Belly Shots

My friend Aimee asked me if I was planning on having maternity pictures taken. She is pregnant as well, and plans on having them done. This is not something that I had planned on doing. I don't really want to go to a studio to have my belly photographed. I'd rather wait and take the baby for the photo shoot when he is born. He'll be cuter anyway. But, she did get me thinking that we should take some pictures of my stomach so I can show the little guy when he is older. I guess I'll want to remember what I looked like. Right? So, Steve and I had a little photo shoot in the back yard. I looked on line at different photographers' portfolios to get some ideas. Here are a few that I don't mind sharing. I think I'll keep the rest of the really cheesy ones in hiding! :O)

Sleeping Arrangements

Steve spends a lot of time laughing at me these days. (not in a mean way) I am usually a very good sport and end up laughing with him. I do realize how funny I look now that I am officially as wide as I am tall. I walk funny. I spend A LOT of time on the way to, in, and on the way out of the bathroom. And it takes me a long time to get up or down or over or anywhere. ;o) I am usually just fine with his good natured harrassment. But last week, he caught me at a really bad time. I was tired and not feeling great. He, of course, was driving me up a wall. I think he was breathing wrong, or something. ;o) So, I just decided to go to bed. This is a huge feet in itself these days. I finally got myself in bed and somewhat comfortable, and here he comes down the hallway. He walks in the room and just starts laughing hysterically at the sight of me. I have to lay on my side with my feet elevated, and my head elevated as well. I now sleep in a V position. I also have pillows on my sides. Steve decided that I needed to hear how rediculous I looked. As if I didn't know. Well, I immediately started crying. This made him want to laugh more, but he was trying not to. He tried to comfort me, but all he did was mess up my pillows. One might think that he would be more careful with me now. Yeah, he's not. But, he hasn't caught me at another bad moment yet. He has been lucky.

So, I was folding laundry amongst all of my pillows tonight, and I took a minute to look at it. I do see why he was laughing. Even though I didn't care that night, I had to take a picture so that I would remember the shinanagans. I can see why Steve ends up on the couch some nights. Check this out.

I squeeze myself between the side pillows so I don't roll on my back. And the Boppy goes around my neck. Suprisingly, I still sleep. Steve and the dogs even sqeeze themselves into the mix. :O)

Another Baby Shower!!

My friend Lidia threw me a baby shower last night. It was beautiful. She had her house set up so nicely. I am sorry that I didn't take pictures of the tables and the food set up. It was awesome. She really went all out to make sure it was beautiful for me. I am so grateful to her. And yes, I wore the same dress. You didn't think that I would have TWO dresses, did you? I am still shocked that I have this one! ;o) I guess it is a good thing that I am having a boy! :O)


Lidia's sister, brother-in-law and niece even came to help. I had only met them briefly once before. And they did so much for me. They remind me so much of our family. I hated to leave last night. But, poor Kennedy was barely awake by then end of the night. Caleb and his friend Brandon were not interested in attending, even though boys were included in this party. They stayed home and caused trouble. (13 year old boys really are somethin) :O)

Here is the cake table.

All of my friends from work came to celebrate with me. It was so fun.

Kennedy, Leah and Jeri

Cheryl and Kathy

Jeri, Tamara and Richard

Beth and Rebekah

Jack (Lidia's husband) and Anthony

And of course, My Husband! ;o) He really did have a good time. Even though this picture doesn't show it. He doesn't like to smile for the camera. Surprised? ;o)

Kennedy helped me open all of my presents. There were so many. I am still in awe over how generous everyone has been.

I had such a fun night. Thank you so much, Lidia. You really know how to put on a good party! And best of all, you help me to feel closer to family. I miss mine so much. There is nothing like family and I thank you and your family for opening yourselves to me and my family. I love you, Lid!! :O)

4D- Ultraound

The day that I have been anxiously awaiting has come and gone. We got to see the first pictures of our little Man's face. I can't believe that I was looking at him and seeing him so clearly. The appointment was almost a disaster for me. I had asked on the phone when I made the appointment if I could bring my husband, parents and kids. I was told that was fine. I did not know if the kids would be able to be there, but it worked out that we were able to bring them. I was really happy about that. This is the first appointment that we have been able to bring them to. I really want them to feel that they are an essential part of this family. And that is kind of hard to do when we see them just 4 days a month. I really want them to know that this baby is as much their brother as the the brothers and sisters they live with full time. I think they do. I hope they do. Anyway, so when the tech called my name, we we all got up and walked to the door. She looked at us and said that there were too many of us and there was not enough room. I told her that I asked on the phone and was told it would be fine. She only hesitated for a minute, and then she just brought us all back to the room. (which was plenty big enough, by the way). We got all situated and she started the ultrasound. Anyone who has had an ultrasound knows that half the time, you can't tell what they are looking at. She kept mumbling about what she was seeing and moving on. Nobody could tell what she was seeing OR saying. Then she clearly said, "Its a boy!" The first shot that we could all decipher was his penis. Typical, right? Anyway, she moved on and my family was all starting to recognize different body parts. I was hearing, "oh, there's a foot! There's a hand." But the woman would not turn the screen so that I could see it. I was trying to lean forward and she kept telling me to stop moving. I kept telling her that I couldn't see and I wanted to see. She just ignored me. I didn't know if I wanted to cry or punch her. I decided to give her a couple more minutes before I got off the table and went out to demand a new tech. I was very close. But, then she turned the screen a little so that I could see. Amazing!! What a fun experience for all of us. We loved it. So, as promised, here he is!! :O)




This is the right side of his face. He is facing the right. The profile of his nose is right in the center. The top of his head is at the top left corner. Can you see him?

Now, he is looking down toward the bottom right corner. That sausage looking thing is his arm. He kept it up in front of his face almost the whole time. His hand is up by his forehead and he is covering his left eye and mouth. Can you see him now?

This is almost a full frontal of his face. He still has his arm up, but you can see his left eye this time. His hand is still up by the left side of his fore head.

I hope you can see him. I know it is hard to make out. Let me know if you can!! :O)

The Baby Shower

So, my Mom, Grandma, Aunts, Cousins and Sister-in-law put on a fabulous baby shower for me. I loved it. It was so much fun. Here are some pictures. But, I didn't get too many on my camera. I will have to get some more from mom. I know she got a lot of pictures on hers.


This is one of several beautiful diaper cakes that my cousin Ilene made. Awesome!!


The cake!!!!
A face only a mother could love????? :O)


Dad had to try the diaper game at the "after party"

Time for some good, clean fun!! Who doesn't love a full diaper?
(at least when they are full of chocolate) ;o)

Kennedy and Gam.

Kennedy and her aunts: Becky, Rachi and Corey

And the fam. I don't think I took any pictures of Erika and me alone. :O( I will have to check my mom's pictures. I know she has one of Kennedy and me. I will have to add more pictures when I get them. That is, if this blog place will hold them all! I didn't get any pictures of my friends in my camera either. I didn't think to ask anyone to take my camera for me. My mom will save the picture day. She took lots.

Thanks to Kennedy!!

So, Kennedy has inspired me to start a blog for my family. She started her own and I love it. I just wish she would write in it a little more often!!! ;o) (hint, hint) If you are interested in seeing Kennedy's blog, let me know and I will send you her address. I just don't want to add it here, because anyone can look at this, and I don't want to send any weirdos her way. Anyway, I thought I would just write my first post to thank Kennedy for the good idea. This is a great way for any of you to be able to look in on the little one when he arrives. I promise to try to do a good job at updating, and showing new pictures. Thanks for the idea, KenKen.