Sick Day

Hi all!

I'm giving myself a sick day today. Woke up feeling awful this morning and while I did get some of the post ready for today I didn't complete it. I may have if my little one hadn't decided to poop in the bath. Oh the joys of motherhood. ;)

I'll try to get it up tomorrow or Thursday.

-Kem

Baby Registry: Transportation

Let's make this a week or so long series on the baby registry alone instead of overloading you.

While going through various lists and compiling my own I had three categories on my spreadsheet - Need it, Optional and Pointless. So I'll give you what I think you need plus my optional & pointless items. FYI: I am terrible at saying something is "Pointless" to everyone else... I mean, yeah, I think it's pointless, but I'm not much for taking hard stances on things. But really, I do feel this way. Don't be offended if you disagree.

So, anywho, first up we have -

TRANSPORTATION

1) STROLLER: Your stroller choice definitely depends on your living situation and future family plans. In our case - we live in the city and use the stroller a ton. We also plan to have more kids. We have a Graco Modes Click Connect single stroller and while I have no issues with it, I wish we'd gotten a stroller that could convert to a double. Like the Baby Jogger City Select or the Uppa Baby Vista, both of which get great reviews. We're looking to snag a used one once baby 2 is here! If you aren't using the stroller a lot and plan your kids far enough apart then this probably isn't a concern for you. Things to think about.

(OH OH OH. Edit to include this important tid bit. If you plan to do lots of jogging with baby in tow or do any trail running/hiking - look into stroller suited for those things!)

2) INFANT CAR SEAT: They do make convertible car seats that go from infant to booster but I think the infant car seat is totally worth the extra purchase. It comes with a base that stays installed in the car and then you can just click the seat in and out of the car and in and out of the stroller. We have the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 which works with our stroller but also works with most other strollers with an attachment. 

3) CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT: We registered for this but didn't end up getting it. You may want to consider not registering for it if you don't have the space to store it. You can always save up some gift cards/money to use for it later. We ended up going for the Safety 1st Grow N Go seat and are happy with it. A few things to consider:

• A lot of reviewers complained about the space between the back of the seat and the buckle not being wide enough - meaning the buckle is tight against the kiddo. This was an important thing to note for us since Oliver is cloth diapered and therefore has a bigger booty. :) 
• Friends of ours had a hard time finding a car seat that they could fit behind their driver seat (in rear facing position) with the drivers seat all the way back... keep that in mind if you are tall! The AAP recommends rear facing until at least 2.
• Some convertible car seats are only forward facing

Here's some info I found helpful in figuring out what the heck I was supposed to get. There are so many options. 

4) CAR SEAT PROTECTOR: Fairly self explanatory - protects your vehicle's seat from getting a big dent in it from the weight of the car seat. Also helps keep it the vehicle's seat clean on the back and bottom. Comes in different colors to match your cars interior. Totally worth the purchase.

5) CAR MIRROR: See the baby. Done.

6) WINDOW SHADE: We have one - you may want two for both sides of the car. Ours is the Brica Smart Shade and while we won't be replacing, I do have two complaints. (1) It rattles sometimes. I hate rattling. Usually it stops on it's own or I can get it to stop by nudging it or rolling the window up and down. (2) It doesn't cover the full window so the sun is still in Oliver's eyes sometimes and he really hates it. There are some that suction to the window but then you can't roll the window down (without removing it) so that wasn't an appealing option for me. A wider one may be out there.

7) BABY CARRIER(S): I think these are more for city dwellers?? At least the structured ones but I can't be sure on that. There are two kinds - Soft & Structured. 

I'd say a soft carrier like the K'Tan or Moby Wrap are good no matter where you live. They are wonderful for shopping, walking around the house when baby is having a rough day and wants to be near you or just taking a walk sans stroller. We borrowed a Moby Wrap and I liked it a lot but it could get a little warm as it's not a breathable fabric and it was super long so there was always a lot of extra fabric for my fit. I think we'll buy a K'Tan for baby 2. 

The structured carrier is better for when they are older/bigger. We have an Ergo Carrier and I love it. The fit is good and it's comfortable. We don't use it as much anymore as I typically use the stroller but I used a lot when Oliver was lighter. It was also great to have in the airport when we elected to leave the larger stroller at home and get a small umbrella stroller when we got to our destination. 

8) DIAPER BAG: I prefer a traditional diaper bag but a lot of my friends use a back pack. Go with what you like! We got a Skip Hop bag in plain black and it's great. No complaints really. Skip Hop has a ton of options from the plain to the pretty. I just ran across the one above in the last week or so and fell in love. It's gorgeous! Two things I think are important - (1) Lots of pockets and (2) Machine washable. I LOVE that I can throw our bag in the wash. It looks like they don't sell ours anymore but it's similar to this one, just smaller.

OPTIONAL:

• The structured baby carrier that I noted above. You'll also need to see if that structured carrier needs a separate newborn insert or not.
• BundleMe by JJ Cole. You can use blankets, yes, but blankets get kicked off. This is only optional based on the season, really. I think it's totally necessary if you're carrying around your babe in the cold. It's AWESOME. It fits right into the infant car seat and then zip up around them. I found ours at Marshall's for like $20. Score. 

POINTLESS:

• Shopping Cart Seat Cover. It really just doesn't matter. Wipe the cart down with the antibacterial wipes that are almost always available and you're good to go.

That's all for today. 

Check back tomorrow for my NURSERY list. At the end of the series I'll post my printable and link everything together for you. 

Coming Soon: Baby Registry

I'm working on a few lists for you mama's to be. Right now I am compiling a baby registry list.
After posting the labor & delivery hospital packing list a few weeks ago I decided to make a bit of a series out of it. Check that list out HERE if you haven't seen it yet!

Back to the registry list - It's not that easy. Every parent and every baby is so very different.

My list isn't minimalist but it's definitely shorter than a few others and there are a few reasons for that:

1) SPACE While our apartment is a great size, there's no "open concept" happening over here so I don't have space for a huge baby swing or exersaucer. Plus, I just can't do stuff everywhere cluttering up my house. I can barely handle when the blankets and pillows on my couch are dishelved.

2) MONEY We wanted to save it. We are primarily a one income family so we had to be mindful of what we spent. Yes, we got most of what we needed as gifts, but whether I am paying for it or someone else is, many things are still wasted money, in my opinion. That's just how I was raised. My list will definitely include some things you can personally cross off and even things you could do without - I'm not super strict on this but we were mindful of it.

3) AVOID AIDS We wanted to avoid a few things anyway - like using the swing as a sleep or soothing aid and using an exersaucer for extended periods. We figured we could always purchase a used swing later if Oliver ended up being colicky or something - but we didn't need it.

Still, babies need a lot of stuff and it's still a good size list. Before I sign off for tonight I did want to give one note on the registry. It's an important one that I don't want lost among the full registry post.

THE STROLLER! If you're planning more kids, go for a stroller that can convert to a double! WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THIS!? (I'm shaking my fist at you, other mama friends!) We have a Graco Click Connect right now and it's pretty great but, man, we're just going to have to replace this thing in like a year! Boooo. Just go big to begin. I think we'll upgrade to a used City Select - it converts between single and double and you can add a glider board when baby 3 comes along... or, if baby 3 comes along. Obviously, it is dependent on your family planning and probably your transportation, too, but it is something to consider. (We live in the city so the stroller gets a good amount of use even with having a car.)

Anywho, check back this week for that registry list along with some of my recommendations!

Cinnamon Rolls

Lately I've been having some of the local mamas over weekly and it's been wonderful. Wonderful to hang with them and for Ollie to hang with his friends (/learn to share) and also wonderful that I GET TO BAKE and they can eat it so I don't eat all of it! YAY!

Having local mama friends is wonderful. Great to chat with during the day in our group texting thread, great to have over and have some adult conversation and great to get us out of the house for group play dates!

If you are a mama, I encourage you to try and meet friends around your neighborhood! It's especially nice as a stay-at-home mom to have neighborhood friends!

This week, I made cinnamon rolls for the mama's. I delivered a few to a couple mamas who were stuck at home with sick babes. :( It's been a rough week over here for all the babies and mamas getting sick. Oliver and I have avoided it pretty well this far. Fingers cross that that continues!

I use Food Network's "Almost Famous Cinnamon Rolls" recipe and it never disappoints and it's really easy. Ok, that's a lie, it disappointed once but that was my fault, not the recipes. My yeast/milk combo didn't foam up and I used it anyway - I ended up with cinnamon rocks. Make sure your yeast gets foamy!

This recipe also calls for cutting the dough into 6 portions - those would be HUGE so I do double that and end up with 12 cinnamon rolls. 12 cinnamon rolls that aren't the size of your face.

Look at that big beautiful blob of dough ready to be rolled out. MMM. It was even more big and pillowy before I took it out of the bowl.

These pictures are kind of not awesome because I took them at night and the lighting in our kitchen is awful.

After rolling out the dough you slather it with lots of butter then sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture over it.  (I decrease the original cinnamon amount and do 1 TB + 1 heaping TB.) That spot on the far left is butter & sugar-less b/c it's going to be the "tape" that holds the roll together. You wet it just slightly so it'll stick to your rolled up dough.

To get 12 cinnamon rolls - Cut the rolled up log of dough in half, then cut each half in half. Now cut each segment into thirds. Wa-la, 12 cinnamon rolls. 12 regular-sized cinnamon rolls. If you want ginormous ones, go for the 6. :)

Place them in a greased 9x13" baking dish, cover it with saran wrap and let them rise for 45 minutes. After they've risen you can bake them or pop them in the fridge to bake in the morning.

In the morning, I pull the pan out of the fridge and put it on the stove while the oven is warming up. Typically I bake these at 325 for about 40 minutes. That's a little over what the recipe states but they weren't quite golden enough for me. This morning I pulled off a little piece at the bottom of a cinnamon roll to make sure they were done because I wasn't positive. Do that if you aren't sure. No one wants undercooked dough. Bleck.

Then drown them in the icing & enjoy with friends! YUM!

Go make yourself some cinnamon rolls! They are delicious and easy peasy. Well, easy peasy if you have a mixer, just easy if you have to do the kneading by hand. ;)

Click here for my printable with my adaptations!

Hospital Packing List

K, so remember the jean shorts after pushing a baby out instance from yesterday's post? Cool. Well, not cool, but let's talk about how to avoid such incidents in the future.

Home with the babe & feeling quite uncomfortable in my jean shorts. 

I've perused plenty of lists - some longer and some shorter - and put together what my next hospital bag will look like. I wouldn't consider it minimalist but I don't think it's over the top either. My thinking is that I'd rather be slightly over prepared than underprepared. I put the things that are more optional in italics - below & on the printable. I'll be most likely be packing everything on my printable but the italicized are those you could get away with leaving behind. I think this all fits into a carry-on size bag + a smaller tote so it works for me.

I actually suggest having a smaller bag with the stuff you'll want easy & quick access to. I kept mine right next to my bed so I could grab things from it without having Fab dig through the bag that I packed and he couldn't find anything in. ;) But also, just so it was easy to get to it myself! Like my tablet, notebook & pen, the camera, snacks & my water bottle.

I broke my list down into a few subcategories - mom & dad, mom only, dad only, baby, technology, paper & other. I like subcategories.

So here ya go - a bit of a longer version of the printable with some explanations.

Mom & Dad

• Toiletries - especially an extra pair of contacts and your glasses, if applicable!
• For the feet - Flip flops and/or Slippers. Both are great for walking around the room depending on the season and the flip flops will be good for showering, too. And some socks - yes, the hospital has socks but they suck and fall off and are not cozy. You want your own.
• Bathing Suit - if you are planning to use the bath or shower during labor or delivery
• Pillow & Blanket - I have a blankie. Much to Fab's dismay, it was at the top of my hospital packing list... It has snowflakes and reindeer on it so he thinks it's a bit ridiculous that I use it year round. :) The hospital pillows are ok but I'd much rather have my own - especially my own soft pillow case! Those things at the hospital are rough. 

Fab & his dad checking out little O & me, comfy with my blankie and pillow.

• Entertainment - Magazines. Books or Kindle. Movies. Music. Personally, I wanted quiet and no one touching me when I was in labor! I'm pretty certain a "DON'T TOUCH ME!" escaped my lips at one point. :) But, if you're going for the epidural, you'll be up for these things while you are waiting and waiting and waiting (most likely) to fully dilate. I hear you feel nada.
• Snacks - keeping in mind that you won't be able to eat during labor but afterwards you will and your hubs will love the snacks, I'm sure! Plus, who doesn't deserve a little treat after getting a baby out of them!? I did. Peanut M&M's to the rescue. Some people also consider bringing a treat for their nurses. That's lovely, too. I wanted to do something like that but who knows when you're going to actually go into labor and I didn't really have time. 
• Water Bottle - They'll have a ginormous pink cup with a straw for you but sometimes it's nice to have your own stuff + my own water bottle doesn't leak so it could lay on the bed next to me. 

Mama

• Extra hair ties, headbands, clips, etc. - I can't imagine anyone wanting hair falling in their face while they are mid-contraction - just the thought makes me super annoyed. Bleh. You don't want to be without these so have them ready in a pouch so they are easily found, if needed. 
• Sleepwear & Robe- (I definitely spelled that as "Sleepware" at first. Oy, Kem.) I bought a nightgown for laboring and for after delivery. Those hospital gowns are not awesome... you're not going to want to hang out in them. The nightgown was wonderful b/c I could easily pull it up for the nurses to check how I was healing and feel my belly. Make sure you can nurse in it! And a robe for walking around the halls or if you need some additional coverage when visitors come. 
• Undies - Use the hospital ones. Just do it. I actually liked my hospitals! ha And they are ginormous to hold in all that extra padding you'll have down there for a bit. But, if you must use your own, get the larger, brief style, ones. 
• Nursing Related
• Nursing tank or top - Something you feel nice in would be good since you'll be sleep deprived and most likely not freshly showered afterwards - anything to make you feel like a whole person will be welcomed! Personally, I was fine in my nightgown the whole time but I know some would feel differently.
• Nursing Cover - for when visitors come along. When it's just you, the hubs and the nurses, you won't care. You just pushed a baby out of you, there's no reason to care. You could also just use the receiving/swaddle blanket you brought along for baby.
• Breast feeding pillow (like a Boppy) - I actually didn't use this much but some people swear by it and I'll most likely still bring it along for baby 2 just in case I feel differently. For O, I just used a few pillows squished up how I liked around me. They were happy to bring me additional pillows. 
• Lanolin cream - They should have some at the hospital for you. I'd check and see what they supply just to be sure. 
• Additional Toiletries - Your husband won't be allowed to shower there so he won't need shampoo/conditioner and body wash but if they let you shower, you'll want your own stuff! That hospital conditioner makes your hair feel like cardboard. Dry shampoo is a good thing to have just in case you don't get that shower. And make-up - I know some people may roll their eyes at this one but honestly, it was wonderful to have. My face had a lot of red splotches after delivery because of broken capillaries (I think??) from pushing so hard. Covering that up for some pictures was wonderful. Sure, it's birth and it's beautiful and blah blah blah but no, my splotchy face was not cute and I'd rather not so fondly remember it while not seeing it in pictures. ;)
• Hard Candy - to suck on while in labor.... so they say. :)
• Relaxation Tools - birthing ball, massager, homemade rice sock (heat it in the hospital microwave for a heating pad that conforms to your body), music playlist (if that's your thing, I wanted total silence!), etc. 
• Going home outfit - Not jeans! Something comfortable and loose and not your pre-pregnancy clothes. You won't just go down to nothing just because that baby is out and about now. (See the first picture in this post! ha) You're going to be sore down yonder so you want something not too tight, too. If it's winter go for some warm yoga-type pants. If it's summer, go for a skirt. 

My broseph drove all the way from PA, leaving when my water
broke and arriving shortly after O was born. A++.

Daddy-o

Clothing, that's about it. Everything else is covered in the mom & dad list.
EDIT: I added a new item on a friends recommendation!

• Change of clothes
• Sleepwear
• Extra undies
• Tylenol - One of friends recommended adding this and it's genius! The hospital can't give dad medicine and there's a chance after a long labor, little sleep and a possible screaming mama, he could get a headache. Or he could just get one without any of those things and you want him on top of his game!

Oliver taking in our view from the hospital room.

Paper

Get a folder and stick these things in it so it's all easily accessible. The folder will also come in handy when you head home with a bunch of extra papers on infant care and breastfeeding and circumcision and discharge papers and...

I'd avoid bringing a big purse with you, if possible. It's just an extra bag you have to carry. I put the basics in a small clutch. 

• Picture ID's, health insurance info
• Forms - Hospital registration & birth certificate. You'll likely turn these in to your OB before baby comes though.
• Birth plan, if ya have one. I went over one that I found online and filled things in just to have an idea of what my options might be. In the end, I didn't really want to use it. It's not like I knew what would happen or how I would feel so I didn't think it helped much. The only thing I knew is that I wanted to avoid pitocin and an epidural, if possible. That was enough for me. I was prepared with other things like music and relaxation tools, just in case I wanted them, but I didn't feel like I needed them written up since I really had no clue what I'd want mid-labor. Ends up - I wanted no noise and no one touching me. :) 
• Small notebook & Pen - great to have for jotting down babies schedule, nurses names, notes on taking care of a little human, etc. 
• Baby Book & Ink Pad
• Contact List - who do you need to contact with the new babe deets. I didn't do this and I most likely won't with baby 2 - we did fine at remembering who we needed to tell. 
• Take-Out Menus or a list of places nearby that deliver - The hospital will only provide food for mama. Dad can get something at the hospital cafeteria or get some take-out. Having a list of nearby places to grab food at is nice. No one wants to be tired and hungry and having to find somewhere to get food.

Baby

You'll find a bunch of lists that say a packed diaper bag, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, baby hat, etc, etc. WHAT!? No. They give you that stuff at the hospital! Plus, all you're doing in the car is taking a drive home, you're not going on a trip. You don't need much for the little one.

EDIT: My bff commented about adding this in and I 100% agree so I had to add it in. We did exactly this! All that stuff in your hospital room they have for you & baby - diapers, cream, vaseline, pacifier, thermometer, sitz bath seat, witch hazel pads, pads, etc - you can take it home! I mean, check with your nurse to be sure, but they'll most likely be tossing it and will encourage you to stock up. 

• Receiving Blanket (Aden + Anais Bamboo Swaddles are the BEST!) or something heavier if it's winter. This is to put over them in their car seat when you head home.
• Going Home Outfit - A sleeper is easiest. I'd bring along a newborn and a 0-3 month size since you don't know how big your babe will be. Or you could just do a 0-3 if you don't care about the fit! 
• Installed Infant Car Seat. Numero Uno priority. Can't leave the hospital without it.

Oliver with all his necessities - going home outfit, blanket & car seat.
Plus his cute little hospital hat. :)

We also brought along a little bear that my dad had recently brought back from
a work trip to Belgium for Ollie. His first teddy! This was nice to have since he
couldn't make the trip over when Oliver was born. 

Technology

Make sure your electronics (1) are charged and (2) have plenty of room! No one wants a "10% Battery Life" or "Not Enough Space" message when they're in full blown newborn paparazzi mode!

• Camera & Charger
• Phones & Chargers - and once you get there, make sure your charging cable is within reach your bed, mama, or the middle of the night when dad's getting some shut eye and you're nursing while attempting to stay awake.
• Headphones - a pair for mom & dad. I used mine at night while trying to keep my eyes while nursing but not wake Fab. Fab could use his when we I was napping.
• iPad & Charger - play games, surf internet, maybe with a downloaded movie or two if you don't have a laptop and your hospital doesn't have wifi (or if their wifi sucks!)
• Laptop & Charger - for watching movies on, surfing internet
• Timer or Watch - to time contractions
• White Noise - we didn't have this but I came across it on another list and I think we'll try it next stay, especially given that we're used to a fan running in our room as it is. It'll drown out hospital noise.
• Speaker & Music - for laboring, if you'd like, or you could use the speaker with a white noise app.

With all that technology listed, you'd think I'd have used a lot during my stay. Nope, not really. I used my phone and our camera but that was about it. I attempted to read my Kindle (listed up top already) once and couldn't keep my eyes open. :) It certainly doesn't hurt to have these things with you to pass the time if you're laboring at the hospital though.

Other

• Cash/Change for Vending Machine - We didn't use this at all but you might. Can't hurt.
• Extra Bags - Bring two reusable bags to take home hospital goodies and possible gifts from friends and family. 

No, that's not all we left with. Fab had already
taken 2 smaller bags out to the car.

I'm not a big fan of super long posts but figured splitting this kind of post into two might be a little annoying.  So there ya have it, a forever long post. Sorry, friends. I threw some pictures in there to help... maybe? ha

What would you add? Or, anything you would take away?

Hope this break down and the printable helps you in your packing! Get your list HERE! With a few extra spaces to add your own items!

(If you happen to want the excel version of this doc to edit then comment below and I'd be happy to share! I know how I am with wanting everything precise and exactly how I want it! That's why I made my own printable! ha)

What NOT to pack for the hospital & how Oliver came along

'Member that time I had a baby? And I moved the weekend before his due date? And I didn't have a bag packed for the hospital when my water broke? And I packed jean shorts to come home in!?

Yeah. That happened. FYI, jean shorts are NOT what you want to come home in after having a baby. Which, if I'd taken the time to pack the bag before hand, I would've thought of. I did have a half packed bag with babies stuff and some things for laboring but I did not have my clothes in there yet. Next time, I'll be better at packing that sucker weeks in advance. Or at least I won't choose jean shorts, no matter the timing of my packing. Ya live and ya learn.

A little backstory - we MOVED a week before Oliver's due date. Here's Oliver's nursery about 3 days before his due date. This could explain my lack packing.

As Fab and I are thinking about when baby #2 might come, I decided I should update my hospital packing list and thought I'd share it with y'all. But first, let's chat about my birth experience with Ollie O. 

It was quite the first delivery experience, folks. I'd already decided that I wanted to labor at home and I wanted to avoid pitocin (starts or moves along your labor) and an epidural (pain meds) as much as I was able. I am a pretty easy going person and I wasn't too concerned with our "plan" changing as labor progressed. You just can't know what your experience is going to be like so if you do make a plan, don't be stressed if you have to change it for you or your baby's safety or even because it's plain ol' not working. It's OK.

Long story short - my water broke at 10:30 PM, labor started at 1:00 AM, Oliver was born at 2:43 AM. It was a super quick process. 

Long story not so short - 

10:30 PM, 6/20/14, Due Date

We'd just gotten home from dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant and a quick stop at Home Depot (for more paint for Oliver's room!). It was late and we were all pooped. My mom went straight to her room to get to bed and Fab and I were getting ready for bed. I was using the restroom when I heard a "pop." I looked at Fab and told him I thought my water had just broken but I wasn't sure - there wasn't a gush of liquid or anything and I'd never heard anyone say there might be a "pop" sound. What else could it be though?? A funny interaction followed with me trying to shoo him out of the bathroom so I could go finish using the restroom and him peeking his head in trying to figure out if it was really baby time. It was pretty comical. 

Sushi time! Fab has scary, red eyes and I look tired.

11:00 PM

After deciding that my water had broken, and I wasn't just continually peeing my pants, we quickly packed up a bag and left for the hospital. Well, first we got some gas then we went to the hospital. (We were totally on the ball and ready on all fronts, right?)

I wasn't having any contractions at this point. The doctor offered pitocin and we declined, letting them know I wanted to labor naturally at home. They didn't check to see how dilated I was at that point because of the risk of infection since my water had broken. I had two very very very mild contractions while we were there but they lasted about .2 seconds and were like the mildest period cramps you've ever experienced. It was nothing. The doctor recommended I take some tylenol and head home to get a good night's rest before labor really began. A++ option. Off we went. With my mom telling us that leaving was a terrible terrible idea. She wasn't on board with the laboring at home part. ha

         

Looking goofy, excited & tired.

Heading home. 

1:00 AM, 6/21/14, Oliver's Birthday

We immediately got changed for bed and as soon as I got into bed I had a contraction that felt pretty serious. I decided I'd go lay in the living room so I could get up if needed while Fab got some actual sleep. Nope, that's not happening. At 1:15 Fab started timing my contractions. They were coming every 3 minutes and lasting about 1 minute 15 seconds each. That lasted for an hour and then off to the hospital we went. (Side note: I was ready for that epidural! I couldn't imagine it getting even worse than this and lasting for hours and hours! Little did I know this was the beginning and end all wrapped into one hour of contractions!)

While making our way down the stairs I was stopping to get through a contraction and saying I needed to push while Fab and my mom both were yelling at me, "Don't push! Don't push!"

Fab sped his way to the hospital while I yelled at him to slow down so we could actually make it to the hospital!

2:24 AM

Fab dropped us off at the entrance and my mom and I headed upstairs while he parked the car. He got his parking garage ticket at 2:26 AM, that's the only reason I have any clue on what time we got there. They had us pass right by the triage room and go directly to the delivery room. After a contraction passed in the wheelchair they stood me up and got me on the bed. It was a whirlwind from there. Nurses everywhere hooking me up to things, moving me around, the doctor coming in to check how dilated I was. (Apparently she seemed to think there was no way I was ready to go so soon according to the reports from my mom and Fab afterwards. Until she checked me. I was.) 

2:33 AM (This detail was on my discharge notes.)

Fab had made it in the room by now. I started pushing. Phew, that hurt. After 2 or 3 pushes they stopped me and gave me a little oxygen. My labor nurse had me look at her and told me to just focus and breath - she was my savior in that moment. I definitely said "I can't," a few times before that. I pushed maybe 6 times or so...? I'm not sure. But not many! 

2:46 AM

Oliver is born! A few hours after his due date and in record time. It was such a crazy and fast experience. Unfortunately, I had some serious tearing and had to go into surgery following the delivery. That stunk. In the moment it wasn't a big deal since I really didn't have time to focus on much of anything. Looking back though, it stunk to not be with Fab and Oliver in the hour after delivery. Maybe it was a good time to get some rest and quiet though. I mean, I didn't sleep, but after the craziness of the previous two hours and the people who would be in and out in the coming hours - that quiet was probably good for me. I do not thrive in a lot of loud and crazy.

Little pursed lips right after a yawn. :)

So there's my story. Did I need an exercise ball or music or anything else for the actual laboring process? Nope. But the other hospital essentials, for after delivery, I needed. 

We'll pick it up tomorrow with a list of my hospital bag essentials!

Care to share your delivery experience? If you've had more than one, what have you learned or adjusted as you've gone from pregnancy to pregnancy? I love how different each story and each person's needs are!

My Happy, Organized Grocery List

I HAVE A PROBLEM.

I want to bake ALL. THE. THINGS.

It's not good people. I just want to bake bake bake. But that means eat eat eat. Not so good for the belly. Ugh.

Today I watched an episode of Cupcake Wars and their combinations of flavors were mouth watering. Currently on my radar: vanilla bean cake with a macadamia coconut filling and white chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Rather than baking all. the. things, I'll continue with my resolution to organize my life this year. Well, if I'm being honest, we'll say continue with last years resolution that didn't fully come to pass. One of the things I really wanted to come up with was a meal planning + grocery list printable. I've found plenty of them online but none of them seemed to fit exactly what I needed or wanted.

Meal planning makes my cooking and grocery shopping so much easier and having this new printable makes it even easier and happier. Happier because it's a clean, organized printable that I made! That works for me! Yay, me!

Right now I only plan my dinners during the week and on the weekends I plan one additional meal whether it be a big breakfast or lunch, otherwise we have leftovers or sandwiches for lunch. 

It's organized by my grocery stores aisles. I had it all on one page previously but some categories would overflow and I'd end up passing by aisles and having to backtrack which is just not desirable when you're toting a 1 1/2 year old with you and stopping at two grocery stores. He doesn't really enjoy grocery shopping unless he has a granola bar in hand. So now it's two pages and I print it front and back.

Here are both the lists for you to use if you'd like!

1 Page

2 Pages

Do you plan for your meals? Have any tips? I'd love to hear them!