Baby Sprinkle/Amazing Weekend for Holland

It's been a busy few weeks!  Michael and I went on a quick getaway trip to Austin (separate blog post forthcoming) and my parents came down to visit last week.  The days and weeks are moving along at hyperspeed now and I'm trying not to blink.

This past weekend was pretty perfect.  I have some amazing friends who put together the sweetest sprinkle for Holland.  Two of them visited from North Carolina and Houston (with their daughters!) so we made it an all-girls weekend filled with fun activities.  I (politely) kicked Michael & Jude out of the house as of Friday evening but with as much giggling, shrieking, and all things pink experienced in this home I think I was doing them a huge favor.  :)

Lauren & Bryn flew in from North Carolina Friday morning and the little girls hit it off immediately. Bryn & Ryan are almost exactly one year older than Jude & Sloane and they have all heard about each other for at least three years.  It was clearly time for a proper introduction.  

Bryn gave Sloane two necklaces and from that moment on at least some aspect of their outfits either matched or coordinated.  Ryan and Stefanie came over with their twin boys so we had a crazy morning playdate with seven kiddos and four moms.  We stayed at the dining table the entire time to catch up and let the kids fend for themselves. It was great!  After nap time, my parents took Jude to Mimi & Papa's house for the rest of the weekend.

That evening we met up with Ann Marie and Erika for dinner at Gloria's.  They brought three of their four girls and we let them all sit at one side of the table while the moms sat at the other side.  (Are you noticing a pattern here?)  After dinner we walked next door for some ice cream.  It was so much fun seeing the girls interact with one another.  All of our minis spending time together - wonder if they'll still be chatting like their moms in 30 years? :)

Saturday morning was Holland's sprinkle and it was incredible.  The hostesses outdid themselves with decorations, food, coffee, and mimosas.  A few months ago Ann Marie mentioned the best idea I've ever heard: Guests could bring unwrapped gifts and put them on the dining table so I wouldn't have to open each gift in front of everyone.  YES.  I consider myself a decently social person but opening gifts in front of a group has always been my nightmare - to be able to skip that part and just spend time chatting with friends sounded lovely.  

It was such a special time and Holland's nursery floor is now covered with amazing gifts from incredible friends.  

The incredible hostesses!

Most of the guests!

Once the hostesses planned which weekend to come to town, we decided we'd take our girls to American Girl for a fun lunch.  When the sprinkle was over we drove to the AG Bistro and had a great time eating lunch with our girls and their dolls.  Sloane was in heaven.   The lunch lasted almost two hours and was right in the middle of nap time but the girls were all troopers and had a blast.  I think we all kept waiting for some sort of disaster and/or meltdown and it never happened.  Super proud of all of them!

After lunch we all relaxed for a bit.  Saturday night, Ryan, Stefanie, Erika, and Ann Marie came to my house in pajamas (sans kiddos) and we ate more Mexican food, drank some wine & cocktails (& water... sigh), and stayed up until midnight catching up on anything we hadn't already discussed the prior day.  

It really was the best weekend.  Sloane and I missed our boys but we had such a great time together and I know both of them enjoyed the one-on-one attention they received from mom and dad.  Sloane made a new friend and I loved watching it all unfold.  It was hard to say goodbye to Lauren & Bryn at the airport but I know a lot of memories were made that will stick with Sloane for a long time.

I took a two hour nap yesterday afternoon and another nap today!  I'm sure I'll go to bed early again tonight.  The weekend definitely wore me out and I know I wasn't able to be the hostess Lauren & Bryn deserved because I'm feeling so limited both in ability and energy. They pretended not to notice and were the sweetest house guests.

We're at 6.5 weeks until Holland arrives and everything is starting to feel more real.  As if carrying around 28 extra pounds and feeling her kick every three seconds isn't enough of a wakeup call, seeing her (almost) completed nursery along with tiny pajamas and diapers has definitely made me realize we're in the homestretch.  When I hugged my parents goodbye I realized the next time I see them will be a day or two before she arrives.  Eek!  I'm not sure you can ever truly prepare for a new baby so I'm just trying my hardest to appreciate the little moments leading up to it!  

30 Weeks!

There's something about reaching 30 weeks that just makes me breathe a little easier (I do NOT mean in the literal sense as breathing has become increasingly difficult due to this little one taking up so much room). 

Yesterday I had the horrid glucose test.  I ate some cottage cheese as soon as I woke up because I still feel iffy if I delay meals.  I've been dreading this test because I had gestational diabetes with the twins and felt the whole thing was a load of baloney.  I carried almost 14 lbs of babies yet the absolute worst I felt the entire pregnancy was the day I had to do the (second) 4-hour glucose test.  Having a very pregnant lady not eat or drink anything for 12 hours, followed by three separate blood draws... It was the WORST.  I've already decided if/when I flunk the test I took yesterday I'm going to tell them to write a big ol' "Gestational Diabetes" on my chart and not make me take the second test. I have no problem waving the white flag.

I dropped off the kids at MDO, chugged the oh-so-delicious fruit punch syrup, and drove to the doc.  Along with the blood draw I also received the Tdap shot so my poor arm was definitely abused.

Enough bad news, I have some GREAT news!  My doctor asked if I had any concerns and I told her I really missed all of the ultrasounds I had with the twins.  Even though I get to hear her heartbeat at every appointment, I just want to SEE her.  My amazing doctor did a quick check to make sure there was an availability and snuck me in for an ultrasound.  I thanked her a dozen times - it was such a sweet surprise!

The results?  Holland is still very much a girl and looks big & healthy.  I even saw her sweet cheeks, which took up more than half her face.  Besancon women have big babies (my brother and I were 9 & 10 lbs and Jude and Sloane were quite large for twins) so I'm fully expecting Holland to be a bit rotund.  Cannot wait!  We get to meet her in nine weeks and I go back and forth between wishing the time away and holding onto every second I have left with just the twins.

I'll see my doctor every two weeks moving forward.  I'm feeling pretty good for the most part - my legs hurt (I wake up every morning and it feels like I ran a marathon the day before) and my energy is definitely waning, but no other complaints.  The kids have been very independent lately, which has been a huge relief because it's getting harder and harder to pick up, bend down, etc.  I'm carrying pretty high and mostly out front, but I'm definitely one who looks pregnant from the back.  Zero waistline here.

29 Weeks

My best friends from TU visited last weekend and it was so great to see them.  We're scattered across the midwest so these times are few and far between... and always so much fun.  We ate some great food and pampered ourselves with manicures, pedicures, and blowouts. (I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of the 'do when we left the place but it definitely worked in my favor the next day for maternity pictures - thank you, excessive hair spray)!  Lots of coffee and laughs - I miss them terribly.

Up next: Michael and I are going to Austin in a few weeks for a (very) quick babymoon.  We found an adorable house on Airbnb and are so excited to eat allllll the food.  :)

To end this novel, we took some maternity pictures on Sunday!  Marci did an incredible job and it still blows me away to realize the next time she takes our pictures we'll be a family of five.  FIVE.

(Picture overload... you've been warned!!)

Fashion Sensory - Nordstrom

Last summer I started Fashion Sensory, a series on the blog with fun outfits for both women and kids.  Jude started occupational therapy a year ago for sensory processing disorder and we quickly learned our insurance only covers a small number of visits each year.  We appealed and his therapy center/pediatrician fought his case but they stuck with their decision.  

I felt pretty terrible during the first trimester so the series got put on hold.  My hope is to bring it back as often as I can - I really enjoy it and hope you do too! 

Full disclosure - every outfit below contains an affiliated link(s), which means we are paid a small commission for each purchase made.  This is my personal "fundraiser" to help pay for Jude's therapy, while also sharing my favorite finds with my favorite people!  As if you needed another reason to shop, you now know you're shopping for a great cause.  :)

This week's post includes women's clothing from...

As fun as maternity clothes can be, I didn't include them this time.  I plan on doing a maternity post but am going to hold off a bit on that one!

One of my favorite trends this past year has been off the shoulder tops.  Long sleeve, short sleeve, I love them all.  If you haven't grabbed one yet, here are two options (both come in several colors)!

BP Off the Shoulder Tunic  |  Pleione Off the Shoulder Blouse

Add a choker and some distressed skinny jeans for a fun look!  

Gray Suede Choker w/ Crystals

My other favorite trend of the season is over the knee boots.  I'm pretty particular about them (the look can go Pretty Woman really quickly if you're not careful) but find the right pair and they look amazing with dresses or skinny jeans.   The tunic below paired with your favorite jeans and these boots makes me so incredibly happy.  I also included one of my favorite totes - it's a great catch-all and perfect to carry year-round.

Free People Wildflower Tunic  |  Sole Society OTK Boots  |  Madewell Leather Tote

(Free People loves to advertise their tunics as dresses but unless you are 4'11, pants are pretty necessary)

Valentine's Day is around the corner!  Sloane keeps reminding me: "I can't wait for Balentine's Day - it's the day of LOOOOOVE."  Blush/peach is one of my favorite colors to wear and I thought both of these dresses were so pretty.  

Leith Flounce Midi Dress  |  Show Me Your Mumu Wrap Gown

If you're not going out but still want to celebrate the "Day of LOOOOOVE," here's two casual options that are still fun and festive (and ON SALE).  I have the tunic and wear it all the time (it's maternity friendly)! 

Lush Roll Tab Tunic  |   Gingham Surplice Blouse

I found these last two pieces and was curious what you'd think.  Are you into bright/bold or do you stick to navy/black?  I thought both looked striking but I definitely had a clear preference on each.  

The green dress will be packed in my bag when we head to the beach this summer.  I absolutely love it.  I think the navy is classic but I'm all for the bold color on this one.

Adelyn Rae High/Low Dress

However, when it comes to the wide leg jumpsuit I prefer the black (although the red is another amazing option for Valentine's Day).  What about you? 

Adelyn Rae Wide Leg Jumpsuit

 That's it for this week!  So happy to be back!

27 Weeks!

I had my monthly appointment today and everything continues to look great.  I was assuming I'd do the glucose test this month but she didn't give me the drink at the last appointment so I kept my fingers crossed she'd just let it slide this pregnancy.  Nope! I left the appointment with drink in hand and am coming back in three weeks to take the dreaded test.  There is a high probability I will flunk (again) so I'm going to enjoy three more weeks of eating whatever I want before I move to the whole "your grilled chicken should be no larger than the palm of your hand" lifestyle.  Booooooring.

My blood pressure and weight gain are on track and Holland's heartbeat sounds perfect.  These appointments last 10 minutes so I spend the majority of my time in the car driving to/from the hospital.

This pregnancy - in almost every way - is so very different than the last.  We could wallpaper our entire home with ultrasound pictures of the twins.  I saw the four chambers of their hearts, tiny fingers & toes, and sweet profiles so many times I felt like I could sketch them in my sleep.  Every perinatologist appointment lasted 20-40 minutes - we would just stare at our babies as he politely walked us through each and every body part, over and over again.

This time?  We've seen her twice (I don't count the six week appointment when she was most definitely a white blob).  I need two hands to count the number of ultrasound pictures we've received.  We turned down all genetic testing because it wouldn't change our decision to have her and I'm anxious enough as it is without "possibilities" playing a role.  So while I still feel connected to her, there are so many unknowns.  Will she be healthy?  Will she have hair?  Is she even a SHE (it wouldn't be the first time an ultrasound was wrong)?

Thankfully, even with all of the unknowns, I'm far more relaxed this time.  The insomnia is in full force now, but when I'm awake at 3am I'm not thinking of the terrible possibilities that flooded my mind when I was pregnant with Jude & Sloane.  I'm mostly at peace and just... excited.  I guess it's because I've been down this road before?  I know for a fact we can do this as parents (I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I stared at the ceiling the last time I was pregnant and truly questioned our capabilities).  I know Michael is more than enough when I am less than, and I know we make a pretty damn good team with a newborn.  I also know Jude & Sloane will love her so, so much and their independence continues to grow a little more each day.  Everything I DO know makes up for all the things I don't.  And it also makes me that much more excited to meet her.

Enough serious talk, I also feel the need to share something: I wore yoga pants backwards the other day.  I was sitting on a bench while Jude was getting a haircut when I saw the brand's tiny logo on my shin.  "That's definitely supposed to be on my calf..."

I also lied to TWO different strangers at the mall when they asked how far along I was.  It was the "How much longer (because you look like you're due any day)?" remark and I couldn't bare the thought of telling them I still had three months to go.  Two months it is.  I'm shocked at how similar I look to the last pregnancy.  I realize I'm four years older and my body only knows a twin pregnancy but yowza.  Walking by a mirror always makes me do a double take.  I've also noticed my legs have grown and it doesn't take much to wear me out anymore.  This isn't too discouraging until I remember I still have 12 weeks to go.

I read The Giving Tree to Jude & Sloane a few days ago and bawled my eyes out.  I've read that book at least 100 times.  I couldn't even finish it because my voice went to that scary soprano place that just isn't pretty.  I've read it a few times since then and held it together but this morning I heard Sloane "reading" the story aloud and I found myself teary again.  Good Lord!

The nursery is well on its way!  The office furniture has been removed and is now sitting (not so) pretty in our bedroom.  We purchased a crib and moved the armoire from our bedroom into the nursery.  The rug also arrived this week!  Several little things still need to be done but we're officially calling it Holland's room and that's pretty great.  I also took advantage of the room's natural light and captured some pictures of the kiddos.

And some bump pictures from the last month...

24 weeks

25 weeks

26 weeks

I've had a BIG growth spurt since the last bump picture - 26 weeks now looks like a joke.  We're scheduled to have maternity pictures taken this weekend but it's supposed to start raining tomorrow and not stop until next Wednesday, so we'll see if that happens!

Until next time!
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