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Just hopping on the band wagon here and reminiscing along with the best of them about my 2017. I can’t imagine anyone out there can say they had a picture perfect year, those highs and lows simply make us human. I started out the year pregnant and very sick. Several weeks of buttered toast and endless episodes of Gilmore Girls, but I triumphed. Holidays and birthdays were celebrated. Family and friends traveled to visit from out of state. More cups of coffee than I can count were consumed and many, many, maaaaaany sleepless nights are in the books. Hayden completed her first year in school and we welcomed a healthy, beautiful baby boy to complete our now family of five. Andy put in another successful year with his employer and we were lucky enough to have him home this summer for 6 weeks when Waylon arrived. We experienced the “joy” that head lice bring. Twice. And it seems like forever ago, but it was this time last year that Reid was now fully potty trained day and night and we kicked the pacifiers for good. Those little things made my sweet boy grow up instantly.

This year we had the very heavy conversation with Hayden about her birth father, her half sister and she learned the details of her adoption by Andy. There were some happy tears and some sad ones. Questions and laughter and just about every other emotion you can imagine. She handled it with grace and love and it lifted a weight that Andy and I had carried for years. We had been waiting for what seemed like the right time in life and it presented itself this year. We rekindled old relationships for it and we started new chapters with some very special people, including Hayden’s sister. Last month, during our family vacation, Hayden met her sister for the first time and I hope it’s a memory for her that will always remain special. Very often life is messy and complicated and you feel like you aren’t doing the right things. This milestone with her helped bring us light and understanding and made us feel validated that choices and decisions we’ve made for the sake of our family and children have been the right ones. There isn’t much comparable to seeing the love and connection between your children. The unspoken bond that you helped create. She gained two siblings this year, in very different ways, and that just may take the cake for 2017.

When I started this post, I had what seemed like more to say. As I write though, I find myself just looking back at this year feeling grateful. Feeling satisfied. Feeling overwhelmed in a good way with how our family grew and changed. I don’t have any resolutions for the new year. It’s more than enough to just keep chugging along and making life the very best we can. I know I can always strive to be better and I can always set goals, no matter what day it is. I plan to write more and get back to taking pictures, of more than my kids. Once Waylon was born, it felt like a roller coaster for a while. One I just couldn’t get to slow down long enough to hop off. That’s for a different post though. Everyday seemed stressful and I was anxious and everyone at home got the brute of my wrath. I can admit that I wasn’t a pleasant wife most days and I lost my temper with the kids more often than they deserved. I needed a break, Andy needed a break, the kids needed a happier mom back and some time out of the house. While our time in the northwest wasn’t a luxurious vacation, it was a much needed break from the grind. Seeing familiar faces and getting out of Alaska for a while was perfect. Not worrying about the dirty dishes, and homework and laundry that was piling up. Andy and I both agreed we needed to make it a priority to travel more. So in 5 weeks we’ll be on a plane heading to a warm sandy beach in HAWAII! I can’t think of a better way to start off the new year. For now, I’ll leave you with some more moments from this past year. Cheers everyone!

All is quiet on the home front. Our family just got back from a trip to the northwest where we got to visit lots of family and friends, and while it wasn’t a vacation that involved a lot of relaxing, it was really great to see all the people we love and miss so much. I have some of the best memories as a kid of our family road trips. We used to spend hours in the car, with me being the youngest and inevitably annoying my brother and sister. Soon Waylon will fill that roll, but for now Reid played his part in tormenting his sister. Every couple days we packed up and headed to a new family members house to crash and the kids champed it. They slept on the floor, they slept on couches, they were forced to sleep with each other ( Hayden shed some tears over that one). We spent hours on a plane and in the car and had a lot of last minute change of plans. A couple flights were delayed and suitcases and backpacks were packed and unpacked over and over. Waylon and I even caught a cold during our travels. Through all this, the kids genuinely did amazing. There was very little complaints and each night we all laid our heavy heads down to rest, with our hearts overflowing. I wish that we could have spent more time with everyone, but this trip did make us realize that making memories like this are irreplaceable and hope to be able to make our jam packed Yochum family vacation an annual thing. I know you guys miss this circus when it’s not around. 🙂

Each year it seems like the holiday season becomes a little more mellow, perhaps because I just don’t have the time or energy to put into it. Once it’s over though, I realize the simple things are more enjoyable and just getting to spend time with the kids is what makes us the happiest. Going sledding and having hot chocolate, our annual cookie decorating with my sister in law while we watch both versions of the Grinch, wrapping presents and listening to a Christmas music playlist on repeat. We have traditions with friends each Christmas that keep getting crazier as we add more kids to our families. It really is the best.

Andy and the kids decorated the tree this year. I set up just a few things around the house, including our stockings and a cozy spot to read stories and open up presents at. Battery operated fairy lights are the bees knees. Anything to make my life easier gets an A+ in my book. Gifts were kept to a minimum too. The perk of a big family is that the kids get spoiled no matter how much we buy them. So they got a few small items from Andy and I and “Santa” is bringing them board games and books. We have lots of snow to play in and Hayden is now on Christmas break, which means I don’t have to make that trek down the hill to the bus stop for a while. Thank the stars!

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday and a beautiful start to a new year!

It’s been a while. Though it’s been quiet on here it’s been busy at home but I’m getting it dialed in. Slowly 🙂

It’s been quiet on here but not so much in our daily life. We are nearing the three-month mark with Waylon. I can comfortably say at this point we’ve reached a pretty solid groove as a family of five. The kids and I have a good routine when Andy is work and have only hit total chaos a handful of times. I’ve learned that some days I just have to surrender and let life win, and either pour myself another cup of coffee or glass of wine depending on what time of day it is.

Fall has definitely taken over Alaska. A few hearty windstorms have stripped off what was left of the yellow leaves on the treetops and while the lawns are still green, most of our colorful blooms have said their goodbyes until next year. Warmer coats, mittens and rain boots are included in each day’s fashion and the mountain’s snow line is creeping down at a faster rate every time we leave the house. All the kids are gearing up for Halloween plans and I’m starting to mentally prepare for what should be on this years Thanksgiving dinner menu. Hayden is a couple of months into first grade and is off to a great start. She struggled at first when she found herself in a class without a single one of her friends from last year, but soon made new friends and I’ve watched her navigate through some new feelings and experiences and it’s made my mama heart so happy. Including her learning about her adoption story and her half siblings that live out-of-state. That is a whole blog post in itself and one I hope to get to soon. Those things being said, she’s growing into such a strong and independent young lady and she is a huge help to me with her younger brothers right now.

Reid is as helpful as any other three-year old is I imagine. He usually gives me plenty of messes to clean up in a day and is currently learning that it doesn’t get him ANY brownie points by peeing in “fun places” around the house. I suppose I better get used to it now having two boys to chase after.

Waylon is starting to show us his little personality more each day. He despises being in his car seat and immediately cries once you buckle him up, which makes for interesting car rides and errands. He would much rather be in a pack or sling and sleeps much longer if you’re snuggling him rather than being in his bed or a swing. We’re getting into somewhat of a predictable schedule with him and I’m not entirely as sleep deprived as I felt with the other two. Or perhaps I’m permanently exhausted and just used to it at this point.

He is still my biggest babe, weighing in at 13.4 lbs and 24 inches at his two month checkup, gaining 3 lbs and grew 3 inches in a month! He has the most delicious chubby thighs and I hope he continues to eat well and plump that little bod up.

He is a fairly content fella and gives us lots of smiles and coos now. Those baby blues look like they are here to stay too.

I was hoping to do an entire post dedicated to my favorite items with a new baby in the house. Free time is scarce though, so I’ll link a few things now.

Nursing Pads:

I use disposable pads when we are out of the house, but for days at home and at night I’ve been using these bamboo pads. I love how inexpensive and comfortable they are. They wash up super easy and I just throw the used ones in with the load of baby clothes.

Lotions and Soaps:

Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, your skin is affected by the harsh winters in Alaska. Especially those babes. I love the line from Tubby Todd and even use it myself. It smells fantastic and a little goes a long way. I bought a kit with lotion, body wash and bubble bath in July and use it on all three kids each week and haven’t even used half the bottles.

Pajamas:

I’m not super picky when it comes to his wardrobe during the day. But I loathe those night-time diaper changes when I put him in pjs that have 12 snaps that I have to mess with. Even the zipper ones have their downfall because the cool air hits his body and he’s instantly pissed. So these sets from Target are THE BEST! Seriously. They are super soft and you unzip from the bottom so half the time he doesn’t even wake up since I only need them open enough to get his little legs out.

 

Along with lots of coffee and literally all the things you can do to increase your milk supply, we’re moving right along, successfully managing this three kid rodeo. Most days at least, ha. We have a trip in the works before the end of the year to visit family and friends in the lower 48 and I’m looking forward to getting a break from our day-to-day limbo.

Speaking of that, time to top off the coffee cup again.

 

Reid Philip is three today.

The quintessential little brother, he can be ornery and annoying. Though notorious for “ruining” Hayden’s stuff and known for occasionally picking on her, he’s always quick to snuggle her and gets so excited to greet her off the bus each day after school. His MO is making people laugh and he has filled the role of big brother better than I could have hoped for. He wasn’t jealous or hesitant the least bit and instead was so happy to meet Waylon and love on him. He smothers him with kisses each day and runs to his aid whenever he starts to cry. Now if we can actually just get him to leave him alone when he sleeps…

He makes us laugh every day with his silly wit and antics, and if you ever can’t find him, just check the snack drawer. You’ll quickly find a wrapper trail leading you right to him. He asks us for hot cocoa every day and whenever there is broccoli on his plate, he’ll eat every last “tree” before anything else. He is the messiest eater, seriously messy, but he’ll eat just about any fruit or vegetable and has been a fairly easy kid when it comes to mealtime. Especially if served any pork product. The kid devours bacon like it’s his last meal.

 He might not know the whole alphabet yet or care to spend time learning his shapes, but he has some serious skills on his bike and can rock a scooter anywhere. He is drawn to anything that has wheels and most days you’ll find him dressing himself and out the door to explore, along with Sharky, his trusty companion. He is friendly and curious. And that curiosity gets him in plenty of trouble.

He LOVES dogs, and dancing and M&Ms and trains. Everyday he plays with his trucks and motor cycles, and yet he’s quick to wear his sister’s pink leotard and do somersaults like a boss. He wants to work on anything alongside his dad and needs snuggles with his mama everyday. He wakes up early and happy and is the easiest one to take places.  He took us by surprise with his blonde hair and bright blue eyes and he continues to charm us each new day with his growing personality. Life is much brighter with you around. Happy Birthday sweet boy.

 

 

 

He’s finally here. Waylon Thomas made his grand entrance on Sunday July 23 at 11:24 p.m.

He is my biggest baby weighing in at 8 lbs 2 oz and 21 inches long.

He was also my quickest and easiest baby to deliver. My total labor time was 5 1/2 hours and he came out on the first push, ready to see the world that awaited.

A quick recap for you, I was set to be induced on Tuesday the 25th if I hadn’t already had him before then. We had family in town and on that particular Sunday, it was sunny and warm and we were spending the day out in the sunshine. Literally doing nothing but laying in the sun, soaking our feet in the pool. The kids and I at least. Andy had actually taken his brother and parents for a mountain drive, with myself opting out since it was so nice out. I had a date to do absolutely nothing but lounge. I woke up that day feeling good, simply tired and uncomfortable, with no inkling that we could be having a baby that day. My sister-in-law showed up later in the day to join me poolside (which sounds really fancy but it was literally a kiddie pool, that actually just kept leaking) and by 5:30 we were warm and crispy and the kids were hungry so we headed in to make spaghetti for dinner.

By 6:00 I started timing my contractions, which I had chalked up to Braxton Hicks once they started earlier. Thirty minutes later, as they were intensifying,  I had my SIL finish dinner and I drew myself a bath. A tactic for helping determine real labor, often a warm bath will help stop Braxton Hicks contractions. Fifteen minutes later I was calling my doctor because the contractions were not only getting stronger but closer. He advised me to hang tight until they reached 5 minutes apart, call him back and then head for labor and delivery.

Andy had actually called me when we started dinner and I hadn’t mentioned anything. He was still on the road and I didn’t want to panic him and have him rush home when I was convinced it was a false alarm. Whoops.

I drained the bath water and called Andy, my brother-in-law answered, and I asked him to relay the message that it was baby time. In typical fashion, both kids had stripped down and bombarded my bath, so while I grabbed hospital bags they threw clothes on. We turned the burners off on dinner, and while I breathed through each contraction that grew stronger we rushed off to the hospital. I’m not going to lie, the only thought in my head at that point was that I wouldn’t have enough time for the drugs. Not that my husband would make it in time or that I had forgotten something at home. Not that my doctor wasn’t in town and that I had the on call doctor who would deliver my baby. That I would finally get admitted and in my room and they would tell me it was too late for that glorious flow of relief called an epidural. I’m not worried about pride, contractions are no joke. They effing hurt.

I got dropped off and was admitted, in a gown and signing my life away by 7:45, luckily with both my doctor and the anesthesiologist in my room by 8:00 getting me prepped. I HAD MADE IT IN TIME PEOPLE! Oh yeah, and Andy was in route to the hospital, we were smooth sailing. Within the hour, they had completed my epidural and Andy arrived at the hospital. It was slow going getting it to completely numb both sides so we had a little bit of down time to catch our breath.

I joked that the hospital staff that night was like my pit crew because they were so fast and efficient, with nurses and doctors in and out, getting things done as quickly as they could. Strangely enough, my water had yet to break. I’m convinced Waylon was using it as a pillow and just wasn’t ready to give it up. Once my epidural was working as it should, my doctor came in and broke my water. This was at 10 p.m.

They weren’t able to actually get a really good grasp on my water because the baby’s head had descended so much. They put a small tear in and said that it would most likely be enough and labor would start to progress at this point. Not long after, I was checked to find that I was dilated completely and we were ready to push. My crew of nurses and doctor came in and prepared, letting us know that they had a strong feeling that he was going to come very quickly once we began. They were spot on, and with my first set of pushes he was out. For those that are new to this department, at the start of a new contraction they have you take a really deep breath in and on the exhale you hold it out and push as hard as you can to the count of 10. You do this anywhere from 2 to 3 times, as long as the contraction lasts. In my case, it took one contraction and only one set of pushes for our little man to make his exit.

Once your baby is born, you experience every sort of emotion. Relief, exhaustion, excitement, joy, sadness, and an immense wave of love for this tiny human that they just placed on your chest. He has dark hair and Andy’s nose. His bottom lip was sucked way in just exactly as Reid’s was. He kept his hands tucked in close to his face and every chance he could, would suck on his hands or fingers. It took a bit to get our groove going , but he started nursing great and we were all able to get a little bit of uninterrupted rest that first night.

We had to stay at the hospital your standard 24 hours to monitor the baby and keep check on my recovery. We had family and friends visit and the kids came that afternoon to finally meet their new baby brother. They both were smitten with him and took lots of turns holding him, while also trying to use the stethoscope to give him a check up. A glimpse for me at what life would be like once we got home.

Life as a family of five has so far been an easy transition and we are incredibly thankful to have been able to come home quickly with a healthy, beautiful baby boy. He is mellow and content and easy to soothe when he’s upset. While he doesn’t sleep through the night, he’s peaceful and goes right back to sleep after nursing. Most of his upset moments are during the day, which I have no complaints about. I can easily spend my days with coffee and Netflix and snuggle a cute squishy baby that is restless. He LOVES his hands by his face or in his mouth. He is not a fan of having a wet diaper or diaper changes and you have to really hold tight when you give him a bath because he stretches and kicks like crazy in the water. He has the funniest cat cry, where he’s not really upset but has something to say. We spend some part of every night where he and I have fallen asleep with him laying up on my chest, and so far he’s been good riding in the car.

His name. Waylon is a name we both really liked and agreed upon. As for Thomas, both of the boys have middle names after two of Andy’s late uncles from his mom’s side of the family.

While we are tired and a bit groggy most days, we spend each moment we can soaking up every perfect little part of him. That round belly and all those itty bitty tiny fingers and toes. He puts up with getting his face smothered in kisses all day and chances are that isn’t going to stop any time soon. Who would want to stop loving on this sweet face anyway?

My final preparation for the new baby was a make over of our master bedroom. Eventually the boys will share a space but until he has reached an age that I’m not up every couple of hours nursing and he won’t disturb Reid’s slumber, he’ll crash with us.

You can find an article and an opinion on just about every aspect of a newborn’s sleeping arrangement. It constantly changes as well. From my personal experience, you should try out as many as you can to find what is a good fit for you and your family and what allows the best sleep for everyone. That includes my children and my husband. We had Hayden and Reid share a room when Reid was younger and ended up having to use the cry it out method for a period of time. Which didn’t allow Hayden to get a good nights rest, and it was at that point we gave them each their own room. I handled all the night feedings since I exclusively breastfed, and wanted a helper during the day that wasn’t also a zombie, so I’ve never asked Andy to stay up with me.

Which leads me to the following game plan. Each kid has their space apart from each other to sleep. We rearranged our room to accommodate the crib at the foot of our bed so that from the get go I’m not crashing on the couch or on the living floor by the baby swing and HOPEFULLY can begin crib training earlier than before, and I’m still able to nurse and sleep in the comforts of my own soft bed.

I have no qualms with co sleeping. I’ve done it with both my kids and the kids still like to crash with us when they can. I have always struggled laying that tiny, squishy baby to sleep with what seems like a huge crib and expect them to find that appealing. It wasn’t until 6 months or later that we began crib training and while it’s always worked out in the long run, I did some more research this time about other options. Enter the Dockatot. I stumbled upon a blogger that shared her stories of how they crib trained their infant daughter using the Dockatot. They used it inside the crib to get her used to sleeping in her crib at an earlier age so that once she outgrew the Dockatot they were able to simply transition her to the crib without it and it wasn’t such a drastic change. It worked for them very successfully and fingers crossed it’s the result I can achieve as well.

The “latest study” shows that co sharing a sleep space (not co sleeping) significantly reduces the risk of SIDS. Which honestly wasn’t my motivation for this setup but it does make it more reassuring. Reid was such a finicky sleeper and a cranky baby in general and I really struggled to find a routine that worked with him. I floundered for what seemed like months so I really made an effort to have a solid plan of action for this next guy. Reid wanted to be held and snuggled and slept in my arms day and night. So apart from crib training, this product seemed like it could help me not have an infant that is a stage 5 clinger when it comes to sleeping.

I wanted to create a space for us that not only gave Andy and I an updated bedroom (it was the last space in the house to get any type of attention or renovation) but create an atmosphere that was calm and quiet for us to sleep in each night with the baby and make night-time something I didn’t completely dread.

It’s not a proper makeover since I don’t have before pictures but most of you know me personally so knew what the bedroom was before. For those that don’t, we previously had a white room with a dark blue painted wall behind our bed. We had a large wooden canopy style frame for our bed and our dressers were dark cherry wood with gold hardware.

The room got a fresh coat of paint and new window dressings. We used to have a large wood bed frame that Andy had built when he first moved into his first apartment. The kids loved it. It was the perfect frame to climb and build forts and of course it was a work of art created by Andy himself. My major complaint (because yes, it was only me that complained about it 🙂 ) was that it was tall and bulky and was very hard for me to get in and out of it. It was a steep fall when the kids fell off, and what kid doesn’t eventually fall out of the bed from time to time. And it was tall enough that I wouldn’t have been able to easily grab the baby from the crib, it would have required me to get out and go around. Which defeated the purpose. Andy is a saint and agreed to nix the old bed he had proudly worked so hard on and built a new bed that beautifully met the needs of my checklist.

The dressers and night stand got sanded, painted and new hardware. More plant babies OF COURSE and some new artwork hung up. I’m lucky to have a pretty cute artist in our house that always gives me good deals on her pieces. Details like an oil diffuser and different lamps for softer light were on my checklist for making it more baby friendly. I set up a bedside basket with what I need for late night diaper changes and in general have kept things relatively minimalist knowing that it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the chaos of a newborn and hopefully a calming space would remedy that.

That pot cover was a really easy and fun DIY. Instead of buying a new planter, I took two pre cut fat quarters of fabric and sewed them together to make a cover that simply slid on the existing pot. Now I can change out the cover whenever I feel like something different and it’s just a matter of a few stitches with some new fabric pieces.

The best perk of all of this? Having our own bathroom and television in our room means it’s even easier for me to stay hidden in the back of the house. Hayden is already trained on making me coffee and Reid is really good about bringing me snacks so really I don’t have much reason to leave this room at all! It’s a win all around. I mean other than having other children to tend to, but they are both pretty independent and our smoke alarms work great, so I feel like we are covered there.

I had a rather clear vision for this room and am so happy with how it’s coming along. The final touch will be that adorable little baby sleeping soundly in his new crib. A mama can dream anyway..

We’re down to single digit days before we welcome our newest member to the family.  For those that have been through this, I’m experiencing the usual. I’m uncomfortable, exhausted and sore most of the day and night. I have heartburn that won’t quit and have recently gotten my nausea back, but with a vengeance. Getting dressed is near impossible without a struggle and there isn’t really any position that I can be in that doesn’t result in some sort of ache or pain after several minutes. The bitching aside, overall I do feel good. Those things I’ve become accustomed to and can easily ignore in order to continue on with my day. This pregnancy has gone by smoothly and without any complications and that’s all anyone can really hope for. I can deal with varicose veins, pants that don’t fit and being out of breath 90% of the time in exchange for a happy and healthy baby.

Child rearing is a tricky thing. It’s a subject that everyone seems to have a lot of opinions about, whether or not they have children of their own. Especially when it comes to your choices surrounding the birth and that first year of life for your little one. Seems silly to me. Each to their own is my standing. You want to go all natural and she roar that kid out, more power to you! Water birth? Awesome. Scheduled C-section with all the drugs they offer? I get it. Whether you want every detail planned out or you want to let nature take its course and you follow the lead of that little human making their way into the world, I can respect that. That being said, I do get asked a lot of questions once anyone hears me say “induced.” So I’ll take the time to address the subject if not for the only reason of educating someone who is curious about the process and reasons why. ( I’m obviously not a doctor but the following is based on information from my own doctor, two previous pregnancies and also.. Google.)  After 36 weeks you are no longer producing amniotic fluid and are in fact slowly losing it. At 37 weeks, “early term”, your baby will continue to put on weight and grow. You can deliver at this point and developmentally they are on track and your odds are extremely high you’ll have a great delivery and a healthy baby to take home. 39 weeks is always the GOAL and if you make it past 40 weeks and your due date, you know that casserole is all sorts of cooked and ready.

I had both Reid and Hayden earlier than my due date. Both came 6 days early, naturally (no need for C-section). With Hayden, my water broke on its own and with Reid, I was induced at 39 weeks. I had many early signs of labor with him and we had reached the point that he was simply needing a little push to set things off. My water was broken at the hospital and I was fortunate that my body did everything else it needed to do to naturally deliver a healthy baby boy less than 24 hours later.

We all know that babies have their own agenda and aren’t going to follow a plan. Having an elective induction date with Reid made things on our end much simpler because we were able to have planned child care for Hayden and knew that Andy would be home from work and we wouldn’t be scrambling to get him on a flight to make it home. So when my doctor asked me for this pregnancy about a planned induction opposed to waiting it out, I had no hesitations. We now have 2 kids to make arrangements for, Andy has limited time off of work and we’ll actually have out-of-state family staying with us when I reach my due date so it would wonderful to have him and be back home before they leave. Could this guy show up early? You betcha. At this point could my water break in the middle of the night or tomorrow afternoon contractions start and I have to be admitted? Totally. So many things could happen and it would be just fine. BUT if not, on the 25th, Andy and I will head to the hospital at 6 am where my doctor will again break my water and we hopefully have another successful and uncomplicated birth. If we make it until then, it will actually be the closest to my actual due date that I’ve been with any of my children. My current due date is the 28th, yet I’ve measured ahead this entire pregnancy.  

Every pregnant woman has their own level of comfort with this process. Some do everything in their power to get labor started. Others are fine with following the course of the baby and can manage many days past their due date. My PERSONAL belief is that I see no real advantage waiting it out as long as possible. His living arrangement has passed its peak by the due date and while he is still getting nutrients and growing, he has maxed out his living space and with each passing day that he grows bigger inside, the likelihood rises that I will have a harder delivery. If my doctor were to tell me that nothing was happening (no dilation, no soft cervix, no contractions happening or the baby hasn’t dropped), I’m perfectly comfortable giving this baby the time he needs. So far all of the above has happened and it’s a waiting game at this point. All players are in position for go time. Time to upgrade him to a place with more square footage and a place with a view. It is 100% my choice deciding on a planned induction date instead of just waiting it out to a due date or longer.  It absolutely makes life easier for my family and I and I’m perfectly okay with that. Do I want to have my husband home for the birth? Yes. Would it be easier to wake up and have the other kids sleeping soundly and not have them be dragged to the hospital with us? Yes. Do I want to deliver with my actual doctor and not whoever is on call (we found out not long ago she had several dates this month she would be unavailable)? Yes. Those are all things that pertain to me. They reduce my stress level and anxiety. And that’s okay. People can have opinions and thoughts on that and it won’t change my situation one bit. I am very much at peace with my body and what it’s preparing for. I don’t feel as though I’m rushing any of the process and I’m listening to the cues my body is sending me. I’m not pushing myself and am in fact not doing anything in particular to try to induce labor myself. I have had an incredible journey with this guy so far and I have no doubt or concerns that we won’t finish it out strong.

We are very eager to meet this guy and embrace however he decides he wants to make his grand entrance. Now we simply wait…

– I share this story not only for myself but for those who, myself included, enjoy reading the experiences of other people. I don’t wish to influence others by my decisions. Only to share with you a piece of our life. Bringing a child into this world is a personal and private choice. A choice not awarded to all and I’m humbled and proud that I have been blessed with this opportunity three times. I’m grateful to all of you that have shared in my stories along with me. –

Who doesn’t love to talk about baby stuff?!? Okay, probably a lot of you. This post might not be for you, so your welcome to skip over it. For those of you that stuck around, here is a peek at the goodies I have lined up for our newest fella.

All of the big items (crib, strollers, backpacks, car seat, etc) we already had from the other kids and they are in good condition. Here are a few of my favorite items from that list.

Swing

Baby Carrier

Diaper Bag

The bag I have is actually out of stock, but I’m still in love with my Kelly Moore bag and would recommend it to anyone. I used it as my camera bag once Reid was older and will happily go back to using it as my diaper bag again.

pacifier clip / ring sling wrap / muslin blankets / car seat cover

My other babes took a pacifier and I have high hopes this guy will take one as well. I used clips with Reid and it was a lifesaver! Primarily when we traveled because he loved to drop them in his seat and I can’t even count how many pit stops we had in order to retrieve them. No one likes to listen to a crying baby in a car. No one.

Sling ring wraps. The one pictured, I sewed myself, and I linked the tutorial I used minus the dying of the fabric. I have two other carriers I plan on using. A backpack style, and also a soft wrap. I have pros and cons with both but was really intrigued with the simplicity and look of the sling wrap.

Muslin blankets. I love the versatility of them and how BIG they are! While July isn’t a scorcher in Alaska, it is warm and there isn’t a need for heavy blankets. Little Unicorn has adorable designs and this set with the bison and plants was to cute to pass up.

A multi purpose cover. Between Hayden and Reid, I’ve used an assortment of products in place of what this one product can do. The fabric is incredibly soft and you can find just about any type of pattern you want from several different shops.

And if you noticed in the main picture of this post, all of these items were nestled in a DockATot. A brand new addition that I CAN’T WAIT to use. More on that later, in a different post.

pants / hat

The going home outfit. I’ve been on opposite sides of the spectrum. I honestly can’t even remember what Hayden wore for the first week of her life. I didn’t have a bag packed and rushed to the hospital in a panic when my water broke, leaving my roommate/best friend to grab items at home for us later on.

Reid had the sweetest tiny moccasins ever, and an outfit that was topped off with the smallest cardigan you’ve ever seen. I remember cursing myself while trying to dress him though. Buttons. So many f****** buttons.  We both came home to immediately get into more comfortable clothes and it seemed pointless that I put in so much effort into what he was wearing that first day.  He has a couple different options packed very similar to the one above along with some fleece pajamas and a sleeping gown. It never hurts to be prepared.

Onto my bag.

Mama Bird tee / Adventure Tee

You’ve worked hard packing that baby around for the last 9 months and the process to bring them home is no walk in the park. My best advice is to pack yourself lots of comforts and don’t sell yourself short. Things like nice nursing bras and post maternity underwear are worth the money. You don’t have to spend a lot, but find things that fit you well and your comfortable in. While regular nursing bras are good for outings, these ones are ideal for being at home and sleeping in. While you may have a short stay in the hospital/birthing center, packing things like cozy lounge clothes and a robe to throw on make it easier on you when you have visitors or your laid up in your room before you can go home.  Slippers or flip flops are a must. Both of my previous babies took their time arriving, and we were encouraged to walk around. TRAVEL TOILETRIES. It’s really the easiest way to pack for anything. Even if you have a very planned out delivery, it’s incredibly easy to forget something. A hot shower and brushing your teeth can do wonders for a person’s mental and physical state. Travel size items are available just about anywhere and now whether we leave for the hospital unexpectedly or on a Thursday at 7 am on the dot, all I have to worry about is throwing in contacts/glasses and a makeup bag.

One last thing, snacks and items to pass time with. I was in the hospital with Hayden a full 24 hours before anything really started happening and with Reid a slow and boring 12 hours before it got exciting. Books, playlists or podcasts to listen to, favorite movies to watch or trashy magazines to read. Those hours seem to linger forever while your staring at the clock, waiting for that baby to make his appearance. Spare yourself the pain and just prep for downtime. SNACKS. Daytime hours are a breeze, with lots of options for food (if your allowed to eat). Hayden was born close to midnight and Reid came at 1:30 am. The cafeteria was closed, most every place in town was also, and vending machine food is the last thing you want after all that hard work. I was absolutely starving and finally able to eat real food. Prepare for that. Even if it’s a protein shake or a sandwich you packed. You’ve still got a lot of work ahead of you and your going to want something to keep you going.

Here are a few of my favorite shops to stock up on stuff for either you or baby. Happy shopping!

Dwell and Slumber / Wren and Ivory / Shabby Apple

Modern Burlap / Spearmint Baby / Copper Pearl

We are nearly to single digits in our weekly countdown. Very similar to Reid’s pregnancy, the last trimester just screams by. It’s summer (basically), which means we are constantly on the go and each day goes by faster and faster.

I feel good. The baby is good. The other kids are good. The husband is good. We have this routine down pretty solid. Heartburn plagues my everyday, it’s a struggle to get dressed outside of sweatpants and peaceful sleep at night is beginning to look like a thing of the past. Other than that, no complaints here. He’s active a lot, constantly stretching and making himself comfortable. Then at night cozies himself right on my bladder and stays put until morning. 

I have completed all my big projects and we are almost finished with the baby’s setup in our bedroom. Reid will end up sharing his bedroom eventually but one thing that I have learned with my previous newborns, is that they couldn’t care less about sleeping in a beautiful arranged nursery that you spent so much time setting up. They want to snuggle, and they want to nurse, and with my babies, that’s all they want to do for a looooong time. So it was a no brainer to make our bedroom the sleep spot for this guy until he’s ready to kick it in his own space. I’ll do a post soon to share our sleep setup, because I’m pretty excited about some things we are going to try this go around.

I have my hospital bag packed and the baby’s bag ready to go. I even threw in a toothbrush for you Andy, your welcome. 🙂

While we easily could be counting down the days until his arrival, we are enjoying and soaking in each and every day that we continue to have warm sunny weather and extra time to spend with Reid and Hayden. In no time at all, they are getting curbed and the tiny new guy in town is getting all my affection. At least 90% of it anyway.

Happy weekend!