The Fogue Abode

1. Always Overnight Maxi Pads - I wanted maximum protection, but the larger pads also offer a nice base for all my other care items.
2. Always Discreet Underwear - I never thought I’d see a day where I thought adult diapers were my jam!  That was until I had kids.  Skip the embarrassment and pride part and trust me on this tip.  I quickly went through the undies I brought home from the hospital, these offer much more protection plus who wants to do laundry when they could be snuggling babies.  
3. Tucks Medicated Pads - These cooling pads are a nice relief to achy lady bits.   
4. DIY Peri Spray - For this healing spray I mixed part Witch Hazel plus 10 drops of Frankincense essential oil, 10 drops of Lavender essential oil and 10-15 drops of Gentle Baby essential oil (a special blend by Young Living.) Not only does this have healing means, but I also use it to freshen up.
5. Dermaplast - this wonderful spray is a cool relief.
6. Nursing pads - I keep nursing pads here as well to remember to change them out.   Not pictured is also lanolin to help with sore nipples, it’s a part of my bathroom routine to take care of nursing issues too.

Dropping by to say Weston Rhett joined our family late Tuesday evening.  He came into this world at 6 pounds 12 ounces and 18 inches long.  I'm very thankful for my small babies.  Being at home with Aspen has been a huge adjustment for us.  I can't wait to tell you more, but now I have a hungry baby.

I'm a little late getting this post out, this weeks update was met with one disaster after another.  After overcoming two flat tires last week, our AC decided to go out at the same time our oven went kaput!  All while this little stink of a head cold was starting to rear its ugly head.  Hopefully, this is just getting the bad out of the way in time for our little boy to come into the world. 

This past week, we were showered with gifts from our gracious Church ladies.  It is such a blessing to have such a wonderful support group and great friends.  Aspen was such a great big sister helping me unwrap the gifts and show them off.  And here we are, right at week 36. 



Baby Size: This week baby Wes is racking on the pounds and should be around the size of a cantaloupe at 6 lbs.  He should also be maxing out his height at 19-22 inches, although I have a feeling this little fella is going to be on the tall side.

Symptoms: This week's new symptom is sciatic nerve pain.  Thanks to baby Wes' growth spurt, he likes hanging out on that nerve which sends shooting pain down my leg.  Speaking of legs, we can add swollen ankles to the ever-growing list of ailments.    

Sleep: My 2 hours of insomnia at night continues to plague me this week.  I'm certain at this point there is no cure.

Cravings and favorite foods:  It's been a while since I've had one of those strong cravings, but this week I am wanting Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches.  Usually I'm not a BBQ fan, so this is certainly one of those weird pregnancy cravings.


Mood: Impatient.  This week my impatience with people has hit an all-time high.  I apologize in advance.

Maternity clothes: I've hit a new stage in this pregnancy, I've outgrown my maternity clothes.  With hopefully less than a month to go, I'm really against buying new clothes which means being creative with coverups and even going crazy casual in some of Chris' t-shirts.

Buying:  This weeks purchase, well actually delivery, is the rug I ordered for the nursery.  After 2 months and 3 missed ship dates, I finally received the nuLoom rug I ordered on Amazon Prime day.  Just one of the last few finishing touches I've been waiting on for the nursery.

1. Just Call Me The Yard Sale Prepper

2. "Do You Want My Crap?"  Presale and Advertise

3. Junk You Need!  - Epic Signage

4.  Price to sale, but don't undervalue your stuff

5. Apparently only people in white cars Yard Sale

Getting past this week will be a huge milestone for myself.  35 weeks was the point when I had a brief labor & delivery stay and was put on bedrest for the remainder of my last pregnancy.  Obviously the goal this time is to skip the bed rest!  I have an appointment this afternoon so fingers crossed for me, please.

In other baby related news, this past weekend was the diaper shower for Baby Wes, he was sprinkled with plenty of diappies and other goodies.








Aspens Reaction: This past weekend Aspen got a little practice on being a big sister with her new baby cousin Kellen.  At first, she was very weary of the baby but after a while, she warmed up to him. We practiced being gentle with the baby this week and how we will care for him when he arrives.  

So today, I wanted to share some of the tips and tricks I've found to add to my fall décor stash over the years.  Ultimately it takes a little patience and doing little by little every year.




Tip #2 is to be creative.  Burlap has become a classic fall staple.  You can grab a yard from your local store for just a few dollars.  Cutting it into triangles and using some craft paint to paint letters is a great way to make your own banner.  Know someone who owns a Silhouette or Cricut?  See if you could snag some vinyl letters to make a simple "thankful" sign from some scrap lumber. 



Tip #3 Snag fun pieces from yard sales.  Fall is a great time to find many yard sales and antique shows.  This is a great way to find buckets, crates and bowls.  Then, simply add some fall florals to it to make a perfect fall bouquet. 


Tip #4 raid your grandmother's old stash.  Eventually one day we will have piles and piles of décor staples that simply find their way to the back of a closet.  But for us just getting our start, using this resource is an excellent way to add to your stash.  I came home with bags upon bags of fall florals.  Don't be afraid take things apart and repurpose.  This filler I have in my dough bowls consisted of a cornucopia's guts and a baggie with a cute scarecrow on the front.  I took both apart and used the florals and the pumpkins and squash to fill up the bowl.


Tip #5 is to make a stop by the Dollar Tree.  They usually have a great supply of fall pieces for just $1.  I found the small hay bells, crows and pumpkins there last year.  I took several large and brightly colored Styrofoam pumpkins and spray painted them white.



Tip #6, online swap shops.  Last year I scored a couple of boxes full of fall sunflowers and straw from left over wedding decorations.  I came home and made them into small and large bouquets to place around.  Be on the look out for items in unusual places.


 Tip #7 mix it up!  I love a blank slate when it comes to pulling my boxes of décor out each fall.  I'm never one to put something in the same place year after year and really that's the fun of it all.  Be as creative as you would like and it will all feel brand new each year.

I hope these few frugal tips help or encourage you in a time when your budget may not agree with your eyes.  Have you found any steals this year?  Let us know what you found and how you incorporated it into your home this year. 

I'm a little late with this weeks update, Aspen is at her grandparents for the night so this pregnant lady decided it was time to clean all the floors in the house.  You know, nesting and all.  I also am having some self-esteem issues with the lack of my wardrobe lately, so getting this weeks picture was a process of it's own.  Getting to the point where nothing fits just plain stinks.

On a positive note, I'm excited about this weeks coming Diaper Shower.  We kept all of our big baby items and made sure we purchased them in neutrals.  So I was only in need of diapers which seemed more fitting since this is our second.  To coil my excitement, let's review the week.



Baby Size: What's more fitting for fall, then marking this weeks size to a butternut squash.  Weston should be around 4.6 lbs and 17.7 inches long, all of which I feel stretched out under my ribs.

Symptoms: Lots of stretching and moving around happening this week.  The poor kid has to be feeling squashed.  Also, after a week or so of being heartburn free, it's right back today, boo.

Currently Missing: Being able to reach the floor.  Picking up after a toddler is becoming a more and more daunting. 

Sleep: I've resigned to the fact that my nights of decent sleep are over.  I can try sleeping with pillows, rearranging the pillows and even without, everything still aches come morning time.  It's just an impossible task these days.

Cravings and favorite foods: When heartburn doesn't deter me, sautéed onions are my craving this week.  This was a love I finally found when pregnant with Aspen and they are still my favorite.

Mood: Impatient.  This week I've been impatient with everything: time, people, the end of this pregnancy. 

Maternity clothes: When you've reach the point of outgrowing all of your comfy clothes with only a month left in your pregnancy, you turn to your husband's closet.  This evening I'm sporting an old pair of Chris' pajamas pants and one of his old college tee's.  Thankful for his sharing, it's the little things that make me happy. 

Aspen's Reaction: This week Aspen has been very excited about her new roll in our family.  She spent Saturday on her Big Sister Day talking about her baby brother.  It's now a daily request to have baby brother come out. 

With the pending arrival of a certain baby brother, due in just the matter of a month, Chris and I agreed that some pampering was in order for the big sister-to-be.  So Saturday we set out on a day full of adventures, Aspen style. 


It's amusing what a two-year-old dreams up when you ask her what she want's to do on her special day.  First, we were to spend the day coloring, then she wanted to go shopping for Barbies.  We finally settled for tacos for lunch, followed by a fun day at the zoo and rounded it out with our first trip to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games.


I loved watching her explore around the zoo.  Her excitement was contagious.  We visited monkey's followed by the elephants, road the train and then saw the big cats.  Afterwards, we had pizza for dinner with games and prizes.


It was a brilliant day, we loved spending time with our first born and showering her with love.  It was also a great day of talking about the new baby and just what that was going to mean for life going forward. 


We can't wait to add another little one to our family, but at the same time, it's sad watching our little girl grow up.  I know she will be the best big sister.  If you're a parent of more than one, how did your oldest adjust to the addition of a baby?   

There are certain events happening that really put into perspective the reality that baby will be here soon.  Like grocery shopping, when I picked up a tub of sour cream and noticed the expiration date is after our due date.  Or, the start of college football season in which baby Wes will get to enjoy the second half of.  How about before I freak myself out even more, we go through week 33.




Baby Size: This week, Wes is weighing in at about the size of a stalk of celery, or 4.19 lbs and 17.2 inches long. 

Symptoms: Continued pregnancy insomnia is plaguing me at night.  I can probably thank my squashed bladder for this problem.  And speaking of squashed, I can certainly tell everything is running out of room these days.  Tasks, like breathing or even bending over are extremely difficult.  It's making me go a little stir crazy not being able to pick up toddler disasters.

Currently Missing: Hot baths.  It's never a good idea to be in hot water because it could cause my temperature to rise.  But a nice hot bath is what my achy ribs are wanting. 

Sleep: Becoming more and more limited these days. 

Cravings and favorite foods: I'm currently craving (and indulging in while I write this post) brownies.  I'm loving those little mug brownie single servings.  So easy to whip up and I don't have to share them.

Mood: Busy and Tired.  I'm trying to get everything ready for baby which makes me needing a date with the couch more and more frequently. 

Buying: This week I'm into baby swaddles.  There are so many fun muslin swaddle prints that will make accessorizing a baby boy a little more fun, you know since bows and headbands aren't acceptable for little boys. 

Aspen's Reaction:  Aspen's patience for baby brother is growing short.  She is frequently asking for brother to be here and when he is coming out.  Now how to explain the waiting game to my 2 year old. 

The stomach virus tore through our house this week like a hurricane leaving a path of destruction.  That path included the mess that was the clean out of our spare bedroom to get it painted for the nursery.  It's remanence littered the hall, Aspen's room and the living room.  The not so fun part of eany room makeover, making sense of the mess.  What stays, what goes, and where to put the items we want to keep.  Since I'm still trying to regain my strength to tackle that mess, I figure this would be a great time to share my top 5 nursery must-haves.

I wanted to outline our favorite baby items that we are using in Baby Wes' nursery.  Most of these items are second hand from Aspen's nursery.  We loved them so much that we are chomping at the bits to use them again. 



1. Jayden 4-in-1 Crib  This mid-budget crib is both classic and functional.  When searching for a crib back 3 years ago, I wanted a crib that would grow with my child.  As the title mentions, this crib can pose in 4 different positions making it a great long-term investment. 

2. Changing Pad This one is iffy when it comes to peoples top 5 lists.  Some love it and some hate it.  Us, we loved it and used it daily.  I purchased this changing pad to go on top of the dresser that has now made both of my babies nurseries home.  It makes changing diapers and clothes easier for me as I'm not having to hunch over on a bed or chair.  Don't get me wrong, we still change in these other locations, but the changing pad was also a highly used object in our nursery

3. Rock-N-Play This was a must for my first baby, so I've got it out and ready for baby #2.  My little Aspen was a cuddler right from the start.  She was content as long as she was being held.  Laying her down was always a sure way to wake the sleeping baby.  We found that the cocoon of the rock-n-play helped to ease her into sleep without being curled up in someone's arms.  I know the risks of allowing an infant to sleep anywhere other than on their back in a crib.  But when that is simply not an option, I'm also a fan of doing what gets you and baby the most rest.

4. Video Monitor Another must have nursery item is a video monitor.  I was a big fan of this monitor from day one.  Not only does the monitor provide great sight and sound, it streams through our wifi making it a little more difficult for someone to hack into and view or talk to our little ones. 

5. Sound Machine The one item that wasn't on my mind or my nursery list with our first was a sound machine.  As I was being discharged with our fresh little bundle of joy, my sweet doctor gave us one piece of advice, a sound machine.  We made a quick pit-stop by Bed Bath and Beyond for this machine on our way home. 

This rounds out my top 5 products for our nursery.  As we finish up the nursery during the coming weeks and begin prepping for our next little one, I'll share even more of what is included in our second's nursery.  I've got some really great and fun pieces going up.  Make sure you are also following along on Instagram for some nursery sneak peaks like this .

This week equals worst week ever.  I'm really glad to see 31 coming to a close, it's been quite the roller coaster of a week.  But the best part is Wes' baby cousin was born on Tuesday meaning we are just a month and a half away from meeting our little one.



Baby Size: This week Wes is about the size of a large Squash.  He is closing in on 4 lbs and around 16.6 inches long. 

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks has been the word of the week.  These practice contractions are getting stronger and more annoying.

Currently Missing: Being able to bend over.  I pretty much give up on anything that hits the floor these days.  Being able to paint my toes is also a lost cause now.

Sleep: This week has been really rough in the sleep department.  With a sick toddler and then catching the bug myself, I've had several nights of 3ish hours of sleep.  If this is mother natures way of prepping me for a newborn, it's really cruel.

Cravings and favorite foods: Nothing these days.

Mood: My mood this week has been exhausted and impatient.  I think had I not been sick, this would still be my mood.  It's the third trimester ready-for-this-to-be-over mentality. 

Maternity clothes: This week has been all about the stretchy pants and Chris' t-shirts.  I'm also really loving these nursing tank tops I found at Target.

Buying: Do you follow along on ?  If you don't then you missed out on our crib bedding preview.  How cute is this Dakota sheet from Copper Pearl?  I'm loving the simplicity of it yet it's adding a touch of our adventure element with the arrows.

Aspens Reaction: On Tuesday, the kid's got a new baby cousin and I became an aunt for the 6th time.  Aspen has also dubbed sweet Baby Kellen as "Baby Fry."  If you've been following along, this is the name she chose for her baby brother.  I guess she has resigned to the fact that baby brother is in fact not going to be named French Fry and has chosen to pass it along to her baby cousin.

Speaking of our social media outlets, are you following along on ?  I'm always on the look out for more followers.  If you enjoy this blog, please share with your friends.  You can even do a quick share of our blog posts with the Facebook buttons along the side of the blog and the pictures. 

This week is full of mommy milestones.  While Baby Wes has been growing away, my energy and "must get everything done" attitude has taken over.  Chris called me a little bird the other night as I was in the nursery putting his crib together at 10 pm.  If you know me, I'm usually in bed long before this time.

Along with full on nursery prep which you saw a preview of earlier this week in our nursery mood board post, I've been training my maternity leave replacement for my day job.  Needless to say, prep work is in full force.



Baby Size: In this corner is Baby Wes, weighing in at 3.31 lbs and 16.1 inches long (a pretty big growth spurt from last week which mommy fully feels.) In veggie weight, he's about the size of a bushel of asparagus.

Symptoms: Swollen cankles.  Fortunately, it's nothing health wise I have to worry about and just the result of being pregnant during the summer.  Also new in the symptom department is rib kicks.  Wes is head down in preparation for his debut so those little feet have found a new home underneath my rib cage.  Bluh!

Currently Missing: All the caffeine.  So last pregnancy, I was the saint of abstaining from caffeine.  I've limited myself to one drink a day.  But those really large Starbucks coffees have been screaming my name.  Especially with pumpkin spice season nearing. 

Sleep: Sleep has been limited this week.  Not because of my little baby, but my bigger one.  She's been battling a stomach virus which has thrown her off of her usual good sleep routine.  All in preparation right!?

Cravings and favorite foods:  Speaking of pumpkin spice latte's, I'm ready for a giant pumpkin roll.  Can you tell I'm really getting into the fall mood, it's the nesting right!?

Mood: Productive.  I don't think I've felt this productive since I found out I was pregnant.  Which is a good thing.  I'm usually in my happy place when I'm getting stuff done and seeing results.  This nursery project is making me extra happy.

Maternity clothes:  I found the top I'm wearing today on Zulily.  It is white with coral stripes and has a cut out back.  It's nice for the summer time.  Jeans are my usual Motherhood Maternity pants.

Buying: This week's purchase is a pendant light for the nursery.  Instead of purchasing a whole light, I bought a hanging pendant light kit and a large drum shade for less than $30.  It currently houses a white and 80s brass ceiling fan.  Lighting has been the source of my anxiety with this room.  So finally deciding on something basic that will flow nicely with this room has me screaming at myself "Why didn't I think of this before?" 

Aspens Reaction: As my belly grows larger these days, so has Aspen's excitement for baby brother.  At night we love to cuddle and she loves to give brother hugs and kisses.  A few nights ago as we were laying in bed, Aspen was talking to baby brother.  This was her conversation:

"Goodnight baby brother."
"Tinkle, Tinkle wittle star..."
"Mom, I'm ready to see baby brother."
"Mom, can we just take him out now."