Gift Guide

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is approaching and I recently treated myself to a much needed shopping spree Belk and best of all I was kid free! Don’t get me wrong I love my boys so much but they don’t like shopping what so ever and I would probably be worrying too much about them! My hubby was ever so sweet to watch the boys while mama did my thing and spent a few hours to myself! 

The Belk Gift Shop offers so many perfect gifts for every mom for Mother’s Day! I love that they have so many wonderful things from designer shoes, designer purses, makeup, designer fragrances, jewelry, kids clothes and so many different things for your home! The employees were all so sweet, very helpful and it was such a great overall shopping experience!

I absolutely love the finished result of my shopping spree and all the gorgeous things I found! Can I first start off by telling you how necessary it is to have a good sun hat here in Florida or wherever you may live with summer approaching! Every mom could use a good sun hat! 

How gorgeous is this beautiful The Limited: V-Neck Button Front Tie Waist Dress! This dress is so light, flowy and super comfortable making this a perfect addition to your closet! As a nursing mom this dress is super easy to unbutton and very nursing friendly!

Let’s talk about shoes for a moment! Ok how beautiful are these Lisa Sandals by Kaari Blue! They are so comfortable yet versatile and can be perfect for that date night with your hubby or day out with your family! 

To finish off my look I had to get these adorable Gold Tone Natural Flower Drop Earrings by Kim Rogers because I’m totally all about those accessories! 

Another option to gift your mom this Mother’s Day, which I love is this gorgeous little silver plated crystal cross necklace Belk Silverworks Sterling Silver Sideways Cross Necklace! It’s simple yet makes a statement! 

My final Mother’s Day gift recommendation is to simply buy your mom a candle! I found this ever so amazingly smelling candle Watercolors 3 wick candle by Kringle

and had to get a few because what mom wouldn’t love a great smelling candle in their home right? I kind of have a slight obsession with candles and having my home smell good all the time!

As Mother’s Day approaches I am sure to be dressed in my Mothers Day best with all these beautiful items purchased from Belk! Head on over to your local Belk and shop for yourself, your mother, your mom in-law or even your mom friends this Mother’s Day!

Motherhood

Austin’s Plagiocephaly Journey

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Austin’s Plagiocephaly Journey

Happy Tuesday from my sweet little Austin bear! I have been sort of quiet on here just focusing on my family and super busy with my business Stephanie Ripa Photography! I sincerely appreciate you all who have continued to stay close to us we seriously cannot thank you guys enough! 🤍

For the past 2 months Austin has been getting physical therapy for his torticolis and has been wearing his doc band helmet for 2 weeks now! Last week was the toughest for for this little guy waking up all night and unable to sleep with it on! He has to wear his helmet for 22 hours a day and poor guy did not like it at all at first but is finally getting used to it a little more each week! We have been going to physical therapy twice a week so it’s been a lot of juggling in the Ripa household!

Long story short: he dropped in utero too early and ran out of space in the womb which caused a small flat spot on the side of his head! Hopefully he will only have to wear this for a few more months!🤞

Now I have to get his name put on the front of it or something cute!

Do you have any kids that had to go through this? If so what was your experience? ⤵️

Motherhood

Austin James

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Austin James
Austin James

Meet our sweet little Austin James! It feels so good to be back and finally able to have a creative mojo on writing again! Fun fact I am a newborn and family photographer at http://www.StephanieRipaPhotography.com and let me tell you, the months of October through December we’re beyond busy and is considered high season for us photographers! I am so happy to have somewhat of some breathing room now a while enjoying motherhood at the same time!

Hiring a newborn photographer while recovering from a c-section was the best thing I ever did! So glad I had a friend capture these sweet photos of our little Austin when he was born! Life gets so busy and they are only this little for such a short period of time! I am soaking up these late nights of nursing and cuddling because I know one day when he’s older like my oldest Mason, that he will need me a little less! This though has me balling my eyes out but that’s the truth, and that’s life… perhaps more babies in our future… not sure..

When I was on the operating table having my c-section with Austin, the surgeon asked me if I wanted to have my tubes tied! Without a doubt and zero hesitation without even asking my husband I said no, absolutely no! I was not ready to make that gigantic decision just yet! Thankfully my husband had zero say in my decision anyways because he respects me and my decisions! So just maybe their will be one more in the future, but for now I am going to just enjoy snuggling my sweet little Austin and really be present in these moments with him!

Motherhood

Austin’s Birth Story

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Austin’s Birth Story

✨𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆✨

On August 11, 2020 I started to feel contractions at 3:30am. These were 20-25 min apart and strong, it felt totally different then Braxton Hicks contractions.

We waited until 9am to go to my OBGYN, they then hooked me up to monitors to check my contractions and babies heart rate. At one point there was a drop in Austin’s heart rate and my doctors couldn’t exactly determine why or if it was just him moving around in the womb.

After about 30 min my doctors then made the executive decision to send me to the hospital with our bags packed for the possibilities of Austin’s arrival! My husband and I were both excited and nervous because he was not actually scheduled to be born until the morning of August 13th via csection.

We excitedly went in to the OB emergency room at the hospital where they placed me on monitors to check Austin’s heart rate and my contractions.

After 2-3 hours I went from a 0 to a 4cm dilation and my water broke, all naturally while being monitored.

Austin had plans that day to make his grand debut and strangely at 3:30am when my contractions hit I just new today was going to be the big day!

Just like that at 3:39pm little Austin James made his way into this world to complete our family as four! 🤍

Motherhood

Welcome Baby Austin

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Welcome Baby Austin

The big day has finally arrived!

We are overjoyed to welcome our sweet boy, 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗽𝗮 into the world! He made his big debut a few days before planned on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 3:39pm! He weighs 7.4 lbs & is 21 inches tall! Happy to finally be home from the hospital and adjust as a family of four! 💙

Motherhood

A Letter to My First Born

by StephanieLeave a Comment on A Letter to My First Born

𝗧𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 . . .

You are the first person I fell in love with long before I saw your face.

I kept imagining how my life would be like with your arrival 2.5 years ago. All the plans and preparations we made, yet nothing truly prepared me for the moment when I first held you in my arms. 

It was a life-changing moment. I never anticipated I could love someone so deeply. Not even in the way I love your father. 

As I held your tiny body against my chest, trembling with overwhelming emotions and amazed at this tiny life that just came out of my womb, I knew, without a doubt, I would do anything for you. 

It’s bitter sweet to know I’ll no longer have you all to myself.

“𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.”

As I hold you today, I remember the moments when you were born. You are my first born, the one who first made me a mom.

In a few short days your baby brother will be born, love to new heights will be reached as our family expands. I cannot wait to document this next chapter in our lives because I know without a doubt you will be the best big brother!

Motherhood

Bumpin into 37 Weeks

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Bumpin into 37 Weeks

I am officially 37 weeks along with our little bundle of joy and loving it! We recently had maternity photos taken and I am so in love with ALL of them! Check them out below! 🤍

It’s been a strange pregnancy I’m not going to lie. It’s been strange not being able to celebrate this with friends and family or have a baby shower. I feel like this pregnancy zoomed on by and I don’t know how it did being quarantined!

So with all that being said, it was so fun to glam up, have some pretty photos taken of my family and of myself! I absolutely love the way they turned out and will forever cherish these!!

Motherhood

Someone Made a Turtle Friend 🐢

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Someone Made a Turtle Friend 🐢

Someone made a turtle friend! We have a pond behind our home and this little guy got lost on our pool deck. We rescued and returned him back to his pond! It was quite the little mission we went on but Mason loved the whole experience!

How I love the little moments and the joy it brought to him even if he wanted to keep him! I told my son that the baby turtle had to go back home to his turtle family back in the pond! 🐢🤷‍♀️

Have your children ever found “pets” and kept them?

We’re not totally there yet given my sons age! Maybe one day we will start with a little fish or something then graduate to a dog he can pick out!

Hope you all have a great weekend! 🤍

Motherhood

My Dear Son

by StephanieLeave a Comment on My Dear Son

When I look into your eyes, I want you to know you will always be loved no matter what is happening in the world.

I want you to never feel replaced or saddened as your baby brother arrives in a few short weeks.

I want you to know I will always love you far beyond measure.

Today, I am feeling all the emotions hit me as I look at my first born, the little boy who made me a mom. It’s bittersweet to know that the years will rush on by, and one day I will be watching my baby boy grow up to be a man.

“Men are what their mothers made them.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

My hope is that I raised a leader, a kind, caring, respectable gentleman making a positive contribution, and hopefully going far beyond me in the scope of his life.

Baking

Cupcakes

by StephanieLeave a Comment on Cupcakes

Pregnancy cravings plus a toddler who loves animals and bugs calls for some fun cupcakes! Why not right? Mason and I enjoyed baking and decorating cupcakes all thanks to this super easy and creative baking kit gifted to us by My Make Studio!

Love these kits because it includes literally everything you need to make them, the end result was super tasty and your able to make fun memories with your kids all at the same time! 🧁