NEWBORN BABY CLOTHING HAUL! | Carter's, Old Navy & More!

The very first item we purchased after learning that we were having a baby boy was an adorable Batman onesie.  It was about an hour after my 20-week ultrasound appointment and we had stopped at Target to grab something for dinner.  While I had thought for sure I'd be browsing the racks of cuteness-overload in the little girls' section, trying to decide between which infant flower dress I wanted more, I was still in a state of shock that I'd be spending the next months picking out overalls and shirts with cars on them.

After the initial shock, I set out to find little boys clothes that I actually liked.  I do not favor anything with cartoon characters or childish drawings, and have instead gravitated towards the "little vintage man" types of clothing.  This included suspenders, henleys, rough button-downs, bow-ties, and anything with a nautical or "vintage" look to it.  

This newborn baby clothing haul includes all of the clothes we have purchased ourselves.  We have thankfully received many, many secondhand clothes; if I were to go through them all it would be an hour long video!

I hope you enjoy my picks!  Leave in the comments your favorite places to shop for baby.

Want MORE pregnancy videos?  Check out my YouTube!

    

SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty

Tulip Festival Travel Vlog | Baby Bump Keeps Growing!

The Annual Wooden Shoe Farm Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon is known for its acres upon acres of colorful blooms that grace the Portland countryside.  We went on opening weekend last year and absolutely fell in love with the picturesque scenery and fresh smell of thousands of newly bloomed tulips.
 

We loved it so much we decided to bring Alva with us on this year's adventure to opening weekend.  However, we were disappointed to find an underwhelming number of tulips in bloom.  In fact, just several rows of reds and yellows had blossomed.  Turns out the rest have been stifled into a late bloom due to the abnormally cold winter and wet spring Oregon has experienced this year.  

The pictures used in this blog are from last year's (normal) opening weekend.  Acres of beautiful tulips for as far as the eye can see, set against a backdrop of clear blue skies, a traditional Dutch windmill, and the graceful outline of Mount Hood.

Lesson learned: check with the local news before heading out to the farm.  However, we still had fun, we got VERY muddy (I'm blaming pregnancy brain for failing to realize we should bring towels and wipes with us when bringing a dog to a field that has had a very wet spring).  We cannot wait to bring Welles with us next year, to not just experience the tulips in my belly but also in person!

Check out the vlog below of our fun and exciting day at the Tulip Festival!  Caution: mud on the baby belly may be involved : )

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SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty

5K at 5 MONTHS PREGNANT Vlog! | PORTLAND'S SHAMROCK RUN

I'd never participated in a 5K before, and was signed up for Portland's annual Shamrock Run just several weeks into my first trimester by my fiancé.  At this point the back aches and extra weight of a large balloon-sized belly hadn't set in and, desiring to be as active as possible during my pregnancy, agreed to my first 5K.

Portland's annual Shamrock Run attracts thousands of people every year, from half-marathon runners, 5K runners, power-walkers, and walking families with strollers alike (we fit into this last group).  It was a crisp early Spring morning that faded into a warm day, perfect weather for some prenatal exercise!  

I would be lying if my back wasn't aching by the end of it, or uncomfortable at points when my bladder (which remains ever full these days) felt like a water balloon jiggling in my stomach, but was it worth it in the end?  Hell yes.

Interested in MORE pregnancy vlogs?  Check out my YouTube!

    

SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty

21 & 22 Weeks Pregnant | SEEING THE BABY'S FACE!

Here I am at 22 weeks pregnant and I cannot believe how fast the time is flying by.  It felt like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant, and it seemed as if we had all the time in the world to get ready.  Now, the second trimester is winding down, and the home stretch of the 3rd trimester feels like it is coming up so fast!

The past two weeks have been intensely busy with us moving into a new house and having two doctor visits.  The first was our routine midwife visit and the second was a follow-up anatomy ultrasound.  Everything went great and we were even able to get some very clear and accurate 3D pics of little Welles' face!  It's crazy how fast he's growing and how human-like he now looks.

In this vlog I go into more detail on our doctor visits, share some of ultrasounds pics, and let you know the goods on what it feels like to be 22 weeks pregnant!  Make sure you check it out, as well as all of my other pregnancy vlogs.

Interested in MORE pregnancy vlogs?  Check out my YouTube!

    

SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty

What I Ate Today! | 5 Months Pregnant Vegetarian

From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I have been determined to make the healthiest choices possible for my body and my baby.  Do I cave in to not-so-healthy cravings occasionally?  Of course!  At least once a week you can find me munching down on strawberry Twizzlers or my favorite YumEarth sour beans.  However, a majority of the time I am dedicated to consuming as much vegetables, fruit and plant-based proteins as possible.

Being a vegetarian while pregnant has actually been very easy.  I am fortunate enough to live in Portland, Oregon where being vegetarian/vegan is common and as a result there are endless choices at stores and restaurants for plant-based protein.  Protein is essential during pregnancy, and there is the misconception that vegetarians/vegans do not get enough to sustain proper nutrition.  But this couldn't be further from the truth.

I can obtain just as many grams of protein consuming plant-based protein as someone who eats meat-based protein, I just need to make a conscious effort on a daily basis to make sure I am including that protein in every meal.

In this vlog I show you a random average day of what I eat.  My food preferences change all the time, and when I do my 6 months pregnant "What I Ate Today" update vlog it will most likely be all new foods!  But hey, I'm pregnant, and I'm allowed to change my preferences...because, well, I just can ; )

Interested in MORE pregnancy vlogs?  Check out my YouTube!

    
SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty