Hey! I actually have two hands on a computer! Oh happy day! It's been just over six weeks since baby number three arrived, and today I wanted to share some of the products that have made life that much easier this time around! If you've got kiddos (or spend a lot of time with kiddos!), I'd love to hear what your favorite products are too in the comments! 

The Haakaa 

It wasn't until after we had our second son that I started hearing about the Haakaa, and ohmygosh, I wish I had known about this thing sooner! If you're a breastfeeding momma, you need this in your life! Essentially it's a manual pump that you squeeze and attach to your breast, and the natural suction of the pump draws the milk out for you. I use this to catch let downs on the opposite side I'm nursing, and oh my GOSH have I collected a lot of milk! I've only used my actual pump twice but am already building a freezer stockpile which is amazing! And it's less than $15. You're going to want this one - trust me! 

 

Unbuckle Me 

One of the things I was worried about when we got the minivan was how I'd get everyone out of it (especially in the winter!). Our 6 and 3-year-olds sit in the backrow, and while our 6-year-old can buckle himself, he can't unbuckle himself... until now! Enter the Unbuckle Me! I saw this ingenious little invention when I was shopping on Amazon and watched the Shark Tank clip where its makers introduced it. I figured it was worth a shot! And my 6-year-old is able to use it with ease - and unbuckle his little brother (when he'll let him!)! There are times he can't quite get it, but 90% of the time he can, and that's AMAZING. If you've got older kids, I highly recommend this one! 

Boba Wraps 

So let's be clear that my baby boys love to snuggle. They love to be held. They love to be close. And I love it too. But I also need to do the things and be with the other children. So Boba wraps have been a lifesaver (yet again!). I love strapping the baby to me for walks, prepping dinner, playing outside, or even when he just needs a good nap. Boba is stretchy, easy to wash, and easy to take on the go. I honestly can't recommend baby wearing enough, and Boba makes it so easy! 

Mamaroo Swing

We've had several friends use and love the Mamaroo, but we already had a swing (that my children spent all of 10 minutes total in as infants), so I didn't want to invest in another one. But when friends were getting rid of one, we jumped on it, and OH MY GOSH, GET IT! Don't get any other swing! Just get the Mamaroo! Skip all other swings! This is the only swing I've ever successfully gotten a baby to nap in. And he'll occasionally stay in it contently while he's awake too! Get one second hand, but GET ONE.

Those are my favorite four baby items right now, but I'd love to hear what gear helped you with your littles! Drop them below! 

Welcome to our family, baby Charlie: A birth story!

Our final family member is HERE! And today on the blog, I'm sharing baby Charlie's birth story. Spoiler alert: his birth was my favorite of the three because I finally felt like I knew what to expect. 

I'd had my last appointment with my doctor on Wednesday, February 3 at 38.5 weeks. At the time, I was 1.5 centimeters dilated, and she told me if I wanted to, we could go ahead and schedule an induction for the following week since I would be over 39 weeks. We went ahead and scheduled it for a variety of reasons, but the main reason was because of the due date. Charlie was due on Henry's birthday, and the thought of not seeing Henry turn 6 was really making me sad. Inducing meant we would be home in time to celebrate with him, and I was really wanting that. 

So, I called her office on Thursday to make the induction appointment. At the time, they had me come in for a Covid test (my first one! Not terrible! Not my favorite!), and then we hunkered down. 

On Saturday the 6th, we had a super purposeful family day. We spent the entire day together playing, watching movies, and being our family of four. It was glorious, and it was just what we needed before baby came. 

At 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, I woke up to go to the bathroom. At the time, I remember thinking that I had a cramp, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. A few minutes later, another one, and a few minutes after that, another. They were still feeling really light, but I downloaded a contraction timer app and started timing just in case. Sure enough, they were 6-7 minutes apart, lasting about a minute each. At 3, Harrison called out over the monitor for Dan. I woke Dan up to see what Harrison needed, but I also told him I was pretty sure I was in labor so not to get too comfy in Harrison's bed. He asked if I thought it was for real, and I said I was pretty sure it was. 

Instead of going back to sleep, I decided to take a shower. Still SUPER glad I made that decision because within 40 minutes, I was waking Dan up to tell him he needed to get packed for the hospital. I called my parents around 3:50 a.m. telling them not to panic but that I needed them to get ready and head to our house to be here with the boys. Two minutes later, I called my doctor to tell her contractions were regularly occurring about six minutes apart, and she told me it was up to me if I wanted to head into the hospital. I gave her a resounding, YES, we'll be heading in. If there's one thing I've learned by my third labor, it's to trust my body and what it's telling me. 

My parents arrived around 4:30, and I knew for sure we needed to go. We headed out around 5, and got to the hospital to register around 5:30. By 6, I was in triage, and the doctor on call came in to check me. He told me I was dilated 4 centimeters, so he'd call my doctor to see if she wanted them to keep me. I knew in my head we wouldn't be leaving, but it still made me nervous to hear him say that! Approximately 2 minutes later, and to ensure we were able to stay, my water broke. So, we were admitted! 

INTERLUDE! This is my third pregnancy. My first, we got to the hospital around 1 a.m., and Henry was born at 6:38 a.m. With Harrison, I dilated from 3-10 centimeters in less than 80 minutes. We missed the epidural (ouch) AND there wasn't enough time to get the doctor, so the two nurses in the room caught him! So I know that I labor quickly and that we wouldn't be leaving the hospital even if they didn't admit us. Additionally, both Harrison and Charlie literally didn't drop until it was time to push, so that's never been a helpful indicator for me that my babies were coming. I had no idea that was a thing! But it is! 

Back to Charlie. By 7, we were in our hospital room, and meeting our delivery nurse, Julia. We have been blessed with the BEST nurses each and every labor, and Julia was no exception! She too is pregnant (due in April), and we had lots to talk about while we waited for Charlie to come. Once we knew for sure we were ready to go, I asked for the anesthesiologist so I could get my epidural. 

Now, I'd like to interject here and say I've labored all the ways. I've gone into labor naturally, I've been induced, I've had epidurals, I've given birth naturally. But I'll say that as Charlie's birth loomed nearer, I was starting to get some major anxiety remembering Harrison's birth. His was fast but terrifying for me, and it happened so quickly, there was no time to process. I didn't want that again. And I was on three hours of sleep and already in pretty severe pain, so I decided epidural was the way to go. 

Dr. Steele was in the room right as he came on shift, and once I had the epidural, I felt nothing. It was AWESOME! Julia checked me again around 7:45 and said I was between a 5-6, so now was time to rest. I couldn't, though. So we watched the morning news. And when Julia came back at 9:15 a.m. to check me again, she  said I was at 10 centimeters, and it was go time. WHAT?! I thought maybe around lunchtime! But nope, we were ready! 

She called for the doctor, and the rest of the nurses assembled, and it was time to push! I gave two pushes, and Julia said, "Look down! You can see your baby!" And it was the coolest freaking moment of the labor and maybe one of the top ten of my life. I'd never looked before - too scared with our first and too fast with our second. So to have that special minute is one I'll never forget. 

And on the third push, he was here! Charlie Joseph, our third sweet boy, arrived with a strong cry - our tallest babe (which makes sense because LORDY did I feel him moving around in there!). He's the perfect baby to complete our family, and we couldn't be more thrilled if we tried! 

Big brothers met him at home the following night, and it was love at first sight... and pretty much ever since! Our oldest especially adores him and wants to hold him all the time. Our middle son goes back and forth between loving Charlie and trying to figure out if he likes him. But that could just be the three-nager in him. 

Having a baby during Covid was definitely different. We were home from the hospital 36 hours after we got there, and of course, we had no visitors at the hospital. But it was really nice to have a little time just us before coming home and being a family of five. As much as we wished grandparents and friends could have come to meet him at the hospital and afterward, it WAS kind of nice not having to entertain or feel like we had to work around visits. Even the nurses in the mother/baby unit seemed to visit a little bit less (which, could also be due to the fact that this was our third baby. They made it super clear that we could page them at any time!). 

It's been two weeks since this little love came along, and we're just happy. Sleep deprived, caffeine-filled, and happy. It's cliche, but it sort of feels like Charlie's been here all along, and the transition from two kiddos to three hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be... so far. But we've also learned some tricks along the way, and I'll be sharing those with you soon! <3 

Photo Credit: OMG Photography

Word of the Year 2021: Cherish

Many moons ago, I sort of gave up on the idea of New Year's Resolutions. It wasn't because I didn't see the value in them. I do. I just also believe that you don't need to wait until a new year to try something new. So I resolved to just make life changes as they come to me. 

BUT, that being said, in 2016, I adopted the idea of a one word focus for the year. I liked the idea of having something to center myself on when it felt like maybe I wasn't accomplishing things or just generally felt a little bit lost. I've always tried to find words that focused on family but also accomplishments (as you can tell, this is a theme in my Type-A life - gotta have those accomplishments there too!)! Words of years past included: 

2016: Thrive

2017: Count

2018: Flourish

2019: Intentional

2020: Connect (ha! virtually, maybe!) 

And so in 2021, as we get closer to our new baby arriving, as we become a family of five, as we (hopefully!) get back to spending REAL IN PERSON TIME with family and friends again, as my business is what it is because of the wonderful customers turned friends who support me, the word of the year for 2021 is:

Cherish!

I went back and forth between words many times before landing on this one, but ultimately this is what I kept landing on. I want to cherish these moments with Henry and Harrison before their new brother is born. I want to cherish those moments with our newborn when he gets here, even if I'm sleep deprived and it feels hard. I want to cherish the moments of being a family of five - something we've never been before. I want to cherish the moments with our family and friends and not take it for granted when we can see each other safely again. I want to cherish the quiet moments with a cup of hot coffee and a book and a warm couch to snuggle on. I want to cherish the messages and connections with my customers when they tell me we found the exact perfect piece of jewelry that tells their story or a bag they're obsessed with or skincare that's revolutionized their lives. I want to cherish the big moments and the little moments and every moment in between. I want to cherish it all. All of it. 

So when things start to feel out of control in 2021 (as at some point they surely will), I'm going to refocus on cherish - holding dear, keeping and cultivating with care and affection. <3 

Navigating a pandemic pregnancy: What I've learned so far

 

Let's dive right in, shall we? When the ball dropped on NYE 2019, my husband and I had some serious talks about whether or not we were going to add one more family member. We'd always been on the fence between two and three children, and we knew that if we were going to have another, it was now or never. We both turned 37 in 2020, and our oldest will be six next year, and we wanted everyone close together. So, we decided we'd wait until after our Disney trip in February, and then we'd see what happened. 

Well, as you know, the world exploded. We returned home from Disney on March 4, about five seconds before everything in the world shut down due to Covid. Life got strange in so many ways. But our plan stayed the same - we knew we still wanted to add another baby, and if we could, we wanted that to be soon. And, as luck would have it, in early June, I got a positive pregnancy test! 

But, navigating a pregnancy during a pandemic is WEIRD, for so many reasons. We knew several friends that were due at the beginning of the pandemic, but of course, they'd had no idea there would be a worldwide illness outbreak when they got pregnant. We, on the other hand, kind of knew what we were up against (although we hoped and prayed it would be long gone by the time the baby came). 

Gratefully, this babe is our third, so we knew what pregnancy was like during "normal" times. I was blessed with in person baby showers with our oldest, and we had a wonderful sprinkle with our second baby. I continued going to my favorite workout classes and taught Jazzercise until I was 35 weeks pregnant with both babes. People  hugged me. They touched my belly. I went to lunch with my girlfriends and playdates with my oldest, and life continued as normal. 

This pregnancy has been - weird. I haven't seen more of my friends in person in months. Most have never seen me pregnant this time around. It feels weird to not physically share such a monumental journey of having a baby with the people I'm close to. 

I haven't gone out to stroll the aisles of baby clothes, diapers, and gadgets for our little man. Gratefully, we have mostly everything we need already, but it feels weird to not take some of those quiet moments to just go look for new little things for him. 

Hell, the fact that we even found out the baby is a HIM is because of this pandemic! We didn't find out with our previous two babies, but of course, we had the luxury of having our families come to the hospital to meet our boys. This time around, his own brothers won't be there to meet him in his first few days, so we opted to find out so they'd know in advance what they were getting. 

But. BUT. 

There are so many great things that have come out of this pandemic pregnancy too. Honestly. 

Our family has spent more time together, and I feel like we've better prepared both brothers for what's to come. I know part of that is just KNOWING what it's like to have multiple kids, but I feel like we've gotten so much quality time together in these past several months, and I don't know if life would have naturally slowed down for us to do that otherwise. 

I've been able to tune in more to what my body is saying it needs. I tend to be VERY go-go-go, and that's great. But sometimes I ignore the triggers that say, "you need to slow down," or, "you're tired - you need to rest." While this pregnancy has been stressful just because of the state of the world, it's been so much easier to step back and listen (and take more naps!). 

I've savored this pregnancy more... I mean, maybe not that first trimester, but AFTER that part. Because of slowing down, I've noticed the flutters and the kicks and those things that much more - I felt this baby LONG before I felt the other two. 

Maybe it's the pandemic. Maybe it's knowing it's my last pregnancy. But it's made me more grateful for those moments. 

So, if you're in the midst of a pandemic pregnancy too, give yourself grace in all the things. Have gratitude when you can. Feel when you need to. And give yourself grace, always. 

And when you can, enjoy the ride. <3 

The end of an era: Hanging up my Jazzercise shoes

A lifetime ago, I was 22. I'd just graduated from college, and I was about 15 pounds heavier than I started my senior year. I'd been pulling late nights working at our campus newspaper and snacking a LOT while grading papers student teaching, so it wasn't a huge shock to me that I'd gained weight. But I was uncomfortable, and I wanted to do something about it. 

So my mom suggested we join Jazzercise together. She'd done the program a few years earlier, and really loved it. I told her we could try it. 

And after my first class, I was hooked. The music, the dancing, even the strength - it didn't FEEL like a workout. It just felt fun! So it became my workout five days a week. I'd go on my way home from work or on weekend mornings. It was the first program I'd ever stuck with for more than a few months, and I lost the extra weight I'd gained from college. Win-win. 

About eight months after I'd started, the owner, a wonderful woman named Karen, approached me to ask if I'd ever thought about being an instructor. It was LITERALLY the day I'd gotten laid off from my first teaching job, and I thought - well if this isn't a sign, I don't know what is! 

So in 2006, I added aerobics instructor to my repertoire. And I started teaching - first in one location, then two, then three. I'd teach three classes a week, then five for many, many years, and at times, I'd teach up to seven when we needed subs (one INSANE summer week, I taught nine because so many instructors were out of town. I don't recommend that!). 

But, as much as it was about the classes and the workouts, it was never really about that at all. It was always about the people. 

I know it's cliché to say that this group of people is the best you'll ever meet. But it's true. Jazzercise became a family for me. It wasn't just seeing people in class. It was the relationships you formed outside of them too. The women I taught at southside Jazzercise cheered me on through my first half marathon training - I carried a magic wand they gave me for the whole 13.1 miles. I got ready for my first date with my husband at Jazzercise of LaPorte with fellow instructors Janet and Becca keeping me calm the whole time. And the women at Jazzercise of Mishawaka - we've attended each other's weddings and celebrated each other's babies and so much more. 

But now it's time to step away. And it's sad. But it's time. I haven't taught in a studio since March. Our newest family member is due in February. And we're about to have three amazing boys under six while I work from home doing something I LOVE. The time just isn't there. And it's time to prioritize other things. 

So as hard as it is, I walk away knowing that those people I talked about - the best ones you'll ever meet - are still there. Just because my time on a stage is ending doesn't mean the friendships are. And that makes me feel infinitely better about taking steps forward.  

Baby P #3 is a...

Today marks 20 weeks of pregnancy with Baby P #3, and it's a HE! Which means we're adding our third sweet boy to our family! We've had a little time to process this news, and since is the first time we've ever known the sex in advance, it feels a little funny to know. And to call the baby HIM! I find myself reverting to "It," and then I have to remind myself, "Oh wait! We know this time!"

So, since this question has come up, I thought this would be a great time to address it. I want to make it clear that we're in no way disappointed about having a third boy. Is there a part of me that hoped I'd one day have a girl child? I mean, yes! It would have been so fun to have a little lady running around the house and have the chance to raise a daughter. But there are lots of experiences in life I'll probably miss out on, and THAT'S OKAY. (Seriously, you should see my travel Bucket List - probably not getting to all those amazing places either!) 

I could literally NEVER be upset about the fact that we've been blessed with three healthy babies and three healthy pregnancies. That's not something I take lightly at all. We are so lucky, and we know there are so many people who haven't had this experience. So, no, we're not bummed at all about having a third boy. I get that Gender Disappointment is a thing (it's real! I Googled it!). But mostly, we're just feeling really DAMN LUCKY.

We know boys in this house, and we love boys in this house. And now there will be three of them! Plus their daddo which means I'm pretty outnumbered. 

Our biggest problem right now is NAMES, y'all! We never officially intended to have H names for the boys, but those were the names we loved most. And now, we're feeling a little stuck. We haven't found a H name for this baby we love, but we also want something that's complimentary with the names Henry and Harrison (your suggestions are MORE than welcome, although we do have one we're leaning toward!)! And we're definitely NOT tied to having a H name for this baby.

So bring them on, friends. What do we name this sweet little nugget? 

Our Newest Addition: Baby P 3.0!

Well, hellllo, friends! I see you've made your way here to learn more about Baby P 3.0! You've come to the right place, and we're excited to share our little secret from the past few months with you! So, I thought I'd put together this handy dandy FAQ sheet! 

When are you due? 
Friends, whenever I do a training for my S&D team, I preach about consistency. And we are NOTHING if not consistent. So Baby P 3.0 is due on February 13... which just HAPPENS to be our eldest's birthday. Time will tell if that's the actual date, if Henry hates us forever, or if we get to give him a really cool gift! 

How are you feeling? 
The short answer is not good. The long answer is... holy hell, I don't know how women do this when they've got other littles to chase in the first trimester. I love, love, love my boys, but I'm exhausted, and chasing a 5-year-old and 2-year-old in the summer is, well, even more exhausting. I also pretty much wanted nothing to do with food, so that's fun. And I haven't had coffee since about week six. Yes, I miss it. But it makes me want to hurl. Speaking of hurling, that's happening this time around. I never threw up with the boys, so that's been a new and unpleasant experience. And from about week nine on, I've been suffering from Dysgeusia which is essentially a metallic or sour taste in the mouth ALL THE TIME. It's gross. Everything tastes gross. But, we seem to have turned a corner here at the end of the first trimester, and I will take that! Very much hoping for a return of energy SOON! 

How did the kids react? 
I told Harrison right away, because he's two, and doesn't have a clue what I'm saying. But we waited to tell Henry because he's five and says all the things. Henry was IMMEDIATELY excited! He jumped up and down and proclaimed it was going to be a girl. We told him the baby is due on his birthday, and he said the baby would be born a day after his birthday, on a Sunday. FREAKY. Because February 14 IS a Sunday next year, and it's not like we've talked to him about the day of the week of his birthday. So time will tell there! Harrison likes to kiss my tummy and goes back and forth on whether he thinks it's a boy or a girl. They ask about the baby a lot, pray for the baby every night, and tell us how they can't wait to see the baby when it gets here. Be still my heart! 

Were you planning on 3 babes? 
We always said we had a window of 2-3. Welp, decision made! 

Will you find out the sex? 
With the boys, we never knew the sex until Dan announced it upon their arrival! But this time feels a little different. This is DEFINITELY our last baby, and with so many unknowns in the world right now, I felt like any additional information we could have this time around would be good. We've opted to find out, and I'm excited to see how it feels doing it this way! 

Is a pandemic the right time to have a baby? 
I mean, NO. But I'm 37, and it could be years before Covid is no longer a thing. So we're taking extra precautions, following our doctor's orders, and hoping and praying for the best. 

Are you hoping for a girl? 
Absolutely! We need more girls in this house! But will I be bummed if it's a boy? Not in the slightest. We have two of the most amazing boys, so adding one more would be wonderful and adorable. But damnit, those ruffle bottom outfits are SO cute! Either way, we're excited to add the final Putt to our brood!