Sweet baby Logan Eugene arrived in the early morning hours of April 16 at 8 pounds 15 ounces.
We’re all healthy, very happy, and more than a little bit in love — especially Miles, who is an amazing big brother already. So glad this little guy is here to complete our family!
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What I heard from a lot of other people who've been pregnant more than once turned out to be true for me too – that your body really remembers what to do pretty early on! When I was around six months pregnant with baby #2, putting on shoes got really annoying...and then impossible. I was also supposed to walk every day, so 24/7 slippers weren't cutting it.
I started getting Instagram ads for Kizik shoes, which claimed to be really easy to just step into, hands-free. Kristie, who was taking on the brunt of tying my shoes, encouraged me to order a pair. I signed up for their newsletter and texts to get 15% off, and happened to order on Valentine's Day, so they sent a free pair of socks, too. I ended up spending around $84 for my shoes.
I picked the Women's Prague shoe in "Bone," and got my regular size – 6.5. They're true to size for me, comfortable, and they really are that easy to step into! They've been my go-to shoe for the last three months of this pregnancy, and I don't see that changing once the baby is born. They're just...easy. (Actually, I'll probably order another pair too!)
I will say it took a little while to break them in – probably a day or two of stiffness before I got used to them, but never any blisters. (I also made an Instagram reel showing how they work.) After sitting criss-cross-applesauce on a playground for awhile one day I got some black scuffs on the shoes, but they came out in the washing machine. (I ran them through on "delicate" and let them sit on a rack to dry before realizing that that's not quite recommended – but they came through fine!)
And I'm glad they're picking up in popularity, because they're a good example of a product that can be used comfortably by a lot of people regardless of factors like age or disability (look up "universal design"). Accessibility is so important! There's no reason products like shoes can't be designed to be used by the largest number of people.
Anyway, this post isn't sponsored at all. I just wanted to share a new product that has been making life a little easier :) If you want, you can use this referral link to get $20 off your next Kizik order (and I will too).
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This sweet cotton gingham fabric was a remnant I snagged at Joann Fabrics last time I was there – I cannot resist that section! It ended up being just a little more than I needed to sew a new summer top for Miles.
I used this pattern from Etsy [affiliate link] and was not a huge fan of the shoulder snaps at first, but they're growing on me, I have to admit :) This is a similar snap fastener kit to what I used [affiliate link].
Pattern alterations: I decided to make only one pocket instead of two and move it up to the chest, and added a little embroidered sun peeking out. The pattern itself was clear, simple, and easy to follow.
Miles is a tall kid for his age so I made the 6Y size, and have no idea if it fits yet as naturally he refuses to try it on, ha!
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Kristie and I recently drove up to Turners Falls for the day to have lunch with Katy and do a little shopping. It's about 45 minutes away for each of us, and a fun little place to meet!
Two of my favorite shops in town: Loot and now, Swanson's Fabrics!
It's a thrift-style textile craft store that sells unused supplies that have been donated by other makers. That includes fabric, yarn, patterns, sewing and knitting notions, sewing machines, and more. And all the fabric is $4/yard, no matter what kind it is!! There's even a bin of fabric scraps that are free to anyone under 18.
The store's philosophy is really cool. And you can also shop online!
This was such a treat. Swanson's is doing incredible work and is a very fun place to shop and visit :)
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With baby #2 on the way, my wife Kristie and I wanted to do something special with Miles while we're still a family of three. Preschool was closed recently for a professional development day, so she and I both took the day off and got three day passes for the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, MA!
Like a lot of people I think, it feels like we really have not done much traveling over the past two years, aside from a day trip to Boston and a few visits to see family, so this felt extra special and indulgent. Especially the latter – visiting Great Wolf Lodge even just for the day was NOT cheap. We'd saved up a little bit, and our three tickets cost around $280 for a Friday during a week that I think was spring break for a lot of schools. (I think if we'd spent something like just $30 more, we could've booked an overnight stay in the hotel too – something we'll definitely look into next time!)
This place basically feels like a casino for kids. There's just so much to do and explore even besides the water parks (six restaurants, a Build-A-Bear, an arcade, a bowling alley), and special events happening all the time, especially for families who stay overnight. We decided to do just a day trip for now to see if we liked it, and maybe go back later in the summer for an overnight with just Miles!
We got there in the morning and spent the vast majority of our time splashing around in the two indoor water parks. They're amazing and so much fun! Miles had such a blast (and we did too, honestly).
While Miles and Kristie did the lazy river a couple of times (above!) I waited in a long line at Buckets Incredible Craveables to grab some basic lunch (pizza slices, fruit, and burgers), which we ate at our deck chairs in the water park area. Miles had a mini meltdown around then too (asking to go home, saying he was tired) and we listened and decided to leave after lunch. We let him watch an episode of something on his tablet with his headphones on while we ate, and afterwards he was feeling a lot better and ready to play some more. It was so understandable that he needed a little sensory break – it is an overwhelming place. I'm so glad we made it a couple hours longer!
We also spent a little time in the arcade, and Miles proudly created his first Build-A-Bear before leaving.
A note about Covid safety: There's no vaccine requirement for visitors at the resort, and we were literally the only people I saw choosing to wear masks when not in the water (including most of the staff). I'm not going to lie – it didn't feel great. But we did our best to maintain our distance from others, and to wear our masks most of the rest of the time.
This was a fun day trip, and I'm excited to maybe go back again in a few months for an overnight stay (while the new baby gets to have a sleepover with the grandparents!) – we just have to start saving now, ha! (I have heard that it's a good idea to look out for the Groupon, though.)
This trip was not sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge in any way.
PS – My swimsuit is from Target; I found it on the sale rack of the maternity section and can't find it online, but this one is similar – and maybe even cuter! [affiliate link]
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Since starting preschool more than a year ago (!), Miles had been bringing a vintage whole cloth quilt for his nap time blanket. (He doesn't take a daily nap anymore, but still has quiet activities, books, and blanket snuggles during rest time.) That blanket, while so beloved, just couldn't stand up to the weekly laundering and was starting to fray, so I decided to make a replacement.
I wasn't feeling up for piecing together another quilt like the playmat I'd just finished for the baby, so I decided to replicate the blanket Miles was already using and sew a simple whole cloth quilt with hand ties. It's reversible, and since everything he brings to school needs to be labeled with his name, I embroidered that in one corner before putting everything together.
Both flannels (and the batting) are from Joann Fabrics. The navy blue yarn for the ties was from my stash.
I can't remember exactly what size fabric I used. (Isn't that terrible?) And as it's Thursday when I'm writing this, the quilt is currently living at preschool. I'm guessing it's around 45" x 60".
I started by pre-washing everything except the batting (the label said there was no need). Then I used transfer paper and a transfer pencil [affiliate links] to trace Miles's name backwards, then ironed it onto the fabric and embroidered over it.
Next I laid one of the flannel fabric pieces over the batting, and used safety pins to mark where I wanted the hand ties to be. It's a bit hard to see, but they're in the picture below.
Then I used a large needle threaded with navy blue yarn to tie the batting to the fabric where indicated by the pins.
Afterwards, I trimmed the extra batting from around the flannel piece.
Next I laid the floral piece of flannel right side down on top of the checked one (so right sides together with the batting layer underneath), pinned it into place, and stitched almost all the way around, leaving a gap through which to turn the quilt right side out.
I clipped the corners, turned the quilt right side out, and carefully stitched the gap closed. Top-stitching is an option here too but the quilt is doing just fine without it.
I washed the quilt right away to remove the transfer pencil marks – and the yarn for the hand ties frayed immediately! It still remains securely knotted though, and I don't think Miles minds :) Next time I'll make sure to use superwash yarn.
This project was simple enough to do in an afternoon, and Miles was sooo excited to get a blanket of his own after watching me knitting one for baby for such a long time. I really love the colors, and the flannel makes it so cozy. Plus, so far it's standing up well to weekly washing!
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I asked in my Instagram stories a little while ago if anyone had any questions about my second pregnancy or about our family expecting our second baby, and thought I'd answer them here!
ANY DIFFERENCE IN APPROACHING "BABY ESSENTIALS" FOR #2?
Yes! Firstly we still have lots left over from Miles's newborn days. We knew we wanted to have more than one child, so we saved plenty of things that came in handy the first time – and got rid of a few that just didn't.
What I'm finding myself really focusing on the second time around is preparing essentials for myself – comfy clothes that allow nursing access, a postpartum care cart for the bathroom, two "nursing stations" where I think I'll be chest feeding most often (which each include snacks, water/Gatorade, breast pads, a Hakaa [affiliate link], lip balm, hair ties, burp cloths, and a few special activities to keep Miles busy when he's around and needing attention), and lots of freezer cooking. I think these things will help us all adjust a little bit better to those early days :)
Regarding things like baby clothes, I'm being a lot pickier this time around about choosing items that are more gender neutral, and just things that I like better. I don't know why this feels important, but it does!
WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE SECOND PREGNANCY (SO FAR)?
The best thing about this second pregnancy is less fear and anxiety than the first time. A lot feels physically and emotionally familiar, and I've just been feeling less anxiety overall. Having a four-year-old who needs to have his routine maintained has kept me really grounded in the present, and this pregnancy feels like it's gone by really quickly, which I'm glad for especially as I'm starting to feel really uncomfortable!
HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE TRANSITION?
For the most part I'm feeling positive about transitioning from one to two children. I mean, I know it'll have its moments, but we'll all adjust. (That's the best thing I learned from going through the early days/years already – nothing hard lasts forever!)
My primary focus is Miles's transition to becoming a big brother. We've been reading lots of books, having lots of conversations, and watching videos about newborns. Most of the time he's excited, and when he's feeling other (totally normal) ways about the new baby coming, he shares it with us either by saying it in a straightforward way ("I've decided I don't want to have a new baby anymore") or by regressing with other behaviors that we can then help him process. I'm just glad he feels safe enough to be open with us no matter what he's feeling, and we're doing our best to work through it together. That's my hope through it all, that fundamentally he just feels safe and like we still have his back even through a change as big as this.
Also, our plan is for him to keep going to preschool even though I'll be on parental leave until the fall. It's tempting to pull him out for a few months for more time together (and tuition savings!!), but I think ultimately it would be too disruptive to his routine, and I know he'd miss his friends. Plus we wouldn't be able to hold his spot with the preschool, which feels pretty risky. I'm happy that we can promise that at least one thing in his life won't be changing, and that I'll get the opportunity to rest, heal, and bond with the new baby with a little more peace during the day – and be able to give Miles more of my energy and attention when he is home.
HOW DID YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF AROUND LABOR/BIRTH FOR #1? HOW IS THIS IMPACTING FEELINGS RE: #2?
My top priority with my first pregnancy and delivery was just that both of us survive. We'd gone through so much to get pregnant, I really didn't care what kind of birth experience I had as long as the baby and I were okay at the end of the day. Kristie and I planned to deliver at a high-risk hospital with a NICU, just in case (even though there was nothing that indicated we'd need it, and we ultimately didn't).
Long story short, I ended up having a challenging, traumatic delivery that ended in blood loss and a childbirth injury for me which took a long time to heal, and many many moments I wish had gone differently. I'll of course be grateful forever that Miles and I made it through and are now both healthy, but the experience taught me that that's not the only metric by which we can measure a "good birth."
Because of that experience, Kristie and I are making as many choices as we can that are different from the first experience. I'll be delivering at a different hospital with the help of a midwife instead of a doctor, and we've hired a doula (so excited about this decision!). One thing that's the same is I'm still planning to get an epidural :) That was a good choice for me last time and I'm comfortable doing it again, albeit with a different care team this time around (thankfully).
Green t-shirt dress / Old Navy [affiliate link]
Earrings / Tiny Anvil
Bracelets / Kestrel & Cat Bird
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We were lucky that the sellers of our first home included their washing machine and dryer in the purchase! They're tucked away in the corner of our unfinished basement. I shared recently about the process of enclosing (and painting!) our basement stairs, which created a new wall and closet as part of the laundry area – plus opportunities to make it feel a little more like a dedicated space.
Before I share the details though... the "before" pictures. The first one is from right after we moved in, so, you know, chaos. Next you'll see what it looked like cleaned up, plus a glimpse of the stairs as well.
Just getting it cleaned up was a big improvement, but still -- yeesh! A lot of that stuff is now being stored in the closet.
Here are the steps we took to freshen up the space a little:
I'm so pleased with how it turned out. BIG shoutout to the new closet, which is now hiding a lot of what was in those "before" photos!
SOURCES
Peel & stick tile / Home Depot [affiliate link]
Freezer / Home Depot [affiliate link]
Rug / Nautica, Marshalls
"hello laundry, my old friend" wall hanging / Marshalls (but I found one on Poshmark!)
Small punch needle made by me / Urban Acres kit
South Hadley print / Casey Williams Art [affiliate link] (a gift from our realtor!)
Dog needlepoint / Made by my grandmother
Wire basket on shelf / Target; similar [affiliate link]
Faux plant on shelf / Marshalls
Delicates bag / Amazon
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One of my earliest nesting projects in getting ready to welcome baby #2 was stocking a rolling cart with postpartum supplies. The cart, while currently in the nursery, is destined for the bathroom to be in easy reach during those first few weeks of healing.
The cart itself is from Ikea, but if you don't have a store nearby or are having trouble with shipping, there are similar options at Michaels, Target, and Wayfair [the last 2 are affiliate links].
I stocked the three levels with:
Whew! It's a lot, but I'm hoping to be really prepared to both care for myself as I heal, and hopefully have a nursing experience that is more satisfying than the first time around. I'm trying to avoid using language like "successful," but I am hoping and planning to try and share as many Covid-19 antibodies (thanks to my vaccines!) with this baby as possible.
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This was one of the most PURELY FUN projects we've worked on in awhile!
On the to-do list before baby #2 arrives was having our contractor enclose our basement stairs. Originally there were no risers, no walls on either side, and only one railing. I can't find a "before" picture that goes back that far, but using them kind of felt like climbing treehouse stairs! I can't believe no one fell and got hurt, especially given how often we've been using the basement lately (my home office is down here, plus a play space for Miles, lots of storage we're needing to access, and the laundry area).
Anyway, our contractor did a beautiful job of making the staircase so much safer! See below...
He also created a closet underneath the stairs, which we're so grateful to have and have already put to good use, stashing a lot of clothes and baby gear.
I mocked up that photo above on my phone with roughly the colors we thought we'd paint each riser (thanks Mom for the rainbow idea!), and then brought it with me to Lowe's and got 11 paint samples in colors that looked good together. (Exact colors listed at the end of this post!)
Over a week or two, I painted the risers, treads, and railings, and Kristie painted the new walls. We also got new treads (affiliate link; if you try them too, I want to note that we had to use some extra glue to really get them to stay put).
There's such joy here!! I love them!
The paints are all Valspar in the following colors, listed in order from top stair to bottom stair:
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