I can’t get this quote out of my head so I decided to design it to have as my
My Baby Must-Haves!
I’ve been wanting to share pictures of our daughter’s nursery for a while now and since I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my baby “must-haves” so far I thought why not kill two birds with one stone! Even though I’m only a first-time mom, I totally know which items are my favorite already.
ALSO! I added a new tab at the top of my site called BABY MUST HAVES where I’ll add ANYTHING I ever buy/love for her so be sure to check it out. Every item in there so far is something I’ve bought or read that has really helped me so far!
Before she was born, I thought wipe warmers were so pointless but she would flinch so big when I wiped her so I decided to buy one! It’s been a total gamechanger so far since she is so much calmer now during changing.
My sister Isabelle brought us the New York Times with our daughter’s birthday on it while we were in the hospital. I love having it displayed in her nursery!
These are by far my favorite onesies so far. I’m sure you’ve noticed she’s in them almost every day! Great quality and super soft. I just purchased the pink set since she’s growing out of the gray set.
Okay, this right here is by far my FAVORITE baby item to date! The BabyBum brush for diaper ointment! Someone recommended this on my Instagram a couple months ago and I am seriously obsessed with it. It’s my new favorite gift to give to my pregnant friends! I have one for the changing table and one for her diaper bag. She had an awful rash her first week and this cream cleaned up quick as well.
Swaddle central! I’m shocked at how many swaddles we go through. Some of my favorite brands are Little Unicorn, Aden + Anais, Goosebumps Shop and Captain Silly Pants. My favorite soft blanket is the Saranoni blanket. I think I might use it more than she does…
We also tried numerous sleep sacks/swaddles and this one is our favorite. Or I guess I should say, her favorite! She always scratches her face (hence the scratch on her face + the fact she’s always in mittens!) and this one keeps her tied down comfortably.
This Motorola camera is perfect for watching her while she is sleeping. We literally lay in bed and just watch her sleep peacefully for hours hahaha. It’s the best thing ever!
Before she was born I posted a Story on Instagram asking peoples opinions on the DockATot and BOY did I get peoples opinions on it… haha. Majority of people said they loved it so I decided to buy it and it’s literally the only thing she will sleep in. She has slept in it since the night we got home from the hospital and is sleeping so well! I really love how portable it is so I can take it wherever and she feels like she’s sleeping in the same spot. She also loves to sleep in THIS.
Since we live in a basement apartment still.. we are a little tight on storage space so all my clothes are in the closet in her room! I needed a good storage dresser to put all of her clothes in and this one has been perfect… and although it was a total splurge, I know I’ll use it for years and years with all of our kids to come.
The “Moses basket” on top is from the D.I. ($5!) and here is the humidifier. Since Utah is so dry, our pediatrician recommended we get a humidifier and its been a great one!
Since using this diaper pail, we have yet to smell one diaper! And it fits sooo many diapers. But be prepared, the trash bag is SO heavy when you have to take it out hahaha. Diapers are heavy when you add them all up!
Canvas bin for books is here.
I researched a lot of night lights/sound machines and the Hatch was the people favorite for sure. I love that we can adjust the light or music at any time on our phone even if we aren’t in the room! Sometimes we’ll hear her start to wake up and just turn up the sound a little bit and she dozes right back off.
And lastly, I honestly can’t say enough great things about the Owlet Smart Sock. For obvious reasons, I was worried like crazy about bringing her home from the hospital since there weren’t going to be nurses watching her practically 24/7 anymore! With the Owlet Smart Sock, I have SUCH a peace of mind because I have something helping me keep an eye on her when she sleeps.
If you haven’t heard of the Owlet Smart Sock, you need to look into it! The Smart sock tracks if your babies heart rate or oxygen fall outside of the preset zones and will notify you if so. I seriously sleep so much better when it is on her! Will went out of town last weekend and even loved checking the app to see her live readings from his phone miles and miles away. He would text me and say “She is wiggling, is she not asleep?” because the app notifies you if she’s wiggling haha!
And for bath time we love using Tubby Todd products (their lotion is amazing too) and this bathtub! And then I use this brush on her hair which she loves. Her duck towel is here.
Please let me know if you have any favorite products yourself! And feel free to ask me any questions you might have about anything.
-Liv
Other links:
Rocking chair is from Babinski’s in SLC
Picture of Jesus and children is an antique I found on eBay
One Month with Our Daughter
It hurts my heart when I realize that our daughter is already a month old! Where in the world does the time go? We couldn’t love baby girl more and feel so grateful we are her parents. She has the sweetest temperament and really is a good baby.
Today is her first day of a mental development leap so I know she may start fussing & crying more and sleeping less but I’ll always remember the first month with her as absolute heaven. I feel like I’ve known her my entire life and truthfully cannot imagine life without her! She grows up a little bit every single day and it kills me inside.
Stay little forever my girl!
-Liv
(photos by Mandi Nelson)
OUTFIT DETAILS
Quote on Parenthood
Last night, my sweet neighbor dropped off a baby present with a whole folder of darling parenting quotes. I’ve never really read parenting quotes because, well, I’ve never been a parent before but I LOVED this one that I wanted to share…
“When we choose to be parents,
we accept another human being
as part of ourselves, and a large part
of our emotional selves will stay with
that person as long as we live.
From that time on, there will be
another person on this earth whose
orbit around us will affect us as surely
as the moon affects the tides, and
affect us in some ways more
deeply than anyone else can.
Our children are extensions of ourselves.”
-Fred Rogers
No one else I’d rather be a parent with.
Here goes nothin’!
-Liv
Life Lately
3 weeks from today until the baby’s due date!
I can’t even believe it. It’s also crazy to think that it could be sooner… like really any day. One of my co-workers due date was close to mine and she went to her appointment on Monday and ended up just having her baby that day! It seems so crazy to me that I have no clue when this baby will come…
I’m honestly still feeling great. I sleep 8 hours every night, going to the gym every morning and jump/gasp when I see my reflection because I’m a lot bigger than I feel haha! I feel super lucky to still feel great and know that the 9th month of pregnancy will probably “hit me” any day now.
My cute friend Sarah threw me the sweetest shower a couple weeks ago. Everything she does is PERFECT and I loved having a Saturday afternoon spent with all of my closest friends.
For some reason, I’m low-key freaking out that the days of just us two are coming to an end so soon! I can’t wait to become parents but I’ve absolutely loved this stage of life together and am a little nervous for the next!!! I’m a lot less nervous because of Will though. He was BORN to be a dad.
Baby clothes = heart explosion 💗
We’ve tried to keep our Saturdays clear for errands and spending time together and we’ve loved having a brunch tradition! Then we spend the rest of the day getting things together for the baby and cleaning up our place. People ask if I’ve been “nesting” yet. I’ve been nesting my whole life! Haha I love deep cleaning projects so this is nothing new for me!
(wearing the Monroe Overcoat from Roolee!)
My landlord and neighbor threw me the sweetest ward shower. I feel so lucky to be apart of such an amazing ward! And how amazing is this kitchen?!
Still taking the “eating for two” thing very seriously. These macaron ice cream sandwiches seriously changed my LIFE.
Here we go! Three weeks left! I’m still working every day and preparing myself mentally for this babe to come. Just so eager to see what it is!!!
-Liv
Outfit details:
Don’t forget to check out my FAVORITES page. Always posting my favorite clothing finds!
Next month = baby month!
Man, things sure have been crazy around here!
Will and I have had so many big changes in our lives and feel like we’ve been going, going, going nonstop. It’s kinda odd to think that things could actually calm down a little bit when the baby comes instead of getting more crazy 😂 I could be eating my words big time in a couple months but that’s how I feel right now at least!
I mentioned this on my Instagram a couple weeks ago, but I started a new job at Denton House Design Studio and am really loving it so far. I am their Marketing Manager and enjoy the work I get to do and love that their offices are right in Holladay! It takes me two minutes to get into the office. Not joking. Two! The job itself can be intense at times but I feel grateful that I’ll still be able to keep this job once the baby comes.
I still teach Pilates early in the mornings and usually have a Diet Coke in hand by 9:00 am haha. Don’t judge. When Will and I were talking a couple weeks ago we realized I work from about 5:30 am until 9:30 pm every day or so haha. Heaven help me. On the upside, it’s easier to wake up in the morning when I have cute things to put on like this embroidered cardigan from Roolee!
It’s still snowing like CRAZY in Utah! Yesterday the valley floors got around 15″ of snow. Insane! This is the first year in about 20 years that I haven’t gone skiing… it’s a little harder than I thought but CANNOT wait for next year!
We are finishing off a couple last babysitting gigs before the baby comes. I can’t wait for these boys to meet the baby! They are CONVINCED it’s a girl. We’ll see… I seriously have no clue what this babe could be.
Utah Grubs is still going super well and we launched a cookie today with Chip! They asked us to come up with a cookie for March and we thought a Lucky Charms cookie with white chocolate chips would be fun and festive and it is SO GOOD. If you like in SL/UT County you should try it 🍪 It will sell until the 17th or so. We laughed at these photos because it almost looks like we are doing a baby announcement with cookies 😂
Another notable update is that Will started a new job! This has been in the works since October or so and he finally started on March 1st. He had to take the Series 65 in order to start the job but he is now an associate financial advisor at Dentist Advisors! Look how cute his picture is on the website ☺ I’m super excited for him and this new career path. He’s worked so hard to get here and I loved celebrating him last week.
Dinner after he passed the big test! Such a relief! He’s been studying so hard for WEEKS.
Will and I sat and stared at this plant for a good five minutes the other night when we were at Cactus & Tropicals. It doesn’t even look real! God is good.
Loving our new print from Reflections of Christ. Now we just need it framed! Any suggestions?
Another fun thing that I’ve had going on lately is a couple baby showers! My sister Eliza threw one for the Diederich side of the family and my cute mother-in-law threw a combined one for the Gochnour/Brinton side of the families.
I feel so blessed to have such amazing families and I CANNOT wait to meet this baby! A lot of people were confused at the shower pictures I posted thinking I was having a girl… so I just thought I’d say we still seriously have NO clue. I go back and forth every single day on what it is haha. Biggest mystery!
When we’re not working these days, we’re most likely spending time with friends & family and getting the nursery ready. That’s been so much fun! We’ve also been cooking more which has been fun/an adjustment since we are so used to eating out or being on a trip haha. We haven’t bought so many groceries in our entire life! If you have any yummy recipes, send them over!
Until next time,
Liv
Top photo at the baby shower: pinstripe babydoll top, black ripped jeans.
Sunglasses (my new favorites!)
(don’t forget you can shop more of my favorites HERE!)
HAWAII // Babymoon
It’s fair to say that Will and I have some BIG changes coming up and something that I’ve learned about myself lately is that I do not like change… I’m afraid of the unknown and prefer the stability that I’m accustomed to. Since I know SO much is going to change so soon (mostly for the better!) I still wanted one final trip with just Will and me in the stage of life where we are right now. On Christmas Day, I convinced Will that we should go to Hawaii before the baby came and luckily he obliged. I somehow get him to put up with all my last minute crazy plans haha. Even though traveling for work and with our families is great, trips with just us two are my favorite.
We went back to Oahu because we seriously do love it there! I love where we stayed last year when we went and love that a big hospital was close JUST IN CASE anything happened haha.
We essentially spent the trip reading, studying working, eating and catching up on This is Us. Every night we’d whip out our Ben & Jerry’s and watch an episode and it was seriously a highlight of the trip! We are officially all caught up and I want to cry forever (if you know, you know).
I felt like my bump got bigger every day we were there (maybe it was more from the food) but I loved all the extra kicks that came with it!
P.S. THESE BAGS are the BEST for the beach or pool. I always pack them on vacation! I even put my airplane pillow in it when I travel because #germs.
Leaving was HARD. I will forever cherish this trip with Will and the memories we made together. We had so many great conversations about this next chapter ahead and I really am more excited than ever.
Next trip: Newport in August with our BABY!
Here we go…
-Liv
DETAILS:
A Disney Christmas
It’s safe to say that I will always view my 2017 Christmas as a DISNEY CHRISTMAS!
Will’s family told us a couple months ago that instead of presents for Christmas we were going to Disney as a family for a couple days… and my family randomly told us the same thing! Luckily the trips didn’t overlap so we were able to go on both and spend some much-needed quality time with our families.
Since I’m pregnant, I couldn’t do tons of the rides but I did turn into an incredible treat runner 😜… You can’t go to California Adventure without stopping at Willie’s Churros!! Our favorite spot!
Our Disneyland crew.
This picture makes me laugh. YEARS ago, Will and I went to Disneyland and did the character breakfast in California Adventure and I ordered Mickey Waffles and thought they were pretty much the best thing EVER… Each time we’ve gone to Disney since then, we’ve tried to find them and couldn’t or didn’t have a reservation to eat where they were served. So one morning, I was eating in the car on the way to the park and Will texted me and said: “Don’t get full!” I was so confused but when we got into the park he surprised me with reservations at Carnation Cafe where they had them!!! Finally got my dang Mickey waffle haha.
It was also so incredibly nice to enjoy some warmer weather. We celebrated New Year’s Eve there which consisted of me going to bed at about 9 pm after we watched New Year’s Eve festivities commence in NYC haha. Why is New Year’s Eve a holiday I just don’t care about?!
After New Years, we came home for a couple days to work and then we were off to DISNEYWORLD with my family! I haven’t been to Disneyworld since I was a little kid so I loved seeing it all again.
I was still an incredible treat runner in Disneyworld as well, don’t worry.
My all-time favorite time of the trip was hanging with this girl right here. She was the BEST buddy to have! We did all the kiddy rides while they did the adult rides and it was so much fun to just hang with her. She cracks me up.
Overall it was a wonderful Christmas break with both of our families! I loved having so much Disney time but I was SO ready to be home and get back into a routine. As much as I love traveling, there’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed after a while away!
Love, liv.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Mint sweater HERE
Black leggings HERE
Flip flops HERE
Red sweater HERE
Navy striped shirt HERE (only $9!)
Navy leggings HERE
Tan slip-on shoes HERE
My Favorite Quote
Last night was the passing of our beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I admire President Monson for his lifelong service in and out of our church and for his Christlike attributes.
Whether you have the same beliefs I do or not, this quote is an incredible one to live by and to remember every day. It’s been my absolute favorite since I first heard it in 2010 so I designed this image in 2015 so I could look at it daily.
Feel free to save it and use it yourself. It’s my favorite!
Heaven is rejoicing today. Link to the full talk HERE.
-Liv
Christmas 2017
This holiday season is one I will never forget! Not only was it our last “kidless” Christmas but it was filled with so many special memories that I want to remember forever. We were able to do so many things that we wanted to do to celebrate the season including Temple Square lights, Luminaria, Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, annual staycation downtown SLC etc etc.. the only thing that was missing was the SNOW! Utah usually gets its first huge snowfall in November but this year the first REAL big snowfall was only a couple days before Christmas. Unexpectedly, it started snowing on Christmas Eve which made it soo magical.
My favorite part of the Christmas season is spending so much quality time with family. We feel so lucky to live so close to both families so although Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent driving back and forth between families several times (they literally only live a mile apart), I wouldn’t have it any other way! A huge highlight was, of course, talking to Wills brother Jake who is on a mission in Cambodia! He’s been out in the mission field for about 4 months now so we looooved talking to him.
Wills family gifted us a trip to DISNEYLAND so we can’t wait to go this week! AKA send me all your favorite Disney treats since that’s what I’ll most likely be doing the whole time haha.
Hope everyone had a wonderful, magical Christmas season.
Love you all so much!
-Liv
Details:
Festive scarf (old, similar here)
Colorful beanie (Zara, sold out)
Running shoes (the BEST running/walking shoes)
Headband (on sale!!)
Pink sweater (pink is sold out but snag another color asap before they’re gone! Softest sweater I’ve ever owned)
San Francisco
In October we flew to San Francisco to celebrate our FOUR YEAR wedding anniversary. Not only is it crazy to think that four years have already passed, but our first kiss was ten years ago from that same date. Ten!
My best friend Karli lives in San Francisco so hanging with her was a DREAM. She is due in December and it’s pretty surreal to me that we are both pregnant at the same time. She took us around to all of their favorite places which included…
- Salt & Straw (I’m obsessed)
- Tacolicious
- Italian Homemade (incredible)
- Blue Barn
- B. Patisserie
- Basik Cafe
- Mama’s Kitchen
I had never been over to Sausalito before! It is the cutest little town.
If you ever go to San Francisco, be sure to drive up to Twin Peaks at sunset. It was incredible!
I loved this plaid dress I found right before the trip.
My favorite thing every morning was waking up and walking the Pac Heights/Presidio streets. These Lion Street steps were no joke! Before I became pregnant I would’ve loved to jog up and down those to exercise. This time, I did it once and was SPENT haha.
My second trip to San Francisco was for work and was planned last minute. But I had no complaints to go back to my favorite city so soon after! It was for Dreamforce (the Salesforce conference) which I have always wanted to attend.
THIS dress was perfect for all of the events (if it’s sold out there check HERE)
I still started my mornings off with my favorite walk. All of the homes in this area are unbelievable!
Go to B. Patisserie and try the banana bread croissant. UNREAL! Really nutritious breakfast right there…
In between all the conference events we had some pretty neat meetings set up. One was at Square Inc. headquarters (which is in the same building as Uber!). I was geeking out the entire time, of course.
And obviously, the cherry on top of the entire trip was seeing Karli again. I cannot believe the next time I see Karli she’ll be a mama!
Hopefully, I’ll see you again soon, SF.
Blush Tunic Sweatshirt (above)
Black Floral Maxi Dress if sold out check HERE
We’re having a BABY!
WE ARE HAVING A BABY!
I seriously still can’t believe it. These past couple months have been an absolute whirlwind and we’re both still trying to wrap our minds around the fact that we’re going to be parents this spring.
I found out I was pregnant mid-August and Will did not believe me when I first told him. I showed him the stick and I think both of our jaws were dropped for a solid ten seconds before the other said anything. It’s such an insane feeling when you’re first realizing you’re carrying a baby!
I really wanted to keep the news to ourselves until my second trimester but it was too hard being in Newport with my family when all of my symptoms hit hard. I was only six weeks along when the most extreme hunger hit me day two of our family trip together.
I truly don’t think words will ever adequately describe how starving I was that week. I couldn’t exercise or do any activity because I was starving at all times of the day. No matter how much I ate. Even after I pounded a Cafe Rio burrito AND tacos. That’s not an exaggeration. It was INSANE.
Although my hunger is currently not nearly as bad as week six in Newport, I’m still super hungry every single day. A little bit of nausea, vomiting, and heartburn has mixed in with it but nothing compares to this insane hunger I experience. I eat about six BIG meals a day and have felt “full” a handful of times since August haha. It’s honestly the oddest thing!
This baby loves to eat. Must be mine 😉
Also, this is a pretty special picture for me. My niece Emma is usually bouncing all over the place and one night, while we were eating at a restaurant in Newport, I decided to take her outside so my family could finish eating and pay etc. While we were outside, I whispered to her that I had a baby in my belly and that she had a cousin coming and she laid completely still and wouldn’t move. It’s like she knew!! Will caught this picture when he came outside and it will forever be one of my favorites. My family was all shocked at how much she was cuddling with me but I knew why 😏 She was the second person (after Will) to hear the news that we were having a baby! (I told my family two nights later).
Symptoms and all, I really do feel so grateful to be carrying this little babe. I look forward to every single appointment and beg my doctor to give me an ultrasound so I can see it each time. I’ve had four ultrasounds now and smile so big every time I see it up on the screen with that little heart beating so fast! Then I proceed to stare at the pictures he gives me for the rest of the day.
Will has been especially excited and a huge trooper throughout this entire pregnancy. If I ever feel stressed about the future I love sitting down with him and talking about everything. I always feel so much better when we’re done talking and feel dang lucky to have him by my side.
I don’t know why I think this picture is so funny but I do… so here you go.
Here WE go!
I’m sure I’ll post more about my pregnancy later but for now, I need a bowl of frosted mini wheats.
-Liv
Dress is HERE and on SALE!!!
(ps Anthro has 20% off Home right now and their Christmas stuff is 💯)
Jewelry is from HERE
Pictures by our new amazing Utah Grubs Intern Abigail Keenan!! We love her!
