Happy Tuesday friends! It's been so long since I've done a bumpdate - 5 weeks to be exact! Needless to say, so much has changed since then!  It's crazy to think this will be my last bumpdate! Then I get to update you on BABY!

We had our 38 week appointment today and baby girl looks and sounds good, but she's not ready to come out just yet. Keep your fingers crossed that we're getting closer! And as we get closer, if you don't mind throwing in some "quick and healthy" delivery prayers, I'd totally appreciate it! Let's get to the update!

How far along: 38 weeks! 

Size: Baby Girl is as big as a winter melon (what is a winter melon?), Pomeranian or ukulele, you pick! My app says she's measuring between 6.2 to 9.2 pounds (WHAT!) and between 18.9 and 20.9 inches! Girlfriend is a big girl! 

How I’m feeling: I've had some new pregnancy developments since 33 weeks. I have pregnancy carpal tunnel. which basically means my right hand always feels like it's asleep. Literally cannot hold things with that hand, pick up things, it's hard to take out my contacts with my right hand. And by the end of the day it's painful. Apparently this happens in the late third trimester. Oh and the heartburn and lack of sleep are still there. But I've been taking advantage of naps.  

Cravings: Sweets. Guys, this little girl is gonna come out full of popsicles.  

Nursery: Literally everything is done. Lights are hung, shelves are hung, all her furniture is in. It's decorated, the clothes are washed, the diapers are put away. We even have her Halo bassinet for our room set up and the little sleeper swing for the family room put together.  

Workouts: None, can I blame being too pregnant? We go for small family walks when Adam gets home from work, but they are pretty minimal. 

Movement: Yes! All the time, all day long, especially at night when I lay down. GF loves to dance I'm pretty sure. And maybe this is in my head, but when I poke her, she pokes back.  

Things to remember: These last few weeks of quiet moments with Adam. Even though we both are getting a little anxious, knowing that it's the last time its just us two is so special. Sleeping in, watching TV together, going to dinner, running errands. I'm really enjoying my time with just him and feeling kind of protective of our personal time. 

We are so close guys. This anticipation is unlike anything I've ever felt. I am almost so excited that it makes me want to cry when I think about her because I just cannot wait much longer to meet her. We are so darn close.

Any last minute advice? Send it my way!

Summer flew, amiright? I'm pretty June and July were 3 days long and now we're a week away from labor day. While I'm not wishing summer away, I'm pretty dang excited for fall. I love those warm summer nights, but I'm ready for cool fall breezes and boots.

The dog days of summer are almost gone and before we know it we'll be welcoming winter wondering where those sunny warm days went. But, before we kick summer to the curb, there are a few things left on my bucket list!

• Grab your best friends, a cocktail and hit up some karaoke. 
• It's almost labor day. If you haven't booked a trip, skip the flight and take a road trip! If you're looking for a good road-trip playlist, I've got the best jams and podcasts for ya. 
• Learn how to bake the best cakes at My Make Studio.
• Shop for all your ski gear on Ski Rex, Epic Mountain Gear's big labor day sale. 
• Binge watch Younger or The Bold Type. Do it. Then lets chat about them.
• Book a trip for the winter when you need a great tan and a break from the cold weather. This is usually a great time for travel sales! 
• Taking a cooking class at The Seasoned Chef. Then throw a dinner party for your friends! 
• Read a good book. Might I suggest this one or this one? 
• Have a craft day at Upstairs Circus
• Go on a hike! 
• Go to a concert! Red Rocks still has some amazing concerts on the calendar!
• Do some fall cleaning, ya know like spring cleaning. The best season for clothes is upon us and we could all probably use a little room in our closet! Ps. If I was shopping these are the pieces I want now! 

• Hit up your local farmers market. If you live in a state with winter climate, labor day might be the end of your farmers market. Grab those fresh peaches while you still can! 
• Baseball games! There is something so summery about hot dogs, fresh cut grass and cold beer. 
• One last huge summer BBQ with all your friends.
• Drink the rose, summer beers and cold white wine. Before you know it, it's stouts and pinot noirs! 
• Wear white. Duh. 

Whats on your end of summer bucket list? This year I'll be taking a break from fun labor day plans, but that doesn't mean I can't live vicariously through you! Share your fun plans in the comments!

my best friends.
a little about me. 
my favorite announcement. 

Packing a hospital bag is stressful, especially if you've never packed one before! When I sat down to think of all the things I would need for two days in the hospital with a new baby, I was immediately overwhelmed. Some people tell ya you need nothing, others give you a list of 100 things.

So what did I do? What I've done 1000x. I reached out to my friends, who luckily wrote a whole list for me, read other blogs and checked with my hospital. I think I've gathered some of the necessities and some of those non-necessities (like a great face cream) that'll just make me feel a bit more at ease and like myself.

Since I have no idea what 2 days is going to be like in the hospital, I may have over-packed.



Below you'll find a printable checklist to help you prepare! What did you pack in your hospital bag?
FOR MOM // 
Insurance Card: The non-fun part of going to a hospital. Make sure it's in your wallet, hospital bag or wherever you won't forget. 

Last month I did some instagram questions and one of you asked me a question I've been meaning to answer here. Will baby girl be on social media? The easy, quick answer is no.

Before we delve into the major details of that statement, let me preface with, I know this is probably an unpopular opinion (very unpopular). I know most people will think I'm being a little crazy/over-cautious/nuts. But, it's a decision Adam and I have made together and it's one we're comfortable with. 

Also, this post is not meant to be derogatory to anyone who posts their kids on social media, so please don't take it that way. Heck, all my friends and family post their kids on social and I LOVE it. I love seeing my feed littered with adorable babies doing the cutest things. So please, keep posting!

I didn't think I was going to talk about this because I figured who would care. But, since I share everything on social, I figured you would all wonder why I'm not sharing baby girl on social. I'm a little anxious to talk about this because honestly, I get it, I'm in the minority. I know a lot of you will think I'm being nuts or judgmental or irrational. 

But at the end of the day, I'm just trying to figure out what is best for me and my family and it really has nothing to do with anyone else or what anyone else chooses to do with their family.


I get it, our thoughts on this are the way extreme and aren't for everyone. And isn't that the coolest thing about motherhood and parenting and being part of a community where we can talk about these things?  

Social media + baby is a conversation Adam and I had before we got pregnant and our general consensus was we didn't want our kids on social media. Honestly. there wasn't a whole lot of thought past that point. For those of you who don't know, Adam isn't on social media anywhere. Sure, he has a Facebook, but I think his profile picture is one of us from literally 6 years ago. He doesn't love social and felt strongly about not having our kid on it. Hell, he doesn't love his appearance on Everyday Grace as much as he is. If it we up to him, social media wouldn't really exist.

I'm torn on this. I love social media. I'm on it all the time. I share on it, all the time. I love the community I've built and the friends I've made. Because of this, part of me wants to show off this darling little baby everywhere and at every chance I get. But then the mom, blogger and public defender in me gets very nervous about splashing her sweet little face everywhere. I have a public blog, public Instagram and there are a lot of followers I don't know. That makes me nervous.

Maybe if I didn't have this space and it was private to only people I know, I'd feel different.

Another thing I've thought about, we've yet to experience an adult generation who's entire life has been played out for the masses online. I didn't grow up knowing how to pose for Insta-stories or having my face on every social media platform available. Heck, if I want a baby picture, I have to call my mom, ask her to scan it or take a picture of it and then she sends me back a grainy version of six year old Kristen. How will this generation feel when they're 30 and there are naked baby pictures of them all over the web? Honestly, we don't know yet.

To be as transparent as possible, I'm not sure how I feel and since I'm not 100% either way, keeping her off social seems like the right thing for our family now. I share a lot of my life on social, the good, the bad and the ugly, but for now I'll be keeping baby girl private.

I went to college with a girlfriend who has chosen not to post her son or daughter on social and I absolutely love her stance on why. My favorite line from her thoughts are this;

All in all, one of the greatest benefits we’ve experienced from opting out of sharing photos of Jack online has been the freedom to enjoy his childhood without the pressure to curate it for public consumption.

One thing I do know, I don't want to make this decision for her. I just want her to be a kid.

Am I being overly cautious? Probably. Am I being paranoid? Maybe a little. Do you guys think I'm nuts? I'm sure you do. But if there is one thing I've learned throughout this pregnancy, it is that Adam and I have to make decisions we feel good about. And, if at the end of the day, him and I feel like we're doing the right thing for our family, then that is what we have to do.

So for all of you asking, "how will I see her?" Text me, call me, DM me, lets FaceTime! I'd love to share pictures and videos of her with you if you want to see her! Better yet, come visit :)

Now, tell me your thoughts. What do you think about kids on social media? Am I the extreme? Probably. What's the happy medium? Talk to me.

Want to read some other moms thoughts?

The Effortless Chic || Design for Mankind ||  The Fresh Exchange || Ave Styles || Apartment 34

Oh hey Wednesday! How the heck are ya? We're halfway through the week and I'm already dreaming of the weekend! We're enjoying our last few weekends just the two of us. Going out to dinners, brunches, wandering bookstores and enjoying our time together. It's crazy that everything is about to change, so we're enjoying our current normal while we have the time.

Truth be told, life gets busy. And in the midst of that constant busyness it's easy to get caught in the mundane and forget to look at the good stuff, the more important stuff. Some of this stuff is actually important and some is just so dang good.

ONE // I posted this on my Insta-stories a while back. I'm super lucky to have amazing mama mentors in my life. In the midst of figuring out what I'm going to do with this baby and how I'm going to do it, I lost track of the fact that He already knows how this will all play out. Leaning into Him a little tighter as we get closer to our due date.

TWO //  Never look at Nordstrom Baby when you're on a spending freeze because you'll find all the things you shouldn't buy.

THREE // Younger finally gave me everything I needed. I've told you once and twice and three times but this show is so dang good. Stop everything and binge watch this show. Trust me people. Then, when you're done binge watching, let me know if you're #TeamCharles or #TeamJosh.



FOUR // I Think You can, I Think You Can. My gf Chelsea wrote this blog post and I love it. She's inspiration when I need it the most and encouragement when you're feeling down. Stop what you're doing and read it. You'll love it, plus its short. And while you're at it, tell your girlfriends how awesome they are. Supporting other girls is always cool.

FIVE // Bachelor in Paradise is back and honestly I'm much more excited about this show than I was Becca's season of the Bachelor. I totally dig the drama on this show. It's so ridiculous it's good. But, can we talk about Tia and Colton. I mean she says his name 100x within 2 hours, goes on dates with other guys and then kisses him. This is the kind of drama I live for peeps.
SIX // These grandparents kicking butt being grandparents and these kids who I can only hope influence my daughter. Read the post here.

SEVEN // Carrie Underwood is pregnant and she announced her tour. Talk about best day of my life. And she's not coming to Denver until next September meaning I'll have a ONE-YEAR old, meaning I can go. God Bless us all and Carrie Underwood.

 

The best (insert eye-roll) thing about pregnancy is the advice you get.  From the old lady at the grocery store to your great-aunt, people LOVE telling pregnant women what they should and shouldn't do. I've been lucky to get away pretty unscathed, but you'd be surprised people.


Just the other day I was at the Lexus dealership waiting for my car and working on my laptop when a man asked me what I was doing. I said I was working and he said that couldn't be true because I was pregnant and I should be focused on my baby. Honestly, I don't even know how to react when people talk to me like this.

Why do people talk to pregnant people like this?

But, in spite of the bad comments, I've gotten some really great advice. Some I never thought about before but am glad I was told. So lets talk the good, the bad and the funny.  And hey, sorry if your comment was in the bad, maybe take it as a hint?

THE GOOD: 

Let your husband parent the way he chooses to parent. I heard this piece of advice at my gf Kate's baby shower and I love the sentiment. Sure, your hubs may not change the diaper the way you do, but does it stay on? Great. He doesn't sing the lullaby you sing? Who cares, he is SINGING to your baby, let him sing. I cannot wait to see how Adam loves and parents our little girl and my goal is to let him do it how he chooses. 

The days are long, the years are short. When you're crying in the middle of the night because your baby wont sleep, remember there will come a time when your child sleeps until noon and doesn't let you rock her to sleep anymore. This one makes me cry and I don't even have a baby yet. 

Happy Friday friends! Cheers to us all being great moms and doing the very best we can. 

Shopping for your registry can be tough. Honestly, I put it off for months because I didn’t know where to start. It’s unlike any other type of registry, because if you’re like me, it's your first baby, aka your first registry. It was easy with my wedding registry because picking out things I personally wanted was easy. But picking out things I need for a baby, when I have no clue what I need for a baby, was so hard.

A few weeks ago, I shared my registry must haves. It was an extensive in-depth look at registry must haves. But even that can be overwhelming! So today, let’s break down my most favorite registry items. We're at 35 weeks guys! It's almost baby time! 


If I had to go back and pick just 10 things, these are my must haves.

• Cradle/Bassinet. The Halo Swivel Bassinet. I love this little bassinet because it's the thing our baby girl will sleep in for her first few months. I cannot wait to have her next to us in a few weeks!  

• Stroller. I'm obsessed with our stroller. It's the Uppa Baby Vista and I love how easy everything clicks in to it. Our car seat clicks in, plus it has an infant carrier and a toddler seat. And, it's gorgeous. I can already imagining her zipping around town in this beauty.

• Crib mobile. I just love this little rose mobile because it's part of her room. It makes her crib look so dang sweet. 

• Swing. We registered for this Snugababy Fisher Price Swing and it's currently set up in our dining room (to be moved to the family room) once she's here! I can already see this little babe swinging away. 

• Diapers. I was told to register for the brand I want, so if people want to buy to diapers they know the correct brand. I went with Pampers Swaddlers. We didn't get anyyyy diapers from showers, so I went out and bought some last weekend! 

• Hooded Towels. These Pottery Barn Baby Faux Fur Bath Wraps are almost too cute. I can't wait for her first little bath. 

• Baby Monitor. We did a lot of research on this one and ended up with the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor. 

• Activity Gym. I loved this one from Pottery Barn Kids. So darn cute.

• Receiving blankets. I think the blankets are my favorite accessory. I especially love these Aden and Anais muslin blankets. 

• Diaper Bags. I'm OBSESSED with my diaper bag! I got a Freshly Picked and Rosie Pope diaper bag backpack and they are so gorgeous. 

Guys, we're getting so close to baby! We're officially 5 weeks from our due date and it's crazy to think that we get to see her so soon. Stay tuned for another bump-date next week and a nursery reveal!

Happy Tuesday!

Did you know August 1 to 7 every year marks World Breastfeeding Week? It's celebrated every year to encourage and support breastfeeding in an effort to improve the health of babies around the world. The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding: Foundation for Life” — a recognition of the importance of breastfeeding to a baby’s future. We've all heard the stats about breastfeeding; it's great for the baby and it's great for the mom. Well, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action is trying to inform people about the links between good nutrition, food security poverty reduction and breastfeeding. 




Let's talk breastfeeding. Babies gotta eat, am I right? Even though we know the positive stats surrounding breastfeeding, there is still a stigma around breastfeeding, formula feeding and all of it in general. Women being shammed for breastfeeding their babies, women being shammed for feeing their babies formula. In a world where we are trying to empower women, why do we keep tearing them down based on the ways they chose to feed their babies?

Everyone always asks me if I plan on breastfeeding this little babe. The truth, yes I plan on breastfeeding. It's been proven to be the best way to feed your baby. But, at the end of the day, I plan on doing whatever I can to feed this little human. If that means chewing up food like a bird and re-feeding it to her, well damn, I'm gonna feed that baby. If that means formula, done.

I think World Breastfeeding Week is absolutely incredible. Feeding our babies should be our number 1 goal. But maybe we should focus on healthy babies and leave the mom-shaming out of it.  Yes, my best intentions are to breastfeeding, but my greatest intention is to be the best mama to this little one.

Now, let's chat Bun Maternity and some tips to breastfeeding. Their goal is to provide cute clothes to mamas everywhere, making breastfeeding easier.

Since I'm a newbie to this mom thing, I recruited my best friends and family to help me with some breastfeeding tips. Luckily for me, I've got a plethora of amazing mamas who are helping me through this mama thing.
Did you breastfeed your baby? What are your tips? Tell me everything!

Happy August! AUGUST! That means baby is here NEXT month. Whew, excuse my mini-freak out. Life is moving quick! I was talking to my gf the other day and we were talking about the realities of being thirty-one. Ya know those realities of taxes and mortgage payments? But also the ones of freedom and eating pizza at 2 am if you really want.

My 30th birthday was a little over a year ago, I wasn't pregnant, we were planning baby-less vacations, traveling to friends wedding and living the life as single, married adults.

We literally starting talking about all those things and dying laughing. The idea that a baby is coming into my life is not lost on me and the fact that my life is about to change even more is a tad terrifying. 31 + a baby and let's be real, life is about to get all kinds of real. But its also about to get so much better.

• Taxes are inevitable and they suck. The more money you make, the more they take, kids don't really save you money and owning a home is more expensive than the tax writeoff. 
• Going to bed at 9pm no longer means you have no plans, it means you value good sleep.
• Eating past 8pm means indigestion.
• Dark dirty bars with luke warm domestic beer is for the birds and the 20-something year olds.
• Shots will actually kill you and hangovers will last 3 days.
• Being 30 means you're never drunk enough to crash at someones house. Regardless of the Uber surge you are making it home to your bed. 
• This may separate me from my peers, but I love talking on the phone over texting. I still hate voicemails.
• Tequila shots are for youngins and crazy people. 
• New air conditioners getting installed are the most exciting part of your week. 
• Working out is mandatory because metabolisms fade and so do waistlines.
• Being in your 30 breeds a sense of confidence I could never quite grasp in my 20s. 
• Coloring your hair is required to cover grey, not to find new shades.
• Boobs are for nursing babies.
• Leggings are pants.
• Being 30 means you hesitate to saying yes to weekend plans because you already planned to have no plans. 
• You actually don't care about what other people think about you. 
• The TV show Friends doesn't seem as outdated to you like it does to kids born in 2000.
• My preferred bedtime has regressed to the same time that is recommended for my newborn.
• The "real" adults at work no longer laugh when they hear your age. 
• Comfortable shoes are so much more practical than heels. 
• Waddling isn't just for ducks, it's for pregnancy.
• Being 30 means spending more money on your house than on yourself.
• You find yourself asking your husband, does this dress make me look like I'm trying too hard. Aka when I'm trying to wear a dress from a bachelorette party that was 10 years ago.
• You find yourself saying, "when I was your age..." or things like "when I was in highschool..." or "do you know this tv show?"
• You're past the age of bribing friends with pizza and beer to help you move. Being 30 means you pay movers so you don't have to do anything but pack and unpack.