Looking back 17 Weeks: How I'm doing now, Nursery Dilema and Baby Names

I just realized that with everything going on, I haven't documented this pregnancy much at all. womp womp....I haven't done any weekly posts or bump updates. So I decided I will start now. No better time than the present. These photos are from 17 weeks but I am much further along now. I will try and squeeze a few posts in for memory's sake.

Phew. Let me catch my breath...
For a couple of reasons. Ha ha. It's been a whirlwind of a month moving and starting new schools and just trying to regain a few ounces of energy. I also started getting these spells where I was standing still but so completely out of breath like I just ran a 1/2 mile and feeling almost disoriented. I started some iron pills and I've been feeling much better.

I started feeling the baby move SO early this time around! I first felt her at about 16 weeks. She is now full blown kicking and squirming around at 22 weeks. I actually love this. This is one of the few things that I truly enjoy about pregnancy. Scarlett and Maxwell have both felt her moving. They get so excited to feel her little jabs.

When we started building the house, we had two bedrooms upstairs close together attached by a jack and jill bathroom that were designated to Maxwell and Scarlett. The other room is further away off the playroom and that is currently the guest room. This was all before we found out I was pregnant. Now, we don't really know where to put the baby's room since we have a 1st floor master suite. For awhile, the baby will be in our room but I feel like the age difference between Scarlett and baby are too far apart to share a room. I imagine Maxwell won't sleep well with a baby in his room. Do we eliminate the guest room?? I also can't imagine running up the stairs every time she wakes. Anyone out there have a first floor master and a baby?? What did you do?

Everyone keeps asking me if I have thought of any names. To be honest....no lol. And I need to! I have looked briefly but all my old favorites are no longer my favorite. And the one I did like got shot down by Ty and Scarlett. It will come to us as perfectly as the other two did. I just have to find the right name to go along with Scarlett and Maxwell.  I am not really worried about it. I just think it will come to me. Anyhow, I am 22 weeks currently and I am finally to that phase where I feel great most of the time.  I am getting things accomplished while I'm feeling good. There's lots to be done and so much going on. I do recall I like it that way...now if Fall would arrive in TX, that would be awesome! I am over the 100 degree days!!

Weekend Vibes: Gender Reveal, Pharm Table & Little Victories

As most of you already saw weeks ago, we revealed we are having another baby girl!! We did a small reveal with the kids with a confetti popper and their reactions were priceless! You can see them on my Instagram Story Highlights: Baby #3. Their reactions are exactly how I expected them to be. And shortly after, I started getting out of the house for the first time in a long time. Which felt great after being confined to the house for months. We just did small trips like brunch or grabbing coffee and going to Walmart for toilet paper and paper towels....lol. My favorite store! Can you hear my sarcasm? Or bringing the kids for a treat. But even these small things seemed like a huge victory. As the sickness slowly subsided, I started to feel myself come back. Such a relief to be able to have some motivation again!!

Now comes the time for "catching-up". I'm catching up on documenting life here, catching up on settling into the new house and eating better, catching up on being a mom to Scarlett & Maxwell...and let's be honest, a wife too. I can't say I've been much of any of those titles the last few months.

Now it's time to prepare for baby girl. I don't know why but I'm so far behind on getting anything for the baby this time around and I don't feel a bit of stress about it at all. I know I will get what I need in time. By baby #3 I feel like I know exactly what I will need. Anyhow, I have a lot of blog posts that I have scheduled for the next week or two so stop by often and read more if you care to follow along this journey of ours :)

Back To Eating Healthy: Meal Plan for the Week

Thank God Ty took over for me while I was out of commission the first 3 months of my pregnancy. But I'm back to eating healthy and craving the foods that I used to love. I thought I would share some of what is inside my fridge on a random week and what I'm trying to do to stay healthy while pregnant. Now in my second trimester, I'm really trying my best to stick to healthy foods. I tell myself before I put something in my mouth, would you feed this to your baby?? Because this is what I'm essentially doing. But, that doesn't mean I won't treat myself now and again. Because I certainly do.

Here is my meal plan for this particular week. I have recently had to incorporate a lot more iron enriched foods into my diet because with both past pregnancies I was anemic and this one seems to be headed in that direction also. So lots of iron-rich foods are incorporated into my meals such as spinach, cashews, pumpkin seeds, apricots, raisins, sweet potatoes etc...I'm not a huge meat eater so I have to double up on other things.

I left out Sat and Sun because I'm more lenient on the weekends, although I stick to the 6 smaller meals a day and try to stick to my water intake. I will admit that when I feel more hungry, I eat more than I normally would and I'm ok with that at this stage of my pregnancy.  I've been mixing up my water because it's been SO hard to stick to my water intake!! Water made me nauseous for a really long time. Anyhow, this is what one week of my meals looked like. Note all the workouts are now prenatal workouts from the Tone It Up app.

My Top Baby Picks

Along my search to find some great baby products, I have compiled a list of things that I love myself or that have come highly recommended that I will be trying out this time around. I'm going to be a bit minimilist this time around. For 2 reasons. 1. I know this is our last, so I don't want to be buying tons of baby things. and 2. I know that half of the things that I got/bought with Scarlett and Maxwell, I didn't use. These are some things I DID use and these are the ones I'm going to purchase this time around.


1. Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper $230-$280
I've never used this before but it was my number 1 recommendation on Instagram when I asked for favorite baby products. I think this would be really helpful for those sleepless first months. I'd feel safer with baby being in her own bed but still being so close. Last time I used a mini crib and it was hard during the newborn phase.

2. Nuna Mixx Stroller $650
I personally used this stroller with Maxwell and I loved it. It was durable and easy to use in multiple different ways. Last time I got to work with Nuna and got their products for free. They have the best colors now in 2019 and have made some improvements! So I may just purchase this splurge. Want a more affordable but similar version? Try the Maxi Cosi Adorra HERE. Looks similar with good reviews.

3. Mother's Choice Breeze High Chair $34
I have not used this but a high chair is one of those things that I don't want to spend a ton of money on. They outgrow them so quickly in my experience. This one is stylish and affordable.

4. Dohm Elite White Noise Machine $50
This was my saving grace when I had Maxwell. He would sleep SO much better when we used this. I didn't have this exact version but this one had good reviews and was listed on the "Best Baby Picks" list so I will try it.

5. Nuna Pippa Lite $400
Another splurge here. When I had the original for Maxwell, it was a bit heavy and that was my #1 complaint. They have now come out with the lite version and this is why I'd buy again. They also hold their value and I sold this for more than 1/2 of what I bought it for after I was done using it.

6. Joovy Boob Glass Bottle $45 (3 pack)
The only bottle that Maxwell would take. This is one of those things that is not going to work for every baby but the nipple on this one was great and very realistic. Also, can't get better than glass.

7. Haaka $13
Another highly recommended Instagram pick from you guys. I'm gonna try it out!! I must say I wasted a lot of breastmilk when nursing one side.

8. Nanobebe Baby Bottle Cooler w/ Ice Pack $11
I wish I had bought this when I had Maxwell. I was always wishing that the bottle I brought would stay cooler for longer. What a great invention and it clips right to the stroller. In Texas, this is going to be a necessity.


Some other things that I am purchasing because I used them a lot with past babies:

A good, comfortable rocker
Changing table/dresser combo
Travel Baby Swing
Crib for when baby outgrows the Halo

Have any good recommendations? I'd love them!

Chapter 35.

So, in true Lauren fashion, this post is totally late. But I guess that is aceptable since I was not really in commission for a few months. Anyhow, I turned 35 this year. Gasp. 

My birthday this year kind of went under the radar since I was sick. Normally my birthdays are a week long celebration with friends, family, lots of pools, nights out and food/drinks. This year, it was spent laying on a blanket on the green of The Pearl in downtown San Antonio, watching the kids play in the water and eating a s'more donut w/ ice cream. And that was about all I had energy for!
I don't know if it's hotter here this summer than last or just feels that way since I'm pregnant but it's been SO hot. Way too hot to do anything except stay inside or in the pool.

So I quietly turned 35. Wow. How did that happen!? The last 10 years went by in the blink of an eye. I met Ty 10 years ago and it's true. The good times fly. You can't fully understand that until you experience that one yourself. This is a brand new chapter in my book. And there are definitely lots of changes coming our way. For one, if you haven't noticed, a new baby will join us in this chapter of my life. A baby girl to be exact. We moved into a new house. A house we built to be exact. And one other exciting thing that I'm very THRILLED about is coming in the future as well. Changes seem to be the theme for this chapter. I will have to get used to loving 3 babes. I'm sure that won't be too hard ;)  I will have to start getting used to living in a 3600 sq ft house after living in a 1200 sq ft rental for the last year and a 1/2. **Maid for hire** I'm really just feeling happy and blessed in this current stage of my life. So many times I hear 20-something year olds talking about how they are so sad that they are nearing 30 and the good times will be over soon. I am living proof that 30's were SO much better than most of my 20's.  Not as many hard lessons and more enjoyment. Not as much insecurity and more confidence. Not as much drama and more love. Don't get me wrong, I've appreciated every stage in my life. There's some I don't like to remember but I know they have built me into who I am. They have sewn each thread of life lesson into my soul and made me the free-spirit that I am today. My 30's are where I started to soak up the moments and wish they would stay longer. They were where I learned that life is what you make it and that I am blessed. My 30's were where I started to take care of my body and eat things that nourished me. And because of this, my 30's were when I started to FEEL so much healthier. So those of you nearing 30....don't fear it. It's a great chapter! I'm so looking forward to Chapter 35. Hoping it's as good to me as the last 5 years have been.