We are so happy to share that we are welcoming another sweet baby girl into our family this July! There is literally nothing sweeter than sharing the news of our growing family!

To be very honest, it still feels surreal we are pregnant again. It doesn't feel that long ago we were sharing Quinn's news! We couldn't feel more blessed or more grateful. God has blessed us immeasurably with this pregnancy and it's something we don't take for granted.


We are over the moon about giving Quinnie a sweet little sister (even though she'll have to learn how to share all her toys). I cannot wait to watch Adam become a #girldad x2 and I can't wait to see how this little sweet baby changes our whole family dynamic. I can't wait until her and Quinnie are best little friends. I can't wait for the matching outfits and the hair boys and the boy drama, that having 2 girls in our house will bring. I can't wait for when she walks, and I can't wait to hear her voice.

To say I'm excited is an understatement.

With that being said, pregnancy is not always easy. This pregnancy has brought anxiety, and guilt, and hesitancy, and worry, along with all those joyful emotions.

I'm going to speak very honestly here, so please give me some grace. When we found out we were pregnant with this baby, we weren't "trying" for this baby. Yes, we weren't using protection, but there was no tracking of periods, no timing ovulation, no planned sex. It just happened. And I think because I didn't have to work at it, it felt too good to be true.

If you're new around here, a little backstory. Adam and I tried to get pregnant with Quinn for about 9 months before we got pregnant with our first baby. We lost our first baby at 10 weeks. So when I think about Quinn, I think about the struggle and the work that went into having her. I think about the tracking apps, and the ovulation sticks, and the timed sex. I think about crying over starting my period and the longing my heart felt. So when we got pregnant with this second sweet girl, it felt like we didn't work hard enough to "deserve her."

On top of that, some of my very closest friends, women I consider my sisters have been having a hard time getting pregnant and I instantly felt guilty that here I was, easily pregnant with my second. Since then, I've had conversations with all those amazing woman who have told me not to feel this way, but it's hard not too. I have felt that sense of longing. I understand it. And my heart ached as I told these girlfriends of mine that I was pregnant when I knew they weren't. The guilt I felt and honestly still feel is heavy. And maybe that's why I waited so long to "announce it." Maybe it was my fear that this too good to be true baby was actually too good to be true.

Whatever the case, I want you to know, I'm not trying to make this a pity post or a post of you reassuring me, because that is not what this is about. This post is about joy and our sweet new baby girl.

But I also want everyone out there who is struggling to get pregnant, or struggling to find their way through this journey to be parents, that my heart is here with you, every single step. Every night when I go to bed, I pray for every person going through this isolating journey. I'm praying for your heart, for peace, and for that sweet baby you are aching for. And when you do get pregnant, I will be here, screaming from the mountain tops with all the joy I have in my heart.

Thank you for all your sweet words, your sweet texts and your encouragement. Adam and I are so lucky to have all of you in our lives to help us celebrate this sweet baby girl.

About Eco Pea:
Eco Pea was founded by a rambunctious family of five from the West Coast.  Eco Pea Diapers and wipes are dermatologist approved and are both hypoallergenic and antibacterial.  They contain no harmful ingredients and no added fragrance.  They are made responsibly using bamboo and manufactured in a certified facility.  You can rest easy knowing your child is less likely to have a reaction compared to regular diapers.


In just 2-3 months, a Eco Pea diaper will be more than half degraded.  Compare that to regular diapers which take 500 years to decompose, you can see why we're proud of our diapers and feel it's a huge step in the right direction.  And guess what?  Our wipes are already there.  They are 100% biodegradable!


The details: 

• Hypoallergenic & Antibacterial
• Eco-Diapers: 100% Biodegradable Bamboo Sheets
• TCF (Totally Chlorine Free)
• No Nasty Chemicals - 0% Phthalates, Dioxin, Alcohol, Latex
• Fragrance-Free and Odor Resistant
• Super Absorbent Core
• Wetness Indicator
• Natural Nourishing Aloe
• Incredibly Soft
• Size Label (Helpful when you have multiple kids)
• Snug Fit that Conforms to Movement
• Tape that Stays in Place and Doesn't Tear
• Responsible & Sustainable Practices
• 30 diapers per pack

Remember, use code kgrace01 to get $5 off your first order!

It's 3 am and your hair is in a messy bun, you have sleep in your eyes, spit up on your robe and you haven't slept more than 3 hours in 8 weeks. You are stumbling to the nursery to cuddle and nurse your little one. You're the only one in your entire house (and probably the neighborhood) who's awake so you try and be extra quiet. These quiet moments are my favorite. The house is dark, my husband and dogs are sleeping peacefully but for now, it's me and her.

She doesn't know it's the middle of the night as I pick her up from her crib. She smiles with that baby smile and it takes over her entire face. Her eyes squint, her smile is huge, and she sticks out her little tongue. She is thrilled to see me. She coos and cuddles as I change her, nurse her and rock her back to sleep. She doesn't know that I'm hurrying to get her to sleep so I too can go back to sleep, but for now, its me and her.

Mama, I see you.


It's 4pm and I've been balancing work and video calls while the sweetest little babe (who only needs me) is sitting patiently next to me. She wants to cuddle as we dance around the kitchen, all while my work is messaging me about the landing page I'm helping to create. She wants to play while I'm trying to pump and scarf down my 3 hour old oatmeal from this morning. She wants to snuggle while I've got one hand on my phone and one on my keyboard. She's watching me while I work, and I hope she knows I'm just doing this for her. Today, I've only microwaved my coffee twice, and this is a huge win. I'm counting down until Adam texts me that he's on his way home from work so we can all be together again. But for now, it's me and her.

Mama, I see you.

It's 9pm and Quinn is sleeping like the perfect angel baby she is. She's been asleep for 2 hours and I miss her more than imaginable. Adam and I are laying in bed scrolling through pictures of the day and I can't help but cry because she's growing up so fast. Today she laughed at me, I tell Adam, and then I show him videos of her doing that. Today she almost rolled over and I am so proud. Today she put her own pacifier back in her mouth and I called Adam to brag. I crave for the moment she wakes up and gives me that full face smile and again its me and her.

Mama, I see you.

This season of life is so wonderful and challenging and and amazing full of love that I'm not sure I have the words to do it justice. But even with a perfect angel baby, this season of life can feel lonely! I almost feel bad saying that because we waited so long to have this sweet baby in our life. It's the best job title I've ever had.

So yes, the 3am wake up calls are hard, but ya know what? They'll be over soon enough and I'll be wishing for those 3am smiles and coos.

Mama, I see you. I see your hard work. I see your tears. I see the love you give your family while balancing work and the house and dinner and the laundry and the dogs and the tedious tasks that most of the time go unnoticed. I see the way you fight for your family. I see how hard you work. I see the worry you have every day wondering if you're doing a good enough job. I see the stress. I see the love. I see you. I feel you. I'm with you.

Mama, we're in this together.

When people ask me about being a mom, my first response is, I wish I did it sooner so it could be me and her.

This post has taken me forever to write and I'm so excited to share it with you guys!

When we found out we were having a girl I was so excited for so many amazing reasons. One, obviously because we were having a daughter, and two, imagine how cute the nursery would be!

I honestly had no idea how I wanted to decorate her room, all I knew was I wanted it to be soft pink and girly. Her room is almost done! We are only waiting on some art work for her room. Quinn is lucky to have her nana (my mom) and her papa (father-in-law) painting her something!



Her room isn't huge, so I didn't want a ton of bulky furniture. I love this short little bookshelf. Perfect for all her sweet books, pictures of Adam and I and her noise machine and humidifier. It's the perfect height for under her window and again, matches the white of the crib.

The sheepskin is from her Nana Jane. It's made for babys! They love the feeling when they lay on it, plus you can clean it. She does tummy time and lays on it every morning! This one is linked here -- it's short wool.


Be still my heart. Is there anything better than watching your husband with your daughter? It is my favorite thing to watch them and see their sweet bond. Quinn absolutely lights up when Adam comes home from work or walks in a room. She's daddy's little girl already. Adam has created a routine with Quinn where he puts her to sleep every night. He feeds her, gets her ready, rocks her and puts her down. It's the sweetest moments.

I absolutely love her bookshelves that hang above her chair. When we were designing her room, I knew I wanted to incoorprate her older cousins somehow. She has 6 amazing older cousins and I know they are going to be BFFs. I had each of them paint a little canvas for her room. The big cousins, Tomas, Izzy and V painted whatever they wanted and Leo, Otto and Jack did their footprints and handprints. I love the bright colors and their sweet little hand and foot prints. It's such a sweet thing for Q to have something from all 6 of them!

The dolls and piggy banks are other sweet gifts she's received from family and friends at our showers. Quinn is so loved by many and I love that its shown in her room.



This is by far my favorite room in our house. It's cozy and bright and full of love. Thanks for walking through her sweet little room with me!

Two months later and I'm finally sharing Quinn's birth story. Life has been kind of nuts and this post has taken me way longer than anticipated, but better late than never right?

Our day started like any other day. It was a Monday morning, Adam's alarm went off, he snoozed it twice, got up, showered and started getting ready for his day at work. I usually sleep in a little after he wakes up and this day was no different except I slept horribly. I was up from about 2am-6am panicking about work and maternity leave and the whole bringing a baby into the world thing.

Adam got out of the shower at about 630am and woke me up and as soon as I sat up in bed, it felt like I peed a little.

Before we jump in to the nitty gritty of labor and delivery, this is your fair warning that I use words like placenta and water breaking and umbilical cord. Continue at your own risk :) 

Let's back up a little. I had been planning Quinn's delivery since I got pregnant. Her due date was September 11 and honestly, I didn't want to have a baby on 9/11. The second I found out I was pregnant, I was hell bent on not having a 9/11 baby. Everyone knew; my doc, my friends, my parents, we were not having a baby on 9/11.

At my 39 week appointment, I scheduled my induction date for the night of 9/11, therefore guaranteeing I didn't have her on 9/11, but instead on 9/12. Call me crazy but I had it all planned. My parents and Adams parents were driving to Colorado the morning of 9/11. My maternity leave was set to start on 9/11. We were all set. I was even scheduled to go to my first moms bible study on September 10.

But, at 6:30am on September 10, my water broke and everything I thought I planned went straight out the window. Being this is my first baby, my expectation of having my water break was like a scene in the movies. You know in Sex and the City when Mirandas water breaks all over Carries shoes and ruins them? Not even close to my experience. I wasn't even sure my water actually broke. I went to the bathroom and more came out but still I wasn't convinced. It just kind of feels like leaking. At this point, Adam is googling things, calling his mom and I was on the phone with our doc.

My doc said it sounded like it broke, but to be sure I should head to the hospital and have them test it. So Adam and I rushed around the house like a maniac, letting the dogs out, making their food, curling my hair, ya know the important stuff. I made some peanut butter toast, Adam threw our hospital bags in the car and we were off.

I remember on the drive to the hospital thinking holy cow, our lives are about to change in the biggest way possible and could Adam drive a little faster. I could barely eat my toast but my best friend Lyndsey told me I have to eat before the hospital because then you can't eat anymore. I forced down two pieces of toast as we pulled into the hospital.

7:30 am: We were at the hospital and I was getting hooked up to monitors. After some brief monitoring and some tests, it was confirmed, my water broke! It kind of amazed me how casual this whole process was. I mean, hello, I'm pretty sure I'm in labor, why weren't people freaking out? I sure was.

At 9am, they moved us over to a labor and delivery room and I got hooked up again. Do you know how bad it hurts to have this IV put in? It goes in the top of your wrist and damn, it hurts like hell! Then they checked me. I was 2cm dilated {pause} 2 centimeters. This meant I hadn't dilated in over 2 weeks. I had been walking and eating dates like it was my job and hadn't dilated any. My doc came in and said, "Honey, this is gonna be a long day, I bet we don't have a baby until midnight or later." What I heard, "After all your planing, you're going to have her on September 11."

And ya know what? I didn't care one bit. I couldn't care less. I wanted her to be here so badly. All my planning was out the window, we were having our baby and whatever day that happened on would be the best day of our lives. Quinn was making her debut when she wanted and I can already tell this little one is going to be a strong-headed little babe.

We called our parents and they were on the road! Luckily, my brother was in town for work so he took an Uber to the hospital and was able to be there for the entire day and night!

At noon, they hooked me up to Pitocin to get me moving. Friends was on the TV, we were all chatting about the normal stuff and for a minute I kind of forget about the labor part. By 1:30pm my contractions were 4 minutes apart but I was still only 3 cm. The pain wasn't horrible at this point, just kind of felt like intense period cramps. The cool part was the monitor I was attached too could tell me when they were ramping up so I could kind of mentally prepare. I figured, if this was labor it was a piece of cake.

How wrong was I.


The day passed so quickly. Unfortunately. I was not progressing as quickly. We watched a lot of day time TV, chatted, I napped. It was such a cool and surreal day. I just kept trying to soak in every moment. Honestly, when I look back sometimes I wish I could do the day again. The feeling of knowing our lives were about to change was such an insane feeling, one I will never forget.

By mid-afternoon the pain was getting worse but I was still not dilating quickly. I sat on a bouncy ball, laid with my legs on a ball, Adam massaged my back and I was trying to be tough but man, labor hurts! Adams parents arrived around 4pm, it was so nice to have them there, especially his mama. She's a nurse and made me feel so much better about how I was feeling and what was going on.

630pm and I couldn't take the pain anymore. I called for an epidural. The fun thing about epidurals is that is requires more stuff. Like a catheter and you aren't allowed to walk around anymore (I mean, your legs are numb, but still). But wow, what a life changer. A lot of people asked if it hurt and honestly no. I was in pretty intense pain, as if my back was in a vice, so 5 minutes of getting it put in was totally worth it. Plus, they numb the spot first and I could barely feel it. The IV they put in first thing in the AM hurt worse. After the meds were in I took the best nap of my life as the lower half of my body warmed and numbed.

8pm: 4cm dilated. The doc was right, this baby was not coming today.

1145pm: 6 cm dilated. So starving. I get why they don't let you eat all day, but sheesh. I had about 4 jello's and 6 popsicles. All I wanted was a burger!

1230am: My parents arrived! Hooray! At this point, Adam's parents had gone to the hotel to get some zzz's, my brother was asleep on the couch and we were all very sleepy.

3am on September 11: I was 9 cm dilated! I've never been so excited in my life. She was coming soon!

I kicked everyone out of the room at this point except Adam and the moms. Sorry dads and brother!

4am: My contractions were brutal. I was in the worse pain ever and called for the anesthesiologist. When they give you your epidural, they give you a boost button to allow you to give yourself more pain meds. The boosts weren't working. The anesthesiologist came in and said, "honey I'm gonna make your legs go numb for 3 hours." He gave me more meds and I took another 30 minute nap. God bless my anesthesiologist.

630am: I was 10cm and my contractions were like every 2 minutes. My nurse suggested since I had been in active labor for so long that I should rest an hour before pushing. Thankfully my mother in law was there and shaking her head "no" and that I should just get to pushing. Honestly, I think if I would have rested, I would have lost all my adrenaline. I said let's get to pushing and we were off.

When I was planning labor, I envisioned me and Adam in this blissful room listening to music as I labored and brought Quinn into the world. I didn't want anyone else in the room.

How did labor actually happened? I asked my mom and mother-in-law to stay to help hold my legs while Adam stood near my head to coach and get me through. I thought I would be too embarrassed, but the nurses said having people hold my legs would help get her out faster and at that point, whatever or whoever could help get this baby out was welcomed to stay. I'm so glad they stayed.

It's weird because in that moment  my feelings were pain, anticipation and excitement. That feeling of embarrassment was the last emotion I ever felt. I was no longer concerned with people seeing me or what was happening down there. We were all so focused on Quinn coming in to the world that all the other details kind of disappeared.

I won't get into the gory details of pushing, but I pushed for 10 seconds, 3 times in a row, with 10 seconds off and then I'd go again. 10 seconds has never felt longer in my life. Not going to lie, pushing is hard work. 40 minutes later, Quinn was here!

As you all know, we kept Quinn's name a secret our entire pregnancy and we didn't even tell our docs when we got to the hospital. So as soon as she came out, the doctor asked her name and we both said Quinn. It was so cool to surprise our moms with Quinn's name as she was born. It was well worth the wait.

7:09am: Quinn arrived and it was the most perfect moment of my life. Adam cut the cord, they handed her to me on my chest and I looked up at Adam and just started bawling.

There is nothing as amazing as seeing your baby for the first time. 24 hours of labor has nothing on the pure joy it is to finally hold your baby. I'd do it 100x again.

Let's get to the pictures.





Thank you all for all your love and support over the last 2 months. It's crazy to believe 2 months has already passed since this incredible day. We're so in love with miss Q and can't wait to watch her grow.

I promise I'll be back to some more full time blogging soon :)

Until about a month ago I thought I was totally ready to bring this little baby in to the world. I had her changing table, her crib, the rocker I plan on sitting in to feed her. I had all the clothes I could imagine and the nursery was decorated.

It wasn't until my gf's came in town and started looking through the stuff I had, that I quickly realized how much I didn't have to bring a human home. I had all the pretty stuff, but I didn't have the realistic stuff. Plus I didn't realize there are certain things I needed for myself. I thought I had that part all figured out. Welp, turns out, mama needed some things just as much as baby.

I cannot be the only mama out there who has no clue what she'd need. This is the list, most of which you can get on Amazon, that'll make your life and babys life easier as you both transition in to this new phase.

PS. I updated this blog post as of April 27, 2020, on the eve of my third trimester with baby #2!


For Baby: 

1. Nose Frida (or steal all the blue nose suckers from the hospital). I seriously stole like 10 and I love them more than the nose frieda. Adam prefers the nose frieda! 
2. Diapers in size newborn, one and two. We skipped right over newborn (Quinn was 8.8lbs) and I'm so thankful I had a variety of sizes! 
3. Wipes - I love the Costco ones, but if Amazon is easier, these are the best. You can also have them come in a subscription! 
4. Aquaphor. Quinn is 20 months old and I still use this for everything.
5. Rectal Thermometer (for under 6 mo) and forehead thermometer (for over 6 mo). True story - I have three different types of thermometers and they will at any given point give me a different reading. Having a bunch is nice but not totally necessary. Trust your gut. 
6. 5 ounce and 9 ounce bottles + different nipple sizes - I LOVE the comotomo bottles. 
7. Nose Frieda Saline nose spray.  This was originally on this list, and I have never used it ever. Maybe I should? 
8. Grooming Kit. This safety first grooming kit everyone will recommend to you. I love these simple tweezerman nail scissors. You can see what you're doing and they are very gentle. 
9. Boon Bottle Drying Rack. I still use this for Quinn's sippy cups! 
10. Munchkin Bottle brush. Literally have never used it. 
11. Butt Paste (small one for diaper bag and big one for changing table). This stuff is good for when they are little little. But as Quinn got legit diaper rash, I used and still use Desitin.
12. Infant Tylenol and Motrin. For Quinn, Tylenol works better than Motrin. But some people swear by the switch on and off method between the two. Better to be safe than sorry, have them both on hand for those late night fevers. 
13. Shampoo, conditioner, baby lotion. We love Honest brand wash, no fragrance. I've used it since she was born and haven't switched. We don't use lotion, because aquaphor has worked magic for us. 
14. A bunch of plain onesies: I love these little Gerber ones! My most favorite is a rec from my friend Summer. The Cloud Island onesies from Target. They come in a three-pack and are ah-mazing! They have full body onesies, bodysuits, separates, and beanies. 
15. Travel Bottle Cleaner. Literally never used this. But if you travel a ton, might be a good idea? 
16. Pacifiers. This is the fun part. We tried a bunch of different pacifiers and ultimately Quinn gave them up around 3 months. When she did like them, she liked the Wubby Nubs. Plus they are so cute. 

For Mama: 

1. Pumping storage bags. I started pumping around 3 weeks and I was fortunate and had a lot of milk, so I started storing right away! I used the Lansinoh storage bags. 
2. Breast Pump sterilizing bags. I never used these. I just sterilized in boiling water on the stove. I work from home so this was an easy option for me. But if you work out of the home, these would be great!
3. Baby carrier. My Solly baby is my fav. I used this one when she was teeny tiny. I also loved my Ergo Baby Omni carrier. I used this one in the airport and for long distance carrying because it felt a little more secure. Before 6 months, there is an infant insert. 
4. Nipple pads that freeze. Trust me on this one. Your nips will hurt and your boobs will leak. Nippe pads that can be frozen are so money. It's a little awkward at first, but man it will calm your boobs. I love these Lansinoh ones. 
5. Disposable and Non-disposable breast pads. When you nurse, your boobs leak. Glam, I know. These Medela ones are great. I bought a few non-disposable ones and honestly having to wash them kind of gagged me. I loved being able to throw them away when necessary. 
6. Lansinoh Nipple Cream. See #4 and #5. I'm just being honest here peeps. The perks of the specific nipple cream is its safer if your baby gets a little. I would have rather used Aquaphor but I didn't want Quinn to eat it obviously. 
7. Cozy undies, bras, jammies and robe. For the first few weeks, you are either in diapers (my preference, these are the best), or you are in undies and pads. Get comfy undies. I seriously thought I could wear boy shorts and I was quickly proven wrong. You want full panties, and I loved these, Hanes® Premium Women's Smoothing Seamless 3pk Briefs! I also preferred wearing "PJ dresses or robes." In those first few days, there is a lot of nursing, diapers/pads, etc. Being as comfy as possible is keyyy! I loved these dresses and robes from Milkmaid Goods.  
8. Hand sanitizer. Now that we are in Covid-19, you probably already have this. I love this Babyganics foam. 
9. Dishwasher cage (to wash all those small parts!). Never used this. 
10. Adult Diapers. Let's talk about adult diapers for a second. In the hospital, they give you mesh panties and these HUGE pads. They were fine for the first few days in the hospital, but once I got home (and more mobile) they were terrible. They rubbed/chaffed/etc. I bought these diapers and loved them. They are big enough that you can still put the tuck pads in them, etc. Not to get too gory, but they were better for me than the huge pads. 

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!

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. 

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!