Nine Month Bumpdate // {Baby #4}

Well, this is it! The final bumpdate for my final pregnancy. What a feeling of coming full circle.

Maternity + Family pictures 2021

This will possibly come as a shocker but we have never had professional family pictures taken before. My mom was our Christmas card photog back home and I do everything else so this was quite the experience! Aunt Cindy gifted us this session with the lovely Rifka of Rifka Jensen Photography.

Eight Month Bumpdate // {Baby #4}

Somehow I skipped a month, oops! I guess it was bound to happen at some point 😅

Sweet Slumber with Figure 8 Moms // Tips + tricks for 3rd trimester sleep {Baby #4}

This post is sponsored by Figure 8 Moms. As always all opinions are my own. 

Anyone else struggling for sleep these days? Granted I have a very good excuse as to why my zzzz's haven't been their best and that is all due to being seven months pregnant. That dreaded third trimester sleep slump is upon me. 

Six Month Bumpdate // {Baby #4}

Affiliate links used. A small commission may be received if you purchase an item through my links. Thank you for supporting my blog!

23 weeks

Special occasions with Pinkblush Maternity {Baby #4}

This post is sponsored by PinkBlush. As always all opinions are my own. Affiliate links used. A small commission may be received if you purchase an item through my links. Thank you for supporting my blog!

One of my most favorite specialty shops for maternity clothing is Pinkblush. The first time I discovered this online boutique was back in 2013. I wasn't pregnant at the time but I vowed to return when I was.

Five Month Bumpdate {Baby #4}

Week 18

Four Month Bumpdate {Baby #4}

I honestly thought I would never be writing another bumpdate post so this just make me so happy!

How far along: Second Trimester :: Weeks 13-16

Size of baby: Avocado

Weight gain: 153 // 5 pounds.

Maternity clothes: I had to start over on the maternity clothes front. I had given my Clark-pregnancy clothes to Dana and saved only a few dresses. Thankfully, Dana sent me some great Blanqi leggings and I bought a few secondhand items.

Gender: We're announcing this week!

Movement: YES! I'm not sure if it is a combination of an active baby and this being my fourth pregnancy but I have felt movement very early on. Baby is most active in the evenings. I'm not sure what is jabbing me, but it is comforting to feel those movements.

Sleep: I haven't felt comfortable in bed for awhile. Once I'm not able to stomach sleep, all bets are off.

What I miss: Feeling comfortable in my clothes. Its too soon for full blown maternity clothes but my regular jeans and leggings dig into the belly. Add in bloating and its a regular party over here.

Cravings: Fruit smoothies. Cucumber, tomato, onion salad. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.

Symptoms: Extreme fatigue.

Highlight of the Month: I went to my first ultrasound at 13 weeks which turned out to actually be 14 weeks of pregnancy! Talk about a pleasant surprise.

12 weeks

14 weeks

16 weeks

Unexpected JOY

This post has been waiting to be shared for awhile now and I am honored to tell you we are going to be having another BABY! If you follow along on IG, I announced on Valentine's Day and now I'm sharing the nitty-gritty details here.

Naming our Son {Baby #3}

If this baby boy had been born 6.5 years ago he would have had a very different name. And isn't that funny? How much our preferences change? Before we found out that Kinsey was a girl we had our boy name settled: Braylen Gary- a "B" name to honor Brian and Gary after my papa. 

We can't really put our finger on why we won't be using that name now it just isn't our ideal son's name so without further ado: 

CLARK AUSTEN

will be oh so shortly joining our family!

"Clark" fulfills a few favorites. Brian's love for Superman lore and my adoration for surnames as first names (and 2/3 of our kids now boast them.)

"Austen" has always been a name I've liked. In Kindergarten a boy had that name and though I didn't give a hoot about that boy, his name always resonated with me. 

A couple of friends, Courtney and Stephanie actually asked if this was a homage to Jane Austen and yes it is, but only in spelling :) #bookloverforlife

For the longest time we were torn between order- Austen Clark or Clark Austen but then I had a dream (as always haha) that someone yelled "Clark" and I thought, "that's my son's name." And that was that.

So there you have all the nitty gritty (and maybe a touch of fan boy/girl) details of how we named our son!

Linking up here.

   

   

Month 9 final Bumpdate {Baby Boy}

How far along: THIRD Trimester :: Weeks 36- 40

Size of baby: 38 weeks is a winter melon

Weight gain: And the final weigh in tops the scales at 36 pounds gained; Same amount as I gained with Kinsey but feels like so much more. I'm not upset with gaining the weight, it's where the weight has distributed (lower body- legs & thighs) that has me feeling bad; that is not going to burn itself off and working out/dieting is not in my nature, lol. 

Maternity clothes: Still rocking the same old things and feeling less than stellar. 

Gender: boy!

Movement: So much! Which is funny because he's definitely running out of space in there! 

Sleep: I've been so tired lately, going to bed early has been a priority. But once I lay down, the fun begins. I get upset stomach instantly and then my back and hips hurt. Thankfully once I fall asleep it's sound.  

What I miss: Feeling comfortable in my clothes. Sleeping on my back and stomach. Being able to tie my shoes, shave my legs, heck, just being able to see my feet!

Cravings: All the fruit! 

Symptoms: The need for TUMS has been exponential which has me thinking maybe this boy has some hair after all?

Highlight of the Month: This will be my last bumpdate!! I am relishing the movements and the feel of the last baby growing within my body but am really looking forward to holding him earth-side. 

Today is also my hospital pre-admin and probably my first physical to check dilation and I'm definitely curious what that will show! 

I have been so extremely lucky winning baby giveaways this week that I joked it should end with me having a baby, well that hasn't happened (yet) but the odds are definitely in my favor ;)

Saturday my mom and MIL are throwing me a little sprinkle so that will be sweet day and the last hurrah before little man's arrival!

Linking up here.

   

   

Freshly Picked Moccasins for our Dapper Little Dude {Baby #3} + Giveaway

My love for Freshly Picked moccasins is no secret around here (or here or here!) and when I became pregnant I knew I had to have a pair of itty bitty moccs for the new babe. Thanks to Freshly Picked for sending baby boy a pair of moccasins. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase using one I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

When baby became Baby Brother I really got into finding the perfect pair for him! In the last few months Freshly Picked has introduced two new styles of moccasins, the City Moccs without fringe around the ankles and the Penny Loafer no fringe and a cute "penny holder" detail that are pure perfection for the dapper little dudes in your life!

I am so smitten with the Penny Loafer style, the classic look in quality leather sized just for new baby feet, that it makes my heart positively melt.

I have a set aesthetic when it comes to our son's wardrobe (give me all the gray neutrals, black and whites/creams, stripes and a few pops of bright poppy) and these slate penny loafer moccs will go with everything!

So now we just wait until our baby boy makes his appearance and when he does (three weeks and counting!) he will be our last babe to make his first shoes Freshly Picked moccasins.

***Head over to my Instagram to enter to win a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins of your very own!***

Linking up here.

   

   

Minimalist Hospital Packing List {Baby #3}

This being my third trip to the Labor and Delivery unit at our local hospital (which so happens to have been my place of birth, my husbands and our siblings and two daughters!) I felt confident packing my bag this go around. Affiliate links used. A small commission may be received if you purchase an item through my links. Thank you for supporting my blog! 

I call this my minimalist packing list as I don't bring "everything and the kitchen sink". I also don't plan on staying longer than a day (or any more than I have to!)

Nursing tank- more coverage and support than those hospital gowns.

Cozy cardigan- a robe or hoodie would work just as well.

Yoga/jogger pants- I forgo the hospital gown ASAP after delivery and found that it makes me so much more comfortable when I'm in my own clothes.

Non Slip Socks For Hospital- no one wants to put their bare feet onto hospital floors (shudder).

Toiletries- toothbrush/toothpaste, facial soap/lotion, Travel Size Shampoo + Conditioner Kit, deodorant (and extra points if they're travel-sized!) hair ties, lip balm

HUGGIES Wipes- so easy to use and dispose when changing those first sticky merconium diapers! 

Going home outfit for you and baby- truth be told I usually stay in my post-birth uniform of nursing tank/yoga pants/cardigan but a maxi dress would be just as comfy! But Baby's going home outfit is a pretty big deal, am I right?

Boppy Nursing Pillow- this item could technically be left off and regular pillows used but the shape is superior and using it to nurse is so much more convenient.

Water Bottle- I don't go anywhere without mine!

Phone/charger- how else will you share baby's birth announcement on social media? ;)

***Car seat installed in car- this will stay in your car but is a must.***

I hope this list helps other mom's find that packing for the hospital need not be stressful or  feel like you're laden-down with "stuff" as the best bundle is the one you get to carry in your arms for the first time after growing for nine months!

This post was first seen on The Vintage Honey Shop Blog!

Linking up here.