Baby Watch | The Last Few Weeks!

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // May 12, 2016 // 14 Comments

I truly cannot believe I’m officially FULL TERM today! Did you know full term is now 37 weeks? I think with Elizabeth a few years ago it was full term at 38 weeks.

Official due date is June 2… but this week my goal was to get ready and finish the last few fiddly things that should happen.

So will you indulge me in a little pregnancy ramble?

This pregnancy, like my first with Elizabeth, was pretty easy, all things considered. I really have only had heart burn and fatigue. Otherwise, normal weight gain, plenty of movement, and no health concerns. Win win!

It feels like I’ve been tired, constantly, this ENTIRE pregnancy! When I sat back to think about it, it’s no wonder I feel that way! First Trimester was Elizabeth’s second birthday AND my huge church volunteer project. Just as I was recovering from that, it was Thanksgiving/Christmas time. January and February were normal, but then we were sick all of March. And then April and May have just been dealing with the fatigue of the end of pregnancy. Wild, right? It certainly made this pregnancy go by very fast.

This week was my “get things done” week… I’ve sort of been productive in that regard. The blog has slipped, but other things have gotten done. That’s life, right?

Here’s what I tackled this week:

A run to Trader Joe’s to stock up on freezer meals
Finishing touches in the nursery
Final laundry done and put away
Final errands to pick up little bits and bobs needed
Packed up items for baby for hospital
Gathered items for me for hospital
Packed a small bag for Elizabeth in case she needs to stay at someone’s house while we’re at the hospital
Brought down car seat and other items from storage
Baked a few batches of our favorite vegetarian meatballs and some breakfast pinwheels
Wrapped “Big Sister” and “Baby Brother” gifts
Set up diaper station downstairs
Packed a car bag with “just-in-case” things when you’re out and about (like extra clothes, blanket, diapers and wipes, etc)
Took care of some Church volunteering to dos
Caught up on thank you notes (thank goodness!!)

Ah, seeing it all written out like that made me feel better! I was worried I had frittered away this week. Thanks for indulging me in that!

I’m trying my hardest not to get caught up in the “when will it happen??” thoughts. Labor happens when it happens. But this week I definitely noticed a change in where this kiddo is hanging. And it kicked my preparations in to high gear!

I’ve also started dipping my toe in to all the emotions of soon becoming a family of four, and that my sweet daughter will no longer be an only child. I can’t WAIT to see her as a big sister, but I can’t help but get misty eyed that our time as a family as we know it now is almost over. I am wishing we had done more! Done a vacation! Had fun adventures! Baked more! Created more crafts! I’m not terribly sentimental, but this has been tugging at my heart this week…

Switching gears – I realized I have forgotten what the typical schedule is for newborns! I know it’s a feeding every 2-3 hours for the first few weeks, but after that I couldn’t remember what I did with Elizabeth! So I pulled up my favorite app and looked at the schedule. I’m grateful that Elizabeth’s current schedule at 2.5 years old will line up nicely with the early baby schedule (in theory!). I’m also grateful we’ve got 3 months of summer to get our groove. If we were managing schedules of a toddler AND a newborn amongst the usual school and activities, I’d be so nervous. (I’m a schedule girl, can’t you tell?)

In these last few weeks, I’ve surprised myself that the biggest emotion I’m feeling is excitement! I’m not worrying about what has or has not gotten done (especially after this reasonably productive week). Sure, I planned to have made more freezer meals… but that’s ok! I’m not anxious about labor. I’m really more anxious to know who will be the OB on call the day I go in HAHA! I’m just really excited to meet this wiggly baby boy and to welcome him to our family!

In general, the fear of the unknown can get to me. If I haven’t experienced it before, it makes me nervous. That was me just before Elizabeth was born. I was nervous about what labor would be like… I was worried about how I would survive with little sleep… I worried about breast feeding… shoot, I even worried if I’d be able to bathe her!

And now, with #2, since I’ve been through it once before, I’m just relaxed and excited. Even though I can’t predict how this labor or this baby will be compared to Elizabeth, I DO know I survived the first time! I know others have survived before me! I take comfort in the village of other moms both here locally and online (thank you blogging world!) that I can always count on for encouragement and prayers. I think Elizabeth will be a fantastic Big Sister (until this baby can grab her toys, anyway) but I’m mentally ready to offer her tons of grace. Speaking of grace, I’m planning on offering it to myself and my husband too.

So stay tuned throughout the next few weeks! Thank you all for your patience with how quiet things have been around here… I’ve been prioritizing naps over blogging. HA! But a new normal around here is coming.

High Five for Friday #69 | Family Fun

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // May 6, 2016 // 12 Comments

Welcome to High Five for Friday – hosted by me, Tif, and Della! If you want to know more, read about it here!

This week’s featured blogger is Johanna from The Sirois Family! She is married and has two adorable girls!! Her blog is just peppered with fun stories about their sweet family and the adventures they’re having. Be sure to swing over and say hello!!!

This week was a fun week! No funny stories like last week’s cat burglar story, but we had fun nonetheless!

1. Saturday we hit the road and drove to Pinehurst for the Concours d’Elegance (that’s a fancy word for a fancy car show). It was definitely a fun activity for my husband, who loves cars, but I enjoyed it too! Elizabeth had fun running up and down the golf course hills. The only downer? Trying to accommodate a potty-training toddler in her many “I have to go potty!” runs. A toddler who REALLY doesn’t actually need/want to go + a pregnant lady, all crammed in a tiny porta-john? Horrible. I didn’t want to touch anything.

Spent the morning looking at beautiful cars. #pinehurst #concoursdelegance #weekendfun

A photo posted by Katie (@ktcupoftea) on Apr 30, 2016 at 1:41pm PDT

2. This week I have been battling some serious fatigue. I really should take naps when I can, because I will need all the sleep I can get. But I’m finding myself nodding off several times a day. No bueno!!

3. I FINALLY found the perfect Spring purple shade – OPI’s Lucky Lucky Lavender. I bought it on a whim at Target (as you do most things at Target) and love it. And why do OPI polishes dry so fast? Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like Essie polishes take FOREVER to dry down. OPI was dry within a minute or two. Perfection! I raved about this polish and a few other things in my April Favorites, if you missed it.

Finally found it! The Spring purple nail polish that's not too purple. OPIs Lucky Lucky Lavender. ??? #springfeeling

A photo posted by Katie (@ktcupoftea) on May 2, 2016 at 1:27pm PDT

4. We are about as good as we’re going to get for Baby Boy’s arrival. The last detail is hauling the car seat down and giving it a clean and install. Tomorrow our entire church is hosting a baby sprinkle (that’s what you call a baby shower for kid #2. Who knew?) and we’ll then be MORE than ready for this boy. Elizabeth and I spent some time watching YouTube videos of other big sisters getting to meet their baby brothers in the hospital. It was fun! We may have both been misty-eyed.

5. Last night my husband and I had a really FUN date night! We went out to our favorite Mexican restaurant for Cinco de Mayo (not really planned… couldn’t quite figure out why everything was so bustling right at 5:00!) and then we went to a Hillsong United concert! Tons of fun! We had great seats right pretty close. Any Hillsong concert is amazing – it’s a giant praise and worship concert, where thousands are all singing together. Such a great experience! I’m not sure how the baby did with all the bass pounding… I kept waiting to start labor! But we survived it. We didn’t get home until midnight, so I’m basically a walking zombie, but it was totally worth it.

Excited for Hillsong United! An epic date night full of praise and a killer beat! #hillsongunited #h54ffav

A photo posted by Katie (@ktcupoftea) on May 5, 2016 at 5:06pm PDT

What were you up to this week? Let me know!

I’m also linking up with Oh Hey, Friday, Meet @ the Barre, 5 on Friday & Diary of a Real Housewife

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April Favorites | TV + Beauty + Home

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // May 5, 2016 // 3 Comments

It’s May already! Seriously, this doesn’t seem possible. But, as always, I have a few favorites to share with you, including the PERFECT not-to-purple nail polish. Not to mention a fantastic thriller/murder mystery series on Netflix that you must watch.

Links are down below of products mentioned!

And if you didn’t realize I had a YouTube channel, swing by to check out other videos and subscribe!

Products Mentioned:

JR Watkins Foaming Hand Soap in Grapefruit

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Sweet Watermelon

OPI polish in Lucky Lucky Lavender

Harris Teeter Express Lane service

Toshiba Chromebook 2 (CB35-C3300)

Happy Valley (2 seasons currently on Netflix)

What have YOU been loving this month? I want to hear all about it!

Linking up at Party at My Place

Menu Monday | 5 Tips for Quickly Feeding Your Family

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // May 2, 2016 // 18 Comments

Sometimes life throws us a curve ball or we have a big event (like a new baby!) and getting dinner on the table just seems like an insurmountable task. With our new baby due in just a few weeks, I’ve been thinking of some ways to make it easy on me to get dinner on the table for my family for the least amount of effort. Lazy or smart?

Here are 5 tips I’m incorporating to help get dinner on the table.

Make Food Ahead and Freeze

Last week I started adding one meal a week that I can easily double and freeze for after the baby is born. I’m sure you’ve got some go-to meals like that in your rotation. I plan on having a set of vegetarian meatballs, a Mexican lasagna, and several batches of breakfast pinwheels on hand for quick meals when I’m desperate. There are also a few meals that make way more food than we can handle at a time. I’ll just split that dinner in half and eat one half now and the other half goes in the freezer.

Even if you don’t have a life event where there is a deadline (i.e. baby due date) just make it a regular practice to incorporate one recipe a week that you can double and freeze half. Keep 4-5 freezer meals on hand at all times, just in case.

Stock up on ingredients for easy-to-make meals

Pasta sauce on sale? Stock up on your favorites to keep on hand for a quick dinner! Love tacos? Make sure you have ingredients ready to go when the mood strikes. I also always add one easy meal to the menu once a week to give myself a break when the day just isn’t unfolding as planned.

Don’t be afraid of the frozen pizza

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a frozen pizza, but don’t be afraid to stock up on a few frozen pre-made entrees! Our go-tos are frozen margherita pizzas that we can add other toppings to OR pretty much every freezer item at Trader Joe’s. They have such a delicious selection! We especially love the vegetarian potstickers and the vegetable fried rice for a quick meal.

Grocery shop online

I mentioned I was trying this a few weeks ago, and it’s been SUCH a game changer! Our local Harris Teeter offers a pick up service for groceries. You just order online, then drive up and pick up. So convenient! It’s the more “pricey” store in town, but I figure my time is worth something, and I’m saving a TON of time the weeks I’ve used it. This service will be so convenient when the baby arrives – shopping with a toddler AND a newborn sounds terrifying. And if I don’t have to unload them out of the car, that’s a win. Check and see what stores offer it in your area! I’ve heard WalMart does!

Make a rotating 2 week menu

The 2 week menu isn’t necessarily a new concept, but I’m adding an additional easy twist to it once this baby arrives. I’m planning on a 2 week menu that we use EVERY 2 weeks. There is a different meal every night, but after the 2 weeks, it starts all over again. Same shopping list, ingredients are shared amongst dinners, and I can plan exactly how many items I need NOW and get them now, then just do a small grocery shop each week for produce and dairy. Between this and the online grocery shopping above, this will be PERFECT for a few months until I’m feeling a bit more comfortable. Once I get the menu nailed down, I’ll share it all!

What are some of your go-to ideas to make it easier to get meals on the table? Take out is, of course, an option too!

Need more info for how I menu plan? Check this out!
Or read up on my favorite meal planning and grocery shopping hacks!

Need more ideas for dinner?
Follow my Pinterest board – it’s where I save all of my dinner ideas!

Follow Katie | Cup of Tea Blog's board Good Eats | Dinner on Pinterest.

Linking up at Menu Monday with Org Junkie

High Five for Friday #68 | Friends + Cat Burglars

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // April 29, 2016 // 24 Comments

Welcome to High Five for Friday – hosted by me, Tif, and Della! If you want to know more, read about it here!

This week’s featured blogger is Kelsey from The Peacock Roost! If you love DIYs and home improvement projects, she is your girl!! She and her husband just finished a bathroom remodel and I’m loving it! The blue paint color they settled on is so pretty. Swing over and say hello!

This whole week has FLOWN by! It was one of the best, but busiest weeks we’ve had in a long time. Can’t wait to catch you all up on it. (And in case you’re wondering…. the tick is still in my back.)

1. This weekend was one of the best ever. So much fun and friends packed into a few days. Friday night we had dinner with friends and kiddos. Elizabeth had 6 trips to the bathroom during that dinner… but it was fun. Saturday was a full day at church PLUS potluck after with friends and kiddos. And when we came home we celebrated my husband’s birthday too! We had a great time decorating, fixing special treats, and singing “Happy Birthday” really loud. And then on Sunday we had dear friends who have moved away come stay with us! Sunday evening we had a simple dinner and dessert and let the kids play outside. This whole weekend was such a balm to my soul. Delightful!

2. Wednesday we had a spontaneous trip to our museum as a family! It was short lived as a “family” trip, because my husband had to head home after being there a grand total of 5 minutes…. BUT Elizabeth and I rallied and had a fun time.

3. I had another OB appointment this week. Baby Boy is head down and super low… I guess he’s as ready as he needs to be. I’m officially 35 weeks now, and next week I start the “once a week” appointment schedule, which means the end is in sight. I’m really excited! I thought I would be more nervous/anxious, but nope. Totally excited! We’ll see how long that lasts…

4. You may have missed some good posts this week! I shared some favorite new recipes you HAVE to try. There are also a few things I’d like to purchase post-pregnancy (confession: I’ve already bought 2…). I also posted our behind-the-scenes vlog on the ups and downs of potty training. It was tough… but we’re one month in and things are positive!

5. Ending with a funny story I’ve been saving for you all week. On Monday, after having lunch out with friends, husband, Elizabeth and I returned home to find our front door wide open!! Panic! My husband headed inside to find the intruder while I sat in the car, armed with nothing but a tube of chapstick, ready to tackle the perps as they escaped. I heard my husband holler “KATIE!!” so I bolted inside! Pregnant Lady to the rescue! When I got inside, my husband yelled from upstairs “there is a CAT up here!”. Say WHAT?! It had cornered itself under a bed and refusing to come out. So we closed all doors, I opened the front door and my husband poked the cat. And out she bolted! Hooray! Glad it was only a cat and not a weirdo.