Babymoon in Destin, Florida

Ah babymoons — a great excuse to take a well-deserved break and relax with your spouse before the life changing craziness begins! I wasn't sure if Whit and I were going to be able to find time to escape but we managed to do so, just as I was nearing the end of my "travel cut-off." I actually had a doctor's appointment the day we were set to leave. I sat in the office knowing that there was a chance that I could be told I wasn't allowed to travel but thankfully my Dr. gave me the green light. We had booked a trip to Destin, Florida and had planned to drive. I was advised that we would need to make frequent stops for me to move around. I packed all my fluffy pillows and a blanket to make myself comfy and surprisingly the eight hour car ride wasn't that bad. 

Whit booked our stay at The Henderson, a luxury spa and beach resort in Destin, Florida. The resort is located just across the road from a white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico which to no surprise, is where we spent most of our time. We had the most wonderful stay at the resort, with top notch service and excellent accommodations. The private beach was one of our favorite things about the resort. The cabana service set up our chairs at the location of our choosing and there we sat, soaking up the sun and sipping on frozen beverages (the non-alcoholic version for me.)  

The resort also had two amazing pools, one for the adults only and one with a lazy river that was the main attraction for children. We chose to spend most of our time at the beach simply because of how beautiful it was. You can't beat digging your toes in sugary soft sand while staring at the emerald green water. The pool was a nice spot to lounge and enjoy a bite to eat (without a side of sand), after a long day at the beach.

I'll admit, when we first arrived in Destin Whit and I were both a bit concerned that it was a glorified Myrtle Beach. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but that's where Whit grew up and we were looking for something a little different. Our resort was tucked away from the craziness but yet close enough to restaurants and various other attractions. We arrived on Thursday evening, grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to our room relax. 

Friday morning we woke up and had a lite breakfast at Primrose, one of the four places to dine at the resort and headed straight for the beach. 

Typically, I have a hard time relaxing when I'm at the beach, but ironically it was different this time. It felt so good to unplug, sit back and enjoy the sounds of the ocean without a care in the world. Later that evening we ventured out for a drinks at Marina Cafe followed by dinner next door at Boshamps, both of which came recommended to us by multiple people as well as our concierge. Both places were definitely more on the casual, relaxed, touristy side but that suited us just fine after a day in the sun.

I enjoyed a rich dish of lobster mac and cheese. All the carbs were consumed on this trip, and I blame it on the pregnancy cravings. 

Whit, unbeknownst to him, had booked the spa room which we discovered when we checked in the night before. Because of the length of our stay, this meant we got a nice little spa credit which I gladly welcomed. I woke up early Saturday morning to enjoy a relaxing prenatal massage. And afterwards treated myself to donuts from the infamous Donut Hole. It was the perfect way to start the day. I will note, the long wait for a table that I was warned about at the Donut Hole proved true. We tried to wait it out for a seat but decided to get ours to go. The red velvet donut was by far my favorite and I'm currently researching how to get some shipped to my house.

One of the beauties of being pregnant is devouring donuts and not having to worry about looking bloated before you hit the beach. I fully embraced the bump.

We decided to head out to Alys Beach for dinner that evening, with a stop at Rosemary Beach for drinks. I had been to Alys Beach before, but never Rosemary. The moment we arrived, I immediately fell in love with the vibe of this area. We stopped for a drink at Havana Beach Bar and Grill, the signature restaurant located inside The Pearl.

We had been advised to make it to a rooftop to enjoy the gorgeous sunset before dinner, so that's exactly what we did. Per a recommendation, we went to Pescado, a casual fine dining seafood grill with a rooftop bar overlooking Rosemary Beach. I could have stayed there all night. Not only was the inside adorable, but the views of the all white architecture of the surrounding homes were gorgeous. I loved everything about this place! We enjoyed some drinks and an amazing small dish of pan-roasted pork belly with humboldt fog cheese, fig compote and balsamic creme. I can't wait to go back some day when I can enjoy the cocktails and their raw bar.

Our dinner reservations were at George's, a restaurant located just a quick car ride over on Alys Beach. We enjoyed yet another delicious meal and hit the road back to our resort. It was nice to have one super casual evening near the resort and to enjoy our last evening, fine dining in a more upscale area. 

We loved Rosemary Beach so much that we decided to spend Sunday afternoon there before we headed back home. We checked out of our hotel and made the 40 minute drive out to Rosemary Beach, where we enjoyed a fabulous brunch at Wild Olives. 

I did a little shopping and we took in a few last views of the beautiful beach before hitting the road to go home. Whit and I both agreed that there will be a future trip planned back to Rosemary Beach. It is such a charming, picturesque community that feels so inviting.  I'm looking forward to going back one day. 

I'm so thankful that Whit and I were able to spend such a special time together and enjoy our last vacation as a family of two. We talked about how we envisioned our lives will look after welcoming our new little one and it's crazy to think we will be living that reality this week!

38 Week Pregnancy Update- Countdown to Baby Smith

Things are about to get real! I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we will have a baby by this time next week. It’s seems so crazy and surreal. My Dr. has advised that we move forward with an induction on June 21st,  which is just six days before my due date. That’s the plan for now, unless he decides to make an appearance sooner. I feel like I’m about to explode!

I washed all of his little clothes the other week with the Laundress Baby Laundry Detergent which smells amazing. All of his things are so tiny that it makes folding a challenge. I'm also trying to figure out the best way to organize his clothes in a drawer. 

How far along? 38 weeks and 2 days.

Baby’s size: This week baby Smith is the size of a leek.

Weight gain: 21 lbs

Baby Name: Stay tuned! We will be deciding after we see him. : )

Energy & How I'm Feeling: We have been on the go lately. It seems we have a million events, dinners, birthdays, showers, weddings, etc. all this month. I’m just trying to continue on until I can’t. However, I hit a wall yesterday. I felt terrible and was in bed by 6 pm and was convinced that I might be meeting our little one today. But no baby, and I'm feeling much better now that I got some extra rest.

Thoughts Before Baby: I'm both scared and excited...but mostly scared to be honest. I'm scared for the actual birthing process. I know millions of women do it but it doesn't make any less nerve racking. I pray for a smooth delivery and healthy baby boy. 

I can't wait to see his little face. It's so crazy to think that this little human has been growing inside of me and we have no idea what (or who) he's going to look like. I have a feeling that he's going to look just like Whit did when he was little. I'm picturing chubby cheeks, big lips and little bald head. It makes me so excited to meet him when I think about it!

Appetite: I’ve been eating all the things lately, going on lots of dinner dates and treating myself to food I normally wouldn’t. I figured now is the time to take advantage and that's exactly what I'm doing.

Date Night at Purlieu 

Dinner with friends at Wild Olive

Workouts: No updates here. Still being lazy, per the Dr.'s orders. While I've appreciated giving my body a break, I'm also looking forward to getting back on track and in the gym when my body is ready.

Sleep: It's hit or miss these days. I wake up at least five times a night which isn't the worst part in my opinion. Trying to get comfortable again when I get back in bed is the frustrating part. It's hard to put into words the way my stomach feels. It feels like there is one giant bowling ball in there, is sore to the touch and supporting the weight is painful, especially since laying on your side is recommended.

Aches & Pains: I'm still having those sharp stabbing pains randomly throughout the day and the occasional back ache when I overdo it. But for the most part, not too bad. I feel more like my stomach is a balloon that has been overfilled with helium and is about to pop.

Movement: The movement is much more defined these days and almost alien like poking out of my stomach. It's kind of freaky sometimes, I'm not going to lie. But I still love feeling him move and panic when he's calmer than normal.

Wardrobe: I'm going to a wedding this weekend and have no idea what I'm going to wear! But on another note, I'm looking forward to the day I can get back into some of my summer clothes that I've shoved to the back of my closet. I'm also on the search for a good nursing bra to purchase after the baby is born. I need one that will work well with everyday clothes, not just lounging. Suggestions welcome!

Nursery Updates: The only thing that was missing from the nursery was a changing pad and I received that at my baby shower last weekend. So, we are all set! Well, actually I need to purchase a diaper pail but other than things seem to be in pretty good shape. I've spent the last few days putting away gifts from the last two showers and now have a new pile to sort through but I'm thankful for all of the things we've received. 

Monster has been hanging out in the nursery lately. I'm not sure if she senses what's going on or she just likes the new space.

Doctor's Visits: AKA my second home these days. As tough as it is to juggle meetings at work with stepping out of the office twice a week for appointments, it's totally worth it to keep up with what's going on with the little one. It's comforting to keep such a close eye on him and I love that I get new ultra sound pictures each week. I had an NST on Monday and a Ultra Sound yesterday. Both had good results and showed that he has gained weight. He's now up to 6lbs which is great news!

37 Weeks

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

Previous Updates: Pregnancy Announcement | 16 Weeks & Gender Announcement | 18 Weeks | 20 Weeks | 22 Weeks | 24 Weeks| 26 Weeks | 28 Weeks | 30 Weeks | 32 Weeks + Maternity Shoot Sneak Peak | 34 Weeks + Our First Baby Shower | Maternity Photos | 36 Week Pregnancy Update

Charleston Baby Shower

Baby shower #2 was hosted in May by my sweet girlfriends here in Charleston. They put together such a beautiful shower. As I've mentioned before, I truly appreciate all the little details when it comes to planning parties and events, and they did a wonderful job with everything. For example, the cake below was not only gorgeous, but also had a delicious Oreo filling which is one of my favorites. It's the little things that make me smile. 

Let me preface this next photo by saying that I would like to think I have a pretty sophisticated palate for the most part, but at the same time I do love a good pizza roll. I got a nice laugh when I saw these on the table, perfectly plated with a side of ranch, and then I proceeded to eat more than I care to admit to.

From sorority functions to baby showers, these women are so special to me. I was so happy that we could all be together to celebrate baby Smith! 

And these two pretty ladies are hosting a shower for me this coming Sunday. :)

I was showered with so many wonderful gifts, but this one was extra special. My mom gave me my late grandmother's bible with her name monogrammed on the bottom. It makes me sad that my nanny isn't here to meet her great-grandson, but I find peace in having things around that remind me her.

My dear friend Megan hosted the shower at her beautiful home and her sweet baby girl, Rosie joined the fun too!

The orange drink at the mocktail bar was a remake of this one I had at The Ordinary. Also, maybe it's just because I haven't had a drink in months, but I thought this Non-Alcoholic Shiraz Rosé was so refreshing and tasted almost like the real thing. 

                                                               

How cute are these cookies with my due date on them that were give out as favors?

Dress , Shoes, Earrings

It was such a treat to have all of my girlfriends together to celebrate our baby boy. You really begin to cherish these moments more and more as different milestones in your life are celebrated. I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by so many woman who love and support me. Thank you to my sweet friends for hosting such a beautiful shower!