Backpacking....Italian Style

I have a confession. I'm an over-packer. Not just an over-packer, but a procrastinating over-packer. There you have it. When I pack for a trip, it's usually last minute, and I'm usually spending the last moments before a trip grabbing any and everything I MIGHT (or might not) need for my adventure. Do you do that? Or am I the only one?

So, the thought of packing everything I needed for an international cross-country trip was totally FOREIGN to me!

However, when we (my 2 friends Brittany and I) began to think about out traveling to multiple cities, on and off of planes, trains and automobiles, the idea of "backpacking" intrigued us. We were not completely sold on the idea until our husbands told us we couldn't do it. The doubted us......so, we accepted the challenge! You hear me?

The closer the trip got, the idea of packing ALL THE THINGS in a backpack became tremendously more difficult! But, I'm here to say that we did it, and we survived! AND, I actually had room to spare!!!!

So, how did I do it?

First things first, I researched backpacks. I found an amazing one in the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible. It has so many perfect pockets and details that I would've never thought of! (Side note: the little video on the product page really sold me on it).

Another item that was helpful was this set of packing cubes! Initially, I really didn't understand the need for these, but was thankful for them, and will definitely use them in future packing endeavors. So, with these, I rolled my clothing and sorted by style, and by traveler (mine or my hubby). It made it a lot easier to pack, rather than just putting items directly into my backpack.

One of the perks of "backpacking" is not having to check you luggage, and wait for baggage claim! That's HUGE! The downside of that is that everything has to be carry-on friendly. Liquids bag....the dreaded quart-sized bag, limited to 3.4oz per item, stared us in the face just as David did Goliath. Ya'll, it seemed nearly impossible. But, as any warrior faces a challenge, we set our eyes on the end goal, and overcame it. This challenge gave me the excuse to buy those super cute trial size goodies that you always want to buy on the toiletry aisle. And, that I did.....as well as putting a couple of my toiletry products in these little dishes (I actually had extras on-hand, because I use them to sort my earrings in my jewelry armoire). 

Oh, and clothes......I know the question is: WHAT clothes did you bring?? 

I brought:

4 pair of pants: white skinny jeans, black skinny jeans, tailored jeans, and black leggings

5 shirts: 2 white shirts, black shirt, chambray shirt and a striped shirt

2 tanks: black and white

2 scarves

3 jackets: black bomber, white long coat, white packable rain jacket 

2 shoes: Black Native Audreys and Tan GB low boots 

2 necklaces and 3 pair of earrings 

Along with the packing cubes, I also used these space saving bags for my jackets and then also for dirty clothes (until we washed at our next stop). 

I'll end with a few of my favorite items I brought along with me: 

So, what packing questions do you have for me? I'm an open book (or backpack)....if I don't have the answer, I'll do my best to find one or give you my best advice! 

Oh, and there is plenty more to come about our trip.....this is only the beginning!

Ciao!

BIG Reveals

Life has been a little busy lately. Catching up on my blog is something that I really plan on doing soon. In the meantime, I'll fill you in on a couple of big announcements in the Walpole household! 

So, baby Walpole #2 is on it's way, but what about a the gender reveal? 

We threw together an impromptuEaster Egg Hunt with family and friends to reveal the gender. My parents happened to be coming in so they were able to join in on the fun! It just so happened that Ryder (with my mom's help) found the 'golden egg'! Here's the egg that they found, and the surprise inside: 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE being a BOY MOM! I have so much fun with Ryder, and look forward to Ryder having a baby brother that he will be best buds with. I look forward to watching them grow together, and build that strong brotherly bond. 

Now, on to the name. What's in a name?!?! We had a difficult time coming up with a name that just 'clicked'. I found one that I really liked, but J. wasn't 100% with it, and J. found one that he really liked, but I ended up nixing it. Then, one day when I was in PotteryBarn with my mom in Baton Rouge, J. called me and said "I know the name!". He mentioned it, and I smiled. The name that he mentioned had been on my list, but I had not mentioned it to him at that point, as I thought it may be too 'different'. But, we like different names. We always have. So, the BIG REVEAL: 

RIVER BRANTLEY WALPOLE

will be here on August 26th, if not before! We are already in love with this sweet baby boy and cannot wait for his arrival. Let me tell you, Mommy CANNOT WAIT! :) We started working in the nursery this weekend, and I am so excited that things are starting to come together. Oh, and thanks to Rachel at Peek-a-Bootique for the super cute canvas painting! 

In other news, as we have been working around the house, we've moved Ryder to his BIG BOY BED in his new room! He is really excited about it, and can't wait to show everyone his new bed! We did really well yesterday during nap time, with a 3.5 hour nap. Last night, we didn't do so well. It was difficult getting him down, but he did sleep all night until 7am. He wasn't feeling 100% yesterday, and woke up not feeling well. It's gradually gotten worse, and I'm thinking we've got a double ear infection on our hands, so sleeping well is not really in the cards. I hope to have a good progress update on him soon! I'll post pics of Ryder's Big Boy Room when it's finished....still working on details! 

In the meantime, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my sweet hubby, my wonderful daddy, and all of the other daddy's out there! 

That feeling right before vacation....

So, even though I won't be at work for a couple months once Ryder arrives, it won't really be considered a 'vacation'....I do know and understand this. But, right now, at this very moment, I have that similar mixture of anxiety and excitement going on...the feeling that you get right before you leave to go on vacation.

I'm pretty sure that I have everything ready, and I keep telling myself that I know what to expect, but I really don't. It's kinda like on Big Brother, 'Expect the Unexpected', right? I really don't know what to expect and there is still a slight 'fear of the unknown.' Did you have that feeling before you had your first child? What are some other experiences when you felt that same way?

I've had a little time today to get some things done, run some errands, ate lunch with my hubby at Log Cabin (which I had been craving some BBQ Dip and Chips and Salsa...thought maybe the jalapenos and salsa might put some fire under Ryder too!), went by The Children's Shoppe, and made it back home just in time for the HAIL STORM....really?!? It's 104 degrees outside, and ice the size of gumballs starts falling from the sky!

After the hailstorm, it was time for me to get ready for sweet Ayla Williams' 10th birthday party! Ayla is the daughter of some of our closest friends, Kate and Casey Williams. She was adopted from Ukraine a little less than one year ago. I have completely fallen for her....she is so precious and I am so proud of how far she has come since her arrival to the States.

Happy 10th Birthday, Ayla! Love you and I can't wait to watch, as you grow into the young lady that God has created you to be!

Ryder's Got Mail!

Ryder got a package in the mail today....addressed just to him! I went ahead and opened it for him....I hope he won't get mad! If he loves getting mail and packages as much as his mom does, he might! So, the package was from his friend Parker Alan Jennings (and his parents, Jeff and Kristy). These are some of our dear friends that live in South Carolina. They used to live down the street from us, and now they live very far away! We miss them dearly, but get to visit with them every now and then when they come to Louisiana to visit family. We are hoping to take a family trip up to South Carolina sometime to go see them.

So, here is what was in Ryder's package:

That's all for tonight....after a late night last night, I'm calling it an early night. I will say, however, it was really nice to work only half a day today. I was able to sleep in a little bit, go for a walk, and spend some time preparing for baby Ryder. I will say that we're one step closer, one day closer to meeting our sweet little baby! I can't wait!!!

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!!!!

Roommate Time

This.....is what I woke up to this morning!!! Sweet baby Hayes! We made it to Dallas last night for Roommate Time!!!! We are having a great time catching up, which we hardly ever get to do. It's actually all 5 of us this weekend....all 5 of us that live along I-20 within 450 miles. That includes Jackson, Monroe, Ruston, Dallas and Fort Worth. Wow! That's a mouthful!

We just found out last night that Mrs. 'Jackson' will soon be moving to Ruston....so there will be 2 of us in Ruston now.....I couldn't be more ecstatic!!! We also found out some fabulous news about Mrs. 'Fort Worth' last night.....she got a J-O-B!!!! She will be teaching 4th grade at the same school as her husband. It is an answered prayer.

This group of girls has my heart...after all of us (all except Mrs. 'Monroe', of whom is an 'honorary roommate') lived together for 3 and a half years, we have shared so many things....tears of joy and tears of pain, weddings, babies (one on the way).....true friends is what I have found. These girls, I know, will be friends for a lifetime.

Every time that we get together, we try to figure out when the next time we will get together is...which it's looking like it will be sooner than this past time-lapse. We are thinking that everyone will be able to come to Ruston for a baby shower before baby Ryder arrives.

I can't express how wonderful it is to have such an amazing group of girl-friends!!!!!