It’s been a bit since I did a baby girl update, so now that I’m 22 weeks I thought this would be a good time! We are officially MORE than halfway! Isn’t it crazy how in the beginning every day seems like it’s a million hours long and then BAM time is going so fast you can hardly believe it?

As you know from reading my first trimester post, it was a rough first few months for me. I wasn’t expecting it at all since my pregnancy with Chase was so breezy so it was very hard for me to manage, plus now I had a one year old! Luckily at around 14-15 weeks I started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I got that second trimester pep in my step and stopped feeling any tinge of nausea. 

I have to start this off by saying I’m one of those freaks who loves being pregnant. I love seeing the baby and myself grow and change every day. Even if I’m not feeling my best, I try to remind myself how lucky I am to have this miracle of giving another human being life and that this is such a temporary period in my life. You practically blink and it’s over!  

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Mentally and physically though, this pregnancy has definitely been harder. Physically I feel much bigger the second time around (they always say you show quicker and this is so true!) and don’t have to relax and really listen to my body. I hit an invisible wall at 3-4pm and I’m soooo craving a nap, which is impossible since my little munchkin is now only doing one nap a day. Luckily Chase is in bed every night by 7, so I try to catch up on whatever I need to before I can really unwind for the night. Taking a bath really helps me relax and definitely relieves some of those aches and pains. My back is already killing me, which I think is a combination of pregnancy and carrying a 24lb meatball around all day.  

Mentally, I feel much more worried and anxious this time around. I touched on this a little in my last pregnancy update, but by the second or third baby you almost know TOO MUCH. You have a lot more mom friends who have gone through things, a lot more knowledge about complications and barometers for normalcy, etc etc. I definitely have been more aware this time. When I was pregnant with Chase I had no idea what was going on or what I should be expecting, asking, or what was routine. It’s also tough because with covid we are still pretty isolated at home. I have a lot more time to stress and focus on every little detail than I did when I was working every day in and out of NYC with Chase and was able to have more of a social life! Now that the weather is starting to get nice though and the world seems to be in a better place, I’m optimistic this part will change!

Some other physical things I’ve noticed in my second trimester:

• I am SO HUNGRY. It’s like no matter how much I eat I can never get full! I don’t have any weird cravings or aversions, just hungry all the time.
• My skin is so incredibly sensitive. Even my most mild moisturizers aren’t agreeing with my skin. So weird.
• My belly feels so much bigger this time so much sooner! I really didn’t “pop” until 26 weeks last pregnancy, but this time baby is saying hello much earlier.
• Baby girl is SOOOOOO active it’s wild! We have been calling her our tiny dancer because she’s always moving and grooving. I’ve been feeling her since I was 14 weeks which seems so early, but second babies you usually are more in tune with your body and this girl is ACTIVE. I even caught a video of her moving from the outside of my stomach at only 19 weeks!

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When I went for my anatomy scan last Monday, everything went well and baby girl is measuring right on time for her due date, August 4! The only thing the doctor wants to keep an eye on is her weight. Baby girl is a peanut and only in the 22% so they want me to come back in 4 weeks for a rescan to make sure she’s getting bigger! My doctor wasn’t concerned, but of course as a mother you worry about everything! I’m a pretty petite person, so having a “big” baby just isn’t ever something that would be possible for me. The one plus is I get to see her again!! With Chase, I only had 2 ultrasounds, so I’m really excited that I get to go for another scan so soon.

Now that we are in the second half of my pregnancy I’m definitely feeling the urgency to start getting things done! If you follow me on IG you’ll see that I’ve been posting a lot of reorder baby items I need for her as well as some new gear I’m trying. I’m going to do a post dedicated to all my favorite baby items and some new things I’m trying out. 

I have been working really hard on getting her nursery done as well! I still have to nail down some details, but I’m hoping it will all come together! Stay tuned for more on this and be sure to follow me on IG where I’ve been doing a ton of nursery polls. 

I think that’s all the updates I have for now but I definitely will keep everyone in the loop with what the next few weeks are looking like! If you like these updates, let me know on IG and I can do them every month since I’m closing in on the last half of this pregnancy!

Hi loves! I recently received an amazing box of goodies from IT Cosmetics and I’ve been dying to share them with you all. I’ve found some new favorites that I now can’t live without! I haven’t tried everything yet, but I’ll share my thoughts below. Before moving forward with these IT Cosmetics goodies, I wanted to note that some of these products are not 100% safe and clean to use during pregnancy, so please consult with your doctor before purchasing.

Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare
Bye Bye Pores Bronzer I tried this bronzer and it smells really nice and is super pigmented. I like that it’s matte so you can contour with it too! It’s also buildable which I absolutely love.
Lash Blowout Mascara Pleasantly surprised by this! I’ve actually been using one mascara since I was probably 16 years old, but I really did enjoy this one. I Liked layering it as well and it wasn’t cakey and really elongated my lashes!
Bye Bye Under Eye Brightening Eye Cream I’ve used this in the past and it’s always been a holy grail.
Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder LOVE this! It goes on buttery smooth and makes your skin look so soft and poreless. So easy to apply for mom days.
Confidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturizer Used this after I had Chase and it really helped to keep my skin moisturized and looking fresh.
Heavenly Luxe™ French Boutique Blush Brush #4 OMG I’m obsessed with this blush brush! So soft and makes your blush look airbrushed on.
Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush #6
Heavenly Luxe™ Complexion Perfection Brush #7
CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
Secret Sauce™ Moisturizer

Love Me Floral Embroidered Sweatshirt
Love Me Floral Embroidered Jogging Pants
Smocked Gingham Maxi Dress
Smocked Floral Print Midi Dress
Floral Print Smocked Midi Dress
Floral Print Midi Dress
Lenny Ribbed Knit Dress

Hi Beauties! My name is Joelle (aka JoJo)- I am a mom, a wife, a career woman and for all intents and purposes today, I am a skin and beauty product FANATIC. I started my beauty-product focused Instagram account (@realreviewsbyjojo) as a pandemic passion project and it has become the most fun little corner of my life. When my dear friend Kaitlin asked me to do this guest spot on her fabulous blog, I jumped at the opportunity! I am so excited to discuss one of my absolute favorite topics with you all: Pregnancy-Conscious Skin Products!

As all articles in this vein begin, I will first announce my disclaimer: I am neither a doctor nor a medical professional of any kind. Every product that you decide to use during your prepartum, pregnancy, postpartum and/or nursing journey should be approved by your doctor. What I am sharing today is information that I have learned through 2 pregnancies, tons of trial and error, obsessive question-asking, and a whole lot of research throughout the past several years.

Let’s start with skincare!

One perception of pregnancy skin is that moms-to-be are inherently blessed with a radiant, lit-from-within glow. But the truth for many of us is that pregnancy is basically a hormonal wildfire within our bodies likely to cause problems in our skin that we are not used to. On top of that, most doctors will advise against using strong topical treatments like retinol and salicylic acid to manage breakouts, texture and hyperpigmentation among other skin symptoms. Fun, right?!

There might be some experimenting to figure out what will best manage your pregnant skin, but here are some avenues to consider:

Biologique Recherche: The revered and hard-to-pronounce French skin brand that celebrities and skin gurus are obsessed with… and for good reason! The brand is most epically known for their Lotion P50 which is a multitasking product. It applies like a toner and provides the benefits of balancing, exfoliating, moisturizing, clarifying and preventing your skin from future issues. Some trademarks of the line’s serums, creams and masques are that they are incredibly gentle and effective, they do NOT smell good (eek!) and yes, you guessed it: mostly everything in the line is deemed safe for pregnancy (except for the one product containing phenol). I can say from experience, BR products transformed my problematic pregnancy skin into glowing mama-to-be-goddess skin. The products are an investment but to me they were worth every dime. You can only purchase through authorized med-spas that carry it. If you want to look into it, my girls here at Complexion in Nashville will do a virtual consultation with you to recommend products and ship anywhere in the US. You can reach them at 615-757-8060. RescueSpa online is another great option.

If you were looking for a more straight-forward way to experiment with and purchase clean skincare, here are few of my favorites that you can buy at Sephora:

Drunk Elephant – this is perfect for the skin newbie who just wants to follow a SYSTEM. Drunk Elephant is very transparent about what goes into their skincare, what they consciously choose to exclude and how using their products together will yield the most effective results. Some of my favorites from the line are the TLC Framboos resurfacing serum, the Protini moisturizer, the Slaii butter cleanser, the BHydra gel and the Virgin Marula oil.

Some other clean skincare products that I LOVE:

Tata Harper clarifying cleanser and resurfacing mask
Farmacy Honeymoon Glow
Biossance Sqalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Indie Lee Brightening cleanser and CoQ-10 toner
Naturally Serious peel pads (I can’t stress this one enough)

There are approximately a zillion more directions I could go in here but I thought this would be a good way to start you off in your research =)

Now let’s talk about makeup.

The truth is, I didn’t change much about my makeup routine during pregnancy and I wasn’t advised that I needed to. But as more and more consciously-formulated beauty options become available, how exciting that we have attractive choices in this category to explore! Here are some of my favorite clean makeup products for each area of your beautiful face:

Face Base:

Ilia super serum skin tint – Buildable, the perfect amount of light coverage and OMG so dewy and gorg. Also has SPF!
Supergoop CC cream – for fabulous coverage, color-correction and SPF 50!
Rare Beauty foundation – light weight, buildable for various coverage levels, very clean feeling.

Concealer:

Ilia serum concealer: Velvety smooth, great for brightening, blends like a dream
Rare beauty concealer: Literally the concealer version of the foundation. They pair beautifully together.

Cheeks & Lips:

Lawless (powder): gorgeous pigments, luxe formulas, easy application
Rare beauty (liquid): a highly pigmented concentrated liquid blush that you just have to use to understand the hype.
Milk (stick): The loveliest gliding pop of color for your cheeks AND lips. So soft and buttery, I use it all the time.
Milk Kush Lip Balm: Hydrates like a lip balm, colors like a lipstick. A holy grail product of mine!

Eye Makeup:

Milk Mascara: My favorite mascara (Clean or not) for volume and that overall “va-va voom”
Ilia Mascara: Award-winning for adding lash-length
Kosas 10-second liquid Eye Shadow: A light wash of clean, pigmented color for your lid.

Whether you are looking to keep it clean while you expand your family or just be more conscious about your products in general, I hope that this was a fun and helpful way to start exploring what’s out there.

Cheers to you, beautiful! XOXO, Joelle

I honestly still can’t believe I’m typing these words – WE’RE HAVING A BABY GIRL! 

For so long I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to say those words. Growing up as an only child, the only relationship I knew was my mom and I. I had always dreamed of having a little girl of my own one day to share that bond with. It’s crazy to say, but from the second I found out I was pregnant there was something in my gut that told me this was my girl. I wasn’t sure at first if it was just me hoping that it would be, or if this was really my intuition talking. I didn’t want to admit it to myself because I was so afraid of being disappointed if I was wrong, although another little boy would be just as sweet!! With Chase, I genuinely had no clue or gut feelings either way!  I was totally shocked when we did our gender reveal with him and saw blue!

As the weeks went on, I became more and more anxious to find out what this little baby was! I was counting down the days until I did my 12 week blood work where we could find out the gender! The week before my appointment I had the most incredibly vivid dream about a baby girl. Everything around me was pink and there was this person in my dream whispering to me that it was the little girl I had prayed for. When I woke up I again wasn’t sure if this was just a crazy pregnancy dream or if it really was a sign.

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The morning that I was supposed to go for my 12 week ultrasound and blood work the hospital called me and told me Ryan was no longer able to come. It’s really a bummer this time to have to do everything on my own. Ryan never missed a single one of my doctor’s appointments, so this has been really hard for him. It seems so unfair in a world where you can go to a restaurant maskless but not your wife’s high risk appointments.  Nevertheless, I still couldn’t wait to see my growing baby on the ultrasound. It sounds so crazy, but the second I saw the ultrasound I felt like it was a girl. Still, I tried to convince myself I had no clue and to stop guessing, that in less than a week we would all know what this sweet baby was! Either way it would be amazing and what was meant for us.

I did my blood work on Monday afternoon, and by Friday my patience was wearing out so I decided to just call the hospital to check up on it and see if they had received it back from the lab. The sweet nurse on the phone told me it wasn’t in and that I could expect it by NEXT THURSDAY! Total bummer but I had to be patient for another week or so. That day I was particularly exhausted, so when I put Chase down for this late afternoon snooze I decided to lie down too. As soon as I was dozing off my phone rang with a Maryland caller ID. I almost sent it to voicemail since I was way too tired to deal with a telemarketer on a Friday evening.  I reluctantly answered the phone and it was the nurse from that morning introducing herself and letting me know she had my results. I literally sat straight up in my bed and my heart started racing. She delivered the most important news first, our baby’s blood work came back great and all the tests were negative – best news ever! She then said “…And I have the gender. Do you want to know?” Now, my plan was to have the hospital send my results over to my OB’s office so I could go pick up the envelope and open it then. Ryan and I weren’t sure how we wanted to find out, but I know I certainly hadn’t planned on finding out over the phone. There was just something in me though that couldn’t say no! I was home alone, the baby was napping and Ryan was working and scheduled to be home in about 2 hours. It was the perfect opportunity to find out alone and really let the news sink in.

After a long pause I answered the nurse and told her I would like to know the gender results. She asked me very sweetly if “I had any guesses”. I told her no (even though I did but who wants to be wrong?!) but that I already have a little boy. After a long pause she asked me if I was ready and said “You’re having a baby girl”. This moment will always be etched in my brain as one of the best moments of my life. It was like I knew it all along, yet I still could not comprehend the words coming out of her mouth. I immediately started sobbing and she wished me good luck and told me to have a good weekend. It took me about 10 minutes to stop crying and get myself together. As soon as I hung up, I grabbed my phone and turned my camera on to record my reaction – this was a moment I wanted to remember and be able to show my kids one day. I knew that by not doing a “gender reveal” this time I wouldn’t be able to capture that moment, especially being alone. I’m so glad I turned my camera on while I absorbed the news and I will always cherish that video. 

Once the shock wore off I decided to get up and try to make it special and surprise Ryan for when he got home. A few weeks ago, I had ordered this huge black balloon off of Etsy that said “Little brother or little sister?”  because although we had decided to find out the gender privately, I still wanted to do something special for him. I filled the balloon with the pink confetti (still could not believe it) and called my sweet neighbor to see if she had a pump of some sort handy. She ran over a little hand held pump and 15 minutes later my arm was numb but the balloon was ready and waiting!

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It felt like eternity until Ryan got home but finally he walked in the door and I told him the doctor had called and we had to pop the balloon to find out the gender. We set up a tripod and popped the balloon together as a family. Seeing how excited Ryan was truly brings tears to my eyes. I’m so happy that we have this special moment on video with just the three of us. 

The next day I ran out to party city to get more pink balloons that Chase could hold to tell both of our parents that we were expecting a baby girl. Needless to say they were all over the moon with excitement for us and many happy tears were shed that weekend! I’ll share all these little clips on my IG.

I feel like the luckiest mama in the world to have two healthy babies, a sweet little boy and precious baby girl on the way. It has always been my dream to experience what it would be like to have a daughter, and I feel completely blessed that I have been so lucky 2x over. Thinking about Chase being a big brother to a baby sister makes me want to cry!

This is truly a dream come true for me and I can’t wait to meet my sweet baby girl. We already love her so very much and are counting down the days until she is in our arms!

As I mentioned in my announcement post, this time around has been so different from my last! With Chase, I never felt any type of morning sickness or extreme fatigue. This pregnancy had me down and out for a few weeks, but around week 9-10 I started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been trying a bunch of products over these last few weeks, some new and some old. I can’t wait to share all the things that have really helped me in my first trimester!

HATCH BELLY OIL

I received this beautiful package from Hatch Mama a few weeks ago and it has become a staple for me. I literally could not wait to announce my pregnancy solely so I could talk about this!! You’ll hear me chat about their belly oil a ton throughout my pregnancy – it’s quickly become a Holy Grail item for me! I love that it’s a super rich oil yet incredibly light, that absorbs right into your skin without the greasy mess. When I’m pregnant, the first thing I notice is how quickly my “chest” grows – holy moly. I’m pretty petite, so when things start to grow rapidly you increase your chances of stretch marks. I feel lucky to say that I never experienced any stretch marks in my last pregnancy with Chase and I’m hoping for the same good luck from Hatch Belly Oil this time! I use it once in the morning, and then really lather it on thick at night. It also smells like heaven and the packaging is simply gorgeous. I leave it out on my vanity and love the glass apothecary style bottle. I will definitely be repurchasing this item throughout my pregnancy. Stay tuned for a review on this as well as Hatch’s other pregnancy products on my IG!!

PRENATALS

Before I got pregnant I was taking prenatal vitamins more so for my hair growth than anything else. I knew we wanted to have another baby in the next few months, so it’s always a good idea to get a jump start on this. I signed up for the Ritual prenatal vitamin subscription and really liked them. They smell great and don’t have that vitamin aftertaste you get with a lot of other pills. I also loved the monthly replenishment because I’m the worst at taking and reordering vitamins. I was able to use Ritual up until I started feeling really sick with nausea once I actually got pregnant. It was hard for me to swallow water let alone two big pills. Sadly I had to stop taking them and switch to a gummy prenatal.

The new prenatal I’m taking are SmartyPants gummies. This was a much more tolerable option for me on the days I’m feeling really sick. Not only are they delicious, but they are highly recommended by my OBGYN. I like to take them at night versus the morning, since the mornings can still be a little dicey. You take 4 a day, which seems like a lot but they’re so tasty it’s like eating candy! So far I’m really loving these! I have them on my Amazon subscribe and save every other month so I don’t need to worry about reordering them. 

PREGGIE POP DROPS

I ordered these off Amazon from bed one morning when I felt like I could barely move. One of my girlfriends told me these made her feel a little better and she kept them next to her bed to pop in her mouth as soon as she woke up so the nausea wouldn’t hit her as hard. I was at the point of desperation so I would try anything! I was pleasantly surprised that these really did help tremendously!! They were great in between meals or when I felt so sick I couldn’t eat, yet needed something to chew or suck on. I also keep some in my purse whenever I go out just in case I start to feel some nausea coming on. These have been a lifesaver for me in my first trimester since unfortunately riding out your morning sickness is the only real option. I never dealt with morning sickness before, so I’m really happy I discovered Preggie Pops!! Highly recommend!!

DR. TEAL’S EPSOM SALT 

Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE a good bath! During early pregnancy there’s a lot of cramps and discomfort in those first few weeks, so I love getting a warm bath to wind down and relax. Dr. Teal’s lavender Epsom salts are always my go to. It not only relaxes you but helps sore muscles. I swear I go through a bag every two months!

GREEN TEA

This isn’t really a product per say, but it’s something that helped soothe my stomach during those really nauseous days. I couldn’t fathom the idea of having coffee but I was craving something warm to settle my belly and help me feel like I could gain a little energy back. I always liked green tea, but it became my morning obsession to make myself a huge kettle full of green tea with honey. It helped me feel a little better and gave me an energy boost to run after Chase on days when I was feeling gross and needed some caffeine.

LULULEMON ALIGN LEGGINGS

Okay let’s be real – between quarantine and pregnancy I feel like I haven’t put on jeans in months. I’ve also felt a lot more bloat this time around in my first trimester than I did with Chase. Maybe it’s because I’m not as active or able to go to the gym like I did last time, or maybe it’s because I’m feeling so sick but either way this is a staple no matter how far you are in your pregnancy! I basically wear these leggings throughout the entire 9 months since they’re so high waisted and stretch with you. I wear my normal size and they last me all the way through!

PEDIALYTE POPS

Ryan got these for me on the days where it seemed like I couldn’t eat, drink, or keep anything down! Trying to stay hydrated is so hard when you’re dealing with morning sickness and extreme nausea. Any little bit helps including these pops! 

YETI WATER CUP

It’s so important to stay hydrated and I loooooove my Yeti mug! I load it with ice and lemon and sip on it all day long. I’m obsessed with having the coldest of cold drinks and this keeps everything hot/cold for hours on end. I also ended up ordering the separate little handle so that I could carry it easier with one hand – mommy problems.

HUMIDIFIER 

This might seem like an odd one to some people, but did you know that congestion is a symptom of pregnancy? I’ve always had bad sinuses since I was little and when I went on my honeymoon my ear drum burst, so as soon as I get a little congested my ears and sinuses start to ache! I’ve been so stuffy for the last few weeks and I find that when I sleep with my humidifier next to my bed it helps ease that discomfort a little bit. 

ANIMAL CRACKERS & SALTINES

No real explanation here other than nausea! I initially bought the Trader Joe’s animal crackers for Chase but ended up eating all of them myself since it seems like the only thing I can tolerate some days. Sorry Chay Chay!

BAREFOOT DREAMS BLANKET

I could never understand the hype for these blankets until I was stuck horizontal for the large majority of my day in bed. Wow, this blanket is like a buttery slice of heaven! Great for snuggling on the couch or a hospital bed. It will definitely be in my bag for when it’s go time!!

IT COSMETICS CONFIDENCE IN A CREAM

I’m not sure what it is, but ever since I was pregnant with Chase my skin texture totally changed. My skin went from oily, to super super dry. I have very sensitive skin so finding products that don’t irritate me is sometimes a challenge. I got a sample awhile back of the “Confidence in a Cream” moisturizer and I never looked back! I absolutely love how thick and luxurious it feels on my skin and it keeps me hydrated all day without being too cakey. It’s also safe to use during pregnancy, which can always be a little tricky finding products that are clean. This leads me to another fun reveal – my good friend and beauty guru Joelle Goldstein, @RealReviewsbyJoJo, will be doing a guest blog post on my site to talk all things clean and pregnancy beauty! Stay tuned for that, I can’t wait!

SLIPPERS FROM AMAZON

Another feel good item that really has nothing and everything to do with pregnancy. These are SO soft and are under $25!

I’ll keep updating this list with everything I’m using and loving throughout my pregnancy!

All Yours Fleece Hoodie
Define Jacket
Perfectly Oversized Crew
Lululemon Align Pant
Runderful Long Sleeve Rulu™
Rest Less Pullover
Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve 2.0 Race Length
Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve 2.0
On the Fly Jogger 28″ Woven
Hooded Define Jacket Nulu
Strong at Heart Bra Medium Support, C/D Cup
Run Briskly 1/2 Zip

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So happy to finally be sharing and are over the moon to say that baby #2 will be joining us this summer! This has been such a hard secret to keep from our family and friends, especially since it feels like we have known forever!

Ryan and I had always talked about expanding our family after Chase’s 1^st birthday. As an only child, it was important for me to have all our babies close in age. Chase and baby #2 will be 22 months apart, which I find for us is the perfect age gap! I never wanted to rush the time I got to spend with Chase as an only child and I really feel ready for this new chapter of our lives. He is going to absolutely adore having a sibling to be best friends with!

Now onto my pregnancy!

This pregnancy has definitely been much harder on me than my pregnancy with Chase. With him, I barely even felt pregnant until I started getting a belly around 23 weeks. I felt amazing, had so much energy, and really was able to go about my normal day-to-day life without many adjustments.  This time I’ve practically stayed in bed for the last 14 weeks! I’m not sure if it’s this pregnancy, or running after a 16 month old but I had 0 energy and would literally jump into bed every time Chase went down for a nap. I’ve also dealt with some pretty tough nausea for the last few weeks. Whoever named it “morning sickness” lied and it should really be called all day, spur of the moment sickness. I swear one minute I would be feeling okay, and the next I would be running to the nearest garbage can. This honestly shocked me and I was not at all prepared to feel so sick since I never experienced any nausea with Chase. Every pregnancy is SO different though and this certainly proves that to me!!

I’m also totally shocked about how much quicker your body responds to a second pregnancy.  Holy moly I swear I already have a belly that’s getting tough to hide! I didn’t show until I was well past 20 weeks in my last pregnancy, so seeing a little bump as early as 11 weeks was crazy to me! I also have been feeling flutter sensations in my belly already! They say that with a second pregnancy, you can definitely start to feel things earlier since you know what to look for.  I absolutely love pregnancy and the entire process is truly amazing to me. Although things are happening much quicker this time, it really just means I get to enjoy this pregnancy for what feels like a little longer.

Now that we touched on the physical, let’s get to the mental.

Being pregnant the second time around feels very different in almost every way, especially mentally. I’m much more nervous and cautious this time around because I think as second time moms, we almost know too much. The second you see those two lines on your pregnancy test it’s like your whole life flashes before your eyes. You think about your family and what that baby is going to be and who they are. “Will it be a boy or a girl? What is their due date? When can we tell our family?” It’s much more real. Someone once told me “the second you see that test your life is forever changed” and I always remember this sentiment. With Chase, I couldn’t relate a pregnancy and a baby. It never felt real until we got home from the hospital with him and then it really hit me. Although I felt very connected to my pregnancy, I didn’t necessarily feel connected to him. This time since I know what those two little lines bring in 9 months, it feels so much more emotional.  Those two little lines bring you the best gift and the most amazing love you could ever imagine! However those two little lines also brought me a lot of anxiety this time around. I prayed over and over again that this baby would “stick” and counted down the days until my first doctor’s appointment. Seeing your baby on that screen for the first time is like nothing I can possibly describe except love at first sight. Being a mom, the worrying starts the second you find our your pregnant and truly never ends! Even when my kids are 40 I’ll still be worrying about them =)

Ryan and I are so incredibly excited to finally share this news! We have been over the moon with happiness in our little bubble for the last few weeks and it feels so good to finally share this with all our friends and families. We feel so blessed and cannot wait for this pregnancy journey with baby #2! Thinking about Chase as a big brother just melts my heart into a great big puddle!

Oh and one last detail we left out – the gender! Check back on Valentine’s Day for a very special announcement! What’s your guess? Is Chase is getting a little brother or a little sister?!

SAPLIZE Golf Practice Net with Hitting Mat
Garmin Approach S60
Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors

Engineered Warmth Jacket
At Ease Hoodie
City Sweat Jogger
ABC Jogger 30″ Warpstreme
Hypervolt Bluetooth^® Percussion Massage Device
Men’s TechLoom Wave

Alpha 3 Hanging Travel Kit
Bose SoundLink^® Micro Bluetooth^® Speaker
Apple AirPods Pro

Coravin Model Five Premium – Wine Preservation System
Breville Barista Touch Espresso Maker
Anova Precision ® Sous Vide Cooker Wifi