BASIC MAKEUP ESSENTIALS | beauty

I've been SO lucky to work with some amazing brands and to be able to try tons of products; Most products have been so great and the people behind the companies have been even better! Lately, I haven't really been in the mood for full-glam. Just simple makeup products that leave my face looking fresh and presentable while still being simple and not overdone. I received a few of these products and have fallen in love with them, so I wanted to do a quick blog post in order o share them with y'all.

Cosmedix BIO-SHAPE Firming Mask c/o:

The perfect product to buy if you're looking to lift, firm and hydrate your skin.

R+Co Thickening Spray:

Smells like heaven and works like a dream.

I use this to add texture to my hair after I wash it so my curls will hold and I have volume on the crown and top of my head.

YSL Black Opium c/o:
A warm and spicy scent that lasts all day long. Key notes are: Pink Pepper, Coffee, Orange Blossom and Vanilla. I like strong, mature scents and this definitely hits the spot. If this perfume sounds like something you'd love, I'd definitely recommend trying it in-store and spraying it on your inner arm to see how it pairs with your skins natural oils because it smells like HEAVEN when it pairs well! A very sultry, sexy scent.

Julep 5 in 1 Skin Perfector c/o:
This is an amazing undereye product that REALLY covers the dark circles I've grown to have over the years. I also like to use this to conceal the redness around my nose and blemishes. I love shade #130 in Ivory.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr Blush:
The winning perk of this blush? It literally lasts all day. I definitely tested its full potential on our disney trip when I was sweating like a pig, so yeah, def recommend it, guys.

I've linked the other two products, which I've talked about before, so I won't bore y'all again. The Bobbi Brown BB cream is one of the BEST BB creams I have ever tried and at this point, it's been a staple in my makeup collection for YEARS. I love mixing the medium and light shades together to create my perfect shade!
 The MAC Pro Longwear Brow set is hands-down my favorite product of all time. Check it out if you haven't, I KNOW you'll love it. I use the shade Brunette and it's perfect!

xx,
tbp

9 WEEK UPDATE + WHAT WE'RE LOVIN' | mom life

Picture // Crib // Striped Sheet // DockATot

Here we are.. Week 9. Holy crap. I can't even tell you where the time has gone. Merrick is smiling, laughing, hiccuping like crazy and pretty much the puzzle piece none of us even knew we were missing. It's crazy how you heart can just grow and expand like that... We're still adjusting and Penelope has still been a total dream through all of it. My heart explodes for her because I know going from being the only-child to sharing your parents can't be easy but she has totally gone above and beyond my hopes and dreams for how this transition could go!
 Oh, and before I forget.. because my mind always races these days:
Just a little side-note to the new moms out there... I just want you to know that the first two months are the hardest. Your hormones are still adjusting, you're getting used to your new normal and you're establishing new routines, all while running on zero sleep. It can be exhausting and full of crying - from you and the babe but just know; it gets better. So much better! And time really does fly by. I've always been told that the days are long but the years are short, and I've never heard a statement more true than that.

Merrick is finally sleeping through the night (at least it feels like that to us, haha)
When he was a newborn, like brand-spankin new, he would wake up every two hours on. the. dot.
We got one night of 5 hours and I think that gave me enough energy to get through the next few weeks because Devon and I both handled it like champs.
He finally started sleeping from about 9PM-5AM within the last week and has had more "full" nights of sleep than nights where he still needs to be fed every 3hrs or so, so we're finally starting to feel a little less zombie-like and a little more like our pre-newborn selves.

I have also been loving the Wonder Weeks App (again) because it is SO spot-on. I almost can't believe the accuracy of it and how helpful it is. If you aren't familiar with it, it just basically fills you in on growth-spurts your little one will go through during the first year and a half of their life. We just went through leap 2 and it was pretty much consistent; although he slept through the night, he wouldn't nap if my life depended on it. So for almost two weeks, I had two babies to tend to, one adamently more fussy than the other, BUT WE MADE IT. He's now back to his sleepy, snoozy-self and I'm back to folding laundry and checking the baby monitor every 5 seconds lol

Other than taking a million pictures of my TWO kids (I can't believe I'm even saying that - it still isn't real to me yet) I've loved seeing the relationship between P and Merrick form and grow. Although we will be going through some changes in the coming months when P starts school in August, I can't want to spend the summer with the two of them - every single minute.

ANYWAY.. I totally meant to get this post out when Merrick turned a month old but life is a blur and I'm finally getting around to what we're loving at a month+! It's amazing how many new things there are to try in just three short years since I had P! There are soooo many new gadgets - some worth it, some not. I'll be sharing my thoughts on it alllllll, so here it goes....

| SLEEP |

The Crib: 

which we purchased HERE. It's a TOTAL dupe for the Bratt Decor cribs but half of the price. I fell in love with the rod iron look but I didn't want to pay the price for a BD one so I searched and found the one we ended up getting and to be honest, I couldn't be happier. It's SO solid, sturdy and was so easy to put together - I was able to do it alone (carrying it and all) at 8 months pregnant, if that tells you anything. It's probably my favorite feature of the nursery!

DockATot:

I totally thought this would be a gimmick, I won't lie. I thought it was all hype and would end up on the floor, or at the end of our bed just hanging out until I finally put it away for good but I was SO wrong. This little thing is a MUST-HAVE. Merrick has slept in this since the day he came home from the hospital! I even bought bought Penelope the Grand dock because the poor girl fell out of her bed the other night and I've been afraid of it happening again ever since. I also got Merrick the grand for when he gets a little bigger because I love it SO much!
Plus, the Deluxe now comes with a little toy bar that Merrick loves to stare and grab at! We were able to skip out on the playmat completely this time because the dockatot doubles as both - woohoo.

Halo Bassinet:

To be honest, we haven't used it. It's a solid, sturdy piece that Penelope uses to hang off of and swing with. The good news? It hasn't fallen over soooo that's good, right? Maybe we'll get some use out of it when M is a little older... we'll see. But for right now, it's a catch-all in our room.... ha

| FEEDING |

Well, if you followed my story with Penelope, you'd know my background with breastfeeding. I had truly hoped it would work out this time but hey, it didn't. It's either me or a genetic factor with me or between them but both of my kids lose weight drastically when I breastfeed - to a point that it's dangerous and it got pretty severe with Merrick this time. Unfortunately, I just can't pump. Trust me, I've tried everything. Cookies, tea, lactation consultants - everything to pumping all. day. long. I just don't get a let-down while pumping and that just happens to some women and well, I'm one of em'. I have a great supply but I can't use a pump and hand-expressing just takes entirely too much time with a toddler around and when you start to supplement and you can't pump, unfortunately your supply takes a hit. I'm sad that I don't get that one-on-one but I'm extremely lucky that we live in a world where I can get my hands on the VERY best formula. I hate to think if I lived in the stone-ages and the lack of options I would have... I may not have two beautiful babies and that thought is SCARY. So I remain thankful! Anyway, even if I'm not currently pumping or breastfeeding, I have a really great suggestions for those of you mamas that do!

Breastfeeding Bottles:

THESE are AMAZING. The flow is super slow and truly mimics the flow of breastmilk. For the first two weeks that Merrick was breastfeeding, these didn't cause any nipple confusion whatsoever. They really made sure he was feeding and not becoming lazy at the boob PLUS they come in a glass bottle, which was an awesome plus.

Other favorite bottles:

I have truly enjoyed THESE for our day-to-day feedings. These bottles are made of silicone and have a squishy texture to them. I use these when we're on-the-go because they're lightweight and I'm not afraid of them getting smashed in the diaper bag or shattered if I dropped one when we're out at a restaurant or something.

| SWINGS |

Nuna Leaf:

This one stays stationary to our bathroom because I like to use it when I'm in the shower or doing my makeup because I just lightly sway it with my foot while I'm gettin' done up!
 I didn't want to invest in electric seat-swayer because we have a Rock-n-Play that Merrick LOVES and well, my foot works just as good. Also, it can hold up to 130lbs so i don't worry about Penelope plopping herself in it when it isn't occupied.

Rock-n-Play:

This seat is utter-amazingness. THIS ONE has wifi-connectability and allows you to change the settings on your phone. Now granted, I haven't really had to use that feature just yet because he's always within eyesight and an arms-length from me but it's something that I can definitely tell I'll use as he gets older! Besides that feature, it has the option to rock by itself! This is amazing and has really helped me out these last few weeks while I'm doing other things around the house because I don't have to be hands-on rocking all of the time! It also vibrates, plays music, has soundscapes, and a little light-show that projects on the visor, which also doubles for well-lit areas of our house, like the living room, where Merrick often sleeps and it allows some shade from the bright light coming from the windows. THIS is a definite must-have, mamas - Plus, it's amazing for babies with acid reflux because of the natural incline!

RockARoo by 4Moms:

I use this as a stationary option in our living room because the typical swing just wasn't working out. Merrick REALLY loves back and forth motion rather than side-to-side so we bought this over the MamaRoo and so far, he loves it! You can get it HERE for pretty inexpensive and the shipping is super fast!

| BABY WEARING |

 For me, baby-wearing is a MUST. Penelope absolutely HATED being swaddled or worn so it wasn't an option with her but Merrick loves it and it allows me to grocery shop, do laundry - you know, everyday things that require two hands.

I think all wraps and slings are made the same and provide the same function - you just get to find a shop that carries a print and price that suits you and THIS one is really similar to the one I bought and it's a lot cheaper!




xx,
tbp

RAINY DAY LOUNGIN' | fashion + mom life

     Although it's 55 degrees here and I'm missing the sunshine, I also love a good rain day because I use these days to lounge and recharge my mom-batteries. Although mix in too many rainy days and we all get cabin-fever and,well, you know the rest. But I'm currently loving the inside time we're getting since we always seem to be on the go! Anyway...  I did have a doctors appointment early this morning that involved botox soooo I guess I'll have to update you guys on that experience soon! Right now, I can only say that it was totally painless and I can't wait to see my forehead lines disappear; hallelujah. I only had 8 units (hardly any at all) and I looooove who I had do it - she's experienced and totally knows wth she's doing.  PLUS it was super inexpensive. So if you guys want more info on all that, lemme know because I'd love to share everything with you guys! It takes about 2-3 days for the botox to take full-effect so next week I'll have a full update on the results! In the meantime, if you're looking for someone that can do filler/botox, call and set up your appointment with Leila at Pariser Dermatology - mention my name and you can get 10% off of your services! Just be aware that if you're going in for Juvederm (filler), they'll have to set up a different appointment after your initial consultation because they have to specially order your syringe and the amount you'll need -
but as far as botox goes, you can get that on the spot!
Pariser Dermatology located in Newport News (757) 622-6315

Here are all of the details on my most recent IG pic, for those of you without LIKEtoKNOW.it ::

slides / moto leggings / swing / blanket set / outfit: pants + shirt

xx,

tbp

BABY WISH LIST ROUND-UP | mom life

I feel like searching for the best, functional baby gear has become my part-time job these days. When I got pregnant with Penelope, I. needed. EVERYTHING. and honestly, most of the things we didn't really use or Penelope didn't even love them (insert MamaRoo here). 

After spending a ton of money on wasted items, I was determined NOT to have a round-two of the same scenario, besides, we have a lot of the stuff already so we just needed to freshen up on a few things, especially since we're having a boy, we got the chance to reload on a lot of different colors this time and of course, clothes!

I wanted to share my list of baby essentials that I'm pretty excited to try and talk about a few things that we received this go-'round!

If you use or have any of these items, especially the big ticket ones, let me know! I'd love to hear what the mamas are loving!

∙DockATot c/o

I received this DockATot Deluxe+ for out little guy last week and was totally sitting like a kid waiting on Christmas for the UPS man to drop it off. The first thing I noticed (because it'd be impossible not to) was how well it was packaged - total luxury! 

Once it was opened and taken out of the packaging, I quickly realized that this is something we would be able to use for our future kids... and it's even something that I could pass down to another baby once we're done using it. It's soft, sturdy and easy to transport, which is a huge deal for us since we travel a ton in the summer.

∙Copper Pearl Swaddles

These swaddles are amazing. They're sooo soft and have the most amazing amount of stretch! They'll be perfect for swaddling and naps since they're so soft and such a large size.

∙Covered Goods c/o

This cover is good for the car seat, shopping cart and breastfeeding - so versatile and I love the ivory/grey stripes. Perfect for my neutral taste but they also have so many great colors.

∙Nuna Leaf

I think I was more infatuated with The Mamaroo when Penelope was born because it was new and a "total must-have" because you couldn't turn a corner without seeing one. I was such an advocate for it - until Penelope sorta ended up hating the thing. I was bummed more for the face that we only got about 3 months of use out of it before we ended up shoving it in a corner where it sat unused.

I think that the range of motion was almost too smooth for her liking because she was definitely a swing baby instead. This totally got me thinking that this time, I was going to skip out on the MamaRoo all together and just get something that mimics a swing, without the space required by one. Not that we don't have room but I wanted something we could travel with and that was a huge selling point when we decided to get the Leaf. 

∙Halo Bassinet

Needless to say, we have a pretty high bed. I've but a regular bassinet beside our bed and it was uncomfortably low so that's why we went ahead with this because the base can be raised or lowered, depending on your specific needs. Plus, the base is HUGE, which means that it's super sturdy, even with two crazy dogs and a toddler running around our room. 

∙Finn+Emma Clothing c/o

 I'm always on the hunt for shops that carry both boy and girl clothing, especially shops that have cute pjs because I'll admit, I'm sort of over-the-top when it comes to my kids pajama collection. All of the cute ones out there really make it easy for me to go overboard with the sleep gear and Finn + Emma are truly one of the best places to shop to get luxury sleepwear and comfy bodysuits for the little babes. Plus, all of their clothing is organic! 

∙Binxy Baby Carseat Holder c/o

Since putting an infant carrier on top of a  grocery cart is a definite no-go, these little cart hammocks come in such great use during shopping trips, especially with two kids! The hammock sits in the back of the cart and allows your little babe to relax, just like in the infant carrier while allowing you to fill the cart full - especially on target trips where you end up buying aisle 9.  

∙Como Tomo Bottles

These bottles might be a hit or miss (let's hope little dude likes em') But I fell in love with them when I held one at Nordstrom a while ago because of how flexible and lightweight they are. They also have a double handle (which you can get HERE) for when it's time for your babe to start holding their own bottle - a feature that will be suuuch a lifesaver.

BASIC ESSENTIALS | fashion

To all of the single mamas, mamas with husbands on deployment, mamas without family around - basically all of the moms that are doing it all (or mostly) on their own - I completely have a new appreciation for you. 

Being pregnant while having a toddler and having your significant other around is work but when you're totally in charge in every aspect - bedtime, eating time, bath time, story time, play time, - all. of. it. It's tough. Especially when you're pregnant. and don't even get me started on the mamas with more than one that are manning the ship. Seriously, props to you. I am totally exhausted lol

If you're wondering, Devon went to Ohio this past weekend with his cousin to a MX race so it was just me and the babe all weekend. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved every minute with my girl - we broke some rules, played outside way too hard and enjoyed some late-night snacking in bed before we dosed off but man am I feeling it today.... Maybe it's because I know Devon's coming home so I can loosen up a little but lemme tell ya, I will be SO happy to see his face. 

Anyway, I mentioned a few days ago about a few basic tees that were priced less than $10 each! I may have to wear maternity jeans but I definitely go on the hunt long enough to find non-maternity tops that are bump-friendly and these are IT. I'm even wearing an XS because the fit is so loose, while still being fitted, if that makes any sense at all lol 

Tee // Sweats // Zip-up hoodie // Bag

I have the black, white and grey and wear them all so frequently. They're great for dressing up or down and can easily be transformed to casual or dressy depending on how you style the rest of the outfit. They're definitely my favorite tops right now AND they're even long enough to wear with leggings🙌🏼 So many benefits in a $10 tee, y'all.

Plus, this sweat and hoodie combo is

life. I'm currently living in them!

Hoodie // Tee // Sweats // Shoes

I was also asked by SOOO many people after I posted a snapchat yesterday about my lip and sunglasses combo so of course, I wanted to share those with y'all too! I normally go for the typical aviator Ray-Ban shades but lately, I ventured off to try something new and different and quick fell in love with THESE. They are the bessssst! And they just came back in stock so get them quick because seriously, they've sold out twice in the last month.

 Sunnies $59 // Lip in Dusty Lilac $16 sold at Sephora & Ulta

We're moving as slow as snails today but I just got myself pretty for my man and now baby girl and I are headed to grab an early dinner! I hope everyone has had the best Sunday 💕💕

xx,

tbp

BABY BOY BASICS + HUGE SALE | mom life

[ This is a long-winded post geared towards a ton of my favorite picks for our little dude, so bare with me while I get it all out, haha ]

Okay, so I've mentioned before that I'm not really into graphic tees for kids... 

 Although Devon says the kid will come out thinking he's 30 because that's how I've designed his nursery and chose his clothes haha I'm just totally a neutral tone kinda person when it comes to clothing in general and it's been surprisingly hard to find what I like for little boys. *sigh*

But somehow, through word-of-mouth and just searching the internet, I've found some pretty great shops for boy clothes and one of my favorite places to shop has a HUGE sale going on right now!

Nap So Hard onesie // Bag (similar) // Blankets // Joggers // Bottle // Rattle

THIS is the shop I've been loving for the most perfect basics!

Since our little guy is due right in the beginning of April, I figured it would be somewhat cold (who knows though, it's been in the 70's the past two weeks) so that's why I loaded up on long sleeved onesies and long sleeved pjs to make sure he's warm those first couple of months. I found a ton that I fell in love with! They're such great quality and they have a really good selection of basics for both boys AND girls! 

Here's where the sale comes in: 

Use this code: v35zk91w so you can get an instant 30% off, even on their sale items! You can save huge especially when they have other sales going on because you'll be able to use the 30% off code o top of those other discounts!

Here are some links for the following styles:

Long sleeved onesies // Long sleeve tees // Long sleeved footie pjs // Long sleeved footless pjs

THIS is the second place that I've been shopping at like crazy. Although they don't have great sales, their prices are good which makes it a good place to shop - especially for baby clothes! I've found a ton of winter gear here so I've stocked up on 6+ months clothing. These pieces are also great for girls too - Here are a few of my favorites!

Sweatshirts // Long sleeved onesies // Joggers // Bandana bibs // Long sleeved tees

I'm going to do a roundup of baby must-haves but I couldn't end this post without featuring the TwistShake bottle from Sweden! Although I plan to breastfeed, it's always a good idea to have bottles for back-ups in case I can't be around or Devon needs to take over for a feeding. It mimics mamas perfectly so babies can go from boob to bottle with ease, which is super beneficial - especially if you have a baby that has refused bottles previously.

And if you're not breastfeeding? Not an issue. This bottle is THE Blender Bottle of the baby world! It specifically comes with an extra container to easily carry formula in and it has a nice little screen the you place on the top of the extra container to ensure that your powder + water perfectly and easily mixed each time! When I formula fed P, I soo wish this was around because there's nothing, and I mean NOTHING, worse than getting a bottle clogged with powdery formula and having your baby fight to get milk.
It also helps that these come in the cutest colors! I chose the white but there are tons more, so check them out for your littles - even the older babes can get use out of these because they transform from a bottle to sippy with the change of the tip.
And since this company is so amazing, they're offering y'all 20% off with the code: taylorpilk20 and the code is good for your ENTIRE purchase!

xx,
tbp

SMALL TALK DRESSED IN COMFORT| lifestyle + fashion

Pregnancy is weird. You have emotions that you never really thought would bother of affect you and then there they are... Making tears stream down your face in the middle of story time with your first born. Yup. That's totally what happened last night when Devon and I were putting Penelope to bed. It finally hit me that these nights with just her are few. It won't be long until we have another baby to read stories to and share our time with.

It sounds silly when you type it out or say it aloud, which was exactly how I felt when Devon suddenly stopped reading Penelope's book to her to ask me why I was crying so hard.

Emotions, especially during these last couple of months, are out of control.

And speaking of adding more emotion to it all, we've finally started changing P's room to a big girl room. She's moving on up and this transition would probably be easier for me if I wasn't less than 2 months until I give birth but P is so, so excited to get a bigger bed and a "new" room which is helping make this whole transition easier and I'm so thankful because if kids wanted to stay as little as we wanted them to stay, I think we'd be way worse off. Parenting is hard enough, ha

Also, we've finished parts of little dudes room and we just ordered the crib.. I bought our hospital bag and have started making purchases for his arrival. Everything feels like it's going by warp speed and I'm typically not a very sensitive person when it comes to these things - like at. all. so all of this has made me react in a totally different way than I ever expected. Any other mama's out there with me?! Orrrrrr, just me?👀 

Shoes // Top // Maternity Jeans - use code GRABURSNOW for 25% off //

 Non-Maternity Dupes - less than $60 // Bag

So enough about my emotional state, I wanted to share with y'all some of the comfiest basics I currently own.

 I've been loving all of the cute spring heeled booties that are coming out but recently I've been reaching for more comfortable pieces for daily wear and anything that give my feet a break - sometimes even my cutest sandals don't work but these shoes are perfect. I love wearing my running Nikes but I felt like they were a little too casual to pair with jeans so when I saw these, I knew they were exactly what I was looking for - and I think I've worn them everyday since haha

My second most favorite basic would have to be this top - I literally have every color because I love them so much. It is so, soooo soft and lightweight and it's perfect to dress up or down and even though it's not maternity, it's totally bump friendly! I'm wearing my normal size small and the fit is still spot on.

I also purchased these distressed maternity jeans from shoppinkblush.com, which is also having their President's Day Sale offering 25% off of your entire purchase with the code: GRABURSNOW - definitely check them out for maternity and even non-maternity gear! 

And if you're not preg, you can still get the identical version of those jeans, which I also own, btw! I highly, HIGHLY recommend them because they're super inexpensive and the fit is a dream. They don't stretch throughout the day and the run true-to-size which makes ordering online super easy! Click here to see those - They're less than $60!

Now, I totally understand that some of these things aren't in everybody's price range, so I'm going to be doing a post featuring really inexpensive basics geared toward spring! Like less than $10 per shirt, inexpensive so be sure to subscribe to my posts or follow me on instagram so you don't miss it! I'm pretty excited to share some of those great finds :)

xx, 

tbp

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS | Lifestyle + Beauty

We've been inside of the house more often lately since Devon's knee still isn't 100% after his surgery from a month ago and his gettin' around isn't what it used to be haha definitely getting better, slowly but surely but it wasn't really an easy operation to begin with so it's just gonna take some down time to get back on his feet - literally. So for now, we've been enjoying dinners at home (with the help of HelloFresh - read that post here) and having nightly binge sessions watching ID channel, which is mainly my thing but Devon's a good sport and watches along, although he would totally rather be watching golf.

So this past weekend, Penelope stayed with Devon's aunt for the night so we could have a much-needed date night and be home by 9PM. Haha, no seriously. We had the besssst dinner and went straight home and totally enjoyed being in bed by 9:30pm and "sleeping in" until 8 - totally what daydreams are made of.

 Saturday, we had half of the day to ourselves to do whatever and as we're trying to figure out what to do with alllllll of our free time (parents, you understand the struggle), Devon suggested that we hit Sephora (I love that man) so I could use a random gift card that I had found from Christmas - day. made. My husband seriously suggested SEPHORA as a date. Lucky... blessed... whatever. I hit the jackpot.
So after shopping around, I bought a few things that I had been eyeing for a couple of weeks and just wanted to share them with y'all!

I love trying new things and testing new products so finding a gift card in my wallet behind a few other junk cards I had hanging out in there was the perfect treat before we went back to pick up our sweet gal :)

Also, if you haven't noticed, I've been using a new platform called LikeToKnow.it on instagram. It will send you ALL of the info on my pics - from what I'm wearing to beauty and everything else in between, even with kids stuff! So make sure you sign up HERE so you'll start receiving emails within 10 minutes on posts you've liked that have LTKI installed. Sooo easy😊

Anyway - HAPPY SUNDAY. The weekends are going by faster and faster and I sincerely hope that the warmer weather comes as quick as Mondays do.

xx,
tbp

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27 WEEKS PREGNANT | MOM LIFE

It's only hilarious because everything they say about being pregnant with baby no.2 is totally true. You. DON'T. have. TIME. I'm just coming to the realization that we only have 12 weeks or so to go before we meet this little guy. TWELVE FREAKIN WEEKS... Or maybe more because he could be late and my doctor won't induce until I'm an entire 42 weeks along sooo it could be a long 14 week wait before we meet the guy that has been kicking me square in my ribs for almost 5 months now. According to the last ultrasound, he was suuuuper long, just like his sister... teeny but looooong. Long fingers, long arms and super long legs that bunch up next to his poor little face already. No wonder P never liked to be swaddled or cuddled... she had had enough by the time she was born and I don't blame the child.
I've also noticed my energy level going down a bit. I usually can get ready for bed and then lay down for awhile, catch up on shows I like or watch a movie but these days, I fall asleep almost instantly and don't wake up until morning. I've even fallen asleep mid-conversation with Devon recently🙈 Usually it's him falling asleep on me but these days we're definitely changing roles.
Ironically, besides the ease of being able to drift off to sleep, I've started getting huge bursts of energy throughout the day. I'll clean the entire house in under and hour and still feel like I need to keep going - I guess you can call this nesting, guys.

***

As far as the other stuff, I've started clearing out the guest room upstairs to make room for all of his clothes, blankets and other things, among the new furniture that we'll *eventually* get when I finally decide on what I want up there. I really don't feel like I'm in that much of a rush to get his nursery done because if he's anything like Penelope, he'll be sleeping in the room beside our bedroom for at least the first year - maybe less. But I do plan on breastfeeding exclusively for a while after he's born so being beside me in some sort of bed will be the ultimate choice for a few months. Time will tell how long we'll decide to do it but I'm not going into anything with an expectation. Any mamas out there know that it all depends on the baby's needs and just like with Penelope, those will come first before any of my wants or expectations. Always.

Next week I'll start my last and final trimester with this little dude and I have to say that it has truly flown by! I can't believe that we're so close to having a newborn. At my appointment next week I'll get to do my glucose test (which I actually don't mind - I sorta thought it tasted pretty good🙈) Anyway... I'll do that and then I get the super fun Rhogam shot.
If you aren't sure what that is, it's basically an injection for people with Rh- negative blood. I can take shots... an epidural... a finger prick... anything. But if you suggest I get a shot in the butt, I will instantly turn it down. Obviously, this is way too important to not get but I always dread it.
After my 28 week appointment, I'll start going every two weeks until 36 weeks and then we start the weekly visits. How we're already at this point, I'll never know. This is starting to become a totally blur, y'all.

Also, this picture was taken by my extremely patient husband. Thanks, babe :)

I said in my last post here that I was going to update weekly... that was funny. So here we are, 10 weeks later and I'm finally getting around to updating this thing!

How far along?

27 weeks

Total weight gain/lose? 

Up 6 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight

Maternity clothes?

None so far :)

Sleep? 

Lol, I have a 2 year old, you're jokingggg (I still stand by this)
Plus, Devon had his second knee surgery last week so I'm man-ing the house, taking care of er'thang while he recovers. 

Best moment of the week: 

Finding a way to sleep (sorta) on my stomach... more like half-side-half-back... It's the small things. 

Movement? 

All. the. time. My doctor hasn't confirmed but I think this dude is already head down, which I'll be so thankful for because Penelope was breech until about 37 weeks and that caused a lot of panic and chiro visits to try and get her flipped naturally Hopefully this guy stays head-down! 

Cravings? 

I've laid off of the carbs and really haven't had many cravings lately. I still don't want sweets or chocolate but Pineapple alwayssss sound delicious. 

What makes you queasy or sick?

When I lay on my back. If I remember right, it has something to do with the baby's position and the weight on an artery or something but I can't even slightly lay back or I start getting nauseous pretty quickly.

Have you started showing yet? 

Totally. I was finally asked by a stranger when I due a few days ago so it's definitely pretty obvious, even in my chunky sweaters ;)

xx,
tbp

PREGNANCY TALK | MOMLIFE

   So here we are... Comparing the differences between babe one and babe two. Let's just get it out there that EVERY PREGNANCY IS DIFFERENT. "How different could they be?" let's not sugar coat it - they can be polar opposites and I experienced this first-hand.

When I was pregnant with Penelope, I had that initial day of sickness before we found out I was even pregnant and that's about as far as the similarities go between the two. Being pregnant with her was so easy.  I had full-blown energy until the end with her... So much energy that I went shopping, ran errands AND cooked dinner the day I went into labor. I was a machine and being pregnant with P was a DREAM.

     Then I got pregnant with this sweet little thang and that "beginners" luck faded out and faded out fast. I found out that we were expecting around 3 weeks - super early - and this pregnancy started with a bang (literally and figuratively - lawlz - sorry mom). Before I even got a positive pregnancy test, I came down with the worlds worst cold.... my throat felt like it was on fire, I couldn't breath out of my nose and I had the worst fatigue everrrr... It was brutal. That whole cold-ordeal lasted almost TWO whole weeks.. I was worn out before even being a month pregnant.
After that treacherous cold went away, I was a little over 4 weeks along - the fatigue lifted and I felt 100% normal and with a 2 year old running around, I would forget that I was even pregnant most days (and still do, sometimes). It was what dreams are made of and I had high-hopes that this pregnancy would be a repeat of when I was preg with Penelope but no such luck. Right at 6 weeks, I went to a blogging conference with my MIL and that's when the sickness hit me like a train. It started off slowly, feeling nauseous after meals and then at about 7 weeks, it turned into throwing up every night... Basically chucking up everything I devoured during the day. It was brutal and I knew it would pass and thankfully, right at 13 1/2 weeks, it did. Right around the same time, I started to not being able drink room-temp or eat anything warm, like oatmeal or eggs. If anything warm hit my throat, I would have to BOLT to the bathroom because it would make me gag instantly so I had to stick to smoothies and protein shakes for food and calories. Needless to say, I actually ended up losing weight throughout the first trimester, which isn't unusual or unheard of but definitely different than my first pregnancy, where I ended up gaining a lot during that time. I also maintained my gym routine, but slowed it up a bit. I went from 3-4 days a week to 2 days, which surprisingly made me feel a little bit better and maintain my energy throughout the day.

     Since about 15 weeks, the acid-reflux has has me like a train. I sleep with Tums beside my bed and snack on them all day long. I haven't been to the gym in a couple of weeks due to traveling but I plan on keeping up the two-day-a-week schedule since that was my BIGGEST fail while being pregnant with Penelope - I gave up the gym entirely during my pregnancy with her and It's definitely something I want to stay on top of... Not to lose weight, of course but just to maintain muscle. If I gain 30lbs, so be it. I don't get paid to be skinny or fit so I'm just concerned with doing what feels right and keeps my energy up - and to level out all of the carbs I'm craving. ha

     As far as cravings go, like I said above - carbs. carbs. CARBS. I love sandwiches and bread. give me all the bread. I do stay around 1,600 calories, which I'll bump up to roughly 1,900-2,000 here soon since I'll be burning more calories per day growing this little dude.

     As for right now, I'm not craving ANYTHING sweet, which is so weird because usually, you can get me to do anything for chocolate but right now I just have such an aversion to anything sugary, it's really weird and again, even more strange because chocolate was all I wanted when I was pregnant with P. Now don't get me wrong, I will eat something sweet on eat them occasionally but I just don't normally find it appealing. I want salty all day long. Also, drinking anything other than water gives me the worst stomach ache but surprisingly, carbonated drinks help my acid-reflux so I've resulted to drinking Le Croix or Perrier water to help out the reflux and to keep me hydrated. I'm sort of addicted.

As far as milestones and things go, I'm slacking. Right when I found out that Penelope was a girl, we went straight to the mall and bought things for her. She had a full-on wardrobe, blankets and her entire nursery was picked out before I was even 5 months along, this time, this little dude only has about 3 onesies that we bought when we went to Gap to get Penelope her new clothes for the fall/winter lol talk about the change of times. Oh, and I haven't even moved a single thing out of one of our guest bedrooms to even get started on this guys room. We still need to paint, rearrange the other guest rooms and get all of the necessities like stocking up on diapers a new car seat, stroller and everything else a newborn needs. Two years and a toddler really makes you forget everything you said you'd always remember.

I hope this wasn't too all over the place but who am I kidding, it totally was... I'm writing and listening to Peppa Pig at the same time so I'm trying to stay focused and sane all at the same time these days.. I don't for-see my life getting any less chaotic in the future, either, ha.

How far along? 

17 weeks + 5 days (roughly 5 months)

Total weight gain/lose? 

Down 4lbs thanks to the previous all-day nausea

Maternity clothes?

None and I may luck-out since oversized sweaters are my jam in the cooler months which equals the majority of my pregnancy.

Sleep? 

Lol, I have a 2 year old, you're jokingggg

Best moment of the week: 

Finally feeling like I have a baby bump rather than just looking like I just ate too much.

Have you told family and friends? 

Hell yeah. Err'body knows.. this one was hard to keep secret!

Movement? 

I've felt flutters from 11wks on (you feel sooner w/ each pregnancy) and have just started feeling definite kicks.

Cravings? 

GIVE ME ALL THE SUBS. Like I could pay the rent on Jersey Mike subs with how much we go there oh and fun fact, Penelope was made out of JM subs because I craved the same sandwich when I was pregnant with her. (No. 7, Mike's way, no tomatoes, extra vinegar. omg so good) 

What makes you queasy or sick?

I used to be obsessed (on occasion) with the Iced decaf mocha from Starbucks before getting pregnant but now the thought of sucking down all that sugar makes me want to vomit. I can't even drink sweet tea anymore... sugar in general makes me want to throw up most days. 

Have you started showing yet? 

Yessss. Some days are more "flat" than others and I'm still in regular jeans but today I really felt like I had popped so I wanted to take a pic to document it :)

Gender? 

We're having a BOY! So excited and nervous at the same time! I felt like we were having a boy from the start but wasn't as confident as I was with Penelope because I didn't want anyone to get too excited but once we sat down and started the ultrasound, it was pretty clear straight off the bat.
Also, if you've asked us about a name, we had his named picked out from the beginning of this pregnancy but we just haven't shared yet, so you haven't missed anything... thinking of sharing soon though!

Weekly wisdom? 

Lol, I'm a hormonal, sleepless, emotional mess most days, don't take any advice from me right now😂

Milestone: 

Making it to the second trimester and beating the all-day nausea PLUS we're almost halfway - I can't even believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by!

xx, tbp (and BabyM)

POTTY TRAINING 101 | MOM LIFE

I really don't feel qualified to write a post like this because although I can list the steps we took to get started, I still have a child that's learning day-by-day and honestly, if you would have asked me just two weeks ago on how I felt about potty-training, my palms would have started getting sweaty, my mind would start racing and I would have given every single excuse as to why I didn't think it was "time".... Until about 6 days ago. I had had it with diapers. Simple enough, I was DONE. Through. They would cease to exist. But the doubts quickly started coming... "How do I actually do this?... Where do we even begin?" I believe those two questions set us back wayyyy farther than we had to be... Let me explain from the beginning:

      Penelope was 19 months and I started noticing her acknowledging her wet diaper more and more, so when my mom came to town, she threw out the idea to start potty-training her... What could it hurt, right? Well, we sat her on the potty for the very first time (October 15th - I'll never forget haha) and BAM! She went! Like, what!? I couldn't even believe it. But not all things that glitter are gold and I quickly learned she truly wasn't ready and it was definitely a one-time thing and totally a fluke. So, back to the drawing board we went... Pull-ups and all. 

I was pretty bummed because I thought that at that time, she was ready... she showed the signs, acknowledged the process but when it came time to execute, it wasn't happening. I thought that we would never be out of diapers and I truthfully dreaded trying again because I was afraid it would be the same scenario which lead me to solid fact that mom's have a lot on their shoulders here, people. Not only are we supposed to know when our kids are ready for this first big step in life but even when we think we know, sometimes we just don't. After all, we're dealing with a small, independent human.. Y'all know how that goes.

Even though I understand that at 19 months, I was pushing for (almost) the impossible, It's certainly not impossible but I for us, it wasn't in the cards, which surprisingly lead me to Rule #1: It's never too early to get our little ones acquainted with the potty.

I learned that getting her excited to use the potty happened when she was 19 months but actually getting her to use the potty would happen much later and that's totally cool too.

She's 2 1/2 and we're crushing this! So here's how we did it:

Step 1: Get a motivator 

We use these organic suckers plus tons and tons of praise.

Penelope loooves suckers and I'm not one to give her a lot of candy (like, ever - hi, Halloween and Easter, you two about sum it up) so it's a sweet treat that she really looks forward to every time she goes - ESPECIALLY in the beginning.

Step 2: Gather the essentials
Getting prepared ahead of time will keep you ahead and it'll also save your butt (and your kids) so make sure you get everything you'll need beforehand.
So some examples: We bought pull-ups, doggie piddle-pads (YES - the pads that little puppies pee on - ones you'll find in the dog section) These are a LIFESAVER and have saved our carseat once or twice lol. Also, I stocked up on the little Arm and Hammer  diapers baggies (pictured above) because we have had wet clothes a time or two. Also, underwear. Obviously this is #1. DO NOT GIVE IN. Use them DAILY. When we go out for long trips, I use the pull-ups because it's too risky but when we're home, it's strictly underwear. No diapers, NADA. Trust me, Penelope HATED the feeling of being in wet clothes and that really motivated her to not pee her pants (she's not Miles Davis. - to all my fellow Billy Madison fans) So accidents weren't in vain! They actually helped her understand what happens when you don't take the time to use the bathroom.

Step 3: Make the little ones apart of the process 

We received our two potties from family members this past Christmas (talk about hinting) so that was out BUT what was in was getting Penelope to sit on them and to become familiar with what they do and how to use them. She would periodically sit on them from time-to-time so they seemed less like a toy and more like a tool, which really helped when it came time to really get rolling.

Step 4: Be. Patient.

Or I should say, gather patience. I am the most impatient person on the face of the Earth... Everything has to be done yesterday, so truthfully, I started seeing definite signs from Penelope about a month prior to us actually starting and held off because I was the one that wasn't ready. 

Potty training is definitely a team effort; from your child and you. It wouldn't have been successful if she was ready and I wasn't or vice-versa. It had to be mutual.

Step 5: Ideally, pick the best time of year for you.

There won't be an inconvenient time for your kid but there will be inconvenient times for you. 

For example, we travel a TON during the summer and we're constantly around family, wellllll, when Penelope gets around people that aren't, well, us, it's definitely harder for her to slow it down..... (Attention spans goes from about a 10 to a -1 if you get my drift) So I knew that trying to grab her attention to potty-train during the summer just wasn't going to happen.

Step 6: Look forward to the reward.
A couple of days ago I felt like I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel because while we were at the dentist waiting, Penelope looked at me and said "I have to go potty." And hearing your kid acknowledge that is like hearing Jesus' voice so prepare for the tears to start flowing because you know, parenting.

For now, those are all of the tips that I have... I'm not a pro and when we have another one, that story will probably be different than this one. That's just how these little suckers work, right?
and lastly, I wish I could say that it can all happen within 3 days but again, every child is different and that's why I wrote this pretty vaguely because I don't want anyone to feel like they're being pressured or unsuccessful because it "seems" to work that particular way for others... This is a process and it can be time-consuming, challenging and messy (way, way messy) BUT it's soooo rewarding, so if you're reading this and you're on your last leg - take a break, catch your breath, regroup and go at it again. You're much closer than you think, mama! 

And I'm proud to say that we haven't used diapers in almost a week!!!! We are ECSTATIC and Penelope is pretty damn proud herself, as she should be ;)

xx,tbp

WHAT WE USE:
Suckers
Pull-Ups
Piddle-pads
Potty
Underwear
Arm and Hammer baggies