Maternity + Baby Book

Click on over to HANNA MAC photography and check out what this creative mom put together for her baby.  She recorded each week of pregnancy with photos and her thoughts on the crazy experience.  This is a great keepsake that any child would love to have and look back on through their years.

 Here are few example pages from the maternity book...

Photo via HANNA MAC

Photo via HANNA MAC

  

Photo via HANNA MAC

Photo via HANNA MAC

Photo via HANNA MAC

 You've gotta check out the rest of this adorable book, here!!!

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Now if her maternity book wasn't enough cuteness for you to handle, check out her daughter's baby book here.

 Here are a few example pages...

Photo via HANNA MAC

Photo via HANNA MAC

A Great Maternity Series

While looking at this maternity photo series, I actually caught myself thinking "Dangit, can't I start my pregnancy over again so that I can do something creative like this?"  What, crazy lady!?  Start from the beginning?!  Uh-uh, no way...I'm 2/3 of the way there and ain't going back for nothin'!  Although I do wish I would have started documenting my pregnancy from the beginning, like this mom and dad did over at their blog called Pacing the Panic Room.

How awesome does this gal look (weeks 37-40)?

Photo via Pacing the Panic Room

Photo via Pacing the Panic Room

Photo via Pacing the Panic Room

Photo via Pacing the Panic Room

 Interested in seeing her maternity series beginning with week 17?  Click here

Chalkboards and Photography

I was browsing through some fun and clever ideas for using photography to capture each month of my (unborn) child's life, once she arrives.  I stumbled upon the blog of The Letter B Photography, a husband and wife photography two-some.  Check out this photo series of their kids' first year, one month at a time.

Photo via The Letter B Photography

I love the addition of the chalkboard wall in the background.  I've gotta have a chalkboard in Mia's room...not a wall (I would if I could), but a nice big board will do.

I dug a little deeper into these photographer's blog and found some pretty amazing maternity shots....

 

All photos via

The Letter B Photography

And a few kids photos...

Photo via The Letter B Photography

Photo via The Letter B Photography

 You can check out their website here.

Go and "like" their Facebook here.

The do maternity sessions, birth sessions, weddings, portrait sessions, family sessions, kid and baby sessions and engagement/couples sessions (and more).  I'm not familiar with pricing for photo sessions, so I couldn't tell you if they're a good deal.  I do know that they're too pricey for me and my family right now.  If I could, I'd use them for pretty much every session they offer.

Paper Lanterns Decor

I have 2 white, round paper lanterns in my room, each with a light inside.  I've always loved their look, whether in the home or when decorating a patio area, an outdoor space for a wedding or just a party.  I found this picture here at Apartment Therapy.

I'll definitely be adding this look to Mia's nursery, I just haven't decided on the colors I want.  The best part is, the price for these is so cheap!  Head on over to Asian Ideas and check out their paper lanterns here for different sizes and colors and for some unbeatable prices.

I Love Lamp...

I came across an old wooden lamp that I used to have in my bedroom years ago.  I'm not crazy about its look now, but instead of tossing it, I know I can give it another go with a new coat of paint and a different shade.  I found this great redo at Apartment Therapy.

           

 Check out the details here.

28 Weeks Pregnant {Chinese Cabbage}

My little Chinese Cabbage and I have made it through 28 weeks are now entering our 3rd trimester!

(Average measurements: 14.8 inches, 2.25 pounds )

• Dominic and I rummaged through my garage and sorted out all the house stuff that I took to San Diego with me when I lived there.  We're still hoping to be moving out soon.
• The stress over finding a house has continued to be hot and heavy this week.  Halfway through the week, we heard from the owners of the house we really want to rent, but nothing is certain yet.  We know the current tenants are moving out in February sometime and we just have to arrange a time to meet with one of the owners and view the house.  All of our eggs are currently in this one basket.
• Dominic began making his very first quilt this week, and finished it within just a few days.  I showed him how to do it, but he did all the work himself.  I'm very impressed with this man.  What's even cooler than this?  The quilt is for his daughter.  What a special gift, one that I know she'll love for life :)
• We had a hospital tour scheduled this week, but it was rescheduled for next week.
• The word has continued to spread at work among my students.  "Miss Misty, is there really a baby in your belly?"  One 6year old girl said, "When you have the baby, it's really gonna hurt."  Ya, thanks.  More of their parents have been catching wind of the news, too, and I've been getting more "Congratulations!" and "Wow, your 6 months along already?  You look great!  I was giant at this stage in my pregnancy."  I don't really know what I'm supposed to look like at this point, so I guess it's a relief to hear that I don't actually look like a whale.
• I'm trying out a new and hip walk...it's called "The Waddle"
• I'm hitting up the bathroom significantly more now.  This makes wearing leggings everyday way more appealing to quicken the potty process.
• I feel more stretched.  My belly is tighter and harder, so I'm nervously awaiting stretch marks any day now.
• I put music to my belly for the first time.  Song chosen: Papa Was a Rolling Stone, by The Temptations.  I think Mia could use a bit of soul.  I love this song right now.

Photo via www.babycenter.com

Baby Center's information for week 28 says, "By this week, your baby can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.  You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. 

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery.  Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS."

27 Weeks Pregnant {Cauliflower}

Ok, baby Cauliflower...27 weeks down and more-than-I'd-like-to-count-right-now to go!

(Average measurements: 14.5 inches, 2 pounds)

• Dominic and I had a delicious sushi dinner date.  Don't judge me...I know which sushi is "safe"!
• We continued our "house hunt" over the weekend.  We found one we liked and viewed it with the property manager.  We both could see ourselves living there so we filled out the apps, even though it's a little more $ than we'd like to spend.  But here's the thing: Dominic's friend owns another house that we both like even BETTER than anything we've seen and his current tenants are supposed to be moving out, but we don't know when.  They can't get a hold of the tenants (going through a divorce).  That means we're stuck on which basket to put all of our eggs in.  We're running out of time and the stress of it hit us pretty hard this week.  Do we keep searching? Or do we hope for "The One" to come through, hopefully before Mia does.  Literally.
• My friend, Noelle, gave me 2 trash bags full of maternity clothes!  Woohoo!  In one of those bags is an awesome pair of skinny maternity jeans.  Kind of funny using the words skinny and maternity in the same sentence.
• I had Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off from work (a perk of being a teacher) and I think Mia was pretty stoked about it.  That night, she made my belly look like a water bed with all of her movements.  They've officially gone from little bumps and pokes to strides and wave-like motions.  Amazing.
• Had another doctor's appointment..the one where you drink "the juice" to test your glucose levels, I guess?  Anyways, you have 5 minutes to drink the orange stuff, then you have to wait an hour and get blood drawn.  I've heard it tastes awful but I disagree.  I actually liked it.  I was tempted to ask for another!  Well the results came back and everything is fine.  I also got my flu shot.  Yuck.

• Movies watched: Contagion (it was good, but a little anti-climactic and slow) and Hall Pass (it had its few funny moments...glad I waited until it came out on cable).
• In other pregnancy related updates, my nose is still constantly stuffed, my lower back continues to bother me at times, my belly is getting bigger by the day, I'm so easily winded and find myself out of breath often, my nipples are starting to become sensitive again...but most importantly, NO CONTRACTIONS! :)

Photo via www.babycenter.com

     My BabyBump phone app says, "This week your baby looks like a thinner, redder, more wrinkled version of what she will look like at birth, but in the next few weeks more fat will fill out her appearance.  Your baby's immune system is continuing to mature as are your baby's lungs which are still practicing breathing amniotic fluid.  Just when you were getting used to your second trimester, you may find new uncomfortable symptoms beginning during your third trimester.  You may notice more leg cramps due to the pressure of your uterus on your veins and nerves running from your torso to your legs.  Remember to stretch and move your legs to ease or prevent cramping."

My Lovely Belly Lump

Yeah, that's right...I sing the name of this post to the tune of a Black Eyed Peas song, so what?

Here it is, kids: My first shared pictures of my baby bump belly lump at 26 weeks and 4 days.

Kinda reminds you of a whale and its blowhole, don't it ;)

 Oh yeah, and before you go...mind voting for my blog by clicking on the link (followed by one more link)?  Thanks!