Kodak Photo Book & What to Pack for the Hospital

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my post pregnancy progress! How has your week been? Things have been going well around here! I am happy to report that I got in another run yesterday (thanks to Josh’s Mom who watched the peanut) and did 5 1/4 miles!

Recently, I was selected by the FoodBuzz Taste Markers Program to build my own Kodak Gallery Photo Book (disclaimer: I received a coupon code to make this photo book for free).  This opportunity came at the perfect time! I made a photo book of Kaylin’s first two weeks.

Kodak Gallery is super simple to use:

 

I uploaded all of my photographs:

And then began cropping:

adjusting the order of my pictures, layout of the pages in my photo book (including backgrounds), and adding text:

I was super happy with the outcome and cannot wait for my book to arrive!

Want to make your own photo book? Kodak Gallery is providing an exclusive 40% off a medium photo book for you! You can redeem this offer at www.kodakgallery.com/creativity anytime before 8/31.

 

I have been getting a lot of questions lately about what to pack in your hospital bag for labor and delivery. There are lots of great lists out there (including this one), but here were the items I thought were important to have:

• Flip flops for the hospital shower
• Dry shampoo (once you have the baby, if you just want to clean up without fully taking a shower- dry shampoo rocks)
• A robe
• Socks
• Snacks (for both you and your husband/partner)
• Laptop (you won't get on it much- but its nice to have)
• Video Camera & Camera
• Pads (the hospital provides heavy duty pads- which you may want to use, but its nice to have your own too)
• Comfortable clothes (easy to nurse in if breast feeding) & a going home outfit for you and your baby
• My breast friend/boppy (whatever you’re going to use for breast feeding)
• Nipple cream/butter (apply after every time you breast feed- I used one by Burt’s Bees)
• Chap stick/lip balm
• Drivers license & Insurance card
• Contact case/glasses (if applicable)
• All other bathroom necessities/toiletries
• Slippers
• Music!
• A change of clothes (or a couple) for your husband/partner (warm clothes and cool clothes- the hospital room temperatures can be unpredictable)
• Cell Phone
• Car seat

Hope this helps! Be back with more food & a giveaway on Friday!!

Post Pregnancy Update & (Not My) Auntie Pearl’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sorry for being MIA yesterday! We had lots of family in town and it left for very little computer time. You can find my post pregnancy update at the bottom of this post!

With the new baby at home, we have had so many friends and family members in and out of the house. One night, Josh was having the guys over to see the peanut, and I decided a batch of chocolate chip cookies was in order. Luckily, it was Secret Recipe Club time! This month, I was assigned Sweet As Sugar Cookies. Lisa seems like a total sweetheart! She has been baking since she was 12 and loves to bake and cook for her family. Since Lisa has such a tight connection with her family, I knew I had to make one of her “family” recipes- Auntie Pearl’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. I made a half batch of the cookies and made a few other minor adjustments:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup AP flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 5 1/4 Tbsp. Smart Balance
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tablespoons egg beaters
• Desired quantity chocolate chunks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the flour and baking soda, and set aside.

Cream butter and sugars. Add vanilla and the egg and mix to combine.

Add the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Mix in the chocolate chips.

 

Drop by tablespoonful's onto a cookie sheet:

and bake for 10-15 minutes (took ~12 minutes for me) or until cookies turn golden brown and are set in the center.

Post Pregnancy Update: 2 weeks post partum

No VLOG this week (didn't have time!). I am continuing to feel better and better! Breast feeding made me very sore at first, but is getting easier as the days pass. Kaylin is a great eater and usually eats every 2-3 hours (except at night when she goes longer between feedings). She has been a pretty good sleeper too. The only issue is that she wants to sleep on my chest and not in the bassinet. We're working on this...

A lot of you asked how Frank was doing with the new baby. When we first brought her home, he would go CRAZY every time she cried. He has gotten use to this and is adjusting. He definitely has a little sibling rivalry....but I think it will go away with time. He now lays next to wherever she is sleeping/sitting.

A few people also asked how long I am on maternity leave- I will be out of work for about 8 weeks (maternity leave+vacation). My company has been absolutely wonderful throughout the whole pregnancy and said they would be flexible to me coming back as well (i.e. I can take more time if I need it). I feel VERY lucky!

As I mentioned earlier, Josh's family was in town this weekend. We had an absolute blast with them and did a mini photo shoot:

On the exercise front, I did about 30 minutes of low to medium impact exercise each day this past week. On Sunday, I went for a jog for 30 minutes. It felt a little awkward at first, but I got into my grove pretty quick. I came home with the biggest runners (Joggers?) high ever! Love! Did I mention I signed up for a 10K the first weekend in October? Gulp!

How was your weekend?