Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post

I’ve always been a big Grapefruit person. I love the sweet tart flavor of it. I was part of the generation of kids who watched their parents dive into grapefruit for breakfast with a spoon. My dad loves them and since I wanted to be just like my dad growing up I grew to love them too.

Anytime I see grapefruit on a menu I have to get it. It’s such a unique citrus with so many character traits and can be used in a variety of ways. When I came up with this recipe I wanted to feature all the complexities of grapefruit. It’s sweet but tart, bold, juicy and has beautiful color. The Sunkist California Star Ruby Grapefruit is my favorite. I used rosemary as a way to bring some unexpected earthiness to this compote and then a little cayenne gives it a mild spice! I love to pour this compote over vanilla bean ice cream, pancakes or waffles. Grapefruit is an extraordinary healthy fruit. Packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants and a good source of Vitamin A and fiber, it’s one of those citrus I always have on hand. Head to Sunkist.com/recipes for the full recipe and watch my IGTV episode here.

Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post

It’s no surprise I love breakfast. We eat it every morning and I’m not talking about some type of grab and go situation but a real warm meal together as a family. This is one of those recipes that will ensure everyone has a good day! It’s comforting, full of flavor and packed with Vitamin C from Sunkist lemons and zest so you are giving your body that much needed immunity boost and those added nutrients as well.

I love keeping lemons on hand to add to my meals. Sunkist lemons are a great way to add that tart, bold and fresh flavor to any dish. Anytime I make this recipe it still wows me that you’re able to transform a few pantry staples into a beautiful and delicious meal! If you’re looking for more breakfast recipes check out my Orange Cream Cheese Frosted Cinnamon Rolls and my Sunkist Cara Cara Creamsicle Dream Smoothie. You can find the full recipe here or by going to Sunkist.com/recipes.

Go to my IGTV channel to watch my Spring Edition of What I’m Crushing On here

Every month I’m brining you a run down of what I’m loving, using, gifting, talking about and crushing on! Let me know if you love any of these products too and be sure to follow me on Instagram @BrandiMilloy for more.

SPRING EDITION PRODUCTS

Taja Candle -these are 100% soy candles made here in the US. My absolute favorite scent is Do Not Disturb. It smells citrusy and inviting and really lux.

Spanx Leather Leggings -total must have for anyone! They suck and squeeze you in in all the right spots! I love how you can dress them up or down. Literally I wear them with kicks and a sweatshirt and still look put together.

Child Smoothie Cup -great for little hands for smoothies! Love the silicone straw and I have one for both Milly & Sonny.

Pixie Beauty Matte Lip -this Really Rose color is so good for any skin tone. It’s matte which is a little different for me but I’m really into it.

Skin Owl Beauty Drops -these are so luxurious and great to use in place of a moisturizer. All of their products are 100% natural and clean (use code MOMHOOD for 15% off)

The Happy Planner Recipe Book -this is how you finally eternalize recipes for your family. You will have this forever, just keep in your kitchen and jot all those meaningful recipes and notes down!

Sketch Design -busy books will save you! This is such a great gift idea cause you can personalize it to your child’s name and interests. These are great for their fine motor skills and last forever!

Thank you to Sunkist Citrus for sponsoring this post.

People used to call me the dip queen cause anytime they would come over and wanted a snack, I’d whip up a full on appetizer, usually in the form of a dip. With little effort you can make one of my go to dips that is reminiscent of a party dip but healthier. It is full of flavor, creamy, herbaceous and has the brightness and tang of lemon. It uses the lemon juice and zest of one whole lemon and zero to little salt. If you’re looking to reduce your sodium intake without sacrificing flavor, add lemon to your meals. Lemons are available year round so they are a countertop staple in our house. We have a running joke around there that if something doesn’t taste right we say “did you add lemon?”. Lemons can completely transform a dish and take it from ok to AMAZING. The acid for me is like electricity through a dish. It’s just wonderful what the tart flavor can do. I always have lemons on hand because of this powerful property plus they are an excellent source of Vitamin C! You can get the full recipe for my Spicy Lemon Cheese Dip here at Sunkist.com/recipes or you can watch me make it on IGTV.

Most of the time when people ask me where I got something it’s usually on my Amazon store. From my new mama must haves to my favorite kitchen gadgets, I try to update lists for you all on there. If you haven’t taken a peak in a while, just go to https://www.amazon.com/shop/brandimilloy

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

I keep seeing this #WhippedCoffee trend on social. It started on Tik Tok but it’s really all over. I needed to know what all the hype was about. I finally decided to try it and let me tell you-it’s not that good. Instant coffee? Really? Well instead of just judging it-haha, I decided to try to make my own version that actually tastes good. And, I wanted to give it some flavor. I went with orange + mocha. The flavor is elevated, luxurious and it’s a winning combination and works really well with the coffee. These Sunkist® Navel oranges are such a classic and the orange zest adds so much amazing flavor! Citrus is something I always have in my house because it is so versatile and fun to cook with, but also because it can last up to 4 weeks in the fridge. It can really transform a meal. I’d love to know if you try this recipe and let me know what you think! You can find the full recipe here or by going to Sunkist.com/recipes

Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post

We just love making cinnamon rolls around here….and I’m not talking about the kind that take forever to make cause you have to let the dough rest and rise and all that fun stuff. Those are great but they take a while and you gotta have yeast on hand. When I’m craving cinnamon rolls I want them now, not later. This recipe features store bought cinnamon rolls in the tube but with a fresh, bright orange twist! I love keeping citrus on hand not only for flavor but for their nutritional benefit. Sunkist Cara Cara oranges offer the most vitamin C of the Sunkist citrus varieties, with 100% of the recommended daily intake in just one orange. If you’ve never had a Cara Cara you need to get them asap. They are juicy and sweet and their seedless interior has a rich pink hue. I love making fresh Cara Cara OJ. It’s delicious. Once you try a Cara Cara you won’t be able to stop thinking about them. They are so good. Anyway-back to the cinnamon rolls. So these semi-homemade rolls are slathered in a homemade Sunkist Cara Cara orange cream cheese frosting that is tart and sweet and full of that bright citrus flavor. The recipe makes plenty so you can frost the rolls twice! I like to frost them once right out of the oven and then again right before serving. Head to Sunkist.com/Recipes or here to get the full recipe!

Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post

I had to include the word “dream” in the name of this recipe because it’s such a dream the way these flavors all work together. This smoothie is simple, straightforward and oh so satisfying! It kind of reminds me of those frothy orange drinks we all drank in in the 80’s we’d get from the mall food court except the homemade version tastes way better and I know exactly what’s going in there. Plus this one is actually good for you because I’m using Sunkist Cara Cara oranges. They’re considered the power orange because just one Cara Cara provides 100% of your daily Vitamin C intake. It’s a no brainer for me that these should be in your daily rotation to keep your immunity up! They’re also a good source of fiber and rich in folate and if you’re like me-you start looking for them around December (they are available December through May). Sunkist Cara Caras are extremely sweet, with a slightly lower acidity level than navel oranges, super juicy, seedless and have a beautiful rich pink hue to them. In this recipe I include that you could add honey to sweeten but it’s totally optional since the Cara Cara is already sweet.

I just know you and your family are going to love this smoothie. GO watch my latest IGTV to see me make it with Sonny! The recipe is so simple, the flavor is straightforward- creamy, luscious, packed full of Vitamin C and feels like such a treat! Be sure to watch my latest appearance on KTLA where I featured my Sunkist Cara Cara Creamsicle Dream Smoothie as a healthy and easy activity to make with your children. And don’t forget to post your photos on instagram and tag me @BrandiMilloy and @SunkistCitrus

Sunkist Cara Cara Creamsicle Dream Smoothie Recipe

by Brandi Milloy

Serves 2

Ingredients

• Juice of 2 Sunkist Cara Cara Oranges

• 1/2 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt

• 1.5 cups ice

• 1 tbsp. honey or sugar to sweeten

Directions

1. Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into 2 glasses to serve and enjoy!

Brandon Kidd Photography

I love Arnold Palmers. It’s pretty much my go to every time I eat out unless it’s late and I’m worried about the caffeine (then it’s sparkling water extra ice with lime please). Anyway—I love when I go to restaurants and order an Arnold Palmer and they say that their Arnold Palmer is different. I’m always down. “It’s made with strawberry lemonade” or “we have it but we make it with peach tea, is that OK?” Ummm yes to all of the above. I love it all. It’s the perfect mix of sweet from the lemonade and the bite from the tea.

This recipe was kind of an accident one afternoon when I was craving an Arnold Palmer and instead of grabbing a lemon from my fruit bowl, I grabbed a few blood oranges and Cara Cara’s. The result was glorious! Citrusy, juicy, sweet tea (but not too sweet cause it doesn’t need it). You’ve gotta try this and might as well make a big batch to share with guests. Tastes even better with a slice of blood orange as garnish. It really hits all the sense, ya know? Cheers!

Brandon Kidd Photography

Blood Orange & Cara Cara Iced Tea

by Brandi Milloy

Serves 4

Ingredients 

• 6 cups water

• 2 Sunkist Cara Cara Oranges

• 2 Sunkist Blood Oranges

• 4 black tea bags

• 1/4 cup organic honey or agave

Directions

1. Into a large pot, heat 3 cups of water just until boiling. Remove from heat. 

2. Peel rind off oranges and place in pot. Add tea bags to steep for 5 minutes. Stir in honey.

3. Juice oranges and pour juice into pot and stir.

4. Into a large pitcher, pour 3 cups of cold water. Place strainer over pitcher and add tea and juice mixture. Serve with ice and slices of orange.

Brandon Kidd Photo

This post isn’t about my favorite brownie or chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. You can use whatever recipe you want for those OR go ahead and get a box or brownie mix and a log of cookie dough from the store.

The key here is to make sure you don’t over bake your bars. In fact, slightly more than half baked is more like it. Just pour your brownie dough into a prepped 8 x 8 pan and then drop your cookie dough on top until the brownie batter is covered. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. What makes these bars over the top delicious is the buttery cream cheese frosting and my favorite sprinkles. Just slather the frosting all over the bars and cut into squares. Add sprinkles and you’re everyone’s best friend. The end.

Brandon Kidd Photo

Cream Cheese Frosting

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature

• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature

• 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

• tiny pinch of salt

Directions

1. Mix cream cheese and butter together until combined. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and salt and mix until smooth.

2. Enjoy by the spoonful if you please

Brandon Kidd Photo

Brandon Kidd Photo

Brandon Kidd Photography

A few weeks ago I had Ruby chocolate for the first time and was totally blown away by the flavor. It pairs so nicely with Sunkist blood oranges! You can watch the video of me trying this custom chocolate bar made by @ChefSally here. It inspired me to make a smaller version using my favorite gem mold.

I love how these ruby chocolates feel like they are SO much more elevated and custom than they are! This is an easy recipe to get you started if you’re interested in making custom chocolates. You can find the full recipe on the Sunkist Citrus website. Be sure to tag me when you post yours!

Brandon Kidd Photography

Brandon Kidd Photography

Brandon Kidd Photography

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📣 Welcome to MOMHOOD!!! Thrilled to announce our new podcast @momhoodshow that I developed with the insanely smart & talented @orlyshani. We are on a mission to change the conversation about what it means to be a Mom and I’m telling you-this podcast is going to change lives. We have amazing guests who have incredible stories and are brilliant, fascinating and provide so much value to our conversations.. I hope you’ll take a listen, subscribe and even give us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ratting and write a review. I’m always forever grateful for your support. You can find us on instagram @MOMHOODSHOW and on Facebook by searching MOMHOOD.

Sugar Cookies for Santa Recipe

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 5 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 1/2 tsps. pure vanilla extract

• 1 tsp. almond extract

Directions

1. Into a large bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

2. In a stand up mixer, cream together your butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add your eggs, vanilla and almond extract and beat on high until combined being sure to scrape down the sides.

3. Add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Divide your dough into 4 equal parts. On a floured piece or parchment paper, roll out each portion until about 1/4” thick. Cover in plastic and keep in refrigerator for 2-4 hours to chill.

4. Cut out cookies and place in a preheated oven at 350F for about 11-12 minutes or until barely golden but still soft in the center.

5. To make a simple cookie frosting, mix 4 cups powdered sugar with about 1/4 cup of cream or milk (you can also use water instead). Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla or almond extract and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix until smooth. If frosting is too thick, add some cream, milk or water a teaspoon at a time until desired consistency.

Thank you to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council for sponsoring this post

Blueberry Bacon Bites Recipe

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 8 oz. bacon or 8 slices bacon

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper

• 2 cups blueberries

• 1 tbsp. maple syrup

• 1 roll refrigerated crescent dough

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Into a bowl add your bacon, brown sugar and black pepper and mix to coat. Place bacon on baking sheet and bake in oven for 18 minutes, rotating halfway through. Remove from oven and cool.

2. Meanwhile make your blueberry spread by adding blueberries and maple syrup into a pot. Place on medium high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 3 minutes and then remove from heat and let it cool.

3. To assemble, lay out crescent dough on a baking sheet keeping the dough in one large rectangle shape. Brush about 4 tbsp. of the blueberry spread onto dough. Top with bacon and bake at 350F for about 15 minutes. Chop into pieces and serve warm or room temperature.

We’ve done our fair share of traveling. In fact, by the time Milly turned 2, she had been on nearly 40 flights! People always assume she’s a great traveler. And I think she is. But, I also think I set us up for success by planning ahead. Here are my favorite travel activities for children no matter the age!

I love to pack the following items in activity bags and have one for each child. These are basically bags filled with anything to keep your little one busy and occupied on the plane or in the car! From toys to little crafts, you want to make sure they are items that you don’t care TOO much about since the are more likely to get lost during travels. Sad but true. Leading up to a trip I’ll put a ziplock bag aside and anytime I think of something I’ll toss it in there. I swear the most successful activity bags have the most random things in there. The more simple, the better. You can also use a jewelry organizer or little tackle box for these items depending on how much space you have.

• post its (they can peel each one off and stick it all the over the plane and it’s easy cleanup)

• sticker books (these are great for playing eye spy or to stick onto a paper to tell a story)

• peel & stick stickers/window clings (these stick to the window, the front of the seat and you can even tear them in half and play a matching game)

• wrap $1 store toys (wrap in wrapping paper OR foil is easy too!)

• figurines, matchox cars (small figurines are great for lining up or playing with)

• Predownload videos, games or music and don't forget the headphones (rules about screen time don’t apply on planes! You have my permission, Mama. You’re still a good mama.)

• Threading/lacing toys (Now that Milly is 2.5 she can spend up to 40 minutes threading!)

• dot stickers, construction paper & black marker for mom to draw for tracing work or to make a race track for the matchbox cars (possibilities are endless with this one!)

• scratch art books (Colorful and more creative than a standard coloring book)

• colored tape (great for crafting)

Thank you, Hilton Breakfast Alliance for sponsoring this post

Anyone else feel like 2019 flew by? I can’t believe it’s almost Thanksgiving! Where did the year go? I think I’m still adjusting to saying I’m a Mama of two, much less a toddler and an almost four-month-old! Doesn’t it always feel like it’s summer and then you blink and all of a sudden, it’s time to start Christmas shopping? And as much as I love this time of the year, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can really get the best of me. From traveling out of town to hosting family and friends, it’s easy to get off schedule and fall out of a regular routine. For me, I’ve found this can lead to some unhealthy habits. That’s why it’s really important to me and my family to maintain our morning routines. It’s the easiest way to stay on track and prioritize what is important to us.  

EAT BREAKFAST TOGETHER

A survey I referenced earlier this year revealed that breakfast is the most disconnected meal of the day, with Americans typically skipping breakfast, rushing through the first meal of the day or even eating alone. During the hectic holiday season, it can be even harder to find the time for a morning meal. However, a big non-negotiable for us – no matter the time of year -- is that we always have breakfast together. That’s why I’m excited to continue my partnership with Hilton and its five brands that offer free, hot breakfast to transform breakfast into an opportunity to connect with others.

If we are hosting friends and family at our house, sometimes we make it a big event where everyone cooks together in the kitchen. Usually people work in pairs and take charge of making specific dishes or take on clean up duty! Afterwards, we sit around the table and talk about what we want to do that day or maybe reflect on what happened the night before. It’s always a good time and a great way to start our mornings with meaningful conversation.  

However, sometimes having breakfast with everyone in a big group can be overwhelming for the little ones. I will purposely tell our guests breakfast is starting a half hour later so I can spend quality time with the children in the morning while getting ready, listening to music and packing lunches before our house guests join us. Even just spending 20 minutes with my children makes a world of a difference. It allows both Sonny & Milly to have the consistency they crave and the one-on-one time they might not get the rest of the day since we have family in town.  

When we have a lot of family and friends visiting from out of town, they will stay at a nearby hotel. I love that there’s a Hampton by Hilton down the street from us. It gives me peace of mind to know my guests are nearby and can enjoy a free, hot breakfast every morning. It relieves so much stress trying to take care of everyone, as I can trust my family and friends are well fed and ready for the day. The same goes for when we travel--we always prefer to stay somewhere that offers free, hot breakfast so that we can easily keep our morning routine and start our morning off right. Our favorite hotels are definitely Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites. Especially when we have a full day planned with tons of activities and outings, I feel better knowing that everyone sat down and had breakfast together.

SCHEDULE INDIVIDUAL TIME

The only way to really maintain those morning routines during the holidays or when you travel is to dissect minute by minute what your current routine looks like. For my husband, going to the gym in the morning is super important to him. It allows him to get his body moving and burn some energy. For me, I just love when the house is quiet, before the kiddos wake up, and I can sip my coffee and read or journal. For our children, they each need their individual time too. Milly loves to hang out in her crib when she wakes up. She needs about 15 minutes to stretch and play with her dolls before she’s ready to start her day.  We do a little tummy time with Sonny in the morning and he gets one on one time with Mom and Dad. As a parent, one of the worst feelings in the world is being rushed or running late—combine that with an uncooperative child and it’s a recipe for a bad morning. To avoid this, schedule time into your day. Allow for buffer time in the morning. 

SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

Being flexible is probably my biggest takeaway here. Set yourself up for success by creating realistic goals and expectations. Oftentimes, you can anticipate things as much as you want, but nothing ever goes as planned. Everyone is always a little more emotional around the holiday season and especially when there is travelling involved, tensions can run high. Going with the flow and letting go of what you can’t control is key.

Focus on what you can control and that is making breakfast a priority.  Bonding over breakfast is the recipe for a great day. Having a sit-down breakfast together increases those powerful connections. In fact 89% of Americans believe having a connected breakfast would have a positive effect on them. It’s the best way to ensure you get quality time as a family before the craziness of the holiday season begins.  I challenge and encourage you all to make breakfast a priority for your family and remember, time is the greatest gift of all.

Thank you to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council for sponsoring this post

Breakfast cookies are basically my excuse to eat cookies for breakfast! Ha, actually they are the easiest make ahead meal for mornings when we have zero time to sit down and have breakfast together. They are so simple to throw together-you literally just toss all of the ingredients in a bowl, mix, top with blueberries and bake!

I keep these on hand for snacks and they are in high rotation for playdates and meet ups. This is one of those recipes I love to make with Milly. She enjoys mashing up the banana, adding the oats, measuring the ingredients, topping the mounds with blueberries (if she hasn’t eaten all the bluebs by then!) and scooping the batter onto the baking sheet. You can make this recipe using fresh or frozen blueberries but just keep in mind that if you use frozen always thaw and rinse them beforehand. I hope you enjoy making this recipe with your family and when you do, I’d love to see your photos so post them on Instagram and tag me @BrandiMilloy. You can also watch me make these with Little A on my IGTV Channel. Enjoy!

Blueberry Almond Oat Breakfast Cookies

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1 ripe banana, mashed

• 1/2 cup almond butter

• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

• 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Into a bowl mix the oats, banana, almond butter and vanilla. Fold in half of the blueberries. Scoop batter onto baking sheet forming 1 1/2” mounds. Top each mound with remaining blueberries.

2. Bake for about 15 minutes. Serve warm or keep in refrigerator up to 3 days and enjoy!
   
   

Photo by @JennyQuicksall

It still feels so surreal to me that we have a little boy! It’s one thing to think you’re carrying a boy but it’s another to actually have it happen. We decided to wait to find out the sex of baby #2, @LittlerAmazing (just like with Milly) but the anticipation was so much higher this time around. Part of me wanted a little boy because that meant Milly would be our princess forever. Another big part of me thought we were having a boy simply because Mr. A and I thought we’d have one girl and one boy even before we were married. Then there was a huge part of me that knows the incredible value and bond of a sister and how unbelievable that would be to have two girls. All I know is I am so grateful we have two healthy children and I was so blessed to have two swift and gentle births. However, my pregnancy journey and their birth stories couldn’t be more different. Even in utero these siblings were total opposites!

When I was pregnant with Milly not only did I have an easy pregnancy but when she moved around it felt 100% magical. I loved, loved being pregnant with her. It was everything you could dream of. She did give me normal symptoms like back labor the last month of pregnancy and I had braxton hicks for about 6 weeks but it wasn’t too bad. Sonny, on the other hand and I had an adventure of a time! It’s hard to tell if pregnancy was harder because I was chasing a toddler or because I’m two years older but there were a few things that were challenging.

When Sonny moved inside my belly sometimes it was legit uncomfortable. Like now I understand when Mamas jump when their babies kick them. He would move around and I’d kick my leg or jolt up because it felt so uncomfortable. The boy was always hiccuping which is super telling now because he does it still. He also tried coming into this world very early at 34 weeks so that was scary and I had to be put on bed rest and then before I knew it we made it full term and he still wasn’t there. I guess there’s something to be said about Leo’s (I’m one of them)-they are very very determined and strong willed! I went from stressing about him making his appearance too early and him being in the NICU to wondering if I’d have to have any interventions because he was overdue! Fortunately for both of us, he decided to come Earthside 40 weeks and 3 days and this is where his birth story begins…

On Sunday July 28th, we had plans to go to Music in the Park in our town. I was so excited because a few weeks prior we wanted to go but I had to work and we hosted a get together in the backyard so we were exhausted from all of the hosting. That morning we went to church and while we were there I kept thinking “I wonder if this is the last time we’ll be a family of three.” Truthfully, we hadn’t been going to church consistently and it really made me sad. Part of me wondered if I needed to have a real heart to heart with God in His home before this baby was ready to join us. Sure enough, the Priest blessed my belly after mass and that night Sonny was born!

So back to Music in the Park -Milly had been napping since 1:30pm and it was 4:30pm. While she was sleeping, Mr. A had packed the most amazing picnic basket of cheese, meats, crackers, sparkling water (my favorite) and chocolates. Everything was ready. We had the outdoor blanket packed in the stroller and we were dressed and ready to go. I had been having contractions off and on the last week so when I started having stronger contractions while he was packing the bags I didn’t really think anything of it. Then they started getting more intense and consistent. I remember texting our friends that we weren’t going to make Music in the Park and I was legit annoyed thinking that if this isn’t it, I’m missing something really fun! We’re ready for you, baby! Let’s do this.

From 5:00-7:00pm contractions were about 10 minutes apart. We decided to wake Milly up around 5:30pm. Meanwhile, they ate dinner and I just kept walking around the house and then pausing and leaning over the kitchen island anytime I had a contraction. Around 8:00pm contractions were around 3 minutes apart and were intense. Mr. A had reached out to our midwife to give her a heads up and she immediately told us to come to the birth center. I just kept thinking, “I really hope this is it!”

As Mr. A loaded Milly into the car and grabbed our bags I looked at the sky and realized it was super misty and overcast. Anytime I visualized my birth to @LittlerAmazing it looked exactly like that. I knew right away we were going to meet our baby very soon.

It took about an hour to get to the birth center so when we arrived it was around 9:00pm. Our midwife and the midwife student (who delivered Milly) greeted us and brought me into the exam room. When they checked me they said I was 4 centimeters. I was so upset. I knew it wasn’t time yet and the last thing I wanted was to have to labor at the birth center instead of my house. But they all reassured me that the reason I was there was to have a baby at the birth center and not in the car like what almost happened with Milly. Then our midwife asked me if I wanted her to break my water. With Milly my water broke in the middle of the night at home so I just assumed my water would break with this baby. I decided to let her do it since there is zero harm in it and if anything-it would help encourage the baby to make their way down to meet me.

As soon as she broke my water, I felt a warm rush of liquid. It was bananas! Immediately I started contracting and the feeling was getting intense. I started to get focused because I knew I wanted to be in labor as short as possible and meet my baby. The anticipation of being so close to knowing what we were having was getting me pumped up! My contractions felt even stronger than when I was in labor with Milly. Some people say labor is easier your second time around. Other people, like my midwife said it can be more intense because your body remembers since your uterus has done it before so it can be tighter and stronger. For me, I definitely had sensations this time that I didn’t have with Milly so I would say this labor was definitely more challenging.

For the next two hours I labored in the living room of the birthing center. The way it is set up I have my own birth room with a living room, bedroom with the large tub and bathroom. I stood in the doorway connecting the living room to the bedroom the entire time. I couldn’t sit. I didn’t want to lay down. I just wanted to stand and rotate my hips a bit and lean on the doorway. Mr. A was behind me 99.9% of the time giving me counter pressure massages on my lower back and hips encouraging me with affirmations and reminding me to breathe. I could not do it without him 100%. He was my rock. I just kept surrendering to my body contracting and moving the baby down. My hips felt so tight and the sharp pains from the back labor were nonstop but I just kept breathing and imagining my baby rotating down with every contraction.

Meanwhile, I would look over at Milly as she hung out on the couch playing with her toys, eating snacks and watching nursery rhymes . She was so good. I remember just being so proud of her and knowing that we were so blessed to have our daughter there with us. I mean, for a 2 year old, she was absolutely incredible. We had always planned on her being with us when I went into labor but so many people couldn’t believe it including our friends and family. Mr. A and I on the other hand, couldn’t imagine not having Milly with us. It wouldn’t have felt right without her there. She joined me at every appointment and would help listen to the baby’s heartbeat, help check my blood pressure, hold the doppler, etc. We even did a few rehearsal run throughs in the birth room and walked through what it would be like when Mommy has the baby. At home, I practiced my birth breathing and she even would practice doing skin-to-skin with her baby doll. We talked about her little sibling’s birth day all the time. We prepared her as much as we possibly could of the 10 months I was pregnant and guess what? It really worked. She was calm, interested and acting like my little doula when I was actually pushing the baby out! Around 11:00pm our midwife came in to check on me and said I was fully dilated. Hallelujah! I was THRILLED. It’s game time baby! I couldn’t wait. The last two hours were brutal and super intense but I got through each wave with the help of Mr. A and Milly. The girls started to fill the birthing tub and I prepared my mind with all the powerful thoughts and affirmations I had wrote about this delivery.

When I got into the tub my body relaxed and my contractions slowed down. Part of me got worried that maybe I was too relaxed and that meant I was slowing down labor. I ignored that thought and waiting for the next contraction. I wanted to make sure I really made the most of each push and worked with my body. Chris called Milly over and she held my arm and gave me the sweetest look. By the way-I couldn’t believe she was even awake! She usually goes to bed between 7:30pm and 8:00pm but I could tell she was so excited. I was too! We’re ready to meet you baby. A few powerful pushes later and I helped pull the baby onto my chest. I couldn’t help it and I immediately looked down and yelled “there’s a penis!” Then the midwife helped me turn the baby around and Chris said, “it’s a boy!” I was so happy to meet him. I was so grateful! He was so tiny and looked so much like Milly. My tiny twin babies! I couldn’t believe it. I had just delivered another beautiful, healthy baby without any interventions, medication etc.. I screamed with excitement I was so proud of myself and happy! Welcome to the world Sonny Cole Simon! He weighed 6lbs. 15 oz. and was 19.5” long.

If you go to my instagram and click on Birth Story under my highlights you can actually see this moment happen and if you look closely Milly is reaching for her brother and he’s reaching for her. It took my breath away the first time I saw it. After I got to hold him and we cuddled for a bit, Dad cut the cord and they placed him on his chest. Next it was Milly’s turn. Poor thing couldn’t take her shirt off quick enough to hold her brother. I will never forget the moment she held him and the way they looked at each other. It was magic.

We all hung out together on the bed for an hour and I fed baby boy. Then Mr. A’s family came by to meet him. When grandma held him he smiled up at her and she told us he had dimples on both sides. Yes!!! Oh my goodness little dimples! The staff had ordered some pizza so we had some pizza and I had brought some yummy banana muffins so I forced everyone to try one and then we packed up and headed home. The beauty of having the baby in the birth center is being able to go home and sleep in our own bed. We got home before 2:30am. I have the cutest photo of both of them passed out in their carseats. I looked over at Mr. A and told him “We have two kids! Can you believe it?” It’s the best and I’m so grateful.

For Milly’s birth story go to Part One and Part Two.