Family Getaway | Cannon Beach, OR

life is busy. life is great. 

and it's about to get a whole lot busier and even that much better.

but before we bring the fourth member into our family (and while traveling is still ok for me) :) we decided to put a pause on 'normal' life for a day and took a little family day trip to the beach!

and it's just what our hearts needed at just the right time.

I tell ya... there honestly isn't anything in this world like family time. 

these two are my life and bring me more joy and happiness than I ever could've imagined I needed.

ok, enough with that... here's our trip! :)

a three hour road trip didn't sound too bad with a toddler. we had snacks packed, books, toys, and when needed, we could pop down the dvd player in the car.

little miss is currently working a couple two year molers in and well... enough said.

though she isn't really that bad of a teether, it does play on some of our days/moments.

about 45 minutes from arriving, and she was not having it. getting tired + cranky. and just not falling asleep... ahh! we were really having to practice our patience to say the least ;) 

and then. no joke. two (maybe three!) minutes out. she fell asleep.

cue driving around town to buy a little time for her to at least get a small cat nap in.

three hours of driving when there was perfect opportunity for a great nap... the life of traveling with children!

...and the real estate world... never.sleeps.

I was too eager for this day to really begin to just keep waiting in the car while Brandon worked and Harper slept...

so we woke Harper, got some lunch, and began to explore!

the candy store!!

this girl LOVED going around to each taffy bin and filling our bag one salt water taffy at a time! :)

and 10 dollars worth of salt water taffy later...

happy campers!!

it was just a perfect day all around. 

my absolute favorite though... watching Harper explore the beach for the first time. 

she was in heaven! we all were :)

leading up to going, we had been talking about our road trip and going to the beach. and Harper couldn't stop talking about it.

"road trip!"
"beach. ocean."

"see whales. fishies. dolphins."

this was the moment she had been waiting for!

building sandcastles with daddy.
even today she's still talking about her sandcastles :)

time to make our way to the water! this pacific northwest ocean water is cold, but she had so much fun dipping her feet in!

oh my heart. the bond between these two is enough to bring me to tears. their love for each other is so sweet.
just looking at these pictures now and remembering our day makes my eyes water. the pregnancy hormones could have a little to do with that! ;)

it was thee best day.
just the three of us away together.
it was the first day trip we've taken and I foresee it being the first of many!

Xoxo

-Brittney

35 weeks

as if I haven't said it before.... time is flying! and what a thief it is. 

it saddens me to think I'm only a handful of weeks away from being done with this pregnancy. I know, call me crazy... but after I had Harper, I so missed being pregnant and felt like I didn't cherish it enough. the same day she was born and I felt that immense love for her, I was ready and excited for more babies! and here we are. already so close to meeting our second baby!!

I certainly find myself getting nervous for labor/delivery. this time I don't have the benefit of being naive on what's to come. but then again I have the benefit of knowing (kinda) what's to come. 

a natural childbirth is no joke (but so great!) and with time being so short until baby boy begins to make his arrival, I am trying oh so hard to prepare myself mentally. as well as I can, that is :)

How far along? 35 weeks

Total weight gain: 37 pounds. I've now officially passed my total weight gain from pregnancy with Harper! this time I'm having swelling that I know is contributing to this weight gain. I didn't experience any swelling with Harper. but I'm also on my feet and running around all day A LOT more than I was first pregnancy. this time I have an active almost two year old to be running after allll dayyyy longggg! :)

Maternity clothes? throw 'em at me please! I'm determined to now not buy any more clothes to wear while pregnant. because well... I can't find it worth it for only a few more weeks! so here I'll enter the phase of 'wearing the same 5 things over and over again' :) and if it were really up to me (and socially acceptable) :) I'd be wearing boy short underwear and a sports bra all day every day. in the house it isn't an uncommon site to see!

Stretch marks? well yeah. pretty certain more have formed (I think). when I no longer have this big belly, I'll be able to better see what has happened in this department!

Sleep: just more of it please!!

Best moment this week: we had a midwife appointment this week! love hearing that little heartbeat! and now we've moved to the every two week appointment schedule. it's getting close to go time!

Worst moment this week: my hormones are getting the best of me. as well as thinking of the changes to come for my little family and I. Brandon has been super busy with work. which is such a blessing and we are so thankful for the business that comes his way! but it certainly isn't always easy on me. when he's busy with work, it makes for longer days for me too. but when you add the pregnancy hormones on top of that... well I just start missing my husband! but tis the busy season of real estate and all is good!!
Current symptoms: carpal tunnel syndrom. this is related to the swelling. but it's no joke! tingling/numbness in my hand and arm, and soreness in my hand and wrist joints have become quite the disturbance. especially at night! I'm trying so hard to get my fluids and electrolytes in but I just can't seem to get a handle on it. 

Movement: yep! and he flips from side to side in my belly. each day he seems to be in a different spot. although he is head down (yay!!!) soon he's gonna need to settle on a side and hopefully it's the preferred left side :)

Food cravings: I'm more so having an issue of finding things that actually sound good. as of late it's been rare if I actually eat lunch. my go-to has been snacking on some cheese and crackers. I try to thrown a fruit in with it and call it good. oh and redvines!! I think I could eat nearly a bag a day!

Labor signs? just an increase in braxton hicks. but no significant discomfort there.

Wedding rings on or off? well I never take my ring off. really, I  n e v e r  do. and well with this swelling... I don't think it would be possible for me to get it off if I tried.

Looking forward to: we're making a day trip to Cannon Beach, OR and I am so excited for one quick little getaway before we welcome our fourth family member!

Xoxo

-Brittney

Baby Shower | Baby Boy Hjelseth

allll day I have been thinking today is Thursday.

well to my surprise at 3pm, I just realized that it is actually Friday!

which I guess is good news! ;) BUT I then also realized that I am officially 35 weeks pregnant- that only leaves 5(ish) weeks left until we meet baby boy! ahhh!!

in some ways we are sooo ready to meet him. and in some ways we are sooo not ready to meet him.

I feel like my to-do list is just too long!

but more on that when I get a 35 week update posted. until then I'll pretend that I am still just 34 weeks ;)

last weekend Angela threw me the greatest baby shower. 

I felt so loved by all of our family + friends. it warms my heart beyond words just how blessed our baby boy is. he is surrounded by the greatest love. my little family and I couldn't be more grateful for the love and support we have. growing a family isn't always easy, but it makes it all the better when we're doing it surrounded by loved ones!

an afternoon full of being spoiled! 

treats + drinks + friends + family + gifts + laughter + love

we are so excited to meet you little one! the gift to be your mama is one that I can never repay. the Lord has already blessed us beyond measure by giving you to us. as I feel you in my belly, I can only try to imagine how much my heart will grow once you're here.

you are so loved and that won't every change!

Xoxo

-Brittney