Isla Turns One!

Hello, blog friends!  It's been a while, hasn't it?  We recently just celebrated Isla's first birthday (I can't even believe that I'm writing that!) and I wanted to share some of the details of her party with you all......assuming anyone is still even checking out my blog from time to time.  

This past year has gone by in the blink of an eye, and I'm really happy that I made the decision to take time off from here, as well as slow down with social media posts.  I wanted to truly focus on quality time with Isla during her first year, with no pressure on myself to blog, post, photograph, etc.  But, with that being said, I'm starting to miss this space!  I miss the creative side; my recipes, staging & photographing, and also the friendships that I've built with you all.  While I've said in my last few posts {the last of which was 9 months ago} that I plan on posting more content soon, I truly mean that now.  I'm ready to start blogging again....and I'll start with these photos below.

Cake topper {here}

Planning the party for Isla was very last minute.  Originally, I thought that I just wanted to set up a cake smash session with a photographer, and then do a little bbq with family for her birthday, but with about 3 weeks left until the actual date, I completely changed courses and decided to do a small celebration with friends + family at our condo (we live in a condo now!  I really need to do a life update soon...).

I decided against an actual "themed" party, and opted instead for a color palette of pale pinks, creams, and gold.

I found this poster on Etsy in a standard A1 photo size {link to seller here}, and took it to Walgreens to have it printed out.  After printing, I brought it to a local frame shop and had it professionally framed.

Cake topper from Etsy {link to seller here}

I wanted the decor of the party to be soft, and girly.  I scoured the internet in search of "non cheesy" party supply stores, and found Shop Sweet Lulu, and Paper Boy Party to have the cutest party decor.  I bought most of the supplies needed from both of those websites.  I purchased this tiered stand for the cupcakes, this white flint glass stand for her 3 tiered cake {which was mostly fake tiers since we only had about 25 people in attendance}, and the milk glass stand for her smash cake was a major score from Homegoods!  Her birthday crown and the small glittery party hats for the little guests were from Easy {seller linked here}.  The lace table cloth was actually the canopy from our huppah that we used during our wedding!  

I had the idea of adding a floral wall as the backdrop for Isla's cake smash, and my florist did an incredible job of making that vision come to life.  

One of the luxuries that we have indulged in this past year is hiring a private chef to come to our house on occasion and cook "date night" dinners for Adam & myself.  Since Isla came along, we don't go out to dinner nearly as much as we would like, so this is our way of having a nice date night in the comfort of our own home.  For Isla's birthday, we had him prepare finger foods & easy appetizers.  If any of my South Florida girls want his info, I would be happy to share as I highly recommend him.

With all the excitement of setting up her party, Isla completely skipped her afternoon nap and was a hot, cranky mess by the time guests started arriving.  It was quite difficult to get a photo of her smiling....until we introduced her to cake ;)

She absolutely loved her cake.  I had given her small bites of sweet treats here and there, but this was the first time she had ever indulged in a large amount of sugar.  Needless to say, she was on a bit of a sugar high for the next couple of hours!

Both of my brothers, and my mother flew in from the West Coast to celebrate the big occasion.  It was extra special that they were able to be here for her.....even though both of my brothers were obscenely hung over from the night before haha!  

We kept the party short and sweet, around 2.5 hours.  I didn't want for her to get overwhelmed and have a major meltdown from all the commotion.  This ended up being the perfect length of time to mingle with guests, open her presents, and enjoy birthday cake.  In the end, I'm so glad that I decided to throw her a small party.  Even though she won't remember this day, the photos turned out to be so beautiful, and they serve as wonderful memories that we can share with her for years to come.

Photography - Katie Lopez Photography

Cake - Sweet Brantley Cakes

Donuts - Nani's Dough

Floral - Julia Rohde Designs

Isla's Dress: Janie & Jack

My Dress: Saylor {available here}

Life Lately

Hi there!  I hope that you all have been well, and had a beautiful Thanksgiving with your family & loved ones.  I thought I'd check in and share what I've been up to lately via a few photos on the camera roll of my phone.

Lets get started!

^^  We took a short trip up to NYC, and had so much fun strolling the streets of Soho with Isla.  Every experience is so much better now that she's in our lives!  Wearing:  Splendid PJ's {25% off here}  //   On Isla: Old Navy Onesie {on sale for $11 here}

^^  Family selfie time!  My hat: Target {here}  //  Isla's hat: Old Navy {here}

^^  Walking through picturesque Central Park with this little bear {who was livid that Adam had just put her back down into her stroller for this photo! ahhh memories lol!}  I had to purchase a new coat for this trip since none of my old coats would zip over my chest....perks of breastfeeding ha!  Wearing:  Ralph Lauren coat {on sale! here}  //  New Balance sneakers {exact ones here}  //  On Isla: Gap fleece {our fave for cold weather! here}  //  Bugaboo stroller {here}

^^  Red cup season!  Nail color:  Gelish Princess Tiara

^^  We always stay at the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho.  I absolutely love the eclectic decor, the location is perfect, and they have the BEST hamburgers which we always order from room service.  I definitely recommend this hotel if you're looking for a luxury boutique hotel in the city.

^^  In other news...we're building a house!  It's still very early phase 1 of planning, and we haven't broken ground yet, but I'm having a lot of fun working with our interior designer and architect in creating the layout of the space.  I LOVE Spanish style homes, and Adam really gravitates toward modern architecture, so it's going to be a bit of a challenge to fuse both of our tastes together.  Stay tuned!

^^  What boot dreams are basically made of :)  //  Givenchy boots {here}

^^  I still wear my Isabella Oliver maternity dresses even though I'm almost back to my pre pregnancy size.  They really are designed to be a forever dress!  Wearing:  Isabella Oliver dress {here}  //  Citizens of Humanity denim jacket, old {similar here}  //  Prada wedges {a few sizes still available & on sale here}  

^^  I'm on a bow kick with Isla lately, and love these handmade bows from Splendid Bow Shop. 

^^  Thanking my lucky stars that this little girl chose us.

^^  I was so obsessed with the scent of this seasonal multi-surface cleaner, that I purchased the dish soap as well.  It smells so good - like pine trees, mixed with vanilla and spices.  I find myself spraying it on our counters just so I can smell it lol!  You can purchase it at Whole Foods or Target.

^^  A little leopard + leg roll.  She's starting to develop those yummy baby rolls everywhere :)

^^  Basically what I wish for every day!  Wearing:  Wildfox tee {here}  //  Paige Denim {so comfy & on sale! here}  //  Isabel Marant booties {30% off here}  //  Chanel handbag  //  Ray-Ban sunglasses {on sale here}

^^  We're currently in the middle of celebrating Hanukkah, and this is my current table setting this year.  I picked up some festive plates that I hope to pass down to Isla one day.  Star of David dinnerware collection can be found here.

^^  I'm currently reading The Girl From Krakow.  I really enjoy WWII era books, and this one is addicting!  It started out a little on the slower side, but now I can't put it down.

^^  'Tis the season for holiday baking!  I bought the cutest loaf pan {found here} to make this ginger spice bread. 

I have so many posts that are sitting half finished, just waiting to be completed and published, but this has really proved to be quite the challenge since Isla still doesn't like to nap during the day and demands my attention!  I'm really hoping that eventually I'll be able to get back to posting more regularly, but until then I wanted to thank you all for your readership and for sticking with the sporadic post schedule.

Happy Holidays! xx

Month 2 Favorites And Flops

And just like that we're officially into November.  I feel like I tend to overuse this phrase, but time really is flying by.  How are we down to less than two months left in this year?  

Normally, I would be apologizing for the lack of posts lately, but this little person has been keeping me pretty busy over here.....

#WorthIt

So I've had several email & instagram requests to put together a post containing my favorite baby products.  Since we've officially entered into month two territory of 'all things baby', I thought now would be the appropriate time to fill you in on our favorite products, and also what have been absolute flops.  

It has been a lot of trial & error, and taken some experimenting with various products but I feel like we've finally gotten the hang of things.  Isla is starting to get into a morning + night routine {during the afternoon is another story}, and is giving us between 6-8 hour stretches of solid sleep every night!

Everything listed below is what we're currently using on a daily basis and I whole heartedly recommend every product on this list. 

Diapers - We've been using Honest Co. diapers & wipes since we brought her home from the hospital.  It is really important to me to use more all natural diapering products on her, and so far these have been great!  I know some people have complained that the diapers leak, but I haven't had any issues with leakage.  I did try out another brand that I purchased from Whole Foods, and I didn't like them nearly as much.  

I've also been using this soothing spray on her daily and I love that it contains all natural ingredients, and smells great!  I tested it on myself, and it really is a cooling & refreshing feeling.

If you're in the market for a good diaper pail, I highly recommend the Ubbi Diaper Pail.  This bad boy is pretty pricey, but it really does an amazing job of keeping any smells contained.  A huge added bonus is that you don't need to purchase any special bags for it!
 

Feeding - I am mostly breast feeding Isla on demand.  I did have some issues with breast feeding in the beginning which required me to pump and bottle feed her for 3 days.  Since she took a bottle so well, we've been doing 1 or 2 bottle feedings per day of pumped breastmilk.  This gives Adam the opportunity to feed her, and do a bit of father/daughter bonding.  I haven't tried any other bottles out since she did so well with Dr. Browns bottles.  I use these smaller 4 oz. bottles, with a size 1 nipple.  We're also currently using the Dr. Browns bottle warmer and it's been great.  It has a memory timer, so it automatically remembers the last length of time that was used, and heats up bottles relatively fast.  I've read some reviews that say that it works really well with most other brands of bottles as well.  If you're planning on doing any bottle feeding, I really recommend Dr. Browns products.

Along with feeding comes the need for burp cloths.  A big mistake that I made was buying Aden & Anais burp cloths.  The best ones that I've found so far are actually cloth diapers {particularly these from Gerber in this specific ply}.  They are durable, inexpensive, and can be used for so many other things besides being a burp rag.  I almost always slide one under Isla during messy diaper changes, which helps with having to wash the cover to my changing pad all the time.    

Bathing -  We established a nightly routine that included a bath when Isla was around 1 week old, and she absolutely loves it!  Every night we bathe her in her 4-Moms tub {couldn't recommend this tub more!}, and use this all natural lavender body wash/shampoo every few nights, followed by a mini massage with this calming lotion.  On the nights that we don't use the body wash, we just let her sit in the warm water and wipe her down with a washcloth {this one from RH is my favorite}.  She has really come to expect her nightly bath, and if we try skipping it she is really fussy, and has a difficult time falling asleep.


Swaddling - Admittedly, I purchased a ton of swaddle blankets {see this instagram picture}, but since having Isla I've actually purchased more!  We go through several every day since I use them for so much more than just swaddling.  They're great for those moments when you don't have a burp cloth handy, as stroller/car seat covers when baby is sleeping, spread out on the ground for tummy time or playing, rolled up under the mattress of her bassinet to help elevate her for acid reflux, etc.  Aden & Anais are an obvious choice for great swaddle blankets, but I also love these from Little Unicorn {although the quality of the cloth is a bit stiffer}.  Recently, I just discovered these extra large swaddle blankets {on sale!}, and purchased two packs of them.  I love the cute whimsical designs!  They're a bit thicker, and the longer length is perfect for swaddling since she is starting to get bigger.


Napping/Sleeping - I mentioned earlier that Isla is sleeping great at night, and has been clocking in 6-8 hour stretches of solid sleep in her bassinet every night since about week 5.  At night, we use this sound machine which is great for drowning out any noise {I actually sleep much better with it going!}.  Napping during the day is a different story however.  With the exception of our morning routine, in which I take a shower and she falls asleep from the sound of the water in her rock n' play, she really fights her naps unless she's snuggled on my chest.  I obviously love cuddle sessions with my baby, but holding her all day long makes it really hard to get anything done around the house.  Her morning nap does give me a small break, but basically the only way I can do any laundry/cooking/tidying up is by wearing her in the Solly Baby Wrap.  I even wear it while grocery shopping with her snuggled up next to me!  This has really been such a lifesaver, and I definitely recommend purchasing one.  Also recently after a conversation with my girl Brooke from Somewhere, Lately we added this swing to our fleet of gadgets, and I can usually get Isla to take a small 20-40 minute cat nap in this.  I'm hoping that as she grows she'll learn to love this, and go down for longer naps.


Clothing - I know firsthand that it's hard to not get carried away with all the adorable baby clothing, but when they're so little they really don't need anything besides onesies, and sleepers.  Some of our favorites have been these affordable zip up onesies {which make middle of the night diaper changes a breeze since there is not a zillion buttons to snap}, and also these super soft footed sleepers from Kickee Pants.  I love the fun designs that they feature, the cute little ruffles on the bum, and also the super soft fleece lining in the foot area to keep little toes toasty warm.  Since we don't swaddle Isla's arms {she HATES her arms being confined and will fight it until she breaks free}, it's really important to have pj's that have the mitten cuffs so her little hands don't get too cold, and both of these have that feature.


Playing - I was a little hesitant about whether or not a play gym was worth it at this age, and I'm really glad that I ended up purchasing this one.  At first she was mesmerized and would get a little overwhelmed, but lately she gets so happy and will smile + laugh at the little hanging animals.  She really seems to like all the different sounds, and the bright colors.  This mat also makes for the perfect spot for doing morning tummy time!

and for any mama to be's or new mommies who might be struggling with breastfeeding.....

This combo helped me tremendously during those painful early weeks of breastfeeding, and I highly suggest both of these products along with this nursing bra {I have it in 3 colors, and wear them 24/7}.

all natural nipple cream / gel soothies

Flops:

So far these have been the biggest flops for us.  But since every baby is different, that doesn't mean that they won't work for your little one!  As I've quickly learned, it's a real trial & error process.....

sleep sheep - doesn't get the job done!  Better to invest in a real sound machine.

mamaroo - I wanted to love this because the look + concept is so cool, but unfortunately Isla isn't a big fan.  I don't think it moves fast enough for her. 

 expensive burp cloths - see above for my recommendation for inexpensive, durable ones.



I hope this helps you ladies, and if you have recommendations for must-have baby products leave a comment below.  Thanks for reading! xx

Purchases For Baby Girl

I hope you all had a great weekend!  We had a pretty low key weekend over here; worked around the house, ran errands, went to our first hypnobirthing class, took the pups on a long walk around one of our favorite jogging trails, and had the absolute laziest Sunday on record.  Seriously, Adam & I were total bums yesterday, migrating back and forth from the couch to the bed all day.  He was completely engrossed in a book, while I was the online shopping queen ordering all things baby related.  I've been on an online ordering rampage lately {shopping for babies is so much more fun than shopping for myself I've decided!}, and thought I'd share a few of the items that I've purchased for baby girl.

Full deets are below, including links to a few of my favorite new Etsy shops that I've recently discovered :)

Shop These Items:


The cuuuutest little bow pleated dress and kitty cat sweater from Jacadi.  They're definitely on the pricier side for baby clothing, but are having a great summer sale right now which definitely makes things easier on the wallet. {Dress found here / Gray sweater here} //  I absolutely love this Etsy shop, and have purchased a few of their headbands including {this white one} //  A super soft little lamb that doubles as a rattle {available here} //  These simple BPA free pacifiers had great reviews on every website that I could find them on.  Worth a shot! {here} //  The Sleep Sheep is another product that I had to try out.  Amaaazing reviews everywhere you read for helping soothe your little to sleep! {found here} //  This diaper pail is supposed to be the holy grail of all pails!  It is made of solid steel, looks chic in my nursery, and doesn't require special bags! {available here, also in multiple other colors here} //  The softest baby blanket which I may or may not have purchased in 2 colors ;) {found here} //  Handmade baby shoes that are all made to order {here} //  An adorable fuzzy rabbit rattle {here} //  A personalized handmade wooden teether toy shaped like a bunny.  I love this company as they plant one tree for every product sold! {found here}





There's lots more that I've purchased but I'm trying not to go too baby crazy on the blog.  If any mamas out there have any recommendations, I'd love to hear what your baby loved!  xx

26 Week Bumpdate

 Wearing: Isabella Oliver Clement Print T-Shirt Dress c/o {currently 15% off using code CX315}

How Far Along?   26 weeks - almost out of the 2nd trimester!
 


Total Weight Gain?   19 pounds.  I can not believe that I'm actually typing those digits out!  At this point I'm just letting my body do its own thing.  I'm still active, and eating healthy organic + nutritious foods {most of the time!}, so as long as I'm healthy and babies healthy that's all that matters.  I know that with time the weight will come off.....

 
 
Maternity Clothes?   Oh heavens, yes!  I live in these maternity jeans from A Pea In The Pod {they're my absolute favorite pair}, and Isabella Oliver dresses.  I can not even begin to tell you how comfortable their dresses are!  They are probably the #1 thing I'd recommend to any of my prego girlfriends :)

 

Gender?   It's a sweet baby girl!

Cravings?   Still chocolate protein shakes every morning made with 1 banana, and a scoop of PB2 - so yummy!  I've also been craving salmon a lot lately, and have been eating it almost every time we go out to dinner.  Over the weekend, I had a killllllller craving for gnocchi, so I made it from scratch in my kitchen!  Recipe will be up on the  blog soon :)



Miss Anything?   I basically just miss feeling like my old self.  I used to feel so confident and sexy in my own skin and I feel differently about my body now.  I feel beautiful, but in a completely different way, more along the lines of what my body is going through to create this little life is so remarkable and beautiful.

I talked about body image in my last bumpdate, and while I am more accepting of my new curvier figure, there are certain things that I'm ready to say goodbye to {like the cellulite on my ass & thighs. ughhhhh}.  I also miss being able to throw basically anything on and feel cute & put together.  Now it takes serious thought to put together an outfit that is flattering and doesn't make me feel huge!  



Exercise?   I ended up quitting my prenatal yoga classes a few weeks back.  It was too weird for me.  There was so much chanting, and singing songs to our bellies - not the workout that I was looking for.  Since then, I've upped Pilates to 3x per week.  I work out with a private instructor who has worked with multiple pregnant women in the past, and we work on not only strenghtening moves, but also concentrating on moves that will help get me through labor + delivery.  I've also been swimming in my pool several times a week which feels gloooooooorious!  Seriously, swimming has never felt so good before!



 
Symptoms?  Besides what I described in last months bumpdate, the only new symptoms that have cropped up are some serious hip pain, and pain in my ribs.  Pilates really has helped with the hip pain, but it seems to really strike at night when I'm sleeping.  Lately, it's taken some strategic positioning of pillows in order to get a good nights sleep!

Mood?   Really, really happy!  If you would have asked me 2 years if I was happy, my answer would have immediately been yes.  We had just gotten married, taken an unreal honeymoon in Africa, and had a lifetime of possibilities ahead of us.  But now looking back, the excitement & joy that I've experienced during this pregnancy overshadows any happiness that I've ever felt before.  It sounds pretty corny, but I really feel like my heart is just overflowing with so much love and happiness.


Baby Movement?   So much movement!  She has certain times of the day when like clockwork she starts moving around, and other times when she will get really active from hearing something like our dogs barking & playing, or from music.  Adam & I love to just sit and watch my belly move at night - it's pretty amazing!



Best Moment This Week?   Passing my glucose test earlier this week!  I was so convinced that I was going to fail the test {because of my weight gain}, and was shocked that I passed with flying colors!

 
Looking Forward To?   Meeting with our doula that we hired to go over my birth plan {I want an all natural birth, I know cue the eyeroll!  I'll hopefully get a blog post together that goes a little more in depth on that topic later!}.  The nursery furniture is supposed to be delivered in the next few weeks, so I'm really stoked to get started on that project, and we're leaving to go on our babymoon in the next couple of days!!  

Baby Nursery Inspo

Lately, I've been doing a lot of daydreaming about what our nursery will look like.  As most of you know, I love my classic neutrals and I wanted for the nursery to feel like an extension of our home.  For that reason I've selected pieces that follow the design aesthetic of our current furnishings with a palette of soft weathered grays, flax, and creams and plan on interjecting some soft blush pink + girly touches through the crib bedding, and with the decor on the walls & shelves.

Below is what I've ordered so far, and I can't wait to see it all come together!

Shop These Items:

Crib / Bookshelf / Dresser / Lamp / Mobile {all from Restoration Hardware, which is currently running a sitewide 20% off sale!}

Flokati rug / Blanket / Glider {I tested this out in the store and it is beyond comfortable!} / Storage baskets / Personalized bunny rocker

I'm far from finished, but am really pleased with the progress so far.  Did I miss anything?  Any recommendations on cute nursery decor?  Leave a comment below and let me know. xx

It's A Girl!! + A Few Baby Purchases

If you're not on Instagram and missed our little announcement over the weekend: IT'S A GIRL!!  Adam & I are were overwhelmed with happiness when we learned at our ultrasound last week that we'll be expecting a sweet baby girl this September.  I really feel like I have more of a connection to my pregnancy now that I know who's growing inside of there.  We also learned that she's measuring really, really big!  Like almost 2 weeks ahead of where she should be, and she already weighs 12 ounces.  Must be all those chocolate, peanut butter & banana protein shakes that I'm craving ;)

Of course, I immediately started shopping for her the next day!  I hit up the mall + a few local baby boutiques which immediately made things seem SO REAL.  Holy crap!  I'm really having a baby!

I feel really clueless regarding what to buy, and have been hounding my friends like crazy asking for recommendations on what worked for them.  My friend Brooke over at Somewhere, Lately put up a great post last week on her First Month Favorites and I immediately bought this rocker that she labeled the holy grail....anything that even hints at a few extra hours of sleep for us is worth a shot!  If any of you ladies have reco's for me, I would love to hear what worked/didn't work for your babes so please share any advice in the comment section down below!

Also, thanks so much to those of you who commented on this Instagram picture and suggested that I hit up Baby Gap.  I had no idea they had such cute clothing for littles!  I bought so much stuff in that store including this little jean jacket, these white denim jeans, these leggings in just about every color, and this adorable onesie.  Obviously the more normal clothing is for when she's a bit older as I know she'll basically be living in onesies for the first couple of months but I just couldn't pass them up...baby clothes are entirely too cute to resist!

Below are a few other things that I purchased recently and wanted to share with you guys {because I'm just too excited to not share!}.

Clockwise From Top Left:

Her super soft little coming home from the hospital outfit {available here} //  The cutest pair of special occasion flats {here} //  Everyone has said KicKee Pants are the best and now I understand why {dying over the strawberry print} //  Burp cloths in a fun safari pattern {here} //  Basic + cheap long sleeved onesies came highly recommended by my friend Brooke {here} //  I let my hubby pick out the color of this Mamaroo and he chose {this one} //  The famous Wubbanub {here} //  Adorable bear print on {this onesie} //  Baby girls first mocs {available here} //  Highly rated swaddling cloths {here}



Thanks so much to everyone who left such kind messages on our announcement over the weekend!  You guys are just the sweetest & I really appreciate each and every one of you taking the time out of your day to stop over here and read my blog, or comment on my instagram pictures. xx

And Baby Makes Three (Plus 2 Pups)

In case you missed probably the weirdest baby announcement in history on my Instagram over the weekend, Adam & I are expecting a sweet little addition to our family in early September!  Initially, I wanted to wait until I was out of my first trimester to announce the good news, but we were in a pretty horrific car accident last week which really made me realize how precious life truly is.  This tiny little life inside of me already means the world to us and I just felt that it deserves to be celebrated not hidden away for a few more weeks until it's socially acceptable to announce it publicly.

I'm still in complete shock that I'm pregnant as you may remember from my post back in November that I've struggled with infertility issues for over a year & a half and was told that my chances of conceiving on my own were pretty slim.  We had actually scheduled to begin IVF when we got back from our Austria/Italy trip in January, but it wasn't necessary as I became pregnant naturally on my own!  Remember when I told you guys how I was SO sick while we were in Austria?  Well it's true that I was nauseous, vomiting & just feeling pretty crappy the whole time we were there.  On our last day in Salzburg, after Adam + our friends from Moscow urged me several times to take a pregnancy test, I finally took one {which was in German and we had to translate on Google to read the results!} and it was positive!  I honestly thought we translated it wrong, and didn't believe that it was true so when we went out to lunch that afternoon, I drank a ton of tea and went and bought 2 more tests and they were positive also!  In case your wondering, "schwanger" means pregnant in German :)

That next day we flew to Italy, and as soon as we got settled into our B&B, we immediately walked to the nearest pharmacy and bought another test....again it was positive.  We called our IVF doctor and explained everything to her and she told us that if we had taken 4 pregnancy tests and they were all positive than, "congratulations, you're pregnant!".  

Complete and utter shock you guys!  I definitely "feel" pregnant now.  I am 10 weeks pregnant and have been SO sick the entire time.  I've cooked a total of 2 meals over the course of the past month {my poor husband!} because the different smells from cooking send me straight to throw up...no bueno.  I hope to post "bumpdates" on here from time to time like some of my other favorite bloggers do, but for now I definitely don't have a bump, it's more like a hot bloated burrito bump mess lol! 

I'm really looking forward to the 2nd trimester, and hopefully starting to feel better soon.  I'm also really excited to start shopping for baby gear, nursery furniture, and maternity fashion!  

So to all my mama readers, lay it on me.  Any words of wisdom?  Any must-have baby products that I absolutely need?  I feel SO clueless in all of this!