Real Talk: Breastfeeding + Covered Goods

Real talk: breastfeeding. It's a big part of my day...everyday. About 3+ solid hours of my day are spent sitting and nursing my little Nancypie. That's a good chunk of a day! I have an app that keeps track of which side I last nursed from and for how long, but I mainly use it to keep track of when my last feeding began because during the day I always find myself thinking "There is no way it has been 2-3 hours since she last ate..." (and then, as always, it has been that long).

Breastfeeding wasn't always a walk in the park for us. It started off that way in the hospital, but when we went back to the hospital for Nancy's jaundice and shoved bottles of pumped colostrum and a little bit of formula down her throat while I pumped every 2 hours 24/7 for 2 days to try and get my milk to come in...well, that's another story. Obviously. But that little experience taught our oh-so-clever 4-day-old child that you don't have to work as hard to get milk from a bottle. After that experience of bottle heaven in the hospital, Nancy pretty much lost her latch. She wasn't having it. I was so frustrated because she latched so well the previous 3 days! A couple visits to the lactation wizard and a nipple shield (yes, that's a real thing) later, we were back on track. Now we're here to stay!

That's a little background on my breastfeeding "journey." :) My goal is to nurse Nancy for one year, and I'll be darned if it didn't take 3 months to hook myself up with a nursing cover. (Bless my family--espeically my 17-year-old brother-- because it's like National Geographic at home.) I'm peachy to nurse whenever, wherever at home, but when we're out and about in public, I prefer a nursing cover.

I didn't originally register for one because I heard that the typical covers were too heavy and opaque for summer and I would be sweating my face off while using one. No thanks. Humidity of the South + an unbreathable cover = no. But I know about Covered Goods! Bingo. This is the stuff, y'all.

See that?! It's a cute, light, breathable fabric (of course I went with stripes!). It covers not just your front but your back too. (Crucial.) It's like a little poncho without the sleeves. But then it gets better. Covered Goods hit the brilliance jackpot on nursing covers. This little number also has 3  (!!!) other uses. Wait for it...

HELLO?! Nursing cover, infant car seat cover, infinity scarf, AND shopping cart cover?! Yes, yes, yes, and yes. This thing is the real deal. Seriously: how cool and nifty would you feel bringing this into a baby shower? (As if there aren't enough "oohs" and "aahs" at any given baby shower already. ;))

I'm obsessed with my Covered Goods. It's so soft too. I can assure you it's absolutely what I'll be wearing on the plane when we head to England this fall. Come to think of it, it'll be a nice little blanket on the airplane too. Don't y'all get cold on airplanes? I digress... Really though, I know this nursing cover will be my best friend as we make that 8ish hour flight across the pond. For now I keep it in my diaper bag at all times. I just fold it and shove it in one of my diaper bag insert pockets. Covered Goods, y'all rock. Thanks for hooking me up! CHEERS!
Shop my look + accessories here:[Not included but noteworthy: the diaper bag insert for my non-diaper bag! ;)]

Disclosure: Per Cheers Yall's policy, I was given this item in exchange for a product review; however, all opinions are my own.

Nancy's Fancy Tea Party

Yes, I am biased, but Nancy's Fancy Tea Party was the most beautiful shower I've ever attended. Wow. My mom, sister, and besties went all out. As my most sacred dream--becoming a mommy--is coming true, I have never felt more loved, enamored, overwhelmed, and at peace...all at once. Growing another life inside of you is the most amazing miracle I've ever experienced. I count it all as joy, and oh what joy it was to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our dear Nancy Hope!

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking, but I have to say thank you to everyone who showered Nancy and me with so, so, so much love and goodness. James 1:17 to fruition...to the max! Thank you. With all of BOTH of our hearts. Blame it on the hormones (Or not! It was really that blessed and emotional of a weekend for me.), but I can't help but cry as I type the words to this post and listen to this song on repeat in the background. I am so humbled that God chose me to be Nancy's mommy and that I have so many amazing women that I get to "do life" with as I transition into motherhood. Glory to God; thank you, Jesus!

 

 Mimi's homemade sweet tea bar

Hot tea bar 

 Mimosa bar

My mom decorated with many of my old baby clothes (and even pink patterned clothespins!)

 Mallory's finger sandwiches were perfection: pimento cheese, cucumber, and chicken salad

 The greatest hostesses on earth!

 My sissy and mommy

 Lizzie and Coley

Mallory and my precious goddaughter, Harper 

 I even got to snap a pic with my hubby before he left for some bro time with my brother-in-law

 Cannot handle the supreme cuteness of baby bloomers. 

I already have visions of Nancy in nothing but a diaper, these, and a bonnet at the beach this summer!

 My sweet Mimimama, soon to be Nancy's "Grandmimi," especially spoiled her first great-grandbaby.

 Captured loving the thought of using this for all my future little Houston bebes

 Nancy's first piece of art, created by my bestie, Lizzie Morrison.

Inspired by 1 Peter 1. I cried. (Obviously.)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV

 2 of my sweet Bible study girlfriends

 Cheers!...with my mama, Mimi, and my aunts

Party (partea?!) favors

Post-party with the pups :) Had to.

Sources

Wreath: DIY (Lizzie Morrison)

Banner: DIY

Ribbon Garland: Etsy

Cake: Kathy Allen Fine Cakes

Macaroons: Wow Factor Cakes

Glassware + Tablecloth Rental: Party Reflections

Heart Straws: World Market

Monogram Napkins: Darby Cards Nashville on Etsy

Flowers: Wayne Freeman, independent florist

Baby Makes Three + Before I Knew You Signs: Hobby Lobby

Gold Letters on Mantel: Hobby Lobby

Diaper Baby: Baby Binkz on Etsy

Custom Tea Bag Favors: Bushel And Peck Paper on Etsy
My Dress: Purchased at Petal Boutique in Charlotte, NC

 

 Head over to meet Laura at The Ozinga Outlook...!

Pregnancy | Week 13

How Far Along: 13 weeks...and just like that, I'm in the 2nd trimester! 

Size of Baby: A jalapeno peach! Ha! Ovia says jalapeno. What to Expect says peach. Either way, the babe is about 3" long!

Gender: Been thinking girl. But a few days this week I thought...maybe it is a boy? But I just do that when I'm feeling too convinced. It's safe to say...I have no idea.

Movement: Still too early. But I'm excited for it because I know it comes this trimester! I googled and read that this will come between 16-21 weeks...but I'm thinking it will come on the earlier end of that because I felt my girlfriend Mallory's baby girl move (from the outside...obviously. Ha!) around 19 weeks! When will I start feeling this little babe, mamas?!

Fun Fact: Baby's fingerprints are fully formed. That is just amazing to me! 

Sleep: Still up for about 30ish minutes around 4-5 in the morning. Other than that, I'm sleeping well!

Workouts: Pure Barre x 5 and three 2.25 mile walks. Oh! And on Monday I signed up for my PB studio's 40 classes in 60 days challenge...woopwoop! That is good 2nd trimester motivation for this mama-to-be

Via @purebarrewilmington

Maternity Clothes: Nope...buuuuut this past weekend I slipped on my jorts to wear to the beach. And...just no. They still buttoned, but I was straight up muffin toppin' in them. Eeek! So it begins: the first pair of clothing that doesn't fit. :)

Symptoms: Nothing this week other than some mild heartburn, which is something I never experienced pre-pregnancy.

Cravings/Aversions: That dang sweet tooth has gotten me in trouble this week. I went to Trader Joe's and bought too much goodness...dark chocolate cookie butter cups, cookie butter ice cream, and maple cream filled cookies. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Make it stop! Need self control! (Though I'm still holding out on those candy corn pumpkins that a stinkin' love.)

Missing Most: We went to a wedding last weekend and man those glasses of champs were looking especially beautiful and delicious...

So since I couldn't splurge on the beautiful champagne, this is how I changed it up.

Cutely served milk (along with wedding cake and sampling about 10 different cookies...).

Nursery: Waiting till we know the gender...and for Black Friday sales. :)

Hubby: Loved seeing all of the love, joy, and kindness we received after our announcement this week. We were both truly blown away...and a bit flabbergasted. :) Thank you!!!! From both of us!

Best Part of the Week: Obviously it's that the secret is over!!!! Having everyone share in this joy with us has been so encouraging, uplifting, and filled with SO MUCH LOVE!

Can't Wait For: My check up next week because I think I might get to see another quick peek of the little babe in there!? I hope so!

Our Announcement | Weeks 4-12

P.S. I'm kinda glad I didn't take those pics between weeks 5-12 because I feel like it would've been a bit boring and weird...other than me slowly losing my end-of-summer tan. Looking forward to the bump popping! :)

Pop on over and visit Nina -- because what girl doesn't love flowers in her hair? :)