At 38 weeks pregnant, I know that I can go into labor at any time (and I'm actually hoping for it to be sooner rather than later). For my labor and delivery with Caleb, I completely overpacked my hospital bag, which I wrote about here. I decided to rewrite my list and give it it's own new post, since I'm so much wiser this time around (that was a joke - I still have no idea what I'm doing). The list is pretty self-explanatory, but I will say that our hospital provided me with a LOT of things that I had packed the first time around and I ended up not needing. The hospital did provide toiletries and necessities, but I did enjoy having some luxe products with me that made my hospital stay just a little more pleasant (I bought travel sizes of salon products and some of my skincare products to keep in my bag). 

Some of the things I've included are completely based on personal preference and are completely optional (hair dryer and iron anyone?). But I did like to have the option of fixing myself up just a little bit and having some makeup on made me feel human for visitors. I liked having my own bath towel because hospital towels tend to be a little rough, and my own pillow, along with a bright pillowcase, just so I have some of the comforts of home. 

I didn't include this on the list but I do have a few snacks packed and an empty water bottle that will make drinking water while lying in a hospital bed a little easier. 

I don't pack reading material with me because [I'm not delusional] I know I will be plenty busy and/or catching up on some much needed shut-eye. 

Anyway, here's the list! What would you add or remove? 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

So there are a lot of things I haven't been really great about this pregnancy, and eating super well has not been one of them. With both of my pregnancies, my first trimester has been all about the carbs. Second trimesters I've been pretty balanced. But this third trimester I have been feeling pretty exhausted (read: lazy). I would definitely say that I have been lacking in the department of a well-balanced diet - thank goodness for vitamins! 

But a couple of months ago, local Miami chef and author Lauren Arboleda of Food from the Heart sent me a copy of her book Pregnancy from the Heart. Her book is really great because it talks about how to keep yourself healthy during pregnancy, along with tips for staying active, and preparing for baby's arrival.

​Last week, I was feeling a little yucky with some of the food choices I had been making, and I was really craving an açaí bowl. So I opened up the book to a page I had bookmarked, with the recipe for homemade granola and an açaí bowl. While I didn't have all the ingredients for the granola, I mixed together a few of the ingredients I DID have, and then made the açaí bowl. It was exactly what I needed - it was filling, and it made me feel like I was at least getting some veggies and lots of vitamins and antioxidants in! Read below for the recipe, along with what else I've been loving from this book! 

Acai Bowl 
recipe can be found on page 121

Ingredients
1 frozen package of açaí (no sugar added) [Trader Joes has, I also found at Publix]
1/2 banana
1/2 cup pineapple
4 cups kale (I actually subbed for spinach because I didn't have kale)

I also added a tablespoon of peanut butter since this was my lunch and I wanted to add a little more protein. 

1. Add everything to the blender and blend until smooth. 
2. Pour in a bowl and sprinkle granola on top. 
3. Add anything else you would like - I added fresh strawberries and drizzled with a little local Orange Blossom Honey that we picked up at the farmers market a few weeks ago. 

Something else that is different from my pregnancy with Caleb - with Caleb, I made the time to go to prenatal yoga at least once a week during all of my second and most of my third trimester. This time, I never got around to it. But, Lauren has included a section in her book that has all the yoga poses you will need to help with all the typical pregnancy ailments. So I have actually been doing some of these yoga poses to help alleviate heartburn and back pain! 

I've also jumped around the book checking my list with hers for how to prep for baby's arrival and what to pack for the hospital. 

It's a beautifully illustrated book, and a great resource for a healthy, holistic pregnancy. I think it would make a beautiful gift for anyone you know who has recently announced their pregnancy, or even as a gift for yourself! You can buy it by following this link, or on Amazon, or at Books & Books in Coral Gables (my favorite bookstore ever and actually where I held Caleb's baby shower!). 

Keep it cool, mamas! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

One of the first things people always ask me when they find out I am having a girl is, "So have your pregnancies been different?" The short answer to that is a firm yes. There are so many ways in which my pregnancies have been different, but a lot of them are not huge differences. And while I'm going to attribute some of the differences to the difference in sex, I'm also going to say that age, circumstance, and experience have a lot to do with it as well. 

I will say that one of the biggest differences has been that when I was pregnant with Caleb, since I was a first-time mom, everything was a big deal. I worried about everything, and my pregnancy was basically all I thought about. When you have a child outside of your belly already, you don't have the time to focus as much on your pregnancy. 

With Caleb my belly was pretty big, and it was high and wide. I felt short of breath from very early in my pregnancy with Caleb, and he stayed high up right up until I was in labor! This pregnancy, my belly has been way lower from the beginning. It's also not as big. My stomach did bloat right away with this pregnancy, but it ended up leveling out. Since my belly doesn't protrude as much, I definitely feel more movement from her than I did with Caleb. 

With Caleb, I lost weight in my first trimester, then gained weight steadily throughout the rest of my pregnancy, with a total weight gain of 24 pounds. With this pregnancy, I have gained a whopping total of... wait for it (and don't hate me, please)... FIVE pounds. I'm actually almost embarrassed to say it, because most women who have been pregnant roll their eyes at me. At first I chalked it up to the nausea I experienced in my first trimester. But then the nausea stopped and I just didn't gain weight. I think there are a few factors at play here, including the fact that I was very active, what with chasing around a toddler, and working all the way through my busy season as a photographer. I've also not been able to eat very large meals during this pregnancy, and have been congested through most of it - which has definitely given me a decreased appetite. 

With Caleb, I barely had nausea. I had terrible sciatic pain in my first trimester, then it went away when I started using a pregnancy pillow. I had terrible heartburn all throughout my pregnancy with Caleb. I also had minor swelling with Caleb, and my nose definitely widened some. My feet grew, too!

Like I mentioned above, this time around, I had nausea through the whole first trimester. I have had sciatic pain on and off throughout my pregnancy, usually when I spend too much time on the floor for whatever reason. I've had some heartburn with this pregnancy, but more often when I let my stomach get too empty. I've also had no swelling, and no changes to my nose or feet (praise Jesus!) yet! 

This has been where I have experienced the biggest difference. My thoughts this time aren't consumed with a new baby. My thoughts are consumed by Caleb. I had more feelings of guilt this pregnancy than anything else. At one point, when Caleb was really sick with Roseola and battling high fevers every day for over a week, I was exhausted and on the verge of tears. I called my mom and told her, "I feel so guilty because I keep forgetting I'm pregnant, and all my attention is going to Caleb." Her response made perfect sense to me. She told me, "The one in your belly is taken care of. Make sure you take your vitamins and drink water, but don't stress over that baby. The one that's not in your belly needs you right now, and he can't take care of himself. Let go of the guilt and do what you need to do." And you know what? She was 100% right. The moment I let go of the guilt and reminded myself that that baby in my belly WAS perfectly cared for, I was able to be a better mom to Caleb. 

Those have been the biggest differences I have noted during this pregnancy. I have thus far been blessed with very healthy, very easy pregnancies, for which I am eternally thankful. 

Did you have big differences between your pregnancies? I'd love to hear about them! Share in the comments below! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

Chalk it up to not being a first-time mom or something like that, but I have been terrible at documenting my belly this pregnancy. For some reason, when I read my 33-week update this morning, I felt a little guilty about not having captured my belly more, so before we headed out today I had hubby snap a quick one on my phone. 

So yes, I am 33 weeks along. You read that correctly. Thirty-three! I can hardly believe it. That means that in just about seven weeks, there will be a new human living amongst us. Pretty crazy thought. I've been feeling about as decent as it gets when it comes to pregnancy.

Some things I'm feeling: 

• Lower back pain. Totally normal, since my center of gravity is off and my belly is carrying extra weight. 
• Braxton-Hicks contractions. Last week I felt them pretty heavily towards the beginning of the week and I knew it was a direct result of not drinking enough water. So I have started carrying around my water bottle everywhere and have made a conscious effort to drink a LOT more water. Which brings me to my next point... 
• Visiting every bathroom available because I have to pee every seven minutes. Every time baby girls shifts positions, I get a crazy urge to go.
• I also cannot laugh, cough, or sneeze without crossing my legs, otherwise I will have to go change my pants. Truth. 
• Round ligament pain. You literally feel the ligaments in your groin area stretching to help accommodate what your body will go through during birth. It's not painful, just uncomfortable. 
• Shortness of breath. My organs are all scrunched up in there, so I guess that's understandable. I find it really funny that this time last year I was training for a half marathon and could run a decent distance before losing my breath. Now? I can't even walk across the house. 
• Fullness. I don't know how to name this one but I eat like 3 bites and I'm stuffed. No joke, I had two slices of pizza the other day and I ended up throwing up because I ate too much. Lesson learned. 
• Tired. Exhaustion is creeping in. By the time my head hits the pillow at night, I'm typically out. 
• Anxious. This always sets in when you reach a certain point, I guess. Babies arrivals are unpredictable, and when you're a planner (or even when you're not), you just want to know. So I've started making lists for just about everything I can think of. 
• Emotional. I keep thinking how this will be our last this or that as a family of three. I also know that Caleb is going to go through an adjustment phase. So we have been trying to do things as a family of three and I've been spending time with him more consciously because I know that it will be harder to do that once baby arrives. 

And since the holidays are gone, Caleb's birthday has passed, and my due date is drawing near, I'm getting my butt in gear and starting to prepare for this little girl's entrance into the world. Here are some of the things I'm working on: 

• Getting items that weren't gifted to us from the registry. Some things weren't necessities, but others were so I've gone ahead and started finishing that up. 
• Organizing baby clothes. I spent yesterday morning organizing clothes by size and getting ready to wash them all this week. 
• Setting up the nursery. There's not a lot that needs to happen, but it does need to be organized, the mattress needs to be raised, and some decor has to be changed. 
• Packing my hospital bag. You can read more about what I'm planning on taking here. 
• Taking old gear out of storage and sending it for cleaning. We have a storage unit and the pack n play, mamaroo, bassinet, and a few other things have been in there for a little over a year. Those need to be taken out and sent to be cleaned before baby can use them. 
• Finalizing plans for Caleb's care. We are really fortunate to have four grandparents who can tend to him at any time, but Caleb's comfort and well-being is my biggest concern at the moment. Eddie and I will have everything covered at the hospital, but Caleb can't watch himself, and I don't plan on having him in the hospital with us for long periods of time. 

There are about a million things running through my head at the moment and the mental load is real. But I'm so excited to become a family of four and I can't wait to have my little princess in my arms!

Until next time! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

Happy New Year! I'm so excited for what is to come in 2018, including the arrival of our baby girl! A couple of months ago, Justine over at Little Dove reached out and said she wanted to do a giveaway at the beginning of the year for expectant mamas. Her idea was for each of us to contribute something that we absolutely could not live without when it came to our babies, and then one lucky mama would win all of our favorite things. I decided to go with the fridababy Bitty Bundle of Joy Mom & Baby Healthcare and Grooming Gift Kit. I actually had this kit on my registry, and received it at my baby shower,  along with duplicates of some of the items to keep in my diaper bag. 

If you are pregnant or have had a baby recently, you probably grimaced when someone first told you about the NoseFrida. I know I did. When I was pregnant with Caleb and we were working on our registry, I shied away from this product when I realized how it worked. Suck snot out of someone's nose? No way. 

One day, Eddie and I were in a baby store, and he pointed out the NoseFrida and asked me what it was. When I explained it to him, he was a little put off at first, but then he said, "That actually makes a ton of sense. We should definitely have one of these." Fast forward to Caleb's first cold, and boy was I glad I had this baby on hand. I actually ended up with a second one that I kept in our travel bag. 

Something similar happened with the Windi. Someone gifted it to me and I was like, oh heck no. That is NOT happening. Well, lo and behold, one day Caleb was crazy gassy and fussy and hadn't pooped. I pulled these babies out and NEVER LOOKED BACK. 

The NailFrida is awesome because it has a little window so you can see exactly where you are cutting. We actually nicked Caleb the very first time we cut his nails so this will make me feel much better the first time we cut baby girl's nails. 

And the final item in the box is the Fridet, or momwasher. Raise your hand if you took home like four of those plastic squeeze bottles from the hospital, because I certainly did. This is a little like those, except the nozzle is formed in such a way that you don't have to contort yourself (a hassle in and of itself after giving birth) to tackle your perineal care. 

So these products aren't glam. But I promise you will get so much use out of them. So SO SO much use. But with our giveaway, you too can have these products!  If you're a resident of the US or Canada, follow the link below and make sure you complete all the steps to enter before the contest ends at midnight on January 13! 

Also, make sure you check out the other ladies' posts so you can read about why they included their items! 

​Justine at Little Dove 
Shani at Sunshine & Munchkins 
Mary Leigh at Live Well Play Together 
Marette at Floradise 

Good luck! 

Xoxo, 

​Jenise

I've shown you all a few maternity looks already, but I want to share some of the basics about dressing your bump. You don't have to spend a fortune to look cute while you're growing a human, and I have a few tips to help you do just that! 

But first, I want to share this look that I'll be rocking this week, since Miami's temperatures have taken a little dip in the last few days. The items are all linked at the end of the post. 

The most basic of all my maternity wardrobe needs is the base of this outfit, and can be the base for MANY MANY MANY outfits. These black leggings are nice enough to dress up with boots and a cute top, and comfy enough to wear with sneakers and a tee. Here, I went for a casual look, pairing it with a basic white v-neck tee from Old Navy, and a quilted vest from Old Navy as well. For a warm, festive touch, I added this plaid blanket scarf, which is so versatile. It can be used as a scarf but you can also throw it over yourself and use it as a blanket while on a plane or in a car. It's one of those great wardrobe pieces that you can use a number of ways. I went with beige riding boots to give some contrast to the look. 

And now, my tips for dressing your bump. 

1. Think about what you will need based on your lifestyle. When I was pregnant with Caleb and working, I knew I needed clothes to get me through 6 months of work. So the first thing I invested in was work pants. I found a couple pairs I liked, and when they were on sale, I purchased in multiple colors (black, khaki, navy) so that I could make them work with some of the tops I already had. This time around, I have a much more casual lifestyle, so I knew I would need a couple of pairs of yoga pants and jeans. I also have a few plain dresses that I can dress up or down. 
2. Basics are your besties. Plain tees and tanks in neutral colors can be layered under everything or worn on their own. Don't underestimate a good white tee or black tank when your belly is growing. A chambray shirt and a white button down are great basics too. I also like to have some really simple tee shirt dresses because they can be dressed up or down too. 
3. Rethink what you already own. Using those basics I mentioned for layering, I've been able to stretch button down shirts and cardigans by wearing them open. They can add some dimension and color to a plain outfit. Even shirts that end up being too short can have some life extended by being worn over a maternity tank. You can also wear those too-short pieces under something like maternity overalls or a longer sweater. I also put all my blazers to good use. 
4. Accessorize! Now is the time to dig through all your shoes, scarves, hats, and jewelry. Throw a sparkly necklace on with one of your plain tees or dresses and you've successfully jazzed up an outfit. Vests and kimonos are also great options to change up the basic jeans and a tee. Use a scarf to change an outfit, or throw on a hat to make it look different than it did last week. 
5. Fill in the gaps. Formal events, your own baby shower, holidays. All events you'd normally buy new clothes for. Buy things that can be used after pregnancy, too. You probably won't want to wear a tight dress for a while, so something flowy can work for one of those events but can also be worn post-maternity. We went to New York when it was already cold and I didn't have any cold weather items I could use, so I ended up buying a coat and a vest (pictured in this post). 
6. Ask around. Unless you're the first of all your friends to be pregnant, you're bound to know someone who has been pregnant and who is willing to let you borrow some of their maternity duds and help you fill in the gaps in your wardrobe while you're expecting!

What tips would you add? 

Stay fab, friends! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

*These are affiliate links. By clicking on these links, you are helping support the blog!

This trimester has felt like a whirlwind. I can barely believe that I am almost in week 28 of this pregnancy and starting my third trimester. I have had tons of energy and have been able to accomplish a lot. I've also been working, a LOT, as this is my busy season as a photographer. 

My belly really started to grow over the last few weeks, and it's just now starting to get in the way of doing everyday things like tying my shoes and shaving. Baby girl is about the size of a papaya, which is pretty big, and she's making her presence known, most notably when I go to bed at night, of course! My worst/most annoying pregnancy symptoms have been pregnancy rhinitis (basically a terrible post-nasal drip exacerbated by the extra estrogen my body is making), and "leakage," which just means I pee myself every time I sneeze or cough if I can't manage to cross my legs in time (I'm just being honest here). Aside from that, everything is shaping up well, she has a strong heartbeat, and she's been kind to me in terms of weight gain and swelling. 

In other news, we are supposed to be getting a cold front in Miami over the weekend. While we were in New York, we had Lauren Listor of Laurel Creative take our family photos, and I also had her take some outfit shots for me. We shot this look, and I think it's a perfect one for the cooler weather we should be getting in Miami this weekend. The top and shoes are both Target (everything is linked below), and the jeans are my favorite maternity jeans, which can probably walk off by themselves at this point because I've worn them so much. 

The cold shoulder top is a nice change from your typical sweater, and it can be dressed up or down - I could have just as easily paired this with yoga pants and sneakers, or I can even dress it up a little more with a sparkly necklace. It's comfy and roomy and has plenty of space for my belly to keep growing! These ankle boots have a tiny 1.5-inch heel and were so comfortable for walking around the city, so I can definitely imagine myself wearing them around town to run errands. 

Stay gorgeous, friends! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

*These are affiliate links. By clicking on these links, you are helping support the blog!

Anyone who tells you pregnancy sucks because you have to look frumpy never met this Fiesta jumpsuit from Meet Me in Miami. I felt nothing but fierce and fabulous while wearing this jumpsuit. To boot, it will fit me until nearly the end of my pregnancy, I'm sure. 

It is honestly the softest jumpsuit I've every worn - made of a soft rayon blend jersey, and trimmed with bright and beautiful pom poms, it's a festive look for any occasion, and comfortable enough to keep you and your ever-changing pregnancy bod comfy. I wore this for a night out to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday and we went to happy hour, had dinner, and danced, and I was comfortable the whole night. Even trips to the bathroom (and let's face it - they're pretty frequent these days!), which are usually semi-nightmarish in jumpsuits like this, were a breeze. One of my favorite things about Meet Me in Miami is that all their items are handmade in the USA. At just under $100, it's a great piece to wear for nights out and more special events. I know I'll be wearing this at least a few more times during this pregnancy! 

I paired this romper with a pretty gold necklace, this embellished clutch that my mom brought me from Barcelona, simple black peep toe heels, and a bright pink lipstick to complement the bright colors on the pom poms. 

Stay sassy, ladies! 

xoxo, 

Jenise

Jumpsuit: Meet Me in Miami
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bag: Souvenir from Barcelona
Bracelet: Fringe Boutique Miami
Necklace: Francesca's 
​Lipstick: MAC Girl About Town

Since this is all anyone has wanted to know, basically since the day we announced we were expecting, I figured I'd say it here too. 

I honestly had no idea what I was having. Eddie was convinced from the day I told him I was pregnant that I was having a girl - but I really had no inkling of what was coming. I have always wanted a little girl, but I knew that God would send us whatever was right for us. So much so, that I even told Eddie I didn't want to find out until the birth! He vetoed that idea very quickly, and we decided we would find out. But I was totally thrilled with either a boy or a girl. 

Girls have always scared me a little bit only because my mom and I had such a contentious relationship while I was a teenager. I was a good kid, but our personalities were so alike that we butted heads all the time. But to be completely truthful, I wanted nothing more than a daughter with whom I could share a relationship like the one I NOW have with my mom. 

Now that I know I am having a girl, I am so excited. I know, I know, there's a possibility she might not like all things pink and girly, but let me have my moment. I'm thinking about wearing matching outfits with a little girl, and putting her in dance class - if she likes soccer, that's okay, too! I'm dreaming of trips to Disney and dining in Cinderella's castle, and of all the things that moms of little girls dream about. 

But I'm also excited to teach her about being a strong woman, and about how she can do anything she sets her mind to, and how she can achieve really great things because of all the amazing women who have paved the way before her. She has a lot of strong women in the family to look up to, and I can't wait to see this little girl grow and accomplish great things! 

But what I really can't wait for is to see our two babies together, loving each other and playing together. The fruits of mine and Eddie's love, right before us. Caleb and Chloe. This is a whole new chapter coming for us, and I can't wait to see the pages unfold! 

Keep checking this space to keep updated! 

xo, 

​Jenise 

*All items in the photo above were purchased at Target. 

Before I start, I need to ask your forgiveness for being a little absent lately! Between a rough first trimester, Caleb starting school, my volunteering at school, and then Hurricane Irma rolling through town, the blog has taken a backseat. But I'm hoping to have some great new material for you in the coming weeks! 

A quick update: my first trimester was rough. I tried to keep a really positive mindset the whole time. The fact that my nausea was so persistent was really difficult, but I tried to bear in mind that it meant that this baby was growing and that it was a perfectly normal side effect of pregnancy. I actually ended up on a medication called Diclegis, and that was really the only thing that helped with the nausea. I had tried anything and everything that I had read online or that had been suggested to take away nausea, and while it helped, it never completely took it away. The Diclegis was what finally got me feeling like a normal human being. I was also totally and completely exhausted. Add Caleb running around and needing a whole lot of attention, and I ended every day completely wiped. 

But now that I am in the second trimester, the nausea has subsided, and my energy is back up quite a bit. I still fall into bed every night and sleep like a baby, but I can make it through most of the day without needing a nap to survive. My belly is definitely growing - at 17 weeks my uterus is now the size of a melon and the baby is the size of a navel orange. I haven't gained a pound yet - which is good considering I started with a little extra weight on me. We still don't know the sex, so the blue shirt in this post says absolutely nothing about that (stop reading into things so much, guys - I promise, when I have news, I'll share it!). What else do you want to know? Ask me in the comments below!

Right before I announced my pregnancy, I discovered a brand that was just launching called Meet Me in Miami. I am a sucker for cute maternity clothes, and I was immediately drawn to their very "Miami" vibe. I also loved that their garments are made to be work before, during, and after pregnancy. So I reached out to them, and they had me come in to their workshop and try on some pieces, several of which I took home with me! In visiting their workshop, I learned that each and every item is handmade right there, locally. What a plus to be buying into our own economy and supporting locals. ​

This Salsa Mambo top could not be any more fun. I mean, just look a these sleeves! They just beg to have you swing around and let them move. The off-the shoulder is on trend, and I don't think it's going anywhere for a while. It features a raw trim edge with layered sleeves and is made of the softest material. I had so much fun shooting this top, and I can't wait to wear it again! 

I paired this top with maternity jeans - I picked these skinny jeans up at Motherhood Maternity during my pregnancy with Caleb, and they are from the Jessica Simpson brand. You know I love me some pointy-toed flats, and these lace-up gold ones from Old Navy fit the bill perfectly. And this Kate Spade bag, which was a gift from my friend and fellow blogger Kathy over at Freshly Squeezed Fashionista, matched the top so perfectly. A turquoise tassel necklace rounded out the look, which is perfect for anything from running errands to a casual date night. This top can easily be dressed up - a pair of nude heels would have very easily taken this look straight to the dance floor.  

xoxo, 

​Jenise