I realized that I  haven't really shared any pregnancy updates for this little guy, so I thought I'd post a little update here about this pregnancy before he arrives in a few short weeks. 

This pregnancy has been 100% different than my pregnancy with Parker. Not only did we conceive naturally, but everything has gone so smoothly at each appointment, too. I am so grateful for this amazing blessing. At this point in my pregnancy with Parker, I was on a modified bedrest for preterm labor symptoms and was being so carefully watched and monitored. It was so nice to see P on the ultrasounds every week, sometimes multiple times a week, and this time around, I have only had three ultrasounds total - two in early pregnancy and the anatomy scan.  It is so weird not seeing baby frequently, but I just need to trust that this is how most pregnancies are monitored and have faith that all will be just fine with this little guy when he arrives. I will say that it was hard being absolutely exhausted for a lot of this pregnancy and having a very busy toddler to chase after. Thank goodness for nap time - I took full advantage of that. One similarity I have had between the pregnancies is an irritable uterus. Basically that means you get a lot of the practice contractions. Starting in the end of the second trimester in both pregnancies, I was/am constantly getting braxton hicks contractions when I up and moving around, which is most of the day. The only thing that stops them are when I sit down and take it easy, which is hard for me to do. So I've been trying to just slow down for these last few weeks and get rest, but the third trimester insomnia is no joke. Sleeping has become pretty challenging these days. I pee all the time and it's hard to get comfy. 

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Since we are having another boy, I luckily haven't had to buy too many things, just do lots and lots of laundry! And I forgot how good Dreft smells. Baby's nursery smells so good everytime I walk in there.  I did buy a few things though and here are some of the things I went for...

• this double stroller
• this bassinet (we also used this with P and really liked it. I wanted the Snoo but just couldn't justify spending that much on a bassinet.)
• these pacifiers
• these Christmas Jammies

THE NURSERY
I haven't really made any progress on the boys' rooms yet. I keep toggling back and forth on whether or not I want to move Parker or keep him in his room, so until I decide on that I can't really start the design process in either space. Although I finally feel inspired and think I have a good idea of what I want to do once we figure out which lil guy is going where. For now, P is going to stay in his nursery (I plan to keep him in that crib for as long as possible! he's so busy!) and baby will be in our room, but all of baby's things are in the room that I think we will eventually move Parker to. I guess we will have to see how it all shakes out once he's here.

NAMES
The one thing we are struggling with so bad right now is the name! Todd and I love different names and can't seem to agree on one. Each of our favorite names is not well liked by the other. So... we will see how that turns out! I am being so so picky. Everything I hear is fine, but not something I love. I am hoping I hear a name that I just fall in love with in the next few weeks, but I have been waiting for that to happen for the last 34 weeks and it hasn't so far, fingers crossed! 

RANDOM THINGS ABOUT THIS PREGNANCY

• Cravings: Cereal. Like so much cereal - Cheerios and Rice Krispies with bananas. Wine - obviously can't have that, but I can't wait to indulge in a glass when baby is here. I love sitting out at night with a glass of wine in the summer, so that was tough!
• No morning sickness, just exhaustion! Like extreme exhaustion. When we were in Florida on vacation, I slept from 9 am - 5pm one day. I tried to get all the sleep I could when Parker slept and when Todd was home.
• I definitely started to show faster this time around. And I feel like I gained ALL of my weight in the second trimester. It creeped up REAL fast, it was a little shocking. I was worried how much I would gain in total, but it's leveled out a bit, thank goodness!
• The nesting urges have hit. I love this phase of pregnancy where all I want to do is organize!

I can't wait to meet our little guy in just a little over 5 weeks. It's so crazy, but I honestly feel like I forgot so much from the first days and weeks with Parker because it just flies by so quickly. I'm sure everything will come back to us and we'll know just what to do when baby arrives.  I really hope that I can nurse him and avoid having to do the exclusive pumping that I did with Parker for a year.  I am a little bit nervous for how the transition will go for the whole family, especially Parker, but I know that it'll just take a little bit of time to find our new sense of normal as a family of four and once we do, it'll be wonderful. I can't wait to see these little guys become best buddies as they get older, it's going to be so fun! 

​I've posted some home pictures lately on my Instagram page, but wanted to include them here on my blog and link some of the most popular products that I get questions on! 

​Mini Chandelier Pendants
Gold & Marble Tray
Cake Stand
Utinsel Crock
Scalloped Pie Dishes
​Barstools
Plush Pumpkins - Target dollar bins, wheat grasses - cut from my garden

​Farmhouse Sink
Faucet & Side Spray
Flowers & Eucalyptus - Trader Joes - they have the best flowers!

I wanted to share the final pumpkin floral arrangement I made here, too! I just loved how it turned out for this special mama who just had her sweet baby girl! 

This year for our outdoor fall decor I've decided to keep a neutral theme (shocking, right!?) - using lots of white and sage green pumpkins & gourds along with white mums and eucalyptus.  I found a really pretty pin on Pinterest that I also shared on my Instagram page - that had white stacked pumpkins and the prettiest overflowing eucalyptus, so I decided to try and recreate that for my urns by the garage. I saved a "How To" series on my IG story on my Fall Highlights if you're interested! The one thing I would do differently next year...not spray painting the pumpkins. It would save a ton of time and the white got ultra white, and against our home it all just kind of blends together, so I think I'd keep them more natural looking next time - or try for sage green stacks of pumpkins.  I bought fresh eucalyptus from Trader Joes for only $2.99 a bundle (I bought 10 total), which was such a good deal, you can get the pumpkins/gourds there, too!

Our giant white mums are from Tonkadale - I'd definitely recommend going there to check out their fall decor if you are local to the Minneapolis area, such cute stuff and beautiful mums. While you're there you can pick up your bulbs for spring, too! I just planted all of mine and can't wait to see them pop up in the springtime - that is, if I can keep the rabbits away! 

Front doors: Marvin Integrity 8' french doors,
Paint Color - Fine Paints of Europe - The Guggenheim Collection, Gallery Colors GO40
Outdoor Lighting: Hanging pendant, Sconces
Planters/Urns
Front Door Mat
Front Door Hardware