Rachel Stoops

Postpartum Kits

September 21, 2020September 3, 2020by Rachel StoopsLeave a Comment

In preparation for all things baby, I decided to prep some little postpartum kits for myself as well! I have no idea what to expect once baby arrives as it sounds like women can experience a variety of symptoms. I wanted to make sure each of our bathrooms were well stocked with some self care items so that I can make sure I am as comfortable as possible!

From doing a little bit of online research, I decided to stock up on:

I do expect to be provided postpartum care for the hospital stay as well as extras to take home, so I didn’t order an abundance of supplies, but wanted to have a small stock ready to go so that I am not scrambling to order more as soon as I get home from the hospital.

I’ve heard really great things about this Frida Mom Peri Bottle. As opposed to the ones provided in the hospital, this one has the angled spout, which means easier to aim!

Postpartum Kit

Making ‘padsicles’ seems to be quite popular, but I am either too lazy (way pregnant, lol), or just hoping that everything I’ve prepared will be enough! The Tucks Pads are supposed to be pretty helpful, and if all else fails – we always have some normal ice packs in the freezer.

I’ll update how everything worked, and if I needed more once baby is here and we are into the swing of things!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

Baby Girl is Here!

September 18, 2020September 19, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

Instead of my planned 39 week update, I am here to share the arrival of our precious Baby Girl!

Vivian Jean arrived on a snowy September day, 6 days before her due date. We could not be more in love.

Our tiny little peanut has a head full of hair and has already brought us so much joy. 🥰

I’m planning to write my full birth story, but had some final pregnancy posts in the works. Stay tuned!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

Gifts for the Hospital Care Team

September 15, 2020September 3, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

Aside from packing my own hospital bag, I wanted to prepare some goodies for nurses/Doctors/care team at the hospital. After all, they are such a key part in the labor/delivery and postpartum process – I feel that they certainly deserve some recognition! Is it also an effort to suck up to them so that they like me best? Sure. But at the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts, right?

I wanted to create to big gift baskets for the nurses to share. Initially I had planned one for the L&D team, and one for the postpartum team. Turns out that my hospital has a combined labor and recovery unit so we won’t actually have to switch rooms or anything. The new plan is to bring one basket at the beginning for pre-baby, and the second basket will wait in our car until after baby has arrived, and then we can bring it in. I may have gone completely overboard, but they can always keep the snacks after we leave at the nurses station and share with whomever they please! Everything is non-perishable, so they can enjoy for as long as it lasts.

Nurse Gift Basket

I made two of the large snack baskets which include:

Skinny Pop Popcorn
Trail Mix Packs
Peanut Butter Crackers
Cliff Bars
Assorted Candy (mix of fruity and chocolate)
Crystal Light Packets that can be added to water bottles for some flavoring
Assorted Starbucks coffee drinks (cans/bottles)
La Croix

I also wanted to include some practical items, but these didn’t quite fit in the food bin well, so I found a smaller box in my craft supplies and filled it with:

Pens
Chapstick
Hair Ties
Hand Lotion
Gum

I only made one of these and just combined the items I was planning to split between the two bins.

I’m planning to make a little sign for the front of the gift baskets that says something along the lines of: Help Yourselves! Thank you for taking such great care of the Stoops Family!

It might be totally cheesy, and poor Mike will have some much stuff to carry in, but I have had some much free time, and I just enjoy doing little things for others that can brighten their work day, so hopefully they can enjoy!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

38 week update

September 12, 2020September 3, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

🎶It’s the final countdown… 🎶 2 weeks!!! How is this possible?! I’m still hanging in there. I haven’t noticed any major changes yet. Or am I just oblivious? Who knows.

I still feel pretty great. I’m certainly tired, but pushing through! I’ve been keeping up with my workouts – aiming for 3-5 days per week. Sometimes they can seem so daunting, but once I get started I find that they are so worth it! I’m hopeful that this will be helpful in labor. Sometimes when I’m doing squats or lunges I imagine the baby just popping right out, or my water breaking. 😂 Wishing thinking?

I am just soaking in this last bit of time with baby girl in my tummy. I can’t imagine what it will be like once she’s on the outside. I feel like I’ve been pregnant forever! Thankfully it’s been overall a really great experience. I know plenty of mamas are completely over it by this point. I am okay with her staying in there to keep cooking, but also eager to meet this little angel face!

I had my 38 week OB appointment with another OB that I hadn’t met yet, and the last one in the practice! I liked her as well, so I think we are safe to say that I will be in great hands with whomever is at the hospital on baby’s arrival day!

We discussed the usual, focusing a little bit more on when to call the hospital/ when to head in and the current COVID procedures. Mike can at least come and go (yay – that means he can leave to get me all the yummy food 😂)

Otherwise, nothing new or exciting. Heartbeat sounds good, and belly is measuring small, as to be expected with my height. She compared it to ordering pants online that are never long enough because they are designed for short women. 😂 I’ve never heard anything more true in my life.

Next week they will do a cervical check to see how things are progressing and game plan from there! If we make it to next week’s appointment that is…… 😉

38 weeks

And the waiting game continues…

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

What’s in my hospital bag

September 9, 2020September 3, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

I promised myself I would be all ready to go at 36 weeks. That day came and went. 😂 Just before reaching 38 weeks, I forced myself to finish packing so that I could check that (important) task off my to-do list.

I watched plenty of YouTube videos and read blogs about what to pack (or not to pack) in my hospital bag. There are a wide range of opinions on this, but at the end of the day, I think it is most important to feel prepared to your standard. So even if people make fun of you for over packing (which I’m sure I did), that is okay! I would rather be over-prepared than wishing that I had something that I left at home.

I decided to pack a carry-on sized rolling suitcase for myself and baby. Mike will pack a backpack for himself. (And I say will pack, because he has yet to do so, despite my nagging.) 😂

Hospital bag 5

For myself I’ve included:

Clothes:
- Options for going home outfit (flowy dress, and joggers with a loose t-shirt)
- Nursing Night Gown
- Nursing Tank Top
- Nursing Bra
- Comfy Shorts
- Fuzzy Socks with Sticky bottoms – I am not a huge slippers gal, but love fuzzy socks, so I thought this would be comforting!
- Extra underwear (it sounds like most people just wear what the hospital provides, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to have some big, comfy underwear just in case). 🤣
- Robe (with matching swaddle for baby for photo op)
Electronics:
- Extra Long Phone Chargers – I got a 2 pack on Amazon for pretty cheap. They are 10 feet long, so no matter where the outlets are, we should be able to reach!
- Bluetooth Speaker
Snacks:
- Peanut Butter Crackers
- Trail Mix (with the raisins removed because I HATE raisins and don’t want to have to pick through the mix when I’m tired 😂)
- Granola Bars/Bites
- Skinny Pop Popcorn
- Lollipops(this was a recommendation from a YouTube video to have for during labor when you are exhausted and your mouth is dry and you just need a little something for flavor/sugar boost)
- Chocolate covered almonds – these ones are SO good. I actually found them at Costco. ADDICTING.
- Beef Jerky
- Apple Sauce
- Fruit Snacks
- (I tried to pack some healthy-ish stuff with protein, but also some favorites because I’m going to deserve it!)
Toiletries
- Dry shampoo -I live off dry shampoo!! I’m sure I will take a shower after giving birth, but will probably skip washing my hair if I can salvage it. For those who don’t know, I have a lion’s mane. It is WILD after I wash it. If I want any cute-ish photos in the hospital, I’m going to have to keep it under control.
- Face Moisturizer
- Face Wipes – if I don’t have time to fully wash my face (or if I just don’t feel like it), this is a good replacement to refresh
- Aquaphor – I swear by Aquaphor, especially for my dry lips. It is my chapstick replacement so I picture this being on my bedside table
- Tooth brush & paste
- Deodorant
- Hair brush
- Hair ties!!! Gotta keep that hair out of the face and off the neck
- Makeup – who knows if this will be used, but I’d rather have it with me than not. A little concealer can go a long way when you look exhausted. 😉 Since I am still using this, I have it all packed in my little grab n go bags on my makeup table so that it is ready for when the time comes, but not actually in my hospital bag at the moment.
Other:
- Extra empty bag to bring home all of the goodies that the hospital will supply
- Empty bag for dirty clothes
- Pillow – don’t forget to put a colored pillow case on it so it stands out from the hospital pillows and you don’t lose it/forget it
- Rubber Flip Flops – these are on the side of my bag as I am just planning to wear them to the hospital when I go. Rubber is important because these are also great for wearing in the shower! No one wants to go barefoot in the gnarly hospital bathrooms!! This way I won’t have multiple pairs of shoes to worry about; just the one.
- Letter Board for baby name/stats announcement! I sorted all of the letters so they are as ready as they can be for when she comes to make it easy on us!
- Purse – This is obviously a grab n go item because I am using it daily. Make sure it has your ID, insurance card, and some dollar bills for the vending machine just in case!
- Nipple Cream & Nipple pads – I’m sure the hospital has plenty of these to provide, but I figured it would be better to be safe than sorry.
- Birth Plan – I printed a few copies for the care team
- Birth Affirmations – I printed a few copies so that either I can read them to myself, or for Mike to read to me and I can repeat back

Now that I look at this list, it sounds like SO much stuff! 😲 Oh well… like I said – better safe than sorry! 😊 On top of my bag is a little note of the things that need to be grabbed before we head out the door (currently letter board, purse, makeup, car seat, and gift baskets for nurses)

Hospital bag 1

For Baby I’ve included:

Photo Op Outfit
Going Home Outfit options – two sleepers in different sizes so they’ll be easy and comfortable
Hat & Booties – hand knit by Grandma!
Receiving Blanket
Car Seat (will be in the car and ready for her!)

I’ve been told that the hospital provides just about everything baby will need, so I went pretty light on packing for her.

Hospital bag 2

I used these packing cubes to help keep everything organized in my suitcase! I was also going to order a cute floral duffel bag and pretty floral pillowcase but decided that I’ve been spending enough money and to just use something I already have. 😂

The list I’ve made for Mike’s bag includes:

Power bank
Snacks
Water Bottle
Toiletries
Shower Shoes
Gum
Change of Clothes (includes Papa Bear shirt for pictures)

We’ll see if he listens/when he actually throws this together. 😂 I think he is also planning to bring the Nintendo Switch in case we have some downtime to keep us entertained.

I’ll be sure to do a follow up post with what I used or if I wished I had anything else!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

My Mom is here!!!

September 6, 2020September 3, 2020by Rachel Stoops2 Comments

My mom has officially arrived and is here for the long haul! This just made everything SO REAL. We have been planning her arrival at the beginning of September for so long now, and it felt so far away – almost like it would never come. Well guess what? It’s September and she is here!

Mom is Here!

I’m so excited to get to spend these last couple of weeks finishing up nesting with the best mom in the whole wide world. I’m sure we won’t do anything too exciting (again, thanks COVID), but hopefully we can get a little bit of safe shopping in, and at the very least some evening walks! Up until now it has been so hot here, and all of the nearby forest fires have made the air quality absolutely terrible, so I haven’t been getting out into the fresh air as much as I would’ve liked to.

Otherwise, I’m sure we will get some freezer meals prepped, some cleaning done, and just some quality mother-daughter bonding time in. Maybe she will even snag a picture or two of Mike and I since we decided against formal maternity photos. I feel like we need some sort of evidence that I was pregnant with Mike in the pictures. 😂 He is not much for photo shoots, so I’ve done my best to come to terms with that but did give him a heads up that I will want pictures of our little family of three when baby girl arrives!!

We also spoiled ourselves with a little bit of safe pampering already – pedicures!! I last got my toes done in February. Needless to say, they needed some love and it was pure bliss.

Here’s to the baby countdown!!!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

37 week update

September 3, 2020August 26, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

Less than one month until baby is here. Or should I say, less than one month until my due date? That’s probably more like it. I am fully expecting to go overdue with this little bundle of joy, but wouldn’t it be nice if she came on time, or even a few days early?

The weekly OB appointments are officially here. There is no longer an anxious wait between each appointment. It practically seems I’m right back in there after leaving (which I am totally okay with). Since being off work for so long, this is easily what I most look forward to, and now I don’t have to wait as long!

This week I got to meet a different OB. There are a total of 5 in the practice, so the goal is to meet them all along the pregnancy journey at least once, so when it comes to delivery you have at least met them. Between these next few weeks, we should get that accomplished! So far they’ve all been great and I would be perfectly happy to have any of them with me at the hospital!

I got the results from the GBS swab: negative, which was a great relief! While not a big deal at all (just some antibiotics), I’d rather have less things to worry about. The great thing about being negative for this is that I won’t need to get to the hospital as quickly to have those antibiotics administered! I would love to stay at home during early labor for as long as possible to remain comfortable and free to move around. Of course I don’t want to end up having our baby in the closet or car (lol), but think home will be most comfortable and familiar.

Otherwise, it was another quick appointment. Standard belly measurement – still measuring a couple of centimeters behind as I have been pretty much the whole way. The doctor explained that this is most likely due to me being so tall – baby has lots of room to spread out upwards instead of out, and also due to the fact that she is down low. Heart beat sounded great – I always love hearing that. 😄 I asked my few questions, had some great conversation, and feel a little bit more prepared about what to expect in the hospital, and was on my way.

This week I have focused on getting everything put away from my baby shower. Yes – it took way longer than it needed to… and packing my diaper bag, diaper caddy, and getting things set and ready around the house! I’ve also been working on my hospital bag, which admittedly still isn’t completely done – oops! But at least we are getting close now. I’m also working on gathering some goodies for gift baskets that I am planning to put together for my care team at the hospital!

I plan to do a post on what I’m bringing in my hospital bag, as well as the gift baskets, so stay tuned for those!

As for me, I am just over here continuing to grow this little babe. I have good days and bad, though lately I feel like I’ve had more good than bad! The fatigue is reaching an all new level. I find myself taking a nap almost every day, but I deserve that, right?! Sleep at night has gotten harder, but I’m sure this is just some training for what is to come. Between getting up to pee 4-5 times, or just discomfort, it always seems to be something. I’m remaining grateful that I still feel generally very good, and not totally miserable just yet. I really do think I will miss being pregnant, but am so excited to meet this baby girl!

37 weeks

Also we are super stoked to have the NHL playoffs back on and have been loving yelling at the tv again! 😂 Hockey games are so much fun to watch, although I’m not sure if they are good for my blood pressure… Go Knights!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

Preparing for Labor

August 31, 2020August 25, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

I’m just over here doing my best to get as prepared as possible for the big event that is on its way: labor! As I’ve mentioned before, in the times of COVID, all of us expectant mothers have had to get a little bit more creative in finding resources as so many have been cancelled.

I’ve included some of the things I’ve done so far below.

BIRTH PLAN

This one was hard for me. I felt completely lost. What even goes on a birth plan? I looked up templates and generators online and they were all so very different. What is actually necessary? What is overkill? Do I even need one? I feel that it’s important to have at least something for the nurses to look at, or for Mike to know just so that when we are in the thick of things I won’t have to be answering a ton of questions. I wanted something super simple though. Not like pages and pages of information that would be too hard to decipher. I finally ended up liking the one that came from the Baby Center App. They have some pretty basic questions that you answer; some for labor and some for after delivery. Once you check the boxes that you want to happen, it will generate a PDF that you can email to yourself to print out. It also has a box for notes on the bottom for anything that wasn’t included in their questions. I did make a few notes of items I had seen on other birth plans, and most importantly wanted to include that while these are some of my birth preferences, I ultimately just want a healthy baby and mama, so whatever needs to be done to achieve this, I will be open to (within reason).

Of course I’ve never done this before, and haven’t yet, but do feel comfortable having a little something down on paper to help out and am hopeful that some of the things will go accordingly to plan, but know that if it doesn’t, that will be okay too.

BIRTH CLASS

We actually have two birth classes coming up that I signed up for virtually through our hospital system. I was a little bit nervous that these were too late, but as long as I haven’t gone into labor yet we should be good! 😂 We did end up taking a newborn care class online, and I also took a breastfeeding class (both through the hospital). I don’t feel that either of these were super helpful or had any breakthrough information, but I am hopeful that the birth class may have a bit more. I’m mainly interested in learning some breathing techniques and pushing techniques, but I am sure there is a whole lot more to it that I don’t even know! This is certainly the most foreign topic, so hopefully these will be good!

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Heck! There are some great (and free) resources on YouTube that have been so great to take advantage of. Many Doulas, Nurses, health professionals, etc. have YouTube channels and upload videos on all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and more that have been so great to watch!

A more recent favorite find is Bridget Teyler. She is a doula and childbirth educator, and has some really amazing videos. I have watched almost all of them and just love her calm and comforting demeanor. She truly makes me feel like I can do this and has so many wonderful tips. I’m just hoping I can remember them while I’m in the hospital!

Nurse Zabe is another really great channel to watch. She is currently a labor & delivery nurse, as well as a childbirth educator. I find her videos so helpful because she comes from the nurse side of the picture so she has truly seen it all and gives you the truth from the opposite perspective of my mindset, which I love! It’s comforting to hear that we shouldn’t be embarrassed by things they might see or help with because while this is so new and foreign to us, this is everyday to them and they just want our healthy baby here as well.

These are the two that I’ve probably watched the most and have really enjoyed. Sarah Lavonne also has TONS of videos that I should probably watch more of, and of course I can’t forget random vloggers that post their birth vlog or birth story. I just love hearing how other women’s experiences went. Searching positive birth stories also comes up with a plethora of videos that can help to ease the nerves.

If the birthing classes fail, I’m sure YouTube will get me prepared with all of the breathing techniques I could hope for!

BIRTH AFFIRMATIONS

This is something I’ve heard about before but didn’t know if it was something I saw myself doing. Birth affirmations are positive quotes that you can print out and put up on the walls around you so that you are surrounded by positivity, or you can keep them as more of flash cards to read them off to yourself and repeat while you are in labor to keep you going.

Some that I found that I really like are:

I feel confident. I feel safe. I feel secure.
My mind is relaxed, and my body is relaxed.
Each surge brings baby closer to me.
My body was designed to do this.
My baby is strong and healthy.
I am present. I am doing this. We are doing this.
I trust my body and my baby.
My body and pelvis open wide for my baby to pass through.
Good, strong contractions will help me meet my baby.

I think these will be a great aid in staying calm and getting into the right mindset. Our bodies were made to do this, and I think telling myself some of these things in a hard time when I might just want to give up with help get me through it. If not, there is nothing wrong with some extra positivity!

LABOR PLAYLIST

I have absolutely no idea what mood I will be in come the thick of labor. I’m assuming a really bad one, but in trying to prepare and finding as many ways to make it a positive experience as possible, I am trying to set myself up for success. I’ve heard that making your environment a comfortable one is key to staying calm and having that positive birth experience.

Music is an incredibly powerful tool. There are so many songs that as soon as they come on, you can’t help but sing along and do a little shimmy. I have been doing my best to think of as many as possible to compile into a playlist that might just help give me that extra motivation to push (literally).

This list will probably look vastly different from person to person, but I am a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, so definitely had to get a few of her songs on there, some old school N’Sync and Backstreet Boys, and you of course can’t forget All Star by Smash Mouth. Do any 90’s babies not know all the words to that song?! And some for fun like ‘Push It’ because you can’t miss an opportunity like that.

Though I’m trying to be extremely optimistic and have a very positive mindset for this experience, in bringing things back to reality, I also am creating a second playlist of more relaxing, instrumental songs. I love the Piano Guys, so I have added many of their songs to this playlist, and my current favorite relaxation song is River Flows in You by Yiruma. I just find it so calming and could listen to it over and over.

So hopefully despite my mood, I will have some great options, and who knows – maybe I will just want some peace and quiet, but at least I am prepared!

After writing all of this out, I am starting to feel a little bit more prepared than I thought I was! I can’t wait to see how my experience goes, and will definitely do a follow up with what helped and what didn’t.

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

Baby Nerves

August 28, 2020August 25, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

As I grow closer and closer to my due date, I can’t help but think about how our lives are about to change forever. A rush of feelings are constantly running through my mind. Excitement is high up there, but along with this comes fear, nerves, joy, curiosity, wonder, and the list goes on.

This is our first time doing this, so to be completely honest, I have absolutely no idea what to expect. When I say this, it is in regards to so many things: the rest of pregnancy, labor, delivery, bringing baby home, raising a child, etc. Are we actually ready? What the heck are we doing?! I hope I am not alone with all of these feelings. I assume these are normal first time parent thoughts.

When I think about the rest of my pregnancy journey and beyond, there are a few questions that stand out:

1. How will I know I’m in labor?

So far I’ve heard that very few women have that movie moment where their water bursts everywhere and then you are immediately in labor with regular contractions, and have the need to get right to the hospital. It sounds like many women don’t experience their water breaking on their own, or before contractions begin. I’ve kind of always wanted that movie moment (but hey – who doesn’t?). Although due to the fact that I’m pretty much always home, it doesn’t sound like I’ll be out and about doing anything exciting if the moment happens. In all honesty I think this is a good thing. 😂

2. What the heck is labor going to be like?

I think we have all heard stories from friends and family of their birth experience in one way or another. Everyone’s is so incredibly different – it is wild. What will my story be like? I can’t help but to think of all the different things that could happen. I certainly have an idea of how I would like it to go in my mind, but am doing my very best to remain open minded as the most important thing is that baby and mama remain safe and healthy during this time. I am trying to keep my mind at ease and remove fear from this very new and different experience. Once I get into my head, I know things can start to go south, so remaining calm is going to be key. **Cue laughter from my family because Rachel and staying calm don’t always go together. 😂 But with proper preparation, I am hoping I can remain strong and keep mind over matter.

3. What is baby going to look like?

(This is more of a fun one). But really… what is baby going to look like? What will she get from me, and what will she get from Mike? We decided not to go to one of those ultrasound boutiques for a 4D scan in the third trimester. This is the chance when you really get to see baby’s face and features. As I mentioned in my 36 week update, we didn’t get to see baby girl’s face in our last ultrasound at the Doctor’s office because she was face down and all squished up in there, so we really don’t know what to expect! I’m assuming she’ll have a head of hair, just like her mama had when she came out. Okay… I’m just totally expecting a mini-me. 😂 That’s okay; right? In completely biased motherhood – she will be beautiful no matter how she looks or who she takes after. I’m just hoping she’s a little thing!

The final and biggest fear is…

4. How do I take care of this tiny little human?

Isn’t the idea of having a baby the craziest thing? You go through 9 months of growing this precious little life inside of you. One day, they decide to make their entrance into the world. At first you are surrounded by help in the hospital with a plethora of medical experience and knowledge. Then, after a few short days, or even hours, you are released back into real life with this tiny human being that you are fully responsible for. What?? At least when they are on the inside, there isn’t much thought that goes into it. Be healthy, take my vitamins… and they grow. Now suddenly, they are completely dependent on us, and little do they know… we have no idea what we are doing! 😂

Both Mike and I don’t have much experience with kids; especially newborns. He is an only child and I am the youngest in the family. Sure, I’ve changed a diaper before, but heck – it’s been like 15+ years. I don’t think Mike has ever changed a diaper… I am just hoping that what everyone says is true, and that motherly instincts will just kick in once baby is here. It’s going to be trial and error, and learn as we go, but the one thing that I know for sure is this baby is already so loved, and we are ready to give her the best life possible.

Despite our fears, and nerves, and the unknown, it’s going to be a beautiful new life. We can’t wait to meet you, baby girl!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

COVID Baby Shower

August 25, 2020August 18, 2020by Rachel Stoops1 Comment

My sweet coworkers wanted to throw me a baby shower, despite the current circumstances that have made it so hard to see each other or celebrate. We of course wanted this to be done as safely as possible to keep everyone healthy. We initially planned for it to be outdoors in a backyard, although it ended up being a 95 degree day so that idea went out the window rather quickly.

We did our best to stay distanced inside, and held our breath for the few group photos that we quickly took. Also what better party favor than hand sanitizer?! That sure sums up a 2020 pregnancy. At least it was the cute, good smelling Bath & Body Works kind.

We had the best time. It was so nice to catch up with the girls that I used to spend 45+ hours every week with. To go from a majority of our time together to none is a huge adjustment and I have missed them all so much!

The girls spoiled the heck out of me and Baby Stoops (a.k.a. Baby Bubbles), and I am so beyond grateful for all of the wonderful goodies I got, but most importantly their friendship and excitement for me during this not-so-great of times to be pregnant.

Baby Shower 1