A Break Before Baby

I unintentionally have taken a blogging break before baby. The past few weeks have been filled with making my list and checking it twice, Santa Claus style. I’ve been cleaning, getting everything ready to be gone away from my house for 3-4 days, getting everything ready for our big guy to start Kindergarten, school supply/clothes and grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments and just trying to enjoy every last minute of Summer with my boys. To say its all been a bit overwhelming would be an understatement. I can’t believe we are in our last 5 days as a family of 4. It all seems a bit surreal. We cannot wait to welcome Dixie into our family next week. I pray that among all the chaos that comes along with a new baby that I am able to soak in every minute of it and really cherish this special time in our life. I cannot wait to see the dynamic that a little girl brings to our crazy world of boy. I can’t wait to give my boys the title of “protector” of their little sister. I am excited to see my husband hold his daughter for the first time as I think she will show him and all of us a new look on life. More than anything amidst all the nerves, anxieties and worries, I can’t wait to hold the little girl I thought I’d never have. The blog has really taken off in the past few weeks even though I have been nonexistent. I am excited about getting back into regular blogging once we are home and settled. There is so much that I can’t wait to write about from trying to get back the post-baby body to new recipes I’ve been trying out. I will post a brief update when baby Dixie makes her grand debut. And, I’ll be back soon with some fun new posts this fall. Until then, please be in prayer for a safe delivery and recovery and a smooth transition for all of us!

XOXO,

Paige

The Hospital Bag 411 part II

After being up all night with Braxton Hicks contractions, I decided it was time for me to finish packing my hospital bag. After all, maybe I will have a use for it sooner than I thought. Either way, in 19 days we are headed to the hospital whether we are ready or not. So…let’s be ready. I already did a post on what I packed for the baby. You can find it here. Now, what I packed for me…

The Bag: Vera Bradley Large Duffel in Provencal found here. This pattern is actually one of their sale colors right now at $63.75 vs. the usual $85.
What’s in the bag:

• Lightweight Robe – for the first day I will stay in the hospital gown. I have csections so I am just coming off some major pain meds and you are so so sore. After night number one I will change into a lightweight robe.
• Pajamas – This go around I got a sleeveless nightgown with a very light robe that goes over it. Both cotton.
• 4 Sports Bras – For more reasons than one, I have decided not to breastfeed this time. I have been doing some research on how to dry up your milk quickly. The route I am going to take is tight sports bras immediately after delivery. I packed 4 because I usually where 2 at a time anyway, and I packed various sizes since your milk still does come in.
• Regular Bra – I don’t know why and I probably wont even wear it except for to the hospital on surgery day, but it’s there if I want it.
• “Granny Panties” – Goodbye body as you know it. Post delivery comes with all kinds of fun changes. I mostly use the mesh underwear offered by the hospital just because of my csection incision and the pain that I am in. But whether you have csection or a regular delivery, you are going to want to pack some underwear that you don’t mind ruining or throwing away after your hospital stay. Trust me.
• 3 pairs of socks – hospitals are always cold and I am very cold natured. I need my socks.
• Flip Flops – makes life easier when going to the bathroom, taking walks etc.
• Stomach Wrap – I have a few different kinds of these and I packed all 3. The hospital gives you one if you are a csection patient, and it is by far my favorite. I still have mine from baby number 2 so I put that in my bag just in case they’ve changed them since last time. I also have the Baboosh Body and the Belly Bandit. Whether csection or regular delivery, wrapping my stomach very tight after delivery provided so much relief. Your uterus is steadily shrinking back to size and you will continue to have contractions. The belly wraps make everything so much easier. I wear them for a couple of weeks post baby.
• Going home outfit – Pack something loose fitting and comfortable. Preferably something you have worn during this last trimester of pregnancy. As much as I’d like to tell you you will be right back in those size 4’s, it just isn’t going to happen. If you are prepared with something that is going to fit you then you won’t experience any disappointments upon leaving the hospital. Your hormones are going to be running wild. Don’t let weight or ill fitting clothes add to it.
• Phone Charger

I am lucky in that I am not one of those people who doesn’t have to wash my hair everyday. Thank God. So, I don’t even know if I will wash my hair during my hospital stay but I packed everything I would need to “get ready” just incase. Half of this stuff will probably not even get used but at least I have it if I need it. You are going to feel like you’ve been hit by a bus… any thing you can bring that will make you feel better about yourself, pack it.

Shown in picture:

• Makeup Bag
• Mirror
• Hairspray
• Spray Gel
• Dry Shampoo
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Body Spray
• Eye Makeup Remover
• Makeup Remover Towelettes
• Cotton Balls
• Qtips
• Glasses Case with Glasses and Contacts
• Contact Solution

Not shown in picture:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body Wash
• Shaving Cream
• Razor
• Hair Dryer
• Straightener
• Curling Iron
• Bobby Pins, Ponytail holder, clippy
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste

That’s it. I think I am officially ready for my 3-4 day hospital stay. WooHoo. I can’t believe it is so close! Lucky for us we live extremely close to the hospital. Our 2 boys will be staying at our house with their grandparents. This makes life a little easier for me since I don’t have to worry about packing bags for them. Will will just pack a bag for the first night (Pajama Pants, Tshirt, Boxers, Socks, a pair of Jeans, Tennis Shoes, Toothbrush, Toothpaste) He will be able to go home everyday to tend to things the boys need as well as take a normal shower and change or get more clothes etc.

I hope this post helped any first time or 2nd, 3rd time moms get prepared for their hospital stay as well. It took me a while to even figure out where to begin and this is my 3rd go at it. But, I think I am prepared. Now, come on baby!!

XOXO,

Paige

DIY: “It’s A Girl” Burlap Door Hanger

When going over my “do I have everything for the hospital” list over and over, I realized I didn’t have anything for the hospital door. They have really cute stuff that can set you back as much as $50 on etsy or in the hospital gift shop. Not happening. I started looking on Pinterest and Etsy and came across the cute little baby carriage burlap door hangers. I combined the ideas of a couple of them to make my own. Here is how I did it:
My inspiration: this Burlap door hanger from Etsy.
I found pink burlap at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 a yard which is all I needed.
I started out by folding my yard of burlap in half and spraying it generously with some starch and then ironing it to stiffen it up and make it easier to work with.

I then free handed the outline of the baby carriage with a highlighter, just dark enough where I could see to cut the shape out but it not show for the rest of the project.

Once the form was cut out I started painting. Adding stuff here and there until it was how I wanted it.

For the “It’s A Girl” banner I bought pre-cut burlap triangles from Hobby Lobby and hot glued them onto the carriage adding 2 twine bows to make it look like it was strung like a banner.

After it dried I started gluing and stuffing the burlap. I did a more detailed tutorial on that here. I added the picture hanging wire to hang it from and a burlap bow. TA-DA…finished product.

I added a little bit of white to the wheels once I started taking pictures of it and thought it needed a little something else.

I’m really happy with how it turned out and I am excited to use it at the hospital and then for her room door at home. I think the whole project only set me back about $23.

XOXO,
Paige

The Hospital Bag 411 part 1

I’m on baby #3 and I still struggled with what to pack in our bags. You’d think I’d be a seasoned professional by now. I was blessed with a fabulous baby shower on Saturday (post to come) and after 2 days straight including 7 loads of laundry, one full dishwasher, the help of my mom, and one exhausted pregnant lady I finally felt prepared enough to pack for the hospital and dare I say I think we are prepared enough to bring a baby home into our little world of chaos.

{instagram: paigecparker}

I’m doing this post on what I packed for the baby. I will do a second post on what I pack for Me and Will (update: you can find the post on what I packed for Me, here.) as well as what I do for the boys who are going to be left with their grandparents.

It took me a while to even get back into “baby mode”. I really had to dig deep in my memory to remember what the hospital scene is like once the morphine drip wears off. Here is Dixie’s stash of stuff that will be going to the hospital with us.

The only advice I could give you when it comes to packing for the baby is DON’T OVERPACK. The hospital is going to have everything you need and then some to be fully prepared for the care of your baby. All you need to pack is the stuff you need/want as far as the babies looks or just your preferences of a certain brand. The hospital will have diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, nipples, baby wash, rags, mittens, lotions, breast pumps, creams etc.. I could really go on and on. Don’t pack any of that. As a matter of fact load up your husband’s bag with the leftovers from each day at the hospital and let them refill the stockpile. I am all about getting as much as you can from them. After all, we do pay for it. So, needless to say I didn’t pack any of that stuff this go around. Here is what I did pack:

• The bag: Thirty-One Organizing Utility Tote in “Party Punch” you can find it here

From left to right:

• Hair bows and headbands. I had someone tell me you have to put a headband/hair bow on her right when she comes out so she will get used it. So, I’m listening. I’m still learning about this girl stuff.
• I’m also bringing my own pacifiers. Neither one of my boys would take them, but by chance that Dixie does, I want to give her a cute one and not those big ugly ones the hospital gives you.
• Mittens. Both of my boys came out scratching themselves like crazy. The hospital will offer you mittens but they are green, blue or yellow. I packed a couple of girly pink ones.
• A pink receiving blanket for swaddling. The hospital will provide the generic footprint or neutral striped blankets for swaddling and I definitely do use those, but I put a pink one in her bag for pictures sake.
• 2 newborn sleepers.
• Burp Towels/”cloth diapers” I just like a certain kind of thick burp towel so I threw a couple of those in the diaper bag just in case I wanted to use them.
• Monogrammed/Applique Gowns Since I have C Sections and we are in the hospital for more than the usual 48 I packed some cute gowns for when we have visitors.
• Going home outfit and blanket I am so excited about Dixie’s going home outfit. It is the same outfit I went home in. I cannot wait to see her in it! Even though it is July in the MidSouth, the outfit I packed is very light so I packed a blanket to put over her too.

Along with her bag we have the car seat and Boppy Pillow. Whether you are breastfeeding or not, the Boppy Pillow will be your best friend, trust me.

And, that’s all folks. Very basic and really just stuff I wanted to pack versus needed to pack. I can’t reiterate enough that the hospital will have all of your needs there provided for you. Save your stuff for when you get home.

I am slowly getting my bag ready, I’ll be back soon with that post. (update: find what I packed in my bag here.)

XOXO,

Paige