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Watson Ansley

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The Best of Black Friday Sales

I can’t believe we are already towards the end of the year and Cyber week is here! To make things simpler throughout this crazy week, I’ve rounded up a handful of my favorite brands below with my links & discount codes for y’all to get great deals at your fingertips! I hope you find this helpful and convenient as you are shopping!

Lots of items and sales are linked in my LTK below, but I’ve also included many other brands that I have unique ambassador links/codes for below. 

Be sure to check back throughout the week for any updates & changes! 

Happy shopping & Happy Thanksgiving!

LTK (LikeToKnowIt): LTK Cyber Week Sales 11/25-12/2 plus tons of other deals! Be sure to use the “search” feature if you’re looking for something specific!

Amazon Store Front: Click to see tons of Amazon deals!

Avara: 30% off site wide code: watson15

Brumate: 25% off sit wide

Caden Lane: up to 25% off

Chatbooks 25% off with code: WATSON

Colleen Rothschild: 30% off site wide

Colugo: 35% off site wide + 40% off bundles with code: watsonansley | 11/21-12/1

CURE: 25% off use code: HELPYOURSELF25 | 11/26-12/2 

Dreamland Baby: Buy One Get One Free code BOGO-WATSONANSLEY | thru 12/2

Mabe Carrier: 20% off | 11/29-12/2

Oventure: 30% off site wide + up to 75% off select items | code: WATSON2025

Pink Lily: $25 & under door busters sale + 35% off site wide

Sassy Queen Boutique: Spend $100, get a free tee + sale tab as low as $10. Use code: WATSONANSLEY for more discounts!

Slumberpod: 30% off site wide with code: watson10 (Black Friday + Cyber Monday)

Swig: 60% off sale + 30% off sets

Swig on Amazon: 20% off

Tubby Todd: 20% off sitewide 11/27-12/2

Tubby Todd on Amazon: 20% off 11/21-12/2

xoxo, Watson

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2024

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here and now LIVE FOR EVERYONE!!

If you are not familiar with this sale, unlike other brand’s sales, this sale is a way to shop new arrivals that are coming this Fall at a discounted price now before they launch at their normal prices! How cool, right? 

This is a great time to stock up on those Fall and Winter staple pieces like boots, coats, holiday gift items, high ticket baby items (think carseats, strollers, high chairs, etc) and more!

I’ve linked up a handful of items in different categories to make it super simple for you to shop the sale! 

Can’t wait to see what amazing items you grab!!

Just click the image below to shop:)

(SALE WILL BE LIVE UNTIL AUGUST 4TH)

xoxo, Watson

Baby

What’s in my Hospital Bag for Third Baby

Whether you’re a first time mama or you’ve had multiple babies, it can be so helpful to have a guide or a refresh for what to bring to the hospital for delivery! Yes, the hospital provides majority of the items you need, but it’s always nice to bring some of your own items to feel as good as possible when giving birth and after you have your baby!

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite items to bring in a few different categories below!

Just click any image or the text below to shop these items. 

I hope you find this helpful if you are in this stage of pregnancy or post partum.

Feel free to pass this post along to another mama friend who could benefit as well!

 

(note: some of my specific items that I packed are no longer in stock, so I linked some similar options)

Shop Mom Wardrobe

Here are some of my favorite comfy items to bring to the hospital for before, during, & after delivery. It always feels so good to have some of my own items to make me feel more comfortable and at home while in the hospital.

Click above to shop these items!

Shop Mom Accessories

I personally love to bring some of my own accessories too like a pillow, blanket, fan, eye mask, towel, chargers and more! That way I can feel as comfortable and clean post partum as possible. 

Click above to shop these items!

Shop Post Partum Care

Again, the hospital will have everything you need in this arena, but after 2 births so far, I’ve learned that it can be nice to have a few of your own personal care items too, especially for when you get back home. 

Click above to shop these items!

Shop Baby Items

This time around, we didn’t find out the gender, so I’m packing a little bit more for baby than normal (pinks, blues, & whites). The hospital will have tees, onesies, and a blanket/swaddle for your little one, but it’s always so special to be able to put your new baby in a sweet little outfit or gown that you bring from home! I also love being able to use our own swaddles (The Ollie Swaddle has been a fave of ours, and it keeps baby nice and secure). 
Additionally, I love to bring a name sign and a monogram blanket (when we know the gender), boppy pillow, burp cloths, our own sound machine with a night light, and our own pacis!

Click above to shop these items!

I hope you find this helpful if you are also packing your hospital bag soon! Feel free to refer back to this post as a guide or to shop! You can also always head to my LTK Storefront to shop as well!

Wishing you a smooth & safe delivery, mama!

 

xoxo, Watson

Baby

Knox’s First Rodeo Birthday Party

Gotta be honest, Knox’s 1st birthday totally snuck up on me! We were just a few weeks out from his birthday, and I had nothing planned. When I say nothing, like I didn’t even have an idea of what I wanted to do or even a theme in mind. So, of course, I went straight to Pinterest. I started jotting down some ideas and getting Austin’s feedback. He quickly said to go with the theme “My 1st Rodeo!”, and I felt like it was a perfect fit for our boy in our little town!

In the past for birthday parties, I have used Etsy for a lot of the party décor and of course, Amazon. But this year I was limited on time, so I kept it easy and ordered just about everything on Amazon. What would we do without Amazon!?

I started thinking back to what we ordered for Ansley’s first birthday and made a list. Usually when I think of a first birthday party, I think of a smash cake! So, I made sure we had a fun banner for his highchair to do the smash cake. I ordered a backdrop banner to put on the wall behind his highchair, and a cake topper for his cake. We like to do a small cake for the smash cake and a separate cake for the guest, along with either cupcakes or cookies.

I also personally love to have a banner of monthly photos from the first year of our baby’s life. It adds a fun personal touch and guests enjoy looking back at how your baby has changed in the first year of life. We hung this over the food table. We also made sure to have plenty of table cloths for the food table and guests’ tables, plates, utensils, napkins, and an extra “My First Rodeo” banner for the theme near the cake and balloons. This year we did minimal balloons because in the past the heat has popped a lot of the balloons with the parties being mostly outside. We just grabbed a few from the store the morning of the party.

For Knox’s outfit, I grabbed an easy pair of dark denim overalls from Walmart and got a cowboy hat off of Amazon, and it made the pictures even cuter! Austin and I also dressed in rodeo theme with cowboy boots, flannels, and more!

Click below to shop

Since it was so hot, we decided last minute to rent a giant waterslide too. It was a hit. We debated whether or not we were going to have the party inside or outside, but we were able to do both. We kept the food inside, and we had seating options inside and outside to keep everyone comfortable.

We usually try to keep our birthday parties in the 2 hour range. Let everyone arrive in the first 30 minutes or so, then start opening up the food, let everyone hang out, eat, and mingle. From there, we do cake time (smash cake, then cut guest cake), presents (optional) and let everyone leave as needed.

This whole party was such a fun gathering, and we had the best time celebrating our Baby Knox’s First Rodeo! If you’re considering this theme, I highly recommend it. It was so cute and really simple to plan! If you have any questions, be sure to drop them below.

We will never forget this day!

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet Knox!

xoxo, Watson

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July 4th Sales of 2023

Happy July! Sales are flowing for the 4th of July, and let me tell you, there are some really good ones this year! I’ve linked up a few of my favorite retailers in this post with their current sales to make it super easy for you to shop! Check back in the coming days as I will be adding to this post!

Click the links below to shop!

Happy 4th of July, friends!

Brumate: 30% off new markdowns

Buddy Love: 30% off select items

Caden Lane: 20% off site wide with code: FIREWORKS

Colleen Rothschild: 20% off with code: FIREWORKS (ending July 4th).

Hanna Andersson: up to 60% off.

Pink Lily Boutique: up to 50% off select styles + 20% off with code: July20

Pottery Barn: Up to 70% off furniture, bedding, and more.

Red Dress Boutique: 30% off site wide.

Sassy Queen Boutique: 20% off with code: GBA20

Shop the Mint: up to 75% off.

Smocked Auctions: 30% off site wide. No code needed.

Stella & Dot: 20% off site wide

Tubby Todd: shop 3 for $45 or 10% off site wide

Happy Shopping!

xoxo, Watson

Baby

Favorite Baby Seats from 0-6 months

Mamaroo: This swing is perfect for baby as early as bringing him/her home from the hospital up until he/she doesn’t care for it anymore or outgrows it. We used this for many naps in the living room in those early baby days. It has different musical sounds and different movements to help settle your baby or put him/her right to sleep. You can also remove the whole cover and wash it which is a must for those blow outs or spit up messes!

Baby B’Jorn Bouncer: This was probably used more for us all around the house and even when we were traveling. It is easy to fold up and bring anywhere. It is lightweight, and the cover can be removed to throw in the wash. It has a few reclining height adjustments and has always been a handy place for us to stick our babes when we are doing tasks around the house. You can add a toy bar if you want as well like this one or this one.

Snuggle Me Organic Lounger: This lounger is amazing for those newborn days. It is perfect for keeping your baby feel secured and snuggled when you’re not holding him/her. We did a lot of afternoon cat naps in this lounger, and Knox loved it. It is also easy to carry around the house and is also totally washable. You can choose your cover color too.

Ingenuity 2-n-1 Booster Seat: This is what we have always used instead of a high chair. We used this with Ansley from age 4 months when she could sit up, all the way until she sat in a big girl chair. Now we have also used it with Knox from age 4 months and it is what we currently still use at 9 months for a feeding chair. We haven’t had to spend extra money on a highchair because we love this seat and it is under $50. You can put in on a counter, the floor, or strap it into a regular chair. You can also remove the top back to make it more of a booster seat. The tray is washable and can be stored under the seat. Plus, it’s great to throw in your car when traveling. Highly recommend!

Piano Mat: This is a fun little play mat for the first year of your baby’s life. The rainbow arch has 2 placement options and is removable. The piano is perfect for babies to kick with their feet or play with their hands to make noise and songs and is also removable. We love this playmat and would make a fun baby shower gift too!

Sit Me Up Chair: This is another fun chair option for babies as they are learning to sit up. The seat sits a little lower providing a higher back support as your baby learns to sit up and builds neck and back strength. It also has a fun toy bar and tray that are removable. You can also use this tray for feeding and of course, the whole cloth seat is machine washable too!

Knowing what is best for your child as a new mom can be overwhelming. It can definitely be trial and error and each kid is different. Now with 2 kids, these have been a few of our favorite seat options for our babies for the first 6 months and beyond. 

I hope this helps if you are trying to narrow down the best options for your little ones!

xoxo, Watson

Travel

Traveling with a Toddler and a Baby

Ever since we got married, Austin and I have always loved to travel together. Now that we have two little ones, traveling is a bit different, that’s for sure. However, we have tried not to let 2 kids stop us from continuing our adventures. In fact, it just makes these adventures even more…adventurous ! 😉

At this point, we have traveled with Ansley a handful of times on both road trips and plane rides. So, we have figured out a pretty good system for one kid.

In December 2022, when Knox was about 4.5 months old, he went on his first plane ride. This time it was just mom, dad and Knox, for a wedding. We were able to ease into traveling with a baby again before traveling with both kids at the same time.

A little over a month later, we all 4 hopped on a plane to go visit my sister and her family in Boston! This was the first time we had traveled with both kids on a plane.

Packing for 2 Kids

When it comes to packing, I typically try to pack for the kids before packing for myself. I highly recommend using packing cubes for babies and toddlers to keep all of their tiny items contained. We also usually have a carry on size suitcase for each kid, so they have enough space for clothes (especially winter clothes, since they tend to take up more space), sound machines, monitors and also to keep their items separated. 

Before putting items in their suitcase, I lay out outfits, pajamas, socks, jackets, panties/diapers, etc to make sure we have enough for each day, plus an extra outfit or two. *Tip: if you will be somewhere with a washing machine, take advantage of that, so you don’t have to overpack extra items*.

I personally like to bring our own monitors and sound machines when we travel, so we can keep the kids’ routines as similar as possible when we are away. We use this dual monitor at home, which also works great for traveling. I also love our Lollipop monitor too, which can be accessed from your phone if you’re away from the baby. When it comes to sleep for the baby, we typically borrow a crib or pack n play depending on where we are staying (most hotels have cribs you can request). However, in some cases, we may bring our own pack n play.

click below to shop

Traveling with a baby involves bringing a few extra things like bottles, potentially a pump, pacis, toys, etc. I typically pack a separate tote with those items to keep them separated and then put them in the suitcase to check. I will, however; leave a few of those items in the diaper bag for the plane. 

When it comes to packing the diaper bag, I make sure to have plenty of diapers and wipes, a ziplock bag with an extra outfit for each kid, an additional ziplock bag for any potential blow outs, a couple toys or books for each kid, snacks, a small baby blanket, burp cloth, and as a breastfeeding mom, I bring my Haaka and a bottle just in case baby needs it on the plane. Most cases, I try to nurse the baby during take off and landing to avoid his ears popping, but the bottle or paci also help with that.

At the Airport

Depending on where you are going and what you will be doing, you may or may not need carseats & strollers. Some places allow you to rent them or you could potentially borrow from friends/family, but typically we like to bring ours. We have the Uppa Baby Vista Stroller and Mesa Baby Carseat, as well as the Maxi Cosi Toddler Carseat. This trip, we just brought the Uppa Baby Vista Stroller and Mesa Carseat for Knox and borrowed my sister’s toddler carseat for Ansley when needed. The Uppa Baby Vista is great for multiple kids and actually allows you to strap on an extra seat for 2-3 kids. However, we decided to leave the extra parts at home this time, and Ansley fit perfectly in the bottom basket for when her little legs needed a break.

If you are bringing a toddler carseat, we find it easiest to check it when you’re checking your luggage. After we have checked our bags (and toddler carseat, when we have it), we are able to just focus on pushing the stroller with our kids and a couple carry on bags. *Tip– TSA Precheck is a game change (with or without kids) and the stroller line in precheck is even better, at least in the super busy ATL airport. For children under 2, you don’t need to buy a plane ticket and for infants, typically, you just need to add “infant in arms” beforehand. You also typically don’t need to bring any identification for toddlers or babies, but I would always double check with your airline (usually we fly Delta). If anything, we tend to bring a copy of birth certificate, just in case.

After checking our bags, we push our stroller all the way until we are getting onto the plane and will just take the carseat off and fold up the stroller at the end of the walk way to be checked before getting on the plane. We have a carseat cover and stroller cover to prevent them from getting super wet, dirty, or damaged (unfortunately, most airlines don’t care about your expensive strollers and just throw them around, so it’s a risk we take when checking them). In some cases, if you know you will have an extra seat, you could bring your carseat on the plane to keep your baby secured, contained and to allow them to sleep easier. We did that a few times with Ansley during the pandemic when Delta was providing an extra seat in each row. This time, we had 3 seats for all 4 of us. We were either holding Knox while Ansley was in the seat or Knox was laying down in the seat sleeping, and Ansley was on our lap or propped up sitting on the diaper bag on the floor

click below to shop

On the Plane

On the plane, Ansley usually will watch a video (these toddler headphones are great for the plane) or we will bring things like crayons, coloring books, her Amazon Fire Tablet, etc to keep her entertained. For Knox, we bring a baby blanket, a large burp cloth, and our carseat cover to help with nursing and sleeping.  *Tip: lay out a blanket or big burp cloth on the seat for your baby to sleep and use the carseat cover for nursing.

click below to shop

When it comes time to get off the plane, we have our carseat and stroller waiting for us, since we checked it at the gate, which makes things a whole lot easier for us as a family!

From there, we are off to enjoy our vacation!

Take the Trip!

Flying with kids isn’t necessarily the easiest thing, but we’ve learned to take the stress out of it as much as possible and just enjoy the memories we are making. 

We are so glad we made the trip to Boston to visit our family and these are memories we will never forget as a family!

xoxo,
Watson

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Black Friday Sales

It’s that time of year again! Black Friday and Cyber Sales are here (most of them at least)! I’ve linked up some of my favorite places to shop below with the current sales and discount codes! Some are active now and some will be active this week. I will update sales over the week too so be sure to check back! I hope this is helpful for you as you’re shopping this holiday season!:)
Happy Shopping!

Aerie– 40% off leggings and sweatshirts
Bundled Baby-20% off sitewide with code: BFCM20 | spend $150 & get 25% off with code: BFCM25
Brumate– 25% off sitewide with code: BFCM25
Caden Lane– 20% off with code: WATSONH20
Colleen Rothschild– 30% off sitewide with code: BF22
Cure– Get 20% off with code: SUPERCHARGE20, 25% off 2+ with code: SUPERCHARGE25, 30% off 3+ items with code: SUPERCHARGE30, plus get an extra 20% off next 3 fulfillments of subscriptions with code: SUPERCHARGEME (11/22-11/29)
Hanna Andersson– 50% off PJs  + 40% off everything else
Inspiration Co– 30% off with code: 30WATSON
Kinderlein– 40% off sitewide with code: HAPPYHOLIDAYS
Little Sleepies– 30% off sitewide
Lollipop Baby Monitor– 25% off select items with code: FRIDAY25
Oventure– 25% off sitewide with code: JOY25 + 50% off select styles
Pink Lily Boutique– 35% off sitewide with code: SHOP35
Pura– Buy one set, Get one set free or 15% off sitewide
Sassy Queen Boutique– 25% off sitewide
Shop the Mint– 40% off sweaters
Smocked Auctions– sales as low as $9.99
Sperry– up to 70% off
Stella & Dot– Buy More, Save More sale
Tarte– 30% off sitewide
The Styled Collection– 40% off with code: Holiday40
Tubby Todd– 15% off site wide or 20% off an order $75+
Tula– 30% off sitewide

xoxo, Watson

Baby

Baby Knox’s Birth Story

Well, it sure has been quite the journey to get to this point, but it has been so worth the pain, heartache, and the wait! 

Looking Back

If you’ve followed our story at all, you may know that we started trying for baby #2 the end of last June 2021. This was right after I stopped breastfeeding Ansley and had just gotten my IUD out. Ansley was 21 months and to be honest, I wasn’t mentally ready to even try yet, so we said let’s just take these steps and casually see how things go..

Well, if you know me at all, you know I am less of a “casual, go with the flow, see how things go” type person. I’m actually super type A, extreme planner, OCD girl! Therefore, I started tracking everything right off the bat. 

Fast forward, we sadly ended up having 2 early pregnancy losses the first 2 months of trying. The third month, we took a mental and physical break, and then ended up pregnant again in month 4.

Pregnant Again

My anxiety was, of course, very high the first trimester, as I was constantly worried something would happen. I put my full trust in the Lord, that whatever happened was His plan even when I didn’t understand.

We found out that this baby’s due date was July 9th. After extra bloodwork and 4 first trimester ultrasounds, I started to feel a bit more at ease.

Based on my pregnancy with Ansley, I kinda assumed this baby would be late, since I was induced at 41 weeks with her. However, towards that second half of my pregnancy, I started to feel like he may just come early. I felt his movements way sooner and way stronger that I ever did with Ansley, and he felt so low too! 

I reached the end of the third trimester and felt everything…except for contractions! At my 37 week appointment, I was already 1cm and 50% effaced, which was way more than I ever was with Ansley at that point. I packed my bags shortly after that and then it was just a waiting game.

37 weeks pregnant, we drove 6 hours away, to Florida, for Austin's work trip. At this point, we were hoping and praying he would stay in until we got back home.

The Waiting Game

At 38 weeks 5 days, I went in and the doctor was able to do a membrane sweep, in hopes this would speed things up a bit. I started cramping for about 4 days after but still no major progression. I went back 2 more times over the next week and a half for 2 more sweeps…still nothing major happened. I actually had an induction scheduled at 39wks and 4 days, since my doctor would be on call, and we were an hour away. However, my hope was that I would go into labor on my own and not have to be induced again. So, I ended up cancelling that early induction. However, as we got closer to the 41 week mark, I knew he just wasn’t going to come without a little help (just like sister). So, we went ahead and scheduled another induction at 40wks 5 days. A few days before, we went into the doctor’s office to do another ultrasound and non-stress test to check on baby and see if I was having any contractions. At that point, they were very minor contractions (barely any), and baby looked great!

Getting Induced Again

On July 14th, we went in at 7am to Labor and Delivery to start my induction. I believe I was having some sort of contractions, but it mostly just felt like cramping to me. They hooked me up to the monitor and said I was having some, but I wasn’t feeling any pain at all. 

That morning I was about 2cm dilated. The nurse was ready to start my Pitocin, but she also needed to draw blood too. She attempted to draw blood from the same spot she was using to hook up my Pitocin and ended up having issues. After 4 attempts and swelling veins, I finally had my IV ready to start Pitocin, but got very lightheaded and the room started closing in. (Of course, Austin wasn’t in the room at that moment, but thankfully 2 nurses were there to help get me back to normal).

Once I was hooked up to Pitocin around 8:30am, I wasn’t really allowed to eat and could only have water.  The plan was to increase my Pitocin every 30 minutes until 9:30am. The doctor stopped in at that point and mentioned she may end up having to break my water in the next few hours if it didn’t break on its own. From there, the nurses decided to go up every 15 minutes on the Pitocin until about 11am. At that point, the nurses checked me, and I was still only about 3cm dilated. I wasn’t feeling much of anything still. The nurse was awesome and let me walk around, bounce on the ball, and helped me try many different positions to try to help speeds things up and open up my cervix more.

At 2:00pm, I reached level 24 of Pitocin, the highest you can go. My body seemed to not be responding much to the Pitocin, so the nurses decided to stop my Pitocin for 30 minutes and then restart it to give my body a break. The same thing actually happened when I was induced with Ansley, so I was worried it could now be a while before this baby was born. The plan was to start it back around 2:30pm and then have the doctor come break my water. At this point, I was having contractions about 2-4 minutes apart according to the monitor, but I still didn’t feel much pain.

At about 4:15pm, the nurse decided to change out my Pitocin bag, just in case it may have been a “bad bag”. Not sure if that was the case or not, but since I still wasn’t progressing much even after hours of Pitocin, she figured it wouldn’t hurt.

I had been hoping and waiting that my water would break on its own, but it still hadn’t. The doctor had also gotten caught up and pulled in a million different directions, and although she was hoping to come back earlier that day to break my water, she didn’t end up coming back until right before 6pm. 

Of course, Austin had no idea she would be coming at that time and had just left to go get food. I told her to just go ahead and break my water because I was getting pretty frustrated at the lack of progress. Not long after, the contractions picked up and really picked up fast! At one point, I swear I had 4 contractions that seemed to be 60 seconds long and only 30 seconds apart. It seemed like I wasn’t getting any break from the pain.

I knew I wanted to get an epidural, but I also didn’t want to get it too soon. With Ansley, I got it a little too soon and didn’t have her for 13 hours later and was stuck in the bed. So, I tried to move around as much as possible while having contractions. Around 8pm, the nurses thought it was probably best to start prepping for the epidural, since I was in a lot of pain and shaking with most contractions. The epidural was successfully placed and from there I was bed bound. Once the epidural settled, the nurses were still able to help move me into different positions to keep labor progressing.

At 9:20pm, the nurses check me, and I was finally 8.5cm! The previous check, I was still only 3cm, so this made my day! Just 40 minutes later, at 10pm, they checked me again, and I was already 9.5cm! The nurses said the doctor would be in shortly, and we were close to pushing. This whole time, and even before getting my epidural, I was feeling intense butt pressure (that pushing feeling). I wasn’t sure if it was just normal contraction pressure or if it was the feeling of needing to push. Since it was 10pm, and I was already 9.5cm, I thought, we can probably get this baby out before midnight. To be honest, I had gotten a little caught up on the birthday 7/14, since we had been there all day. I was determined to get him out before midnight. Well, the doctor was caught up with another delivery and didn’t come back in the room until about 11:45pm. At this point, I knew he wasn’t going to be born before midnight, which was totally fine. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little frustrated after a whole day of slow progression and lots of waiting, but it was all, of course, out of my control.

Time to Push

The 2 nurses got me ready to push, and the doctor came in shortly after. It helped having done this before, so I felt fairly familiar with the process. I also asked for them to bring in a stand up mirror again for pushing. I know, it sounds so weird, but I had it with Ansley, and I swear it helped with the entire pushing process both times. Being able to see your progress is encouraging and helpful. I pushed for about 40 minutes (with Ansley, I pushed for 1.5hrs), and in no time, baby boy was here!

He weighed a woppin’ 8lb13lb and was 22in long, which totally explains why I was pretty dang uncomfortable towards the end of my pregnancy, lol! Thankfully this time around I didn’t tear, which was surprising considering his size. Because of this, my recovery was a lot better than it was after tearing when I had Ansley.

This experience was similar to Ansley’s birth in the sense that we were induced. However, this second time around, we were in and out of the hospital a lot faster, we knew a bit more of what to expect, and recovery has seemed a lot easier. 

Early Post Partum Days

Adjusting to a family of 4 has been amazing! Ansley has been such a sweet big sister (she is a toddler though, so she has her moments, lol!) and baby Knox fits in just perfectly into our wild world.

My post partum emotions have been a little different this time. With Ansley, of course, everything was all brand new to me. All the unknowns of newborn life caused me a lot of anxiety. This time around, coming home from the hospital, I was less worried about the newborn life and more emotional at the fact that my one on one time with Ansley was never going to be exactly like it had been for the past *almost* 3 years of her life. The mom guilt crept in, and I was feeling really sad. She wasn’t my little baby anymore. She all the sudden looked SO big. Only 2.5 days away, and I swear she grew a foot and 10lbs. No one really prepares you for that feeling. I felt this strange heartache that I almost couldn’t explain. Those good ole days with just me and my girl were never going to be the same.

Fast forward to 6 weeks in, and things are settling in. I feel a lot better about the adjustment, although some days are definitely harder than others. I’ve allowed myself to feel whatever feelings I feel, as I slowly adapt. I do my best to make special time for my Ansley girl, so that we can always have that special bond, and I allow her to help with baby Knox in any way possible.

I share all of this for any other mamas out there that may be in a similar season. If you’re a first time mom, you can also check out my blog post on Ansley’s Birth Story. Everyone’s birth and post partum journeys are a bit different, but sometimes hearing other’s stories provide solidarity and comfort during these delicate days.

xoxo, Watson

Baby

What’s In My Hospital Delivery Bag: Baby Boy

Well, it is officially almost baby time again over in the Harris household. I truly can’t believe we are about to welcome a baby boy into this world. I feel like I was just writing this post for Ansley’s delivery and now here we are almost 3 years later!

One year ago was also the start of a journey we never expected. The beginning of not one but two pregnancies and two losses. We are so thankful for another chance, and that God blessed us with a 3rd pregnancy in a row last year. Hard to believe it will have been about a full year of being pregnant by the time this double rainbow baby arrives!

If you are also going through a tough season, hold firm to God’s promises and know you are prayed for and loved and not alone!

Where to Begin Packing

I decided to round up what I packed in my hospital bag again for any other expecting mamas out there that are looking for a little guidance. I will admit, I tend to overpack, but I would personally prefer to have options and enough stuff rather than not have enough. In this instance, the hospital will literally have everything you need, so don’t stress if you forget something or go into fast labor and don’t have much with you. It is nice though to have a handful of your own personal items to feel more comfortable during and after delivery.

Below I’m sharing most of what I have packed with links to each item. (I’ve linked similar options for items I wasn’t able to link up). 

Just click the images or links below to shop.

For Mom

Soma Nursing Friendly PJs: I definitely recommend bringing button down pjs for the hospital. They are very helpful when it comes to nursing. I actually already had leopard pj shorts from Soma (similar pair linked here) and then saw this matching top, so grabbed it for nursing. Soma pjs are buttery soft and just SO comfy!

Target Nursing Friendly PJs: If you’re looking for a great nursing friendly PJ set that is super affordable, snag these from Target. I had these in gray with Ansley, and they’re super soft too. These come in handy at the hospital and at home after you deliver!

Robe: I’m not always a huge robe person, but it is nice to have this as an option in the hospital as well. This one from Pink Blush is super soft and comfortable. It also makes nursing easy while you’re in the hospital bed.

Soma Embliss Nursing Bra: I snagged this super soft t-shirt nursing bra from Soma mostly to have after we get back home, but it is a great option for the hospital as well. I have this same bra in the non-nursing style and love it so much, so knew it would be a great comfortable option for nursing!

Auden Nursing Bra: These are the bras I lived in while nursing Ansley. They are great for day or night. They work super well with t-shirts and also comfortable enough to sleep in. I definitely recommend getting a few of these for the hospital and nursing afterwards.

Aerie Nursing Friendly Long Sleeve Henley: I love love love these tops! They are great for nursing or not. I wear them to lounge around the house or to go out and about. They are oversized (I go down to a small), nursing friendly, have thumb holes and just very comfy. I packed one for the hospital for comfort and nursing just to have as an extra shirt.

Nursing Friendly Night Gown: This gown is a similar option to one that I have since mine is no longer available. I love having a comfy night gown while pregnant and post partum that works for nursing. Makes things easier in the hospital too, especially with frequent checks by the nurses.

Grippy Socks: I remember the hospital provided grip socks when we arrived, since I would be getting in and out of the bed. So this time, I decided to just purchase my own for comfort. This 4 pack is as soft as a barefoot dreams blanket and super comfy. Easy to walk without slipping!

Black Maxi Dress: I packed this dress as an option for when we leave to hospital. It would totally work for an extra outfit while you’re in the hospital as well, if needed. It’s non maternity but super stretchy and comfy! I wore this with both pregnancies to full term, and I loved having this comfy black option to go home post baby!

Grippy Slippers: Slippers are also a must in my opinion, especially in the recovery room. These are a great, comfortable option and also have the grips on the bottom to prevent slipping!

Nursing Tanks: These tanks were my to go nursing tanks. They are buttery soft and work well to wear alone or under a robe. Great for the hospital and afterwards as well!

Towel: One of my top recommendations for the hospital is to bring your own towel (and a dark one if you have one). Not only does it make you feel even more clean to have your own towel, but it gives you a sense of comfort from home too. Plus, a dark one is nice to have with the mess that comes along with having a baby;).

Shower Shoes: Also, something I had to have while showering in a hospital. Not everyone cares about this, but I personally am too much of a germaphobe to not have shower shoes in a hospital.

Extra Essentials

Pillow: I highly recommend bringing your own pillow for comfort and to give yourself a little bit of “home” feeling. These are some of my favorite pillows!

Blanket: A blanket is also one of those items that you don’t need but makes you feel more at home. I highly recommend bringing your own! Barefoot Dreams is always a good option.

Speaker: I actually didn’t bring a speaker for Ansley’s delivery, but I’ve heard a lot of people say they enjoyed having one for a labor & delivery playlist. So I decided to throw in our Kove speaker which can be separated into 2 to place in different parts of the room or kept together as one.

Sleep Mask: Yes, yes, yes! I sleep with this every single night at home and highly recommend for the hospital. Nurses are coming in and out of your room, and you’ll be sleeping on and off during the day and night, so this makes it a lot easier to get some shut eye at any time of day! This mask also comes with ear buds too if you or hubs wants those.

Nursing Pads: You probably won’t necessarily need these in the hospital, but they are a must in my opinion for when your milk comes in. I threw in a few for the hospital just in case. These are my favorite because they stick to your bra and you can throw them away instead of having to wash them like some other nursing pads.

Fan: I grabbed an extra fan that can be used for the hospital bed and then also as a stroller fan later! This isn’t 100% necessary, but we sleep with a fan every night at home, so I know this will allow me to sleep better in the hospital. It’s also great for delivery and post partum sweats!

Extra Long Phone Chargers: You never know how far away the outlets will be in your room, so I always bring a long 10ft phone charger and extension cords, so I can have my phone in the bed without having to get up a bunch!

Haaka: This is another item that you may not necessarily need until you get home or until your milk comes in, but once it does, this is a must in my opinion! I used this all the time with Ansley. It allows you to save so much extra milk while nursing (and even not while nursing). Just stick it on the opposite breast of nursing, and you’ll be able to save more milk and relieve some pressure when needed too!

Make Up Mirror: I didn’t bring this with Ansley and honestly didn’t do my make up other than one time, but I figured this would be nice to have just in case. You can use this mirror in the bed, it stands up on its own, and has 3 light settings making it easy to get ready anywhere. This is a great option if you plan to get ready before going home, so you don’t have to stand up to do your make up in the hospital.

Honey Pot Cooling Wipes: I have used these a lot, and I know they will be great post delivery as well. They are very cooling and all clean ingredients.

Charging Base: I mentioned we will bring extension cords, but I figured this would also be nice to have for any extra chargers I need plugged in that don’t have their own wall base.

Earth Mama Spray and Balm: I used this spray post partum with Ansley, and it is so cooling and helps treat your painful area down low after vaginal delivery. I haven’t tried the balm, but I also heard it’s nice and cooling and allows you to heal well.

Earth Mama Nipple Butter: I used this a lot after having Ansley in the beginning stages of nursing. It keeps your nipples from cracking and bleeding, so I recommend using it after nursing (not before) early on to help prevent pain.

Frida Mom Wipes: I haven’t actually tried these but have heard great things, so I threw these in my bag as well to have as another post delivery recovery option.

Frida Mom Foam: I also have not tried this foam but threw it in as another option for post delivery recovery. The hospital will have everything you need, but it’s nice to have your own options as well! This is also a good option for keeping at home for after birth.

Peri Bottle: Another post birth recovery must have item. The hospital will actually give you one of theirs, but I’ve heard this one is way better and easier to use, since it is angled. 

For Baby

Boppy Pillow: You don’t necessarily need this at the hospital, but it definitely makes nursing and holding your baby a lot easier in the early days. You can add any cover you want too. I got mine when I had Ansley, so here is a similar option. Both are easy to machine wash.

Baby Socks: I threw in a few pairs of socks to keep those new baby toes warm, but footie pjs are great too!

Burp Cloths: These are my favorite burp cloths! I used this brand with Ansley too, and they are so soft and not overly big. They come in a pack of 6 and a handful of patterns. I definitely recommend bringing a few of your own burp clothes to have on a hand at the hospital.

Baby Gown: This is a similar option to one I had with Ansley. It is a gown that also snaps into pants, which we enjoyed using with her to go from night to day. These make diaper changes super easy, so I threw in a few gowns for the hospital to make things easy and comfortable.

Velcro Swaddles: These are the same ones we used with Ansley, and I highly recommend. We found these way easier to use than the blanket swaddles, so I made sure to throw these in my bag this time around to make things as easy as possible. They also unzip at the bottom making diaper changes super easy!

Onesies: The hospital will have a few outfits and swaddles for your baby, but it’s nice to have your own options. I threw in one of these onesies to have as an option in newborn size.

Name Announcement Sign: I didn’t have one of these with Ansley, so it’s definitely an “extra” item for fun announcement pictures. This is a similar option for the name sign I ordered from Caden Lane.

Maam Pacis: You may not need these early on and the hospital actually provided us with a paci for Ansley, but it’s nice to bring your own too. Ansley wasn’t into the pacis much, but the only ones she really took were these MAAMs, so I threw in a few for baby boy too.

Caden Lane Gown and Hat: These are the sweetest and most comfortable bamboo knotted gowns. Again, super easy for diaper changes. I am bringing a couple of these not only for night time but mostly for pictures.

Monogram Footie Pjs: Since I threw in a lot of gowns, I figured it would be nice to have some footie pjs too. These are darling, and I love the monogram diaper cover on the back. It’s always nice to have a few extra baby outfits for any messes too!

Hatch Sound Machine: Ansley uses this in her room, and we plan to use one for baby boy too. I figured this would be perfect to bring to the hospital not only for sleeping but also the night light for nursing in the dark.

Ollie Swaddle: I wanted this swaddle with Ansley but never got it until now. I threw this in for baby at the hospital too. Velcro swaddles are way easier in my opinion to use than a lot of the wrap swaddles, especially if you’re a first time parent, so this is a great option.

Beaufort Bonnet Gown: This is also one of those “extra” items, but I saw this and couldn’t pass it up. We had a similar one for Ansley and I wanted to have a more neutral option for pictures and another back up outfit. Plus, the newborn hat is precious too!

I hope you have found this helpful if you are also having a baby soon. Feel free to reference back to this post as needed. Drop a comment below if you have a favorite item you brought to the hospital.

Happy delivery!

xoxo, Watson

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