There’s no better way to spread good vibes than a beautiful pregnancy announcement, huh? Blogger Hannah of The Cake by Hannah and her Mr. took advantage of Cottonwood Road Photography‘s lovely natural light photos when announcing their first baby for this sweet early morning shoot in Texas.

Hannah took care of the hair + makeup herself, which isn’t too surprising when you peruse her cute blog.

This fam of two is officially three!

Who needs props when you’ve got the ultimate announcement?

Love that Fillyboo Maternity gown, too.

See more photos from this session in our inspiration gallery below:

View The Gallery For More

Congrats, you two!

Photography: Cottonwood Road Photography / Gown: Fillyboo Maternity / Brow Shaping & Tinting: Southern Chic Wax

The post Balloon pregnancy announcement photos appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

[Photo by Erin Hearts Court]

1. Start taking your prenatals now! Adding folic acid to your daily regime in the year before conception has been shown to decrease your risk for neural tube defects significantly. We like Honest Co.’s convenient bundle concept (DHA is important for development too) but really any vitamin (that you don’t mind taking!) that has at least 400mg of folic acid is great. And if you’ve found yourself expecting unexpectedly, lots of cereals and breads are fortified with folic acid too, so don’t panic.

2. Understand your family history with genetic carrier screening. Did you know that you can have your genetic test before pregnancy? Many people have this done after they become pregnant, but for the planners among us, it can be nice to get that out of the way before hand. Horizon screens for up to 274 autosomal recessive and X-linked genetic conditions, giving you a complete profile of your risk factors so that you know what to expect when baby is on the way.

[Photo by Yuna Leonard]

3. Make a pre-conception appointment with your OB or midwife. They can answer any questions you might have, check your anatomy, look at your fertility history, and generally set you on a path to getting pregnant. You can see a comprehensive list of what you might be asked here.

4. Been trying for a while with no success? You are in such good company! More than you probably know, there are loads of women who wait for a long time to become pregnant. We know many women who have had success with alternative therapies like acupuncture or homeopathy, even fertility massage. There are so many resources at your fingertips and there’s no reason not to understand your choices as a mama-in-waiting.

5. Already pregnant? Bump up your protein intake. Some philosophies encourage up to 90 or 100 grams of protein a day! While that might be extreme for some of us, a healthy amount is closer to 70 grams. We’ve loved protein packed smoothies full of all sorts of good superfoods to hit that mark every day.

[Photo by Erin Hearts Court]

6. If morning sickness is part of your reality, did you know the best thing you can do is eat? Sounds crazy but keeping plain foods like crackers or toast at the ready does help your nausea a bit. Hunger = pregnancy nausea.

7. Plan for your birth. Whether you are hoping to have a natural, drug-free birth at home or an epidural administered at the faintest twinge of labor, it’s still a smart idea to plan for the birth you hope to have. And with that comes an alternative script in case things don’t go that way! Some women hope for a beautiful birth at home and find themselves facing an unexpected cesarean, while others are hoping to schedule their induction only to have world’s fastest labor and arrive at the hospital just in time to push their baby out. (They both totally happen, BTW!). The truth is that birth can never be truly planned so it’s best to create a birth plan with your partner so you know the direction you’d like to head when the time comes.

8. Hire a doula. Along those lines, we can’t recommend having a doula with you enough. If you’re new to birth lingo, a doula is professional labor support for any kind of birth. Yes you’ll have a nurse with you from time to time at the hospital but she will not be laboring with you. And (hopefully this isn’t a huge surprise) but your OB will probably arrive when it’s time for baby to be born. A doula is with you for as long as you need, and can be a voice and presence of calm and reason in the midst of what can sometimes be a crazy experience!

[Photo by Yuna Leonard]

9. Set up a meal calendar. It’s so incredibly lovely to have your friends and family drop off dinner during those first few weeks or months while you’re figuring out how to care for a tiny human. Choose an online app (like Meal Train or  Meal Baby) that organizes the calendar and reminds participants when their night has arrived. It’s awesome if a friend or sister sets this up, but hey! You can set up your own too!

10. Make a nursing basket. Never heard of it? Not sure it’s a *real* thing, but designating one basket in your home that holds all the essentials you’ll need while locked to the couch while you get the hand of nursing is soooo incredibly helpful. Fill it with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, snacks, a full water bottle, chapstick, nipple balm, nursing pads, and anything else you realize is essential to your comfort.

*This post is sponsored by Horizon genetic carrier screen by Natera, but the opinions expressed are our own. We thank our sponsors for allowing us to post beautiful content every day!

The post 10 tips for preparing to have a baby with Horizon Genetic Carrier Screening appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

The journey of sweet Beau began on a Monday in early October – I remember that day so vividly. It was October 6th, and my husband and I had dinner with our cousins in Austin. Bryan, my husband, ordered the usual wine and oysters. I slowly sipped my wine and avoided the oysters feeling like something was different. Bryan had just accepted a new job in Nashville and he was preparing to travel the next day. On the way home from dinner, I managed to convince him to stop to get a pregnancy test. Within minutes of returning home, our lives changed forever.

We were so innocent and naive throughout pregnancy – taking for granted so many small moments.  We never hesitated to tell friends, and actually shared the news before 12 weeks.  We experienced a pretty normal pregnancy.   I was tired, sore and ready to get my body back.  I had cravings and a long list of aversions.  We prepared the nursery, bought thousands of dollars worth of gadgets and baby must-haves.  We filled his dresser with tiny clothes and monogramed his belongings.  I imagined sharing his nursery and all his sweet newborn photos with the thousands of readers of 100 Layer Cakelet.  Selfishly, I spent hours thinking about how I would manage a business, nurse a baby and have a life.  After nine months of hard work and doing everything right, we were ready.

The last few weeks of pregnancy, I felt Beau slow down. As a new mom, I worried about everything. I avoided any food, smell, or danger that I felt might harm my sweet baby. So, naturally, I asked my midwife if his slowness was normal. Beau was fine – at least all the tests pointed to a healthy baby. Our families were on speed dial and awaiting daily updates – they all live out-of-state. We patiently waited for Beau to arrive on his time. But, we wouldn’t make it to his due date.

On a Sunday afternoon, Bryan and I strolled the back roads of Nashville enjoying what we anticipated as the last weekend as a family of two. I was 39 weeks, 5 days that day. After breakfast, Beau became unresponsive. I desperately tried to get him to move, but nothing seemed to work. After a quick call to our midwife, we rushed to the hospital. In that moment, all our dreams for Beau were shattered.

The nurse spent five minutes trying to find Beau’s heartbeat. Many times in those five minutes, she would say “That’s him, not me” and we’d sigh in relief that he was still moving and alive. But, she never did find his tiny heartbeat. She called a code and the room filled with a team of doctors ready to perform an emergency c-section. Bryan and I held tight to each other, the room filled with fear, and the OB performed an ultrasound. She told us our baby did not have a heartbeat. Beau died. The room cleared and the hard decisions began. Bryan, my pillar of strength, called our family and friends. He spent hours destroying the excitement of those answering the phone – as so many of those calls started with “Is he here?”

We were induced and delivered Beau Wayland Coston on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 1:38 PM. He weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. We were surrounded by our doula, labor and delivery nurse and our incredible midwife. We spent five hours with Beau studying every inch of him. He resembled Bryan and was sure to be tall. We made so many difficult decisions in 24 hours – genetic testing, autopsies, and cremation. And, finally, the hardest, handing our son to our nurse to say goodbye. We walked out of the hospital with heavy hearts and empty arms. Our world was turned upside down.

We were and are stunned.Stillbirth was never a fear – it never made my worry radar. I’ve thought so many times if I had known it was a possibility, maybe I could have worried myself into action. Frankly, I believed only sick babies died. I was healthy and did everything right. Through all the testing, the only answers we’ve received for Beau’s death were micro blood clots found in the placenta. These clots explain the decreased fetal movement I was experiencing. Beau was a perfectly healthy baby and nothing I did during pregnancy led to his death. To all the moms-to-be, please don’t read this in fear. But, don’t be naive. Listen to your instincts.

We had Beau for nine months. Now, we treasure every kick, every stretch mark, every sign he existed. We are reminded of our sweet son everyday. We spend time in his quiet nursery and find comfort in the only memories we have of him. We don’t have a birth certificate; we have a proof of birth. We don’t have his tiny feet to tickle; we have his footprints. We don’t have his soft head to kiss; we have a lock of his gorgeous auburn hair. We don’t have loads of laundry; we have one tiny hospital outfit that smells so sweet. In the midst of the news, we dared to not look at Beau. We feared the pain of remembering our son. Thankfully, we found the strength to hold him tight and have photos taken of us – our family of three. Our doula hired Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a non-profit organization providing free photography for parents who lose their babies. Without their help, we wouldn’t have any photos of sweet Beau.

Because of Beau, we have learned so much about the fragility of life. Beau has been gone for 14 weeks and we miss him every single day. In our healing, we find peace in visiting with our infant loss counselor, and speaking openly about Beau and his short life. We encourage anyone touched by stillbirth or infant loss to never stop sharing and be sensitive. There is no right or wrong in grief. Grief is proof of our love. One day, we hope to share the story of Beau’s brother or sister – our rainbow baby. As well as, share the strength we achieved to grow our family. We will cherish Beau as our first child, forever.

When planning Beau’s nursery, I knew I wanted it to be whimsical, not theme-y and timeless. I spent months sourcing, printing and framing art! I loved a dresser from West Elm, but couldn’t stomach the price tag. So, we saved an old dresser from Craigslist and refinished it. We purchased the simple crib from IKEA – super cheap and functional. I found the airplane mobile, and instantly loved it! Beau’s great grandfather, Wayland, was a pilot in World War II. Bryan’s father, Bryan and Beau share his name!

The majority of the items I sourced from Etsy, and loved supporting small businesses. We didn’t have a baby shower, instead we registered on Amazon and waited until about 60 days before our due date to buy everything all at once. Amazon gives you a 15% registry completion discount. When we completed our registry, I bought the big comfy Nurseryworks rocker! Our good friends from Austin made Beau a Texas – our home state! We had the coordinates of our house in Austin made and in tiny print at the bottom it reads, “Where you were created.” Bryan loves music, and decided to hang his guitar on Beau’s wall for safe keeping.

The room feels finished and true to us. Nothing really matches, but somehow it all works. Bryan fought me on the teepee, but it’s the best part of the nursery!

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Ashley. It’s beautiful and true and will certainly help comfort other mamas who have found themselves in a similar and inconceivable position. We hope your rainbow baby makes his or her way to you as soon as you’re ready.

*All photos by Lindsey Mueller.

Nursery resources below:

Crib: IKEA / Nurseryworks Sleepytime Rocker: Amazon / Shaggy Pouf: The Land of Nod / Clear Acrylic Wall Shelf: CB2 / Personalized Coordinates : The Printable Studio (Etsy) / I Love You to the Moon Print: The Printable Studio (Etsy) / Andy Warhol Print: Sofiprints (Etsy) / Eat.Sleep.Poop Print: Sam’s Simple Decor (Etsy) / Bear Print: Seventy Tree (Etsy) / Johnny Cash Quote Print: Simple Kid Industries (Etsy) / Constellation Prints: Fybur (Etsy) / Metal Letter B: The Land of Nod / X Book Caddy: The Land of Nod / Wild & Free Banner: Partybot Studio / Large Canvas Vintage Pull Down Map : Gritty City Goods (Etsy) / Guitar Baby Rattle: Projects by Zac (Etsy) / Child’s Teepee: House Inhabit (Etsy) / ABC Print: Snug Studio (Etsy) / Tiny Texas: Hemlock & Heather / Baby Bedding: Woolf With Me (Etsy) / Mini Triangle Wall Decals: Urban Walls (Etsy) / Teepee Pillows: Things that Sing (Etsy) / Large LAPPLJUNG RUTA Area Rug: IKEA / Small RENS Sheepskin Rug: IKEA : GADDIS Basket: IKEA / Large Felt Storage Bin: Loop Design Studio (Etsy) / Airplane Mobile: Meraki and Co (Etsy)

The post Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day: A personal story appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

We get a lot of comments asking where moms-to-be (that we feature here on Cakelet) get the non-maternity, bump-friendly clothes they wear in their maternity photos, plus tips on how to keep your style throughout pregnancy. We thought it’d be great to have Wilmarose Orlanes (don’t you just love her name?), designer and stylist behind Lovely Jubilee, tackle that question with finesse. She is after all doing a pretty fab job of dressing her own bump, yeah?

She’s going to share a few examples and inspiration on how to dress your bump with non-maternity items from Ruche (an online retailer specializing in vintage inspire clothing, accessories, and shoes), mixed with some must have maternity basics.

Layer in your waist line. Wearing jackets and coats that have a defined silhouette, through seams and draping, can give the illusion of a defined waist line while worn open over a flowy dress or top. This quick layering piece will not only help to define your silhouette, but will also allow you to deal with the lovely temperature fluctuations our bodies are going through.

Shop this look: blue dress, pink coat, Ban.do heart clip, mini drawstring bag

Pants can party too! With the help of belly bands, long tanks, and the amazing hair-tie trick, you can still rock some of your favorite pants well into your pregnancy. The key to wearing pants is definitely making sure you’re comfortable and able to move without feeling constricted. Know what the amazing hair-tie trick is? Simply loop one of your rubber hair ties through the button hole of your pants and use it as an extender to connect to the button. With the help of a long tank or a belly band, you can easily conceal a half way zipped zipper – or let’s face it, sometimes a complety unzipped zipper. Once your pants start to feel too tight and make you nauseaus, it’s time to put them away until post-baby and move onto maternity pants, leggings, or if it’s warm enough just dresses/skirts.

Shop this look: sequins blazer, similar jumpsuit

Bumping up a size. When figuring out what size to wear or buy, always consider that not only will your belly grow but your bust line will too. So sizing up from a Small to a Medium will sometimes allow you to use a piece of clothing well into your 3rd trimester. Although, when pulling from my current closet I found myself still using my current size small dresses – just applied a few of the tips above (ie. adding leggings or using a belly band). Don’t focus on the tag, focus on the fit.

Skirting the rules. Most people wouldn’t think a pencil skirt would be your friend during pregnancy. But I’m finding that a stretchy pencil skirt worn above the bump has been one of my go-to items for a night out or a dressy lunch. Paired with a cropped blouse, this outfit allows me to accentuate the bump without feeling too exposed. Skirts in general are great, especially when they are stretchy and can land above or below your bump.

Shop this look: pencil skirt, yellow blouse, necklace, suede wedges, handbag

Accessorize! One of the easiest ways to pull an outfit together is through the use of fun and easy accessories. Scarves, pins, hats, and a great shade of lipstick (yes, a fun pink lip counts too!) – can all add a little something to an otherwise simple outfit. Most importantly, it allows you to have fun with your outfits. Even on days when all that seems appealing are those yoga pants and sweatshirts. Yes, even these outfits can look cute too with the help of an accessory or two!

I see London I see France… Regular length dresses that might already be living in your closet have now become a tad too short to wear on their own. But layered over leggings, these now tunics can still be worn without fear of flashing your undies! One of my favorite maternity buys have been my maternity leggings! I love the kind that go above the bump as I never have to worry about them slipping.

Shop this look: hat, dress

All in all, when dressing your bump make sure you are comfortable. If something feels too tight, don’t wear it. It will eventually catch up to you throughout the day. If heels don’t sound appealing, then throw on a cute pair of flats or sandals. I had planned to wear wedges to my recent baby shower, and at the last minute I opted for a cute pair of sandals instead.

Hopefully these tips and outfit inspirations will help you to feel even more beautiful and confident with that growing belly. To shop all maternity-friendly picks from Ruche, click here.

Styling by Wilmarose Orlanes from Lovely Jubilee / Photography by Jennifer Sosa / Clothes & Accessories by Ruche / Makeup by Kelly Zhang from Kelly Zhang Studio / Hair by Yuzu from Studio K Hair Designory

The post Dressing the baby bump with Lovely Jubilee, Jennifer Sosa & Ruche appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

So… the scoop: Lovemade is a one-day lifestyle workshop, taught by co-founders Janette Crawford and Jeanne Chan, to help women define a sense of intention about their home & nursery design, style & beauty, and support networks as they prepare for life with a little one.

When: September 27th, 10 AM – 5 PM.
Where: Catherine Kwong Design
Cost: $325 before 8/29, $375 after.
Space is limited to 15 beautiful mamas.

Each attendee receives a specially curated “New Moms Care Package” provided by The Honest Company, Minted, Freshly Picked, bareMinerals, International Orange Spa, Coatt, Little Sevi, Good On Paper and more. Following a morning of learning, there will be an “Ask Us Anything” panel with some favorite cool moms, professional makeup lessons & applications, mocktail hour, and bump photo sessions with Sarah Hebenstreit of Modern Kids Co. You can sign up here, or enter our giveaway below!

For non-Bay Area residents, please don’t be shy! If our winner isn’t local to the SF Bay, she’ll instead receive the new moms care package explained above.

For an extra entry, follow Lovemade on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook. Giveaway runs through Thursday August 21st. We’ll email the winner on Friday the 22nd. Good luck!

**Congrats to Cindy M, the winner of our giveaway!**

*Lovemade is a new events series that celebrates the special intersection between what adults love and what kids love. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

The post Lovemade: A workshop for expecting moms + a giveaway appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.