I knew it was time to start thinking about having another child when Ireland walked into the kitchen with her daddy’s pink handkerchief laying over her shoulder. She was patting it and shushing it as if it was a baby! (I also knew it was time to simply start with getting her an actual baby doll to play with haha!) After much prayer, we decided it was time to start trying. Actually getting pregnant has never been an easy or quick task for us. With that said, we were absolutely ECSTATIC that after 8 months, we finally saw two pink lines on the test. We can’t believe that we are already over half way there. At this point of my pregnancy with Ireland, I was in the hospital having an emergency appendectomy and fearing for our daughters’ life! Crazy times. I’m so thankful to be able to say that so far, we have had no emergency surgeries during this pregnancy. *Whew!*

When I was pregnant with Ireland, everything was new, all sensations were different, planning/day dreaming was ongoing, researching baby products was a part time job, and fear of the unknown was the struggle. This pregnancy with baby boy has been drastically different. I’m sure that has something to do with the fact that this time around I have the constant company of a darling almost 2 year little girl. But even with that, this time- I know what to expect, how to better care for myself, what I need to plan for, and the whole fear factor has shifted (we’ll get to that.)

Caring For Myself
This pregnancy has been amazing as far as learning how to properly care for myself in ways that I simply didn’t when I was pregnant with Ireland. One of the biggest changes I have made is my prenatal vitamins. You guys. I had no idea that higher quality whole food based vitamins would CHANGE THE GAME so much. For the past three years, I have been taking Target brand gummy prenatal vitamins. They served their purpose and were super affordable, but after talking with my midwife I decided to switch to Rainbow Light’s Prenatal Vitamins. Let me start off by saying these six massive green vitamins are not nearly as fun or easy to take as my Target gummies were, but oh my goodness! If only I had discovered these earlier. All I can say is as soon as I made the switch, my energy levels shot through the roof, my pregnancy headaches went BYE BYE, and my nausea finally ceased. So thankful that I finally gave these a try!

Now when it comes to nutrition, I don’t think you’ll be surprised to hear that it went out the window first trimester. Literally anything that I could keep down was a miracle! But as soon as I switched my prenatal vitamins and inched closer and closer to 2^nd trimester, I was finally feeling like I was able to start eating normal foods again. My aunt started coaching for a health program that peaked my curiosity. I was planning on waiting to participate in the program until after baby, however, she informed me that it was something I could do while pregnant. The program is all based on simply getting the proper amount of macro nutrients that your body needs. I have been doing it for two weeks now and have felt like a new woman. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m actually getting exactly what my body needs, feeding it whole foods when I’m hungry, and I feel AMAZING. I’m so thankful to be able to give this gift of nutrition to our baby while he’s growing inside me! And I’m so excited to continue this journey in to my postpartum days this time around!

ALL THE SLEEP
When I was expecting Ireland, I did NOT heed the advice of the wise ones who told me to sleep while I could. Ever since the beginning of this pregnancy, I have been taking advantage of every hour, every minute of sleep that the good Lord blesses me with. Thankfully, Ireland is an incredible sleeper and loves to sleep in just as much as her mama does. I’m soaking that up for all it’s worth this pregnancy- I know at least several months of no sleep are ahead, so if you can’t find me in the next 18 weeks- it’s because I’m sleeping. 😉


Baby Products
Let’s just say our baby product list looks a lot different this time around than it did with Ireland. With Ireland, we didn’t know what we were doing or what we truly needed- and with all the marketing of baby products out there, we really overdid it and purchased way more than we ever needed. Perks of second child is we now know exactly what we need, and that basically consists of diapers, wipes, fresh onesies, fresh bottles, good old sleep sacs, and Sophie the Giraffe. We also have made a few larger investments in products that really do make a difference! One of my favorite things we already purchased is the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib. With how much we travel- it is so nice to have a travel crib that FITS IN MY SUITCASE. Holla!!!

Trusting in the Lord
I mentioned that fear was a big culprit of my first pregnancy. With Ireland, it was all involving fear of the unknown. I had no idea what to expect for labor and delivery, everything postpartum, or even just how to be a mama. Nonetheless, God really humbled me throughout the whole process, through each step, and He still is. When my midwife asked me this time what my birth plans were, I simply told her that I didn’t have one this time. For those of you who know Ireland’s birth story, you know that it did NOT go the way that I had planned. But OUR plans rarely do pan out. It was God’s plan that was the end result, and it was ultimately perfect. This time around there are other fears that I am still working on surrendering to God. Fears having to do with the new territory of having a son and the responsibility that comes with that. But even in that, I now trust that whatever happens, God has already equipped me with what I need in order to have this baby and to love him well. And guys…. I’M SO EXCITED.

Anyway, that was a lot! For those of you still reading, thanks for sticking with us. Thank you for all your prayers and support in our life, and for being excited with us! Only 18 more weeks to go until we get to meet this sweet baby boy. In the meantime, now to work on naming this child.