My Birth Story: How Our Birth Plan Went Out The Window

It's been a month to the day since we had our baby. Between my notes and those of our doula, we've hopefully still captured the details to faithfully share how it all went down, even weeks later. I will post more as time allows because there's so much to convey every step of the way, but let's start with his arrival...

At 2:30 AM on October 6th -- my official due date -- I woke to a slight cramping feeling in my abdomen. They weren't terribly painful, but for some reason, I knew I should pay attention to them. They didn't last long, but as I laid in bed, I noticed that they seemed to come and go every 10 minutes or so. Circa 4:00 AM, the cramping became more intense and I started shivering. At this point, Michael woke and asked if I was OK. I tried to play it off, but as soon as he asked, "Do you think these are contractions?" I was fairly certain that labor had begun. (I didn't have a ton of Braxton-Hicks, but I was surprised that my actual contractions actually felt quite different from those "practice" ones. The real deal reminded me more of your run-of-the-mill PMS cramps, actually.) I started keeping track of things on my phone, just in case, as the hours and minutes quickly started to blur...which would be true of the entire labor.

Laboring at Home

Around 4:30 AM, we reached out to our amazing doula, Sarah, who advised us to get some rest and try taking a bath. I got in the tub and tried to relax a bit, but it was admittedly hard with the nervous excitement I was experiencing. By 8:00 AM, I was still having sporadic contractions, but I started feeling some back pain as well. Sarah was concerned about baby's position potentially contributing to the back pain, and advised that we call our chiropractor. We reached out to our wonderful chiro team at New Beginnings Family Chiropractic, who were totally ready for our call (I went twice a week the few months leading up to my due date), and by 9:00 AM we had Dr. Crisp at the house attempting to help baby turn, as she also suspected he was posterior. (Everyone made it seem like breech was the only less-than-optimal position, so I had no idea what I was in for. But back labor...yeah, they should put a warning on that shiz.) Shortly before her arrival, the pain was getting pretty intense, and I even vomited. (Throwing up while contracting should be illegal. Not fun at all, and I braced myself for the long road ahead given that things were already a little less magical than anticipated.)

When I had my bloody show around 10:00 AM, M reached out again to Sarah. (Side note: for those of you who are preggers and concerned you won't know when you pass your mucus plug...trust, you'll know.) Just before noon, she arrived to find me laboring in the dark den and sipping Gatorade. I took a shower to try to get some relief to my back, but that didn't help much. Things were starting to get more intense, and while I was focusing on my breathing, the pain was mounting already. 

Heading to the Birth Center

We arrived at the Fort Worth Birth Center at 2:30 PM, and while I was relieved to learn that I was 100% effaced, baby was in fact posterior (ROP, in fact) and I was only 2 cm at this point...12 hours in, if you're counting. To help with positioning, I was sent to the chiro office for more adjustments. After 4 hours of adjustments, I was finally contracting normally, back labor let up, and baby had flipped to anterior. I went ahead and agreed to therapeutic rest at the birth center at this point (around 7:30 PM), and because I was still only 2 cm, we were sent home for the night. 

Without spoiling the rest, I will at least say that therapeutic rest was the first intervention to which I agreed outside of our anticipated birth plan, but it would certainly not be the last. We wanted a drug-free delivery at the birth center, and anticipated a relatively-quick, straightforward L&D in our cozy little bubble. Everyone kept saying to stay flexible and just be prepared for the unexpected, and they're so right...

By 11:00 PM on the 6th, we reached back out to our doula, as we were all now in our respective homes under orders from the midwives to rest. But I couldn't rest. Contractions were still sporadic, but more intense. Baby had flipped back to posterior, and I was miserable. Sarah came back over at 12:30 AM that morning (Friday the 7th), bless her heart, and helped us track the contractions to approximately every 3 minutes. She had me doing the Miles circuit and walking around at 3:00 AM, and by 4:00 I was back in bed. But I still couldn't sleep. With every contraction, I had to wake up M and ask him to press firmly on my lower back. (Yes, the extreme pain in my tailbone was back in full force at this point.)

The midwives had asked us to come back for a check-up on Friday morning, so I was relieved to be back there by 10:00 AM that day. Unfortunately, I was only 3-4 cm after over 30 hours of labor thus far. They went ahead and admitted me to the birth center given how long I had been going at that point, and I agreed to some nitrous to help me (hopefully) get some progress despite the pain. I was laying in the bed with the peanut ball, rolling from side to side, hoping he'd move. No dice. By noon I was bouncing on the birth ball, hooked up to a pump for stimulation, and taking herbs every 15 minutes in an attempt to move things forward. I squatted, I walked around, I attempted to keep down Saltines and Gatorade (since I hadn't eaten anything in over 24 hours at this point...because I wanted to die, let's be honest). We tried it all, but I was still scarcely at 4 cm. 

M's family came to the birth center to pray over me during this time, and I honestly barely remember them coming by. I was so exhausted and trying to get past the seemingly endless pain in my tailbone. There is no pain like that, and it's unrelenting nature was wearing me down.

Heart-to-Heart Time

The midwives and my birth team powwowed around 4:00 PM on Friday -- 38 hours in -- to determine next steps. I still wasn't progressing, and I was losing steam fast. We discussed all the options, and as hard as it was to admit, I knew that transferring to the hospital at this point was probably the smartest move. I was so tired and miserable, so M being the awesome husband and coach that he is made the call: we would transfer to the hospital for help. It broke my heart that our labor was going so completely against plan, and here we were heading to the hospital, but M and Sarah both got right in my face and reminded me that this was still our choice, and that dealing with prodromal labor was a perfectly good reason to accept help when it's available. 

This was the first of many moments in this journey that was so incredibly humbling. I admittedly thought I had this whole baby thing figured out given all the classes we took, books we read, and general knowledge I thought I had acquired. I had strong opinions, and I couldn't wait to tell our birth story, replete with rainbows and unicorns and the light of a million fairies. God knew better, and I can repeat the words I said before our experience -- "All that matters is that the baby gets here...doesn't matter how" -- but I actually mean them now. 

Transfer

By 5:00 PM on the 7th, we were admitted at the hospital. They gave me fluids via IV since I was so dehydrated and weak. At 7:30 PM, the anesthesiologist arrived, almost got punched in the face by my beloved (bedside manner fail), but he delivered the epidural.

Yes, that's right, this mama, who fiercely desired an all-natural birth, opted for drugs. I would have given anything to have avoided that route, but I don't regret my decision. As soon as it kicked in, I could breathe. I could eat. I could smile. I could rest. I desperately needed that to be able to finish out the whole giving birth thing, and I'm so thankful for the access to that help.

I finally slept for a bit, but still wasn't progressing much. Just before 10:00 PM, my midwife recommended breaking my water to hopefully move things along (since I had been in labor for almost 45 hours now), and I reluctantly agreed. I knew something had to give, and at this point, the interventions just started stacking up. I instantly jumped to 6 cm when she broke my water, but we didn't take long to celebrate as the news of meconium instantly had us concerned (though not surprised). The baby's heart rate took a dip at that point, but we were able to get me repositioned and it came back up. 

For the next few hours, I rested. Finally. I only woke up when the nurse gently helped me reposition on the peanut ball, and I couldn't believe that I didn't feel a single thing as contractions progressed. (That epidural was legit, y'all. I felt nothing. Zero.)

At 12:30 AM on Saturday the 8th, our sweet nurse Ali woke me to tell me it was time to start pushing. I was 10 cm and +1 station. I couldn't believe it! The last bit progressed so quickly, and because I was sleeping, it felt like they had just broken my water. But, again, we were on L&D time, so everything felt like a half hour. So bizarre.

Time to Push

My awesome midwife Meagan (who was thankfully able to catch the baby even at the hospital) advised that it was time to practice pushing, which I realized later was an incredibly honest way to put it. She needed to see me push to determine if I would be able to do it well with the epidural. As expected, I was too drugged to effectively push, so they turned off the epidural. This, friends, is when I lost my s*#@. The pain returned with a vengeance, all to my back, reminding me that even though I hadn't felt it, my body had still been doing all that hard work. I thrashed about, sobbing, crying out to God, and insisted they do something to help me. It felt like my back was breaking, over and over. They brought in some nitrous and restarted the epidural drip on a lower setting. Baby's bp fluctuated a bit at this point, and we narrowly escaped having to use an internal monitor, but I got oxygen with the nitrous to help stabilize things. The gas helped take the edge off, but made me so sleepy. 

Nevertheless, I eventually figured out how to effectively push, and reaching down at one point at my midwife's encouragement to feel baby's head progressing was really helpful. We were finally on a roll and getting this baby out! I played tug of war with a sheet with several folks to help me push better, and finally, at 5:21am on October 8th, he was here...

Our precious son, Asher James, took 51 hours (+40 weeks) to get here, but he was worth every single moment. I never could have imagined the sheer volume of interventions and compromises that we would have to make to get him here, but it has been such a powerful reminder that I am not in control, and that things don't always go as planned.  But there's joy to be had regardless.

I am so thankful for our amazing birth team who helped us navigate the journey leading up to Asher's arrival, and I can't say enough about how incredible my husband was throughout. I can't imagine that was easy to endure, and he was right there with me every second, so I know it was arduous for him too. But it takes such things to forge a family, and I'm so blessed by mine. 

Ladies, We Can't Have It All...And That's OK

This post has been percolating in my heart and mind for a while now. Even though we're still a few weeks away from Little Nugget's arrival, I'm already undergoing some pretty drastic changes as I enter into motherhood. It's mostly wonderful and life-changing in absolutely amazing ways. But sometimes it's also tough, it's a struggle, and it's unexpectedly sad.

I've Arrived

I grew up with a very blue collar upbringing, which is not to say that I was lacking for anything. I say that with pride, in fact. Both of my parents worked very hard, they worked with their hands, and they wore jeans. I know that sounds weird, but you get my point. I didn't come from a family of suit-wearers. I was the first in my family to graduate from college. We had two family businesses that my folks ran like champs, and my brother and I got to witness hard work front and center, every day. It wasn't always dignified and it certainly wasn't often fun, but it was invaluable and deeply ingrained in me a work ethic that I appreciate more and more with every new job and life lesson I see play out.

That being said, it was recently that I had one of those self-reflecting moments where I felt like I had finally arrived, career-wise. It couldn't have been more than a year ago, and I don't even remember the exact moment it dawned on me, but I came to the realization that I had made it. 

I was in Colorado for one of my monthly visits to the headquarters of the start-up for which I worked. I looked up for a second and took in the sight of this little girl, looking very grown up and very polished. My nails were manicured, my venti Starbucks was in hand, my handbag was chic, my outfit was a tasteful mix of tailored blazer and hemmed denim, and I walked with the confidence of a young woman who fully owned her VP title. In some ways, I felt like I was playing dress up, but when I attended subsequent meetings and unabashedly shared my two cents on the matter and helped mold our collective company, it was clear that I was actually contributing something. My voice mattered, and I was someone who people many years my senior were trusting to own my job fully.

A Shift in Perspective with my Morning Cup

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago when I got a fresh dose of perspective. I walked across the street to the Starbucks from the hourly writing gig that I took mid-summer to earn some form of income in the wake of the official news that our start-up had stalled out. As much as I enjoyed tackling a new post as web copywriter, it was a total lifestyle shift for me. I went from working out of my home (when not in Colorado) to working in an office again; I went from an impressive salary to a wage that I made circa post-college graduation; I went from dressing like an executive to dressing like a college student (which, to be fair, wasn't all bad on the mornings that I felt too pregnant to muster more than jeans and a t-shirt). I'm less complaining and more so trying to convey that it has been a far bigger shift than I think I've really processed. But life happens, and bills need to be paid, so there you go.

Back to the coffee shop...

I'm waiting for my venti coconut milk latte at the counter at Starbucks -- and I'll mention that it was a venti only because it was the one morning out of the month on which a local bank covers coffee orders for all the local folks who work in the area, which is decidedly awesome and one of my favorite days of the month -- when I looked over and saw a young woman, looking ever so chic and professional, about my same age. She was wearing a beautiful sheath dress under a stylish blazer, simple jewelry, a tasteful ponytail, and her hands were beautifully manicured in a soft pink. We briefly made eye contact, and for a moment, I wanted to cry.

The very next moment, however, I smiled and let it soak in. I fully immersed myself in the reality of where I was, where I had been, and where I was going. There I was, 8+ months pregnant, waiting for my free coffee with far too much excitement, and realizing that a new season was upon me. 

A Season for Everything...

My arrival as a career woman -- or at least my perception of such -- had come and gone, and here I am on the cusp of...gosh, I hardly know. I imagine it'll consist of sleepless nights, sweatpants, sippy cups, and a ridiculous amount of time spent staring at a tiny human. 

I'd love to tell you that I've only looked forward with excitement and joy, but that wouldn't be the whole truth. I mean, it's absolutely true that I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to get to be Mommy to this Baby Boy, to M's son. But I've also looked back at the past -- near as it may be, relatively speaking -- and I'm mourning a bit. There's nothing to say that I'll never again dress nice, travel, or have a career-type role, but I have to imagine it will come with race cars stuffed into my Louis Vuitton, shorter nails so I don't scratch at bath time, and holding back tears as I try to enjoy being wined-and-dined because I'm away from my child(ren).

Because here's the thing: we can't have it all. We can't do all the things because we're split as women. Split between being a good wife, a good mom, a good colleague...and any one of those roles is a full-time gig. I'm not saying in the slightest that men don't also have these seasons of change and identity-crises, but I do know what it is to be a woman who just wants to do it all. And I can't. 

And you know what? That's just going to have to be OK.

Second & Third Trimester Favorites

Circa 2nd Trimester Bump

This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on any applicable links.

Way back when, I shared my First Trimester Favorites. It's been almost five months to the day since that post, and I figured it's high time I share my second and third trimester favorites before Baby Boy makes his arrival. I'm combining second trimester and third trimester because let's be honest, I can't remember one week from the next, much less when these officially became clutch in my book.

Also, you get no cute Pinterest worthy graphic this time because 36 WEEKS PREGNANT.

This Little Girl's Late Pregnancy Must-Haves

Maternity Jeans

Even though I did splurge on a Maternity Stitch Fix earlier in the pregnancy, I otherwise decided that I would spend very little on clothes during this whole ordeal. I have a hard enough time shopping for clothes for myself when I'm in shape, so it was a no brainer to just stretch my wardrobe (literally) as much as possible. One thing I did buy and have zero regrets about is a pair of maternity denim with a full panel waist. I tried on several styles, and some just downright confused me. The ones with the little stretchy notch and button waist? Who are those fitting? Because, no. I did, amazingly enough, find a total winner at Old Navy. Their Full-Panel Skinny Jeans were perfect and have held up beautifully for my whole pregnancy. I wear them all the time, which you can't beat for under $40!

Sippy Cup (Ahem...Water Bottle with Straw)

We are no stranger to Hydro Flasks around our house, and I blame M. They're really awesome products and my 16-ouncer gets a ridiculous amount of play keeping my coffee hot on a daily basis (albeit still decaf these days...Hey, remember caffeine?). M surprised me with a 40-ounce Hydro Flask water bottle when we got our walking orders from the birth coach to drink 120+ ounces of water per day. It sounds like a lot, but once I added the straw top, I found that it wasn't difficult at all, especially given how cool water stays in these bad boys. This is a Mama Must-Have in my book.

Epsom Salt Baths

I am no stranger to epsom salt baths, especially when coupled with my beloved Young Living Essential Oils. However, they have taken on a new level of divine goodness the more preggers I get. Every time I sink into a warm tub, it's like a long-awaited hug and it's beyond wonderful. It was this very feeling that convinced me to labor and deliver in the water, assuming all continues to go well to allow that to happen.* Not only are these baths incredibly therapeutic, but the relaxation and temporary break from feeling so very heavy is heaven. Mamas, get you some QBT (Quality Bath Time). But bear in mind, you may need a spotter.

Husband-Coached Child Birth

I read a lot of books during my pregnancy, and most were really helpful, but one that stood out was Husband-Coached Child Birth by Dr. Robert Bradley. We read this one during the course of taking Bradley Method classes, which I honestly cannot rave about enough. The book can get borderline preachy, but the dude developed the method and wrote about it, so he's got a pass. If you're considering natural childbirth, I highly recommend taking a class locally (you can find them on the Bradley site). I wouldn't consider the book a replacement because I love the live interaction of a class and getting to hear the perspective of an instructor who has actually been through natural L&D, but it's a great supplement and provides additional detail that I found beneficial and helped M and I both feel really prepared for what lies ahead.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Quest Bars

Since part of being a good Bradley student means following Dr. Brewer's pregnancy diet for optimal nutrition, I had to do some serious work to up my protein intake. I'm a vegetarian and notoriously roll my eyes at the "How do you get your protein?" question, but getting up to 80 grams per day was no joke. I started eating fish a few years ago (so yes, technically I'm a lacto-ovo pescatarian, but how annoying does that sound?), so we eat a lot of salmon up in here, which has been a great source of protein and omegas. But when I started working in an office again and crazy life got the best of me, Quest Bars became my new BFF. My brother turned me on to them and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ones are my jam. 21 grams of protein per bar? Yes please, and thank you.

I've got more maternity/pre-natal posts up my sleeve as things crank down a bit in anticipation of Little Nugget's arrival, so be on the lookout for those. I can't believe we're just a little over 3 weeks away from his due date! So excited to share this next chapter with y'all...

*We were initially going to deliver in a hospital under midwife care, but decided a few months back that a birth center was more conducive to the L&D experience for which we were shooting. I'll probably elaborate on that more one of these days.

Want to see how our birth story went down? Read on.

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Humorous Pregnancy Realities

There are plenty of posts and articles out there that will warn you all about the unexpected realities of being pregnant and having children. So much so, in fact, that it's fair to say you've been effectively warned. Be it the truths of the quippy, borderline-gross variety, or those heartwarming little ditties that you feel like you have to read just to continue on (as though there were anything to do about it anyway once you see those double lines).

But I've realized as I enter my 35th week -- which, WHAT THE WHAT -- that there are certain humorous elements of pregnancy that I've yet to be warned about. They're small, and it's highly possible that these are unique to this little girl, ever full of grace. (So much not.) But they're very real, and I thought I'd share some with you, dear readers.

The Shiz No One Tells You When You're Expecting

• When you bathe, you will absolutely, 100% feel like a walrus. Perhaps if you have a very large tub, you'll feel slightly more elegant, like, say, a seal. But when you sink down in your average, builder-grade tub to get a nice soak and hopefully bring some relief to your aching back and hips, you're going to have to do a little rotisserie action to actually clean your whole body. And then you'll be stuck because your tiny wrists are no match for the behemoth that is your body these days.
• Every time you wash your hands, you will absolutely end up with water on your belly. You don't have to be a vigorous washer or anything, and it's not like we're talking scrubbing in for surgery. If you're near a sink, you will have water splatter all over your lower belly. Step back to wash...same thing. Belly is a magnet for wayward drops. And cookie crumbs.
• Want to get out of bed? Roll it out, Mama. There is no sitting up, no sliding out, just roll and hope for the best. Hopefully you don't land on one of the eleventy pillows you now need to get mediocre sleep. Make that effort count by waiting a few extra minutes and just knock out two bathroom breaks while you're at it.
• You will run into everything. It's like your protruding tummy is a magnet for every chair, every corner, every bookcase, every doorway...you just will hit them. Eight feet of open space? Oh, you'll find something to nick. Promise.
• Showering. It's nearly as awesome as bathing. Sure, you're upright, but want to give you feet a little rub rub? Yeah, it's not going to happen. Leg shaving will render you breathless -- not in the good way -- and you may pass out. In fact, it's very likely. A shower spotter would be advisable, but really, ain't nobody want to see that.
• Whatever someone just told you, or whatever you just told them, it will evaporate from your brain the moment it's said. Write it down, record it, maybe hire a scribe. But your ability to remember anything is shot. Going to the store for a single thing? You must take a note. You will not remember said item. You will remember, however, Hostess Cupcakes.
• Your appetite at some point will likely tank. You'll know you need to eat, but nothing will sound good, and the concept of having to select 3-5 meals a day will leave you so overwhelmed that you can't even. You might cry over the mention of the word "lunch." You still, however gain weight, and when you have just enough energy to get dressed, sit for 8 hours, and maybe eek out a meal (i.e. cereal all around), you'll also be told how important it is to exercise throughout the pregnancy. Just. Shut. Up.

But, here is it, the obligatory "it's all worth it." And truth? Duh. Of course it's worth it. Making a human is awesome. The reality that the constantly-moving little dude in your belly will some day hug you, draw you pictures, and make your family something new and amazing is something else. It's too good. 

So yes, you will feel like a clumsy buffalo for months on end, but you'll also get to be a mommy. Fair deal in my book, y'all.

Twenty Weeks

It's a little hard to believe that as of today, I am officially half-way through this pregnancy. We knew about Little Nugget at 4 weeks, so we've been able to savor this early season of his development from the beginning. (Especially since I never had Morning Sickness, Praise the Lord.) But part of me knows that this journey is about to hit an incline, and while part of me is petrified, part of me is so excited I could piddle.

We had so much fun getting another peek at Baby Boy earlier this week. He has been so active, even since the first sono (at 8weeks). I was shocked to see him shake his little tush during that first glimpse (made all the more comical that he didn't even look human at this point, more like a sassy shrimp creature), and he's been a busy bee every time since. This week, he was having a blast playing with his feet, but it wasn't more than about thirty-seconds before he'd tucker out and need a nap. He already makes us laugh, and I can't wait to see those little feet, which I can already feel kicking and playing about.

Those are some precious thumpers

I can't wait to see his face, to hear his first laugh, and to look into his eyes as he looks into mine. I know he'll be obsessed with his daddy, and I would love nothing more than to get a little M, big brown eyes, dimples and all. 

I'm still feeling really good, so I've been trying to take advantage of this quiet time at work to enjoy the opportunities I have here at home. I haven't cooked in ages, and we were both feeling it. It was nice to go to the store with a few meal ideas in hand (because otherwise, we're liable to stock our fridge and pantry with epic snacks and zero actual meals...#adultingishard), and I've enjoyed being back in the kitchen more lately. I was reminded that eating at home doesn't have to mean cooking every single day, and it has sure been nice to have yummy dishes whipped up so they're ready to go when I'm ready to eat. (It seriously goes from zero to toddler-status very quickly these days, so a wait longer than ten minutes to feed the face is danger zone.)

Here are some of the recipes I've made lately and enjoyed:

• Arugula salad with penne, chickpeas, and sun-dried tomatoes from Skinny Taste
• Slow cooker red lentil dal from Cafe Johnsonia
• Spinach, mushroom, and feta crustless quiche from Budget Bytes

You can check out my Food & Beverage board for more ideas.

Have you found any great, simple recipes lately that you're enjoying?

My Maternity Stitch Fix

For those of you who don't already know, I'm a huge fan of Stitch Fix. I have received five regular "Fixes" in the past, and I usually end of keeping every piece. I learned early that strong communication (via your Style Profile, and notes to the Stylist when scheduling your Fix) and having an updated Pinterest style board goes a long way to getting pieces that you actually want and like. And don't forget to mention those little preferences too, such as "no Dry Clean Only pieces," "I need something for X occasion," or "I hate showing my pasty pale legs." They're usually great about considering all those details, and it saves having to hit up boutique after boutique to find fun, unique pieces. (I should probably explain for those of y'all who don't know, but I hate to clothes shop. Like, hates it. So a box of curated clothes and accessories delivered to my front door--free shipping both ways, Halleluyer--is a dream come true.)

My baby bump is getting to the size where my normal clothes are just not as comfortable, and bigger, non-maternity pieces make me feel like a potato. (I think everyone hits this wall at different points in their pregnancy, but apparently my magic number is 19.5 weeks. Potato.) While there are plenty of local stores that carry maternity clothes (Target, Gap, etc.), remember: I hate shopping. Shopping while potato? So bad, I can't even. Enter: Stitch Fix.

Note: You will not see me model this Fix. Perhaps next time, when I'm wearing makeup and feel less 'tater-like.

So here's the haul...

Prettiest package of my week...and I get a lot of packages via mail these days. (Online shopping, FTW!)

#1 - Loveappella Hartley Maternity Dress ($68) 

I really wanted to like this dress (because I asked for a maternity dress that I could dress up or down for upcoming Summer events), but I had a feeling it would be a tough fit. I did a bit of online stalking to see some other maternity Fits, and it seems this dress is a popular one for stylists to send. But no one ever seems to keep it, so I didn't have high hopes. I totally get why my stylist sent it, though, because I have a ton of striped dresses pinned to my style board. But the stripes and light fabric just weren't flattering, so it's going back.

{Verdict: RETURN}




#2 - Nine West Orlagh D'Orsay Flats ($89)
These are just fabulous, and I love me some good flats. But I have no need for shoes at the moment (especially when my feet are likely to swell in the coming months), save for some good sneakers to better support my back. I will say, however, that I'm super excited that SF carries shoes. This is relatively recent, so I have no doubt I will request some sassy kicks in the future.

{Verdict: RETURN}

#3 - Loveappella Lauretta Maternity Skirt ($54)

This skirt was really cute in theory, and I loved the print. But the fit wasn't working (perhaps the size was just off, but I am easily confused by maternity sizing, so hard to know for sure), and I'm much more apt to wear maxi skirts (remember: pale legs), so I'd rather save the budget for a piece I'm likely to wear on a regular basis.

{Verdict: RETURN}

#4 - Full Moon Isha Tie Neck Maternity Top ($54)

This top is exactly why I Stitch Fix. LOVES IT. I would probably never think to pick this up in a store, yet I've wanted a top like this for ages. It's a beautiful grayish olive color, and even though it has longer sleeves, the fabric is so light that I will likely be rocking this all throughout the year. (Friends IRL, I'm sorry in advance for wearing this top on the regular. One day, I will wear other things. One day.) It's a flowy A-line shape without making me look like a potato in a tent (you know what I'm talking about), and looks adorbs with my favorite capri jeans (which I just so happened to have scored from a past Fix)...although, my BeBand is working really hard these days, so it may be time for some panel pants. (Hawt.)

{Verdict: KEEP!}

#5 - Market & Spruce Sollas Maternity Top ($38)

This item totally fit the bill of a great everyday piece. The material is so soft (like all of the Market & Spruce tops that I've kept, which is at least 3 at this point), and I really like the color. It's a little big on me, but I like that I can still wear it now and grow into it. 

{Verdict: KEEP}

To recap, I kept 2 out of the 5 pieces, and all but one item in the shipment were great selections given my asks. (And I seriously don't fault them for sending those fabulous flats. Just not the right time.) Something I've learned with my Fixes, though, is that you have to do the math. I wasn't sure I would keep the Market & Spruce top, as much as I liked it, because I knew that I could find similar for a lower price point. However, once I calculated in a referral credit on my account, as well as the Styling Fee Credit (which is the $20 fee for each Fix, all of which gets applied to anything you keep, so you only "lose it" if you send everything back), which I technically received as a promo on this order thanks to a postcard in the mail (waiting a bit between orders apparently pays off), I got to keep the teal shirt for free! So don't forget to run the numbers. And because you get 25% off if you keep all 5 items, it's not uncommon that the discount amounts to a free item (or two) within the Fix. 

All in all, I'm pleased with my first Maternity Fix, and I can't wait to do another down the road in this pregnancy. I left detailed feedback when I checked out (you can chime in on every item, in detail), so I know the next one will be even better. And thanks to Stitch Fix, this potato didn't have to step foot in a dressing room!

If you're ready to sign up for a Fix, head on over the create your Style Profile! This is not a sponsored post, but I do receive a referral credit when you sign up and order a Fix using the link provided in this post. Ain't no shame in my game.

Nesting, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" style...

I have been hardcore nesting over the last few weeks. Most projects start out innocently enough, before morphing into a call for help and asking M to "real quick" move a piece of furniture or McGuyver something that I likely haven't fully thought through before tackling. (And he does it, amazingly, every time. Bless him, Lord.)

But lately, the projects seem to feed off of one another, to the point where entire weekends sail by with much productivity and many To Do list items crossed off...but not nearly enough rest and relaxation. (Mommy fail.) 

If Natty clears out the guest room to reorganize for baby, then she's going to need to Swiffer the hardwoods-sans-furniture two or three times.

And if she Swiffers the hardwoods, she'll notice the baseboards are dirty and need to touch those up with fresh paint.

If she paints the baseboards, she'll notice the walls also need touching up (including those in every other room of the house in the same paint color...because, why not).

If she touches up the paint, she'll notice that the ceiling fan needs cleaning.

And if she dusts the ceiling fan, she'll notice that the fan blades are disgusting and need to be removed and soaked in bleach. (Seriously, who does this?)

And so on for hours upon hours...

Truth. I also want a cookie after making a mess.

Note: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a classic at this point, so I don't feel I need to explain this reference, but in case you are lost at this point, just order it. It's great times.

The good news? We've made great progress on transforming our home to welcome Baby Boy, while still having plenty of time to shop for deals and make better decisions (because we've thought ahead beyond just the next six months, which can be easy to solely focus in on). The crib is assembled and ready for bedding (and, you know, baby), the ginormous rug has been Scotchguarded to an inch of its life, my office has been relocated (to be closer to baby and give M an actual space in the house...four years later), and the daybed has been ordered for mommy naps, the occasional (brave) guests, and eventual slumber parties! Really exciting to see it all start to come together, and almost surreal to walk by and see a crib in our house.

I will now be taking bets on how long it takes before we find Scrappy in the crib...

First Trimester Favorites

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As I shared earlier this week, M and I are expecting our first little one in October of this year. It's honestly been a pretty mellow pregnancy thus far, even to the point at times of making us double check the test result. (So bizarre that the absence of symptoms can be a cause for alarm, but when every article and book out there makes morning sickness sound like a pregnancy rite of passage, it's weird to feel not sick.) 

I consider myself very blessed to have felt so good over the last 15 weeks, save for my proclivity to take pretty solid naps anytime I laid down for more than a few minutes during the first trimester. Oh, and learning that pushing four hours without food while making a tiny human is not advised. (I still wouldn't call what I felt "morning sickness," as it wasn't nausea, but I definitely felt crummy if I went too long without at least a snack. Oh, and I also had to learn that eating giant meals plus snacks was not the best combo...it's just too much food. I don't need to be eating for two yet, so I found a balance and have felt great since.)

One of the strangest new developments though? I have developed an epic sweet tooth. Good. Night. I have never been one to crave sweets, though I would gladly take out a bag of chips or salty snacks as soon as I would look at them. But since Little Nugget showed up in my uterus, I could take down a full size Cinnabon in ten seconds flat. (And probably want another.) It's ridiculous. Thankfully, M helps tame the beast keep me focused on staying healthy so I continue to feel good, but he does sweetly let me indulge here and there. (And only once have I snuck a donut. But I told him about it later, so I think our marriage will survive.)

As a first-time mom, I am totally figuring all this out as I go, and I have loved scouring all the blogs and articles out there with great advice and tips for new mommies. So in the spirit of giving back, I'd love to share with y'all some of my early pregnancy favorites.

These are some of my clutch, must-have items for the first and second trimester (thus far)... 

1 // We found out we were preggers at 4 weeks, so it was a bit before we wanted to tell anyone. In the meantime, we had about a zillion questions, and I really didn't want to Goggle my early pregnancy. We spent an hour in the bookstore pouring over the eleventy thousand books about babies and baking them, and I was really excited to find I'm Pregnant! by Lesley Regan, MD. It's organized by stage, so the information is presented as it's meaningful, which contributed to me feeling more empowered and less overwhelmed. The author is also a doctor and a mommy, which was a great combo in my book (get it??) because I wanted to find that balance between enough info to know what was going on, but also the real-life mommy experiences that are also a very real part of this season. I didn't really even consider What to Expect, and I've survived just fine with this book and the input of my family, friends, and midwives (once I shared the news, obvi).

2 // As I mentioned, my cravings for sweets were insane. And while I knew I couldn't eat a donut cake every day (that's a pregnancy daydream, by the way...a donut cake, and I think they should exist), I found that my favorite vanilla greek yogurt hit the spot. The probiotics are an added bonus when your digestive system decides to be ornery.

3 // Because I couldn't go more than a few hours without something in my system, I always carried in my purse an apple or a small bag of pretzel sticks to munch on. (We bought those 100-calorie bags, and they were perfect.) Totally helped prevent Mommy from having a toddler-style meltdown while out and about.

4 // Admittedly, my belly is still small at this point (which given my pre-pregnancy weight is appropriate), but I noticed a few weeks ago that my skinny jeans were feeling pretty uncomfortable when I sat for long periods of time (like, say, an eight-hour workday spent in front of a computer screen). The Bellaband maternity band was the perfect way to continue wearing my existing clothes, while accommodating my ever-present-these-days burrito belly. I wear it folded in half for now so I can keep my jeans just unbuttoned, but it will eventually expand to cover my whole belly (as shown) to better keep my drawers up.

5 // While my belly hasn't grown much yet, I know from previous weight gain (I hate you, Junior High) that I am prone to stretch marks. I don't expect to come out of this deal scot-free, but I have started using Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter to get myself in the habit of keeping my tummy, flanks, and tatas moisturized. It feels sooooo good, and I love me some Burt's Bees products (their face wash and moisturizers are all I use these days).

6 // I know nothing about raising babies. Like, zero. I have only in the last few years realized that you can hold babies without them just, like, breaking. (So yes, you're in for some serious laughs at my expense as we mosey down this road together. And please start praying for Little Nugget, while you're at it.) That being said, I didn't want to dive right into American Parenting 101. I knew that I'd get plenty of education from my midwives, parenting classes, and insight from family/friends. So when I started looking for some good reads while baking the bun, I was quickly drawn to books written about other parenting perspectives. Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman was the first one I ordered, and given my huge crush on Paris, it was a delightful read for me! Druckerman's writing style is predominantly memoir (finding herself preggers in France as an expat married to a British Francophile), but it also has journalistic insights that inspired some neat conversations between M and I, as well as challenged some of the commonly held assumptions about little ones. (Turns out, there's hope for feeding Little Nugget something other than, well, nuggets for half of his childhood!) I really enjoyed it and devoured it in no time, and I love that the Bebe Day by Day addition in the back of this edition distills the main takeaways without all the commentary, so this is a neat way to let M catch up on the material without going through the whole thing. 

7 // Along these same lines, I just started reading Parenting Without Borders by Christine Gross-Loh, which essentially expands on Druckerman's journey by looking at parenting styles across the globe. It's more on the journalistic side, but equally interesting as Gross-Loh also discusses her experience raising kiddos and traveling throughout the world with her little ones. The commentary about Japan in particular is so interesting, and in general I was fascinated to hear about so many parenting styles outside that US that seemingly agree on key aspects of raising kids, such as the fact that children are far more capable than we give them credit for, and that excessive attention and praise are not doing kids any favors. (Yes. This feels true.)

8 // I didn't want to lug around my sizable copy of I'm Pregnant! on the regular, but I also wanted some kind of resource at my fingertips as needed. I heard great things about the Sprout App, and after the trial period, I was hooked. It tracks how far along you are (because yes, it's possible to forget, and sometimes math is too much), provides tidbits of advice and info corresponding to the baby's current development, allows you to save questions for upcoming doctor/midwife appointments, etc. Very helpful tool, and I can imagine the To Do and Hospital Bag lists will come in very handy as I think of things for later in the pregnancy along the way.

9 // As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I dropped caffeine. I know that it's OK to have in moderation, but I frankly was fine letting it go. Still, I sometimes tired of just drinking water, and before I learned how to balance my meals and snacks better, I'd find myself feeling a bit fussy in the afternoons. Enter: San Pellegrino Limonata. M and I were fans already, but when I read that this sparkling lemon beverage is a great remedy for nausea, I bought a six-pack to have on hand just in case. We bought the glass bottles so that I could just take a few sips and save the rest for later (the screw-off caps can also go back on to save it, FYI), and it was the perfect refreshing fix when I felt meh.

I know there are countless other awesome items out there to make it through the early weeks of pregnancy, but these were my personal faves (and they all continue to be awesome into the second trimester).

What are your first trimester and/or second trimester favorites?