Please Let Me Introduce To You...

Introducing Hayden Arthur Howe.  Born on Monday 8/27/2012 at 9:20 am, weighing in at an even 8 pounds and measuring 20 inches in length, he is healthy and handsome, and we are in love. 

We survived our first night at home last night.  After a beautiful and blissfully happy 2 days spent cuddling and holding baby more than I ever had held one of my other newborns, I hit a bit of a dark cloud last night.  What I can best describe as a panic attack, I suddenly got a very sad and overwhelmed feeling of the enormity of it all.  I talked it through with Art and came out feeling good, then spent a restless night with baby Hayden.  He nursed fine until his 3 am feeding and hasn't nursed since.  When my milk comes in I get incredibly engorged and I think he's just a bit frustrated.  We will press on and I'm sure it will work out.  I've faced different nursing challenges with each baby and we've always worked it out, so I pray this is no different.

Today we are just spending the day getting to know each other, as I deal with my new found DD's, and trying to accomplish my first bowel movement, always a scary thing right?  Life is beautiful and I see that, and truly know that, just praying no more dark clouds hit me tonight.  The doula is set to deliver my placenta capsules tomorrow afternoon, and while I have no real reason to believe this, I feel deep down that they will work on some level, even if it's just purely psychological.  I'm sorry to mix such a beautiful post with some sadness, but I feel on this matter it is beyond important to be honest.  Tuesday night I cried with such emotion of how happy I felt, how truly in love with this little boy I was.  And then to have such a rush of sadness the next night is nothing short of maddening and frustrating.  It's not right, and it certainly doesn't make much sense, but it's the truth and I want those of you that have been through the same thing to know you're not alone.

I'll be back over the next week or so to update you, and share the birth story with you.  I have to say, I kicked this labor's ass.  It was hard and painful and long, but I am certain of one thing, I am proud of how it all transpired and will forever have those memories in my heart.

Thanks for everything you guys.  For the well wishes, prayers and support.  They have meant the world to me, more than you could ever know.

Ain't Nature A Trip?

Wednesday morning while the kids were at school I wrote.  I wrote the entire morning and it felt good to get all my posts out of the way for Disney so that I could relax the rest of the month.  The writing came easy to me and it flowed, which is always a nice thing.  I got 5 posts written, one of them being about how I was putting my feet down (or up rather), and Saying No To Nesting and instead resting.  I felt that way on Wednesday and turned a blind eye to my list of "nesting projects" I had put together weeks prior.

That night, I felt funny all night.  I just felt weird.  I woke up Thursday morning and realized I had lost my mucus plug.  A sign for me, that labor was soon upon me within a matter of days.  Anyone else know when they lost their mucus plug by the way?  I'm the only one in my circle of friends that has been able to tell with both pregnancies when this happened.  Mucus plug, sounds so gross too right?

Anyhow, after we got the kids off to school I had a freak out moment of epic proportions and told Art we were in no way ready for this baby.  The house was a mess, the pack n play or crib weren't set up, there were no groceries in the house and my freaking bag wasn't even packed!  I was about as hysterical as I get.  I decided the only reasonable thing to do was call my mom.  She talked me down from the ledge and agreed to come over for a couple of hours in the morning before she went to my sister's house to celebrate her birthday with her.

And so against my previous convictions and statements, I nested the hell out of this house.  I cleaned out all of my makeup supplies and toiletries, and tossed what I didn't need or want, including all those samples you collect over the years.  I washed my makeup brushes too.  I cleaned out my night stand and threw tons of old magazines away, I cleaned out my desk drawer and the freezer, fridge and pantry (with my mom's help), and she helped me tackle the grocery list.  I cleaned out my purse and wallet, throwing away or filing old receipts and such.  I went through the mail and all the kid's school paperwork and filed accordingly.

I even vacuumed out the tracks for the sliding doors and washed them down with soapy water.  They were disgusting.  Because you know, clean sliding door tracks are an essential part of bringing a newborn baby home.

So against any desire I had on my own, nature truly took over and made me clean like a freak yesterday.  I'm exhausted today, but did manage to gas up the car just in case, and get it washed.  Because clean baby must come home in a clean car, right?  Nature sure is a trip, ain't it?

Wish me luck guys!  I hope this baby comes this weekend, because me and this house are ready to meet our newest member.  I'll be sure to fill you guys in on any action that may occur first via Instagram (I'm @fourflights).

Have a great weekend everyone!

Just These Two

When I became pregnant with Syd, Taylor was just 18 months old. By the time he was born she was 25 months old and was the most delightful little toddler a mom could ask for.  I've said before that I felt an ache of sadness for her when Syd was born, that she was no longer our main focus of attention.  Within a few short weeks she and we adjusted as well as can be expected and really, she doesn't even remember a life without Syd.

It's different this time though.  They've been our everything for the past 5 years, and sure they are ridiculously excited for their new baby brother or sister, but I can't help feeling a bit sad again.  For surely they have no idea how crazy and upside down a house can be turned by a newborn.  At least I remember it being crazy.  Maybe this time since I'm a little older and wiser, I'll adjust better, we'll adjust better.  But this past weekend I couldn't help feel a bit weepy for them.  That pretty soon it won't be just these 2 anymore. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited and I know we'll all love this little baby like it's always been a part of our family, but there's just something about the last few weeks of pregnancy that make you want to hold your guys a bit tighter.  Make sure they know how much you love them. 

So I did a lot of that on Saturday.  We spent about 4 hours in the pool and stayed up late watching the Olympics.  And on Sunday I rested my poor elephant feet while Art took the kids to the OC Fair all day.  I missed them but it was good for him to spend some one on one time with them.  Dad is their favorite for sure, made especially true by the fact they convinced him to win a goldfish.  That would have never happened with me.  I would have thrown the game on purpose.  

The countdown is on guys, and I'm nervous and excited.  I've told you about my biggest fear of all, and I'm just praying that it doesn't end up being as bad as before.  Either way I know we'll make it out on the other side just fine and this new life is going to complete this little family of ours.  As much as I'm scared, I also can't wait.

B3 Update - 34 Weeks

How did I get to 34 weeks?  Holy crap guys, I'm officially starting to freak!  So much left to do, and so little time.  And I've officially hit a bit of wall and am tired, oh so tired.  I'm getting disappointed in myself for things like not responding to comments in the blog posts.  Jules is so good at it and I continue to struggle!  I don't know why!  I'm so sorry guys, but know that I read and appreciate them all.  Some day I hope to become better at it, but for now, please accept my apologies :-/

The kids only have a couple of weeks left of summer break so I have been taking them all over this week and showing them the time of their lives, which has not done much for allowing me to get a lot of rest.   We have gone to the Children's Museum, a bounce house place which was torture, ceramics class and swimming every day.  What I would do to relive my childhood as these kids.  They've got the friggin' life man.  You can follow along with all the rest of our summer adventures on Instagram @fourflights. 

On top of everything, I got really excited one night about an idea that Jules had to plan a Pinterest party for local Southern California bloggers, so I started sort of just planning it alongside her and what do you know?  We have a date and a venue picked out, oh just 13 days before my due date ha!  Stay tuned as an actual event invite with full details will be posted on our blogs next week, but for now save the date for Friday August 17th from 6:30-9 pm at an adorable vintage shop in Long Beach called Salvage Life.  I am ridiculously excited.  Basically you'll bring all the makings for a project that you've pinned and we'll give you the time and space to create it along side other craft creative women here in So Cal.  There will be food and treats and swag bags as well, so you will not want to miss it if you're local!  Mark your calendars ladies (and gents) :)

I'll be back in a few days as I really need to take some time off to rest and also try to catch up.  The house is still torn to pieces, I haven't bought a thing for the nursery, and I want to enjoy the kids as much as possible during these last days before Syd starts Kindergarten!  The baby is kicking me like crazy though every single day, especially at night, and I have definitely dropped and experiencing lots of small contractions.  Jules is freaked out I will deliver before our event on the 17th.  I told her no fear, I've got my Moby wrap and I'm not afraid to use it ;)

P.S. The winner of the maternity countdown tee which I'm wearing in these pictures is Jennifer Lenzen. Congrats Jennifer!

B3 Countdown - 33 Weeks

This week was about surviving.  I know that sounds dramatic and all, but seriously I felt like I was teetering on the edge for most of this week.  We managed to get the #1 most important thing checked off my list from last week, and that was start demo for the baby's room.  That alone has been an accomplishment since it required us moving everything out of 2 very, very full rooms the day after my baby shower, so they could start on Tuesday.

Between the baby shower, the maternity photo shoot, the moving and construction, I hit a wall.  Yesterday at my check up, my doctor walked in and asked how it's going and I just broke down and started bawling, saying "I'm so tired!"  To which she replied "Well yes, it appears so."  Her suggestion was to book myself in to a room at a four star resort.  Of if it were only that easy.

I don't mean to complain, I know we're blessed to be able to even do construction.  But it doesn't mean it's any less tiring or stressful.  For those interested, what we're doing is converting the office into the baby's room.  But because the office point of entry was off the dining room through a sliding pocket door, we are closing that opening off and making a new opening off a hallway.  Which means we had to knock out Syd's closet (yes, the one we just recently redid), move his closet, and tunnel our way through to extend the hallway and make a new point of entry off the hallway.  It's a lot of work for nothing exciting like added square footage or anything.  But it will end up making a lot more sense to enter the bedroom off a hallway than the dining room.  Here are some pictures of what the demo and construction looks like.  It's been a lot, even for me who usually thrives off of craziness.

Next week my goal is to just survive some more :)  No list making for next week my friends!  Take that incessant need to nest.  This momma needs rest more than anything!  Tonight the givewaway for the cute materntiy countdown t-shirt closes so don't forget to enter!  Have a great weekend everyone and please say a prayer for me.  My left foot is grossly swollen and I have to go in for an ultrasound Monday morning to make sure it's not a blood clot.  Thank you!!   

B3 Countdown - 32 Weeks

I turned 32 weeks yesterday and now, the countdown is on.  I can't believe how fast it's going.  Someone said to me yesterday in response to how much farther I have to go, "Oh wow!  That's no time at all!"  I quickly replied back, "yes, it is!  I still have a ways to go."  Denial much??

As we near the home stretch, my latest pregnancy symptom has hit me: snoring.  I am not a snorer, never have been before anyhow.  But the last few days apparently I've been snoring so loud that I'm shaking the bead, according to Art.  He's slept out on the couch this whole week.  Other than that, my sleep has been crap, having odd wake and sleep times.  Last night for instance I feel asleep at 9 pm, then was up from 10:30-midnight, then up again at 5:45 am.  My body can't make heads or tails of what's going on and not getting a solid 6-7 hour stretch of sleep in a row has been hard, but I'm surviving.  Considering that others ahve it much worse all throughout pregnancy, I'll take what I have and tyr not to complain too much about it ;)

With 8 weeks to go I'm starting to try and get things in order because time really does fly, especially when the kids only have a short summer break (they go back August 8th), and 8 weeks could turn out to be 6 weeks.  I thought I'd post a weekly countdown for the remainder of my pregnancy, accompanied by my to-do list as a way to sort of freak me out and hold myself accountable.  Double indemnity is what they call that right?  So this next week, here's what I'd like to get accomplished as the B3 Countdown begins:

• Start construction on babies room (I really won't be doing this, the construction crews will, but you know, it takes a village)
• Meet with cabinet guy/finalize cabinet design
• Order baby quilt from Etsy, lamp, rocker and prints (see my choices here).  My sister told me the other day to stay away from the baby monkey print because it looked like a deranged monkey escaped from the lab, and she's kinda right.  Leave it to sisters to tell you the truth.
• Call doula to talk about placenta encapsulation (I'm going for it)
• Review baby registry list after my shower on Sunday and assess the holes and what needs to be purchased still
• Clean out kids rooms while they're away at camp

The list seems ambitious, but it's the only week I have both kids at a summer camp for 6 hours and I have to try to make the most of it.  Wish me luck that I get through at least half the list.

You may have noticed the cute countdown tee I'm wearing in this picture.  My friend Miranda sent it to me a few weeks after I announced my pregnancy and it is so comfortable and has helped my forgetful brain remember which week I'm in ;)  Today she's giving one away to one of you!  Save it for yourself or give it to a pregnant girlfriend.  Here's what Miranda says about the Project Countdown tee she created:

I created this maternity calendar when I was pregnant with my second little boy and took photos documenting the growing baby bump. I called the series Project Baby , and thus the shirt was born.

This grey and white striped American Apparel tunic is soft, comfy, and stretchy! Order your pre-pregnancy size (or one up if you're worried) and it will grow with you. See size chart here and Miranda's shop here.  The black numbers are hand screen-printed so there may be slight variations in ink and alignment.  The shirt also comes complete with a red fabric pen for crossing off those weeks as they fly by.

Miranda is giving away one Project Baby tee in any size to one reader.  To enter please leave a comment telling us your craziest/worst/weirdest pregnancy symptom you ever had.  Additional entries may be achieved by liking Miranda's Facebook page, and by liking the Four Flights of Fancy facebook page. 

B3 Gets Its Own Room

Ten weeks to go and we've decided to do a little demo to our house to make a proper nursery for baby.  No big deal, it's how we roll.  We went back and forth so much about what to do with this baby.  We have a 4th bedroom that we use for an office, and for the first 7 months of this pregnancy we both agreed that we wouldn't touch the office.  We NEED our office, right?

Not finding out the gender made things a bit more complicated.  Our plan for a long time was to have Syd and Taylor share a room for the first year, let the baby have one of their rooms while it's napping all day and screaming all night, and then after a year, depending on the gender, we'd have two of the kids share a room.  Sounded like a decent of enough plan, but then which room do we set up as the nursery?  Both the kids rooms are unabashedly very boy and very girl.  If we set up the baby in Taylor's very pink room, and it ended up being a boy, do we switch everyone around or repaint?  Try telling a 7 year old girl you're going to repaint her room for a year, then you promise to paint it back.  Yeah, that goes over real well.

The other thing that was really bothering me was the age space between the kids, and asking them to share a room.  I grew up in a 3 bedroom house with 1 bathroom and 4 kids, and shared a room with my sister, who is 9 years older than me, until she moved out when I was about 12.  I certainly don't theoretically believe that each kid has to have their own room.  Art and I felt it was important not to disrupt our lives and cause a great deal of expense just so they could each have their own room.  But at 5 and 7 years apart, the age difference does have to be considered a bit.  Especially if this baby turns out to be a girl.  Long term, I know how hard it will be for Taylor to have to share a room with her 6 year old sister when she's a teenager, because I've experienced it.  Kids that far apart are in such different stages of their lives and they often don't intersect well. By sharing a room with my older sister, I probably found out about sex way too young. Had I still found out if we weren't sharing a room?  Maybe, but being together as much as we were in such close quarters certainly didn't help.  If the baby is a boy, and considering that boys are a bit more adaptable and flexible, a 5 year spread might not be that big of a deal, but still has to be considered.
       
Now I know it really doesn't matter if the baby is a boy and sleeps in a girl's room for a while.  I know if we wanted to put our foot down, we could tell Taylor that she had to put up with getting her room painted.  But the more we thought about it, it seemed like we were asking our kids to make the most adjustments and accommodations, while we were willing to make none.  At the end of the day, is it going to be harder for them to make some transitions, or us?  We decided that it would just be easier for us to be displaced a bit then 3 kids.

So for now, my desk is moving out in to a corner of our formal living room (fancy right?), and Art will just work off of his laptop.  And the baby is going to get its own nursery.  And everyone will live happily ever after right?  RIGHT?  Ha!  We'll see.  I do know that once we decided to set up a proper nursery, I suddenly got very excited with the idea of choosing gender neutral bedding, paint color, etc.  I was trying to play it cool for a very long while, but it turns out that for me, nothing spells getting ready for baby more than setting up a nursery.  My best memories of being pregnant with both my kids is setting up the nursery, and then sitting in it at night after it was all done.  Touching their freshly washed clothes, rocking in the rocker.  Makes me tear up just thinking about it :)

The one thing I do know is that decision makes me even more relaxed rather than more stressed, so I think that's a good sign.  Stay tuned for updates on how we make room for baby.  A wall has to come down and a new closet rebuilt, but all manageable and should be done in 2 weeks or less.  My biggest worry at this point is what to do with all my crazy craft supplies!  Me and my sewing machine may be moving out to the garage ;)

1. & 2. crib & changing table our own; 3. handmade quilt 4. & 5. sheet & crib skirt 6. artwork 7. light fixture 8. kid chair 9. rocking chair
In the mean time this is what we have in mind for the nursery.  The crib and changing table we held on to, but everything else will be new or borrowed.  The inspiration for the entire nursery is based off of this quilt I found on Etsy and I think is perfect for a gender neutral space.  I'll add in pops of color here and there to make it a bit more bright, but overall I want a really clean and light space with white walls.  What do you think?  Too drab?  I think colorful decor will really make the difference though between drab and boring to light and bright.  Fingers crossed!     

*footnote added that what I mean by "I learned about sex too young", is that girls having sleepovers talk.  I learned about the birds and the bees during one such sleepover my sister had with her boy-crazy friend Tricia.  Nothing horrible or dirty, just stuff I probably shouldn't have been hearing when I was 8.  I never thought much about it until I had kids of my own.  Now I know 8 is in fact way too young to learn about the birds and the bees ;)

This post is sponsored by Disney Baby. I'll be joining the Disney Baby blogging team next month, and look forward to sharing these kinds of stories (projects/ideas/etc) with you over there! Stay tuned for more details!

Namaste

I am no longer a prenatal yoga virgin guys.  It only took 30 weeks into my 3rd pregnancy for me to finally make the time to take a class.  And I shed tears guys.  Several of them in fact.  At the end when the instructor told us to lay a hand on our heart and a hand on our belly and send our baby love, that hippie, crunchy stuff actually got to me and a full stream of tears poured down my face faster than I could catch them.  WHO.  AM.  I???

As I mentioned yesterday, this pregnancy is careening perilously way too fast and out of control.  Just weeks ago I was taking the mellow yellow, go with the flow approach to this pregnancy.  But the other night it dawned on me that perhaps I've been too laid back?  Yes, I've wanted more than anything a relaxed pregnancy, and have achieved that bar none, but have I been so relaxed that I haven't bothered to stop and really make it special enough?  I think maybe I have.

So Art and I sat talking two nights ago about what we could do to cherish these last 10 weeks (he didn't say 'cherish', he pretty much said "what do ya want to do?") and make them special.  For me, for the kids, for the baby.  This is the last time I'll be pregnant, I won't be doing this again and so how do you make it momentous, especially when you're not the real sappy, sentimental type?  And especially when it's your third baby?

I started by signing up for prenatal yoga so I could take some time for just me and baby, and it was perfect.  The energy of a room full of pregnant ladies is something crazy amazing.  The other idea we had was to make a few short films of us talking to the baby, setting up the crib, maybe even visiting the doctor.  And we've already set up our maternity shoot with Miranda.

Other than those ideas, I'm kind of stumped.  I know that I don't want to read any pregnancy books.  I don't want to take any hospital tours or breastfeeding classes, the stuff you do when it's your first or even second baby.  So how else do you immerse yourself in pregnancy mode and make it as special as can be?  I'm not one of those people that really finds the need to be "present" every moment of every day (does that sound bad?), but I really do want to do everything I can to make these final few weeks as memorable as possible.

Do do any of you have any ideas for me?  Either things you did yourself to make your pregnancy special, or maybe even things you saw on Pinterest? ;)  I know you guys have some cute ideas up your sleeves!  Thanks in advance for helping me to make this mama and her baby feel special.   

This post is sponsored by Disney Baby. I'll be joining the Disney Baby blogging team next month, and look forward to sharing these kinds of stories (projects/ideas/etc) with you over there! Stay tuned for more details!

How To Have A Relaxed Pregnancy

My wish for all the pregnant ladies to be out there would be first and foremost, healthy pregnancies and babies. Second after that would be to experience a relaxed pregnancy. Yes, even above a pain free labor or super fast and easy delivery (neither of which are very likely anyhow, so might as well go for 9 months of relaxation, right?).

It's no secret that I'm usually a bit of a worrier and "the sky is falling" type of person. Well then, you can only imagine how worried I was during my first pregnancy. I read too much, listened to too much unsolicited advice, researched too much, and even made too many lists. Yes, there is such a thing as too much list making. When you add "make a baby supply list" to your "to do" list, you've taken it too far. All my fretting and worrying landed me with not much more than a fretful pregnancy, multiple unnecessary visits to the ER because she didn't meet the 'kick count' criteria, and an induced labor because by 39 weeks, I literally just wanted Taylor out of me so that I could be in control of her safety and well being, not my body. That my friends, is my very first piece of advice; keep that baby cooking in there for as long as possible because they're much easier to take care of inside the womb, than outside ;)

My second pregnancy was much more relaxed. I was still working full time and traveling a ton, so as relaxed as one could be in that situation, but in terms of the safety of my unborn baby, I overall was much more at peace with my body and the process of growing a human. In fact when at 10 weeks I suddenly started bleeding profusely on the bathroom floor, I was scared, but I had a feeling that me and my baby would be just fine. And we were.

This third time around though, I am like a different person. So much so that some friends, and even my husband are amazed by my carefree, "wing it" attitude about this pregnancy. The once controlling, type A personality has been replaced by a laid-back woman I myself hardly recognize at times. I've thought a lot about how I got here, and what purposeful steps I've taken to find this balance, so I thought I'd share a few of the things I've done that have personally helped me sit back, relax and enjoy this special time in my life.

•  Don't read What to Expect When You're Expecting type of books.  Alright, if this is your first time, you're probably going to find it impossible to follow this advice, especially when every relative and friend gives you a copy.  So if you're going to read, just read the first happy parts of each section that describe your baby's growth and development, and steer clear of the secondary sections that explain all the horrible things that could go wrong.  I know knowledge is key, but too much knowledge in the hands of a pregnant woman can be frightful. 
• On the subject of books, don't read any behavior or sleep books ahead of time, because it's a waste of time.  I tried to get a jump start on my parental education by reading 2 different baby sleep books and it just confused me, it was like reading Latin.  Each baby is different, and you won't know which book and bit of advice is going to suit you and your partner's style best until you meet your baby.
• Ignore people's silly remarks and comments.  And if you can't ignore them, just agree with them because it totally throws them off.  The other day a grocery checker literally said to me "That's so weird!  I didn't know people still did that!", in reply to me when I explained we weren't finding out the sex of the baby.  After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I just said, "I know, isn't it strange?!  My husband and I are so loopy!"  He sort of just looked at me shocked, when he heard the words he spoke repeated back to him.
• Have faith, whatever your faith may be.  Millions of women and babies have gone through this process before and have come out alive on the other side.  Have faith in your body that it knows what to do, and if you believe in a creator, have faith that He has a plan for you and your baby.  
• Be wary of lists.  I laughed the other day when I looked at a "suggested baby registry list" because it was just so overwhelming, and I breathed a sigh of relief that this time around I knew what was really necessary and what to steer away from.  If it's your first time, take an experienced friend or sister along with you when registering to help you navigate through what is really necessary and what is superfluous.
• Let go of the notion that it all has to be done before the baby arrives.  With both my first two pregnancies I just HAD to have the nurseries all in check before the babies arrived, as well as 1 million house projects completed.  This time around, I'm not even sure we'll do a nursery to be quite honest.  10 weeks to go, and well I don't know.  The point is, yes, it will be crazy and hectic after a baby is born.  But there will also be down time and hopefully you'll have help.  People will bring you meals, a mom or mother in law will come and help you do laundry.  You're hands will be busy a lot, and you'll be tired, but you most likely will also look forward to having something or some project to work on and occupy your time during the 10 naps a day a baby takes.  Or maybe that's just me...;)
• Lastly, indulge yourself!  Take extra time for yourself, buy yourself that maternity dress that will help you feel pretty during this time, even if it's not practical.  Eat the extra piece of pizza every now and then, and for goodness sake don't weigh yourself!  No other time in your life should you take the opportunity to be a bit selfish and indulgent as when you're pregnant.  You're growing a human after all, and that's pretty darn spectacular.  You deserve every bit of indulgence you can afford.     

I hope this "list" is and can be helpful to you or a friend.  I can honestly say that aside from the normal emotional ups and downs of pregnancy hormones, this is one of the happiest and most relaxed times of my life.  It's taken me two pregnancies to get here, but for the first time I am truly enjoying being pregnant.  And please, if you have any other tips to add to this list, share in the comments!

This post is sponsored by Disney Baby. I'll be joining the Disney Baby blogging team next month, and look forward to sharing these kinds of stories (projects/ideas/etc) with you over there! Stay tuned for more details!

       

Baby Gear Checklist - 3rd Time Around

(this is what both of our babies did anytime we put them in one of those darn swings)

It hit me square in the face last night that I'm now 26 weeks pregnant, which still sounds like I have loads of time before this baby enters the world, but really I'm just 1 week shy of my 3rd trimester.  3rd trimester!?!  How did that happen so fast guys?  I swear it was just 3 weeks ago I announced our news.  

Since the gender of baby #3 is a surprise and we aren't going to do much in the way of planning names and a nursery and all that, ahead of time, I at least want to get a bit organized.  Several of our close friends and family are still in or have just left the baby stage and have generously offered to loan or give us items we are in need of, because we got rid of just about everything.  And I mean everything, even my breast pump.  In my mind we were done having kids remember?  So I need to start figuring out what we will be able to borrow, and what we will need to plan on buying.  And by the looks of all the babies out there in the world today, baby gear has changed quite a bit in the last 5 years!  I feel like my mother saying "we didn't have fancy things like that when you were a baby!", but it's kinda true.  Strollers look more high tech and modern, swings are like rides at Disneyland, even baby bath tubs are all sleek and aerodynamic.  I need help guys!  I thought I'd make a list of some of the items I know we'll want in our baby arsenal, and ask for some guidance from you all.  Sound good?  Great, let's get started...

Baby Gear We Definitely Need:

- Stroller (I think this is deserving of its own post, no?  Wow, the options out there!)

- Bassinet (do I just use the Pack N Play or get an actual bassinet?)

- Body carrier (do I go wrap or actual strap in carrier?)  

- Baby bathtub (sleek and modern or just go with the standard tub in sink basin?)

- Bouncy seat (this is a MUST, as it was the only way I was ever to eat dinner those first 3-4 months)

- Baby monitor (when we first had Taylor video monitors were just hitting the scene and the picture was all grainy and fuzzy and they cost about $300.  We went with the standard sound monitor, but now everyone's telling us we HAVE to go video.  Really?)    

- Crib mobile (we had one of the battery operated ones that pretty much puts on a disco show for the baby and it worked really well.  Now there are so many pretty handmade, non electrical options that just float above babies head and whisper to them.  Do we go old school and get the one that cranks the sound and moving parts, or do I make one myself?)

- Breast pump (not debatable right?)

Baby Gear That's a Question Mark?:

- Swing (both of our babies hated the swing, let the picture above be my evidence.  But some friends have said that the ones now a days that twist and turn and go left to right, back and forth, are quite sensational.  Should we go for it or save some space and money?)

- Play Gym (I think that's what they're called.  They're the mats you lie the baby underneath and are supposed to help with tummy time.  I'm thinking since we really only used them for about 4 months with both the previous kids this is a scrap item.  But will I miss not having one?)

- Jumperoos (what are these called again?  The things you put the baby in when they're a few months old to keep them occupied.  They sit in it and it's got all sorts of things to look around at and play with.  See, I'm so out of it I'm completely drawing a blank.  Are those still used?  We had one with both kids and I think they were quite helpful for occupying a bit of their attention).

So this is my list so far.  I know I've got to be missing something vitally important here!  I don't dare look at the recommended must haves from Babies R Us because then my head will really start spinning.  So advice please from any of you out there that have recently been in the thick of it with having babies.  What can I axe from this list, or definitely keep on?  What do I need to add?  I would really appreciate any advice because you guys always have the best advice to give.  Thanks for helping a girl out.  Slowly creeping into quasi panic mode over here ;)

This post is sponsored by Disney Baby. I'll be joining the Disney Baby blogging team next month, and look forward to sharing these kinds of stories (projects/ideas/etc) with you over there! Stay tuned for more details!

p.s. the commenting system on the blog the last few weeks has been quite messed up, deleting comments sporadically.  I'm not the best at responding to comments as it is, but this new development has made it even harder since I'll go to respond to a comment and then it's deleted.  So my apologies.  I'm working on uninstalling the current system so I shouldn't have any more problems and we can resume business as usual.  Thanks for your understanding and patience :)

No Filter

"Are you high?"  follow me on Instagram @fourflights

Whoa man thank goodness it's Friday.  This week I have another reason to look forward to the weekend, besides the extra set of helping hands from my husband; the start of a fresh week is soon upon us.  Is anyone else looking forward to the start of a new week?

Guys, this week I've been sort of crazy.  Not quite bitchy, or in a bad mood, just crazy.  Like easily irritated and when irritated, I just say whatever comes out of my mouth.  Some would probably blame it on "pregnancy hormones", but I think that's crazy.  I blame it on just a sheer lack of sleep due to pregnancy insomnia, and also being asked to pay $210 for a decent pair of colored denim maternity jeans.  I told the sales girl she was high.  Not the store, or company selling them, but she herself was high.  See.  No filter.

Two nights ago I yelled at my husband about tweezers.
Me: "Hey have you seen my tweezers?"
Art: (answers immediately) "I have no idea where they are."  
Me: "You have NO idea?  Like, could you give it some thought?  Did you maybe put them in your overnight bag when we went to Utah?"
Art: "Oh, maybe.  Check."
I check and yup, find tweezers.
Me: "You had NO idea where they were huh?!? (as I hold up tweezers)" 
Art: "Sorry, I forgot about them."
Me: "Well next time could you not be so damn dismissive of me when I ask you a question and just think for a moment?!"
Art: "It's just a pair of tweezers."
Me: "THEY'RE MY TWEEZERS!!!!"
Art: "Okayyy."  And quietly goes back to reading about Katniss and District 13 trying to overthrow the Capital.  I think he knew this was a losing battle...

Yesterday I called a meter guy a jerk after he gave me a ticket.  I actually yelled it at him as he walked away, but loud enough for him to hear (I was too chicken to actually say it to his face).  "Jerk!"  Who am I?  And most importantly, can meter guys arrest me for confrontational behavior or something?  I'm sure I wouldn't get away with calling an actual Police Officer a jerk right?

It's not that I'm angry or feeling particularly upset or down.  Just easily set off.  I don't like it though.  Not one bit.  I've got to settle down you guys, quick, before I end up saying something I really regret.  Speaking of settling down, we say Kimbra this week at a tiny little show.  She was amazing!  The pregnancy bump got us upper level VIP seats and we sat next to this actor.  Anyhow, she's my new girl crush.  Her album comes out soon and we've preordered it already.  Art btw, has a HUGE crush on her.  This is what I wore to the show.

Full outfit post at For the Love Of...

Speaking of outfit posts, would you guys like to have me do a weekly recap here of all my posts over at For the Love Of?  Or is that too much like me pimping it out?  Be honest.

So what do you all have planned this weekend? Anything fun?  Any advice on how not to be such a crazy pregnant lady?  I'm all ears... 

A Letter to Pea In the Pod

Dear Pea In the Pod,

I highly doubt many of your pregnant customers are doing much rocking of the 4 inch spiked slingback heels, while sticking their asses out to the side, with hand in pocket, these days.  So just stop it.  And get some new online photo shoot stylists.  Oh and P.S., I doubt your model here is even pregnant.

Sincerely,
Your Average Hormonal Pregnant Customer

Kiss Me

(a rare kiss from my son, thankfully caught on camera)

Hey there friends, it's Friday the 13th (in case you haven't checked your calendars yet).  While this is normally a day steeped with bad luck and superstition, today is National Kissing Day, making it slightly less creepy.  We had plans to spend the day touring the recently opened Butterfly Exhibit at the Natural History Museum, and then lunch at the Everleigh.  But because of rain, we'll be staying local.

I hope your weekend plans are great.  It's the last day of Spring Break for the kids, and my best friend Lea is in town for a couple of days.  We're reunited and it feels so good.  I'll tell you though, her 8 month baby girl had a screaming meltdown in the car on the way home last night and it made me so anxious.  Screaming babies in cars always hit a nerve with me and make me a nervous wreck.  She's the first baby I've had in my car since my babies were babies, and it freaked me out a little.  I'm not the best in the baby stage, and my kids usually tend to hate their car seats for at least 6 months.  Made me a bit nervous about how well I'll handle it this time around.  Here's hoping with a bit more grace and muster than the last 2 times!

What was your worst memory of the "baby stage"?  Screaming babies in cars, middle of the night feedings, colic?

Happy weekend and see you back on Monday!  Go kiss someone!

To Reveal or Not To Reveal

Friends, a very unscientific and impromptu poll for you all...

After putting off making my 18-20 week ultrasound appointment, I finally confirmed an appointment for tomorrow morning.  Of course the main purpose of this important ultrasound is to check on baby bean and see if it's happy and healthy, but we all know once health has been confirmed, the fun part is finding out the SEX of baby bean.

For the first time I am contemplating NOT finding out the gender of this baby.  I found out with the first two and up until a few days ago was sure I'd find out with this one too.  But now I'm not too sure.  The thing is, once I find out what the sex is, I feel like I'll have to start planning.  A nursery, clothes, names, etc.  And I'm not ready to do that.  It's not that I'm not excited, I just don't want the "pressure" I'll put on myself of having to figure it all out.

If I don't find out, we'll just go forth with setting up a bassinet in our room and go from there after the baby is born.

So I'd love your feedback/advice/suggestions.  Did you find out the sex with all your babies, or did you let it be a surprise?  Was it MORE stressful not knowing than you anticipated it would be?  For ease of planning would you wish you would have known?  Was it as exciting being surprised as everyone told you it would be?

Inquiring minds want to know!  Please share and tell me, should I find our or not find out?

Prepping for Zombies

Did you guys know I'm pregnant?  Yes, I am, in case you missed it in every single one of my previous posts for the last 2 weeks.  If you haven't noticed, I like talking/writing about the pregnancy and can somehow relate this pregnancy back to everything, including television shows and how the shows I watch are causing me to have those psycho crazy dreams that one only has when you have the flu or are with child.

I promise that soon, as in next week, I will start talking about other things besides this pregnancy and may even have an amazing DIY project (or 2) to share with you that is not pregnancy or baby related.  Yes, it's true, I am hard at work this week on creating about 10 DIY's (psst, hint: NEON yo!) to post next week between this blog and my other blog, which is leaving me minimal time to think of really fascinating subjects to write about besides, well, this pregnancy. 

So does anyone watch The Walking Dead on AMC and/or Doomsday Preppers on NatGeo?  Well I watch both.  And it's screwing with my brain. For the last week I've been having those crazy dreams where you can't tell the difference between your dream and real life.  They haven't really been nightmare like, just creepy and unsettling.  Last night I dreamed we were sitting in a cafe trying to act like the world was not coming to an end, when a few zombies walked in ready to attack.  We casually helped the waiter kill them with a broom and a chair and then we all went back to our business. 

My natural worrisome tendencies thrive off of these shows and I spend idle time at night in bed plotting escape routes and bug out plans in case of Armageddon.  For the record I don't really think that Armageddon will come in the form of flesh eating zombies, really I don't, but the idea is quite fascinating to me and obviously is to many others based off the continued success of these types of shows/movies (28 Days Later, I Am Legend and of course Night of the Living Dead are my favorites).  I do in fact think that something along the lines of Contagion could happen, and of course the uber creepy Children of Men, while may not be likely, is a shit scary concept if you ask me.

Anyhow, I'm rambling here a bit but the point is I'm a sucker for a good Armageddon type of movie or show, always have been, always will be.  They tend to haunt me for days and completely freak me out yet I always come back for more.  Ever since I saw the Day After on November 20, 1983 I have been hooked.  By the way, I was 7 years old when that show aired and I saw it.  Seven!  Why on earth I was allowed to watch a show about nuclear war at 7 is beyond me, but that's besides the point.

So when I discovered that a reality show existed about people that prepare for Armageddon, in whichever form they think it's going to happen, I was all "sign me up!  DVR that thing!"  I've been watching it now for a few weeks and I still can't tell if these people are completely insane or completely brilliant.  Only time will tell I guess.  The vast majority of these "preppers" all live in rural country areas, or they have a "bug out plan" to escape to a secluded country area, completely stocked with supplies so they could be self sufficient and as they say, "live off the grid."  The extent that these people go to prepare is at any rate, impressive.  

Art for the most part thinks I'm insane, but has agreed to follow along with a couple of my plans to "prep" including: investing in a water purification system to turn our pool water into safe drinking water and stocking up on canned and dry foods and fire wood.  He stopped me at gas masks and a drum full of oil.

Overall he sits and mocks these people that prep and plan every spare moment of their day.  But last night as we were watching the season finale of The Walking Dead, and the group got split up during a zombie swarm, he turned to me and in all seriousness said "See, they didn't have a bug out plan.  They should have had a bug out plan so they could be prepared in an event like this."

And just like that, boom!  Fiction collides with reality.  I guess someone was paying attention after all.

Do any of you watch these shows or is it just me?  You guys think I'm completely nuts right?

images 1-3 via AMC; images 4-5 via National Geographic Channel

The Girls Need Your Help!!

Hi friends and happy Monday!  I'm running out the door to take Syd to preschool, and I'll be back with a proper post later today.  One that involves zombies from the Walking Dead and bug out plans from Doomsday Preppers.  Anyhow...

Until then, the girls need your help.  Desperately.  After preschool drop off I'm running to the mall to hopefully pick up a bra that will support the new pregnancy girls.  I thought about posting this question on Facebook, but then for obvious reasons, pulled back and thought of course, I'll ask you all for advice!  You're such a wealth of information and infinite wisdom.

So here goes, what should I do about a bra during this in between stage?  I'm going to get measured, but I'm sure I've gone up at least a cup size, at least.  None of my bras fit anymore.  I came home from a nice birthday dinner last night to realize that at some point one of my boobs had literally fallen out of the cup and was just hanging there.  It was still contained within the dress obviously, but contained with no real support if you know what I mean.  Sorry for the visual.  At least I was wearing a jacket because that could have been really awkward sitting across the table from my friend's husband.

So I need to move quickly here.  I don't want to go into nursing bras right away, I still have 5 months till delivery and the thought of walking around wearing a nursing bra just sounds awful.  I also don't want to invest in a nicer bra that I'll probably never wear once I deliver and the girls go back down to their natural state.  At night I'm wearing the soft cup American Apparel interlock bra but it's just not supportive enough for day wear.  I'd like something similar that will allow me some forgiving room for fluctuating cup size, but with more support.  Or just a nice and comfortable cheap bra would work too.  I just need recommendations please! 

I'll have my phone on my so please send in any suggestions on affordable transition bras that I could get today!  The girls, and I, will be forever indebted to you.
Thanks in advance!

Was It Planned?

{I'm procreating with this man again; now that's scary}

The question I've been asked the most often after telling people we're expecting is "We're you planning it?"  Naturally I guess that's a fair question all things considered; my age, the space between this pregnancy and our other two kids (5 and 7 years), and the fact that we had told most people that we were pretty much done having kids.  But what cracks me up the most is that people figure it must have been an 'accident'.  At age 35 I think I have it pretty well figured out how you get pregnant, and how to prevent it.

I know more people that I can count on my hands, grown women mind you, that have had an accident baby.  Now I know this probably sounds condescending, and apologies if it does, but it boggles my mind how you can have a woopsy pregnancy as a grown up.  There are 4 common ways that I know of, that cause adult married couples to have a woopsy:

1. The breastfeeding as birth control myth
2. The having sex too soon after a vasectomy situation
3. The rhythm method as birth control option
4. The "we had a much needed date night and got a little too tipsy to remember protection" situation

Let's talk about the first misconception; that as long as you're breastfeeding you can't get pregnant.  While it may work for some, it is not a full proof 100% successful method of birth control for all.  The problem is that each women's body is different, and for some, all you have to do is breastfeed twice a day and you're covered, while for others you have to breastfeed 8-10 times a day to get full protection.  And any light reduction in bf'ing can cause a hormonal shift and leave you no longer 'protected'.  Not to mention the fact that there is always that tricky time frame during breastfeeding where you suddenly get your period back that is kind of a mystery. You don't know exactly when your period is going to come back, and so that small window of opportunity is up for grabs, and if you happen to unknowingly have sex during that time frame, bam, you wind up pregnant.   

Number 2, isn't it common knowledge now that vasectomy does not equal instant protection?  There's that waiting period, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's a good 6 weeks, where your husband's little guys can still be very much active and travel the distance to indeed pregnant you?  Point being, continue to use protection until you've had the guys tested to confirm the shooting of blanks. 

The rhythm method as birth control is in theory a good means of prevention, and I admit to using a rough version of it.  And by rough I mean I'm paranoid and only consider about 5-7 days out of the entire month that are truly safety zones.  The other 25 days in my mind are risky.  But even when we practiced the rhythm method, I always knew that there was a chance of me getting pregnant, that this method of birth control was not the most effective foolproof way to prevent a baby.  I knew!  So to practice the rhythm method and then claim to have an "oopsy" is hilarious to me.  Ahem, but I'm sure it happens ;)

Oh and the last one is probably the best way to have a woopsy baby.  A baby bred out of love, a glass of Pinot and commiserating over why you don't have sex enough anymore.  This indeed happened to my best friend's sister with her 4th child, and while it scared the living daylights out of them for 9 months, she gave birth to a son, after 3 girls, and they couldn't be happier.

So no, this 3rd baby for us was not an accident.  It just took me a while to warm up to the idea of having another baby.  It took me a while to feel ready for another child.  It took me a while to realize that our family was indeed not complete.  But even if it was an oopsy baby, we'd still be happy just the same.  

*Disclaimer - I know the most careful and well intentioned people still have accidents.  I by no means am trying to poke fun here, although I guess it kinda sounds like I am.  So apologies in advance if I offend anyone ;)

Crap, I'm Pregnant

{photo caption - "Crap, I'm pregnant!"}

This is how you'll find me most nights nowadays.  I am pregnant guys.  And my body is reminding me of it every single second of every day.  I'm in my 14th week and I kept looking for the magical 2nd trimester turnaround to hit as it did with both previous pregnancies, but so fare no dice.  I'm not throwing up or anything, I just feel completely rundown and achy all over.  A lot of flu-like symptoms.  I worked full time and had a full travel schedule with both Taylor and Syd, yet with this one I can't manage to get off the couch.  And now after flying four flights (yes, I did actually fly four times), my feet have swelled up, as they did every time I flew with Taylor, so I'm convinced I'm having a girl.   

I remember going to an event at one of our boutiques when 7 months pregnant with Taylor and a sales associate said to me "Oh honey, you must be having a girl.  Girls take all the beauty away from their mommas and take it for themselves."  To her credit, I was swelled up like a balloon; feet, hands and face, and had a bade case of pregnancy acne.  I will never forget it.  What was the craziest thing someone ever told you when you were pregnant, especially when predicting the gender you were carrying?

In related news, I have been craving navel oranges something fierce, eating 3-4 a day, and Jack N the Box tacos.  I'm not too proud to admit that I've even driven thru to pick some up as early as 10:30 am.  I'm trying to supplement with as much healthy stuff as possible, but this baby has just got me craving grease and more grease.  I ate about 40 tater tots last night.  Poor thing is going to come out looking like a little grease ball.  What were some of your cravings during pregnancy?  That stuff always fascinates me!