tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297813782529206342024-03-18T14:16:09.667-07:00Annie Lynn's Favorite ThingsAnnie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-24896000177218770012020-03-15T17:51:00.001-07:002020-03-15T19:48:23.055-07:00Studio Photos with Pearl Photo & Design<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiWDqAgsy_srJxf9dfArFQf-INrY99j8U1h0XKiKXKW1kqnxx9qj0GSJFTIzFsrGdRjwtCvNi5sKlZqCHxbLQg-jHtfk-raFQxr03jB64s0LlB6E-msppCgIP7C8qq2u9ybZQvOKPvwv3/s1600/Annie+and+Kiddos+2020-1102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiWDqAgsy_srJxf9dfArFQf-INrY99j8U1h0XKiKXKW1kqnxx9qj0GSJFTIzFsrGdRjwtCvNi5sKlZqCHxbLQg-jHtfk-raFQxr03jB64s0LlB6E-msppCgIP7C8qq2u9ybZQvOKPvwv3/s1200/Annie+and+Kiddos+2020-1102.jpg" width="640" /></a>I always know that whenever <a href="https://www.pearlphotodesign.com/">Vanessa</a> shoots photos of our family, that they will turn out incredible. This fun studio session we did at her house was no different! I wanted to write about our experience in case any of you are looking for a photographer in the area and are wondering what it's like to work with Vanessa at <a href="https://www.pearlphotodesign.com/">Pearl Photo & Design</a> (spoiler alert: you'll love it). Be sure to check out info on her Mother's Day event <a href="https://www.pearlphotodesign.com/2020-motherhood-event">here</a>!<br />
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Vanessa's indoor studio that we shot at is a room adjacent to her family room. This immediately was less intimidating for the kids since it felt like they were just playing in a friend's house rather than in a studio inside of a building. Henrik could go in and out of the studio room as he pleased and play with toys in her family room and basement then come back in and join us when he felt up for it.<br />
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At first I was nervous since Henrik definitely has his own opinions on when he wants to do something (and when he REALLY doesn't want to do something), but Vanessa is so great at interacting with kids (she has three of her own!) and helping them feel comfortable so their personalities can shine. She went down into her basement to set up a show for her kids and instructed Henrik to hide and surprise her when she came back up. Henrik opted to hide under a white fuzzy blanket in the studio so when she came into the room and he was still hiding, she was able to get her camera all ready to go. Then she snapped a bunch of pics as Henrik jumped out and surprised her. Little games like that were a great way to get Henrik to interact with her and be animated. She would suggest he give Piper a hug (which he would do) or hide behind one of her curtains and pop out. Then when he was not as compliant, she never pushed him. We followed his lead and worked with what he was willing to go and got some great shots out of it.<br />
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Piper was feeling a bit clingy (also not surprising) and wanted to stay with me for the most part, but Vanessa had lots of good ideas for different poses we could do so Piper was comfortable. We got a few pictures of Piper by herself too before she decided to crawl back over to me. I couldn't believe we got as many as we did with her smiling and being herself!<br />
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Vanessa is so great at interacting with kids, finding ways to help them have fun while taking photos, and making them laugh. She also really values having parents in photos with their kids (moms in particular since we're generally the one taking photos on our phones at home!) so she made sure I was in plenty of pictures too. This is what makes her Mother's Day event so successful!<br />
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She is energetic and knows how to make everyone she photographs feel comfortable and at ease. PLUS she is just so talented haha. We always love how our photos turn out and wish we had more wall space to hang all the prints on.<br />
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It's so important to me to capture moments with my kids since life tends to move too quickly most days and I love that these photos so accurately represent my kids' mannerisms, personalities, and our eternal bond. She'll be doing family photos of us in a few weeks outdoors and I can't wait to share those photos with all of you too!<br />
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If you are looking for a photographer (particularly if you have kids!) definitely look into booking a session with Vanessa at <a href="https://www.pearlphotodesign.com/">Pearl Photo & Design</a>! I promise you will love how they turn out. She has a Mother's Day event coming up that I HIGHLY recommend signing up for! Learn more about that <a href="https://www.pearlphotodesign.com/2020-motherhood-event">here</a>, see more of her work on her Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pearlphotodesign/">here</a>, and follow her on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1772124049710823/">here</a>!<br />
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And now, for the photos! I am in love with all of them. Thank you, Vanessa!</div>
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Piper always sticks her little tongue out like this and it KILLS me. So glad we caught it on camera!</div>
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Popping out from the curtains</div>
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Crawling away haha</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog post was sponsored by Pearl Photo & Design. All opinions expressed are my own. </span></div>
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<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-31996178655801559392020-03-11T17:44:00.001-07:002020-03-11T17:45:54.845-07:002019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been thinking about writing this post for a few weeks now and I'm finally having a quiet moment to get to it (I wrote the bulk of this at 10 pm on New Year's Eve and now I'm publishing it like three months later hahhahaha).<br />
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While I was in the hospital before being induced with Piper, Chris and I were watching "Nailed It!" on Netflix (a ridiculous yet entertaining show). There was a woman competing on it who talked about how in her line of work she constantly would have to adapt and overcome in order to succeed and that was going to be her approach to winning the competition. I thought a lot about that phrase, "adapt and overcome" and decided it would be a fitting mantra for the upcoming 2019 year. I knew 2019 was going to be difficult and filled with constant adjustments, but I also knew it would be wonderful.<br />
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Babies change SO MUCH that first year and are extremely demanding, Piper was no exception. There were many times when I thought we had found a good schedule and rhythm only for something to change and then we'd spend weeks trying to find the new normal. She was relatively easy the first six months, but required a lot of naps and didn't like to be separated from me (she has never taken a bottle so I've always had to stay relatively close by). January-May, my cousin was able to come over several times a week and help me with the kids. She was such a blessing for me and helped tremendously as I balanced my new role as a mom of two. She was able to keep an eye on Henrik and keep him entertained while I fed Piper and got her down for naps and was an extra set of hands while I tried to do dinner prep, laundry, and other tasks. She had her first baby at the end of May but we still get to spend time together with our kids, which is great. She played a huge role in helping me maintain my sanity those first few months with Piper. My hormones were a mess and having someone around during the day a couple times a week was great. It was hard to make it over to my mom's house with both kids so being able to stay home and have my cousin come here was amazing.<br />
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Henrik was a bit rough with her in the beginning (she took a few bonks to the head/slaps to the face) but he generally knew to be gentle with her and outgrew the more physical stage quickly. I was shocked at how well he (overall) adjusted to having her here.<br />
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Piper slept great until we transitioned her into her crib, unswaddled. Shortly thereafter, she started teething. Then hit a sleep regression. Then got sick. Again and again and again. September-December was very difficult for Chris and I because of how tired we were all the time. We were both extremely sleep-deprived thanks to Piper and frustrated because we couldn't seem to make any progress with her. Finally shortly after she turned one, we hit our breaking point (Piper started demanding that I stand and rock her for 45 minutes before each nap and bedtime) so we did a gentle sleep-training method with her that ultimately taught her to fall asleep on her own and sleep through the night within two weeks. We are extremely grateful that she is sleeping so much better now and we are all much happier and healthier because of it. I'm not nearly as stressed or anxious as I used to be when Chris left town for work because bedtime is much easier to do by myself and I don't have to worry about waking up multiple times through the night with Piper.<br />
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It has been such a joy watching Henrik go from young toddler to more of a "kid". His vocabulary has expanded a ton this past year and he talks constantly. Him being able to communicate better with us has made a big difference. He's hilarious and imaginative and a fabulous big brother. He loves to play and help with any sort of project or task. As any parent of a toddler will tell you, there are moments where he makes me want to scream and pull my hair out. But usually those moments are just that. Moments. They pass quickly and then he does something sweet and adorable and I forget I was ever frustrated. Everything he does is a normal part of his development and I can usually tolerate it if I remember that. He has very high-highs and low-lows, but he can generally get over his sadnesses pretty quickly.<br />
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Chris's work has been crazy. He started off the year still working his full-time job in addition to working on the start-up he's been part of for the last four years. His demands with the start-up grew exponentially and as they saw more success and raised more money, we decided it was time for him to leave his day job and commit to the start-up full-time. It was a bittersweet decision, but the right one. Having Chris only work one job instead of two has been a huge blessing.<br />
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In the fall, Chris had to travel for work a TON. Almost every week for two months. It was really hard on all of us, but worth it. Thankfully, my parents were mostly around to help with the kids and when they couldn't be there, we relied heavily on several friends to help me with the kids. I couldn't have done it without them.<br />
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My anxiety still tends to affect me in some capacity most days, but I'm re-learning how to cope and find healthy ways to de-stress and focus on other things. If I let it, my anxiety becomes all-consuming and affects my parenting and time with Chris and the kids. I'm not as focused and tend to worry about small things too much. But Chris continues to be incredibly supportive and helps me talk through the hard moments and watches the kids most weekday nights so I can go to the gym. I've learned that exercise helps me a TON (both physically and mentally) so we have made it a priority to try and get me there as often as we can.<br />
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I've also tried this last year to really step back from blogging and social media business commitments and use it as more of a fun hobby (that isn't as stressful). Photos, editing, writing, etc. take a ton of time and effort, too much for me to handle now with the kids. My goal is to try and simplify our lives as much as we can so I can focus on enjoying these years with Henrik and Piper while still having a bit of an outlet; hence I haven't posted on the blog in just over a year hahah. I still continue to post once or twice a week on Instagram and do the occasional collaboration, but as just about any "influencerrr" will tell you, the Instagram algorithms are constantly changing and extremely frustrating so I try to just post when I feel like it and like what I have to share rather than pressuring myself into posting everyday.<br />
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I do have some cool collaborations and projects coming up that you'll see here and on my social media, which I'm excited about! For now, I have a bit more time in the evenings and on weekends than I did a few months ago so I feel better about having a few projects that I'm genuinely eager to share with all of you. Stay tuned!<br />
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As always, thank you for the love and support! Many of you ask about my blogging and it's nice to hear that at least a few people are still interested haha. I know this post wasn't terribly fascinating, but it seemed like a good time to update you all on our life and past year.<br />
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Above all, I'm so grateful for this life I'm living. My kids are Chris and I's world and Chris continues to astound me in his various roles. I love him more everyday and am so blessed to grow and learn with him. He's so supportive and has given me the best gift I can think of, which is to be home with our children.<br />
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<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-32584006291110837112019-03-07T08:58:00.003-08:002020-03-05T07:20:35.223-08:00Piper's Name & Life Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shortly after having Henrik, I shared the meaning behind his name and how we came up with it so I thought I would do the same for Piper, in case any of you are curious :)<br />
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When I was in high school, a leader in our church came to stay with us for a conference. His name was Paul Pieper and he ended up becoming a good family friend. While he stayed with us, he gave my sister and me some very valuable advice regarding how to choose a husband. His advice ultimately altered the entire course of my life and helped me to know that Chris was the one. So when Chris and I got married several years later in Utah, my dad reached out to Elder Pieper to see if he would be available to marry us and he very graciously agreed to despite his busy schedule. That day he gave us even more great advice about marriage. Elder Pieper had a profound impact on both of us and we are so grateful for him.<br />
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I had always loved the name Piper (one of my best friend's little sisters is named Piper as well) so years ago, my mom suggested if we ever have a girl to name her Piper after Paul Pieper. I loved the idea and meaning behind it. Thankfully Chris did too so we decided that would be her name. It serves as a constant reminder of the advice he gave us and that God loves us. I truly believe that Heavenly Father brought Elder Pieper into our family's life to help and guide me as well as my family members. </div>
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For a long time, I thought we would give our first daughter my middle name, Lynn, which comes from my paternal grandma's name, Carolyn. But when we found out Piper was due on Christmas, I thought it would be fun to give her a middle name that related to Christmas somehow. We toyed with a few options but ultimately settled on Noel. You may be wondering why we didn't choose the feminine spelling, Noelle. The reason for that is my full name is 15 letters long, Chris's full name is 20 letters long, and Henrik's full name is 20 letters as well. I like things to end in 5 or 0 (because I am OCD) so when picking out Piper's name, Piper Noel Stoker was 15 letters whereas Piper Noelle Stoker was 17. And I just couldn't allow that. I fully acknowledge it's weird but there it is haha. We have to continue the pattern! </div>
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Things are overall going well. Having two kids is certainly challenging, I have had more than a few breakdowns haha. But I wouldn't change it for the world. Henrik is such a wonderful big brother and is quickly learning how to be nice to Piper and be helpful. He loves to stroke her and say "hiiiiii" and bring me burp cloths when she spits up (which is quite often). It's sweet to see him becoming very protective of her. He also likes to tell people how she cries. "Baby, ahhhh!!! Ageeen". Which, loosely translated, means "Baby cried again". </div>
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Getting kids in and out of the car is by far the hardest thing. We don't go many places other than my mom's house because I just can't handle the two of them on my own outside of a house haha. Someday we will get there!</div>
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Our usual routine is Henrik wakes up around 8/8:15, he watches Elmo's World in his crib for about 30 minutes while I feed Piper and get ready. Then Piper goes in her Mamaroo to sleep a little longer while I get Henrik dressed and fed. Then we play either at our house or we go over to my mom's house. At home, Henrik is an expert at helping me fold laundry and do dinner prep. We play/do household chores until noon ish then I feed him lunch and get him down for his nap. While Henrik naps, I try to get Piper to sleep so I can sleep. It usually works, ish. I don't sleep for very long and often just as I am falling asleep, Piper wakes up. But it's better than nothing!</div>
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Henrik then wakes up around 3:30 and we play, Facetime family, and finish getting dinner together. We try to eat between 5:30 and 6 once Chris is home then I make sure Piper is fed and happy before going to the gym. Once I'm back, we play some more as a family, give baths as needed, then work on getting both kids ready for bed. Chris handles Henrik's bedtime routine while I take care of Piper. We read scriptures and say a prayer as a family then put Henrik in his crib by 9. Piper is usually awake while I shower so Chris hangs out with her then I feed her again and she is generally officially down for the night around 10 or 11. Chris and I watch a show together (Jeopardy, The Bachelor, or Suits) then off to bed. </div>
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Piper has been a rockstar sleeper at night and will sleep between 8 and 11 hours straight. It probably won't last so I am enjoying it while I can haha. Piper is a sweet little girl who lives to smile and be with us. After dinner, she becomes a bit more high maintenance and loves to be held but usually Chris is home by then so we can take turns holding her. We often eat dinner in shifts, but it works. </div>
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The hardest part about this phase right now is Chris's travel schedule for work. He's been out of town a lot and has two more long trips coming up. Thankfully, I have my parents and several good friends who are always willing to help out. Bedtime is by far the most difficult part to do by myself because Piper is so unpredictable. One time I tried doing it on my own and all three of us ended up crying at the same time haha. I'm hoping I'll get better at handling the two kids without Chris as time goes on and they get older, but mentally it is hard to be without my best friend/co-parent. I'm extremely grateful I have help available when he is away or else I'm quite sure I would lose my mind. </div>
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As I mentioned earlier, I have a fair share of mental/emotional breakdowns haha but things are getting better overall. My hormones are stabilizing and I'm figuring out coping mechanisms to help me when I feel overwhelmed. Two kids is certainly difficult, but oh-so rewarding. I lay in bed at night scrolling through photos of them and thinking about how much I love them. It's a beautiful feeling. </div>
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Here are some photos from her birth (by <a href="https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Victoria Rayburn Photography</span></a>) and newborn session (by <a href="https://www.pearlphotodesign.com/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Pearl Photo & Design</span></a>) because I am obsessed with all of them and I never want to forget these moments. </div>
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4d481437d39793370514d74dca97531489e5e2bbf62231d3a2
Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-29457535957850289822018-12-27T12:28:00.003-08:002018-12-27T12:29:12.453-08:00Piper's Birth Story<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">To be perfectly honest, it's a little hard for me to write about how our sweet Piper came into the world. Her actual delivery was great and I am so grateful for that, but the days leading up to it were some of the most challenging of my life and I'm still dealing with the aftermath of it and how it has affected my anxiety. Just trying to keep it real haha lest you think childbirth is all rainbows and butterflies. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You may recall in my last blog post I mentioned Henrik having his first stomach bug on Monday. It was pretty mild and only lasted about 12 hours. By Tuesday night, none of us had gotten it so we were counting our lucky stars. This will become relevant later :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I had been contracting for most of Tuesday, but not anything painful or consistent enough to warrant going to the hospital. It was definitely more than usual though. We had a normal night at home, Chris and I put Henrik to bed together, I sobbed (ugh hormones), then finished packing our hospital bags. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">What we hadn't told anyone other than some family members was that I was scheduled for an induction Wednesday morning. It had been scheduled for a variety of reasons and we felt good about having one at least on the calendar. We knew that my induction date/time could get bumped if the hospital was super busy, the baby could come on her own before the induction, the induction could possibly not work, etc. There was enough uncertainty surrounding it that we opted to just keep it to ourselves. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Wednesday morning came very quickly. I got up at 4 am to finish getting everything ready and then I was supposed to call the hospital at 5 and make sure they could still accommodate me at 6. When I woke up, I had an upset stomach, which I attributed to nerves. I carried on getting ready then at 5 am, the nurse told me the hospital got very busy overnight and I'd need to go in at a later time. She said she would try to call me between 9 and 10 am to give me an update. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I was so disappointed. And tired. But I couldn't go back to sleep. I told Chris what was going on and that was when he informed me that his stomach was upset as well. Pretty soon it became clear that we both had the stomach flu. Chris went back to bed and I laid on the couch watching Netflix. Food didn't sound good so I just drank water. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I fielded a few more calls from the nurses at my doctor's office and we ultimately decided I would go in Thursday morning for my induction. Again, I was super disappointed but also very sick. Chris was in even worse shape and couldn't even stand. It did not seem like ideal circumstances to have a baby under. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">My parents offered to come over and still take Henrik for the day so Chris and I could try and recover, and that was a lifesaver. Shortly after they left, I had a mix of stomach cramps from the sickness as well as contractions. I timed them all morning long and they were definitely getting closer together. The nurse told me if they got to be five minutes apart for an hour, to come in and they'd make room for me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Around 10 am, I threw up for the first time in 15+ years. Which is legitimately my biggest phobia and the root of my anxiety issues. Chris, who was laid up in bedroom, heard what happened and came rushing out to help. He gave me a towel and then suddenly he couldn't stand anymore and had to crawl back to bed on his hands and knees. He felt horrible that he couldn't help more, but I told him I'd be ok (even though I was crying and shaking). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I called my mom and she heroically rushed over to take care of me. Just having her there while I laid on the couch was the biggest comfort. After getting sick, my contractions picked up. They were painful enough that I couldn't sleep. We timed them and sure enough, I had gone an hour with contractions five minutes apart (sometimes less). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">My mom helped me gather my last minute items, I told Chris to stay in bed and pray that he would recover in time for the delivery, and off my mom and I went to the hospital. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The next few hours were spent in triage on a supremely uncomfortable bed (that SURELY was not designed for pregnant women) watching my contractions on the monitor, getting hooked up to an IV, and being given a nice cocktail of meds for my stomach issues. After a little while, I encouraged my mom to go home and eat, get something to do at the hospital, etc. since it became obvious that I really might need her to be the one next to me if I delivered.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">She left, but didn't come back. She had caught the stomach flu. At this point, I really started to panic. Chris was still super sick as well, we needed my dad to now take care of Henrik, and that left me alone, possibly without anyone with me as I delivered the baby. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The nurses kept checking me to see if my close contractions were causing me to dilate and fortunately/unfortunately, they weren't. This meant that the contractions were likely caused by severe dehydration. We decided we would get me through a few bags of IV fluids and see if that helped the contractions to slow down or stop. My doctor even mentioned that I could spend the night at home and come back tomorrow for the induction, assuming I felt up to it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I initially told her that that would probably be fine, but deep down I didn't want to go home. My anxiety was through the roof, my stomach was still very much upset, and mentally I had left the house determined to not come home until there was a baby to bring with me. I knew the IV fluids would be the best thing for me overnight and they had medications there I could take that we didn't have at home. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Later, I discussed it with the nurse and she agreed it would probably be best to keep me overnight so I had help and access to the fluids/meds. She called my OB to make sure that was ok and she said yes. I was relieved, but still very worried about my family and how exactly this was all going to play out. There were a million unknowns and so many things that were simply out of our control. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">They moved me into a new room that had an infinitely more comfortable bed, which I was super grateful for. I was worried I wouldn't be able to sleep or rest at all since the contractions hadn't subsided but finally around 10 pm, they tapered off and I was able to sort of sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">My stomach struggled throughout the night, but the nurses took good care of me. I was super lonely, but also grateful that everyone else who was sick was able to be home recovering and not at the hospital with me. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Thursday arrived and the nurses said that while it was very busy, many women were being discharged so there was a good chance they'd be able to start my induction before my set 4 pm time. Chris said he woke up feeling much better (thank goodness) so he was able to take care of Henrik since my dad had to go back to work (and my mom was still very sick). They came and visited, which was a welcome distraction. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">After they left, I finally tried eating some food for the first time in 36+ hours. Thankfully it went down fine and stayed that way. The nurses didn't want me to start my induction without having had some food so I was glad we successfully completed that task.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Chris got Henrik down for his nap at my mom's house and then joined me at the hospital for good. I was so grateful to finally have him there and fully recovered as well. My prayers were answered!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We kept hearing that they'd have a labor and delivery room for me "soon" from the nurses, but my 4 pm induction time came and went and things started to not look as hopeful. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We ate some dinner and decided we might as well settle in for the night. Finally around 8 pm my nurse came in and we asked if we'd have to wait until tomorrow for an induction and she said that sadly it was looking like that. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">After she left, Chris read me a Christmas message from our church's website. We both laughed when we got to the part about Mary being great with child and them having no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph, sounded strangely similar. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">At 10 pm just before we were going to turn in for the night, a different nurse walked in. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Annie?" She said.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Yes?"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Hi I'm Janice and I'm here to get your induction started!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Never have more beautiful words ever been spoken. We couldn't believe how lucky we were that a room had become available, just when we had given up. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We quickly gathered our things and headed to our new room. Within a matter of minutes, they had started the pitocin and my doctor came into check me. I was already at 3 cm so we think I was already in early labor throughout the day, they just hadn't bothered to check me since my contractions weren't as frequent or strong. Everything looked promising for a smooth induction!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I told them I wanted an epidural as soon as the anesthesiologist was available and luckily he had just finished a c-section so I only had to wait 10-15 minutes. Once the epidural was started around 11:30, Chris and I both tried to get some rest.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">They checked me around 12:45 and I was between 4 and 5 cm. The epidural worked for the most part but like last time, my right leg never got very numb and I could still feel some of my contractions to a lesser degree. The epidural also made me shake a lot and very itchy. Still better than no epidural though! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The nurse came in again around 3:45 and said I was between 5 and 6 cm, so I was making progress just somewhat slowly, which didn't shock me. My friend and birth photographer Victoria told me to call her when I got to 6 cm so I thought I'd wait until they checked me again since at the rate I was going, it was still going to be a few hours before I hit the magic 10 cm. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The nurse then decided she'd have me use a peanut ball to help get the baby into a lower position since she was still pretty high up. I was expecting the peanut ball to be pretty small, but nope it was enormous and very cumbersome. Luckily I was so exhausted that after she put it between my legs, I was able to keep sleeping. She said she'd leave it there for about 20-30 minutes then come check me again. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Some time before she came back, I felt the baby shimmy down further into my pelvis. This seemed like a good thing? But I was very out of it. The nurse checked me again and said that the baby's head was RIGHT THERE and that I was at 10 cm. I was so tired I wasn't sure I heard her right so I asked if that meant it was time to push and she said yes! I was shocked. And a bit panicky. I did not expect to progress that quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Chris of course was still dead asleep so after the nurse left to get my OB, I yelled at him that it was "go time". Luckily it didn't take him too long to realize what was going on and come to. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I called Victoria at 5:02 and quickly explained that I had progressed much quicker than we thought and I was so very sorry and to hurry and get here haha. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Next thing I knew, they were setting up the delivery table and having me get in pushing position. At 5:06 I started pushing. All the nurses gathered round exclaimed "oh my goodness look at that hair!!" Which I was very confused by hahah during some of my ultrasounds they had said she had hair, but that was what they said about Henrik too but it was so blonde and short he might as well have been bald. So I had fully anticipated that this baby would be the same. I asked the nurses if she really did have hair and they said "oh yes! It's dark and there's a ton of it! You two could star in a Pantene commercial! We could braid her hair!" </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">After three contractions and three pushes each, Piper Noel Stoker had arrived at 5:16 am. Screaming. And perfect. Victoria walked in literally three seconds after they laid her on my chest and she dutifully began snapping away. Chris laughed and cried and I did the same. We couldn't believe she was here! And with dark hair! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The rest is a bit of a blur as they took her measurements and fixed me up. Victoria came back later that morning to take photos of our now family of four and we spent the rest of the day napping whenever we could. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Piper is the most perfect little girl in the world, according to us. We are beyond grateful she is here, healthy, and safe. It wasn't easy getting her here, but I'm thankful for this challenging experience. It has helped me learn and grow in ways I couldn't otherwise. My anxiety hasn't been great since coming home from the hospital, plus there's the whole added postpartum hormones component which further complicates things, but I'm confident I'll be able to work through everything and be fine. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">There were so many answered prayers and miracles that occurred with Piper's birth and I could not be more grateful. Of course it went nothing like I had planned/imagined (does any birth go to plan?), but I wouldn't change it. She's here and we couldn't be happier. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Once I have the photos from her birth, I'll be sharing those plus the story behind her name so stay tuned for that! Until then, I'll just be here enjoying all the baby snuggles. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">And now here are some photos from the last week! Sorry quality is iffy, these are mostly from my phone. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cutest little hospital visitor. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_N5ZFE9f6yIFDXEQX3WnTKfyjzgTmylgK4UYRQKXaMeMQs-cVvjY3kZLSv6YXgSVwa0WgJJZ11hiUk8dmVMWFgxXvTOhXFg0FycD4V3oxYj0izf6TLIIN0tzwjAGX6onZ2t4vIwQ3E8_/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_N5ZFE9f6yIFDXEQX3WnTKfyjzgTmylgK4UYRQKXaMeMQs-cVvjY3kZLSv6YXgSVwa0WgJJZ11hiUk8dmVMWFgxXvTOhXFg0FycD4V3oxYj0izf6TLIIN0tzwjAGX6onZ2t4vIwQ3E8_/s640/IMG_3372.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Induction started!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DrAbkEcI7VtpMC-9az3kFFCLto-GOMX7wp2vq-Jy8mnXuSVx7DAlbxd_zX6TAXEok-4FlnHxQU-GHfEzRgyz0K_IP0dVskdFXSUkXgemJfvStdNvAlvZqHb1OxC95NwrezUHBv7771qI/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DrAbkEcI7VtpMC-9az3kFFCLto-GOMX7wp2vq-Jy8mnXuSVx7DAlbxd_zX6TAXEok-4FlnHxQU-GHfEzRgyz0K_IP0dVskdFXSUkXgemJfvStdNvAlvZqHb1OxC95NwrezUHBv7771qI/s640/IMG_3394.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She arrived!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Best dad.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenX_pNZKjsLL23GwPYoGWXQBqV1kTCd_NpX3q4PQcQwnEZepyP6hkD_DRmABNtWsVnkVMzxVOmDi-qqxqymuANSywY61ZvChHk3vZ6ZD9F2IokSrSNqxxxw_VPq2dsVDN3I4fu-cFGhql/s1600/IMG_3456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenX_pNZKjsLL23GwPYoGWXQBqV1kTCd_NpX3q4PQcQwnEZepyP6hkD_DRmABNtWsVnkVMzxVOmDi-qqxqymuANSywY61ZvChHk3vZ6ZD9F2IokSrSNqxxxw_VPq2dsVDN3I4fu-cFGhql/s640/IMG_3456.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Itty bitty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ready to go home!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Little fireman.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPRA4Aj3pYn_Sf0PiLPOpyK23itqvRk3vVQWDLLFi3ZmeeJYCJoMDhyphenhyphenh0gLzPPDGJRDuxZ2dARuAnZu8zbzOImx6FdvdDIA3xSp2TIqFfLLTsrAHhIdp5r5J4H8xTjvUqLsvQ8mbbtr0o/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPRA4Aj3pYn_Sf0PiLPOpyK23itqvRk3vVQWDLLFi3ZmeeJYCJoMDhyphenhyphenh0gLzPPDGJRDuxZ2dARuAnZu8zbzOImx6FdvdDIA3xSp2TIqFfLLTsrAHhIdp5r5J4H8xTjvUqLsvQ8mbbtr0o/s640/IMG_3629.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Family of four on Christmas morning!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She had a few Christmas looks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lined up all his babies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fluffy hair and a smile.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0onAfnypVQbPL8SD2UAHnfUBcuzo-eE2-3WCQOylVEAag46o18fdQuIpsh3gvRABBURtfNUNXFWMRDgr07ciQ8j_i9tDaKyTY2bfdFOBaumijVKdE8vFBGQfnCTLYtztIuXiQFAhSjJg/s1600/IMG_3732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0onAfnypVQbPL8SD2UAHnfUBcuzo-eE2-3WCQOylVEAag46o18fdQuIpsh3gvRABBURtfNUNXFWMRDgr07ciQ8j_i9tDaKyTY2bfdFOBaumijVKdE8vFBGQfnCTLYtztIuXiQFAhSjJg/s640/IMG_3732.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So fluffy.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Currently: Sitting in bed with Piper asleep on my chest. Does it get any better than that?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Feeling: Hungry, I fell asleep before I could eat lunch so that's next on my list. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Wish: That my siblings and their spouses were still here. They came for Christmas and left yesterday :( We had a great time all being together. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Days Until Christmas: 363! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-4273936661920955032018-12-18T14:32:00.001-08:002018-12-18T14:32:15.945-08:0039 Week Bumpdate! Featuring Henrik<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>I literally bought this dress over a decade ago. Can you believe that?? Anyway so it's long gone haha sorry. Also all my outfit posts recently have featured mostly black clothes...What can I say, it's so easy! I promise I do wear other colors haha sometimes. </i><br />
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Here we are! My (potentially) last bumpdate before baby arrives. It's been a little crazy lately, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Well, at least most of the time haha.<br />
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We've been trying to spend as much time as we can relishing in our last few days as a family of three while still trying to be productive. The new closet room/office is about 95% set-up, Henrik's room is 100% cleaned and reorganized, and the nursery is like 50% there haha. We have a place for me to nurse and change diapers and those are the essentials! Last night I worked on organizing her clothes by size and hanging up/folding what we'll need for the first few months. I'm sure I'll end up re-organizing her room numerous more times but for now, it's functional. Chris was a hero and installed car seats and did some rearranging of those so now we have a way to get the baby home from the hospital. I suppose that's important?<br />
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This past Saturday, we took Henrik to the Jingle Rails exhibit at a museum in Indy (lots of cool holiday model trains) and he LOVED that. My parents came along and Henrik spent most of the time being held by Baba (Grandpa) or searching for him. The trains were also a big hit don't worry haha. When he saw that we were approaching the train exhibit, he went from walking to running. It was fun to see him enjoy the exhibit as much as we thought he would. Afterwards, we went and got tamales, which were delicious. It was a perfect last big outing as a family of three and I'm so glad my parents came.<br />
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On Sunday after church (just a few hours after we took these photos), my blood pressure was really quite high and wasn't going down. I called the doctor on-call and she had me come in to check the protein in my urine and be monitored for a while. Chris stayed home with Henrik since he was napping so my mom drove me to the hospital and kept me company while I was monitored. My blood pressure readings there were a bit high, but not as bad as they had been and I had no protein in my urine. After they watched me and baby for close to two hours, I was allowed to go home. But since my blood pressure is now becoming more of an issue than it was, I really could have the baby anytime.<br />
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Since then, I've had lots of contractions. Some painful, some just uncomfortable. My blood pressure remains high, but not high enough to warrant going back to the hospital. I keep hoping she will decide to just come on her own rather than being induced, but who knows. She is quite low in my pelvis so my hips are really sore. I went to the chiropractor yesterday to get adjusted and that helped significantly. Now I should be all aligned for the delivery, which is a relief.<br />
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Yesterday, Henrik had a mild stomach bug for the first time. It caught me off-guard and caused quite a bit of anxiety since I worried about the rest of us getting it, particularly the baby if she comes this week. Thankfully, my mom was around to help and Henrik acted like himself despite being sick. He has fully recovered now and so far, we have all stayed healthy. Which has been such a blessing! This time of year is so anxiety-ridden for me with illnesses going around and having young kids, especially a newborn. But I'm hopeful we'll be able to keep everyone healthy. Fingers crossed!<br />
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Henrik seems totally ready to take on his role as big brother, even though he has no real concept of what that entails. We had three friends all have baby girls about a month an a half ago and he gets sooooo excited when he sees them and yells "baby!" (one of his best words). He loves to read the books we have about babies/older siblings and takes excellent care of his baby doll. He carries the doll around, tucks him in for nap time, changes his diaper, feeds him, reads to him, etc. It's adorable. I really hope it at least somewhat translates to baby sister haha. He loves to hug my belly and occasionally bite it, so that's good too. I'm really looking forward to seeing them together, even though it's bittersweet giving up being able to give Henrik our full attention and care. I know it'll be worth it, but it's still hard sometimes.<br />
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The other night, Henrik only wanted me to hold him before bed (a rarity, he usually prefers Chris) so I took full advantage of the snuggles. I couldn't help but cry as I thought about all the hours I spent in his room, holding and rocking him to sleep. He's quickly outgrowing that phase so it's really precious to me when he still wants that closeness. He truly is the sweetest.<br />
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In a few days, both my siblings and their spouses will be here and we CANNOT WAIT! It's been a while since we've all been together so we have many fun things planned. I have a feeling it will be the best Christmas yet!<br />
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Hopefully my next baby update will be her birth story! But we shall see. </div>
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Sitting: Next to Henrik while he is "fishing" in a laundry basket with his fishing pole.<br />
About: To start making dinner.<br />
Feeling: Some cramping/contractions. If only they'd get stronger!<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 6!!Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-40168663259761891172018-12-18T13:58:00.001-08:002018-12-18T13:58:54.865-08:00Comfy Sweater + Comfy Shoes<div style="text-align: center;">
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Shop the Look<br />
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Dress: Poppy & Dot (sold out, similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2SYR6Tq"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2SW8gki"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Sweater: H&M (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2ClPo99"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2SUh8ac"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Shoes: Adidas (get them <a href="http://bit.ly/2SVzSX6"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) </div>
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In case you haven't noticed, I'm all about comfort in terms of what I wear during pregnancy (and let's be honest, even when I'm not pregnant too). I bought this dress even though it's not maternity but it has worked really well these last few months, especially since I can adjust the tie to accommodate my growing belly. I paired it with this extra cozy sweater while we were in NYC visiting my sister and since NYC, I obviously had to wear good walking shoes. Today, my Adidas probably wouldn't be so comfortable since my feet/ankles have swollen so much, but oh well. This is still one of my favorite maternity outfits from this pregnancy! And it can even be worn as-is post-pregnancy too. Double win.<br />
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Currently, my maternity outfits (minus church-wear and date night outfits) consist of black leggings and some kind of comfortable top and sweater. It's a uniform that has served me well since it has gotten colder out! I am looking forward to getting to wear some of my favorite non-maternity clothes in a few weeks. They seem lonely.<br />
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Just: Got Henrik up from his nap. He was reluctant to get out of his crib. He definitely takes after me in that department.<br />
Hoping: Chris comes home from work soon! We miss him.<br />
Planning: A lazy dinner of chicken tenders, waffle fries, and green beans because #health.<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 6!<br />
<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-29220871877932200932018-12-18T13:24:00.001-08:002018-12-18T13:24:45.304-08:0038 Week Bumpdate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jumpsuit: Asos (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2SW6eka"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Necklace: J. Crew (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2tqeEpV">here</a>) // Shoes: Old Navy (get them <a href="http://bit.ly/2Cky58e"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>)</div>
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<i>This maternity jumpsuit is one of the BEST purchases I made this pregnancy. I was able to start wearing it back in July and it has transitioned very nicely through the seasons. It's also ridiculously comfortable and not too tight, which is essential for my maternity-wear. A classic, comfy black jumpsuit like this will serve you well if you are pregnant! They are so easy to dress up or down and can be styled a million different ways. </i><br />
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Time sure flies when you have a toddler and a zillion other things to do before the baby comes! Not to mention Christmas prep as well haha. Needless to say, it's been a busy month for us but we are immensely excited for our daughter's arrival.<br />
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Things here baby-wise have been fairly quiet this week. Not as many contractions, which is a bit disappointing. But I am 75% effaced, which is much more than I was with Henrik so I suppose that's good progress! Having plenty of the usual aches and pains, had a good non-stress test that showed that baby is doing well. My heartburn has also reappeared, but it hasn't been too horrible. As much as I love my pregnant belly and am enjoying these final days/weeks with it, I'm excited to get back to "normal", or whatever my new normal will be.<br />
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Henrik continues to be a fun distraction from all the stress of baby and house prep. He always knows how to make us slow down a bit and laugh. We are incredibly excited for Christmas with him this year since he at least sort of understands what's going on. "Sort of understands" is a generous phrase, I'll admit haha. He loves to find Santa a.k.a. Ho Ho Ho and wear his Santa hat. He loves the Christmas tree, decorations, and all the boxes that have been arriving at our house. I'm really looking forward to seeing his reaction to what's INSIDE all the boxes haha. This may be the last year we allow this many gifts, our tiny home is really running out of space and it'll be even tighter after Christmas/baby.<br />
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Stay tuned for more!</div>
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About: To go wake Henrik up from his nap.<br />
Then: Springing back into action with projects! At least, as much as Henrik will allow.<br />
Glad: That the sun is out today :)<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 6!!!!!<br />
<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-54814354771478681782018-12-11T19:16:00.001-08:002018-12-11T19:16:26.329-08:0037 Week Bumpdate!<br />
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How it feels to be pregnant sometimes.</div>
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Dress: Target (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2QnJA7H"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>, <span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2RNtsZD"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>,</span> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2Qt5oim"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Necklace: Kendra Scott (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2QnKgtL"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Sweater: Target (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2RTb2XI"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Shoes: Target (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2RUbYeu"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>)</div>
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Going from 36 weeks to 37 seems like a big deal in my mind for some reason? It's like at 36 weeks, you think you have a solid month before baby. But then week 37 starts and you're like wait, three weeks is not a lot of time? Plus the baby could come early??? Then panic mode really sinks in. At least it did for me haha. We really burst into action after Thanksgiving in terms of prepping for baby. We got (almost) everything into the new closet room, cleaned out a BUNCH of items (many of which will be sold in the spring during a closet sale! Stay tuned), and began organizing all the baby girl items I've been stockpiling over the last few months. It has been a ton of work and at times very overwhelming, but we are slowly making progress and I feel a lot better about everything. At this point, the baby could come and it wouldn't be a complete disaster ;)<br />
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Symptom-wise, I had a lot of contractions during this week. Some even showed up during my NST, which hadn't really happened before. My doctor checked me and I was only at 1 or 2 cm, which was a bit disappointing considering how frequent and painful the contractions had been. The one piece of encouraging news though was that I suddenly went from measuring 36 weeks at my last appointment (right on schedule) to 34 weeks, which means the baby has dropped considerably. I wasn't shocked to hear this news considering it feels like she might just fall out of me at any moment. Hopefully this means less pushing when the big day comes!</div>
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My hips/back/pelvis are quite sore, but going to the chiropractor has helped with that. My balance is definitely getting worse haha. The baby's movements/kicks are at times very painful, which I don't recall having with Henrik? Sometimes I yelp or jump in pain. It's not very pleasant. I'm pretty swollen all over, particularly my ankles. I can't wear my usual rings anymore, which is a bit sad. My blood pressure has been a bit on the high side, but not too high so that's good! Hopefully the preeclampsia stays away this time. </div>
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We are so unbelievably thankful to all our family and friends who have stepped in to help us. It is really challenging to get house projects done with a very curious toddler so having people come to help watch Henrik has been invaluable. So many of our friends have offered to help and have shown their love and support in other ways that mean so much to us. It truly does take a village even to get through a pregnancy and we are immensely grateful for the people in our lives who have helped! </div>
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Just a few more days/weeks to go...</div>
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About: To go shower.<br />
Hoping: To watch The Great British Bake Show soon, it's seriously THE BEST.<br />
Craving: Some ice cold water.<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 14!!!!!!!!!</div>
Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-13345700343946846652018-12-11T18:39:00.002-08:002018-12-11T18:39:49.486-08:0036 Week Bumpdate<br />
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Dress: Target (from last year, similar looks <a href="http://bit.ly/2QqQppa"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2QsTYuI"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Turtleneck: Target (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2RNog85"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Shoes: Target (I'm sensing a trend? Similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2QoabBD"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>) // Necklace: J. Crew (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2tqeEpV"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>)</div>
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I've been taking somewhat regular photos this last month and a half, but of course finding the time to post and write about them has been a challenge haha.<br />
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These pics were taken shortly after Thanksgiving, which I thought I'd talk to you all about! It was difficult this year because we made the decision that Chris and Henrik should go to his family's Thanksgiving gathering and I should stay home per my doctor's orders. I wanted to make sure they got to see Chris's family since who knows when we will make it out West again with two kids, but it was so hard to not go with them.<br />
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I was very stressed and anxious in the weeks leading up to their trip, not because I worried about Chris's ability to handle Henrik, but because I just wanted to make sure they both had absolutely everything they needed and that all the logistics of traveling with a toddler were figured out. I knew I wouldn't be able to help in the moment, so I wanted to do everything I could to prepare them before their departure. In the end, the flights went great and Henrik handled everything like a champ (as did Chris).<br />
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Of course, I missed my boys terribly and begged for videos/pics/FaceTime calls constantly, BUT I WAS SO PRODUCTIVE. I cleaned out Henrik's entire room and reorganized it, sorted through items that the new baby would need, and got several other projects completed. It was also nice because we had my grandma and aunt in town for Thanksgiving so I got to spend time with them as well. All in all, it was a great Thanksgiving break. But I was more than happy to be reunited with Henrik and Chris the moment they got off the plane :)<br />
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Henrik was eager to tell me all about his adventures with Grandpa Stoker and his golf cart. He had a fantastic time there, which made me really happy. I had also turned our house into a Winter Wonderland while they were away so when Henrik walked through the door he said "Woooow!" numerous times (one of my favorite words of his). His reactions to all things Christmas have been pretty priceless.<br />
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Waiting: For Henrik to fall asleep. Chris is getting over a nasty cold so I'm on Henrik duty while he rests.<br />
Hoping: Contractions will pick back up?? I feel like I'm not making any progress in that department.<br />
Planning: To eat a few peanut butter cups in a few minutes.<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-51267779934844898502018-11-04T19:44:00.000-08:002018-11-04T19:44:23.387-08:0033 Week Bumpdate!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dress: Old Navy (exact dress <a href="http://bit.ly/2D2Vk7B"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>) // Necklace: Purple Peridot (exact necklace <a href="https://www.purpleperidot.com/the-marble-rivulet-necklace/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>) // Shoes: Target (similar here and here)</div>
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When I was pregnant with Henrik, it was so easy to take frequent photos and blog about my pregnancy since we had so few things going on compared to now. But I absolutely love looking back at those posts and photos so I'm going to try really hard to post more this last trimester! Especially because realistically, there's a decent chance this baby could be coming quite a bit early (more on that later) so I have to take advantage of the time I have (and the belly!). Without further ado, here's the 33 week bumpdate!<br />
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<b><i>Preeclampsia</i></b>: As of right now, I'm going into the doctor's office twice a week for non-stress tests/monitoring since my blood pressure is a bit of a concern. If you recall, my high blood pressure and other preeclampsia symptoms are what led to my having to be hospitalized and induced with Henrik. Thankfully, I was towards the end of my pregnancy when those issues arose so it wasn't a big deal to induce me. This time, I've been having some high blood pressure readings much earlier on so they're having me take aspirin daily, watching my symptoms closely, and now I'm having frequent non-stress tests. I think I've successfully convinced my doctor to reduce the NST's to once a week as long as my blood pressure remains ok (it's been a bit elevated the last few appointments but nothing too bad). Which I'm extremely grateful for. I want all the time with Henrik that I can get and being gone two mornings a week is a lot. If at any point my blood pressure gets too high and I have other preeclampsia symptoms (like protein in my urine), then they'll induce me. So basically this baby could come tomorrow or I could go past my due date again haha it's totally unpredictable but that's just the nature of babies anyway! I'm really grateful I haven't had to be hospitalized for any long periods of time, put on bedrest, or had any other major complications.<br />
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<b><i>Ultrasounds</i></b>: Like with Henrik, I've had many ultrasounds with this baby (I think I've had five so far? Honestly it's hard to remember). Two of them were to check on the baby's heart because of some family heart conditions but they couldn't find anything wrong with her heart so that's good! Another one was to check and make sure the baby and my cervix were ok after having some mild spotting. The rest of the ultrasounds have just been the routine anatomy scan and growth scans due to the aforementioned risks of my blood pressure. I have two more scheduled for this pregnancy, we'll see how far I get! The baby has been consistently fairly uncooperative for the ultrasounds. Particularly in regards to showing her face. We have only had one ultrasound where we got a halfway decent look at her face in 3D. The tech was able to print some of those photos and they bring me so much joy. She is measuring a bit big, but who knows how much she'll end up weighing. Her head, however, has consistently been in the 95th percentile for size sooooo that's good haha. She also has visible hair, but if it's blonde like Henrik's it won't be really visible until she's about two years old.<br />
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<b><i>Sciatica</i></b>: My sciatic nerve pain has been bothering me more lately, but I can still walk pretty easily and if I go to the chiropractor about once a week, it doesn't get too out of hand. Looking forward to that pain going away after I give birth :) Feeling very grateful I'm still able to workout 5 days a week, even if it's just walking on a treadmill and watching Jeopardy. It is really hard for me to chase Henrik around, lift him up and down a lot, and wrestle him in and out of his stroller. If I overdo it, I am in a lot of pain afterwards and it takes a while to get back to normal. This has limited some of our outings (like I can't take him to a park by myself), but we are still trying to get out and do fun things while it's just him.<br />
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<b><i>Heartburn:</i></b> I had really horrible heartburn during my second trimester with Henrik so when I reached 28/29 weeks without experiencing anything, I thought I had dodged a bullet! Sadly, not so. The heartburn is back in action. I have learned that Tums are disgusting no matter the flavor but they do tend to help!<br />
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<b><i>Leg cramps</i></b>: I am much more prone to cramping in my calves and feet this pregnancy, which I also experienced with Henrik. It's been better the last week or two, which is great. When we were in New York about a month ago, I had one cramp that was so bad I actually cried haha so pathetic. Thankfully Chris was able to help me massage and relax the muscles to get rid of it.<br />
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<b><i>Contractions</i></b>: I have a lot of Braxton Hicks and actual contractions most days, but nothing consistent or intense enough to warrant a call to the doctor. Sometimes I'll start to time them, but they never seem to last more than an hour or so.<br />
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<b><i>Dreams</i></b>: I don't remember having this as much with Henrik, but I have had crazy vivid and bizarre dreams this pregnancy. They feel very real and often lead to me waking up extremely stressed. I can't recall details, but I'm usually mad at something and yelling at someone. It would be nice if I could just have a really vivid dream about lying on a beach or something, but alas.<br />
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<b><i>Cravings</i></b>: Nothing terribly specific, but I have been wanting peanut butter more than usual.<br />
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<b><i>Nesting</i></b>: I feel a great sense of urgency to get the house and all of the baby's things ready, but everything is kind of on hold until we can get the new room we added to our house set up with closet rods and storage. Most of what we need has been ordered so hopefully we can install the rods and shelves in the next week or so and then I can start moving everything from the current closet room into the new room, Henrik into the old closet room, and the baby into Henrik's current room. It's going to be a ton of work and it may not all get done before she arrives, but I'm eager to get started and hopefully get rid of a lot of stuff in the process. I'm also trying to get the rest of the birthday and Christmas gifts squared away so if she does come a bit early, I'm not scrambling at the last minute to get all of that done.<br />
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<b><i>Name</i></b>: We have a few girl names we like, but are still workshopping. Stay tuned.<br />
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<b><i>Maternity Clothes</i></b>: I've been wearing mostly leggings with sweaters/cardigans as well as athleisure (workout leggings and tees) since they're easy to hang out and play with Henrik in as well as allow for peak comfort during my appointments. Occasionally (once or twice a week) I get fancy and put on maternity jeans with a top and then obviously I dress up more for church (like the outfit I'm wearing above). It's been fun to dress my belly now that it's more round and wear some of my favorite maternity pieces from last pregnancy.<br />
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<b><i>Photos</i></b>: We are having our maternity/family photos taken this upcoming Saturday! I thought I had everyone's outfits all figured out, but sadly the pants I ordered for Henrik are too big and the shirt just doesn't quite work. Henrik has also decided that he despises bow ties so please pray I'll be able to bribe him into wearing his new bow tie for at least a few of the photos.<br />
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That's pretty much all for now! Hopefully the baby doesn't come too soon so I can do at least a few more posts about this pregnancy. As always, thank you for all the support and love! It means the world to us.<br />
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About: To go to bed. DST has hit me hard and I'm exhausted haha.<br />
Happy: That the weather has cooled down a smidge so I can wear my fall/winter maternity clothes.<br />
Watching: House Hunters International<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 51 HOLY MOLYAnnie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-2965855475751626252018-09-03T11:47:00.003-07:002018-09-03T11:47:38.403-07:00It's A Girl! <div style="text-align: center;">
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Dress: Shein (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2MK3tUE"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>; size up if you're larger in the bust!) // Shoes: Old Navy (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2NKoUkU"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2oAsrap"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>) // Necklace: Kendra Scott (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2oyZ3Bk"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>)</div>
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As most, if not all of you already know, we are having a baby girl! I am <i>so</i> very excited. Throughout this pregnancy, I had a feeeeeeeling it was a girl, but I also thought Henrik was a girl so I tried not to put too much stock into my "feeling". I've always wanted to have at least one boy and one girl so I thought it would be convenient to have a girl next since I do NOT plan on being pregnant again for a GOOD LONG WHILE. But at the same time, I also loooooove baby boys so I really wasn't going to be disappointed either way. Plus since my due dates are literally identical, I thought it would be nice if it was a boy to be able to re-use virtually his entire wardrobe. Much conflicted feelings.<br />
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A few weeks leading up to our anatomy scan, I started having incredibly vivid dreams that I was having a girl. To the point that I would wake up CONVINCED that we already knew it was a girl. From that point on, it was reeeeaaallly hard to not keep thinking of the baby as "she". I tried to not use female pronouns when thinking about the baby in my head, but it happened anyway.<br />
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The day before our ultrasound seriously felt like Christmas Eve. I could not WAIT to find out. My appointment was pretty early in the day so I dropped off Henrik at my mom's house shortly after he woke up and headed to the doctor's office. Chris was able to join me for the ultrasound, which was so great. Monday mornings are usually crazy busy for him with work and meetings so I was really grateful he was able to slip away.<br />
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The ultrasound itself took fooooorever. It was one of the longest ultrasounds I had ever had (about an hour). The baby was not being terribly cooperative so examining and getting images of each part took several attempts. The ultrasound tech had me rolling from side to side, changing positions and incline, using the bathroom, etc. etc. in an effort to try and get the baby to a good spot. FIIIIINALLY, the tech said that she kept seeing "three white lines", which I knew meant a girl! She said she wasn't totally confident, but she didn't see anything to make her think it was a boy. With Henrik, it was super obvious right away that he was definitely a boy so the ambiguity made me a bit nervous. Before we left the ultrasound room, she asked how confident she was that it was a girl and she said 90%, which was good enough for us!<br />
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As excited as I was to hear that we were having a girl, I walked out of the doctor's office after my appointment and saw a dad in the waiting room holding a brand new baby boy and my heart broke just a tiny bit. But I'm sure that would have happened if I had found out we were having a boy and I saw a brand new baby girl right after too haha. I JUST WANT ALL THE BABIES.<br />
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It was VERY difficult to not tell my mom the gender when I went to pick up Henrik, but I wanted to tell her and my dad at the same time that evening. When we found out with Henrik, they were out of town so we had to Facetime them, which was fun! But telling people in person is always way better.<br />
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That afternoon, I made gender reveal cupcakes so when you bit into them, the icing inside was pink. I'm nooooot a super crafty baker person, but I was pretty pleased with how they turned out. Later that night we went to our good family friends' house with my parents and everyone bit into the cupcakes at the same time to see that it was a girl! It was so great to be able to celebrate with my parents and our friends whose kids are basically the closest thing I have to younger siblings. Everyone was obviously very excited and we had a good time visiting with each other.<br />
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Now that we know it's a girl, I've had fun buying headbands, floral blankets, and a few outfits. I plan to still reuse a lot of Henrik's clothes and just put a girly headband on her to make her look more definitively like a girl. I've also made a few purchases for her nursery, but we are going to be moving everything currently in the closet/storage room into a new room we are converting in our garage so that Henrik can have his own "big boy" room and the baby can stay in the nursery. I'm really hoping we can get the room in our garage constructed soon so I can start all the big projects that will be involved with setting up the kids' rooms. Also kids????? I still can't wrap my head around having TWO babies!! It bloooows my mind.<br />
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Everything else pregnancy-wise is going well, although my sciatic nerve pain is making an earlier appearance than I would like (I only struggled with it the last month of my previous pregnancy) so I've started going back to the chiropractor for regular adjustments and that's been helping. Hoping my body doesn't totally fall apart yet!<br />
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As always, thank you all for your support throughout this pregnancy! It's so great to share my excitement with everyone.<br />
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Watching: Project Runway<br />
Enjoying: Our day off! It's been so great to have Chris around so I can actually get a bunch of things (like blogging) done.<br />
Hoping: I can maybe still fit in a catnap this afternoon.<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby: 113!!!Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-51395428607557724102018-07-14T11:14:00.001-07:002018-07-14T11:14:08.859-07:00I'm Pregnant! Again! Hello, blog readers! I can't believe it's been such a long time since my last post. A combination of my laptop dying (yet to be replaced) and a rough first trimester (more on that later) plus a VERY busy toddler (who I'm also legitimately obsessed with) led to blogging taking a backseat for a little while. The break was nice, but I'm hoping to post a bit more regularly so that I can document this pregnancy like I did Henrik's. I love looking back at those old posts so I'm planning to do my best to record as much as possible! I'm also trying to post pretty regularly on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/annielynnsfavoritethings/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Instagram</span></a> so feel free to check out my account there for more frequent updates on life, clothes, etc.<br />
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I thought I'd share the journey to getting pregnant, much like I did when I announced my first pregnancy, and update you guys on how the last 17 ish weeks have gone as well as share a few photos. Hope you all enjoy!<br />
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Shortly after having Henrik, I knew that I wanted to have another soon ish. Chris was on board with this but we both felt like I definitely needed to try and get through a whole year of breastfeeding before even trying since many women's cycles won't even return until their babies are weaned/many women have to stop breastfeeding after getting pregnant.<br />
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Later that year, Henrik's first birthday was fast approaching and I could not get the idea of having another out of my head. Chris was starting to feel ready for another one too so after praying about it, we decided I'd go off birth control and see what happened. My cycle hadn't returned but I thought maybe once going off bc I'd be able to "catch" that first ovulation and get pregnant right away.<br />
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Later that month I was having all sorts of weird symptoms that led my OB and me to believe that I was likely pregnant. I took a test Christmas Day and it appeared to be positive. I couldn't believe it. I called my OB and she had me come in to confirm everything. She was so convinced I was pregnant that she started going over all the first trimester info and congratulating me. I was so excited, but wanted to wait until my blood test results showed that I definitely was pregnant before really believing it.<br />
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The next day, the nurse called and said that my results showed absolutely no hCG (the pregnancy hormone) in my blood. Not even a little bit. Meaning, not only was I not pregnant now, I hadn't been recently either. No miscarriage, no chemical pregnancy, nothing. I was shocked. So was the nurse. So was my doctor. No one could explain it. The only possibility my doctor said was that my hormones were all wacky from going off bc a few weeks prior and that it somehow resulted in a false positive (which are pretty rare). We were all disappointed, but trusted that everything would work out when it was supposed to.<br />
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The next few months were filled with tracking symptoms, a bout of mastitis (thought I was probably going to die haha), and a million pregnancy tests. With no cycle to base anything off of, I knew that I could be pregnant at anytime so I just kept taking ovulation and pregnancy tests. Henrik was night-weaned and only nursing two to three times a day at the most but I still had no period. I had my regular OB check-up in March and she told me my cycle probably wouldn't return until he was 100% weaned and even then it could take a few months for my cycle to actually show up. I figured by April or beginning of May we would be done breastfeeding and then maybe over the summer we'd be able to get pregnant.<br />
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About two weeks after my appointment, on March 20th, my period randomly showed up. I was flabbergasted because I was still nursing. I texted Chris excitedly because I knew this meant we had a legitimate shot at getting pregnant now. I inputed my info into <a href="https://www.avawomen.com/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Ava</span></a> (I'll do a whole post on the Ava bracelet another day!) and it predicted when I would ovulate. I knew there was a decent possibility it wouldn't predict correctly my fertile window since it didn't have much data to go off of with only one cycle, but I figured we had nothing to lose by trying.<br />
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Lo and behold on April 14th, my pregnancy test came back positive. AFTER ONE CYCLE! Chris and I, again, could not believe it. It took six months to get pregnant with Henrik so I really thought that it would take at least two or three months, but nope. I then realized that March 20th was the first date of my last period before getting pregnant with Henrik as well, hence the Christmas Day due date (again). What are the odds, seriously?<br />
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Chris and Henrik weren't home when I found out I was pregnant but as soon as they came back, I went into the kitchen and just smiled at Chris.<br />
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Chris: "Why are you smiling like that?"<br />
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Me: *still smiling*<br />
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Chris: "What did you buy?"<br />
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Me: "Nothing!"<br />
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Chris: "YOU'RE PREGNANT AREN'T YOU???"<br />
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We hugged and then turned to Henrik and told him he was going to be a big brother. He pooped.<br />
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I then made Chris go to Target to grab a World's Best Brother shirt for Henrik to wear and we went over to my parents' house to share the good news. I had made a batch of brownies and spelled out "Baby No. 2" in cheerios and was going to unveil it after they noticed Henrik's shirt.<br />
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He was wearing a zip-up jacket over his shirt when we arrived so I asked my dad to take it off of him. Which he did. But my dad did not notice the shirt and neither did my mom. Finally, my mom suspected something and asked him to bring Henrik into the kitchen where we were all standing. They then noticed the shirt, we unveiled the brownies, and there was much rejoicing.<br />
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We told my siblings over Facetime the next day by having Henrik wear the same shirt. Both couples noticed pretty quickly what his shirt said, so they get points for that. Henrik acted very excited when everyone exclaimed, but he has absolutely no idea what's coming.<br />
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The next few weeks were a blur. I was exhausted and extremely nauseous all the time. It was really discouraging and difficult to deal with, especially since Henrik is so active. I would literally just lay on the couch most of the day and watch Henrik play in our house and read books to him. If we wanted to go on an outing, my mom usually had to come over and help me get him ready because I was so weak. My anxiety levels were also really high for about three weeks, which resulted in a lot of tears and me simply not feeling like myself. Mercifully, Henrik essentially weaned himself a week or two after finding out I was pregnant so I didn't have to deal with feeling horrible and still breastfeeding him.<br />
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The only thing that seemed to stave off the nausea was eating, but nothing sounded good (one of the great paradoxes of pregnancy). Occasionally, I would have a craving for something specific and would feel better after eating it, but not often. Some of my cravings included: Chocolate, popcorn, ice cream sandwiches, fruit smoothies, yogurt, graham crackers, Panda Express, chicken salad sandwiches, waffles and Nutella, cheese, and chips.<br />
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Overall, I am feeling much better but I still have rough days here and there. My symptoms are similar to what I experienced with Henrik, but they are much more extreme and have definitely lasted a lot longer. I'm cautiously optimistic that the worst of it is over, but I don't want to jinx it. I am <i>incredibly</i> grateful that Chris was able to help so much once he got home from work and on weekends and that my parents live so close. They were an enormous help to me as were a few friends who knew about the pregnancy (and some who didn't). I honestly don't think we would have made it without everyone's help. Henrik was well-taken care of during my dark days and that was such a blessing.<br />
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In a few weeks, we will find out if it's a boy or girl! We will be so excited either way. I have a hunch about what it is, but I have been wrong before ;) So we will see! It's been fun to celebrate this pregnancy even more now that I'm feeling better. I think once we know boy or girl it will feel more real as we can start planning, picking out names, and making any necessary purchases. That ultrasound can't come soon enough! I'm also very much looking forward to graduating from lumpy, how-many-tacos-did-she-eat belly to cute, definitely pregnant belly. I started showing MUCH sooner than I did with Henrik and am already having trouble fitting into my non-maternity clothes. I love summer, but will be happy when the weather cools down a bit and I can just wear leggings everyday.<br />
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In the meantime, I am soaking up every day I get where I can solely focus on Henrik. He is truly the most incredible little boy and he never ceases to make me smile and laugh. Chris and I are so obsessed with him and love this stage he is in. I know that he is going to make an incredible big brother.<br />
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As always, thank you all for the love and support you have shown us! We really enjoy getting to share our lives with all of you and appreciate all that you have done for us. I will keep you guys posted on gender as well as how these next few months go! Stay tuned :)<br />
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And now, for some photos!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzn1IyPTR1oiyHcgdtny99HEBNKzpMK1VKbCMvbtAW6AH1-pl_oESthvP4mCUzfGX2K_QpWe-lkqvcrm4ra7YdS9bsDFg693pDSwPwfGzse75nfAvHCZw_H0uXSQDNPUmw-Qp26ETKSQL/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzn1IyPTR1oiyHcgdtny99HEBNKzpMK1VKbCMvbtAW6AH1-pl_oESthvP4mCUzfGX2K_QpWe-lkqvcrm4ra7YdS9bsDFg693pDSwPwfGzse75nfAvHCZw_H0uXSQDNPUmw-Qp26ETKSQL/s400/IMG_5048.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I could probably become a professional brownie-decorator.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjiaEc7-GoiKfD323EIhnkOBRi-WZTwZnF8WR44GVRPgVq_Z2EciJsdjTter4MVJVrN0ayBAr1QolWC1aLPlFzqEw_9MyVO-OkpElT2Tr7Cy5KdQ3c6nPhryI7cE_be-GmxPZ7n3QXdDn/s1600/IMG_5145.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjiaEc7-GoiKfD323EIhnkOBRi-WZTwZnF8WR44GVRPgVq_Z2EciJsdjTter4MVJVrN0ayBAr1QolWC1aLPlFzqEw_9MyVO-OkpElT2Tr7Cy5KdQ3c6nPhryI7cE_be-GmxPZ7n3QXdDn/s400/IMG_5145.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Cutest big brother in the whole universe. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9si5gx-vPBwYBXn-j19JF4ABzlkQkdqralp1LY0FgBB_kLhCzThld-pj_FeLKXjL-ufLuOlALqqo4u_AVVrFY75OE31adAkiHhffBVnKVHRSVOqKzQSz4Afm64BVxz9uvnzwu49fhquBm/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9si5gx-vPBwYBXn-j19JF4ABzlkQkdqralp1LY0FgBB_kLhCzThld-pj_FeLKXjL-ufLuOlALqqo4u_AVVrFY75OE31adAkiHhffBVnKVHRSVOqKzQSz4Afm64BVxz9uvnzwu49fhquBm/s1200/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mother's Day 2018, trying to artfully hide my bump.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPYXqhYtB9CDirC1jy2dxxa5p1y8UHOpYjxTvHuPU9HvlCqgfFRhLvTMezxY0OADEeZyNL2tobkNKEOe2FWdt9gZbqWyDyPnXW__8gaTt1tjG9mZpFJKqXXQNvAGOE3ssGUU0M44MZe-7/s1600/IMG_7425.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPYXqhYtB9CDirC1jy2dxxa5p1y8UHOpYjxTvHuPU9HvlCqgfFRhLvTMezxY0OADEeZyNL2tobkNKEOe2FWdt9gZbqWyDyPnXW__8gaTt1tjG9mZpFJKqXXQNvAGOE3ssGUU0M44MZe-7/s1200/IMG_7425.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />
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We were so lucky our Florida trip (which we had planned MONTHS ago) happened at a good time to take pregnancy announcement photos! We obviously wished we could have had Henrik in the pictures with us, but it was really nice to have a week just the two of us (our first couple trip since having him!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimskyWzxk6L38QlXZTIqWPHPbm71qNCgclPG0NbJrNFWpYaCqWf7FogT4ve1g-Ig_phqtQ3lWyajgm1nD_ycTVeIMR39z_783EVkpxOIsiFIBGLClAhVbh5SRGP_xY2jQjE-JoRAUYddjv/s1600/IMG_7426.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimskyWzxk6L38QlXZTIqWPHPbm71qNCgclPG0NbJrNFWpYaCqWf7FogT4ve1g-Ig_phqtQ3lWyajgm1nD_ycTVeIMR39z_783EVkpxOIsiFIBGLClAhVbh5SRGP_xY2jQjE-JoRAUYddjv/s1200/IMG_7426.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />
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Belly belly belly<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1DKLnwHW70mogMhyL_Hr8_yHviAeAYhcxYpsfrFeZS29ilkQOAITLSXlMXney9xdig1-lLNeTWl4YCDH3sVCZ1jxZNB7eMl87IC6HTvcwrUlijIPpXswyi7ZqgqtPZOvTEt2tUKO5-yz/s1600/IMG_7891.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1DKLnwHW70mogMhyL_Hr8_yHviAeAYhcxYpsfrFeZS29ilkQOAITLSXlMXney9xdig1-lLNeTWl4YCDH3sVCZ1jxZNB7eMl87IC6HTvcwrUlijIPpXswyi7ZqgqtPZOvTEt2tUKO5-yz/s1200/IMG_7891.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />
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My friend Kim (check out her photography site <a href="http://www.kimdavisphotography.com/blog/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>!) and I had planned this photoshoot before I was pregnant so once I found out, she was one of the first people I told so we could do the shoot before my bump was too noticeable. She's the best!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6b4Afc_cAmg55kCj3LKOWw9SjGATd5BL-PmW747SjbknW_wifhsJz5epneOl0WZidb3SHEELXOpEeBo3drMPEHGfaVQr7uiA1mhD_NUf0d_ZzXNs3X6JvVC9QjjlsbDWyjx_JDC7XBAf/s1600/IMG_8588.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6b4Afc_cAmg55kCj3LKOWw9SjGATd5BL-PmW747SjbknW_wifhsJz5epneOl0WZidb3SHEELXOpEeBo3drMPEHGfaVQr7uiA1mhD_NUf0d_ZzXNs3X6JvVC9QjjlsbDWyjx_JDC7XBAf/s1200/IMG_8588.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />
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Same story with this shoot I did with my friend <a href="https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Victoria</span></a>! She had asked me to help write and pose for a blog post about what brides should wear to their bridal shower (check out the post <a href="https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/weddings/wedding-planning-tips/what-to-wear-to-your-bridal-shower/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>!) so we had to do the shoot ASAP and make a few alterations to some of the outfits and get creative with my poses so my bump wasn't as prevalent (hence the jean jacket). She will also be doing our birth photos again and I can't WAIT!</div>
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Craving: Some really good chips & salsa.<br />
Happy: That Chris is back after being gone all week!<br />
Planning: To have dinner with friends this evening.<br />
Days Until Christmas/Baby #2: 164!<br />
<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-30948016795328148422017-12-18T14:11:00.001-08:002017-12-18T14:11:56.814-08:00UPPAbaby VISTA & MESA Review!<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of UPPAbaby. The opinions and text are all mine.</div>
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Hunk looking cute & comfy in his car seat while out for a walk.</div>
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It's impossible to not be happy while using this stroller!</div>
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When I was going through the daunting task of figuring out what baby products and gear I wanted to get in anticipation of Henrik's birth, I knew that a good car seat and stroller system would be very high on my list. These are items that you use a TON with a baby and there is a wide range of quality, features, etc. so I knew it would require a fair amount of research to figure out exactly what I wanted. I talked to many friends, test-drove a few strollers, read online reviews, etc. and finally settled on the <a href="https://tracking.tapinfluence.com/trk/3AHY3/SkQEe/c?p=9sUrZ&i=uyId3&r=IXaJa0Dirz1vGmF2SRNoG6yCD%2BRd9Aob3rd5%2FqBIlpc%3D" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #674ea7;">UPPAbaby</span></a> VISTA stroller and MESA car seat. There are a lot of features this travel system has that appealed to me. They included:<br />
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1. Stroller is easy to collapse and set up by myself<br />
2. Car seat is easy to install safely and properly<br />
3. Car seat fits into stroller<br />
4. Stroller adapts to hold two kids (and can even accommodate a third with a little platform for them to stand on)<br />
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I was ecstatic when <span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="https://tracking.tapinfluence.com/trk/3AHY3/SkQEe/c?p=9sUrZ&i=uyId3&r=IXaJa0Dirz1vGmF2SRNoG6yCD%2BRd9Aob3rd5%2FqBIlpc%3D" rel="nofollow">UPPAbaby</a> </span><span data-blogger-escaped-style="color: #674ea7;">said they wanted to work with me! I love their brand and products so I knew I couldn't pass up on this opportunity. Even before this partnership came along, my husband and I had already planned on purchasing this stroller and travel system because we felt it would be such a good fit for our family. And seriously, it hasn't disappointed! </span><br />
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Most importantly, Henrik is safe in this car seat and stroller and comfortable. He has never had issues with hating his car seat or stroller (which is such a huge blessing. Idk what we would have done if he had hated it).<br />
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If it's in your budget and you are looking for a travel system that has some of these features (ESPECIALLY if you plan on having kids close ish together and don't want a double-wide stroller), I would 100% recommend this system. It's been so great for us and I've been nothing but impressed with its quality and all the features it has to offer.<br />
Probably my favorite thing about the car seat is how easy it is to install the base. We have a base for both of our cars but we often switch my base into my mom's car for errands and trips to Indy and it is so easy to do! And it tells you if it is installed correctly. I never had to worry about whether or not I had done it right because it was so easy to tell with their green/red click function. Installing a base and car seat seemed SO scary to me but it was very simple with the MESA.<br />
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As I mentioned earlier, the car seat seamlessly locks into the stroller so we never have to get Henrik out of the car seat and into a separate stroller seat if he has fallen asleep in the car (SO NICE). It takes hardly any time to get him safely locked into the stroller. And I'm all about as little "hassle" as possible when it comes to baby stuff. The VISTA does come with a bassinet attachment, which I wasn't sure at first if we would use or not. But guess what? We used it a ton! We kept the bassinet at my mom's house and Henrik would nap in it and then on trips to Indy, I would put him in the bassinet locked into the stroller so he could have a little bit more movement and freedom after being in the car seat for an hour plus on the drive down to Indy.<br />
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We have even taken both the car seat and stroller on various vacations this last year and while that certainly made us have a LOT of luggage for three people, it was well worth it. I didn't have to worry about trying to find another stroller or car seat to use and figure out while vacationing. We were able to get off the plane, pick up our stuff, set up the car seat in a matter of minutes in our rental car (you don't even have to use the base since there is a way to install it using a seatbelt), and we were good to go! And since we did so much walking while in NYC and California, it was really nice to have our stroller. It glides and maneuvers so easily and has plenty of storage for going out and about. The travel case <a href="https://tracking.tapinfluence.com/trk/3AHY3/SkQEe/c?p=9sUrZ&i=uyId3&r=IXaJa0Dirz1vGmF2SRNoG6yCD%2BRd9Aob3rd5%2FqBIlpc%3D" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #674ea7;">UPPAbaby</span></a> sells for the stroller is definitely worth getting, in my opinion. It kept our stroller totally safe and it acts as insurance for your stroller if it gets damaged in transit (luckily, this has never happened to us).<br />
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<a href="https://tracking.tapinfluence.com/trk/3AHY3/SkQEe/c?p=9sUrZ&i=uyId3&r=IXaJa0Dirz1vGmF2SRNoG6yCD%2BRd9Aob3rd5%2FqBIlpc%3D" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #674ea7;">UPPAbaby's</span></a> customer service is also fantastic. They really care about their customers and are always there to answer questions and help make sure your baby is safe. Seriously my only complaint is that they don't make a convertible car seat! I am so sad that Henrik has almost outgrown his MESA. Maybe by the time I have another baby they'll have a convertible one available :)<br />
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Of allllllllll our baby gear, our VISTA and MESA top the list of our favorite products. So functional, stylish, and high quality. It has really helped make our transition into parenthood that much easier. I will forever be an <a href="https://tracking.tapinfluence.com/trk/3AHY3/SkQEe/c?p=9sUrZ&i=uyId3&r=IXaJa0Dirz1vGmF2SRNoG6yCD%2BRd9Aob3rd5%2FqBIlpc%3D" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #674ea7;">UPPAbaby</span></a> fan! If you have ANY questions about my experience with this stroller and car seat, please let me know! I'd be more than happy to talk about it. And if you're local and want to see either in action, we can arrange that too!<br />
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of UPPAbaby. The opinions and text are all mine.Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-50610155618398488292017-11-06T09:27:00.000-08:002019-11-15T09:40:30.322-08:00Midwest Fashion WeekDid you know there's a <a href="http://midwestfashionweek.com/">Midwest Fashion Week</a>?? Up until now I had no idea! The show travels to several different cities in the Spring and Fall, including Indianapolis! They also host shows in New York, Paris, and Chicago.<br />
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I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the Indy show and it did NOT disappoint. I loved that they featured a very diverse set of <a href="http://midwestfashionweek.com/fall-2017-designers/">designers</a> so the show was very inclusive. And of course, the clothes were extraordinarily well-done, original, and beautiful as well as thought-provoking.<br />
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Supporting up-and-coming local designers is so important to me and I really enjoyed getting to see their work and cheer them on! Tickets can be hard to get so if you are interested in attending one of their <a href="http://midwestfashionweek.com/mwfw-indianapolis/">future shows or other events</a>, get them early!<br />
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Thank you to MWFW for hosting me as a VIP! I felt very Anna Wintour-esque. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This post was sponsored by MWFW. All opinions expressed are my own. </span></div>
Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-7921748230554237882017-09-29T11:16:00.001-07:002017-09-29T11:17:31.677-07:005 Fall Trends<br />
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With being a mom and all the time-consuming responsibilities that come with that, I've been trying not to put excessive pressure on myself. That includes not stressing about blogging all the time. But I wanted to take some time to share some purchases I've made for this fall and talk about some trends to be on the lookout for! My day-to-day life is much different than it was a year ago so I'm trying to buy things that work for my new lifestyle while still being fashionable.<br />
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As an aside, now that the weather is cooling down and Henrik is more or less on a rough schedule, it'll be easier to take more blog photos to use for outfit posts. Be on the lookout for some of those in the upcoming weeks!<br />
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Here are some trends I am totally digging this season:</div>
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1. Velvet Anything: I am loooooving all of the velvet pieces that are coming out this season! I bought <a href="http://bit.ly/2wokWG0"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this skirt</span></a> from Anthropologie and I am ridiculously obsessed with it (also comes in a black pattern!). It can be paired with lots of different colored tops/jackets/booties and can be dressed up or down with ease. Plus pleated midi skirts are everywhere this season too. And rightly so! They're so cute and flattering.<br />
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I also recently got a velvet patterned top from Target! It's soft and can be thrown on with jeans or olive pants. For some reason, it isn't showing up online but it's <a href="http://bit.ly/2wome3O"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this same top</span></a> but in pink. Hopefully it gets put online soon! You can also check your local Target to see if they have it.<br />
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I also got <a href="http://bit.ly/2wo8Axn"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this cute velvet pouch</span></a> to keep inside my bigger purses and diaper bags to corral my stuff in. This soft pink color is going to be a staple for me this season!<br />
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2. Baseball Hats: Since my hair only gets really "done" like once or twice a week, baseball hats have been lifesavers for me. They coverup my scraggly hair and still look cute. Bonus: Henrik thinks they are FASCINATING. I have <a href="http://bit.ly/2xM0Clb"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this one</span></a> from Target and <a href="https://www.gigipip.com/products/ada-rose-velvet-cap"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this one</span></a> from Gigi Pip (on sale for $20!).<br />
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3. High-waist Jeans: Now that I'm more or less back to pre-baby size, I thought it might be a good time to buy some new jeans (haven't bought new non-maternity ones in a long time). I decided I really wanted to invest in some good quality ones that fit well and are comfortable (not always an easy task). I tried on lots of different pairs and fell in love with<span style="color: #674ea7;"> <a href="http://bit.ly/2vgqWnN">this one</a></span> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2yLVGuV"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this one</span></a> from Madewell. I loooove how flattering high-waist jeans are and these look and feel great on. I also scored <a href="http://bit.ly/2v34VbL"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this pair</span></a> from Abercrombie for $35 when they had a sale! I'll probably end up snagging another pair or two next time they're marked down.<br />
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4. Faux Leather: I got a cognac faux-leather jacket last year for Christmas and wore it a bunch so I'm excited to break it out again this year! The neutral color is very versatile and it quickly glams up any outfit. Here are a few similar ones <a href="http://bit.ly/2wnMpYf"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/2wobAtX"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>, and <a href="http://bit.ly/2woDC8J"><span style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a>.<br />
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I also got <a href="http://bit.ly/2fmVry4"><span style="color: #674ea7;">this faux-leather bag</span></a> from Target a few days ago and I really like it. It looks pretty good for only $40 and has some nice storage features. It's a great size for moms since you can stuff a few baby essentials in there too.<br />
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5. Knotted Tees/Dresses: No longer do you have to try and half-tuck or knot your shirts and dresses, they come already done for you! <a href="http://bit.ly/2yLWtfe"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This $22 top</span></a> is affordable and comes in a bunch of colors. I've already worn my pink one a bunch and am contemplating grabbing a few other colors as well. The knot adds great visual interest to any outfit with minimal effort.<br />
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I got <a href="https://www.poppoly.com/products/poppoly-fallin-for-you-basic-irregular-casual-dress?gclid=CjwKCAjw3rfOBRBJEiwAam-GsP3gF6af-qRjOhw5EYXyRpYYJ1pvULU78eKK2e7NOKlYUZL4cf9L4xoCTVUQAvD_BwE&variant=44248053315">this knotted dress</a> online a few weeks ago in black and I really like how the knot detail makes it a step-up from just a standard LBD. It's a great blank canvas for fall and will look great with a moto jacket and booties.<br />
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And here are some other recent purchases I've made that I've been super pleased with:</div>
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Happy fall shopping!</div>
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About: To play with Henrik! He's been so much fun lately.</div>
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Hoping: Chris will get to come home early today. </div>
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Excited: To see Hamilton this weekend GAAAAAHHH. </div>
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Days Until Christmas: 87!</div>
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<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-57045910925622602862017-08-21T09:21:00.000-07:002017-08-24T09:22:22.812-07:00Henrik's Nursery Reveal with Naturepedic!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_FMDAhPkKFBiSv3z3zROZOwe9SkL5qBSVtZAlsAY4jmTTySy3r52WuKkiqN6Ad4GK0-ysq-JH6PWC3-4becvmknCvSXzg_j147Rr6ozxCwmPkyBegVrvxgjUDQcGi4mvmlNafX-qUpZn/s1600/unnamed-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_FMDAhPkKFBiSv3z3zROZOwe9SkL5qBSVtZAlsAY4jmTTySy3r52WuKkiqN6Ad4GK0-ysq-JH6PWC3-4becvmknCvSXzg_j147Rr6ozxCwmPkyBegVrvxgjUDQcGi4mvmlNafX-qUpZn/s1200/unnamed-7.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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Get this adorable crib sheet from KB Cute <a href="http://bit.ly/2vlwjxf">here</a>! She sent it to me c/o and I LOOOOOOVE it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6m0VVfTHArG04blRF44AfsPNdfxy352jxIXFr0twog-Ld4BSVmekXS3i_Y20_rnVlUcSMzp0S1U4hthYVD3aafZTRqfcjCFFoVLjzfYdi8CFx3z_iouc3660pX7WuNhHQVImZxgDdBAT/s1600/unnamed-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6m0VVfTHArG04blRF44AfsPNdfxy352jxIXFr0twog-Ld4BSVmekXS3i_Y20_rnVlUcSMzp0S1U4hthYVD3aafZTRqfcjCFFoVLjzfYdi8CFx3z_iouc3660pX7WuNhHQVImZxgDdBAT/s1200/unnamed-14.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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The view from the chair. I spend a lot of time looking at this corner of the room. </div>
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Happy to just play in his crib!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm8JYeTGAR2ZhyphenhyphenYzgt96mwy04Pz5OIeZlJU0DxCc1BiCeLEY65A8r9sG25mgL3qM6yQ6ghMpO300SR1R-4D4aOgPb0hIbVYnxcvWsjFlyf1L58iQ_uZJ_1D3UjLCv50aH57rbP1aj0lYN/s1600/unnamed-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm8JYeTGAR2ZhyphenhyphenYzgt96mwy04Pz5OIeZlJU0DxCc1BiCeLEY65A8r9sG25mgL3qM6yQ6ghMpO300SR1R-4D4aOgPb0hIbVYnxcvWsjFlyf1L58iQ_uZJ_1D3UjLCv50aH57rbP1aj0lYN/s1200/unnamed-30.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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You may recognize this fox from his monthly milestone photos.</div>
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My friend <a href="http://www.sincerelyjennamarie.com/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Jenna</span></a> had this print done for my baby shower!</div>
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My favorite little guy.</div>
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We got these cute little animal prints from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/avigailcohenart/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">this artist</span></a> in Israel last fall!</div>
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Moccasins from <a href="https://freshlypicked.com/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Freshly Picked</span></a>. </div>
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Here it is, Henrik's nursery! For limited resources/time/crafting-ability, I am pretty pleased with how it turned out :) Side note: I'm well aware that these photos aren't going to be winning any photography awards haha I'm just starting to venture into taking photos indoors and it's going to be a work in progress as I learn. If you have any tips, feel free to send them my way!<br />
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But anyway! I like that the nursery is pretty neutral, but still has a theme and some character. We started with the National Parks posters (each park having special meaning to us; get them <a href="https://www.andersondesigngroupstore.com/a/collections/american-national-parks">here</a>) and based the design around that. We are incredibly grateful to all of the retailers who helped us outfit Henrik's room! Especially, <a href="http://www.naturepedic.com/?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">Naturepedic</a>!<br />
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I knew having an organic crib mattress was really important to me for a few reasons. Henrik would be spending a LOT of time on that surface so I wanted to be sure everything he was in contact with or would breathe would be safe for him. I had very sensitive skin as a child (and still do, in some respects) so I am always careful of anything I put on Henrik's skin. I researched a lot of brands and was instantly drawn to <a href="http://www.naturepedic.com/?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">Naturepedic's</a><span id="goog_939831536"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_939831537"></span> organic mattresses because of their commitment to using natural materials for their mattresses without compromising support, quality, and softness. They care about my child's safety, healthy, and quality of sleep and to me, that is incredibly important. You can read more about their brand <a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/our-products?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">here</a>, the importance of having organic products for babies and kids <a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/the-naturepedic-difference/why-naturepedic-for-children?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">here</a>, why they're different <a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/the-naturepedic-difference?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">here</a>, and shop their products <a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/our-products">here</a>.<br />
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Henrik slept in a bassinet for about the first six months of his life and I was very nervous about how he would transition into his crib and onto his new mattress, but it was a surprisingly easier transition than I thought it would be! The biggest struggle was getting him used to not being swaddled, but we started putting him in a <a href="https://www.sleepingbaby.com/">Zipadee-Zip</a> and after a few very rough days of bad naps and waking up a lot in the middle of the night, he eventually got used to it and now (overall) sleeps really well in his crib!<br />
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Near as I can tell, he loves the <a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/breathable-lightweight-organic-cotton-classic-2-stage-crib-mattress?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">Ultra Breathable 2-Stage Organic Crib Mattress</a> (<i><a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/breathable-lightweight-organic-cotton-classic-2-stage-crib-mattress?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">this</a></i> is the exact one we have)! Hahah. It holds its shape well but is still soft enough to be comfortable (but not too soft, because that wouldn't be safe). Sometimes when he is being fussy, he will refuse to be put down on the ground to play with toys. BUT he hardly ever fusses if I put him in the crib to play. He loves to roll around and play with his toys in there while I clean up around the house. I think the <a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/breathable-lightweight-organic-cotton-classic-2-stage-crib-mattress?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">mattress</a> being so comfortable for him has made a huge difference with his willingness to hang out in there!<br />
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If you are in the market for a new mattress either for yourself or your baby/kid, I would highly recommend looking into <a href="http://www.naturepedic.com/?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">Naturepedic</a>. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email!<br />
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Just: Watched the solar eclipse! It was so cool!<br />
Feeling: Grateful my friend was able to bring by some eclipse glasses at the last minute!<br />
Watching: Henrik crawl around our (freshly cleaned) kitchen floor.<br />
Days Until Christmas: 126!!!<br />
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This post was sponsored by <a href="http://www.naturepedic.com/?utm_source=annie%20lynn&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=2017%20blogger&utm_content=mc47">Naturepedic</a>, all opinions expressed are my own.<br />
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Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-68761603506923427332017-07-24T12:33:00.000-07:002017-07-24T12:33:04.108-07:00Breastfeeding Essentials with Bravado Designs I've gotten lots of questions from pregnant and nursing friends regarding what I wear to nurse in and what things have helped me as I've breastfed Henrik the last seven months. I figured the easiest way to share what has worked best for me is through a post devoted to nursing!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I get started, keep in mind though that what works best for me, may not work for you. I got tons of advice on nursing bras, clothes, tanks, etc. from friends before having Henrik and some things have worked better for us than others. It's all trial and error, really! As is 99% percent of parenting. Anyway these are just some ideas :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz8DvbwwPs5NlIYvyI6H49CF_XZ6fZcpoN_RgIvEQERinpPrCWZ8Y2IB3xfGOkjNcuBTrDBpM7enKhpscucYAjsW-tuhmjRF67_jN271f6j5OTo1FFb8UJdLMoy-PvuG021_cqZZA-OVN/s1600/IMG_7681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz8DvbwwPs5NlIYvyI6H49CF_XZ6fZcpoN_RgIvEQERinpPrCWZ8Y2IB3xfGOkjNcuBTrDBpM7enKhpscucYAjsW-tuhmjRF67_jN271f6j5OTo1FFb8UJdLMoy-PvuG021_cqZZA-OVN/s320/IMG_7681.JPG" width="240" /></a>So first and foremost, it's important for you guys to know that I choose to not nurse in public if I can help it (this obviously means I have much more flexibility in what I wear). I have ZERO problems with other women nursing in public, really truly. I love it when others breastfeed while out and about, I'm just not comfortable or confident enough to do it myself. Especially in the early months when Henrik required a lot of hands-on help from me to nurse. Nursing in the beginning was stressful enough as is so doing it in public added even more stress that I just didn't want to deal with if I didn't have to. Now it's a lot easier, so we could probably do it if necessary (and have a few times).<br />
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Whenever we travel, in particular, I try to make sure I wear something that is easy to nurse in should something happen and nursing is the only way to feed him. This generally means a loose shirt that is easy to pull up and high-waisted pants or leggings that provide more coverage. Dresses with buttons also work great. I'm always sure to have our <a href="https://www.coveredgoods.com/?session=1389147197371940347578283944013100147458393489&uda=665on313487766084387674&utm=8665on313443871331359813794110912103914123123198331674&udb=f8199d13482612123131313d&gclid=9193800817947918238794191712401208497128004801219288331866521231344387674&rfsn=583916.a50528&agbd=z013128004801219288331866521231331fs1280048012192883318665212313a3139411099411093356&cgte=z01331fsa3133914123123198331674&ges=39141231231983dg31674&ces=94tff11099411093356014745">Covered Goods nursing cover</a> with us too for emergency nursing situations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HDh9jr1rtB_D8lVtZXCxFiX1tI8BNThvtH2thfqe0_kYs46aHotb5GOYGnH9M6sB2eLDocZTyEGwFmKKCePa2o71lcNvcBQxyIAMFZcMMWVT_cun35A9QYr_qqf4BXdZUyCEt5ZmovDs/s1600/IMG_7122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HDh9jr1rtB_D8lVtZXCxFiX1tI8BNThvtH2thfqe0_kYs46aHotb5GOYGnH9M6sB2eLDocZTyEGwFmKKCePa2o71lcNvcBQxyIAMFZcMMWVT_cun35A9QYr_qqf4BXdZUyCEt5ZmovDs/s320/IMG_7122.JPG" width="240" /></a>But what I have found to work best for us is to just feed him right before leaving the house and then bringing pumped milk along with us in a bottle if I know we'll be out long enough that he'll get hungry again. He's also now eating solid foods so that gives us some more flexibility with what he can eat while we are away from home.<br />
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So when we are home, I prefer to just take off my entire outfit (or at least just my top if I'm wearing comfy leggings or sweats) and nurse him in my underwear and/or robe. I like to be as comfortable as possible since I often end up holding Henrik for a while after he eats and dozes off. And since I'm just in our house, I don't have to worry about being put-together. It makes my life a lot simpler if I am not planning my days' clothes entirely around nursing. I totally recognize not everyone's lifestyle allows them to do that, so I'm just enjoying it while I can! It'll be harder to only nurse at home or my parents' house when we (hopefully) have more kids.<br />
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<a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/">Bravado Designs</a> was kind enough to send me some awesome nursing bras and tanks for me to try and I was super impressed! They sent me some that pull to the side and the clip-down variety. I've tried both kinds and I think I prefer the clip-down bras and tanks. I have a hard time getting the pull kind to stay out of the way, but I have lots of friends who like that kind better so just try both and see what you like!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u-CjqRxp-tzSPXhFvPLaOyLXdrej9Qpi7nBH1n5pXk8uJD3_J_IY8l_NHZx_7_8KjJMU5t8u06yaOjSjwZoj_8zlZUp5z7cN6geI-TkdADhiI0bsgahjLOd8Su-hPMdvn1_uuVNTzzaU/s1600/IMG_7224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u-CjqRxp-tzSPXhFvPLaOyLXdrej9Qpi7nBH1n5pXk8uJD3_J_IY8l_NHZx_7_8KjJMU5t8u06yaOjSjwZoj_8zlZUp5z7cN6geI-TkdADhiI0bsgahjLOd8Su-hPMdvn1_uuVNTzzaU/s320/IMG_7224.JPG" width="240" /></a>I think my favorite item they sent me was the <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/products/body-silk-seamless-nursing-cami?variant=28299897287">Nursing Cami</a> (get it <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/products/body-silk-seamless-nursing-cami?variant=28299897287">here</a>!). It's plenty long so there's lots of coverage and it's nice and tight without being uncomfortable (it has a very slimming and smoothing effect haha). It's also really soft and provides ample support with ZERO wires! Plus the straps are convertible so they can be criss-cross, if that's your style. It could easily be worn out and about layered or just as loungewear to bed. You can tell that all of their products are made of really high-quality material and will hold up really well with all the use that nursing bras/tanks inevitably get. I'm definitely going to be getting more of their camis. These would be especially great for when you're in the hospital because you don't need a top or anything over it!<br />
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They also sent me the <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/products/ballet-nursing-bra?variant=37796109514">Ballet Bra</a> (get it <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/products/ballet-nursing-bra?variant=37796109514">here</a>!), which is ideal for sleeping. It offers light support and adjustable straps. Plus it's also super soft and comfortable! And then the <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/products/body-silk-seamless-nursing-bra?variant=37098657418">Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra</a> (get it <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/products/body-silk-seamless-nursing-bra?variant=37098657418">here</a>!) is also great because it has removable foam inserts depending on your shape and fit preference and it includes a "conversion kit" to turn it into a regular bra when you're done breastfeeding. How handy is that??<br />
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What also really like about Bravado is that they provide VERY easy instructions on how to measure yourself to ensure that you get just the right size. I followed the step-by-step guide and everything fits perfectly! I would definitely recommend any of their products. You can learn more about their line of nursing items and purchase them on their website <a href="https://www.bravadodesigns.com/us/collections/nursing-bras-and-tanks">here</a>!<br />
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Other items that have been helpful to me for nursing:<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2tQTcI1">Boppy</a> (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2tQTcI1">here</a>): Loooooove ours. Makes nursing much more comfortable for both of us. And we got <a href="http://bit.ly/2tAk2ZO">this cute cover</a> for it!<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2tQxKCQ">Lansinoh Nursing Pads</a> (get them <a href="http://bit.ly/2tQxKCQ">here</a>): Helps protect my bras from the inevitable milk leakage.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2tzWfsT">Medela Harmony Pump</a> (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2tzWfsT">here</a>): I've tried an electric pump and this hand pump and the hand pump wins by a landslide. I love that it doesn't have to be plugged into an outlet so I can pump easily in the car or wherever we may be. Much easier to clean too! And soooooooooooo much cheaper.<br />
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Robe: I have a toooon of robes but I think my favorite one for nursing is a black one from Nordstrom that is sadly sold out. BUT <a href="http://bit.ly/2tQwnE9">this one</a> is nearly identical! And on sale. The dark color hides stains well, it's very soft and lightweight, and nice and long so I feel covered/cozy.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2tzWsMx">MAM Pacifiers</a> (get them <a href="http://bit.ly/2tzWsMx">here</a>): After Henrik is done nursing, I can pop <a href="http://bit.ly/2tzWsMx">this</a> in his mouth seamlessly and it soothes him to sleep so I don't have to be the human pacifier.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2tQIRf9">Nightgowns</a>: I wear <a href="http://bit.ly/2tQIRf9">one of these</a> to bed every night (I have several and will probably be buying more). They are RIDICULOUSLY soft and pull down easily for nursing access in the middle of the night. You can wear any bra of your choice underneath easily or no bra, depending on what you're comfortable with.<br />
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I know that not everyone who wants to breastfeed gets to so I feel very fortunate that Henrik and I have been able to with relatively few issues. We definitely have had our hard weeks and frustrating moments, but now it is overall much easier for both of us and for that I am really grateful. But of course, fed is best! So never feel guilty about how you feed your baby <3 Whatever you do, you'll get no judgment from me and I hope from no one else!<br />
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Of course if you have any other specific questions, just let me know! I'd be happy to help answer :)<br />
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Hoping: Henrik sleeps better tonight than he did last night. He's going through a growth spurt (it's always something) and it's taken a toll on all of us.<br />
But: I've been pretty productive today so I'm feeling good! Ish.<br />
Wishing: I had a McFlurry.<br />
Days Until Christmas: 154!<br />
<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-52948615424302933622017-07-09T15:02:00.003-07:002017-07-09T18:59:56.586-07:00Mr. Bingley's SleepoverA few weeks ago, Chris was about to leave for a five day work trip and I was stressin'. It was the longest trip he was going on since Henrik had been born. I have anxiety issues so I was unsure of how I would handle him being gone for so long. What worried me the most was nights by myself. I knew I could probably handle dealing with Henrik's middle-of-the-night needs, but I did not like the idea of being alone. In my house. At night. That totally freaked me out. In the past, whenever Chris was getting home late, I would just stay up because I was too scared to turn out all the lights and go to sleep by myself. Any little sound I heard terrified me and I was so nervous someone would break into our house and murder me in my sleep or something (our neighborhood is v safe, btw. I'm just a scaredy cat).<br />
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I contemplated moving Henrik and myself into my parents' house for the week and just sleeping there, but deep down I knew Henrik would do better in his home environment and it would be a big hassle to pack up ALLLLLLL of our gear and get settled at their house.<br />
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My mom and I talked and talked about a solution and finally decided that we would have our shared cat, Mr. Bingley, stay at my house (he lives at my parents'). This seemed like the perfect solution since Bingley looooooves to sleep next to my mom and is generally a good companion. I knew he would distract me from my fears and make me feel not so alone.<br />
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I bought a litter box and some fish toys filled with catnip as a welcome gift and my mom brought him over the first night Chris was gone. He freaked out at first, but my mom stayed for a bit to get him acclimated. He quickly realized that I was there and the familiar faces made him feel right at home. It took him about ten minutes of looking concerned before he laid down on the couch with my mom.<br />
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V relaxed.</div>
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Once I got Henrik to sleep, my mom left and it was just the Bing & I. I started my bedtime routine and Bangles (one of Mr. Bingley's nicknames) had a GREAT time exploring my house. He followed me into the closet room while I took some outfit photos for Instagram and loved discovering all the nooks and crannies (and shoes).<br />
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'splorin the fun closet room. </div>
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While I was taking out my contacts and brushing my teeth, Bingley hopped into my bathtub, stared at himself in the mirror, and rubbed up against me. He seemed quite at home and I was relieved that he wasn't distressed about his new surroundings.<br />
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He loves bathrooms. </div>
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He followed me around as I locked all the doors and turned out the lights. The only one that was left on was the one in our bedroom all the way down the hall. He could see the light and sprinted ahead of me down the hall and immediately hopped up onto the bed.<br />
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Getting comfy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P6yg-cPhbDeGBhMHyn2kZssDxSr8lqMhY8YFCr0kg5BQVdQH81a4IHNgsUuq_0583WypiuGc8BjbZDJdT8-ADqfWmnX2q3Sg9IEZ2RZhHT07trYEDU0b5gIEqCJJN03TeiwLimyvbWzn/s1600/IMG_6088+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P6yg-cPhbDeGBhMHyn2kZssDxSr8lqMhY8YFCr0kg5BQVdQH81a4IHNgsUuq_0583WypiuGc8BjbZDJdT8-ADqfWmnX2q3Sg9IEZ2RZhHT07trYEDU0b5gIEqCJJN03TeiwLimyvbWzn/s640/IMG_6088+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Oh hello.</div>
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Here's how the rest of the night went down:<br />
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11:30 In bed, about to go to sleep. Bingley is snuggled up near me. "This is going great!" I naively think.<br />
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So innocent. So pure. So deceiving.</div>
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2:30 AM: MEOOOWWWW!!!!! WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UUUUUP.<br />
I want Bingley to be quiet so he doesn't wake up Henrik so I immediately try to shush and get him lay back down next to me. Which he refuses to do. Instead he kneads my hair and walks all over me. I notice kitty litter by my head. I fall back asleep and presumably so does Bangles.<br />
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4:00 AM: MEOOOWWWW!!!!!! WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UUUUUUPPPPPPPPPPP. I tell Bingley to be quiet, which only seems to add fuel to his fire. He plays with his new fish toy by my bed. Loudly. Which I did not think was possible (it's not a loud toy). He walks on my headboard. He headbutts my face with vigor. I am covered in cat drool and fur. He tries to get comfy but just meows. And starts doing who knows what in my bedroom (there's a lot of clanging). I cannot sleep.<br />
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4:45 AM: Henrik is awake and hungry. Bingley follows me into the nursery. He then proceeds to try to take down Henrik's name banner, get in his bassinet, scratch at the wicker basket, knock over a stack of books, knock over a lamp, climb the walls, etc. Then he jumps mightily into Henrik's closet and dumps everything in there, hops onto the changing table and licks some lotion off a bottle and smacks his lips and shakes his head for a while because apparently the lotion taste isn't to his liking, walks on Henrik while he's nursing, sits on Henrik, and meows at Henrik. All of this commotion prevents Henrik from falling back asleep (can't imagine why?) so I kick Bingley out of the nursery. The door is not sound proof and his meows are very loud so this is a pointless gesture. Henrik still can't sleep. So I let him back in.<br />
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5:45 AM: Try putting Henrik back in his bassinet and he appears to be asleep. Bingley follows me back to bed.<br />
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6:00 AM: Henrik has woken up again. Bingley helpfully trots over to the nursery door before me and rubs his head against it as if to say "Aha look! I found the source of the crying! I am such a good cat." Bingley meows while I try to get Henrik settled and is a general nuisance, but not as big of a nuisance as he was before. I get Henrik to sleep and back in the bassinet. I text my mom and half-jokingly ask her how soon she can come retrieve the cat. I go back to bed.<br />
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Bingley starts meowing. Again. Loudly. Bangs around my room for a bit then leaves. It's quiet and idk what the heck he is doing in my house but I don't care because he's not meowing in my face anymore.<br />
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He eventually comes back and tries to sleep on my chest.<br />
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I kick him off.<br />
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He mysteriously disappears again but then at 6:30 comes back to meow at me.<br />
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I determine my fatal flaw in the past has been to respond to the meows, which only seems to excite him and make him more determined to hang out with me because if I'm awake, that apparently means I am ready to play and give him my undivided attention.<br />
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So I play dead.<br />
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He walks all over me, meows some more, plays with his fish, sits on my bookcase and shoves his head through the blinds of my window so he can see the great outdoors. He eventually settles down.<br />
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Shortly after 7 AM, my mom texts and says she is awake and can come pick up Bingley (BLESS HER).<br />
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I look down at the foot of my bed where Bingley is laying. He doesn't realize I'm awake and yet there he lays, meowing. Just for the fun of it.<br />
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We get out of bed and eagerly watch out the window for my mom's arrival (one of us more excited than the other).<br />
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She arrives and I pass Bingley to her and discover after she has left that in Bingley's final farewell, he left a poopy streak on my pajamas.<br />
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I then notice that all of the blinds in our family room are all tangled and a banner we have hung in our kitchen is on the floor. Henrik's door is also more open than I left it (I recall hearing Bingley meowing in the distance while I was asleep so I'm pretty sure he went in there to meow at Henrik at some point).<br />
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Misaligned blinds: Evidence of Bingley's middle-of-the-night adventures.</div>
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I change my pajamas and go back to bed and sleep much better.<br />
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I love Bingley, but decided I would rather sleep scared and alone in my house than have to deal with him again. He did not return for the subsequent nights.<br />
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Also for those keeping count, Henrik only woke me up really once whereas Bangles woke me up at least six times.<br />
<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-11902565609898049972017-06-30T19:39:00.000-07:002017-06-30T19:39:27.641-07:00My Job TodayIt's pretty late, Henrik is sound asleep, and I should be taking advantage of this opportunity to go to bed and get some much needed rest, but here I am. Typing away my feelings. It's therapeutic though so I suppose that makes it worth sacrificing sleep. And if it ends up helping at least one other mom out there, it'll definitely be worth it.<br />
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Picture because I like him.</div>
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A few months ago, I was really struggling. Henrik wasn't a newborn anymore and was suddenly much more difficult. Chris and I were having a hard time "figuring him out", for lack of a better phrase. We were trying to get to know him and his needs better (still are) and felt like we weren't providing what he needed very consistently because we didn't know what the heck we were doing (still don't sometimes). He wasn't being super difficult or anything, we were just still in the trial and error phase of playing around with sleep/eating schedules and learning his cues.<br />
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This was making me feel very overwhelmed because literally all my time and energy was going into trying to make this baby happy. There were so many non-baby things that were piling up and it was starting to give me a lot of stress and anxiety. I had thank you notes to write, blogging obligations, cleaning, laundry, errands, emails, and a million other things that I didn't seem to ever have the time for. As soon as I would get Henrik to sleep, I had to use that time to shower or make dinner or go to bed. And his naps during the day were too short to really fit in anything else. I didn't see how I could possibly get any other things done.<br />
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I told my mom about my stress and how I wished I could just have two days of no baby interruptions to get these tasks finally off my to-do list. Obviously two days was not feasible, but my parents offered to watch Henrik for an evening so Chris and I could each get a few tasks done. We picked a night and finished several projects that had been hanging over our heads and it felt great.<br />
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When I went to pick up Henrik, my mom and I ended up chatting for a bit. She said that years ago, one of her friends had teenage kids and then a baby. She was likewise very overwhelmed with all of her different obligations and finally had to say to herself that today, her job was to be a mom and that was all that mattered. She just kept repeating that phrase and it helped her keep her priorities straight and not get worked up when something on her to-do list took weeks to finally get crossed off.<br />
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And so, ladies and gentlemen, that has become my new mantra and it has made a HUGE difference.<br />
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"Today, my job is to be a mom."</div>
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I repeat that sentence to myself many times throughout the day and it is a wonderful reminder of what I should be focused on. It helps me stay in the moment and just concentrate on Henrik and being a good mom to him and providing for his needs. Getting other things done right away just doesn't matter as much.<br />
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(Of course, like with any parenting related advice, this must be used in moderation. I still make sure I am providing for my own needs as well as my husband's. It's all about balance.)<br />
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This mantra has helped me take off a lot of the self-inflicted pressure I was struggling with. I realized it didn't matter if that pile of laundry didn't get folded today, or if my bathroom wasn't as clean as I'd like it to be, or if I didn't answer that email right away. What matters is focusing on Henrik and being the best mom to him that I can be. Spending time smiling and playing with him on the floor is more important than running that errand. Holding and nursing him to sleep when he's upset is a better use of my time than doing the dishes. Singing and dancing with him matters more than cleaning out my car.<br />
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I know these days with just him are fleeting. Someday, we'll have another kid (I hope) and my attention and efforts will be divided again. It will be great, but different and challenging in other ways. I want to make sure I make the most of my time with him now even if it means other things temporarily take a backseat (like taking outfit photos for the blog haha).<br />
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Now that I have learned to relax more and not put any more pressure on myself than necessary, I have been much happier and less overwhelmed. I'm a more patient mom and wife (although definitely not perfect).<br />
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Don't get me wrong, though. There are still hard days and I get overwhelmed from time to time. But I just try to repeat my mantra and work through those feelings of stress and let things go. It's gotten a lot better the last few months and I'm really grateful for that. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to stay at home with Henrik and be his mom.<br />
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That's my new job. And I love it. </div>
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Happy that: Henrik went to sleep easily tonight. </div>
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And that: It's a holiday weekend!</div>
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Looking forward to: Spending time with my family. </div>
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Days Until Christmas: 178</div>
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Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-56663016078888657242017-06-06T14:40:00.003-07:002017-06-06T14:41:17.288-07:00Graphic Floral Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Picking up cats in heels is hard ok. </div>
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Shop the Look </div>
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Dress: <a href="https://alexis.stevierep.com/collections/shop">Alexis's Shop Stevie Shop</a> (get it <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BS2WU7ngxHH/?taken-by=poppyanddot">here</a>, also love <a href="http://bit.ly/2sdfnvm">this</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2se8ppE">this</a>) // Necklace: J. Crew Factory (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2sdoUCu">here</a>) // Purse: Tory Burch (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2qUAuyv">here</a>) // Heels: Saks off 5th (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2sdDQjP">here</a>) // Denim Trench: Who What Wear x Target (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2qUEn6E">here</a>) </div>
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You guys know I love a good floral print (I would be embarrassed to tell you how many floral print dresses I have in my closet). So I simply couldn't resist this graphic floral print dress when I saw it! I mean it's just too gorgeous. AND STRETCHY. Double win.</div>
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I was planning on wearing it to church a few weeks ago just on its own but realized as I was looking at my jackets in my closet that this denim trench paired perfectly with it! I often forget to look at my jackets when putting together an outfit so I was really glad I spotted it before I left! Of course, the dress looks pretty fabulous just on its own but I think the jacket really helps pull the whole look together. Plus our church building can get kind of cold so the jacket helped in that department as well. </div>
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One of the hardest adjustments to motherhood has definitely been the clothes I wear. I know I know it sounds dumb but hear me out. Prior to becoming a mom, I worked in two different offices so I always enjoyed putting together nice, professional-looking outfits for work and more casual outfits for going out. I felt like I had plenty of opportunities to wear cute outfits and that made me happy. When I'd get home from work, I'd change into my more comfy clothes while making dinner and doing stuff around the house. But now, my life is MUCH different so my wardrobe needs are much different. </div>
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Henrik likes to stay up late and wake up late so I consequently also wake up later in the morning. I generally change from my pajamas straight into my gym clothes for my workouts. Once I'm home, sometimes it's hours before I get in and out of the shower, cleaned up, and ready for real clothes (babies like to distract you from doing these things). But by then, it's sometimes 4 pm and I have no plans to leave the house for the rest of the day so it feels pointless to change into a real outfit. More often than not, I end up in a robe (current status), a lounge dress, sweatpants, etc. Plus when I'm home and Henrik gets hungry, I like to be able to just take off whatever I'm wearing and nurse him and be comfortable. Changing in and out of pants/nice tops just isn't very practical for that. </div>
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This means that on days when I have errands to run (grocery store, bank, Farmer's Market, etc.), I get REALLY excited to put together an actual outfit and wear it! Even if it's just for a few hours. But of course, this only happens a few times a week and I'm never in those clothes for very long. It's definitely kind of depressing to me. I look in my closet at all these great clothes and it actually makes me super sad that I don't get the opportunity to wear them as much as I'd like. </div>
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I'm really hoping this is just a phase and that once Henrik is a little older and not eating/needing a nap every two hours during the day that we'll be able to get out more and do things together (thus necessitating real outfits for me). But even then, my wardrobe needs will be quite different from life pre-baby. I've been buying pieces that are comfy, easy to get on and off, no-fuss/low maintenance, and visually interesting enough that they don't need a ton of accessories. Of course, washable and flexible are important too since I'm always on the floor playing with Henrik. </div>
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It's a process, but I'm figuring it out and trying to just accept and be happy with my life right now. I know this young baby phase is fleeting and will be gone before I'm ready so I'm trying my best to soak it up and enjoy it! Even if it means I don't put on real clothes all day ;) He's the best and I wouldn't change things with him for the world. </div>
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As always, thank you for stopping by!!</div>
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About: To start making dinner! Trying out this recipe. Super simple dinners have been our jam lately. </div>
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Confused: As to why Henrik has been napping like all afternoon?? Highly unusual but I'll take it. </div>
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Loving: This beautiful weather we've been having! 70 degrees and sunny is the best, in my opinion. </div>
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Days Until Christmas: 202!</div>
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Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-39050340602290016172017-05-31T08:22:00.000-07:002017-05-31T08:22:30.323-07:00Travels with Hunky: Tranquilo MatAs many of you know, we took Henrik on two trips in two weeks when he was a little over 4 months old. I've gotten a lot of questions about how we prepared for our trips, how they went, what worked/didn't, etc. so I've decided to do a series called "Travels with Hunky" where I will talk about different products that helped us on our trips. I'll also do a general post in a few weeks where I'll discuss our overall strategy and organization for the trips (fully recognizing that I am NOT a baby travel expert haha but I'm more than happy to share what worked for us to help other mamas out there!).<br />
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First up! The <a href="https://www.tranquilomat.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Tranquilo Mat</span></a>! I first saw <a href="https://www.tranquilomat.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">this product</span></a> featured on Shark Tank and was instantly intrigued. Portable, effective, soothing, what more could you want in a baby product? They offered to send me one for free to try and I was SO pleased with it!<br />
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To start, we used it at home a few times to get Henrik familiar with it. We would put it on his play pad and let him lay on it while he batted at his toys. We also put it in his bassinet and had him nap on it (the vibrations and noise it made was very soothing). Right away we could tell he really liked it and kept him from being fussy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aqW3kRwVcadZjih795uS5pQN8qxNaCDDMgjvE2V8EHO9PRC5vOzK3WT7Tiba482InxiC7jVbZztJ8KYUewjdOT5gZv6G4JVfWkxUBXWsaeLIHIIpU8QAJpKqgS564x1Y12Z8DCFHE_wu/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aqW3kRwVcadZjih795uS5pQN8qxNaCDDMgjvE2V8EHO9PRC5vOzK3WT7Tiba482InxiC7jVbZztJ8KYUewjdOT5gZv6G4JVfWkxUBXWsaeLIHIIpU8QAJpKqgS564x1Y12Z8DCFHE_wu/s640/IMG_4492.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Using it at home on his play pad. </div>
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Then came our trips! It rolls up nicely so it was easy to pack in my suitcase (would definitely fit rolled up in a diaper bag) and didn't take up much room at all (VERY important when packing for an extra person!).<br />
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While in Florida and NYC, we used it in our hotel rooms and at my grandparents' house to give Henrik a sense of familiarity and distract him when he was upset. The vibrations would instantly calm Henrik down and keep him happy in his new environments. Whenever we kicked up the vibration mode he would giggle and it was adorable. We also put it in his pack and play during naps and used the 60-minute shut-off function (super handy). The slight motion and sound definitely helped him fall asleep in his unfamiliar settings.<br />
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Happily playing on it at my grandparents' house!</div>
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The mat is sooooooo easy to use (just two buttons) and has long-lasting battery power (we accidentally left it on all night in our family room and we still haven't had to change the batteries). Like I mentioned earlier, it's super easy to pack up and take with you, making it ideal for travel. We will definitely be taking the Tranquilo mat on our future vacations! We continue to use it at home too on his play pad. He loves the motion and sound so much! This product is definitely a win. I'd recommend it, especially if you will be doing a lot of travel when your baby is young. It's a great way to give your baby a sense of comfort and familiarity when not at home.<br />
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If you have any questions about the Tranquilo Mat, please let me know! I'd be happy to answer them :) You can learn more about this amazing product on their website <a href="https://www.tranquilomat.com/pages/new-how-it-works" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a> and purchase either size <a href="https://www.tranquilomat.com/collections/all" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">here</span></a>!<br />
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Hunky loves his Tranquilo Mat and so do we!</div>
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This post was brought to you by Tranquilo. All opinions expressed are my own. </div>
Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-85336510727599979532017-05-25T14:30:00.003-07:002017-06-02T17:44:35.635-07:00Velvet Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shop the Look</div>
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Dress: <a href="http://us.shein.com/Navy-Surplice-Front-Velvet-Wrap-Dress-p-317951-cat-1727.html" target="_blank">Shein</a> (c/o, get the exact one <a href="http://us.shein.com/Navy-Surplice-Front-Velvet-Wrap-Dress-p-317951-cat-1727.html">here</a>) // Necklace: <a href="http://bit.ly/2mPKmtO" target="_blank">J. Crew Factory</a> (exact one <a href="http://bit.ly/2mPKmtO" target="_blank">here</a>) // Purse: Coach (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2qlbFeG" target="_blank">here</a>) // Shoes: Target (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2rEpWa9" target="_blank">here</a>)</div>
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So I am super behind on blogging (quelle surprise), but hopefully the fabulousness of <a href="http://garbsforgood.com/products/color-block-linen-dress" target="_blank">this dress</a> will make up for it! I love that it's velvet/stretchy and a wrap so it's very forgiving and flattering on all body types. Plus the dark blue tone is absolutely gorgeous (not to mention a great backdrop for Bingley's orange fur). It totally reminds me of Kate Middleton in <a href="http://bit.ly/2rEpWa9" target="_blank">this dress</a>! And we all know how much I love her. The price on <a href="http://us.shein.com/Navy-Surplice-Front-Velvet-Wrap-Dress-p-317951-cat-1727.html" target="_blank">this dress</a> can't be beat either ($17!!!).<br />
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Feeling: Hungry.<br />
About: To go to a friend's graduation party!<br />
Happy: That it's almost my birthday!!!!<br />
Days Until Christmas: 214!Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-33657386678923899282017-05-05T08:14:00.001-07:002017-06-16T13:30:24.348-07:00Erin Condren LifePlanner<br />
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As a newly minted (mostly) stay-at-home-mom, you would think my life would be simpler in some ways than it was a few months ago. At least, I expected it to. I figured I'd just be home most days doing stuff around the house, taking care of Henrik, going to the gym, running by the grocery store, and that would be about it.<br />
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But of course, this has not been the case.<br />
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There is SO much to keep track of! Henrik's doctor's appointments, my doctor's appointments (I've had many with my recent health issues), meal planning, church assignments, blogging obligations, trips, family weddings, etc. etc.<br />
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My LifePlanner has been a serious life-saver for me. I thought my "pregnancy brain" would go away post-baby but it appears that "mom brain" is also a real thing and I find myself being quite forgetful these days too. Writing everything down in my planner has made a huge difference. It helps me keep track of when appointments are, dates that things are due, what's for dinner, and so much more.<br />
I can write out what chores I need to do around the house each day so I don't feel overwhelmed. Sometimes I think I need to just do it all in one day but of course, that is not realistic. Picking one or two tasks (clean the bathroom, sweep the floors) to do a day is much more manageable and has helped me from getting too stressed or having expectations for myself that I simply cannot achieve.<br />
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These LifePlanners from Erin Condren are seriously SO great! You can customize them so they are the exact layout you want (I am super picky about this) plus they are gorgeous! You can even get them personalized (like I did). I also got some corresponding stationery and return address labels. I'm in love. I really might order some more matching items from their website. The quality is very high and you can tell that their whole company is very detail-oriented. Nothing has been overlooked in their planners. It's really helped me stay organized and because my planner is so pretty, I get excited to use it! Who wouldn't be excited to use items that are as beautiful as these? I feel so creative when I use them and like each day is a party or celebration of sorts. It's so fun!!<br />
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If you're interested in buying a planner or any other organizational item, be sure to check out Erin Condren's website <a href="https://www.erincondren.com/">here</a>! They have some great deals going on and you can pick up some wonderful organizational tools that fit you and your lifestyle.<br />
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This post was sponsored by Erin Condren. All opinions are my own.<br />
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Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-9847860932494963582017-04-18T18:52:00.002-07:002017-04-19T19:59:16.311-07:00A Year Ago Today....A year ago today, something I was starting to think wasn't going to happen finally did. My prayers were answered and I knew I was receiving one of the greatest blessings of my life.<br />
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A year ago today, I realized in 9 months everything was going to change in the best way possible. I felt overwhelmed but beyond happy and excited.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJwD0kO2rUu45_5bp9rB21Zq_3eaHlFXjLPmh4ZDw823F2zbB_-PbFIWdAlLx_B34P4QldYpp64EuIoaZFDoVkdBM76taSDsqYcIvBJ3o9HcfSa8N8SsmyZwf1j_QUrUwGI-BYlTp7lxJ/s1600/IMG_1933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJwD0kO2rUu45_5bp9rB21Zq_3eaHlFXjLPmh4ZDw823F2zbB_-PbFIWdAlLx_B34P4QldYpp64EuIoaZFDoVkdBM76taSDsqYcIvBJ3o9HcfSa8N8SsmyZwf1j_QUrUwGI-BYlTp7lxJ/s320/IMG_1933.jpg" width="240" /></a>A year ago today, I read that you were the size of a poppyseed and I couldn't understand how I could suddenly love someone soooo teeny tiny that I hadn't even met yet, but I did. And somehow, I love you even more with every passing moment.<br />
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A year ago today, I told your dad about your impending arrival and it was one of the best moments. He cried and we hugged for a long time and talked and talked and talked about what our new life would be like with three of us. I knew he would make an incredible father, and I was right.<br />
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A year ago today, I thought for sure I was having a girl. And yet today, I cannot imagine having anyone else but you.<br />
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A year ago today, I wondered what you would look like. What color your hair would be (blonde), what shade of eyes you would have (the prettiest dark blue), if you would look more like me or your dad (jury is still out on that one).<br />
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A year ago today, I pictured what your birthday would be like. Would it be painful? Would I have a C-section? Would I be ok during it? It turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I'd happily do it all over again a million times.<br />
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A year ago today, I wondered what it would be like to have my parents suddenly become grandparents and see them interact with you. It's just as wonderful as I thought it would be, if not more. You have a way of making everyone around you instantly light up and it's so fun to watch.<br />
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A year ago today, I started imagining your smiles and laughs. Wondering what life would be like with you and how we would navigate this new parent/child relationship together. I knew there would be hard days, but I knew there would be great ones too (and I was right).<br />
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A year ago today, I pictured what our life would be like. Even though you screamed at me quite a bit today (I think you're teething), you have been so sweet. I went to get you out of your bassinet this morning and you gave me the biggest, happiest smile as soon as we locked eyes. I instantly melted. Sometimes we just sit and stare at each other and I try to memorize every little detail of your perfect little face because I know tomorrow, you will look just a wee bit different and before I know it, you won't be a baby any more. While this makes me sad, I also am really enjoying watching you learn and grow and develop everyday.<br />
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A year ago today, I couldn't wait for you to arrive. You light up my world and I couldn't be more grateful to be your mom. It's the greatest privilege I will ever have.<br />
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A year ago today, I knew life would be good, but I didn't know it would be this good. </div>
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Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729781378252920634.post-37914168092893935822017-04-10T17:28:00.000-07:002017-04-10T17:28:08.458-07:00Leopard Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dress: <a href="http://bit.ly/2ja7fmw" target="_blank">Asos</a> (On sale!! Get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2ja7fmw" target="_blank">here</a>. Runs quite small, def size up 1 or 2 sizes) // Necklace: <a href="http://bit.ly/2o1H8S6" target="_blank">J. Crew Factory</a> (get it <a href="http://bit.ly/2o1H8S6" target="_blank">here</a>) // Purse: <a href="http://bit.ly/2o1D6cl" target="_blank">Kohl's</a> (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2o1D6cl" target="_blank">here</a>) // Shoes: <a href="http://bit.ly/2oSxnJS" target="_blank">Target</a> (similar <a href="http://bit.ly/2oSxnJS" target="_blank">here</a>)</div>
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This <a href="http://bit.ly/2ja7fmw" target="_blank">dress</a> was one of the first form-fitting pieces of clothing I have bought post-baby. I was quite scared when I ordered it because I didn't know if I'd like how it would fit (shapewear is your friend after baby), but after playing around with a few different sizes (it definitely runs small), I love it! Leopard print anything is irresistible to me so I'm really happy that it fits me well and I feel good in it. </div>
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I was pretty lucky that my stomach never got terribly huge during pregnancy so losing pregnancy weight hasn't been too difficult. I've returned to my normal exercise routine and that seems to have helped most of it come off the last few months. I still have a few pounds to go, but if my body stayed how it is now, I'd be ok with that. It's definitely different and takes some getting used to though. My old clothes all fit again, just some of them fit a little differently (?) if that makes sense. I've enjoyed being able to wear my whole wardrobe again, it's helped me feel more like myself. </div>
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There is soooooo much talk and pressure on women regarding their postpartum bodies and I can definitely understand why, but I have been trying to focus on how incredible our bodies are in general (sometimes easier said than done). I keep thinking about how amazing it is that our bodies can go through pregnancy and childbirth and still return to (mostly) their original state. It's truly miraculous what our bodies are capable of! And I feel so blessed to have experienced it. </div>
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My advice to any woman after she gives birth is to get back to some form of physical activity as soon as you can do so safely and healthily. 3 days after getting back from the hospital, I started walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day. It probably didn't do much by way of helping me lose weight, but it did wonders for my mental/emotional health. I tried to focus on just feeling good rather than worrying about looking good. Even just doing that mild form of exercise helped me clear my head and boosted my self-confidence as I began my transition into motherhood. And to this day, it continues to help me. I'm a big believer in taking care of yourself first so that you can be the best mother to your baby as you can and going to the gym everyday has really helped me achieve that.</div>
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If you have any questions about exercise and health during and post-pregnancy, please feel free to reach out! I'd love to share more details of my experience with anyone that it could help. </div>
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Finally: Got Henrik to sleep yaaaaay.</div>
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Wishing: There were just a few more hours in the day! It's hard to get much done haha. </div>
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Just: Ate two chocolate Lindor balls. Sometimes (most of the time) I eat my feelings.</div>
Days Until Christmas: 259!<br />
<br />Annie Stokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09107675299324237487noreply@blogger.com1