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Family Maternity Photoshoot

family maternity photoshoot

Hi friends,

Hope you are doing well! I can’t believe baby girl is already here. Technically her due date is not until next week, but she came sooner than scheduled. I wanted to share with you our last and final family maternity photoshoot we took, and the last shoot we took as a family of three. I will forever cherish these photos. Check them out below!

family maternity photoshoot, mommy and son photoshoot

family maternity photoshoot, mommy and son photoshoot family maternity photoshoot, mom and son photoshoot

My handsome little man! I can’t believe he is a big brother. Truly thankful God blessed me with him as my first born. He is truly something special. The little boy of my dreams come true.

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I can never get enough of these photos with me and Josh. It just captures our love and relationship so perfectly. He always makes me laugh and honestly don’t know what I would do without him. He is my rock and the love of my life!

I love this tulle maternity gown. It was the perfect color of yellow for this shoot. As you know yellow is my favorite color, so it was nice to have instead of the typical pink, white, or blue most people have for their maternity photoshoots.

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I’m so thankful I took our family maternity photoshoot when I did at thirty one weeks, because if I had waited any longer it would have been miserable for me since I started swelling at thirty five weeks. I would highly recommend getting maternity photos done before the third trimester, before it just gets uncomfortable. These photos I will forever cherish as our last family photoshoot as a family of three. I can’t get enough of my favorite guys. But happy to be adding our little princess in the mix.

For more pregnancy photos check out these post below!

34th Birthday Maternity Photoshoot

Hawaii Family Beach Photoshoot

Baby In Bloom Baby Shower

Gender Reveal

Pregnancy Announcement

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Photos by BanAvenue Photography

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Family

What’s in My Hospital Bag As A Second Time Mom

hospital bag, yellow pajama set, girl nursery, baby girl nursery, baby essentials

Hi friends,

Hope you have a great week! Officially 35 weeks and we finally packed our hospital bag. This time we are much more prepared than we were seven years ago now that we know what to expect. I remember the one thing I disliked about our first experience was how uncomfortable we were during our hospital stay after delivering our baby. So this time around I added some a few things that would make our stay so much better. Check out What’s in My Hospital Bag As A Second Time Mom below!

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What’s in My Hospital Bag:

Hospital Bag Checklist:

For Packing:

  1. Rolling Luggage – Love a good rolling luggage to put baby, hubby, and my things in for our overnight stay at the hospital. Easy to maneuver and load things on.
  2. Weekender/Mom Bag – I love this monogrammed bag as my mom bag. I put all my labor essentials in this bag.
  3. Makeup Case – Best traveling case to store your makeup. It’s not a necessity but great for getting ready for photos.
  4. Hanging Toiletry Bag – This is a must especially since most hospital rooms lack counter space in their bathrooms. Having a hanging toiletry bag saves space and is easy to pack.
  5. Packing Cubes – These are so convenient for separating and packing baby’s, hubby’s, and my clothes and keeping it organized.

For Baby:

  1. Polaroid – For capturing unedited candid moments during this special time.💛
  2. Baby Monogram Blanket /Swaddles  – Great for taking baby hospital photos
  3. Welcome sign –  For baby announcements
  4. Car Seat/Stroller – We got the Doona because it’s an all in one and so much easier to transport than carrying a car seat. That was one thing I wish we had seven years ago when I had Jayden. I still remember the pain of having to lug a car seat around.
  5. Portable Sound Machine – This is great for white noise for baby since hospital rooms are not always the quietest areas for sleeping babies.
  6. Going Home Outfit – This is a great two piece set to bring for baby’s going home outfit.

For Mom:

During Labor:

  1. Portable Fan – Great for keeping cool and comfortable during labor. Also great for baby for attaching to her stroller to keep her cool during the summer.
  2. Essential oil diffuser – Helps with the hospital smell and provided aromatherapy.
  3. Massage gun – Great for hubs to use on you to help alleviate pain during labor
  4. Slippers – Keep your feet warm and comfy as you labor in the hospital

After Labor:

  1. Waterproof slides – For walking to the bathroom and or taking a shower at the hospital.
  2. Robe – I love this cute Mama one from Amazon. Soft and comfy and comes in different colors.
  3. Nursing Bra – These come in a pack of three and super comfy.
  4. Nursing Friendly Pajamas – I found this gown that is nursing friendly as well as postpartum friendly even if you have had a C-section.

For Dad:

  1. 10ft charging cable – You never know how far the outlets are in your hospital room.
  2. Bluetooth speaker – For playing music or Hypnobirthing during labor
  3. Portable charger – keep electronics charged when you are mobile
  4. Extension cord – gives you extra outlets and reach.
  5. Blanket/Pillow – Provide extra comfort for sleeping on the couch in the hospital rooms.

packing list, hospital bag

 

HOW I ORGANIZED MY HOSPITAL BAG:

For my hospital bag I separated the things I need for labor in my mommy weekender bag, and the things for our stay at the hospital in the luggage. That way we don’t have to bring it in until after I deliver. I separated all of our clothes for baby, hubs, and mine in separate packing cubes for better organization.  I brought my LV tote because it has all my other travel essentials and one of my favorite travel bags. To see what I pack in my LV check out the post below!

Whats In My Travel Bag – Louis Vuitton Neverfull

 

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Excited for baby girl’s arrival and we are ready for her. I hope this post helps for any expecting moms out there. Thanks for stopping by!

For more pregnancy post check out these below!

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety During Pregnancy

30 Week Pregnancy Update

Baby In Bloom Baby Shower

Pregnancy Q&A

Gender Reveal

Pregnancy Announcement

P.S. Subscribe for weekly newsletters so you never miss a single post!

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Fashion

3 Bump Friendly Valentines Outfits

Bump Friendly Valentines Outfits, maternity style, Valentines outfit, SAINT LAURENT LARGE ENVELOPE BAG, WHITE BLAZER, MANOL BLAHNIK PUMPS

Hi friends,

Hope you are having a great week! Can you believe it, it’s almost February? Time is flying by! Today I thought I would share some bump friendly Valentines outfits that is non maternity. I love finding pieces I can wear during and after pregnancy. I actually bought these pieces before I was pregnant and they worked perfectly with my growing bump. Check them out below!

Bump Friendly Valentines Outfits, SAINT LAURENT LARGE ENVELOPE BAG, WHITE BLAZER, MANOL BLAHNIK PUMPS SAINT LAURENT LARGE ENVELOPE BAG, WHITE BLAZER, MANOL BLAHNIK PUMPSSAINT LAURENT LARGE ENVELOPE BAG, WHITE BLAZER, MANOL BLAHNIK PUMPS

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One of my favorite looks because it is such an easy outfit to put together. I had this blazer for awhile and it’s so easy to throw with a midi dress and heels.

Bump Friendly Valentines Outfits, WHITE RIBBED MIDI DRESS, PINK WOOL COAT, SAINT LAURENT ENVELOPE BAG, PINK JEWEL HEAD BAND WHITE RIBBED MIDI DRESS, PINK WOOL COAT, SAINT LAURENT ENVELOPE BAG, PINK JEWEL HEAD BAND Bump Friendly Valentines Outfits, WHITE RIBBED MIDI DRESS, PINK WOOL COAT, SAINT LAURENT ENVELOPE BAG, PINK JEWEL HEAD BAND

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For this next look I paired this $30 maxi dress with one of my favorite pink coats. You can see how I styled it here in this previous Valentine’s look. The next look is one of my favorite cross back midi dress for $25. I paired it with this pink duster that I also styled in this previous post.

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I love a good midi dress for the bump and adding subtle pinks and blush tones are a great way to get into the Valentine’s spirit. Which bump friendly Valentines outfits is your favorite?

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Photos by BanAvenue Photography

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$25 Two Piece Set Worn Two Ways

two piece set, white knee high boots, Givenchy Antigona mini bag, pregnancy outfit, bump style, petite style

Hi friends,

Hope you are having a great week! We are officially back from Hawaii! It was such an amazing trip and I can’t wait to share more. But today I wanted to share this two piece set I got for under $30 for my growing bump and how I styled it two different ways. Check it out and let me know which is your favorite look!

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For this first look I paired this set with an oversized blazer for a dressier work wear look. I love this blazer because it’s a great layering piece that never goes out of style. These croc pattern boots are one of my favorites for winter. I love the block heel so they are very comfortable. As you can see I have them in both black and white.

For the second look, I switched out my boots, hat, and bag for a more day time look. I love how this two piece set can easily transition from dressy to casual.

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I hope you enjoyed these looks and how I styled this cute $25 two piece set two ways. Which style is your favorite?

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Photos by BanAvenue Photography

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6 Bump Friendly Winter Outfits

krewe sunglasses, black leather boots, black leather moto jacket, sweater dress, bump style

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Hi friends,

Hope you are doing well! Today I wanted to share some bump friendly winter outfits with ya’ll.  Currently in my second trimester so I can still wear non maternity clothes. I love clothes that I can wear during and after pregnancy, and these are all non maternity dresses for under $30. Check out these outfits below!

lady dior bag, pink pregnancy outfit, pregnancy style, nude pumps

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This crossed back midi ribbed dress can be work in the winter and the summer. I paired it up with this pink satin trench for a work or date night look. I am wearing my normal size small.

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I tucked in this two piece set and added the belt and blazer for another work wear look.

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This classic look is one of my favorites. A midi dress with a light blazer and heels is perfect for brunch our meetings outfit.

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This two piece set is so versatile. I styled it a little different for a fun date night look.

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Looking for an outfit for Valentine’s? This pink coat is the perfect layer for any Valentine styled outfit. I styled this coat in a similar non pregnancy outfit here.

I will be sharing more details of these outfits in a future blog post, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak first before these pieces sell out. Hope you enjoyed these bump friendly winter outfits. Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Subscribe for weekly newsletters so you never miss a single post!

Photos by BanAvenue Photography

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Family

We Have A Surprise Coming in June!

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Hi friends,

We are so excited to finally share this exciting news. It’s been so hard to keep this a secret these past couple weeks. We found out in early October and were surprised with the news. After trying for almost two years, having two miscarriages, and meeting with a fertility specialist we honestly weren’t sure what was in store for us. We had stopped “trying” and focused on becoming foster parents and building our home. But things happen for a reason and all in God’s timing. We are so thankful for our blessing. For those who are still waiting or have been through loss we are with you. I hope we can encourage you during these times to trust in God’s plans whatever they may be.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you so much for following along on our journey and we can’t wait to welcome this little one to our family.  I will be sharing more of our journey on overcoming secondary infertility in another post. But until then can you guess if we are adding another little boy or girl to our family?

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Photos by BanAvenue Photography

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