She’s finally here, you guys! I can’t believe we’ve made it to this moment where our sweet girl has finally made it earth side and as a family we couldn’t be more excited. I’m writing this having had her a little over a week ago and she’s been home now for five days.

We’re currently in the middle of navigating these first few days as a family of four – getting adjusted to newborn life once again, helping Greyson adjust to having a baby sister, pumping/nursing around the clock, and just simply taking it all in.

There’s so much wrapped up in her birth story, and like many, it came with its fair shake of twists and turns. Today I’m excited to share our experience as it’s, for sure, one for the books. Between a random, but intense, Texas snowstorm to Olivia spending time in the NICU, we’re just in a state of gratitude for how everything ended up.

Here is Olivia’s birth story.

A freak winter storm

As all are pretty much aware, Texas has experienced some pretty intense (and un-seasonal) winter weather this last week and what first began as excitement over the fact that we’d be getting snow, quickly turned to panic and dire living conditions for so many.

On Sunday night the weather began to turn and that’s when the snow first started to fall. It was a beautiful sight and so magical. Living in California for so long, and now Texas, snow was just something I’d come to accept that I’d rarely get to see (I’m a Northern Virginia native who’s used to having actual winters). However, it was so much fun seeing Greyson wake up on Monday with a fresh blanket of snow to explore and play in.

The night prior our power started to flicker on and off throughout the night. It wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary and something we kind of expected. However, on Monday the power would be off for longer stretches at a time and eventually wouldn’t ever come back on. Again, nothing terribly alarming, but the house began to inch more and more towards being unbearably cold. Without power there’s no heat, food (storage or ability to make it – we have electric appliances), and generally…a way to keep a four year old busy. Thankfully, my husband’s parents’ neighborhood never lost power so we decided that we would hunker down at their house overnight just to stay warm and be together.

On Tuesday morning we had an OB appointment on the books. Because the weather continued to snow, then turn to freezing rain, then frigid temperatures…everything began to shut down around us. Freeways were closed, then businesses and gas stations were closed due to the power blackouts. So, when I called to see if my OBs office was open – and got kicked to their voicemail – I was certain they were also closed.

…the only issue for me was that I was heading into my 41st week with Olivia and we had discussed inducing me on Wednesday should my labor not start on its own before our OB appointment. Needless to say, I wasn’t going to miss that appointment.

Heading to the hospital

Since we couldn’t get a hold of anyone at the doctor’s office, my husband and I decided to brave the roads and head there regardless. We figured that: worst case scenario we would find that the office was closed and head to the hospital where they could examine me and contact my OB. Upon arriving it was obvious the office was closed so we went across the way to the hospital to triage on the labor and delivery floor. This would be where we would go should my water have broken, so naturally I thought we would try there first.

Upon entering the hospital I was prepared for one of two things:

1. They would examine me and determine that without my OBs orders they couldn’t admit me unless labor has started…and therefore send me home.
2. They would examine me, I would fit the criteria, and admit me to start labor.

Triage

Went entered triage where we were given a bed and I was hooked up to the routine monitors. The nurses were really nice and asked general questions about my care, who my OB was, and what brought me in. I explained my situation and that I hadn’t heard from my OB – hoping they would be able to contact her.

Come to find, my OB actually scheduled me for an induction for Wednesday. I had no idea as it was more of a verbal discussion at our last appointment, but I was happy to see that she had already planned for it. Because the weather turned and roads were dangerous, I would be seen by the hospital OB who would review my situation and examine me. It took a little bit of waiting on the doctor and paperwork (go figure) but she eventually arrived. She was so pleasant and even though she wasn’t my doctor, I felt really comfortable being in her care.

After discussing things with her she decided that she would admit me and we would begin the induction process and have our baby! She didn’t want to risk sending me home in the weather conditions and I’m so grateful to her for that. So, within moments we were moved from triage and officially admitted and given a room in labor and delivery.

Labor & Delivery

After getting settled into our room the nurses began my IVs and Pitocin – as I began what would become a marathon of Chopped and Real Housewives. After some time I was able to receive my epidural and catheter and be able to rest more comfortably. The first sensation I remember from my epidural was losing feeling in my legs and feet. It felt like my legs were asleep (that my-legs-are-buried-in-the-sand feeling) and that I needed to shake them awake – but, of course, I couldn’t. My husband was a great birthing partner because he was there to rub them and pretty much be at my beck-and-call.

One side effect that NO ONE talks about when it comes to epidurals is that in losing the ability to feel/control your lower body comes flatulence. So, just be prepared to toot without being able to control it – it’s a little embarrassing at first, but it’s just one of many things one cares less about after an experience childbirth. 😉

A little later on they broke my water and continued laboring. At this point I had been in labor for almost 14 hours, but surprisingly with not much progress in dilation. It got to the point where we had to start discussing the possibility of a c-section. But then it was as if she heard us talking because within the hour she went from 3cm to 10cm! By the time my nurse checked me she was amazed to see that I was at 10cm and ready to start pushing.

However, during one of my examinations my nurse discovered meconium, baby’s first bowel movement in utero. Although normal, especially in a 41 week delivery, it does pose an infection risk because Olivia ingests it while in the amniotic fluid.

This would become the reason she would later become admitted to the NICU.

Welcome, Olivia Pierce

When the time came I ended up pushing for 1 hour then she was finally here!

At 1:15am on February 17, 2021 miss Olivia Pierce was born.

The moment she came out I was alarmed because she wasn’t crying. My husband had to keep affirming to me that she was completely healthy – and that she came out just looking around and observing. I had never seen anything like it! She eventually started crying as she was being checked and cleaned off.

During her routine newborn screening they detected that her temperature was a little elevated, but otherwise checked out okay (I did not have a temperature). After an hour or so we were moved to our recovery room where we got settled and continued our skin-to-skin bonding and attempts at nursing. I tried breastfeeding but she had zero interest in eating at all. I didn’t really have concerns because many of our nurses just said she may need more time to transition from the womb to life on the outside and to not give up trying to nurse.

The beginning of our NICU Journey

Later that morning our baby nurse popped in for Olivia’s routine check-ups and told us that her initial blood work came back and that the doctor would like to re-test her blood. In addition, when they checked her temperature again it had dropped (41 week old healthy babies shouldn’t be cold) and paired with a no interest in nursing gave them a cause to be concerned. So, she was taken once more for a blood draw and additional tests to rule things out. Thankfully my husband accompanied her every step of the way (while I rested and recovered in our room) and I’m appreciative to the hospital for allowing him to do so.

Unfortunately her tests detected a possible infection and that was the cause of her temperature and lack of wanting to eat. At that point she would be admitted to the NICU and would begin antibiotics via IV while additional screenings and tests were done to figure out what exactly was causing the infection.

Although this wasn’t the birth story we had anticipated, or wanted, it’s our journey and being home with our baby girl has us looking back with grace and gratitude surrounding our whole birthing experience. I look forward to sharing our NICU story here soon and continue to thank all of our family and friends who rallied around us during an unsure time.

Welcome to the world, miss Olivia Pierce!

Linking up with Andrea.

How did your pregnancies stack up against the wives tales out there? Did you find they were spot on or were there a few that didn’t stack up to the test? Today I’m having fun reflecting on the various wives tales there are when it comes to pregnancy and how this time around fared.

Of course, all of these are not scientifically proven nor should they be considered fact. They’re just fun superstitions that help determine various things about your baby while in utero.

The Chinese Gender Predictor

Are you familiar with this Chinese gender calendar? Supposedly for centuries mothers have looked to this calendar for a prediction as to whether their unborn child will be a boy or a girl.

To find your prediction, you simply look up the month you conceived and match it to the age you conceived. According to this chart, you should be able to gain a good idea of what your baby’s gender might be.

Verdict: Truth

For Olivia we conceived her in May and I was 32 years old. According to this chart I am to have a girl and that’s exactly what we’re having! When checking it against Greyson, we conceived in June and I was 27 which shows I was to have a boy, which was correct!

The Ring Test

This test is a little more vague but I distinctly remember doing with a co-worker of mine right around the time we were trying for our first baby. I’ve heard that the ring test can be used to predict the number of children and/or the gender of each child.

Supposedly, you take your wedding band and string it to a necklace (we used string from school) and either over your hand (which is what we did) or over your belly (if you’ve already conceived) and watch for the way the ring swings. If it moves in circles it’s a girl and if it sways back and forth it’s a boy.

Verdict: Truth

When I did it prior to conceiving Greyson it swung in a way that indicated we would have two children and that we would have one of each. The freaky part was that I tried to test it a third time and the ring wouldn’t budge! So, I guess it’s two kids for us…but who knows what the future holds…

Watch Your Cravings

There’s the age old wives tale that says that if you’re craving more savory foods you’re having a boy and alternatively if you’re craving sweets then you’re thought to be carrying a girl.

Verdict: Truth…kind of

For both of my pregnancies I remember having similar cravings (including a healthy mix of savory and sweet). However, I can definitely say that this go around with Olivia I am craving more sweets and fruit than I ever did with Greyson. Cake, chocolate, cookies, donuts, ice cream, and pineapple have been my go-to cravings this last trimester!

Pregnancy Glow

This one I’ve heard a lot about. The tale says that if you find yourself with that particular pregnancy glow of beautiful skin and bright luscious hair you’re carrying a boy. And on the flip-side, if you notice that you’re glow is being stolen (i.e. you’re breaking out more, have brittle hair, dry skin, etc.) it’s most likely you’re carrying a girl.

Verdict: Tale

For both of my pregnancies I remember feeling and looking great (see photo of me at 37 weeks with both). The only exception is that Greyson had me swell and retain water like crazy towards the end…he was also 9 lbs at birth, which had me looking and feeling huge by the time I hit 40-41 weeks.

With Olivia this time around I’ve noticed that I’ve maintained good weight and that staying hydrated in combination with moisturized (thanks, Beautycounter!) has really helped me in the glow department. Also, since moving to Texas from California this year I have noticed I’ve experienced more dry skin, but I don’t think that has to do with pregnancy but moreso the climate change.

Heartburn = Baby with Hair

This one I won’t really know until she’s born, but I can say that this pregnancy has me with more heartburn than when I carried Greyson. He came out with peach fuzz blonde hair, which can be indicative that this wives tale is leaning towards being true for us.

What about you? Have you tried any of these wives tales and tested them against your pregnancies?

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.

When it comes to becoming a mom for a second time I found myself with a clearer sense of what we would need. Unfortunately for us, and having lived in a one bedroom apartment for forever, we didn’t keep much from when Greyson was a baby. We simply didn’t have the space to hold onto things like cribs, bath tubs, and bottles (plus we never really considered having another baby until this year). So, with our soon-to-arrive baby girl in February has us thinking about what was worth investing in (…again) and what things we learned we could do without.

Registering for a Second Baby

When I was pregnant with Greyson I had discovered BabyList. They’re a baby registry and online store that makes creating and sharing a registry easy and convenient. Since using it in 2015, BabyList has experienced some growth and now offers so many more options and features.

Why BabyList?

• BabyList allows me to create a registry where I can add items from any store. I personally use their Chrome browser extension which makes this process of adding items even easier.
• I appreciate being able to register for exactly what I need/want.
• Price comparisons are featured – making it easy for my friends and family to find the best deal.
• I can support small business.
• Items purchased are shipped directly to me.
• BabyList also offers a variety of reviews and guides which have been so helpful as I create my registry.

Check out my BabyList registry here for inspiration.

What to Get

If you’re going with a traditional nursery, keep in mind you probably won’t be using it right away. We had Greyson in our bedside bassinet for months before transitioning him to his own crib and began sleep training so he’d sleep through the night. Most moms want to keep baby right near them in the beginning (and makes breastfeeding and caring for baby so much easier when they’re right there). So don’t feel the pressure to have your nursery Insta-worthy right away.

So, as we continue adding things to our registry for baby #2, I thought to share what worked for us the first time around and what’s worth investing in again.

• Owlet Baby Monitor – We loved our Owlet Smart Sock! The peace of mind it provided us with Greyson allowed us to sleep with the confidence that he was breathing and healthy. Anytime the monitor gave us an alert we were right there.
• 4Moms Bathtub – Again, we used (and loved) this clean water bathtub. It fit right in our kitchen sink of our 1 bedroom apartment and I loved how clean water was always flowing. Excited to use this tub again for baby girl!

• Bedside Bassinet – A bedside bassinet was something I never knew I needed. It honestly saved my sleep in those beginning months. I loved having Grey right next to me where I could check on him, know he was safe, and have easy access for feeding time. This time around we registered and received the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper!
• Nursing Pillow – You can’t go wrong with having that extra nursing support. Plus, many nursing pillows can double for tummy time and a lounger (with supervision, of course). I love our tried and true Boppy, but there’s so many brands out there to choose from.
• A Glider & Recliner – This was among my favorite purchases when we were expecting Greyson and something I can’t wait to buy again. Gliders are so comfortable and the reclining feature makes it easy to snuggle up to baby. Place it in the nursery or your bedroom (or living room!) and enjoy!
• An infant car seat/stroller combo – After much research, reading reviews and getting demonstrations in-store, we opted for the Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 travel system. It checks all the boxes we’re personally looking for and will give us the most out that price tag (i.e. infant car seat and a bassinet attachment that folds into a toddler chair for the stroller).
• Nest Indoor Camera – Instead of purchasing a baby monitor we went with Nest indoor cameras. It’s been great that as baby grows we could continue to use it as a security system for our home. I love products that can grow with our family – making the investment so much better.

• Baby/Toddler Carrier – We’ll be baby wearing for a while so investing in one of these is always a good idea! There are so many styles to choose from these days, so it’s just a matter of finding the brand and style of baby wearing you prefer. To start we were gifted a Baby Bjorn and when Grey was a toddler we invested in a Tula carrier (shop this similar one). I also loved that the toddler carrier could be worn in the front or as a backpack.
• Diaper Backpack – I received the super adorable Pottery Barn Kids diaper bag last time and was disappointed about how little I actually used it. I quickly learned that a diaper backpack was the way to go because of how convenient it is for parents. We plan to re-use this Eddie Bauer one we purchased from Target years ago. It has also doubled as a travel bag, too, for when we would fly.

Other fun stuff…

Although these next items wouldn’t be considered essential, I found them to be worthy mentions…especially as Grey began to grow.

• Stokke Flexi-Bath – …and for bath time later on we swear up and down by this Stokke Flexi-Bath foldable bath tub. No sense in running an entire tub full of water when baby only needs a little bit. It was also wonderful to travel with!

• Clip-On High Chair – We also really utilized a clip-on high chair! We loved being able to cut down on the space while at home and it doubled as a travel high chair since most restaurants don’t offer high chairs (surprising!). Here is a similar one (and one we registered for this second time around) I’d love to use at home.

In conclusion…

So, you’re looking to register for your baby and like many moms out there (like myself) you’re reading reviews like crazy. Reviews are always helpful before making a purchase, but over the years I’ve found it’s important to read them with a grain of salt.

We all know some baby gear can be quite expensive and before making such a purchase we always want to hear what others think about the product. However, one piece of unsolicited advice I would give anyone is to know that:

you won’t know what your baby will take to or like until they get here.

For example, I remember receiving a MamaRoo infant rocker from our registry and being over the moon excited. It was among the leading baby swings out there and I couldn’t wait to sit my newborn Greyson in there…just to try and for him to be so fussy in it most of the time. He didn’t like the motion or being put down away from me, so for the most part it was a bust. Now, I could have taken to all the websites to leave a 1 star review, but I didn’t. The reason being was that it wasn’t the chair’s fault, my baby just didn’t like it.

…except for the literal one time he did…

So, when you’re reading reviews and you come across a few of those disgruntled mamas out there, read through the lines of what they’re reviewing. If the product itself is bad or unnecessary for the price, then steer clear. But, if they’re just upset that it didn’t work out for them then that baby item may be worth all of the other positive reviews.

Just my opinion… 😉

What are you registering for? What products did you love and which ones were worth skipping?