What’s in my Hospital Bag?

Three DAYS until we get to make our way to the hospital to meet our sweet little one!!!

To say I am excited is a complete understatement.. I have been dreaming of this day for what seems like forever!! I have our bags packed, baby clothes washed, bottles and pacifiers sterilized, carseat installed and meals prepped!! We are as ready as we can be :) We have one last date night, I get to do a mani pedi, and then we are going to get the car washed before our big day but other than that

come on baby James!!! 

Since having Jax there are a few items that I would leave our when packing the hospital bag and also some items that I would add as well. Here is my itemized list for the hospital bags including both mom and baby!!

Mommy’s Bag:

*Two Nursing Bras ( favorite brand linked HERE)

*A pretty robe. I happened to be gifted a beautiful milkmaids robe with a matching swaddle and hat for baby!! I am so excited to wear it!!! If you want one of these robes you can find them HERE) Just search under +mom: robes.

*Socks:  Like those thick comfy warm socks 

*A large water jug: I love the GIANT bubba cups. I love my Yeti and especially my customized Yeti but I would be so sad if I forgot it in the hospital due to pure exhaustion. The Big Bubba Cups are enough to hold a TON of ice and will definitely keep you hydrated. Plus if you do happen to forget it you can feel more justified buying another bubba vs a yeti.

* Nursing tanks and comfy clothes. The last time I was in the hospital I wore a pretty robe and a nursing tank underneath and thats it. It was to hot to wear pants and I was plenty covered up in my robe if I wanted to take a walk to the nursery so I didn’t bother with packing a ton of clothes. I did however bring a really cute pajama set to go home in complete with a matching robe!!!!

Pajama Set HERE

* Snacks!!!! Omg I was STARVING after giving birth to Jax.. I didn’t have him until 2 AM and by that time the hospital kitchen had closed. Thank GOD I had an amazing nurse who snuck me a turkey sandwich and had it cooling on ice for after I delivered. There is no hunger like giving birth hunger!!! This time around I am packing our yeti cooler with some turkey sandwiches, grapes, and pretzels for afterwards. A little post birth picnic for ya :)!

* Toiletries and Fluffy Towel. I tend to pack a large toiletry bag because much like the hunger I mentioned above.. there really is no shower like the post birth shower. It feels SO good to be washed and bathed from all that hard work you just did. I pack my favorite bath and body wash and lotion, a loofah, my favorite Kate Somerville face wash, serum, and lotion, chapstick ( DONT FORGET CHAPSTICK), hand lotion, face wipes ( neutrogena makeup remover), mascara, dry shampoo, a brush and comb, tooth brush and toothpaste, deodorant, and pony tail holders. I never wore makeup and truly why bother with it? Nobody wants foundation smearing all over their gorgeous and fresh newborn. Bring your own towel from home because the hospital towels are paper thin and like everyone and their mom have used them so.. ya know bring your own.

* Large body pillow and blanket to cuddle with. I know this sounds weird and maybe a little gross BUT for all you NEW moms there is this weird feeling after you give birth to your baby that tends to feel like your guts are falling back into place. Think about it! You just had this watermelon evicted from your stomach and all of your organs were pushed elsewhere! Once baby is out the organs slowly tend to fall back into place and it’s a bit uncomfortable. A body pillow helps alleviate some of that discomfort so I like to wedge one next to my stomach to help with that. 

* Cell Phone Charger Obviously.

*Baby Book or just the page for the footprint stamps

*Baby Bag: Inside the diaper bag ( if you even opt to bring the baby bag. You can always throw their stuff in your bag) I usually have three outfits. Two newborn outfits and one 0-3 just in case, a cute hat, sweet swaddle, baby mitts, and nail clippers!!! The hospital literally provides you with everything so you don’t need to worry about diapers, wipes, burp cloths, or anything like that. Also when you leave CLEAN HOUSE YA’ll!!!!! Insurance pays for those items so take everything including your mommy diapers and fun bathroom items :) 

Okay ya’ll I think that is it!!!!

I am about to have my baby!!! OMG!!!!

Birth post up next!

Pregnancy Favorites!!! 1st and second trimester!

Hey y’all! Happy Friday!!

I swear these weeks keep on blowing by.. I cannot believe I’m almost halfway finished with this pregnancy!!!!!!

Today I wanted to share some of my absolute favorites this go around that I absolutely cannot live without! Here we go! 

Oh and.. for laughs

Because for real this is so true....

which brings me to pregnancy favorite Number 1!!!!

Click on the links highlighted below to navigate to these products!

1. Blanqui Leggings <------- Link here

Y’all I cannot say enough wonderful things about these leggings. They are soft, stretchy, you can wear them with outfits or to workout, and they do not get all fuzzy in the washing machine. They are the COMFIEST maternity item I own and I literally wear them daily. A must have for sure!

2.  Bubba Cup

During pregnancy I literally become SO thirsty. I always tend to drink a lot of water anyways but during pregnancy its like I cannot ever get enough!!! I am also a sucker for great water jugs. I have everything from the Yeti ( love) to a Bubba Keg Cup. I love this ^^^ Cup because it is large enough to not have to refill constantly throughout the day and you are getting more than enough of your daily water intake. If you have trouble drinking your water try adding some fruit!! I love to chop up strawberries & blueberries or lemon and mint, and even some grapefruit to keep my water a little interesting!

3. A great moisturizer

This is the Kate Somerville Goat’s milk moisturizer linked above and I CANNOT say enough wonderful things about it. I have been using Kate’s line for about two years. I used the Nourish line and have never seen my skin so clear and dewey! Since I have become pregnant a facialist told me that using skin care products with lactic acid is a lot healthier for our mama skin so I switched over to her Goat Milk line of products and am SO happy with the results. I will do a separate skin care post on all of my favorite products in the future!!!!

4.  RX bars

I couldn’t link these bars but they are found at Whole foods, Trader Joes, HEB, and Target. These have been a GAME changer for me!!! During the first few months when I was nauseous at just about everything..I would pop one of these bars in my mouth and instantly feel a little better. These bars are made with ALL natural and whole, healthy ingredients so you don’t have to feel bad about eating them. They are made with egg whites, dates, and nuts so if you are allergic to nuts steer clear but otherwise go grab some of these babies!

5. A great exercise routine!

Even if it is just a nice daily walk or jog outside in the fresh air it does SO many wonderful things for our bodies. I try and at least get a workout or walk in 3-4 times a week and on days when I feel sluggish, nauseous, and tired it is really the best medicine to perk me right up!!! I joined my FIt4Mom class when Jax was a baby and they specialize in pre and postnatal fitness!! It is absolutely perfect for any pregnant mom. Please check your area and find your tribe!!!

Some pictures at Stroller Strides :)

Baby Number 2

Baby Frankhouser #2 is on the way!!!! 

Expected arrival date is June 2018

We could not be more thrilled OR grateful to be expecting another sweet baby!! Many of you know it took us nearly TWO years to conceive our precious Jax.. during that difficult time I remember wondering WHEN/IF it was EVER going to happen. I know many of you have often wondered those same questions. There are so many different times in our lives when the outcomes are unknown and unpredictable. Those are the times when it is vital to lean on God. God is sovereign and he is ALWAYS working within us even during the times we aren’t sure if he “ hears our prayers”. Fast forward a beautiful pregnancy and baby boy later I felt redeemed. I felt as though God had TRULY answered my prayers with Jax. 

B and I were never really diagnosed with any major fertility issues so it was unbeknownst to us and to the doctors why we had such trouble. God knew though.. and everything falls into HIS timing. 

This second baby.. this blessing.. this GIFT came to us without any forewarning at all. Of course we always prayed diligently for our second child and hoped that God would bless us again whether it be through IVF or naturally but we never knew the timing and figured we would worry about the next baby January 2018. 

God had BIGGER plans.

I came home one day from a MOPS meeting ..feeling “off” no other symptoms other than just having a weird feeling. Call me crazy but something told me to take a test. 

When that test came back positive I nearly fainted off the toilet seat. Of course I took 7 more before calling Brandon hysterically to tell him the wonderful news. We were both so shocked and amazed at the work of our Lord. I had heard so many times about something like this happening to “ other people..” so I never really thought it would happen to us. God proved me wrong that day..and he also broadened my faith times a MILLION.

God gifted us a child without any medical intervention whatsoever.. in his beautiful and perfect timing. We certainly were not expecting to get pregnant so easily but that is the beauty of our God. He is that amazing.. and he is THAT big. He moved our mountain and opened our hearts even bigger for this next baby.  We never cease to pray in thankfulness for this unexpected blessing he gave to our family. 

Psalm 52:9

“ I will praise you forever for what you  have done”