Brown Bumpdate / 34 Weeks

Well I guess technically 34.5 weeks now!  We are in the home stretch folks!  Today marks exactly one month until my scheduled induction (on August 17th)!  Unless baby Brownie decides to come on his own earlier... I'm not holding my breath on that one as I was induced with both girls and I'm pretty sure my babies would stay in there forever if I let them ;).  As each day passes I become more and more anxious to meet my little man.  I am trying SO hard to soak in this time with the girls and enjoy life just the way it is right now though!

3 4  w e e k  b u m p d a t e

Due date: August 25th, 2017 (my induction is scheduled for August 17th though!)

How far along: 34.5 weeks!

How many days to go: 31 days.  Only 31 freaking days guys!!!

Gender: BOY!

Baby's name: Baby Brownie does have a name!  I can't wait to share!

Size of the baby: He is about 18 inches long, almost 5 pounds in weight, and the size of a cantaloupe. That's what my pregnancy app says, but he feels SO much bigger than that!  He feels like a giant.

Movement:  He moves all day long.  He is so active and his movements are even painful sometimes.  I can tell he's getting more cramped in there though, he rolls and stretches more now instead of swift kicks.  He also just started getting the hiccups, I think that feels so funny!

Total weight gain so far: 34 pounds.  I'm right on track to gain about 40 pounds which is what I gained with the girls.  I feel pretty huge and my back and hips hurt.  I wish so much that I was a teeny tiny pregnant person, but apparently that's just not in the cards!

Most recent doctor appointment: I had a doctors appointment last week and my belly is still measuring about two weeks bigger than it should be.  My doctor thinks baby Brownie is a big boy and will be between 8-9 pounds.  The girls were peanuts so this has me a little terrified!!

Belly button in or out: Out, so far out.

Favorite maternity clothes right now: Basically living in my favorite maxi dress, yoga capri's, and tank tops.  Also really loving this super soft robe.  The stretchier the better these days!

Stretch marks: The tiny one I had above my belly button has gotten darker, no new ones... yet!

Sleep: The pregnancy insomnia is real over here.  It takes me forever to fall asleep and then I wake up all night long.  Sometimes it takes me a few hours to fall back to sleep in the middle of the night!

Mood: After a pretty rough week where I felt verrrrrry pregnant, one of my best friends let me cry on her shoulder and then helped me put life back into perspective.  Ever since then I feel really good.  I'm physically uncomfortable and have some anxieties about all of the changes ahead, but I have been feeling super thankful and grateful lately.  Life is in perspective right now and life looks pretty darn amazing!

Food cravings: Ice, ice baby.  No I'm not anemic, it's just the worlds most intense ice craving!  I also can't get enough watermelon, strawberries, sparkling water, ice cream, and cheeseburgers.

Favorite moment this week: Mine and baby Brownie's sprinkle!!!  My very sweet friends Sarah and Juliann hosted the most beautiful sprinkle for me and it was seriously just perfect!  They made the cutest wall with "OH BOY" balloons, the food was amazing, and there were even blue donuts with "B's" on them!  So many of my friends and my mom showered me with love (and diapers and wine!) and I left feeling like my heart could explode it was so full!

I'm missing: Sleep.

Biggest complaint: I officially cannot put my own shoes on without MAJOR discomfort so I've been living in flip flops (a major perk to being pregnant in summer).  For the very first time in my life (including both my pregnancies with the girls), I've had heartburn!  I have had such intense heartburn and it SUCKS.  I cut out all spicy food, but I've still been getting it!  That's been a major bummer. Also, sleep is pretty bad... have I already mentioned that?!  :)

Recent baby purchase: I got all of baby's bedding and it is dreamy!  I went with custom linen sheets and blankets from Madly Wish and they're even better in person!  I just love how the fabric looks in his nursery!  We also got a surprise package from our friends at June and January and I cannot get over how cute their newborn goodies are!  I already loved their gowns, but the new newborn snap tops are AMAZING (I believe they're being released next month!).

Nursery: Still waiting on some decor items!  I am dying to get them so I can finish up the nursery and share with you guys!

Labor signs: None!

Mocktail Recipes (which are especially helpful when you're 100 months pregnant in summer)

Ok ok I know I've been promising this post for what seems like forever!  Being pregnant in summer (for the second time!) means no yummy summer cocktails.  I can make a pretty mean mocktail though, which allllllmost makes up for it :).

First things first, if you do not have a fruit muddler, order one RIGHT NOW.  Eric and I got one as a wedding gift almost eight years ago and it's one of my most favorite kitchen gadgets!  ((If you're not into cutting up and muddling fruit, definitely try the Oceanspray Mocktails that I posted about last week.  Add some sparkling water and I promise you'll love it.))

For those of you who have asked about the mocktails I make on my Instagram stories, here are my favorites... the measurements aren't super exact because I just throw them together and who has time for that?!  And bonus, all of these can easily become cocktail recipes if you add alcohol :).

Margarita Mocktail
what you need:
-lime juice or limeade
-sparkling water (I like to use lime flavored sparkling water)
-agave nectar (I use the light nectar)
-lime wedges

Fill your glass about 3/4 full with ice.  If using fresh lime juice, pour about a shot glass full over the ice.  If using limeade, pour about 1/4 cup over the ice.  Fill the rest of your glass with the sparkling water and then drizzle about 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of agave nectar (more or less depending on how sweet you like your drinks) into glass.  Stir well and garnish with lime wedges.

Fruit or Berry Margarita Mocktail
-everything listed above
-your favorite fruit or berries

Throw your favorite fruit or berries into your glass and muddle the fruit with your muddler.  You want to pretty much muddle it into pulp and then follow the above directions to make your margarita.  My favorite fruits to muddle are strawberries and raspberries (I muddle them separately or together if I have both on hand) and watermelon.  I also like to make margaritas with muddled cucumbers.

Screwhound Mocktail
what you need:
-orange
-grapefruit
-grapefruit flavored sparkling water (I usually buy spindrift sparkling water from Trader Joes.  La croix or any other kind of grapefruit flavored sparkling or seltzer water would work)
-optional: agave nectar

To make these, I use a citrus press.  You could easily make this with smaller table press or even by just squeezing the fruit by hand.

Fill your glass about 3/4 full with ice.  Juice one whole orange and 1/2 a grapefruit and pour over the ice (this is where a citrus press really comes in handy, you get every last drop of juice from the fruit). Fill the rest of your cup with grapefruit flavored sparkling water, stir, and enjoy.  Optional: if you like sweeter drinks, stir in about 1/2 tsp. agave nectar.

Lemon Mint Cooler
what you need:
-lemon
-fresh mint sprigs
-lemon flavored sparkling water or tonic water
-agave nectar

Throw a few lemon slices and some fresh mint in your glass, muddle together to release those juices and flavors.  Fill your glass about 3/4 full with ice.  Fill the rest of your glass with lemon flavored sparkling water or tonic water.  Drizzle about 1/2 tsp. agave nectar on top and stir.  Squeeze a lemon wedge on top and enjoy.

Watermelon Lime La Croix
what you need:
-watermelon chunks
-lime
-kiwi sandia (kiwi watermelon) La Croix

Throw some watermelon chunks and lime slices in your glass and muddle.  Fill your glass about 3/4 full with ice.  Fill the rest of your glass with kiwi watermelon La Croix and enjoy!

Orange Spritzer
what you need:
-orange juice
-orange flavored sparkling water
-agave nectar
-muddled berries or citrus fruit

Fill your glass about 3/4 full with ice.  Fill half the glass with orange juice and the other half with orange flavored sparkling water.  Drizzle about 1/2 tsp. agave nectar and throw in some berries or fruit.  Stir and enjoy!



Those are my go-to mocktails, I hope that you'll try and enjoy them too if you're craving a yummy summer beverage!  Obviously my theme is fresh fruit plus sparkling water equals a yummy drink!  You really can't go wrong with that combination and the possibilities are endless.

Happy summer babes and cheers!

Marisa

Getting ready for baby brother // Our in home maternity photos

I cannot believe I'm already 33.5 weeks along and I'm going to have a squishy baby boy in less than six weeks (I'll be induced at 39 weeks if baby boy doesn't come sooner on his own!).  I am so anxious to see his sweet face, smell and touch his soft skin, and feel his little body on my chest.  I keep imagining Eric holding our son for the first time and then Sloan and Phayre running into our hospital room to meet him and I'm filled with so much love and excitement.  His nursery isn't quite done and we have more house projects than we can complete, but I seriously just cannot wait to meet our little guy!

My very sweet friend Lindsey of Lindsey Wiatt Photography came over the other day and snapped some photos of us as a family of four.  Lindsey is so good at capturing us as a family, just the way we are.  Lindsey is a friend and the girls both adore her so they always act like their silly (and sometimes sassy!) selves.  I love these photos so much and I'm so thankful we have this time in our lives documented.  Preparing for any baby is so special and wonderful, but experiencing your older children's excitement is seriously amazing.

We can't wait to meet you baby boy!  Your daddy, sisters, and I have been dreaming about you for so long and love you so much already!

Lace dress and floral crown c/o  Sew Trendy  /  Phayre's romper  /  Phayre's lace headband

My off the shoulder dress  /  Eric's shirt  /  Eric's shorts  /  Sloan's dress  /  Sloan's felt flower headband c/o  Fancy Free Finery  /  Sloan's white bow c/o  Zozu Baby  /  Phayre's romper  /  Phayre's lace headband

See our full master bedroom tour (with links) here.

A letter to my daughters

To my dearest Sloan and Phayre,

We are getting ready to welcome your baby brother and life is about to change!  I have been all sorts of anxious lately and I can tell the two of you are sensing it.  A part of me feels so anxious to meet your baby brother and see the two of you with him.  We are all so excited for his arrival!!  The other part of me feels like we're in such a wonderful groove as a family of four and is scared of life changing.  I don't want there to be less of me to go around.  I worry about giving each of you less attention and feeling scattered or stretched too thin.  But I know that all of this anxiety is fueled by how much I love you sweet girls.  Life is going to change, but I promise it is going to be fuller and better!

Sloan, you are going to be a big sister to two siblings!  I feel like you were a baby just weeks ago and I honestly cannot believe you're going to be the oldest of three kids.  You love your little sister soooo much, you are so good at playing with her and helping her.  I can't wait to see you love on your baby brother.  You're going to be my little helper, helping me just so that you can be close to me.  I so appreciate how much you show your love for me.  You're the biggest mama's girl there ever was and I feel so lucky I get to be your mama.

Phayre, you aren't going to be the baby anymore, but a big sister instead.  I'm having a really hard time with you not being our baby.  You sure shed your babyhood much too quickly my darling.  You are truly too good to me, you're so easygoing and I know you'll be so resilient through all of the upcoming changes.  In fact, I bet they'll affect you the least!  You talk about you baby brother non stop, constantly pointing to my belly and saying, "baby brother coming!"  You tell us constantly that you're going to hold brother and kiss him on the nose; I cannot wait to see you do this!  You are this sense of calm in our family and I am so incredibly grateful for that.  Thank you for being exactly what we need you to be, you're just so perfect my love.

There are so many things I wish I could tell you both now, but I know you wouldn't understand.  When baby brother comes mommy is going to be busy and tired (so so tired), but I promise I am going to kiss, hug, and cuddle you just as much as I do now.  I might not always have enough patience and I might even raise my voice, but I promise promise I will try my best not to.  I promise I will always remember that you're going through a big transition too.  You are my tiny best friends and you will always know just how loved you are, even on our bad days.  We may have hectic moments or even entire days, but even those moments and days will be filled with kisses, hugs, and "I love you's".

I know you are both going to be the very BEST big sisters to your little brother.  I can't wait to see each of you hold, kiss, and love on him.  I'm already bracing myself for the two of you fighting over holding him.  You are going to help your daddy and I turn him into such a sweet boy.  His future wife will be so lucky he was raised in a home with two sisters!  Sloany, you're going to teach him how to accessorize princess dresses like a pro and someday he'll teach you how to properly throw a ball :).  Phayre Bear, you'll teach him how to take care of baby dolls and make GIANT messes in a matter of seconds and someday he'll teach you how to steer your tricycle.

I guess I just want you both to know how much I love you and how proud I am to be your mama.  I am anxious about our life changing and having less of myself to give to you two.  But I am positive life will be better with baby brother and you're going to love being big sisters to a baby boy!  There will be crazy moments, moments where mama will feel overwhelmed.  I might cry and say something that I later have to say sorry for.  I will always say sorry though and remind you just how much I love and care about the two of you.  Those moments will lessen over time as we fall into a groove as a family of five.

I love you girls!  More than I ever ever thought I could love.  I promise I will wake up every single day and try my best for you.  Some days I won't feel like I was enough, but I know you'll always love me anyways.  For that I am so grateful.  Thank you for being you, my sweet sweet girls.  Now slow down and stop growing up way too fast.

Love Always,

Your Mama

My dress  /  My bralette  /  Sloan's dress  /  Phayre's tutu c/o Trevi Ave Co.  /  Girls bows

Photos by Lindsey Wiatt Photography, if you're in or around Portland, OR please look her up!!

You can see Phayre's full room tour here.