Feeling Rosy

I've been thinking about treating myself to a new ring for my birthday this month and as a way to mark baby boy's birthday whenever that is. I'm especially drawn to rose gold lately. Catbird, one of my favorite jewelry stores, has a great selection at a variety of prices. It seems like a good way to celebrate my fingers returning to their pre-pregnancy size.

Before Baby Arrives

I'm anxious to meet our little guy this month (and be rid of my achey back and swollen feet), but I also keep wishing we had more time. I'd love to stock the freezer full of soups and stews, I'd love to get some more art up on the walls, and I feel like there's a stack of books I still need to read. But at the end of the day, all I want to do is eat dinner on the couch and watch Gilmore Girls on Netflix. I'm sure parenthood is one of those things you're never fully prepared for. It's about adapting and taking one day at a time, which is a tall order for a lifelong planner. But if there's one major lesson God's been teaching me over the course of my pregnancy, it's that I'm not in control, but I can find joy wherever I'm at. I'm guessing motherhood will give me years and years to put that into practice.

Have a wonderful weekend! As always, thanks for stopping by here.

Mama-to-Be Mocktail: Purple Fizz

While we were in Napa on our babymoon, I had to forgo the cabernet sauvignon, but I did get to enjoy some delicious grapes right off the vine. Ever since, I've been craving that same juicy flavor, so I decided to come up with this fruity, fizzy mocktail.

Purple Fizz
4 oz. sparkling red grape juice
4 oz. cranberry juice
4 oz. ginger ale
Frozen grapes for garnish

Combine chilled grape juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale and add a few frozen grapes as garnish and to keep the drink cold.

Napa Valley Babymoon

We're back from our trip to Northern California. It was such a relaxing getaway! The cool nights were a perfect break from the Texas heat, the food was delicious and the scenery was beautiful. We flew into San Francisco and spent the first part of the trip there, walking around, singing the Full House theme, seeking out our favorite sandwich from RoliRoti and giving Dynamo Donuts a try.

We drove up to Calistoga along the winding, scenic Highway 1 and arrived at the Solage where we spent the rest of our stay. It's a beautiful resort with a spa, mineral pools and a Michelin-starred restaurant, Solbar, on the property. Our dinner there was delicious. We spent time exploring shops and markets in nearby towns Napa and St. Helena and spent an afternoon walking around Yountville before our dinner at Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc. The menu on Sunday night featured spaghetti and meatballs and ice cream sundaes -- what pregnant dreams are made of.

Even with the lack of wine-drinking for me, I'm so glad we picked the Napa area for our trip. It's such a beautiful part of the country and turned out to be the perfect place to unwind for a few days.

Mama-to-Be Smoothie

I've been drinking lots of smoothies lately to beat the heat and squeeze more servings of fruits and vegetables into my day. This one is my latest favorite, full of protein and potassium and beneficial foods for baby and mama. Of course, you don't have to be pregnant to enjoy it.

Banana, Almond and Spinach Smoothie

1 frozen banana

3 pitted dates

1 cup of milk or almond milk

1 tablespoon of almond butter

1 cup of spinach

Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Shopping for Baby

I nearly titled this post: Do Babies Really Need All This Stuff? or Shopping for Baby: Send Help! I've started the process of researching and registering for baby gear. There's a whole world of car seats and carriers that I know nothing about and sifting through online product reviews is like a form of self-inflicted punishment. Plus, everyone seems to have a different opinion about what's best. When I feel overwhelmed, I find myself drawn to more manageable decisions like choosing clothes and room decor. Like how cute is this hot air balloon mobile? I think I'll buy it. See how easy that was.

Any must-have suggestions or advice from you mamas and good shoppers out there?

It's a Boy!

Last week, we learned that we're expecting a baby boy! I totally understand wanting to keep it a surprise, but finding out if it was a boy or girl has made it easier for me to wrap my head around this whole parenthood thing. Now I can imagine a little guy in our lives. Jonah's already talking about teaching him to love soccer, and I've been shopping for tiny t-shirts. We feel so joyful and excited, and I can't wait to meet this fella!

Maternity Shopping: Before the Bump is Big

Dressing for pregnancy has proven to be a challenge for me. I ordered a maternity dress when I was about three months along, and it looked like a giant, black circus tent. I decided to keep it since I'm certain it will look less tent-like in a couple of months, but it made me wonder what women wear during the early to mid-pregnancy phase. My normal clothes are getting tighter and tighter, but it still seems a little too soon for full-on maternity wear.

Since we're in Texas and the weather is heating up, I decided to just stock up on a few loose-fitting, non-maternity dresses (like the ones above) to get me through the awkwardly-shaped phase. I ordered dresses a size or two larger than my usual, which ended up being a great and comfortable solution. It's nice to have some wardrobe flexibility, and I'm sure I'll put them to use post-pregnancy too.

[found here: gray ballet; blue dotted; denali chambray; chambray shirtdress; white floral; striped flared dress]

A Very Happy Announcement

I thought it was about time to share our big life news around here. Jonah and I are expecting our first child! I'm four months along now, so the baby is due in October -- just a few days before my birthday. It's turned into a year of major life changes for us, but we couldn't be more excited. As we keep saying: everything all at once! We feel so blessed and are happy to be expectin' a little Texan!