Beach, Baby!!! Top 5 things to Bring....and MORE!

Beach 2012

We just returned from a week of sun and sand, and I couldn't feel more refreshed. I had so much help on this trip, and needed it! Being 6 months pregnant and chasing a 20 month old around can be a handful. We are blessed that we have the opportunity to go to my in-laws condo in Orange Beach each year, and sometimes more than once. I'm not sure if I'd say that I'm a 'seasoned' beach-goer, but my mother-in-law certainly is. We've learned a few tricks of the trade over the years, and especially over the past 2 years having a child with us. I've been asked multiple times for a must-have list, and thought the best way to share it, would be here.

1. Blow-up pool -Don't get scared when I say blow-up pool. It's just a small pool to keep a little one confined. Whether it has water in it, or not, it's great for play time or nap time. We used this a lot last summer, before Ryder was 'toddling'. It was great!!!

Nap Time

Play Time

2. Paint Brush - Let me explain. My mother-in-law has found that this is a 'secret tool' to getting sand off of your legs, feet, arms, and anywhere else that sand coats to your body! Just a cheap one with soft bristles will do. She got a little crafty and painted my handle pink and put a ribbon around it, which is not necessary, but definitely adds some style!

3. Baby Powder - Just a travel size will do. This is another 'secret' that I am revealing to getting sand off. Just shake the baby powder on your sand-covered legs, and brush right off with your hands, and MAGICALLY, the sand is GONE!

4. Beach Toys - These are important, yet there are not specific 'must haves'! I would say, just from experience, a bucket, a couple of shovels,  something to throw (sometimes you just need to stand and get some sun on your backside....especially if you're pregnant!), something that floats (like a boat or rubber ducky) for the blow-up pool, or those spots on the beach where the water forms a puddle (GREAT spot for little ones).

Coleman Road Trip Beach Shade 

5. Pop-up Tent - Okay, now this is a GREAT item to have, especially for the infant stage....it worked wonderfully last year! Nap time on the beach was AWESOME, so we didn't have to have someone go up to the room on a perfectly good beach day! We had a different one last year, that ended up breaking, but we saw a TON of the Coleman Beach Shade Tent's this year. You need something that will provide shade, and that has a floor mat, to prevent sand invasion.

We will probably purchase this one, or something similar for our next trip, as we will have a newborn. These are GREAT for nap-time, we laid some towels in there, and we were good to go. They are also great for providing privacy for diaper changing, nursing, or similar private moments.

6. Pack and Play - We have a large closet at our condo, where a pack and play will fit. This is where Ryder sleeps when we go to the beach. 


It works for us.... We don't close the door all of the way, leaving it cracked for air. He is completely content with this...we bring our monitor and his noise maker and we are all set. This may not be for you, but it works for us!

A few more suggestions that worked great for us are:

-Umbrella Stroller - especially when you're short on hands.
-Hat - They won't always keep it on, but at least you tried.
-Sunglasses - See above.
-Camera - Make sure you have this to capture the memories!
-Snacks - Snacks for baby, snacks for kids, snacks for mama! Just nothing that will melt!
-Drinks - Make sure to drink plenty of WATER, but bring something else (in addition), whatever your drink of choice is.
-Extra Hands - This trip was very relaxing to me, as I had extra hands. If you're able to, it's nice to have an extra set of hands, but if not, you find ways to 'make do'! :)


I'll add more if I think of other things. But, this should be a good list to get you started!

Enjoy the sand and sun!

10 Little Fingers, 10 Little Toes

We would like to introduce the newest member of our family:

Ryder Brooks Walpole
August 19, 2011

8 pounds : 10 ounces

20 inches

We have been so blessed with this sweet little baby boy! We are so thankful to finally be able to hold him in our arms. My friend Amy Hough was able to make it to the hospital in time to capture some of the sweetest moments as we met our sweet baby! I'm so thankful to have these images that will help me relive such a crazy whirlwind of a day. Thanks for all of your prayers and support as we start this new adventure.

Keep posted to see his newborn pictures by Amy soon!

All My Bags Are Packed.....

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.....

I've got all of my bags gathered in the living room, J. won't let me put them in the car just yet!

But, nevertheless, we are ready! Here are the things that I have gathered to throw in the car when we are ready:

1. Ryder's bag. This precious bag is one of 2 diaper bags that my fabulous Aunt Pati Ivey made for me! She is so incredibly talented...it even has a matching changing pad to accompany it! Okay, I think I've got everything that I need in it. I packed 3 outfits (hats and socks included), 3 blankets (one is handmade by J.'s grandmother), pacifiers and paci-clip, a few newborn diapers, wipes, baby lotion, a burp cloth, my birth plan, and my ItzBeen!

2. Ryder's 'Coming Home Outfit'. It's pressed and ready to go! This was the outfit that J. wore when he came home from the hospital!

3. My Kelly Moore Bag. It's packed with my camera, lenses, charger and memory card!

4. My bag. I've got some reading materials (including notes from our hospital childbirth class, a breastfeeding book that my friend Tori gave me, and my Pregnancy Journal), pajamas, nursing bras, pads, and cream, toiletries, a couple of loose-fitting outfits, mints, lip balm, headband, slippers, my Aloe socks, and a robe!

5. Ryder's Baby Book from Ruby Love Designs. I love this book.....it's perfect for him. I made sure to order the extra page for his hand/feet prints at birth! I've just got to remember to have it out when they do his prints....I've put J. in charge of that, but he thinks that he will be the one in trauma, not me!

6. Wreaths. Two very special people in my life (both that work at hospitals) gave me wreaths for our room at the hospital. My cousin, Alissa, gave me a precious wreath made of diapers that has some goodies for Ryder on it. My friend, Audrey, had a grapevine wreath made for him that is super-cute! Both will have a home in our hospital room and will be great additions to spruce up the room!

7. Gifts. I know, I know. I went a little overboard, but I couldn't help it. Just a small token of appreciation for hospital staff, visitors and friends. Think of it kinda like cigars, but I wanted to do something different.

8. Oh, and the Car Seat. That's kinda important. I hear they won't let you leave the hospital without it. So, J. has already installed it in the car, and it is ready to go....ready to carry our sweet little boy home.

What am I missing? What were some of your favorite things that you had at the hospital with you? Any ideas? I am completely open to suggestions......

Bright as a Full Moon

So, I'm curious. Myth or Fact? Does anyone believe the statement regarding Full Moons inducing labor? I've been curious, you know why? Well, I'm 39 weeks pregnant and tonight there is a FULL MOON. Well, technically according the the almanac, the Full Moon phase begins:

Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 1:58 PM

So, there you have it. What do you think? Do you think I'll be heading to Northern Louisiana Medical Center in 3 hours? We'll see.....I'll keep you posted.

What other things besides a full moon have you heard are labor inducers? Which do you trust? I am definitely open to suggestions. I have been waiting to meet this baby for a long time....not just 9 months.

The 3 Pregnanteers

So, if I would've told you last October that these 3 girls in the picture below would all have a baby boys come this October, would you believe me?

Probably not! But, it is true, so very true!

So, I told you that 2 of my co-workers, 2 of my very good friends found out that they were pregnant right before I found out. Well, this is us! Here we are!

5 weeks....that's all....just 5 weeks between our due dates and come to find out, we are all 3 having BOYS!

It has been a fun 9 months as we have been able to share the joys and pain of pregnancy. The 3 of us, it just seemed like a dream....we kept pinching ourselves, trying to figure out how all 3 of us ended up pregnant at the same time.

Here are a couple of pics throughout our 9 month journey together:

Our 'Triple Baby Shower' that was hosted by our work family!

The 3 of us during our 'Triple Maternity Shoot'!

We love our BOYS and we love our BULLDOGS!

So, Bryce Rylan Busby and John Mark Jeffords have already made their entrance into the world, we are just waiting on the arrival of Ryder Brooks Walpole. We can't wait for play dates and birthday parties! So thankful to share this journey with 2 great girls!!!!

I'm so behind.....

I'm pretty embarrassed that I am so behind on my blog posting. Things have been pretty intense preparing for baby Ryder's arrival. And now, we are down to 10 days (or less) before he makes his grand entrance, and you haven't even seen the nursery. You haven't seen the stroller, pictures from my showers, or maternity images that have been taken. And I know this, because, you, my readers have reminded me over and over again!

I am making a vow to blog for the next 10 days to catch you up on all of the fun things that have been going on over the past few months. Disclaimer: If Ryder arrives before then, I am excused for a little bit, but will catch back up within the first week or so after his arrival.

Please accept my apology, and yes, I am setting a reminder on my calendar as I type to blog everyday for the next 10 days.

Thanks for your support and prayers as J. and I enter this new phase of our lives. We are so excited about a new adventure.

It's all setting in.....

When J. got home today, there were 2 packages on our front porch from Potterybarn Kids....

Woo-Hoo!!!!

When J. called me, I was little upset, not because they were there, but because I was told that I would receive a phone call on April 13th to schedule a delivery date/time.

One thing that I love about Ruston is that I don't really worry that someone would steal it off of my front porch, but it's just the fact of the matter. Anyway, my sweet husband waited until I got home before we opened the LARGE box!!! I was thankful he waited, because it was something that we got to experience together.

The first thing that we did once we took it out of the box, was inspect every piece. If you know my husband very well, you know that he pays very close attention to detail. Especially if the box has a gashing hole in the side of it, like this one did. So, once we found that there was no damage done to the crib, we began putting it together.

As the lady of the house, I took out the instructions and began reading them as I let my sweet hubby begin assembling the crib. It definitely took 2 adults, just as the instruction manual told us. So.... since I stepped away from the instruction manual, we got a little bit ahead of ourselves and put all four sides on before we put the mattress base in.

Oops! I just thought I had it under control.

We each were able to get our hands a little dirty,and put some sweat equity into the assembly of the crib. After a wonderful adventure of working together to put everything where it went, we finally did it!!!

The only problem now, is that it won't fit through the hallway and into the nursery. We assembled the furniture in the living room area, because there are still a couple of things that need to get done in the nursery before the furniture can all go in there. That was our reasoning. Which now means we will have to disassemble part of the crib to get it in the nursery.

That is just another problem for another day!

It is...all setting in that we will have a sweet little baby laying in this crib in a few short months. This crib will hold my child, not as dearly as I will, but certainly with care. As he grows from an infant all of the way to his toddler years. May this bed represent growth for my child in more than one way. I pray for baby Ryder that he may grow into a young man after God's own heart.

Can't stop....

Dear little one in my belly,

I can't stop thinking about you. My daily thoughts are consumed with what you will look like, who you will become, what your sweet little voice will sound like, and so many more wonders that keep crossing my mind. I can't stop thinking about you.

You're not helping me concentrate on work by your sweet little flutters that I feel

as I sit and type at my computer. I cannot wait to hold you, rock you, and love on you. I pray that you will grow to be a Godly young man. As we decide on a name to give you, I pray that the name we give you will one day become a legacy. My prayer for you is that you will arrive into this world safely and granted provision and guidance that you need to become the boy, teenager, young man that God intends for you to be.

With everything I have, I love you and I look forward to meeting you someday in August. You already have my heart and I cannot express how much I am anticipating your arrival. Your father and I talk about you everyday and think about you all of the time. You already consume our lives and you aren't even born yet. Just know that you are deeply loved.

With all of my heart.

Mommy

Girl or Boy?????

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails,

that’s what boys are made of.

Well, there you have it!!! The wait is over! We have found out that the we will have the first grandbaby that will carry on the Walpole last name! We are ecstatic!!!!

I know, the next question is.....”Have you picked out a name?” We are working on it.....nothing has been decided yet. It will be announced on the blog once we make a final decision.

Tomorrow

It has been WAY too long since I have posted, and there have been a lot of exciting events that have taken place since then. Although I do need to update you on all of that, I wanted to make a short post telling you how excited I am about TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is the day that we find out the gender of our sweet little baby that I am carrying.

What do you think??? Boy? or Girl?

You shall get an update TOMORROW.......

Oh, and by the way, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!