GENDER REVEAL

Baby Hale Gender Reveal.

Our gender reveal was outrageous. Our dear friends, Anthony and Jessica (along with a few other smug party planners), gave us an incredible party that we will never forget. They created festive decorations, baked delicious desserts (brownies with ice cream for Stevie, citrusy lemon bars for me PLUS additional cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery and Sprinkles!), came up with hilarious celeb baby games and themed the entire event around my favorite Dr. Seuss book. They even sneakily invited both sets of our parents to enjoy the surprise (unbenounced to us), by Facetiming them in for the big reveal. That really added a personal touch, because our parents really wanted to be part of it. It was the perfect way to find out our baby's gender. Anthony and Jess, we are so SO thankful to you for creating this beautiful party that will always live in our memory. Like always.

The photos truly say it ALL.

A few iPhone snapshots:

Photo Credits: Deborah Choi, Bronte Hughes, & Dara Adeeyo.

It's a Boy!

But best of all? Finding out that the banana-sized baby inside of me is A BOY. Oh my goodness. I literally know nothing about little boys. I come from an all-girl household. As in, even my father watched Calamity Jane with us. (That man deserves a medal of honor. When Stevie comes home to visit, my dad kind of squashes him into a bear hug that always lasts a smidge longer than is conventionally normal.) But oh my. A baby boy. We are beyond thrilled. I know everybody says it, but we would have been thrilled with a boy or a girl. It's just that I had this feeling. This boyish feeling. So did Stevie. So we dressed for our guess (and our guest!!) But now, it's just so incredibly fun to actually know and begin making plans. Blue plans. Muahahaha.

Well, that's as priceless as it gets. Enough of my glee for now. Any advice for upcoming parents of a bodacious BOY??

XOX

Think You're Pregnant? These Were My Clues.

The Clues that I was Pregnant.

I had an inkling that I was pregnant before I actually knew. I just felt so odd. I experienced pretty much every pregnancy symptom under the sun - and I had them all much sooner than the books say is normal. Was I just hyper sensitive? I don’t know. But I’m willing to share these ridiculous tales with you because at some point, a LOT of you will find yourself in the same position I was in. Beware: This is REAL talk. If talking about body functions grosses you out, you should probably stop reading. But for all the ladies out there who care to know, I am happy to share my experiences (to a degree) about how I began to suspect there was something growing inside of me.

1. Frequenting the Loo.

In the very beginning (we are talking 3-4 weeks along) was waking up 5-8 times in the middle of the night to pee. Super abnormal. Also super annoying. Since that has continued, I’ve gotten used to sleep walking, and I almost don’t remember when I wake up anymore. Except for when I run into the walls. I think I need to get a nightlight.

2. FEED ME.

Beginning in week 6, I started waking up starving and panting for water. Like a wolverine-ish camel. A special new hybrid. First, I was craving kale and citrus fruits. Then a few weeks later, I began salivating just at the THOUGHT of bacon. And cheese burgers. And steak. Pastrami sandwiches. Barbeque pork. Weeks 9-12 were bacon OBSESSED. Now I have just settled into a new routine of protein mania. This is the one reason why I think this child could be a boy.

3. Nausea.

It’s the most boring and frustrating symptom, because it wipes you out. Nothing helps except eating. Which seems counter-intuitive. But it helped! I munched on pretzels, ritz crackers and English muffins. I watched my belly expand, but I don’t think it was due to anything more than just eating a lot of carbs. Thankfully, I did not experience the level of nausea that a lot of women experience. That's the one pregnancy symptom that seemed to bypass me (thank goodness!)

4. So. Exhausted.

This is one of the biggest indicators. When you all the sudden LOSE THE WILL TO AWAKEN, there is something going on. Before I found out I was pregnant, I was in the midst of the busy holiday season, working and auditions and having fun with new friends, and then all the sudden – my energy was just gone. Absolutely gone. I crawled out of bed as late as possible and crawled back in before 8pm. Netflix became my new best friend. And my favorite activity was sleeping. And eating. But no – sleeeeeeeeping. You cannot possibly get enough. It’s different than just being tired, though. You just lay there, wallowing in the weirdness occurring in your body. Wondering what could possibly create such an exhaustion.

5. Tears.

Exhibit A: This Josh Groban Christmas song came on our Pandora station, and I wept throughout the entire 4 minutes. I’m not talking a few trickling tears. I’m talking WAILING weeping. My husband was working on his computer and just stared at me. I surprised my own self.

Exhibit B: One night I was hungry for a cheeseburger. Really hungry. People, I was hungry. When Stevie asked me what I wanted for dinner, I burst into tears saying,” I just want a cheeseburger so badly.” He, being the good man that he is, got me a cheeseburger. And onion rings. And a root beer float. Bless that sweet man. He’s been the true champion of this pregnancy so far.

Exhibit C: I’ve been crying at least once a day for about 10 weeks straight. Sometimes its due to a cute commercial on TV. Sometimes it’s when my mom says something sweet on the phone. Sometimes it’s when we walk by a donut shop and it just seems so meant to be. But it keeps happening. Ain’t nothing I can do to stop it.

Oh, There's More.

These 5 symptoms were the ones that really stood out to me. But there are a lot of weirder things that people NEVER tell you about - like the cramping, killer bad gas, daily bloody noses, incredibly tender breasts, shortness of breath (just from walking up the stairs, geez!), headaches, super heightened sense of smell, dizziness when you stand up, insane dreams, etc. I experienced ALL of these precious moments in the weeks leading up to the discovery that I was pregnant. And many of them have continued on throughout the pregnancy. Looking back, it's really funny that I was surprised at finding out I was preggo. I mean, how obvious can it get?

Having a combination of these symptoms? Dude, YOU'RE PREGNANT.

1st Trimester Must Haves

1st Trimester Must Haves by oykristen // 1. Amazon The Baby Name Wizard // 2. Origins Gloomaway Body Wash // 3. The Honest Company Belly Balm // 4. Barnes & Noble The Hobbit // 5. Mmm bacon // 6. Lacroix Lime Sparkling Water // 7. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Vitamin // 8. Lululemon Skinny Will Pant // 9. Green Juice // 10. Krispy Kreme Original Glazed // 11. Netflix Instant Streaming //  

1st Tri.

People, the first trimester of pregnancy is a really interesting time. A really interesting, odd kind of time. I didn't really experience the whole "wow, life is growing inside of me, this is AMAZING"-feeling, but I didn't feel angry/pissed/annoyed by the pregnancy either. I fell somewhere in the middle. And coming from a family of women who ADORE pregnancy and all things baby-licious, I sort of expected to feel, you know, all prance-y and glowy. Unfortunately, the whole pregnancy glow thing is actually just sweat. It's sweat and getting ridiculously out of breath walking up the stairs. But thankfully, these are the few things that made my early pregnancy a lot more comforting: 

1. Amazon The Baby Name Wizard

- My sweet sis lent me her copy of this unique baby book. I've really enjoyed it because it gives you a strategy for how to name your child; it's not just a list of names. It provides a ton of insight behind why you prefer certain sounds/combinations and it teaches you how to choose a name for your child that is meaningful, teasing-free and completely one-of-a-kind. Now if only we can decide on something.

2. Origins Gloomaway Body Wash

- Last year my bff Trish gave me this lotion as a gift. It is so peppy and joyful smelling, I decided to splurge and get the body wash, too. It makes a world of difference in my morning mood. If I wake up and wash with this, the whole day has a better outlook. It may seem simple, but you will grasp for anything comforting during those first few unknown months of early pregnancy. I've learned that a tiny little bit of pampering can really go a long way!

3. The Honest Company Belly Balm

- I immediately ordered this when I found out I was expecting. I got my first stretch marks at 12 years old (and they have never disappeared!), so I didn't want to wait and "chance it" with this whole pregnancy thing. They say stretch marks can't be avoided, but I'm going to try my darndest to prevent any more from plaguing my body! And for those of you ladies who have told me you've never had them in your life... I just can't imagine. For those of you who understand the concept of thunder thighs - I have yet to obtain any new stretch marks with this balm. Fingers crossed!

4. Barnes & Noble The Hobbit

- This is an old favorite, and this particular copy is so so beautiful. My dad got it for me a few years ago, and I love to crack it open every once in a while and re-read this fanciful story. Believe me, the 1st tri has you laying around A LOT. So reading... yeah, it's a good break from all the Netflix you watch. Oh wait, I'm getting ahead of myself...

5. Mmm bacon

- I craved bacon with a passion during weeks 6-10 of my pregnancy. I couldn't get enough. That was around Thanksgiving/Christmastime, which is when I was with my Georgian family, and let me just say... my mom was kind enough to make it for me almost everyday. I know, it can't possibly be healthy to eat bacon that often, but what can I say? My body yearned for it. It yearned, people. I guess this child is a protein lover.

6. Lacroix Lime Sparkling Water

- This isn't the first time I've sung the praises of delicious Lacroix water, but now more than ever I have been gulping it down! Especially this lime flavor... yum, it is the perfect thirst quencher! Especially since pregnancy makes you crazy thirsty and you can never get enough water to feel satisfied.

7. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Vitamin

- I don't know a lot about prenatals, let me just clearly state that. But this particular vitamin has been a great choice for me - no upset stomach, no burping up weirdness, and super easy to digest. Just a really well rounded food-based pill that is chock-full of hearty vitamins for mama and baby.

8. Lululemon Skinny Will Pant

- This pant. Is a dream. Stevie was sweet enough to take me into Lululemon when I couldn't fit into any of my leggings anymore (they were so tight and the waistband was cutting into my stomach and KILLING me). I tried on several pairs of their plain black leggings, and finally landed on this Skinny Will pant. It has a great tummy section that you can adjust and fold down under your belly (comfortably!) or you can pull up over your stomach and it smooths out your belly underneath your shirt, exactly like a belly band. They are a bit pricey if you're just purchasing them for yoga pants, but I have literally worn these every single day for the past month. And no, I'm not exaggerating. You can wear them just like any other leggings, with tall socks and boots or with your comfy Toms or, obviously, to the gym for yoga! This is my favorite (and most used!) pregnancy purchase so far.

9. Green Juice

- Eating is a bit of a pain during the first trimester. When your tummy is always grumbly and nauseous, the last thing you want to eat is healthy food (AKA salads or vegetables). However, I found that I could get in some good nutrients by throwing them into a smoothie or juice. I snacked on lots of crackers and toast and other forms of carbs during the 1st tri, but if I could sneak in a smoothie or juice everyday, at least I knew I was getting some good nutrition in the midst of feeling crappy. This isn't just for pregnant ladies! My hubby loves this Green Juice recipe as much as me!

10. Krispy Kreme Original Glazed

- Okay okay I know what you're thinking. Crazy munching pregnant lady! But actually, I've been eating less sugar since I got pregnant because I don't really crave it. With the exception of these delicious "hot now" treats, of course. I just can't help it. I've limited myself to purchasing these only once during my pregnancy (so far), because I don't want to loose all control, but oh... don't they just look delicious? PS I never craved donuts pre-pregnancy. Like EVER. Did too many donut-related fundraisers in middle and high school. Somehow my brain has recently experienced amnesia from hating donuts from way back then. If you've known me for long enough, I probably sold you a box of these as an 8th grader.

11. Netflix Instant Streaming

- Um, how do people live without Netflix? This delicious application made my 3 months of horizontal life so much more pleasant. I blazed through episodes of White Collar, Burn Notice and How I Met Your Mother, along with some good old favorite viewings of Emma and You've Got Mail. It helped me laugh when I felt like nothing was funny AT ALL.

I know a LOT of ladies out there that are pregnant right now. What were your 1st Tri must haves? Leave it in the comments below!

The Moment My Life Changed.

The Moment My Life Changed.

November 22, 2013.

Welp, that’s definitely two lines. Two pink lines, one a bit more faint than the other, but definitely present. Definitely THERE.

Two lines.

Two. Pink. Lines.

Maybe I should take another test.

“STEEEVVVIIIEEE!!!!!!!!!!” I wailed with the vigor of a thousand bloodhounds. It was 8 am, he was dressing for work and babbling about something that wasn’t baby-related. Like taxes?

I thrust the tattle-tale test into his hand and screamed a whole lot more. “What if it’s true? What if it’s real? What if it’s a false positive? WHAT IF ITS TRUE?!!”

I was feeling an unfamiliar kind of rush, like a flush of the senses. Like an eclipse of reality. Like happy and freaked and scared and expectant (ha.) But most of all, I felt far too young for this to actually be true. Aren’t I too young to have a, a, um…?

No time for thinking.

“SSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEVVVVIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Yelling seemed to be the only volume my voice could produce. But before I could do any more -

His perfect reaction.

He took the test from my hand and just looked at it.

That man’s calm face was immediately saturated by his grin, from his sunny eyes to his ears. Combined with his lethal blonde beauty and a flurry of encouraging words, he swept me up in a hug, and for about 3 seconds, our house was quieted with THE MOMENT.

Then I started hollering again.

“Do you think it’s trrrueeee?!!?!??” I cried, much like a dying cat.

He had to go to work. We agreed to call my sister and get advice. Ha, yeah right. More like I DECIDED to call my sister. And he nodded and kissed me, then sort of floated out the door. I think he actually pranced down the hallway and out of the building.

After a frantic phone call to my big sis (what in the world do people do without big sisters?!), I followed her sound advice and took a (calm) journey to the drugstore. Where I proceeded to purchase three more tests. In a different brand, of course. The package says to wait until morning to test again, and being an obedient kind of girl, I decided to wait.

That lasted about ten minutes.

I went downstairs and knocked out two more tests. The word “pregnant” came across the tiny digital screen. Pregnant. That itty-bitty word. Is so definitive. And so piercing.

And just like that, my life changed.

Here We Go!

Photo Credit: Nancy Hostetler

Feeling Grateful. And Hungry.

Oh life. Needless to say, I've been feeling a lot over the past several months. Nausea, exhaustion, cravings, yes. Crazy dreams and outbursts of sweat, sure. A ravenous appetite for bacon, it's true. But we will get to all of that. Even more than all of those things, I've been equally enamored with reflection and planning ahead for the future. It's amazing how a teeny, tiny second line on a test can cause you to evaluate everything - the home you live in, the career choices you've made, the relationships in which you invest. It's an incredible rush and also a daunting responsibility. I'm supposed to be ready to raise another human, but WOW I feel pretty inadequate to do so. I feel like I don't know enough bible verses. Or how to soothe a crying anything.

I'm sure everyone feels this way at first. I hope.

I just want to say thank you. I'm so grateful to everyone for the well-wishes and congrats on our little one, coming in August! Stevie and I are super excited and feeling really blessed. I'm currently at 13 weeks and still feeling rather puny, but I'm holding onto hope (shout out, E!) that the next several weeks will bring all the relief the second trimester promises. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement - it really means a lot!

Since this is the biggest change of our lives, I want to share about this journey here on the blog. Have no fear, all of you who loathe "mommy bloggers"! I don't intend to focus soley on pregnancy/baby-related topics. I still cook. Audition. Write. I still explore my city (well, let's be honest... I've been a couch potato for 3 months. I have high hopes to return to normal life again and explore!) Stevie and I still have aspirations to travel and goof off. Our obsession with visiting our families a million times a year will only be compounded by the fact that now, we have another reason to! All good things.

Thank you again for sharing in our joy. We are feeling the love :-)