Everything is Amazing, Nobody is Happy

This guy might be my hero for today...just for saying it like it is!

Maternity Photos

I want to give a big, BIG thank you to a photographer friend of Alex's - who shall remain anonymous - who took these maternity photos. She and her husband also run a wedding/photo business and we've worked with them at weddings in the past when they've done video and we've done the photos. They are wonderful. They were very excited when they learned we were having a baby and offered to shoot maternity photos - however, she asked that she remain anonymous as this was a gift to us. So sweet.

So here are the photos - they are SO nice. We shot at a couple of locations around Miami's Design District.

The things people say

Every pregnant woman gets TONS of unsolicited advice. Some of it is helpful. We also get TONS of unsolicited statements about what to expect - most of that is NOT helpful. I've learned that the vast majority of people liked to warn me about all the unpleasant things that come with pregnancy.

Fortunately for me, I have had SUCH a smooth pregnancy. Really uneventful with my only lasting and really frustrating symptom being heartburn that is more than anything I ever imagined. If you want gross details, I can give those. The funny thing, is that the unpleasant warnings keep coming. When I tell people that I've had an easy pregnancy, I would say that slightly more than half feel the need to say something like: "Oh, then you're probably going to have a HORRIBLE labor." What am I supposed to say to that? "Oh gee, thanks for that." So silly.

But lately, the advice I've been getting is really fun. Since we are pretty open with telling people that we are praying for Caleb to come at ANY time earlier than our due date, I am getting SO much advice on how to induce labor. Here's what I've got so far:

1. Taking evening primrose oil capsules 4x per day. This one came from a midwife. So I'm on top of that one.

2. Eating eggplant. This one came from Emily. I did try this on Thursday night, I went and got Eggplant Parm for dinner and ate the second half at lunch the next day - so far nothing. But it was VERY delicious, so I may eat it again this week.

3. Go to Brookstone and get a massage in a massage chair. This woman I know told me that this worked for 2 of 3 of her kids. This was actually told to me when I ran into her at the mall - so I did, in fact, go to Brookstone and got an awesome 15 minute massage in an expensive chair. While sitting there I think that this actually may have worked for her. You see, I've learned that there are two pressure points on the body that can induce labor - one in the hand, and one on the inside of the leg just below the calf. That chair spent a solid 10 minutes massaging my calves. So there may have been something to that. The massage was awesome, so I may go to Brookstone again next week - even if I don't go into labor, it was very relaxing.

4. I will know that labor is 'imminent' when my lips start to get weird looking and puffy. Told to me by a friend at church. Again, perhaps may have been true for her, I've read that just before going into labor a lot of women will have a lot of swelling even if they haven't had it throughout the pregnancy. So...I will keep an eye on my lips.

5. Eat: pineapple, spicy food

6. Other practical things - walking, and other physical things to induce labor.

Does anyone have anything else to add???

Also - feel free to start picking dates that I may go into labor. My actual due date is March 15. We are praying for around the 8th.

I love...

Now it's MY turn to copy Emily's post where she is copying her sister's post. It's a cool idea. Here are just 6 little insignificant things that I love:

1. I love the sound of footsteps on gravel paths. I don't get to hear that very often in Miami. I can't explain it, I just love it. Yesterday, I heard that sound in the Design District, and it was TOTALLY out of place, and I had to locate the path and the sound.

2. I love buying funny greeting cards. However, I often forget that I bought them. I found about 10 while I was cleaning out a room the other day, that I must have bought like 5 years ago. They are still funny. I hope I remember to send them out to people. Maybe I'll send one to Emily, now that I know she loves mail.

3. I love food that has to be eaten with your hands. For example, I am a huge fan of bacon and eggs, but I'll choose a bacon and egg sandwich over the regular version anytime. I don't know why.

4. I love airports, I think they are fascinating - I always wonder where people are going.

5. I love getting my hair cut. It is an instant self-esteem booster. I also have short hair, so one haircut makes a big difference on short hair. I used to be pretty obsessive about hairstyling, but now I only go every 4 months or more. Which is a BAD habit for a short hairstyle, but oh well.

6. I love really big thunderstorms. The bigger, louder - the better. I secretly get kind of excited when they say that a tropical storm is near us - which I totally shouldn't be excited by. But I just hope it's not a bad one, but big enough to not go to work and stay home and enjoy a big storm.

Ok - so tell me the things that you love!

updates

We are just 3 short weeks away from my due date! How exciting. We are really, really praying that Caleb comes early. 1) My OB is concerned that he is going to be big. Our ultrasound last week put him at 7.5 pounds (at 36 weeks). Now, I know that those are notoriously off, but sometimes they aren't and my OB may want to consider induction if he's too concerned. 2) Alex's mom has to have surgery on her kidney on March 10. That is 7 days before my due date. So we are PRAYING that I go into labor au naturale before then. Because the surgery is invasive and she would be in too much pain afterward to be at the hospital. So it would be good to have Caleb before the 10th. 3) I'm getting tired of being pregnant. Each day I feel bigger, more awkward. I went 8 months being pretty much fully independent, but now I call Alex from the other room to reach things and get things so that I don't have to get up - it's just a pain.

So, our plan is that I will step up my walking every day for at least 45 minutes. And then next week, start employing some natural induction techniques.

Last week was Valentine's day, we really had nothing planned, but my parents invited us to a restaurant in Key Largo. So we did that. I had a first-time ever experience. We were seated at a booth - and I didn't fit. We had to go ask for another table. Talk about embarrassing! (it was actually pretty funny).

We did take some maternity photos last week! I have seen a few of the photographer's favorites, but not in a format that I can post yet. We should be getting the files any day - I'm so excited to post them! The photographer is a wedding-photographer friend of Alex's who really wanted to do this for us after she heard we were pregnant. She's very sweet, and asked to remain anonymous. As soon as I get them I will post them. Also, all I asked for from Alex for my birthday was for him to take pictures of the nursery so that I can post them. Hopefully we'll do that tomorrow after he hangs these 2 pictures.

Happy birthday to me - and other news

So yesterday was my 30th birthday. It was a nice day. I worked all day and got home a little after 6. Then Alex and I went to dinner with Ann Marie and Eddie. We went to this nice Mediterranean restaurant in the Gables, Maroosh. It was delicious! Afterward, we took the long way back to the car - and what did we pass?? A cupcake bakery! Happy birthday to me! I was happy.

Alright, I saw this youtube clip on Emily's blog who linked to it on one of her friend's blog. I did in fact laugh out loud at this. All I can say is, thank goodness for surveillance cameras.



This morning I had a blast from the past. My best friend Jen's mom makes the most delicious apple crisp. A couple months back she emailed me the recipe and I finally made it today for breakfast. It's the best kind of southern recipe - the kind that uses measurements like "a little sugar" "some cinnamon". It came out great! Alex liked it a lot.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day everyone.

NEW website

Ok - so you MUST go and check out the new website for Candidly Elegant Photography. For those of you not 'in the know' that is Alex's photography website. It is just so gorgeous and high end - I love it.

I am totally flattered by what Alex wrote in part of the website - when you visit it, click on 'Info' (on the left) and then 'Why Hire Me'. How sweet and wonderful is my husband?