Registering for Baby Number Two

I didn't really know what the rule of thumb was on registering for a second baby since we obviously have most of the big ticket baby items still in good condition from when Kenley was teeny. As I started to think about the things we will need to a new baby boy, I realized there actually are quite a few things this peanut will need. Nothing super major but stuff nonetheless. Plus, two of my incredible girlfriends have offered to host Sprinkles for me and Ziggy, so I figured a registry may be helpful for guests. If nothing else, you gotta love that completion coupon you get at the end to grab any remaining items we may need. 

This time around I simplified and only registered at Target, they had all the things Ziggy will need and it makes shopping easy. The only bigger things baby boy really needs are a crib and a baby monitor. 

We never had a monitor for K because our townhouse was so teeny, we could hear her no matter where we were. Now that we have more space I think a monitor will be helpful, especially this summer so that Kenley and I can go outside and play but still keep tabs on the Zigster. I went with the Summer Infant Baby Zoom WiFi Monitor based on the reviews but would LOVE any input you mamas have on what you love {or don't love}. 

Aside from those bigger things, everything else is more or less stuff that needs to be restocked...like diapers {oh Lord, back to diapers}, wipes, bottles {how did we lose so many with K?}, baby towels {Kenley wore hers right out, we love bath time around here}, baby toiletries and all things baby boy! I was able to salvage a couple of gender neutral things of Kenley's {like white onesies, holy smokes we have a lot of white onesies} but for the most part all of her blankets and burp cloths and bibs and swaddles and clothes were GIRL, GIRL, GIRL!

I also added a few breastfeeding related things I think will help me this time around. It's nice going into it with experience and I'm hoping this time around won't be quite as tough now that I know what I'm doing. You hear that Ziggy? Be nice to mamas boobies! This time around I definitely want to have some quality nipple cream handy fresh out the gate, have an extra set of pump supplies {how nice not to have to wash and sanitize them every single time} and a nursing cover. With Kenley I just never got to the place where I was really comfortable or confident with nursing and therefore always did it in private. Being the monster FOMO that I am, this was really hard for me, so I'm hoping a good cover and some practice will help me with that this time around. 

Kenley and I had a blast at Target one morning browsing the baby aisles for things her brother will need. She was all over scanning the items and definitely had an opinion! It is going to be so fun having her along this time around. Big Sister extraordinaire or sure! 

Are there any crucial baby items you guys can think of that would be good to add? Especially you mamas with two little ones!

Piada, Italian Street Food

Raise your hand if you have heard of Piada! If you live in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan or Texas - there's a chance that you have. If you live in Minnesota, you probably haven't but you are about to! 

I first tried Piada when we moved my sister to Ohio State over the summer and was instantly hooked. It's basically fast -casual style restaurant ala Chipotle where you can customize your meal as they make it, only with Italian Pasta and Piadas {a wrap baked on a stone grill - much like a tortilla}. And take it from me....IT IS THE BOMB.COM. Not kidding, I'm obsessed. 

When we went back to Ohio this fall to watch the Gophers play the Buckeyes, I essentially demanded that our group of 7 add Piada to the itinerary. Thankfully, everyone obliged and no one was disappointed.

Imagine my excitement when I find out that there is a Piada NOW OPEN in Chanhassen Minnesota with a second location at the Mall of America COMING SOON! Insert happy dance! 

Each time I have eaten at Piada, I've gotten the same thing - a noodle bowl with the parmesan alfredo sauce, fresh spinach, black olives, red onions, artichokes and pancetta. Oh Em Yum! One of these days I will try something different as I'm sure it's all amazing, but it's just hard to stray because mine is SO DANG GOOD.

Also worth noting are the Piada sticks! A must have no matter what you order. Or just order the sticks - they're that good!

Now here's the part that is super exciting for you! My friends at Piada have gifted me some FREE ENTREES to share with my friends and readers who have a Piada nearby. All you have to do is visit mypiada.com and check out the menu, leave a comment on this post with what you would want to try or order with your FREE ENTREE and I will send you one {until supplies last}! 

And, bonus points to anyone who invites me along when you go try it. :)

{bump two} 24 weeks

 Mom :: +18.8lbs // Baby :: appx. 1ft & 1.3lb {an ear of corn!}

Baby is pretty proportional and will start plumping up and the brain is developing quickly!
112 days til Due Date!

Week 24 was a really busy one as I had a huge project at work I was finishing up. It was a couple of pretty late nights but I am thankful I'm feeling much better overall and was able to get it done! 

I really have been doing so much better which is a giant relief. I contribute that to slowing down a bit but working out more. I have been able to get in at least a 30 minute workout every day this year so far and I KNOW it's paying off - I mean, when does exercise not pay off? I've been doing a lot of walking on the treadmill and mixing in my favorite workout dvd, Jillian Michaels: Trouble Zones. There's a couple sections in there that are very core focused and just don't quite seem right with a bebe in there so I skip over those, but other than that I'm pretty proud I can still hang with that one. I am seeing the fruits of my labor as that weight gain is starting to even out a bit. I'm actually down 0.6lbs from last week and am now just 2lbs over the healthy gain vs 5 where I was before the New Year. Yay! 

Other than working to make myself feel better, I've been working on getting some baby stuff done too! I haven't really DONE anything but I've figured out a lot of stuff. Which, still feels like an accomplishment. 

I also had my 24 week appointment (yesterday) which went great. I passed my glucose test - hooray for being gestational diabetes free - and got to hear Ziggy's strong little heartbeat. My doctor had asked me how movement was going and I explained that this little one is VERY active! Minutes later she put the heart monitor thingy on my belly and Ziggy immediately switched positions causing the wandy to pop right off my belly. This one is a stinker, there's no doubt about it!

weeks 4 vs 14 vs 24! 

Look at the belly! EEEEK! 

{bump two} 23 weeks

 Mom :: +19.2lbs // Baby :: appx. 11in & 1lb+ {a mango!}

Baby can hear loud noises and can feel me dance!
119 days til Due Date!

Week 23 was pretty uneventful aside from celebrating New Years Eve and getting the nursery painted! I am in love with the color I chose {with some help from my little assistant} and am excited to get a couple other projects finished up so I can start decorating!

I have been feeling a lot better physically the past week which is a huge relief. I still get tuckered out pretty easy and am having some cramping here and there, but overall feel way better than I did all of December.

 

Emotionally, however, this week has been a tad challenging. The hormones are in full swing and I feel like I'm crying every two minutes. I'm feeling overly sensitive, easily overwhelmed and just in a bit of a funk in general.  I have, however, been getting in to more of a groove with exercising which I know will benefit my mood and have also really been digging baths lately which always helps any ailment!

Other than that, most exciting was probably Jason getting to feel Ziggy for the first time. It was pretty faint but he was finally able to feel his little boy moving. This guy has been getting more and more active and I think Big Sister will be able to feel him soon which I know she will think is so cool.

 

That's kind of it this week. I'm looking forward to our upcoming trip to Colorado where I get to see my entire family as well as checking in with my doctor next Monday {hooray glucose test}. Other than that, I'll be over here chipping away at all the things I need to get done before lil man arrives!

 





Week 13 vs Week 23! 



 

and...



23weeks with Kenley.

 

Baby To Do {4 months to go}

2016!!!!! Officially the year my baby will be born! HOLY MOLY! November and December flew by in the blink of an eye. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that our second baby is due in just 4 months!!! Thankfully, despite the busy holiday season and feeling like crap for the better part of December, we were able to get some baby related things checked off the every growing to-do list of life. I'm feeling pretty good about where we are at right now but also know there is much that still needs to be done.

DONE
✔  15 week prenatal visit - This was just a quick little appointment but we got to hear a healthy heartbeat which is always reassuring and exciting.

✔  Mail gender reveal invites - I ended up just doing a little evite {gasp} after completely changing our reveal plans last minute. 

✔  Plan gender announcement - I wanted to share baby's gender in a fun way and thought getting a new Christmas ornament would be a fun way to do that as well as have some special to remember this exciting time in our lives! 

✔  20 week ultrasound and gender scan! - December 11th will always be special because it's the day we found out we were having a SON! I'll never forget hearing the words "it's a boy!", I still get emotional just thinking about it. 

✔  Find outfit for gender reveal - I didn't real go out all out on this because there wasn't a need to. But I did treat myself to a new maternity top and necklace. Nothing fancy.

✔  Gender Reveal Party!!! We kept it simple with just our family and very best friends and it was a blast! Sharing our news this way was perfect and so special. 


✔ Announce baby's gender to the world - We're having a BOY! And now everyone knows it!

✔ Pick a baby name - We do have a name! We have been 100% on our little boy's first name for YEARS {not even kidding, we talked about it on our third or fourth date - when you know, you know!} We are pretty sure on a middle name as well! And, NO, we will not be sharing the name until he's born. I love having that surprise at the end. 

✔  Register for baby - I wasn't sure whether a registry was necessary for a second baby but after talking to some friends, felt it made sense. So Kenley and I went to Target to pick out some things that her little brother will need! 

✔  Finalize nursery plans and create a nursery to-do - I think I have a clear plan for what I want to do with baby boy's room, and obviously along with that comes a big ol checklist! More on that coming soon.

✔  Schedule prenatal massage - My sweet husband sent me to the spa for the entire day on my birthday! I not only got a prenatal massage but a facial, a manicure and a blowout! I got a special lunch and got to relax by a fireplace in between appointments. It was the best day! 

✔ Plan Babymoon - It.Is.Planned.And.Booked!! Jason, Kenley and I are heading to Arizona in February! We'll spend a few days at my mom's in Scottsdale as well as a couple days in Tucson for an Arizona Basketball game! I could not be more excited to spend some quality time with my little family of three before we become a party of four.


IN PROGRESS
◊  Start pregnancy safe workout routine - I think I worked out ONCE in December thanks to feeling like garbage. BUT, no better time than the New Year to get back on track. Exercise is so important during pregnancy for so many reasons so I really need to make this more of a priority for these last few months! So far over the past week, I've been doing good!   

◊  Reach goal of walking/running/biking 400 miles - I've got a lot of work to do, but so far I'm at 81.24 miles. {318.76 left to go, yikes!}

◊  Talk to Sara Jayne about maternity, hospital & newborn shoots - We have our maternity session booked for early March and I'm so excited! The hospital and newborn shoots we'll have to nail down once little man is here {or close} but I am starting to browse some ideas and inspiration!

◊  Find Sprinkle outfit - I actually ordered 4 dresses right after Christmas in hopes of keeping 3 of them, one for each sprinkle and one for my cousin's wedding coming up the end of this month. I've never ordered from asos before, but am hoping at least a couple of these will work out! 

◊  Work on the nursery - Operation Nursery is well under way! I'm excited to share an update with what I've accomplished in there so far! 


PAST DUE
◊  Attend a TC Bump Club Workout - Still haven't made it to one of these. Hopefully soon!!!
◊  Create financial plan & beef up savings - This should be super high on the priority list, but still just hasn't happened.  
◊ Schedule some prenatal yoga classes - Yoga is so good for the body and mind and I need to get some classes in ASAP!
◊  Figure out Child Care - This stresses me out big time. I am lucky to have a flexible work schedule and an office where I can bring my kiddos. However, working with TWO kids will no doubt be very different than working with one. Jason and I need to take some time to figure out what life with two will look like and how we will manage our day-to-day.

LEFT TO DO
{weeks 24-28}
◊  Attend TC Bump Club Workout
◊  24 week prenatal visit & gluclose screen
◊  Work out the details of maternity leave
◊  Develop birth plan
◊  Start tracking baby movement
◊  Make a "Labor Day" plan for Kenley

{weeks 28-32}
◊  Attend TC Bump Club Workout
◊  28 week prenatal visit
◊  Go on babymoon!
◊  Get hospital & coming home outfits for baby
◊  Pre-register at the hospital
◊  Study up on circumcision (if necessary)
◊  Put together a Big Sister gift for Kenley
◊  30 week prenatal visit
◊  Make hospital packing list and pick up anything we need
◊  Hostess gifts for Sprinkle hosts
◊  Find outfits and plan details for maternity shoot
◊  Schedule professional house cleaning
◊  Work on nursery

{weeks 32-36}
◊  Attend TC Bump Club Workout
◊  32 week prenatal visit
◊  Take maternity photos
◊  Celebrate baby at Sprinkle!
◊  Send Sprinkle thank you notes
◊  Finalize outfits & ideas for newborn shoot
◊  34 week prenatal appointment
◊  Unpack and wash baby gear, pump and bottles
◊  Finish nursery
◊  Pack for the hospital
◊  Pack Kenley's bag
◊  Build phone tree for baby announcement

weeks {36 -BABY!}
◊  36 week prenatal visit & group B stress test
◊  Design birth announcements and address/stamp envelopes
◊  Baby laundry
◊  Buy any remaining baby items
◊  Install car seat
◊  37 week prenatal visit
◊  Make freezer meals
◊  Rest & Relax!
◊  38 week prenatal visit
◊  39 week prenatal visit
◊ HAVE ANOTHER BABY!