Things I’m Loving Friday #224

Friday is HERE! Hooray! Thank you all so much for your potty training and big boy bed transition advice and insight on yesterday’s Chase update post. I am still making my way through all of your amazing comments and SO appreciate you sharing your varied experiences and perspectives. I’ll definitely keep you in the loop with our progress, though you have me thinking that maybe we shouldn’t rock the boat and stick with the crib for Chase for a while. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

So, how are you guys!? I hope you all had a great week!

There’s no question that the best part of my week happened yesterday morning. I had another prenatal appointment and, after a mid-morning doughnut date at Duck Donuts, we made our way to my OB/GYN’s office for my exam. The doctor I’ve been exclusively seeing (the one I fell in love with after she performed my two D&Cs and took a very thorough and proactive approach to my prenatal care) actually had her third baby earlier this week, so I was back in the practice’s old office – the one I haven’t stepped foot in since our second loss last summer – and my anxiety kicked into high gear. Thankfully my appointment was with the very same midwife who delivered Chase and she could not have been more kind and reassuring. Hearing our baby’s heartbeat will never get old and Chase broke out into the biggest smile when he heard the “boom booms” which could not have made my heart swell any more.

Now the weekend is here and I’m READY for it! We don’t have any real concrete plans but I’m sure we’ll fill the next couple of days with some family fun! Until we chat again on Monday, I wanted to share my usual Things I’m Loving Friday blog post with you guys! As always, I’d love to hear a little bit about something that is making you smile right now in the comments section.

I hope you all have the best weekend!

Things I’m Loving Friday

Stitch Fix Extras!!!

Thank you so much to Stitch Fix for sponsoring this shout out!

Bless you, Stitch Fix, for outfitting me with some new clothes when I cannot for the life of me figure out how to dress myself lately! I’ve gained more weight during this pregnancy (my belly also popped much earlier than it did during my pregnancy with Chase) and for some reason the clothes I loved during my first pregnancy (low-rise leggings, in particular) are SO uncomfortable to me this time around. I’m struggling big time with figuring out what to wear but thankfully informing my Stitch Fix stylist that I’m currently expecting helped add a few new bump-friendly styles to my wardrobe, including the comfy gray pullover you see above, the long burgundy duster cardigan (not maternity-specific) and my new favorite frayed-ankle jeans.

I’m assuming most of you who have been following this blog for a while know how Stitch Fix works, but it’s a styling service for women and men. After answering some questions online and building a style profile, you’ll receive a Fix filled with five items from your stylist. (It’s not a subscription service and you can order a Fix anytime you want – either on-demand or on a regular schedule, such as once a month or quarterly, etc.)

Along with the recent “keepers” from my latest Stitch Fix delivery featured above, my Fix also included something brand new! Stitch Fix is now offering Extras, an easy new way to add everyday wardrobe staples to your Fix. You can now add bralettes, socks, shapewear, camisoles, tights, socks and bras (all in women’s sizes XS – 3X) to your Fix and they’re shipped directly to you along with the five items your stylists selects for you each month.

Like the other items you receive in your Stitch Fix deliveries, you only have to keep the Extras you want and your $20 styling fee may also be applied to these items. The process of selecting and adding Extras to my Fix was so easy and I ended up selecting a Free People bralette (I love wearing these under tank tops and dresses where I don’t mind a peek of my bra showing – anything to avoid strapless!), a Hanky Panky thong (I’ve loved this brand for years) and two more basic pairs of underwear in a larger size to fit me more comfortably during my pregnancy. I love the simplicity and ease of the new Extras feature and figured it might interest my fellow Stitch Fix fans out there as well!

Dino-Chase

On Monday morning, my friend Nicole was kind enough to give me a giant bag of clothes that her youngest son recently grew out of (LOVE hand-me-downs!!!) and Chase quickly eyed the big, green dinosaur costume on top of the pile. He had to put it on immediately and the dino costume is now his latest obsession. He wears it all over the house so we’ve found ourselves cooking with a dinosaur, playing trains with a dinosaur and racing a surprisingly agile dinosaur around the house while he drives his Plasma Car at top speed. Dino-Chase!!! The funniest part of the costume is that Chase has ZERO peripheral vision in this costume, so he’s constantly bumping into things but he shakes it off like the tough T-Rex that he is and moves right along.

Onesies That Made Me Cry

Two of my sweet friends from Burn Boot Camp surprised me with these incredibly thoughtful onesies for our baby-on-the-way earlier this week. I ended up in tears before my workout when I saw them and was deeply touched by their thoughtful gifts. I feel like I could write a whole blog post on what it feels like to be more than halfway through a pregnancy after two miscarriages, but I am just very emotional and think about the babies we lost all the time. I am so beyond grateful to be pregnant again but our two angel babies haven’t slipped from my mind for a second. I cry when I think about them. I cry when I hear from any of you who are currently walking through this pain and those who long for a baby. I cry when I let anxiety creep in. I guess I share this to say that even though there is so much joy in my heart for our future, being pregnant right now doesn’t eliminate the grief and sadness I continue to feel after our losses. I am so appreciative when friends and family remember our babies in Heaven, too.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This book was recommended to me by a handful of you guys in the past and when I initially read the description I admittedly thought the book sounded kind of boring. Fast forward a few months and I found myself wanting a break from some of the suspenseful books I’ve been reading lately and I turned to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Now I’m just kicking myself for not reading this one sooner! I haven’t finished the book yet so I cannot give it a full and complete review, but I love the author’s writing style and despite the lack of suspense I’m used to in my most recent book selections, this book is proving to be a page-turner for me. Eleanor is an intriguing main character. She’s extremely quirky, completely unaware of her lack of social skills and somehow incredibly engaging to read about. I quickly found myself rooting for Eleanor as I learned more about her past and the person she is and who she is becoming. I’m looking forward to finishing this one this weekend!

Nike Epic React Sneakers

When I shared Tuesday’s Create Your Own Outdoor Workout, I highlighted Nike’s newest Epic React sneakers which I absolutely adore thanks to the lightweight yet snug fit. I’ve been wearing them for nearly all of my workouts since I received them two weeks ago and think they’re great for anyone on the lookout for a sneaker that’s supportive enough to wear during workouts that may involve jumping but still want a cushioned sole that’s ideal for walking or running as well. While I shared my review of the sneakers on Tuesday, they didn’t launch to the public until yesterday, so if you want to check them out, they’re officially available NOW! Woop!

Cauliflower Fried Rice from Pinch of Yum

Pinch of Yum comes through for me yet again! I followed this recipe almost exactly with two exceptions: I substituted coconut aminos for the soy sauce and added leftover chopped chicken to the pan when I added the edamame. I think the chicken helped with this dish’s staying powder since it’s pretty light on its own. Ryan and I both really enjoyed it (Chase snacked on edamame and carrots while I cooked which is a WIN in our house on the veggie front) and I’ll absolutely make this dish again soon. I love the way it incorporates sesame oil and think that is key for the deep nutty flavor of the cauliflower fried rice.

Friday Flashbacks

Coconut Hemp Seed Granola (I made a batch of this granola again this week and am loving it on Greek yogurt and cottage cheese for an afternoon snack!)