Five on Friday

Happy Friday, friends!

It's time for Five on Friday with these lovely ladies.

Here's what I'm loving this week.

1. Royal Baby

I must say I'm just loving the new Prince's name {obviously I'm partial!}.

What I'm really loving though is Kate.

I mean, how amazing does she look? 

Good for her for showing off her post baby bump!

Now if only I could look half as good leaving the hospital...

2. Pampelonne 

With my baby arriving very soon I've got cocktails on the brain {cannot wait!}.

Stumbled upon this new wine and am dying to try.

Hoping to find here in Nashville and cannot wait for their red wine sangria!

3. Pumpkin Flax Granola

So I know I usually have some fattening frozen sweet treat on my favorites list, but this week I am all about this granola.

It is amazing.

I've been dipping apples in peanut butter and granola each day for lunch and cannot get enough.

Don't worry though, still also enjoying plenty of ice cream and gelato each night.

4. Land of Nod Camper

I love Land of Nod and was dying this week following them on Instagram as they launched their holiday line.

There are so many gifts I want for G and Baby #2, but this camper is at the top of my list.

How adorable??

Cannot wait to watch my little ones playing pretend together.

5. My boys

As excited as I am for Baby #2 to arrive, I have to admit I am really enjoying soaking up these last few days with B and G as a family of three.

We are making the most of our time with just our little man and know he will be the best big brother!

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful weekend!

Hospital Staff Thank You Gifts

So in true procrastinator fashion, what do you do when you should be finishing the nursery, picking out a name or just trying to get some rest?  You come up with another project. :)

I so loved my last experience at the hospital delivering George and was so appreciative of the staff. From the nurses to the people who brought us our food, everyone was amazing.  I wanted to make sure to have a little something to show our appreciation.

Thought this was simple and easy, and who doesn't love chocolate?

B and I may or may not have put a good dent in this bag.

 And we might be short a few of these baggies...

Here's hoping the baby comes sooner rather than later otherwise we might not have any nuggets left for the nurses!

Did you take any treats during your delivery?

Here are some more adorable gift ideas for the hospital staff.

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Scenes from the weekend...

Our weekend was simple and just what I needed.  The theme was certainly resting and nesting.  Laid low Friday night, and Saturday my boys let me sleep in while they went and got donuts.  Thankfully they brought some back for mama! Made it to a first birthday party even with G on his sugar high {three donuts really do a number on the little man} and spent the rest of the day nesting in anticipation of this little one.  Ventured out for what I'm thinking was our last date night before Baby #2 arrives and enjoyed tasty mocktails, yummy Italian food and fabulous company with some of our favorite friends.  Sunday was more resting {did not get out of bed until 10am!} and nesting {cleaned all.day.long.}.  The hospital bags are packed, house is clean and fridge is stocked ready for the grandparents to arrive and take care of the little man while we have this baby.  Of course as I type this I'm probably jinxing myself and it'll be another week.  Here's hoping your weekend was wonderful and cheers to the start of another week!

Five on Friday

It's Friday which means it's time to link up with these lovely ladies and see what five things everyone is loving this week.

Here are my five favorites!

1. Name Blanket

I am obsessed with this adorable online shop I found via Instagram.

I will be ordering this personalized baby blanket the minute I pop this babe out {assuming we can finalize our names!}.

Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas Waterpark

So many friends and fellow bloggers have this fun water play table for their kiddos and have raved about it.

Finally ordered one for my little man, and he LOVES it!

We play outside with it all day every day.

His favorite is taking the scooper and pouring water all over his mama.

Yarn Bombed Antlers

Another fun find via Instagram!

If you know me, you know I have a husband who loves to hunt and a family ranch that has lots of deer.

In other words, we have a lot of antlers.

Hoping to get crafty and recreate some of these!

 S'more Rice Krispie Treats

When I was pregnant with G I craved s'mores and would make them all the time!

Just this week I started craving them again.

Stumbled upon this recipe and am so hoping to whip these up this weekend.

My little man

This little guy is at the top of my favorites list this week {and every week!}.

I have been feeling so run down, and he has been such a trooper.

Sleeping in, playing in his crib and just lounging with mama.

Love him so much and cannot believe I have just two weeks left just the two of us!

Hospital Bag Essentials

Ok, so I'm tickled that I had my hospital bag packed like two months out with G, and with two and half weeks to go, I have yet to even pull out my overnight bag.

As many negatives as there are with pregnancy #2 {i.e. bump sooner plus more frequent bathroom visits}, there are plenty of positives including knowledge!  Oh you feel like you know so much more the second go around and are more prepared {at least that's what I'm telling myself}, especially when it comes to packing the hospital bag.  Or in my case, what not to pack.  How I wish I would have photographed my overstuffed overnight bag I took for G's arrival.  Seriously, a huge duffel that I could barely zip plus my diaper bag stuffed to the brim.  Did I think I was moving to the hospital {I know after he was born I wish I could have!  Those nurses are the best.}?

So round #2 I am being more practical.  Taking only what I need {says the queen of overpacking}.  Here's my list of hospital bag essentials.

Hospital Bag Essentials by rachelgbolton

• Nursing bras and nursing tanks {I recommend really comfortable ones with no underwire.  Oh those first days are interesting...}
• Plenty of comfy pajamas including gowns, front button shirts and loose fitting pants
• Robe {This comes in handy when walking around the hospital and when friends come to visit your new babe.}
• Slippers {Also slipper socks with pads on the bottom in case your feet are too swollen for slippers...speaking from experience!}
• Flip flops
• Burt's Bees {I cannot tell you how many times I reapplied this during delivery!}
• La Croix {I am addicted and so wished I had this after G was born.}
• Boppy {So helpful with nursing but also before delivery.  I used it for support in the uncomfortable hospital bed.}

Not pictured but definitely going with me will be my own pillow, a bath towel from home, hairdryer and toiletries {including a little makeup!}.  Also, camera, laptop and chargers.  Oh and my going home outfit.  So thankful it is warm so I can just throw on a loose fitting dress.  I was so naive when packing last time.  You should have seen me waddling out of the hospital in my tightest skinny black pants.  Word to the wise, make sure you bring something loose and comfy to leave in as you will still be swollen and not that much smaller than when you arrived.  Things to leave at home...magazines, journal, books, etc.  I brought these the first go around, and they never came out of my bag.  Also, everyone told me to bring granny panties, pads, etc.  I never took them out of the bag either.  The hospital totally takes care of you!

Also, packing up a bag for B complete with comfy clothes and lots of his favorite snacks.  For the babe, I'll be keeping it simple with just some of my favorite swaddles and take home outfits for a boy and for a girl.  Cannot wait to see who we will be bringing home!

Also, I always think it's such a sweet gesture to bring a little something for the nurses and hospital staff.  They were such lifesavers during G's delivery, and considering we were there for 36 hours before he was ever even born, we got to meet lots of them.  I did a candy bar with his delivery but found a little something I'm working on for this go around.  Will share soon!

So, what did I leave off?  What were your go to items during your hospital stay?

Scenes from the weekend...

I feel like I'm just counting down our last few weekends until this babe arrives!  We certainly took advantage of this being one of our last and got so much done.  Cheers to productivity!

Kicked off the weekend with a pool play date with some of our besties.  As much as my little man loves the water he has a new love for running {yes running, and he's fast!} laps around the pool.  This poor mama is in and out of the pool trying to keep up with him.  Oh and the lovely tankini I've been rocking all summer has become a full-blown bikini thanks to my bump!  Let's just say it's not a good look me waddling around trying to keep up with G!

Fortunately that night we got a babysitter and enjoyed date night {third Friday in a row, whoo-hoo!}.  Attended a bittersweet party bidding farewell to some sweet friends moving this week.  And don't worry hit up the grocery store afterwards for a nightcap...Bluebell Homemade Vanilla.

Saturday B was amazing!  Let me sleep until 10:30am and kept the little man entertained.  Afterwards we cleaned out the garage {which was quite the endeavor!} and made several trip to Goodwill.  Oh it feels so good to purge and cleanse. Finished the day with more pool time and a little grilling.

Sunday G and I laid low while B played in church.  My poor feet were so swollen and my back was killing me, so couch time was in order.  Luckily my little man obliged and lounged with his momma.  Once B got home we kept the productivity going and worked on the nursery some more.  Oh how things are so different with the second.  We still have so much to do!  A trip to Target to cross a few things off the list made me feel better but still need to pack my bag!  Here's looking forward to a hopefully relaxing week.

Five on Friday

Happy Friday friends!

Wow this week sure flew by.

Linking up again with these lovely ladies to share what I'm loving this week.

1. Folk Soul Revival

These guys are incredible, and their music has been on constant repeat in our house.

Check them out!

2. Trader Joe's Mini Mint Ice Cream Mouthfuls

Can you tell I have a somewhat obsession with frozen treats this summer??

These bad boys are so addicting.

3. Summer Hair

The last thing I want to do each day is blow dry and style my hair.

Loving these fun summer looks and cannot wait to try some out.

4. Donut Bar

Hi I'm Rachel, and I'm addicted to donuts.

Luckily I try and only eat them when I'm pregnant.

Since I only have a couple weeks left I better get on making these homemade glazes.

Wouldn't this be such a fun play date?

5. A Cup of Jo

And speaking of just a couple weeks to go until Baby #2 arrives...

I'm loving this post my friend sent me.

She is too is expecting "two under two."

These sweet pics have me so excited at the thought of G meeting his new baby brother/sister.

So what are you all loving this week??

Any fun weekend plans?

We're hitting up the pool, doing date night and attempting to wrap up the last minute nursery/baby details.

Here's hoping for some productivity!

May I gush?

I am so not one to usually gush and go on and on about how wonderful my husband is {although I probably should!}, but tonight I just must.

It's so easy to give our husbands a hard time.  It seems they never do what we want them to do {put the dishes in the dishwasher} unless we ask them {will you please put the dishes in the dishwasher} or constantly nag them {put the dishes in the dishwasher!}.  But these days, I can only sing his praises.

The second pregnancy is funny.  People aren't doting on you like they do with the first.  Maybe everyone just assumes that since you've gone through it once before you must be a pro now.  Well let me tell you, if anything I think the second pregnancy is harder. You're chasing after the result of your first pregnancy all while dealing with an oversized midsection, aching back and swollen feet. Wow, can you tell I'm 36 weeks or what? :)

Back to the point of this post, to brag on B.  These last few days he has been amazing.  Truly amazing. It's like he knows exactly what I need without me even having to ask {oh do I struggle with asking for help!}.  He has been taking G on little outings just the two of them to give me some time to myself.  He has been coming home from work early and going in late to help me with the little man. Monday morning he didn't go in until 10am and let me sleep.  Oh what a gift!  Watching him put G to sleep is one of my favorite things.  I just stare at the two of them on the monitor and smile.  I have to say though it really is the little things.  Like once I'm on the couch in full beached whale mode, he gets up to refill my drink, bring me my phone charger and anything else I need {typically something sweet and fattening}.  My favorite though and what makes me realize why I love him so {and just how truly blessed I am} is every time I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom {which has become three and four times now}, he wakes up and says, "You okay?"  It means so much that he is checking on me and makes me realize I so could not do this without him.  Oh and did I mention, he's even doing the dishes! I am one lucky gal I tell you.  Love you, B!

Scenes from the weekend...

Did everyone enjoy a happy Fourth?  Ours was a wet one.  It never stopped raining.  The entire day.  Luckily a little {a lot!} rain couldn't keep us down.  We enjoyed a lazy day indoors waiting for our dear friends who were coming to visit us for the long weekend.  

We enjoyed time catching up with them, watching our sweet boys play together and even snagged a babysitter for a night out.  Finally got to try out my new favorite restaurant!  Since the rain continued the entire weekend {BOO!} we gave in and decided to let the boys out of the house.  What better place, Chuck E. Cheese's.  Yikes!  Everyone in Nashville had the same idea.

This tired mama was pooped and spent most of Sunday {and today!} in bed.  Cannot believe we have less than a month to go.  Here's hoping this week I can manage to be productive!