’s the name process going?

We have been torn between two names ever since we found out we were having a boy. We both can’t commit! So much so that I haven’t allowed anyone to personalize anything. I think we’re leaning toward one… but I won’t feel 100% sure until the hospital forces us to name him. God bless this mess!

The good news is, if we have a second son one day – at least we know what his name will be.

In Dr. Barnes’s time in med school and beyond, did he ever participate in a delivery?

Yes! During medical school Christian was a part of many deliveries during his OBGYN rotation and actually delivered a baby once himself! He said it was something he felt he needed to do to complete his medical education to be a well rounded doctor.

But he says he would not like to do it again and would prefer to leave that to the professionals from here on out. Ha!

Did you have any baby showers?

I did not. Come to think of it, I actually didn’t have any bridal showers either and opted for two engagement parties with no gifts in each of the towns we grew up in. I’ll be honest… I never look forward to going to a shower on my Saturday. I mean, does anyone really?

I feel like often times at these showers you get a lot of things you don’t necessarily want or need, and I would rather have a “sprinkle” or something once the baby is here and ask for donations to a local children’s charity (we already love Extra Special People).

We also moved across the country halfway into my pregnancy to a brand new town and have been making new friends, so it’s just not the usual situation for a first time mom. This baby has more than enough and we are fortunate to be able to provide for him both ourselves and through projects and partnerships in my job, which we are really so thankful for. Because of this… I don’t have any hostess gift suggestions, I’m sorry!

What’s on your registry?

So because of the above, I didn’t really register for much. I did make one small one online with some practical stuff for my mom’s sweet friends, but that’s about it.

Therefore I don’t foresee a big registry reveal post coming soon however I will share my hospital packing list, newborn must-haves, baby essentials and so on just like I have with pregnancy essentials! I just have to become a mom first to know what exactly those are.

I think some of this depends on how young you are when you have your first babe. We are in our early 30’s and both work full-time, so our emotional and financial maturity has made the preparation much easier than it would have been if we’d had this baby in our mid-20’s.

What trimester were you the most tired in?

I feel like I had a good amount of energy throughout my pregnancy, but month nine has definitely forced me to slow down. I’ve been going 90 and now 35 is honestly about as fast as I can go. I just can’t move around as quickly and the additional weight feels… heavy. It’s definitely motivating to get back to my old self after baby. We are getting a treadmill and I am so excited!! I’ll be reserving all my Bravo! show watching for basement treadmill time.

Have you thought you were in labor yet?

YES! At 38.5 weeks I had contractions for around 30 hours but they weren’t consistent. Thankfully I coincidentally had an OB checkup during that window where they confirmed I was dilated but the contractions could stop or get more intense and I could go into active labor. After 30 hours they stopped. And here we are!

Christian has always been a big prankster, so now I’m convinced this kid has that gene is just messing with me already.

Do you have a birth plan? You seem so calm about that piece of the journey!

I don’t have a birth plan. I really trust our doctors to do what is best for both me and our baby. I’ll follow whatever instructions I’m given. I see how hard all the doctors in my family work to best serve their patients, and I really trust that my doctors will do the same for me.

I also keep telling myself that millions of women before me have done this. Many without the luxury of medication and hospitals, so thank God I can take advantage of modern medicine! Women that I consider stronger and weaker than me have had beautiful, healthy babies. And they continue to have more kids… so it has to be worth it, right!?

Are you taking maternity leave?

As for maternity leave… I’m trying to figure out what that might look like. I’ve never had a baby, so I don’t know exactly how much time I’ll need or how I will feel. I do have some fun holiday projects I plan on sharing in December that I have worked on ahead of time. I also love working and think that staying somewhat plugged in will invigorate me and mentally help me feel like myself.

We have hired a wonderful NICU technician to help us for the first two months as our families live many hours away. My mom will also be coming to help for a little while, and Christian is able to not only take some time off but also be more in control of his work schedule, which is exactly why we waited until now to have our first baby. I’m beyond grateful for that.

We all tend to unplug a little for the holidays so I’ll be taking advantage of that as well. January and February are typically slower months for me anyway, so we’re just going to take it week by week and see how everyone is feeling!

Thank you so much to everyone who sent in these questions! If you didn’t see yours answered here, it may have been answered in the First Trimester Recap or Second Trimester Q&A. Some questions were more fitting for a doctor or medical staff, and please never be embarrassed to ask your doctor’s office questions. I ask them all kinds of questions and they’ve never made me feel silly or small. That’s what they’re there for, and no one knows more about trying to conceive and pregnancy than OBGYN’s and their helpful staff!

Thank you for reading – XO –

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5 Skincare Products For When You Need Extra TLC

The weather has changed, your skin feels dry and you want to stay inside cozied up by the fire… so it’s the perfect time to give your skin some extra TLC!

Today I want to talk about five products that will do just that – give your skin a little extra va va voom. You might wonder, “why is she talking about skincare in her kitchen?” It’s because 3 of these 5 products I would actually recommend keeping in your refrigerator.

1. Mary Kay Hydrogel Eye Patches

These are a new product from Mary Kay, and I’d recommend keeping them in the refrigerator! I will pull them out on the mornings when I have photos to take or somewhere I have to be that requires attempting to look my best. They feel amazing, and even though the directions may say to leave on for 20 minutes… I literally leave them on for as long as I can.

2. Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Lifting Bio-Cellulose Mask

Another item I’d keep in the refrigerator. I just slip in one mask at a time and once I’ve used it, I’ll replace it with another. Talk about de-puffing when it’s cold… magic!

3. Jade Roller

The third item I’d keep cold! During my third trimester I’ve been using this little roller nearly every day, especially on shoot days. I’ve felt so much “puffier” than usual lately. I will put 5-6 drops of the Mary Kay Naturally Nourishing Oil (discussed further in this blog post), and then use my cold jade roller to help massage the oil into my skin.

I also like to put one of the sheet masks on and then use the jade roller on top of the mask. Or even once I take off the Hydrogel Eye Patches to really get that product into my skin!

4. Mary Kay ClearProof Deep-Cleansing Charcoal Mask

If you want to really get in there with a face mask, this is your guy. This is the pore cleanser, the deep-cleansing magic man that you can honestly share with your significant other. Even the packaging looks gender neutral so why not have a double date face mask and holiday movie watching party? If so, please invite me over because I’d like to get in on that.

5. Mary Kay Skinvigorate Sonic Skin Care System

You can absolutely use this device as is for a really deep clean. I will actually sometimes take mine in the shower with me! Or I like to switch to the Facial Massage Head attachment. I will use it after a face oil. You can also use this after you take off your sheet mask to further massage the moisture from the mask into your skin.

photos by Christian Barnes

headband | sweater | skirt (sold out), also love this one, this one and this one | heels

Thank you so much for reading – XO –

brought to you by Mary Kay

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My Pregnancy Essentials & Why

As my pregnancy is coming to a close (due date is… Tuesday, yowza!), I wanted to share some of the products that have really helped me this year throughout my pregnancy. Of course you don’t have to have these things, but they have certainly contributed positively during the ever-changing journey that is pregnancy! I think everyone has their “must-haves,” so obviously take it for what you will. BUT… let’s get into it!

You can click over each image to go to the product or click the # associated with each item at the bottom of the collage.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 a and b | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

CLOTHING

Because the only months I wore actual “maternity” clothes were fall, this short list is a little biased toward that season of style!

I love these leggings like crazy (talked about them in this post).

These were my favorite maternity jeans.

These were my favorite exercise leggings. More on them here.

These were essential. Like, don’t even question it. Buy them!

Shirt dresses were so comfortable throughout my entire pregnancy. They’re also super cute and make you feel polished easily. Also love this one.

I would recommend investing in a black bodycon dress – I love this one and this one. You can layer sweaters or tees over it, style booties, sneakers or sandals. They’re SO versatile.

PAJAMAS + UNDERGARMENTS

Two things I didn’t really consider were pajamas and undergarments. You’re going to want to find a few things that fit comfortably. My old nighties became super short toward the end and I didn’t want to stretch out my favorite pajamas!

I bought myself these in the pant and shorts version and they’ve been great.

This set is my treat to myself for the hospital.

My favorite maternity underwear was definitely this pair. These are super soft, but ultimately the functionality wasn’t as great. If any of you have recommendations in this area, I’d love to hear!

PRENATALS

I took these and these and loved both. Be careful with the prenatal gummies. If you choose to take gummies you’ll need to supplement with an iron pill. The only time I bought gummies my iron was low at my checkup, so those went out the window!

Once I hit 36 weeks I started taking these. I’m hoping they’ll help with labor and delivery and will continue to take them after baby.

SKINCARE + BEAUTY

I combined a belly butter and oil throughout the last 4 or so months once my belly popped. I also love this one!

A jade roller was nice to have in the final month while I’ve felt extra puffy. Just using it daily in the morning with my skincare routine has been nice.

COMFORT

I upgraded my slippers, and it was a great call.

Joggers or sweats will become your bff. These run big and I was able to wear them throughout all nine months.

Once my belly really started growing, this pillow was a major game changer in getting better sleep. I sleep with it every night. Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to finally ditching it, but it’s been so helpful during these big belly weeks!

My mom bought me a ton of epsom salts, certainly more than I need! But in the final weeks I’ve used them nearly every other day for achiness and relaxation.

EXTRAS

This book was great to have when I had random questions or thoughts.

This giant tumbler + silicone straws has helped me drink tons of water. I jokingly call it my “big gulp,” and it goes everywhere with me. It’s like my security blanket! I also wake up in the middle of the night so thirsty and guzzling it.

Another service that has saved me is Rent the Runway. More on that here and here!

I’ve also bought this waist belt to use in the weeks following delivery. I like that it is three pieces and you start slow and then add pieces for a tighter fit as the weeks go on.

And that’s all she wrote! I have packed my hospital bag, it is literally in the car, and I’ll be sharing more details on those details after baby comes. I want to make sure to share the things I actually needed and used and not the unnecessary things (there are quite a few bags, ha!).

Thank you so much for reading, and if you had something that was essential to your pregnancy, I’d love to hear in the comments. XO –

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Early Bird Gift Guide Picks

I’m so excited to get started on some gift guides for you guys, and today I’m sharing some of my favorite picks in fashion, beauty and accessories with Bloomingdale’s. If you’re already making your gift list for the holidays, good for you! No time like the present, before the holiday season really gets into full swing, to get ahead of the game!

You can shop the guide below by hovering your mouse over the item or clicking the associated number below the collage.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26

I love this mascara. It’s the good stuff – a great gift for a girlfriend.

One of my favorite fragrances this year. And the packaging is gorgeous!

The best pajamas ever. I love the red for the holidays.

Um… how cute are these slippers!?

I think a scarf is always a fabulous gift. This one is classic and this one adds some spunk.

I have this watch and it’s gorgeous in person. The band is also interchangeable, which I love.

This bag looks so luxe, and I love that it comes in multiple colors.

These were a gift from my parents for a birthday and they’re one of my most worn pairs of sunglasses, hands down.

This cardigan works for literally any woman of any age.

I have some super soft fingerless gloves and they’re honestly my favorite. Let’s be honest, we always want quick access to our phones and this is the easiest way to have it all.