Tag: third trimester

Pregnancy

38 week update

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on 38 week update

🎶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

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on What’s in my hospital bag

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

37 week update

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on 37 week update

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

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on Preparing for Labor

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

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on Baby Nerves

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

36 week update

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on 36 week update

How the heck am I at week 36 already?! In certain ways this pregnancy has felt like an eternity, and in other ways it seems to have flown by. I have literally been pregnant all year. One month left. Is this the home stretch? I have to admit I’m a little sad that we are nearing the end, but also beyond excited to meet this sweet little bundle of joy!

This morning I had my OB appointment, accompanied by a growth ultrasound to make sure that baby was looking good and growing well. My belly has been measuring a few centimeters behind, so they just wanted to make sure that baby girl was growing as she was supposed to be! What mama doesn’t want an extra ultrasound?!

The even better part was that Mike got to join me – something that hasn’t happened since week 13 (thanks COVID!).

I didn’t really know what to expect baby girl to look like at this point! Last I saw her was at week 24, when she was nicely tucked in and you could see her cute little profile. She still had plenty of room to float about. By now, she’s squished in there and most of the scan I had no idea what I was looking at. Good thing the ultrasound tech is there to explain along the way. She’s head down (way down, apparently), and in birthing position – so that was the best news of the day! I thought she might be, but also felt like she might still be transverse. One less thing to stress about, though!

All of her measurements were right on track for where she should be and she was in the 40-ish percentile. Hoping she stays a little thing for mama’s sake. 😉

We unfortunately didn’t get any pictures to take home today – just not any photo-worthy moments to capture at this point. I’m just grateful I got to see her again and that she is looking good! It’s so hard to know what’s going on in there.

The tech confirmed that she’s got a head of hair in there! I cannot wait to see her sweet little face. 😍

After the scan, was my follow up OB appointment. This was the week for the GBS swab. Apparently this is something very normal that many women carry, but can affect baby during delivery. We’ll await the results in the next week or so, though it’s nothing to worry about; just takes a round of antibiotics during labor/delivery – no harm to mama.

From here on out, we are officially onto the weekly appointments! By far my most looked forward to plans of each week. 😁

36 weeks

Aside from appointments, I am just doing my best to get everything organized and put away. Our dining room/living room area have been full of baby items since the virtual shower, and I guess it’s about time for it to find a home. 😂 It sure is fun to sort through, but to be completely honest I have no idea where to begin! There is just so much stuff. Surely it’ll all come together, right?

I was also waiting for today’s ultrasound to make sure she was still a girl… I was so afraid that if I took the tags off of all of the clothes and started washing that it would be a boy again! So now with one more confirmation, loads of laundry it is, and the folding begins! Luckily we have a spare bedroom that I can hide extras in if I can’t find the perfect spot just yet. I just want the nursery to stay tidy and pretty!

I did do some major shopping over the last few days. One was a sale at a baby consignment shop where I scored some great deals! TONS of cute and barely used outfits for a great price. I also had a gift card to TJ Maxx, and had to hit up Ross as well. I feel so much more prepared and cannot wait to see our baby girl in these adorable clothes!!

The dogs are becoming more and more interested in all of these goodies in our house. They are usually the only ones to be spoiled with fun new toys around here. I haven’t quite figured out how I’m supposed to break it to them that none of this stuff is for them, but rather for baby sister… Oh well. I’m sure they will be the best big siblings we could hope for! Here is Yoda who thought he got a new dog bed.

I guess this play mat will be shared. 😂 He can be her little cheerleader/snuggle buddy.

Next up is packing my hospital bag because I promised myself I would be ready to go at 36 weeks and here we are. We’ll just say ready by 37 weeks is okay too. I’ve at least ordered my postpartum supplies on Amazon, so they are on their way! Just got to get it all into a bag and make a list of the grab-n-go items!

Still feeling really great most of the time, though the heat is certainly not helping. I know the temperatures aren’t nearly as bad as Las Vegas, but we moved to Denver for a reason! Upper 90’s for weeks on end, and 100 today is not what I signed up for. Thank goodness for a cool basement to escape to.

Here’s to a few more weeks until we get to meet baby girl!

Laugh Often- Rachel

 

 

Pregnancy

Planning a Virtual Baby Shower

by Rachel StoopsLeave a Comment on Planning a Virtual Baby Shower

Among all of the ‘fun’ things that I have gotten to experience during this pandemic pregnancy, the lack of your traditional baby shower was a big one. Especially being a first baby, I think everyone imagines being celebrated with friends and family gathered all together, playing games, enjoying snacks, opening gifts, and the cute decorations. Since my family is mainly up in Seattle, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I pictured a baby shower at my Mom’s house with friends and family by the lake – a beautiful summer gathering. This would of course involve travel for me, so I knew that it would need to be an earlier than normal shower. Once COVID hit, I assumed it would last for a month or two and then be a thought of the past. Boy was I wrong. Here we are in August, and I would not even think about hopping on a plane at this point. Needless to say, this idea was out the window.

Anyway, a few months back, my mom mentioned the idea of having a virtual shower. At first, I hated the idea. I thought it felt like a desperate ask for gifts, but she was pretty adamant about having a celebration of some sort however it had to look. If you know my mom, once she has an idea, she doesn’t let it go, so I began to research ideas online of fun things we could incorporate. Suddenly this idea didn’t sound so bad after all.

I wrote down a number of different ideas I had seen and liked to play off some family members and ultimately came up with the outline that I’ve included below. I also got lucky that my brother and his girlfriend had just attended a virtual baby shower so they were able to help tell us what worked well and suggestions to make it more inclusive and interactive for guests, which was a huge help!

Virtual Baby Shower Outline

  1. Arrival (wait on any stragglers) Make sure everyone has their beverage ready (see toast below). Explain key parts of Zoom for those who may be unfamiliar (chat box, mute, etc.)
  2. Welcome from Host
  3. Introductions – go around and un-mute/spotlight guests one at a time to say hello, how they know the parents-to-be. This way guests will know who others are.
  4. Toast (at end of introductions) go back to host to make toast. **In invitation, we recommended that everyone make a ‘MOM-osa’ to their liking (or another fun cocktail) so we could all toast together as if we were all in one place.
  5. Games
    1. Name that Tune (used as more of an ice breaker)
      1. Create playlist of songs either with baby in the title or about babies
      2. Play song from beginning
      3. Have guests type answer into chat box – whoever submits correct answer first gets a point
    2. DIY Diaper Challenge
      1. Ask each guest to find something in their house that can be used as a baby, a cloth diaper, and two things to hold the diaper in place. (can’t be a real baby, a person, or a baby doll, real diaper, pins, etc).
      2. Give guests 4 minutes to run around and find their objects and come back. Play fun song over Zoom while guests are on the hunt.
      3. Guests must then put their cloth diaper on their fake baby and hold it up to the camera. Again, going around and un-muting/spotlighting guests to share their baby.
      4. Award points for completing the task and creativity.
        1. Select categories for prizes – we selected best (most practical/solid), nice try (biggest fail), and most creative.
          1. When it came down to it, everyone’s turned out great so I didn’t want to pick a ‘bad’ one so I changed the last category to honorable mention instead of biggest fail
        2. Parents to be will select their favorites of each category and winners will get prizes (e-gift-card)
    3. Guess Who
      1. Compile a list of ‘who is more likely to…’ questions and have the couple hold up a prop for who they think will do this task more
        1. Examples: who will change more diapers, who will the baby look more like, who will spoil the baby more, etc.
      2. We also sent a Google Form to guests via email prior to the shower so they could answer who they think. Once the parents reveal their answer, host will share what the guests thought.
    4. Baby Guesses
      1. Also included on the Google Form are some guesses for baby: name, arrival date, height/weight, etc. Guest answers can be shared using word cloud for popular guesses
  6. Open Gifts & Bingo
    1. A bingo card was sent out via email for guests to print (can also create their own if they don’t have access to a printer). You fill in the boxes with gifts you think the parents-to-be will receive and cross them off as gifts are opened.
    2. Prizes will be awarded for first bingo and first blackout. This way guests have something to do while gifts are being opened
  7. Nursery Tour  – show off the nursery
  8. Diaper Raffle
    1. We put this on the invitation as optional for anyone who wanted to send diapers or wipes.
    2. I will admit this part is a little bit trickier for a virtual shower because you can’t physically hand out raffle tickets as guests arrive with their diapers/wipes.
    3. This is for our grand prize – a larger Amazon gift card.
    4. We asked guests on the Google Form to tell us how many packs they sent, and I will also be able to see who purchased them directly off of the registry, but for anyone who ordered from elsewhere we will need to know in advance.
      1. This way we can put the names into a jar to draw for the prize!
  9. Advice for Parents
    1. Collected via Google Form – host will select a few to read off and send the remainder to the parents-to-be so they can read them all
  10. Thank You & Good Bye

 

In planning I had no idea how long this would actually take, but imagined it would be right around an hour or so. It turned out to go about an hour and 15 minutes or so, which seemed great – not too long or too short.

My mom and Aunt were the official hosts, but my brother quickly jumped in with his large personality to help run the show. I am so grateful for all of their help in making this such a special day in an unprecedented time.

This virtual shower was a HUGE success and I feel so lucky to have such great friends and family in my corner. Baby Stoops is already so loved (and very spoiled) and we cannot wait for her arrival. 😍

I didn’t really take any pictures unfortunately, though we did record the Zoom. Below is the little decorations I put behind where Mike and I were sitting.

Virtual Shower Background

Laugh Often – Rachel

 

 

 

 

 

Pregnancy

34 week update

by Rachel Stoops1 Comment on 34 week update

Is it just me or is time absolutely FLYING by? Here we are in nearly mid-August already. Less than 6 weeks until baby girl makes her debut!

Now that we are in the home stretch I feel like the changes are so much more noticeable. Baby girl is on the move far more often. She’s doing her thing in there and hopefully enjoying her cozy and happy little home.

The aches and pains are getting out of control. Some days are far better/worse than others. By evening time, some days my body feels like it might just snap in half. Whether it’s my lower back, pelvis, or pressure in the front, every movement makes you stop and think. And it’s only going to get progressively worse for the next 6 weeks? 😬 Yikes!

The simplest of tasks have become so hard. Bending over to put socks on? It’s a production, and I’m going to need a few minutes to catch my breath afterwards. Getting up off the floor after a workout? Forget about it… Just kidding. It’s totally doable, but not without a groan or two.

Bedtime used to be a comfort and relief. This is no longer. 😂 I finally understand what everyone else talks about not being able to find a comfortable position in bed. You can strategically stack as many pillows as possible around you and still feel like you’re melting away in pain. Eventually it seems to go away, just in time for your hips to be sore from all of the weight, needing to flip to the other side and it all starts over. Or, better yet – as soon as you get comfortable, you realize you have to pee for the 17th time.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. Just simply noting all of these wonderful feelings to look back on. Looking forward to the weeks ahead, and more uncomfortable nights until we get to meet this sweet baby girl. And then, sleepless nights will have a whole new meaning.

Based on the belly measurements, we are measuring just a bit behind as I have been for the past few appointments. Though not a huge concern, warrants another ultrasound at my 36 week appointment! Is there any pregnant lady that doesn’t want an ultrasound?! I cannot wait to see this sweet baby girl. Last ultrasound was at 24 weeks, so I’m sure she has changed SO much. Will she have hair?!🤞🤞 Even better news – Mike is allowed to attend the ultrasound portion of the appointment!  🙌 He wasn’t able to attend the last two ultrasounds or any recent appointments due to COVID restrictions so we are beyond excited for this.

I also scheduled the rest of my appointments to take me up until my due date. That makes it really real. So much excitement!!!

34 weeks

 

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

Favorite Pregnancy Snacks

by Rachel StoopsLeave a Comment on Favorite Pregnancy Snacks

I am a snacker. Always have been, always will be. Do I always make the healthiest choices? No. 😂 But I’ve certainly tried a little bit harder while pregnant. I’m no saint though. Sometimes I just have to sit down and eat some candy. I also find myself in snacking sessions where something sweet sounds good, and then I need to balance it with something salty, and then I keep going back and forth and it’s a never ending cycle! Okay, it eventually ends, but sure is hard! 😂

More so during pregnancy, I have focused on trying to sneak extra protein in during snack time so that I don’t just eat all day. I have listed some of my favorite snack ideas below.

 

Hummus with Whole Wheat Pita and Carrot Sticks

This is a great ‘salty’ snack, and I don’t feel bad about myself after eating it! I love to warm up the pita bread in the microwave for 10-15 seconds so it’s nice and soft and warm for dipping. Bonus: the whole wheat pita tends to have a few grams of protein. You also can’t go wrong with crisp, cold carrot sticks. I always know my buddy, Yoda will be close by if I whip the carrots out of the fridge. 😂 It’s like he knows the sound of the bag and comes running. He’s a huge fan and is great at catching them now.

Apple Slices with Peanut Butter

This is a classic and just SO good. It gives you a little bit of the sweet and salty, which is often perfect for me! I recently found a more natural peanut butter that I really like and it doesn’t separate in the fridge!! It is just the Kroger brand and the only ingredients are peanuts and salt. Perfection! My favorite apples are Honey Crisp (no explanation needed  😂).

Apples and Peanut Butter

Sargento Balanced Breaks

These have been a favorite for a while now. You can get a pack at Costco that comes with 12 packs – 6 are the cheddar with cashews and cranberries, and 6 are white cheddar with almonds and cranberries. I like the white cheddar ones just a little bit more, but both are so tasty. I noticed Costco came out with their own store brand of these, so next time I need to stock up, I will try their brand and see how they compare. These too give you the sweet and salty. I always try to get a bite with cheese, nut, and fruit, and it’s so good! They also have 7g of protein in each little pack, so it’s a great snack to fill you up!

Sargento

Fruit

If I haven’t mentioned it before… fruit has been my one true love this whole pregnancy. I cannot get enough fruit! After failing my one hour glucose test, I was so nervous to be diagnosed with GD because what was I going to do without fruit?! Thank goodness I got out of that one. I’ve been loving blueberries for a long while now. Grapes have recently become a hit (like going through Costco packages by myself), along with watermelon. It’s perfect that it’s summer so that I have so many great options! Nectarines are delicious too. I also love oranges, and pears. Any of these can help to curb a sweet tooth, and taste so fresh on a hot day. If you want to add some protein to this snack, eating fruit with cottage cheese is a great option.

Skinny Pop Popcorn

Popcorn is a great salty snack that doesn’t come with a lot of calories. This is something that’s great to munch on in bed while watching tv, or in those moments when you just need to mindlessly snack. I was hoping to find the giant bag at Costco, but they only had the individual snack baggies. Though more waste, it at least helps me to eat less at once. 😂 Boom Chicka Pop also has a delicious sweet & salty kettle corn that you can get a giant bag of at Costco. Probably a few more calories, but SO delicious.

Popcorn

Make Your Own Snack Trays

These are fun, and also work great as a little lunch if you are feeling more snacky. Many of the things from this post can go in the tray, but it’s basically a way to get a variety of options and make a little meal out of it!

I tend to take a little Tupperware, and then I have these silicone muffin tins that I’ll fill with different snacks. You can add anything that you like, and again I always like a mix of sweet and salty to satisfy all of the taste buds. 😊 Some items that I’ve used are baby dill pickles, black olives, apple & peanut butter (or sliced cheese), trail mix, Cheez-its or Cheddar Bunnies, blueberries, grapes, carrots & hummus, candy, nuts, etc. Honestly you can take just about anything that you have around the house, and make a little tray of it. So fun! This is a great idea for feeding kiddos too.

Snack Tray

Greek Yogurt with Granola

I’ll admit, I don’t love yogurt, or Greek Yogurt for that matter. Especially if it’s plain. I always want the fun, sweet and fruity flavors, but these tend to have so much added sugar in them. And then if you are going to add granola into it.. is it even a healthy snack anymore? I’ve tried to force myself to eat more of the plain yogurts because it is so good for you! Not only does it have protein, but great probiotics that my tummy needs. Then if I add a granola that has some sugar, I don’t feel quite as bad. Berries are great to add to! You could also do a splash of honey, agave, or maple syrup to sweeten slightly if you really can’t stand the yogurt taste – just try not to overdo it. 😉

Also if you haven’t tried the Safe & Fair Birthday Cake Granola yet, you are missing out. Again, I don’t know if this counts as healthy but it is SO good.

Yogurt & Granola

Yasso Bars

This is a new found love for me and how did I not know about these sooner?! These are Greek Yogurt bars, but I swear they taste exactly like an ice cream bar. I’ve only tried the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor so far, but it is phenomenal! I have a feeling that will remain a favorite, but I also see that they have mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, fudge brownie, sea salt caramel (to name a few) that I definitely need to try!

Depending on the flavor, it looks like they have anywhere from 80-140 calories (most are right around 100), and 5g of protein! If that isn’t a healthy dessert snack, then I don’t know what is! They are honestly so satisfying; I wish I was eating one right now.

Yasso

Okay I could go on and on about food, but these are some solid healthier options that have helped me through this wonderful journey and I’m sure I will continue to eat beyond.

Happy Snacking!

Laugh Often – Rachel

Pregnancy

32 week update

by Rachel Stoops2 Comments on 32 week update

Now that I am getting so far along in pregnancy, the changes are easier to notice. The aches and pains are setting in, and I just feel big.

I am fully aware that from here on out, I’ll only be growing more and getting more uncomfortable, and I am probably ‘small’ in comparison to the end result, but I figured if I documented every few weeks, I might be able to better remember everything I’m feeling!

On the more exciting side of things, I am starting to feel baby girl moving so much more. She must be running out of space in there. Up until the last week or so, I mainly felt her first thing in the morning if I could relax in bed after waking up, and again right before bed as I was laying down to relax for the night. I wasn’t sure if I just had a lazy baby, or if maybe when I was busy moving around most of the day I just wasn’t noticing her movements.

Now I’m noticing her way more throughout the day, whether it’s while I’m sitting in the car getting kicked (or punched) in the ribs, (that was a new and very different feeling to experience….), or just some rolling movements as she adjusts. The movements are also spreading out into all different places. I initially only felt little movements on the right side, but now they can be in the middle, left, up high, or down low. Mike and I are both tall, so I am expecting a long baby. Maybe she’s experimenting with stretching out finally. 😂

Also – hiccups!!! I feel like she gets them 1-2 times a day. It’s a faint little feeling, but very rhythmic and repetitive in comparison to the other movements. It’s just so cool!

It’s so fun to just focus on the movements when I feel them. Sometimes it will be a quick few and then she goes quiet again, and other times she will carry on for a bit; really moving and grooving. I wish I could see what she was doing in there!

On the not-so-fun side have been the new aches and pains. Over the last two weeks, the lower back pain has really started. Along with… groin pain? I’m not sure if that’s exactly what it is, but it is my best guess! The back pain has been most noticeable after a walk – not always immediately, but sometimes if I sit in one position for too long, then I pay for it. And the groin pain tends to be on workout days.

I’m sure my body is just not used to having all of this new weight pulling forward. It is an adjustment for sure! I have noticed that warm baths help, along with stretching. It’s never good for muscles to get too tight, and I can certainly feel it more now!

I would LOVE to go for a prenatal massage, or even a visit to the chiropractor. I’m just not sure how safe I feel doing those right now. Oh well – a girl can dream.

OB appointments are every two weeks now. We are really starting to get into the nitty-gritty; talking about labor now! It always felt so far away, but I guess it is just around the corner. 😳

32 weeks

Here’s to two months left!

Laugh Often – Rachel