Our Walt Disney World Vacation!

Posted on October 12, 2015 by mommaalwaysknows

We just got back from an amazing Walt Disney World vacation and I wanted to share some of the photos we had taken over the course of the seven days!

This was Lucas’ 3rd trip. He went for his first and second birthdays but because he is getting a little brother for his third I wanted to get in one more trip before he turned 3 (and was no longer free). Darrin chose to sit this trip out so we brought my Mom!

We honestly had a blast! Amazing character meals, 3 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot (including Food & Wine), a full day and evening at Hollywood Studios and the better part of another day at Animal Kingdom. Plus we did a little shopping at the newly re-imagined Disney Spring (formerly Downtown Disney).

Honestly, we had the best character interaction with Buzz and Woody at Hollywood Studios! They are L’s favorite for sure and they even played with the Buzz and Woody we have that go basically everywhere with us!

Lucas also really loves Tinkerbell. This was our first time meeting her and we loved her location on Main Street USA!

Chef Mickey’s is a must for us on every trip! It is one of my favorite meals by far and Lucas loved the “party” they throw ever so often. He thought waving his napkin in the air was really cool!

Since we love the Play and Dine meal at Hollywood and Vine I decide Lucas needed an outfit just like his favorite Play Pals! Meeting Jake, Doc, Sofia and Manny is also up there on our favorite moments from our trip.

And of course we got to take this awesome photo to mark the 23 week mark of my pregnancy! I guess this means this new little boy has already had his first trip to Walt Disney World!

We really do love Buzz Lightyear! Even though we spent a lot of time with him at Hollywood Studios we had to pay him another visit at Magic Kingdom!

The Adventurer Outpost might be my favorite Meet and Greet location!

Magic Shots are the best! And since Lucas loves Tink so much, a picture of him holding her is a big favorite here.

World Showcase at Epcot has been my favorite part of Disney since I was a little girl! Eating around the work at Food & Wine at 23 weeks pregnant was AMAZING!

Breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter plus Pooh and Tigger – a can’t miss!

We love the breakfast food at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom. It’s so much better than a traditional breakfast buffet!

I have so many more photos to post and will be doing so on my personal Facebook page for friends and family in the next week or so! I’m a little sad that I don’t have a return trip “home” planned but I promised Darrin we could take a few “non-Disney” vacations before we head back. Fingers-crossed he gives me the go ahead for late winter/early spring of 2018!

Oh…We’re Halfway There!

Posted on September 6, 2015 by mommaalwaysknows

It’s official – I have hit the halfway mark of this pregnancy. I’m both shocked it’s gone by so fast and yet still can’t believe I have another 20 weeks until we get to meet this little nugget!

I figured now would be a fun time to fill everyone in on the pregnancy so far, since I really don’t think I’ve shared too much.

When Did I Know and How Did I Tell Darrin: One morning I woke up around 5:00am and just “knew” I was pregnant. I had a few tests in the house and took one, and then another because I didn’t really believe the first one. With those positive tests I ran up to our room, threw on the lights, woke up Darrin and proceeded to tell him Lucas was going to be a big brother! I was around 4 weeks at that point.

How Have I Been Feeling: I’m not going to lie, the first trimester was tough! Around six weeks or so the all-day sickness hit and I was hardly able to cook food. I’m not ashamed to say we did a lot of take-out in those first few months! Now that I’m well into my second trimester I feel like a new woman! I’ve got energy, most foods don’t make me sick and my head has stopped pounding 24/7.

Craziest Pregnancy Dream: The pregnancy dreams have been extra crazy this time around. A few nights ago I had a dream that I was a spy and someone was breaking into my house (but it wasn’t my house – it was the house from the first season of American Horror Story) and I had to get my family to safety but that crazy kid from Home Alone had booby trapped the house and we couldn’t get out. Honestly, I feel like if I were to journal my dreams as soon as I woke up each day I’d be able to write a killer screenplay!

Food Cravings: In the beginning I craved sushi (it’s one of the ways I knew I was pregnant actually – it was a major craving in the very beginning with Lucas). I haven’t had one particular food that I’ve wanted but every now and then I get this idea in my head and I have to have it. Donuts were one of those things for sure. And fried cheese sticks. I’ve also been wanting milk again this time around and fruit, lots and lots of fruit!

First Movements: Honestly, I am 99.9% sure I felt my first flutter near the end of my first trimester. Now this little guy is moving all the time! He might even be more active than his big brother was – which I didn’t think was possible.

How Much Weight Have I Gained: Oh, this one is tough to share. At this point in my pregnancy I’ve gained right around 10lbs (some days right at and some days just under). I feel like by this point with Lucas I had gained a lot more (but I went into this pregnancy still holding on to that last 10 pounds of baby weight!).

So far this pregnancy is going pretty well. We had a few scares in the first trimester (I had low progesterone again and had to use supplements until I was 12 weeks) and then I had an episode of bleeding as I was entering my second trimester. And as of my last ultrasound I have marginal placenta previa. I go back for another ultrasound on October 1st and we are hoping for good news and that the placenta is moving in the right direction. But honestly, now that I’m feeling better I’m loving this pregnancy. I can’t wait to meet this little boy but I’m definitely not rushing it.

The Honest Co. Organic Belly Balm – Just Want the Belly Ordered!

Posted on September 1, 2015 by mommaalwaysknows

In case you missed the memo, Lucas is getting a little brother in January of next year. We are all very excited!

I’m sure it’s because this is my 2nd pregnancy in less than 3 years, but at 19 weeks, I already feel HUGE!

I’m also so insanely itchy it’s not even funny. I am constantly itching my stomach. It’s so bad that I had a friend ask if I thought I had PUPPS (I do not by the way!).

I tried coconut oil. I tried coco butter. I would have tried anything to get the itching to stop (or at least get less annoying).

I was putting together my Honest Company Essentials bundle a few weeks ago when I noticed their Organic Belly Balm. The description said it was “A nourishing and revitalizing belly (& body) balm to soften, tone, and moisturize pregnant belly skin. Perfectly light & quickly absorbed for everyday moisturizing!” I thought, “What the heck! I’ll give this a try.”

Oh man am I glad I did! I am so much less itchy and my stomach feels so smooth and soft.

It comes in a 3.65oz jar and it is fairly solid( that’s my only complaint – I’m not good at getting products out when they are packaged that way). It goes on kind of like an oil when you rub you get it on your fingers. It’s definitely not a lotion – which I like.

I feel like it has a mild scent, but it’s not scented if that makes any sense at all. It’s a pleasant smell though and very “natural”.

It’s not secret I’m a huge fan of Honest Company products. We use the diapers and wipes, a ton of cleaning supplies, some personal care items and I’ve even started using the vitamins and Immunity Boost for Lucas.

We use a ton of Honest Co products. These were just a few I had within arms reach of my sink a few nights ago.

I’ve always been blown away by their customer service as well. They really do go above and beyond to make their customers feel valued in my opinion.

I’ve you’ve not checked out the Honest Company yet, now is the time. They are constantly adding new products and while there have been a few I don’t love (the shampoo and the dryer sheets) I have been really satisfied with everything I’ve tried so far!

And besides, any product that can make me stop walking around scratching my stomach raw is one I want to make sure to share with other mommas-to-be!

I Got Roses From a Man That Isn’t My Husband!

Posted on December 16, 2014 by mommaalwaysknows

Today I got a dozen beautiful roses – and they weren’t from my husband. Now before I set the rumor mill on fire, they were from one of the Customer Service Agents at the Honest Company, Nick S.

I’m not exactly sure what I did to deserve these flowers but I will certainly take them and enjoy them – they are beautiful!

Even before my flower delivery, I was a huge fan of the Honest Company and their products. We have been using their diapers and cleaning supplies for almost two year now and I can’t imagine going back to our old products.

They run a lot of fun promotions, too! Around the holidays they tend to offer a free item for each bundle you have (I have two – diapers & wipes and household essentials). This year I got a really nice tote and a HUGE zipper pouch that I plan on using for diapers and wipes. And they always include a little something special in their holiday bundle shipments. This year it was organic sugar cookie mix and a snowflake cookie cutter. I can’t wait to try these out with Lucas!

Aren’t these awesome!? And they were FREE!

Not only are their products amazing (the only product I haven’t cared for is the shampoo/body wash, I didn’t like the way it made my hair feel) but their customer service is outstanding.

I “met” Nick S. – the sender of my amazing bouquet – earlier this month when I had an issue with my latest bundle order. My laundry detergent had leaked and there was a gross orange “liquid” on one of my diaper packs. Nick was great! He sent me out new products to replace the damaged ones right away. He also applied a 20% off credit to my account for my next order. He did ask that I email a few photos I had taken of the diapers so they could pass it along to their quality control department. I did that and in his response he told me I could email him personally with any issues I had instead of taking the time to call. The only other place I’ve ever received customer service like that is the Walt Disney Travel Company.

So now I have this beautiful bouquet of a dozen pink and yellow roses and a very warm and fuzzy feeling toward a company I already really loved! Well played, Honest Company, well played!

Have you tried any Honest Company products? Would you like to? Just click here to sign up for a free trial of their diapers, essentials or vitamin bundles. Please note though that unless you notify them, requesting the free sample will enroll you in their bundle service. But like I said, their customer service is great so if you’re not happy with the product it will only take a few seconds to unsubscribe!

For The Record 04.25.14

Posted on April 27, 2014 by mommaalwaysknows

So I’ve been a little MIA recently. Between my in-laws visiting a few weekends ago and my family being here last week we’ve been busy. Add in Easter and it’s been a little nutty! But we’re back and here’s a look at what’s been going on with us (even though it’s not Friday anymore!).

FOR THE RECORD FRIDAY

1. Favorite Picture of the Week

So I’m cheating a little. This isn’t a photo but it might be the most adorable Easter Egg hunt ever so I’m giving myself a pass. It’s also probably not the best Easter Egg hunt ever, but I think it’s pretty amazing.

2. What TV show are you addicted to right now?

All I’ve been watching recently is Parenthood. I just finished the second season and am wondering why I’m just now watching this show.

3. What Book(s) did you read this week?

I read The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag last week and really loved it – I even stayed up until almost midnight one night reading!

4. Something funny/awesome that happened was…

We had a great Easter with my family. Lucas LOVED looking for eggs (as seen above) and loved the gifts the Easter Bunny left for him.

5. Something not so awesome that happened was…

I did something to my neck. I think I have a pinched nerve or something because I am in a lot of pain! I even went to the chiropractor who was able to help but the soreness is still there when I wake up. I’ve been using some essential oils though and they seem to be making a difference.

6. The best dinner you had this week was…

Can it be brunch? Our Easter brunch was fabulous! I want to go back for Mother’s Day.

Our little family celebrating Easter.

7. Plans for the weekend…

We finally hit up the Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning. We also need to get the bed in the front yard cleaned up and flowers planted. Other than that, I hope it’s a relaxing weekend (even though it’s almost over!).

How was your week? Go On the Record in the comments below and don’t forget to Like Us on Facebook!

MommaAlwaysKnows

Mom knows best…because she said so!

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