Underwater Maternity? yes please.

Before I was pregnant I came across these and fell in love. First off, if I could have any job, it would be to do underwater photography like this. Who knows? Maybe one day I will. Second off, what I would pay to have maternity photos like this, I do not know. I just love them. Here is the web site of Kevin Beasley who is the amazing photographer behind the lens. He also does bridal portraits and seniors underwater. Incredible. My favorites are of the ones of the mother bent backwards.

What do you think? Have great maternity photos? Please share a link in the comments below!

Sometimes Part Deux

Brought to you by Young People in Love.

I can't stop myself from baby talking to my dog. I see her and immediately launch into a ridiculous voice, where I am sure I would slap myself if I was on the outside looking in. I also create her voice and say out loud what I think she would say/think if she could speak human. 

I want to freeze frame Sadie Bug trotting down the road like she is the biggest baddest dog on the block. (yeah, i'm loving me some Sadie this week)

I find it mildly concerning when I feel like I have already been pregnant for 40 weeks, when in fact it has only been 12 (ALMOST 13!).

I want to soak up all of these last moments as non-parents with my hubby. yeah, we can have a really good time together. And I can ask him to get me ridiculous things for Valentine's Day like a whole cookie cake for myself which cost more to ship than the cake itself. (which he did get, I checked our bank statements;-))

I decide to take the plunge and eat a lot of sugar this past weekend, including girls scout cookies, donuts, and lots of cinnamon toast crunch. Oh yeah, and a huge schooner of Mississippi Mudslide (shared with hubby of course). And then this Tuesday I will obviously have a cookie cake to eat as well.

It really hits me that our yearbook is due at the end of this month and I should be working on that right now, instead of blogging....or not.

I can't believe how lucky I am when I have a whole community that lifted me up in prayer and thoughts and kind words when I was going through everything last week with the baby. I truly believe all of those prayers helped heal me so I could continue on with a completely normal pregnancy! I am still receiving cards from members in our community. I love living in a small southern town.

I feel like I never, never, ever want to work out again, but I am going to do my new baby yoga dvd THIS WEEK. I promise.

I feel like a really good person when I let my students get away with stuff that really doesn't matter in the long run, but a lot of teachers have a conniption fit over. Sometimes teens need a break from all of the harassment.

Want to Share your Sometimes...??? Just copy and paste the above sentences and then erase the second half and fill in your own!

Stolen from Pinterest:-)

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Crazy Sadie

Wow! Two posts in one day? Yup, I'm making the most of this bed rest:-)

 Here is a video T took of Sadie attacking my feet on bed rest. Super funny.

One of my Besties: Engagement photo shoot

One of my best friends,  I call her Swan, is engaged! Well, I am no professional photographer, but she asked me to do a quick photo shoot for her Save the Dates, so of course I said sure! We had to rush because her fiance had to get to work, so in about 15 minutes I took 154 photos. The ones they are using for their save the dates are not included, but I chose a few that I thought were super cute! My philosophy is- take lots of pictures- you're bound to get some good ones:-) Oh, and did I mention we were FREEZING???? Here are a few unedited!

Baby Update

11 weeks-thhe head is to the left, the picture is not as fab as seeing the heart beat (160bpm!)

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 11 weeks and 3 days

Size of the baby?  lime, although on my phone it says a fig and next week will be a lime. So who knows???

Maternity Clothes? yup, and I am having to wear more maternity shirts, which make my bump look smaller at this point. So I try and squeeze into a few of my bigger regular shirts. 

Gender?  unknown as of right now, but we can't wait to find out! My bet is on a boy.

Movement?  I SWEAR I have felt the beginnings of butterflies. It feels like a small light touch of a finger. But most web sites say you usually can't feel anything until week 12. So I am not sure yet.

Sleep?  I am so tired all of the time. I had been going to bed between 8 ad 9:30 but now that I am on bed rest I sleep whenever I feel like it. Which is a lot. And I don't sleep through the nights like I used to. I have started having weird dreams. Especially about being a pirate.

But I have to share the weirdest dream my youngest brother had. He had a dream that the baby fit into his hand and he took it to a restaurant so proud of the baby and was showing it off as he walked to his table. When he sat down he just set the baby on the table next to him and would coo and smile at it all through dinner. And it ate off his plate. I quote him now, "It was a cute lil' thing." How funny is that? 

Cravings?  Purple powerade, ice cream sandwiches, a night of eating pickles. What I didn't realize when I was pregnant how many foods would make my stomach turn. Sometimes the thought of a food will make me gag.

Symptoms?  Headaches have been getting bad. Almost one everyday. I am staying hydrated, but after I take two Tylenol it goes away. My stomach doesn't seem to feel as sick as before- which I am very grateful for.

Best Moment of the Week?  After a big scare, trip to the ER, hours of waiting to see a doctor, seeing the heartbeat on the ultra sound (pic above) was the best moment of my life. And I believe for my husband too. He was really expecting the worst after looking up stuff on his iphone.   

High Risk factor: As I mentioned before I had two issues of high risk. Well, this week I think that quadrupled somehow. On Thursday, I was picking Sadie up from my MIL when I felt something wrong down there. No cramps, just wet. So I excused my self to the bathroom and sure enough it was not pretty. I told my MIL, and we headed to the ER. After a frustrating time in the waiting room, then waiting in the ER I finally saw a doctor 2 hours later. ( We are switching hospitals/doctors after this experience). They did a physical exam and found a huge blood clot, but couldn't confirm a miscarriage so they sent me to the ultra sound tech. This is where we got to see the baby's heartbeat a second time. Ends up, I have a hemorrhage somewhere behind the baby. Of course at the time I didn't ask any of the million questions that are running through my head now because I was so relieved the baby was still alive. But I have a few appointments with some new doctors and hopefully we will get some questions answered. For now I am on bed rest for at least a week. 

For anyone newly pregnant or trying,  my huge recommendation for you would be to make sure you can get a hold of your actual doctor before you have an actual emergency after hours Ask them if it is okay to contact them after hours in case of an emergency and how to do so. I was told by my doctor I could call anytime and they would take care of me. Well, all of this happened and I called the doctor's office at 5:01pm (they close at 5) and the phone rang for a whole 2 minutes before my phone decided to hang up. No voice message telling me what I should do in case of an emergency, the ER would not page the doctor that was on call from my office. Furthermore, on Friday I called to see if they wanted to see me and they said no, just keep my original appointment I had monday, no would you like to talk to a doctor? Well, I decided I was going to get some second opinions and called back at 12:00pm and it went to an automatic recording that said "due to inclement weather the offices are closed, please call again at a later date to reschedule your appointment" I look outside and it is 60 degree weather. Yup, I am transferring. 

I will be sure to update you on the baby and me, and maybe I'll even have time on this bed rest to check out some cool nursery photos and share!! Also my MIL brought me some crocheting so I can try my hand at that!

Side note- The family and friends that have stopped by, given me a phone call or friendly facebook message has been unreal. I have never felt so cared for, and on top of that my mom has come down and seriously cleaned my house top to bottom so I don't have to worry about a thing. She even washed my carpets with a rug doctor. Also, my dear husband who I have never seen so upset as that night in the ER, has been more helpful than ever. And I know he is just as exhausted as I am from being so worried about the baby. I am one very blessed girl! 

Sometimes...

So one of my favorite blog reads is Young People in Love and Sam from there is doing a cute little finish my sentence...so here is mine:

Sometimes...

It's hard for me to to watch those SPCA commercials without absolutely bawling my eyes out.

I'm reminded of how much I love teaching art when I get to do the projects and all of my students ooh and aww over what I do, like I am some sort of legend artist. And to them I really am:-)

I feel self-conscious when I laugh. My laugh is stupid, and low. And most people make fun of me for it. At the same time, its sincere.

I am mildly dishonest when I tell myself I don't eat THAT much sugar in the day.

I can't imagine a world without dogs. Especially Sadie.

playing with an elf hat over christmas break

I'm surprised that I still find my husband hysterical when he gets in a silly goofy mood. And I am also surprised he has stuck with me after hearing my awful laugh over and over again.

I get a little too easily wrapped up in pinterest, facebook, and the blog-o-sphere. 

I indulge in guilty pleasures like a snickers between my first and second block at least once a week. 

I wish all things in life were as wonderful as watching your baby's heartbeat for the first time on the ultra sound screen.

If you would like to join in please visit Young People in Love

A little fluttering heart in a gummy bear

Well, the day has come my friends. In 221(give or take) days I am going to have a beautiful baby. In between now and then  my midsection and assets will be getting larger. And I can not WAIT!

I would wait until 12 weeks to share, but I am terrible at surprises AND I am already really pooching out. Good bye flat tummy.

we told our families at Christmas and this is a glimpse at how we told them. At first, my brothers thought the onsies were for my little yorkie, sadie.

We got ourselves shirts as back up. Can you tell how THRILLED sadie is about the whole baby thing?

6 weeks- already rockin some maternity pants. I like being comfortable.

this night hubs may have asked me if we were expecting twins

here I am this week!

My mom told me that the women in her family just pop really early.

Despite the fact that I already look 12-16 weeks pregnant I am not. I have actually only gained 3 lbs which is about what I should be- I just have a pooch now!

So while I do intend to post every detail about my pregnancy here I hope I can  also keep up with some other random stuff on here! We plan on redoing some rooms to make room for a nursery and I plan to post all design details as I go. In the meantime I stole this from a few blogs and I just love the idea of keeping the preggo brain in track with this short journal!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 8 weeks and 4 days.

Size of the baby?  rasberry! The ultra sound tech guessed 8 weeks 5 days based on the ultrasound and then after she saw due date recalulated. Considering me and my hubby are on the tall side of the human population we may have a long 'un.

Maternity Clothes?   yes SINCE week 6!!! ahhh  Mostly pants, but some regular shirts make me just look fat. I can no longer wear my normal pants. I mean I can, but I am super uncomfortable.

Gender?  no idea- I would love a girl, but I have a feeling its a boy- and I will be very happy either way(obvi)! hubby would love a boy, but has mentioned a few times that a girl would have a better chance at a basketball scholarship.

Movement?  nope, but lots of cramps.

Sleep?  I definitely don't sleep like I used to. But I had my first dream of baby related things last night. I had a dream about breastfeeding. And lets just say it was not pretty. 

Cravings?  Everyday it changes. Every meal it changes. But last week I had a craving for a snickers and i bought one. It was honestly the most amazing delicious snickers I have ever had. I went back for one the next day and it was pretty good, but not as good as the day before.  

Symptoms?  Cramping. Loss of appetite. Increase of appetite. More frequent bathroom trips. One of my strangest food related things is I won't want anything, but I feel super hungry, and then all of the sudden I am so HUNGRY I feel sick. No actually morning sickness yet, but I have felt nauseous and  have gagged at the thoughts of certain foods.   Pregnancy brain, like bad. I found a salt shaker in the hall. My dog's wet food on top of the fridge where dry food goes. Cream cheese in the bedroom. Bad.

Best Moment of the Week?  Seeing the little gummy bears heart beat immediately on the ultra sound.  

High Risk factor: I was considered a high risk factor before because of my cervix, but today on search for the baby the ultrasound technician came across a fairly large (7mm) cyst on my ovary. The doctor said he has  seen these fairly often, some bigger, more smaller and it is just something to keep an eye on and if it ruptures ( PAIN) that I need to head to the ER immediately. No "relations." and no strenuous ANYTHING. What does this mean to me? In another two weeks, I get to see my baby's heartbeat AGAIN!!! eeek!

Confessional Friday

1. I went back to school this week and did not want to. Normally, I like going back to school. Not this time. We did have a two hour delay from snow...Can't it just snow for the rest of the year?

2. My one New Year's resolution was to keep my bed made. I have made it once. I made T make it the other time. Oh well, guess I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the year now.


3. My poor hubby has been sick since before Christmas. Like terrible sinus infection sick. Well after the first week of not going to the doctor I lost all sympathy. He finally got meds yesterday...THANK GOD because I couldn't stand him coughing, blowing his nose, or whining ANYMORE.

4. Normally I don't look forward to a brand New Year, but 2012 is going to be packed with lots of really good friend's weddings, babies, and so much more I can. not. wait. Also, my favorite sister in law is coming home from Guam in March (she is a professional -not that kind- dancer out there!)

c & b

b & c

swan & j

my sista- isn't she hot??:-) she is also an amazing person!

5. I may or may not live vicariously through her.

6. I woke up this morning and realized I left towels in my washing machine from this past weekend. After realizing this I still haven't rewashed them. They are still sitting in there, smelly. Gross. Can't I just through them away?

That's it for this week! Happy Friday!

Ring Stories!

C-Mae over at Happiness is.... Blog is having a link up about RINGS! I thought- Oh this will be easy I will just link up to the post about my engagement story. Turns out, I didn't have a blog when I got engaged and therefore no post. EVER. I am truly disappointed in myself because my now husband went through a lot of trouble planning the proposal and bought me a GORGEOUS ring. Now, honestly, I think there a very few and far between ugly engagement rings. Most of them a beautiful. BUT I do think what makes a ring GORGEOUS is if it matches the personality of the lady wearing it.

Back Story
My husband and I dated through college and were in a long distance relationship of our fourth year dating. Both of us pursuing post graduate degrees in different states (I, in Virginia, Him in Oklahoma). I went to visit a few times that year and one of the times he asked me to look at some rings online. Shocked and because I never looked a rings (superstitious) I couldn't believe I was doing it. So I picked one out. Princess cut. two baguettes on the side. Platinum.

After I get home from my trip I tell my mom, and she says- you know- round diamonds are supposed to be the better cut for diamonds- they reflect the light better.

Fast forward a year later August 2008. I move to Oklahoma. After about a month later I give him the "Are we on the same page?" lecture. We had discussed when we'd want to get married and I told him I need a YEAR to plan. Well, it just wasn't looking like it was going to happen. So I died my blonde hair brown that he loved blonde.

The Proprosal
 December 6, 2008 I was heading home from my second job (PetSmart) when he called me and asked if I wanted to go see this really neat light show in Chickashaw, OK with some friends. I rushed home to wash up and put on some warm clothes. Headed over to his apartment and he had made a delicious Salmon dinner! That was my first little- hmmmm maybe this is it! We ate and then were headed out the door when he said- do you have your camera? I didn't, so he whipped out his super old school camera that held like 5 pics on it. This was my second- hmmmmm. Well, on the way to Chickashaw, would you know it? The friends "called" and had a flat tire- they were going to be late. T asked if I still wanted to go. I said of course! But it kind of crushed my hopes of an engagement. Well we get there and this isn't some small little show I was imagining. It was a drive through, walk through or horse carriage through show. Just amazing. The line was super long just to park, so while we were waiting T played all of these old school love CDs. Third hmmmmm. We get there and he asks if I just want to walk through- I said sure. But then I saw the carriages and I jokingly said- can we do a carriage ride??? He said YES! I was so caught off guard. Ends up he had called ahead and reserved a private horse carriage for us. This is when I just knew he was going to propose. So we get on, I am beaming and we go all the way around the light show and are clearly at the end and I was thinking I had all this worked up in my head. Then the carriage stopped, he got down on one knee- said how much he loved me, how I was his best friend, and a ton of other really sweet stuff I can't remember  through my tears and emotions. Then he pulled out this 2 carat ROUND ROCK. Of course I said yes, and we've been happily married since:-) Here are some pics of the ring and engagement!

Before the proposal on the carriage ride- notice the brown hair...

ENGAGED!!

The carriage:-)

Kiss!

picture of my ring right after the engagement!

We went back on our 1 year anniversary figuring we may never have the chance
considering we were moving back to VA in the summer.

We had gotten sadie soon after we were engaged:-)

Married July 18, 2009 (notice I am back to blonde)

The details on the ring are this- he pretty much went for the best on clarity, cut, carat, color. Which I could not believe. The band wasn't what I had imagined, but I absolutely love it. Its set really high so it reflect light beautifully in all its round glory. He got six prongs knowing how abusive I am to everything nice, and thank GOD because I got in a car wreck that actually knocked my diamond loose, and had there only been four prongs I wouldn't not have a diamond. He ended up going with silver gold because apparently you can buff out scratches where as platinum doesn't always buff. Did  I mention that I am REALLY ruff on things? Finding a wedding band that I liked was really hard, but we ended up getting plain one where he bought the engagement ring and I decided I wanted one with tiny diamonds- so we exchanged it and I am so glad I did because I LOVE LOVE my wedding band. Its super thin and has the tiniest diamonds half way around. Like I said, engagement rings should match the personality of the lucky lady wearing it. Mine's perfect for me. And I do catch other people staring at it quite often.

Ring and Band together (this is my ring dirty)

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