The Grant Hospital Bag Round #2

Since this round #2, I should be more savvy at packing the best equipped hospital bag for a Grant birth. You know how they say you forget labor pains after the baby is delivered (ha, but you remember they're horrible), well you forget your mental packing list too! So here we go - for kicks & giggles and future reference:

How beautiful is this etsy bag! We'll be using a regular old black duffel bag,
but wouldn't this beauty just add some glamor to the experience?!

GRANT HOSPITAL BAG

For Laura

• Wallet
• Phone & Charger
• Massagers
• Toiletry bag
  - Toothbrush
  - Toothpaste
  - Contacts & Solution
  - Glasses
  - Shampoo & Conditioner
  - Face wash
  - Moisturizer
  - travel hand lotion
  - Burts Bees Tinted lip balm (so important!)
  - Hair Dryer
  - Curl gel
  - Curling Brush
  - Make-up (those bella baby pics aren't cheap so I want to look my 'best')
• Hair ties, headbands, pins
• Blk strapless dress
• Oatmeal Cardigan
• Nursing Tanktop
• Blk skirt
• blk undies 
• Gray slippers
• Crocs
• Coconut Water Juice boxes
• Prune Juice
• Almonds
• Pretzels
• Gum
• Wine
• Nursing pads
• Nursing cover
• Breast pump tote bag & bags

For Tripp

• Wallet
• Phone & Charger
• Tooth brush
• Deodorant
• 2 shirts
• 1 light sweater
• 1 change pants
• 2 undies
• Book
• Camera & Charger

For Judah

• Baby Blanket for Photos
• Wipes
• 2 footed pants and shirts
• 1 sleeper

Some of you may be wondering about the wine, is this allowed in a hospital? In the event I find super-human strength to deliver w/o drugs, I'm treating myself and Judah (via boob) to an entire bottle of Chardonnay over a 4-6 hour period. Either the little guy's going to be buzzing on Norco or Chardonnay, same difference really and possibly the latter is healthier.

Also important to remember are things to ask the hospital for:

From Hospital

• Lanolin
• Nuk Pacifiers
• Postpartum girdle
• Hand pump
• Nipple Shields
• Peri Bottle
• Pads
• Ice packs
• Undies
• Remaining Diapers
• Vaseline for Judah 
• Sitz Bath (I recently read that hospitals sometimes provide)

(P.S.) I've already updated this list since posting, so it's going to be toootaly complete by the time we hit the road to the Hospital.

35 weeks, woohoo!

Today marks the 35th week of Judah's pregnancy and I'm feeling much more at peace with a possible 4-6 weeks ahead. Discussing a 39 week induction with my OB this Monday, which would seal the deal at 4 weeks. In the final days before David was born, I rang in a total weight gain of 37 lbs. for Judah, we've surpassed that and I'm still going strong!

To capture life before 2 children, I wanted to record the routine events of this morning. Waking up at 6:30, it was the 'summer' sun that stirred all 3 of us today. I heard a soft 'hi' come from David's room and responded with an winded hop up from the bed and to the freezer to heat up blueberry pancakes. Our fridge is almost empty due to end of week meal completion. Thank God for Dad buying tons of blueberries two weeks ago that contributed to plentiful packs of blueberry pancakes to freeze!

Tripp woke up while I prepped breakfast (not for him of coarse, he despises blueberries!) and came in for morning hugs. To which I said, "you know what would make me feel loved right now... If you got David up and changed his diaper." Opening David's door, he was greeted with a smile and the proclamation, "poopoo! I down!" I carried on in the kitchen and made coffee.

Before Tripp left and gave big hugs to David, I asked him to take a belly photo for my Auntie Cheryle. That's the photo here that I brightened and desaturated on my photoshop app so as to not look like a pink morning monster. I sent it on to my aunt with an explanation for the black and white appearance, knowing she'd prefer to see myself as I naturally, beautifully am. Oh family. In these last mega days, I'll do just about anything to retain some glamor!

Glory to God for His gracious outpour of mercy on our Grant family. I'm quietly sitting in our playroom writing while David watches his morning movie that happens to be Wallace & Grommet. These quiet predictable mornings are numbered. Pretty soon I'll be waking winded by exhaustion, recovery from birth and the burden of constant breastfeeding. Oh times are changing!

Big Cake, Big Mama

The title of this entry is funny because it could almost be an A=B illustration. Anyhow! Made a cake for Tripp after a very positive review at work on Wednesday. Tripp came home and after I enthusiastically showed him the bunt in the oven he said to me, 'Sounds like someone just really wanted to eat a cake.' Well I never! Anyhow, successful recipe and one worth sharing.

Vanilla Cake

Ingredients
4 large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2.5 cups cake flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 heaping tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

Preheat oven to 350

This recipe is adapted from a very fancy fluffy vanilla cake recipe which had way too many steps. If you're okay with your cake coming out a little dense and with a texture similar to cornbread then begin by taking all the ingredients and mixing them together until well blended. If you'd like to fuss, go to this blog and give it a go!

Pour into your desired greased cake pan and bake between 25 and 45 minutes depending on the pan.

Vanilla Frosting

1 stick of room temperature butter
1.5 c powder sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp vanilla

Whip together and whalla! The fancy blog called to triple this recipe, however I just doubled it and found it was more than enough to cover a bunt. 


Also, it's about that time to post a photo of my enormously large 'oven' for the Judah bun. If we opt for the 39 week induction as our doctors are talking, that would make for only 5 weeks to go!

Pool fun with Jana

It's not quite summer, but as a sun-loving-Chicagoan it's never to early to crank out the baby pools! This morning, David and I borrowed the car to drive over to Norma's in Lincoln Park for some quality deck pool time with Jana. It's very sweet to see David taking on Jana as a big girl since she's just turned 1 this past May 31st. One year ago, we could all only have hoped for a day like this!

Success!