Maternity Pictures

So I attached my maternity pictures to a whiny 38 weeks post last week, and well, that's just no fun. So I'll give this another stab. If you are seeing this twice - lo siento mi amigo.

Half our maternity pictures were taken at home, and you can find that post here. These are the outdoor pictures, taken at 11th street park in The Heights. I was legit melting, so I am really glad I had plenty of indoor pictures to choose from!

The headboard and blanket scene were all Chesney's idea. I originally wanted Matt and I to read books in our own bed, because we are dorky like that, but thought this was a great idea when Chesney mentioned it! She took our home idea outside and I really, really love that. 

Now I've always wanted to wear a flower crown in a photo session, so I am glad I checked that off the list! I do wish that my flower crown was a bit more subtle, but for 15 bucks worth of flowers and my own hazard flower arranging skills - I'm pretty happy with the results! just one thought to all you pregnant mamas out there, I took these pictures around 36 weeks, when I was already feeling gargantuan,  and really wish I had done them closer to 31 weeks. If I have any advice, don't be a procrastinator like moi!

//dress

Happy Monday y'all. And oh, I'm still pregnant. Going on about #100weeks. Lol. Xoxoxo 

More on that lates. 

Week 38

I went to the Dr. this morning. A little bit of progress can be noted, but nothing to write home about. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was a bit glum about my lack of dilation progress. And even though I just said my progress was nothing to write home about, I guess I'm gonna write about it anyway. I am almost dilated to a 1, but still not quite there yet. This is the same status as last week. We started talking about induction protocol and I've decided I will probably schedule on her due date, Aug. 28th. Might as well get on the books since you have to schedule 7 days out, and they only induce on Mondays and Thursdays. I want to be patient and give her the time to come when she's ready. But I do not want to wait past 40 weeks, and she said she has no concerns about my cervix being favorable by then. So back to the waiting game we go.

Alright blog friends, I took the day off so I'm gonna go try to cheer myself up! I foresee car shopping, pedicures, or a prenatal massage to do the trick!

"at home" maternity pictures

Here are pictures from our 'at home' maternity session two weeks ago. This is a new style of photography that seems to be cropping up, and rightfully so.  Really, so much about pregnancy, and raising a bambino from what I hear, is about the home. You put so much energy into creating a household, and I loved capturing the authenticity of the "nesting" journey that is pregnancy.  Matt and I have spent so much time binge-watching TV shows, and I 100% wanted that in our shoot.  I also love the 'favorite foods' scene. Although I'm a froyo girl all the way, that ice cream bucket was in the fridge. So maybe a tinsy but of truth stretch there. BUT I probably ate 50 boxes of Special K during my pregnancy - ESPECIALLY when I had morning sickness. And I love me some Annie's Macaroni. 

Anywhoo, I love this style of photography, and Chesney Layne did so SUCH an amazing job for us. I had over-propped myself and changed 4 times, but she was so excited to make the shoot what we wanted. I felt really comfortable telling her my ideas, and she had great suggestions to go above and beyond! If you're in the market for a Houston photog, definitely check her out.  I will post again tomorrow with our outdoor session favorites. Also, my sweater and rainbow shirt were from my go-to maternity wear site: www.asos.com  

Officially full term

Gosh I've been quiet lately. I always get a little more introspective when big milestones are coming, and I definitely had one of "all up in my head" moments last Thursday / Friday. When I get like this I blog less, text less, social media less. I retreat into myself essentially. But I'm back now. So what was the milestone? Well duh, if you read the title of this post:  I officially became full term last Thursday! Holy canoli I have made it almost 9 months into pregnancy. I'm so proud of what my body has done so far, but I know the hardest part is coming. I'm excited/nervous/scared/prepared/prepared to laugh at all my preparations that get thrown out the window.... You name the emotion,  and I've felt it the past couple of weeks! 

Some Things I don't want to forget: 

- I can't stop obsessing over her dropping. I ask Matt every morning "did she drop any?" Since my baby "is potentially big," they will take her not dropping as a sign that she can't make it out of the birth canal (double negative? sorry). So I obsess. And sing "drop it like it's hottt" in a Snoop Dog voice all day.

- I'm trying to close lose ends at work. I'm setting up meetings with team members to officially transfer things over, and hoping to help my boss find an intern or two.

-It's hectic but calm at the same time. I, err, my family works on the nursery, and then helps me shop for things that I need. We are so close to being done in terms of decorations, but the room is completely functional as is. Now am I bottles sterilized ready? No. But do I really feel like I need to be that ready? No. I'm kind of superstitious and see this as an overly prepared type of thing. Especially because I plan to nurse, and my mom said she'll do this kind of stuff while we are at the hospital right before we get home. Thank god for moms.

-Speaking of moms, becoming a mom has made me so reliant on my own mother. It's really cool to see motherhood come full circle. I love my mommy so much and couldn't appreciate her help more at this time.

-I want to see my gf's one last time before my world completely morphs. I've been making appointments here and there, and plan to have one last date night this weekend. I've got a new maternity "body con" dress ready and everything ;)

And some survey-like questions for all the bumpdate aficionados: 

-the symptoms that stick out the most are definitely my swollen hands and feet. They hurt when I wake up in the am, and tingle throughout the day which feels so weird. I can't wait to ditch this whole water retention thing. 

-wedding rings are most definitely off. 

-Stretch marks are still small and only on my hips. I'm very happy about this, and crossing my fingers it stays this way. 

-I've been 75% effaced for two weeks.  No Braxton hicks or dilation yet. Baby has dropped more since last week, but not a ton.

-tmi but I think I found some colostrum on my shirts a time a two this week... Shizz is getting real  

-Weight gain is clocking in at a total of 26 lbs. My sister and Matt have both told me, "you've done way better than I thought you would." I'm like ok?! Thanks for the compliment! Haha. Im not that sensitive, so I really do take it as a compliment. 

And that's all I can word vomit for now. That was a lot! Tata blog world. 

Scenes from the Week/end

The state of master bedroom is kind of atrocious, and sadly, we have actually made a lot of progress in the past 5 months. We bought a headboard, nightstands, dresser, bedding and bed skirt and full length mirror. Hung curtains and painted the whole room. BUT, the walls are still virgin, and the entire room looks like a neutral blob…..I digress: Here are some belly pics I took after our maternity picture session on Thursdays. I love this dress, and can’t believe how big my belly is!

Dress is from asos.com / find here 

Here is a sneak peek shot from said maternity session:

^This was the eat ice cream in the kitchen scene! And I wanted all my favorite pregnancy foods to be captured as well. I’m still a little surprised at how different a DSLR camera and an iPhone camera make me look. DSLR’s definitely add 10 lbs if ya know what I mean.^

^Matt and I went to infant safety and CPR Saturday night. Then we gorged down at outback steakhouse. I was craving crab legs and baby got what she wanted! Nothing fancy, but we sure did eat a lot on Saturday night.^

Then I trekked out to Ikea on Sunday to meet my mom and stepdad, and we finally solved all my shelving issues! We worked on the nursery all day after that.. and I have to say it’s really, really coming together. FINALLY. It has been stressing me out for a while, and I’ve waffled between pushing through or just finishing it after she is here. I’m so darn glad it might be finished before she is here. I'm planning a sneak peek here pretty soon! Stay tuned!