DIY Maternity Photos

Hubs wants to DIY our baby photos. I kind of cringe at this thought only because neither of us are professional (or even amateur) photographers in any sense.  We do have a nice camera though and I know he wants to save some money.

We I did look at photographers and price out newborn photos. Just the one session would end up running us an average of  $300-400 when all is said and done. So I can see why Brad wants to give it the old college try. Thanks to Pinterest I've been reading articles and saving them to show Brad. Hopefully we can pick up enough tips and tricks to make these look really nice.  

10 Tips for Photographing Babies

I really wanted maternity photos done and approached Brad about it with the thought that this could be a nice practice run for newborn photos.  We spend the morning taking shots around the house.  Then we decided that we would brave the outdoors...in the middle of the winter...in Wisconsin.  It was a sunny 8 degree day (not including the windchill).  Needless to say, we did not last long outside.

Just a little peak, but I really liked them.  These have not been Photoshopped yet. The top one is going to be a silhouette where I am more blacked out and you can just see my shape.  Showing off that little bump!

For the second photo I just wore leggings and one of Brad's work shirts. Something comfy and relaxing so the bump could take center stage. 

Fake Labor is a Pain in the...

Since Friday night I've been feeling contractions more and more. I tried explaining them to my midwife at my last visit and did not get a definite answer as to whether they were contractions or just Braxton Hicks. Having never experienced childbirth, I feel like the twinges and tummy tightening sensations are a bit alarming. How do I know when it's the real deal?

The countdown is really on now. I will be 38 weeks on Wednesday and I am so ready to meet this little lady.  We have almost finished the nursery; just need to get a rocking chair and move a rug from downstairs to her bedroom. The rocking chair has been delegated to Brad.  I had picked one out from IKEA but he did not think it was comfortable enough and vetoed it. So I decided that this one one task I would leave entirely up to him...about a month ago. Thus far a chair has not been bought, mentioned (unless I bring it up), or even looked at.

I'm guessing this will be a "baby has arrived and we need to stop and pick one up on the way home" type of thing.  Which is especially annoying since he's had over a month to research and buy a stupid chair. I don't understand how the one tiny task I delegate to him has not taken precedence over everything else.  I have even gotten his mother to start calling and asking if he found a chair yet.

Ok enough of that extremely pregnant lady vent...

Enough about fake contractions and a frustrating rocking chair situation.  I'll just think about the nursery and all the hard work we put into it.  Bean's godmother and I painted the nursery white (from a robins egg blue). Brad's mother and I made the crib bedding. I made the owl mobile and the curtains. I ordered the vinyl from a cute Etsy shop and it took almost all day one Sunday to put that up. Brad put together the crib and dresser. He also put up the shelving for me, and hung the pictures.

This baby better come soon...

Tis the Season...

...The cold and flu season that is! Yup, 8 1/2 months pregnant and my husband someone decided to share a lovely cold.  Not exactly sure who the culprit is as I've been trying to stay away from any and all hacking, coughing, sniffling, etc no matter who is doing it. Alas, it was not meant to be. 

Despite the temptation to run to our now well stocked medicine basket, I must occasionally remind myself to refrain.  Usually this weakness occurs after a particularly bad coughing fest or when my throat feels like it's on fire in the morning. But, baby doesn't have any need for Theraflu or NyQuil so by default neither do I. 

On another note, we made it through "The Season."  11 Christmases later and we are officially done buying presents, wrapping, grumbling to ourselves, visiting family, stuffing our faces, watching hubby enjoy a drink, and chatting with people we might see only once a year. 11 Christmases you say...seems a bit excessive right?  Well let me break it down for you.  Hubs and I both come from divorced families so...

• That's 2 separate parent Christmases for me, plus 1 set of grandparents still living. Also my brother spent Christmas with his wife's family this year so they hosted a small get together for immediate family the weekend before. That makes 4 Christmas celebrations on my side.
• Hubs has 2 seperate parent Christmases as well, plus 3 sets of grandparents (divorce again) still living. That makes 5 Christmas celebrations on his side. 
• We are fortunate enough to live in a fun neighborhood that hosts a Progressive Christmas Dinner night complete with a Toys for Tots drive. Since we are fairly new to the neighborhood we couldn't say no to this one. 
• We have one group of friends (husbands' man-friends from high school & all the wives) that all decided to have a get together this year. We definitely didn't want to miss that as it was probably the most fun and there were NO presents involved, just lots of food and alcohol

So, there you have it. Now these 11 Christmases were not the only things happening in the month of December. We do have a life to get on with in-between all this holiday cheer.  We had birthday parties (mine, a friends daughter, my sister in law, my soon to be step-mother, a cousin, etc.), doctors appointments to see our little Bean grow, baby classes, classes for work, etc. So you can see where I might have fallen short of holiday cheer this year.

But where is the cutoff point? It's not like we can refuse to attend the parties our grandparents are hosting. This time of year is really the only time we are able to visit these family members. What if it's their last? And you can't say no to parents; the guilt trip that never ends isn't worth it no matter how tempted I get. So that puts us down to a bare minimum of about 8 a year. What are we going to do when Bean is here?  Granted she'll be almost a year by next Christmas but HOLY COW! what a nightmare.

Thankfully December is now behind us...and we survived.  Now to get through January and these colds. Bring on February and Bean! 

Nightmare before Christmas

Oh geezzz! Per usual I've got some catching up to do. Well, as I expand, I need to find clothing to cover the bump. Halloween has always been one of my favorites. So when I realized that I couldn't make use of the box of costumes I have stored I was both sad and a little panicked.

I went searching for something cute and fun that I could wear and not feel like a pumpkin. I found it on Etsy in the form of an iron on.

This little gem arrived about a week after I ordered it. I used a pre-pregnancy shirt and, because we're expecting a little lady, I added a bow to the skeleton baby's' head later that night.  I had the hubby take this picture with my phone so I know that quality is not the best. But, I was so excited to have a cute Halloween costume that I didn't think to demand he capture the moment with our nice camera.

Glowing Skin...Where are you?

There is a falsity in the pregnancy community that I need to dispel!  Just because you are pregnant does not mean, I repeat, does not mean that you will have that glowing beautify pregnancy skin. 

Because of all the hormones running around through your body during this wonderful time many women (including myself) experience acne, dry skin patches, changes in your skin type (oily to dry vs dry to oily).  It's exhausting!  Trying to keep up with all the changes, trying to take in all in stride, takes a tole on your skin and vanity.

Four Months and Counting

16 weeks and counting.  Baby is roughly the size of a turnip (or so my pregnancy app says).  I've gained about 4lbs and basically look like I need to take a crap, or like I've been chowing on donuts. Either way, I'm less than comfortable with my new shape.

Now that I've started the second trimester I do feel like I have more energy.  I also have a bigger appetite. I have to keep reminding myself that the old adage of  "you're eating for two" is false!!!  You only need about 300 extra calories a day, which really isn't much. So I've been trying to eat more fruits and veggies.

We are in the process of boxing up our tiny apartment for the big move.  Hoping that everything stays on track and we can really be moved by the second week in October. Painting and steam cleaning carpets will happen that first week.

Also happening the first week in October is our first ultrasound!  Yay for that, because I am one excited lady. I am just dying to know...boy...girl...why do they make you wait soooo long!?!  Also I secretly need confirmation that there is really only one little bean in there.  Some days I have my doubts; like when I can't button up my pants, or my underwear feel tight, or when I catch a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror.

Little bean is doing well, I'm doing well, the old man is playing Nintendo, and our little monster is sleeping on the couch. All is well in our household...for now.

And Summer's Almost Gone Already

Have been neglecting you again. But I have an excuse...a legit one this time.

We are expecting!  We took this photo a while back on our two week road trip to Yellowstone & Glacier Nationals Parks. We thought it would be a cute way to announce.

I am 13 weeks and 2 days right now.  Baby is due February 20th, 2013 (or somewhere around that time).  It's pretty weird though, I haven't been sick. I have felt tired and hungry and sure, my hormones may have gotten the best of me a time or two, but other than that I don't really feel pregnant.  Not sure if I'm allowed to say that, but I did...I don't feel pregnant, just fat.

We are trying be very budget savvy right now as...oh did I forget to mention...we are in the middle of buying our first home. No big deal, just a baby and a house in 6 months..oh and we traded in our Scion for a Subaru. SO yeah...no big scary life changes happening here.

Anyway, back to budget savvy.  I wanted to go crazy and have the cutest nursery ever, like most momma's to be. But, the hubs squashed that one pretty quick with the sheer look of panic that crossed his face as we walked around BuyBuy Baby and Babies R U.  Poor guy, thought he was going to have a mini right in the crib isle. So, I have decided to take pity on the love of my life and do a lot of DIY things, bargain hunt, and I have even deigned to consider buying second hand.

My first second hand trip is actually happening tomorrow as I peruse the huge Mac-Groveland neighborhood sales happening. Sounds like I have the potential to get a good haul!

The second idea I had was to make all my burp clothes myself.  I know how to sew, and used to sew quite i bit back in the day, but haven't done much in recent years.  I plan on digging out my sewing machine, watching for awesome JoAnn coupons and picking up some lovely fabric. I already have a pattern I found free on Pinterest. 

My third idea was about baby's furniture. First, I want to get a crib that grows with baby. The one that transforms into a toddler bed and then a big kid bed. Seems like I'll get more for my money that way.  Second, I was reading on various blogs that a changing table is a waste of time. So I'm going to head straight for a real dresser and add a changing pad and shelf liner to the top (so the pad doesn't slide).  This way I already have a dresser for baby as he/she grows AND I'm not stuck with a useless changing table in a year.

Lastly, I don't mind buying used clothing for baby. I think of it this way, baby is going to be a puking, pooping, sleeping, eating machine for the first 6 months at least. They don't even know what they're wearing. What do I care if baby pukes or poops in second hand clothing. At least I won't be sad that I paid a lot for something that was ruined.

OK, now off to bed for this tired lady. Garage sales in the early morning.