I have a minimalist philosophy when it comes to being a parent. I don’t subscribe to what I call the huge travel system stroller ideal (complete with diaper bag on shoulder, purse on shoulder, baby in hand while shopping), I don’t pack everything in the house in my diaper bag, and I absolutely do not think you need toys wherever you go with your kids. Some don’t agree. For you, this post will not be your favorite. For all of you that like to travel light, however, this is THE post for you.

Yesterday I talked about what to bring to the hospital with you when you deliver your baby. It may have seemed like a lot but it’s really not once it is all neatly packed in your overnight bag and diaper bag. Yes, that’s it. Two small bags. If you missed the post, read it here!

Today I’m going to talk about what you DON’T need in the hospital. I consider the following superfluous items that will simply stay in your bag during your stay…just adds extra weight. Who needs that?

DO NOT BRING:

1) Jeans or more than one outfit.

You need the pajamas and cute robe and you need a comfy going home outfit. That’s all. Jeans (or tight, restrictive pants) will either not fit right or be uncomfortable (cut into your C-Section stitches or be terrible…for reasons that are pretty obvious, I think…after a vaginal delivery). Save them for a few weeks out. Any other outfit you bring you won’t wear because you just want to be comfortable after the delivery marathon. Trust me.

2. Diapers and Wipes = bulk, bulk, bulk. Plus, they give you all of this in the hospital.

3. Heels. Do I really need to explain this one? NO.

These DO rock, however. I DO want them, STAT. Cole Haan

4. Snacks and drinks.

The hospital most always provides you with  a snack station and plenty of fluids (if you are allowed to have them) for during labor and in recovery. Like I said yesterday, bring the cash for the pizza post-delivery. That’s all.

5. More than one book or magazine.

Listen: I had the longest delivery ever. EVER. If you want details, email me. I never touched my mags and books. I was either sleeping or concentrating on the labor thing. That’s the funny thing about labor…it’s a little distracting! Then, post delivery, let’s be honest. You will be taking care of that baby and resting.

6. Any legal paperwork other than your registration materials and insurance information.*

Be safe so you don’t lose it. If it becomes an issue, you will likely have your husband or a family member run off to get it for you. The likelihood is that you don’t need it so don’t risk it.

*Make sure to ask your hospital/doctor to make sure.

7. A WHITE or similarly solid colored pillow.

DO bring your own pillow. DO put it in a crazy pillow case. If you don’t, it will be easily whooshed away with the standard issue hospital linens. Oops!! That would stink.

A super fun and bright option from PBTeen

8. Expensive jewelry or other seriously valuable items. You will be tired. It’s hard to keep track of everything. This is another “just in case” scenario!

I’ll settle for this ring as a baby present from my hubs…hint hint, honey!!

There are a myriad of other silly things to not bring with you. I am assuming we all have common sense, however. If you have any questions or thoughts about what to bring/not to bring, let me know!

Adrianne

I know you’ve been itching to see what I was able to grab at last Friday’s Kid’s Layne sale! While I don’t think there is physically enough room on this post to show you everything I bought, I will show you the TRUE steals and leave you drooling. There was such a benefit to getting there early (preggers and grandparents could shop two hours earlier than everyone else). By the time I arrived, two of my friends had already piled up a bunch of girl things for me. You are thinking I spent a fortune…I know. How about $300. YES. $300. And, most of it was brand new. I don’t mean to be tacky, but it was such a score…

Ok here are the besties of what I bought:

Yes, of COURSE I bought her a ladybug outfit!

Yes, bugs, okay. BUGS!

Look closely – this may well be her “coming home” outfit. It’s soft, soft cotton. Look at the embroidery and ribbon! YES, in the bag are the matching blanket, bonnet and booties. MAY I be tacky again?? $10. Brand NEW. $10.

This satisfies my need for Chanel in my life. It’s not Chanel but it should be. Chanel for babies…that could be dangerous!

Aww…nordic baby. This is not a new item but is 100% in new-like shape.

Tea Collection…brand, spankin’ new Tea Collection.

Again, brand new Tea!

Tea three times!

Yes, Tea to the fourth. And, I found the leggings to match all of them. I know. I CRY with excitement.

Her Halloween outfit for next year (or her 1st b-day party outfit…if this chick comes a little early)!

Her Turkey Day outfit for next year (or her 1st birthday party outfit… if this chick comes late)!

And, the pinnacle find of it all…the Feltman Brothers dress for $15. I found the SAME dress in Nordstrom for $68. The SAME one.

Never underestimate a good, old fashioned sale.

Happy Tuesday!

Adrianne

Happy Monday! I thought I’d start the week off on a positive, clean note. Remember what a disaster my pantry was last week?? If not, here are a few totally embarrassing pics:

Oh NO!

GRACIOUS! Again, observe rum next to protein powder next to nursery duck snow globe next to protein powder next to Terro ant killer…

The mish-mash…

So that’s really, really bad, right? Well, yesterday I couldn’t take it anymore. My friend, Sara, (bless her heart) had offered to come out and clean the pantry for me as a baby gift. (That really says how bad it was when your friend will do it for you!) I will still take her up on an assisted trip to buy multiple containers to store things in for the pantry but, I HAD to do something about the mess. I couldn’t take it anymore. I started with a good, old fashioned game of “Let’s Be Honest.” Have you ever played that game? Here’s how it goes:

1. Evaluate the project at hand. Realize you need to devote at least an hour…to get started. Hope it won’t take that long!

2. Begin going through each item in the cluttered area.

3. With each item ask yourself, “Have I used this/worn this/needed this in the last six months?” The answer is a BIG FAT NO most of the time. Sometimes you fudge because you are emotionally attached to the item in some way (a wedding coozie, the black, worn-out flip flops you wore on your Honeymoon). Well…you need to SMACK your FACE and say, “LET’S BE HONEST: I NEED TO GET RID OF THIS OR IT WILL SIT THERE FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.” Then, throw it out.

4. Once something is in the throw out/give away pile, that’s it. You cannot retrieve it or change your mind.

I know that sounds harsh but people like me NEED that kind of harshness in the game. Hence the name, “Let’s be honest.”

Okay so here are the beautiful results of my game with the pantry:

Everything in it’s place…the cooking gear in on a cooking shelf, the cookbooks on a cookbook shelf, canned goods on a canned goods shelf…

Pasta on the “pasta” shelf…no sign of whey protein, snow globe, Terro ant killer anywhere. Sub in “snack” shelf complete with sassy mermaid bowl for yogurt raisin boxes, goldfish packs, etc.

That’s right, the rum moved to the liquor shelf:

Please note 1/2 the coozies are there now as well as 1/2 the liquor. That’s right. I threw out booze. It was hilarious…we had four bottles of Wild Turkey in there. No one in this house drinks Wild Turkey. I may have been called that once or twice but, well, you get it. We didn’t need it in the pantry.

Oh! And, look at that beautiful space on the floor. Now we have a lovely space for our recycle bin!

I hope this inspires you with your nesting, Spring Cleaning, “lighten your load” projects! I promised you Sara’s Top Five organizing tips…she is visiting family so I’ll get back to you on that one.

Happy Monday!

Adrianne

If you have been pregnant or are pregnant now, you probably know that BabyCenter.com sends you weekly emails telling you about the state of your unborn child. You also know that included in this “state of baby” email is a comparison regarding his/her growth. Sometimes this can be helpful and you can picture the size of your baby right away. Par example, “This week your baby is about the size of a lentil bean.” Yes! I got it! I know exactly what a lentil bean looks like:

Your baby at six weeks. And, yes, thank you for the quarter comparison…just in case you didn’t know the size of a lentil bean.

Or, a lime at twelve weeks along:

After twelve weeks, it gets a little tricky to compare growing baby to a vegetable or fruit. For example, the avocado is the item of comparison for 16 weeks. As a friend of mine asked, “Is it a smaller, organic avocado or a medium sized avocado or the biggest avocado I’ve ever seen?” I just don’t know.

Wow! A spaghetti squash! That is pretty big at 22 weeks, right! But, then, at 24 weeks, your baby is demoted to an ear of corn:

It seems odd, doesn’t it? Now my baby is long and thin. I didn’t feel long and thin at 22 weeks…

So, you ask, how far along am I now? 28 weeks. What is my veggie comparison? A Chinese Cabbage.

I have to say that this one is dead on. I feel this much bigger than a quarter….MUCH bigger.

Now I’m off to Richmond for the “smocked outfit smackdown” I discussed yesterday. If you go, find me! I’ll be the pregnant lady whose belly looks juuuusssst about the size of a Chinese Cabbage.

Adrianne

That’s it! I have HAD it with clutter in my household. I don’t know if it’s because I am probably “nesting” before kid #2 gets here or what. But, it doesn’t matter. I want everything OUT, GONE, BYE-BYE. The funny thing is, we did this a year ago before we moved! And, we gave away LOTS of things and threw out even more. How did it all come back??

So, what is exactly on my task list for this organization effort? It’s soup to nuts, unfortunately: the laundry room, the pantry, the FIVE junk drawers in the kitchen (we started with only one), my dresser, the bathroom drawers (used to be organized with only what I needed), my closet, Tripp’s closet, Davis’ closet, the nursery closet. It’s a lot but I think with strategic planning and consistent execution (and a trip to the container store) we’ll be okay. My friend, Sara, is a MASTERhttp://www.lambchopdesigns.com/website/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=4143&message=10 at this process. She puts Martha Stewart to shame. Needless to say, I have enlisted her help with this massive project. Our first challenge is my pantry. Observe:

This is an overall pantry shot. It’s embarrassing. I am really opening myself up to all of y’all so be easy on me!

This is HILARIOUS!  1) What is whey protein doing in my pantry? My husband does NOT drink it nor is he a weight lifting competitor. 2) Why is Davis’ duck snow globe (from when he was tee-ninsy) next to the whey protein? It just looks weird, right?!

3) There is a huge bottle of rum next to the protein. Hmmm…. 4) Terro…on the shelf…in a pantry. WRONG.

The spices used to be organized. The napkins used to be in a nice little stack. The Ziplocs and foil used to not be slammed onto the shelf. What gives?? I PROMISE you we are not slovenly people!!

Clearly, we have a case of the “oh, I think that goes in the pantry” syndrome. Lesson #1: Not all things in the kitchen/for the kitchen belong in the pantry. Lesson #2 (maybe a spin from #1): Just because you have a spacious pantry doesn’t mean you should use it all for everything. I showed these pictures and seven more to Sara today. She said to me, “Why don’t I just come out there and do it for you? You watch the kids for an hour and I’ll do it. It’ll be your baby present.” DONE. I have asked her to give us all her TOP FIVE tips for organizing all the true clutter that somehow just happens to your closets and drawers while you are sleeping. (No way it’s because of you, right?!)

Keep reading every day for these tips and my progress. I can’t wait for it to be pristine (a la Real Simple Magazine)!

Adrianne

If you regularly read my blog posts, you know I am a total geek at heart. I love school supplies! There is nothing like buying a set of brand new #2’s or an untouched, thick, college-ruled notebook. Ahhh…the smell of that clean, fresh paper! I think I get really excited about the potential for that paper, too. You know, I wonder what ideas will get jotted down or what doodles will pop up. In my world, there are always doodles that pop up. Therefore, needless to say, I was VERY excited to get Davis’ “back to school” school supplies list in the mail this week. The list is so beautiful: we get to buy brand new crayons and Elmer’s glue. We are going today!!

Because of the bounty of school supplies we’ll be buying, Davis will need something to put it all in…which brings me to my other love…brand new backpacks! I know, can I get ANY nerdier? At least I admit it. So, here’s what I found on the market for pre-schoolers.

I looked at L.L. Bean first, naturally:

I love this backpack. It’s smaller for preschool age kids and has a truly sassy shark design! Plus, I always had an L.L. Bean backpack…still do. You just can’t go wrong. These things last forever!

The girlie version is cute, too. Lime fishies!

How about this cutie collection from Garnet Hill? Who knew they did kid’s packs? These are designed for kids ages 4 and up. I love the prints!

Now, if we want to get crazy cute, check out all the following from Skip Hop:

I love red and dark brown together…especially on this sassy monkey! Check out the banana zipper…hilarious!

The precious zebra…and, last but not least from Skip Hop, the BEE. So cute!

And, of course, the standard Pottery Barn Kids.

You can also get the matching tote and lunch box…and personalize it.

Winning as one of my favorites…the Bookosaurus Backpack from Land of Nod.

And, the Little Lady Backpack from Land of Nod:

I’ll take one of each, please! Cannot wait for the organization and smell of September, Choppers.

Adrianne

I know everyone has been chomping at the bit all weekend wondering how our potty training/naked experience has been going. (Remember, Davis now refuses to wear diapers so we have had to kick this potty training thing into HIGH gear.) The official report is Davis gets an A on all fronts!! Saturday was exhausting…all we did was go back and forth to the potty (he was naked) and hope for something to happen. I was so tired after the morning I took a three hour nap. CRAZY! Here is the all-intimidating potty:

Distractions were important to get him to stay on the potty for longer than 30 seconds. These were a strategic mix of watching Curious George cartoons (one about the zoo, in particular, over and over and over) and playing in his sandbox (yes, we put the potty in his sandbox….).

For FOUR hours, nothing happened. NOTHING! FOUR HOURS! I know. It’s like when he’s naked, he doesn’t want to have an accident. But, as soon as that underwear or diaper is on him, BAM, it happens. Anyway, finally at around 6:30pm Saturday, we had our first huge potty success. Then, Sunday, we had another potty success (and he didn’t have to sit on it forever – just three minutes)! Of course, when there is something to be celebrated, the Buggs truly celebrate it. When Davis finally went on the potty, we had cookies and stickers and silly bands and dancing to 80’s music. It was a lot of fun!!

I am extremely encouraged by his progress this weekend. It also encourages me that moving him to a big boy bed is the right thing to do. We decided to get him special new sheets (they are a surprise so don’t tell),

(His quilt from Pottery Barn Kids)

We’ll be alternating between “choo choo” sheets and, naturally, Curious George sheets (both from PBK as well):

a “big boy bed pack” including a flashlight and brand new books,

Isn’t this flashlight from Little Tykes hysterical?

a special monkey clock that will tell him when he can “wake up” (code for get out of bed…we don’t want to point out to him that he will be able to get out of his bed now). The monkey named “Momo” will open his eyes at a preset time, thus, telling him it’s okay to wake up. I hope it works (truly crossing fingers)!!

Hopefully, we will continue to move in this direction! If you have any advice or tips for me, as usual, let me know!

Adrianne

I’m telling you…everyone I know is either preggers or getting preggers. So exciting! One of my girlfriends called me yesterday morning to discuss symptoms of potential pregnancy. It was so fun! She has all-of-a-sudden started to feel nauseated and then tired. Then, not nauseated but tired. Then, not wanting her regular glass o’ wine at dinner…sounds yuk to her. Then, today, feeling fine. What gives? I am rating this a 70% chance she will confirm she is pregnant within the next two weeks.

Pregnancy symptoms are so funny (and not-so-funny sometimes). Isn’t it ridiculous that they are the same symptoms of having the flu or a cold? This is terrible because you sit there wondering if it’s a fluke or if you are going to have a kid. I feel a little sick…was it those oysters or am I pregnant?! OMG! BIG, HUGE DIFFERENCE. It’s also amazing to me that we can perform heart transplants, complicated brain surgery, reverse signs of aging, but we cannot figure out if we are pregnant the day or day after it happens (or even within a week).

Anyway, if you are a friend of mine…you’d better watch out. There is something in the water, so to speak.

In the spirit of all these pregnancy vibes, I thought I’d share more ideas on ways to pamper yourself and your pregnant friends. So, my lovely friend who called yesterday (you know who you are!), indulge in some of these and try not to think about taking that test for another week, at least. (I know, pure torture.)

1. Clear My Head Herbal Inhaler:

This baby is essential!! It not only does what it says (clear your head) but it makes you feel totally rejuvenated…a must when the smell of everything else can make you run sprint to the porcelain gods. It is a combo of wonderfully smelling essential oils and natural herbs. Perfect for the mom-to-be or for anyone on a tough day.

2. Prenatal Yoga Classes (A gift certificate!)

I became hooked on yoga during my last pregnancy. HOOKED. It makes me feel so good, pregnant or not. It especially makes me feel great now that my body is not always cooperating with how I feel mentally (or v.v.). I recommend OmMama in Richmond for in-studio classes. Leslie is the best!! OR, if you can’t make it to a studio (now that I live in the country…this is me), the following DVDs are great!

The always wonderful Shiva Rea…

I love the woman on the cover. You GO with your bad self…wearing that bikini top while doing yoga.

“Complete” sounds like my cup of tea.

Get all three on the OmMama website!

3. Dinner…delivered to your door:

I like to cook when I am in the mood and have time. 70% of the time, those two things never align. Then, add being pregnant and not feeling my best (or feeling my best and not wanting to cook!). In Richmond, VA there is a lovely lady named Chef Maura that will deliver wonderful meals to your door step. This gift is perfect for your pregnant friend or just-had-a-baby friend!

Whoa! Shazam! She is spirited! And, on today’s menu…I’ll have the Chicken Croquettes with Peppered Cream Sauce, Roasted Red Potatoes, Baby Peas and Carrots please. Done!

3. Housekeeper for a Day:

Hire someone (or go yourself) to clean your preggers’ house. She doesn’t want to. She doesn’t feel like it. Try someone like Merry Maids:

Oh my! She looks rather blithe while dusting that sideboard…must truly be a “Merry Maid.”

4. Lavender Eye Mask: Do I really need to explain the awesomeness of this one? Really?

Lavender scented eye mask from Dream Essentials.

5. Pedicure:

There is nothing better than fresh, smooth feet and shiny toes to brighten my day. It’s true! I love everything about it: the scrubbing, the filing, the massage, the awkward massage chair (and they can be quite awkward…), the freshly painted toenails. I may have to get one right now!! If you can swing it, splurge on a fancy one. I prefer The Tides Inn:

I’ll take the flowers, too. Thanks!

6. Indulging Her Every Craving…Just for One Day:

Feeling drab? Yes. Want a cupcake? Sure! What about some Cheetos? Yes! Rice Krispy Treats? Absolutely! Mac and Cheese? No doubt! I say, when your buddy is feeling worse for the wear that giving her all of these treats is such a great indulgence. Don’t get me wrong – I am not promoting eating whatever you/she want(s) just because of the pregnant state. No, maam!! But, for one day when you really, really need it…go for it (assuming you didn’t just do it yesterday). Speaking of…my Miss Babe wants this today:

mmmmm….brownies! (From Allrecipes.com)

I’m serious. I am going to go make those brownies now.

More tomorrow!
Adrianne

We’ve been thinking about names a lot lately, new baby coming and all. And, I started looking in the “really not popular” area of names. You know, the names that haven’t been used in 100 years or that are not on Baby Center’s  “Top 100″ list of 2009?

I think this name business is so funny. Even the “non-trendy” names come back into popularity eventually. (Olivia, Emma, Henry) And, isn’t it funny that by trying to be so “original” we, more likely than not, end up being a part of the trend of the decade? When I was born in the late 70’s, Kristins and Chads and Ashleys were bursting at the seams. I would love to interview moms from that decade to see if they knew those names would be popular or not. Listen: having a popular name is NOT a bad thing…everyone likes it! (And, disclaimer, I have lots of friends with solid, popular names…and I love them all…AND their names!)

Examples of names that were not “popular” a few years ago but now really, really are:

GRACE

LILY

LILY GRACE

Any name followed by “Grace”

TAYLOR

SOPHIE

ZOE (I used to think this was quirky…NO ONE was named Zoe. But, now, yep, #19 on the most popular list!)

LANDON

JACK (I knew no Jacks growing up…now they are everywhere!)

BRYCE

NOAH

LOGAN

Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with naming your child something on the Top 100…or even Top 10! I never met a Sophie or Bryce I didn’t like. I’m just saying… As my friend says, you just have to be prepared for your child to be “Christie B.” or “Rebecca M.” or “Matt J.” in school.

P.S. Have you ever seen this site? It’s based on the book, “The Baby Name Wizard.” It’s a great way to spend a lot of time playing…take a look!

So, what does this mean to my new babe? Well, Choppers, we are keeping it a secret. I would love your ideas on a name, however. What is something traditional and warm yet not on the Top 100? Or, something trendy that is unique? Can you be trendy and unique at the same time?
Ahhh…philosophy for a Tuesday.
Adrianne

I hope everyone had a good weekend! I spent mine catching up on work, seeing old friends, and, yes, rounding up the best maternity jeans out there. I know, it’s too hot for jeans right now. But, the fall stuff is already hitting the shelves…you need to be prepared. The following is an account of my favorites…I have been pregnant before and know what I like and don’t like. If you don’t agree with my selections, please submit your own!!

As I mentioned on Friday, there is a book (several) out  there that suggest you should simply wear your husband’s jeans while pregnant. This is absolutely WRONG and ABSURD. For the LOVE, please spend some hard-earned money on a decent pair. If it’s the ONLY money you spend in your entire pregnancy, you will thank yourself for this one splurge. Okay. Enough. Here we go:

1. Citizens of Humanity: This is the pair I purchased for my first pregnancy. I am not a huge fan of the “over the belly” style but, I do still wear them. I wore them all day yesterday as a test. They tend to slide down…which means a lot of hiking up…but, they eliminate “muffin top” and are pretty comfortable when they are hiked up!

I’ve also gotten a lot of compliments on these babies!

2. Paige Premium Denim: Here is the pair I purchased for this pregnancy. So far, NO complaints. I have to hike them up every once in a while but not all the time. I also bought them in a size smaller than my normal pre-preggers size. Sounds counter-intuitive but they stretched just a bit and now fit perfectly. I truly love these jeans and found them at It’s Hip to Be Round in Richmond. The picture below is courtesy of Nordstrom.

The best part about these jeans, in my opinion, is that there is NO panel to cover your ever-blossoming belly. They have an adjustable elastic on the inside of the waistband – like toddler pants. Genius! I really don’t like things tight around my baby belly, therefore, making these perfect all around.

3. Japanese Weekend: I have two different thoughts on two different pairs of these I have owned. I bought a cropped pair of jeans that was not ideal. They slid around everywhere and, well, let’s face it, the cropped style made me look dumpy – like a balloon on a stick! And, my husband didn’t make me feel better about it. He has a strict, no-crop-pants policy. I’m serious!!

These white jeans, however, are amazing. They look great, wash and wear well, and have the under belly band. And, they are light-weight denim. Perfection!!

Due Maternity

And, the indigo version:

4. Denim Leggings: I know they are THE thing right now but, please, I am begging you, if you have to wear them, wear the ones that are NOT like tights. See “not” version below.  I have only seen these look good on one person…no, wait, on NO person. Tell me if you think I’m wrong…case and point here:

Bless her heart, she is a totally hot mama! But, these leggings….

Now, these, aren’t that bad. But, they look a little more “jeany” than the ones above. I am also loving the killer heels!  Lavish:

5. I have also found that the key is buying the correct size. I found that buying a size down (I know…totally counter-intuitive) is better. Jeans end up stretching here and there and as you grow. Buying a little smaller will help them stay up. Or, you may want to buy two pairs; one for the first half and one for the second half of pregnancy. If you wear jeans as much as I do, it’s totally worth it.

PLEASE tell me your thoughts and experiences with this intimidating shopping mission!

Adrianne

Ok. I know all of you know that I am expecting in November. But, did you know that I have four other friends due around the same time?? Did you know that I have another great friend that just found out she is preggers? All of these babies on the way prompted me to think about what a girl needs most to relax, prepare, and take care of herself during this interesting time. Below are my suggestions for a care package! (Hint, hint to all you BFF’s and Hubbies out there!)

1. The top of the list for me…no question…is Belli Skin Care Belly Oil.

This stuff is magic. I used it every day when I was pregnant with Davis and have ZERO stretch marks. ZERO, people. I’ll say it again…ZERO! Of course, I am using it religiously this time, too. And, it smells delish!

You can also opt for the Belli Skin Care Pregnancy Pampering Kit for your Preggers:

2. A good book about what the HECK is going on with your body. Naturally, your friend will probably already have a copy of “What to Expect When Your Expecting.”

(This is exactly what I look like pregnant, in a huge dress, reading a book.)

I like this book, don’t get me wrong. But, it wasn’t enough for me. It needs a companion. The book below, “The Mother of All Pregnancy Books,” was such a great read in my first pregnancy. It was informative but not scarring.

You have to be very careful of what you let yourself read during this time…it can be too much information, not enough, or just plain BAD advice. For example, one book I picked up long ago said to simply wear your husband’s jeans and t-shirts to save money on maternity clothes. WHAT?!! ABSOLUTELY NOT. Of all the times in your life you need to feel pretty, this is the time. DON’T do that to yourself. Invest in a good pair of maternity jeans…and flattering (not men’s) shirts…worth every penny! (Another whole topic for another day!) Also avoid books that tell you you can eat whatever you want when you’re pregnant or books that are, in general, very negative. You’d be surprised how many are out there! If you end up with one of these…throw it in the trash can. Literally.

3. The Pregnancy Journal:

I have to give 100% props to the “What to Expect” people on this one. I have had several different journals and this one is by far my favorite. For no other reason, it’s great to look back on it during subsequent pregnancies or to show your child when he/she is older.

4. Milk Bath…DIVINE. I recommend Fresh found at Sephora:

5. A friend or husband that will help with laundry, household chores, kids, etc, whatever so you can SLEEP. BEST GIFT ON THE LIST.

6. Extra paid vacation days (yeah, right)…

7. A good prenatal massage…90 minutes, please! Try and find a place that has the foam donuts to hold your stomach. In other words, it props you up so you can lie on your tummy…heavenly! The side-lying massages just aren’t the same. If you are at the beach in NC, perhaps…try The Sanderling Spa:

8. A cute pair of flats. I love a good pair of heels…and still wear them on occasion. However, life is too short to be uncomfortable (but way too short to wear ugly shoes). Make sure you have one of these…or both!

Cutie Tori Burch’s: Super fashionable and great for any outfit this summer!

Or for a more sporty look…Garnet Hill!

9. And, back to relaxation: A lavender oil diffuser. Williams Sonoma

Doesn’t this picture make you feel more relaxed?? As I write this and my two-year-old won’t nap (read: he is yelling)…I feel slightly more calm! (Don’t worry, he is fine. I promise.)

Well, there you have it. Nine ideas for nine months (ten – wink!) of pregnancy. Have anything to add to the list? Let me know!

Have a great weekend!!

Adrianne

Yay!! Today kicks off one of my favorite weekends of the year. And, I love it when the Fourth is ACTUALLY on a weekend. Well, ideally on a Friday or Monday but, you get the idea. Anyway, today I thought I’d bring you a little slice of Americana…yes, it still exists. I live smack in the middle of it! Our town has about 680 people in it. That’s it. Swear! Over the Fourth weekend, that population at least triples (watch out!). Everyone’s sons and daughters and grandkids visit to enjoy the genuine spirit found here. You simply can’t beat it.

To jump start our celebration (in addition to popping a nice, ice cold Coca-Cola!), we rented a golf cart. Yep! Here she is:

Of course, we added those American Flags!

This sweet ride took us the entire mile down the road to Irvington Commons where we found the entire town and the Airforce Heritage Band. Here’s the entire scene:

We unloaded the golf cart and spread out our blanket and chairs in a primo spot at the front with our good friends. Then, we stood in line for a hot dog, cokes, three balloons (red, white, and blue – duh!), and a temporary flag tattoo for Davis.

At 7pm sharp, the band started playing. It was so great! They busted out some pretty awesome big band jazz and then faded into Ray Charles’ version of “America.” What’s NOT to like? Here are some more shots from the evening:

Rockin’ out to Route 66 and Johnny Cash!

My friend, Kate, and I (we hang out all the time and this is our first picture together….sad!).

Even the kids loved the music. Davis was intensely mesmerized!

Tripp, enjoying everything.

The balloon release at the end of the concert.

And all of this is just the beginning of our five day celebration! Next is the Farmer’s Market followed by an egg toss and tug-o-war, fireworks at my in-laws (and they are serious, REAL fireworks), boating and fried chicken while we watch professional fireworks on Sunday night, and, finally, the community parade Monday morning.Whew!

I hope you and your family enjoy a good, old fashioned Fourth…or even just a really fun and safe one!

Adrianne

P.S. I’ll be back on Tuesday. I’m taking Monday off!