32 weeks Belly Pics!

So one of Jordon's coworkers said she had her baby at 28 weeks, Lars said she had hers at 35, and Lana will probably go from 32-34 weeks...... The countdown is on and I am realizing I need to get my hospital bag packed just in case baby should decide to make an early appearance. I am hoping for early August though :0 ) Here are a few 32 week belly bump pics in my bikini at the pool house. Lars told me her favorite pics from her pregnancy were the actual belly shots so I figured I better get a few of those yet. These are the first ones I have taken. I have a friend doing some maternity shots for me next week and I am sure we will do some of those then too. :0 )

Jordon's First "sorta" Father's Day :0 )

Jordon had hinted that Father's Day was coming up since he had gotten me flowers. He had quite a surprise when he went to leave for work at 5:45am.... I had decorated his car with streamers, balloons, a flower, and wrote Happy Father's Day across his wondows. I got a call shortly after he saw it. He was laughing. haha. I told him I wasn't going to forget :0 ) (pics to follow.. I took a few after i decorated it).

I bought some flowers that morning and Jordon brought them out for his dad's plot later that night. I think Tim really would have loved having a grand daughter. I wish him and Ava could have met.

I met my Mom's side in Rock Rapid's for a Father's Day Brunch and my dad opened his gift, and then we went to Hills to help get my grandpa's pool ready for summer (little late, but since he had knee surgery he hadn't been able to do it). My dad's side is celebrating next weekend. Jordon came after he got off work to help too.

The night ended with a victory in the pool cleaning department. I know my grandpa can't wait to start swimming in it! Getting that clean was probably the best father's day gift my mom could have given him :0 ) My dad, Steve, my mom, and Jordon worked really hard as Lana and I were pregnant onlookers haha. I was amazed how fast they got it done. They haven't used the pool for a few years so it took some work, but its going to be a lot of fun once its filled. :0 )

-A <3

Dear Ava,
I know you couldn't give Daddy a card for Father's Day, but I also know how much you would want to if you could... so Daddy's getting a card from you and me for Father's Day this year telling him what an amazing Daddy he is because he is already being so supportive and caring towards you. :0 )

Love you!
-Mommy

Belly's First "Story-time"

Our Hypnobirthing book says its good to interact with your baby in the womb already through speaking, music, and gentle pats and rubs, because its been proven if baby's are interacted with they will do better once born (less fussing, sleep better, develop faster... interesting). One thing it said is to read to your belly because the baby can hear your voices. Tonight Jordon read "How do You Hop so High"(a Tigger book from Aunt Cathy at our shower) to Ava. I had wanted to read to her for awhile, but decided tonight was a good night because she had been reacting a lot to sounds and noises around her today. Katie and I laid out by the pool this afternoon and after awhile a bunch of kids came and were really loud and she was moving all over. Tonight was Jordon's fam reunion and she reacted several times to loud laughter and noises. I had read children will react to their father and mother's voice in the womb also so today in the car I sang to her and she lulled back and forth slowly as if soothed. When Jordon read to her, she slowly moved almost the entire time as if very interested by his voice. It made Jordon and I both smile a lot. As a funny side note... Jordon's story even soothed Snow Butt who laid right next to my belly and started purring louder than I had heard in a long time hahaha. Guess Daddy needs to have story hour more for Ava and Snow Butt. Pretty good intro into his first "Father's Day" I guess :0 )

-A <3


Dear Ava,

Daddy read you your first bed time story tonight in my tummy. I know you heard his silly impersonations of Tigger and Roo and Eeyore and Pooh because you lulled slowly around the entire time he read to you. Snow Butt also purred loudly. Daddy's a good story teller. He even made sure to explain a few of things he read that you couldn't see (which I thought was adorable...Mommy was smiling and laughing the entire time). You had never moved in that way for that long. You did the same when I sang to you in the car today on the way to our family reunion at Grandma Becky's. You are reacting to sound so much lately. It's 12:01 am of Daddy's first "sort-of" Father's Day. I think you made it very special for him by reacting to his story. It was a really special family moment. We can't wait to read to you when you are in our arms instead of my tummy! :0 )

Love you,
Mommy

30 weeks/31 weeks Belly pics

Thank-yous from Shower Sent

....complete with a custom stamp of Nieva's last 4-D Ultrasound :0 ) The cards were black and white damask with a bubble cut to the bottom and then a hot pink envelope with a return address label featuring the bird from the shower theme and the custom stamp. :0 ) Lots of fun :0 )

-A <3

A Rude Awakening in the Night....

Dear Ava,

Last night it stormed horribly. One of the largest cracks of thunder I'd ever heard startled Daddy, the kitties, and I awake around 4am. It woke you up too. Daddy was concerned that you might be scared by the storm rumbling outside and took care to hold my belly to comfort you as we fell back asleep. I thought that was pretty precious. Daddy is already concerned about you. :0 )

Love you,
Mommy

31 weeks, Hypnobirthing class, New Pregnancy Album, and a relaxing day w the Hubby

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I am officially 31 weeks pregnant now so just shy of 8 months. While I am noticing that things are getting harder for me to do and that fatique sets in more often, I cannot say I feel miserable. I am feeling overwhelmed a touch.. I am still woking 2 days/week at the hospital, weddings almost every weekend, shoots most free nights, and lots of editing.... along with lots of plans for a baby nursery that is needing attention. I am hoping to get to it soon.

Sunday we bought 4 reusable diapers and I have 2 more I have to pick up from Elegant Mommy. They are all super cute in pinks and purples and even one thats bright orange. They've certainly come a long ways from the boring rags and safety pins that used to predominate the reusable diaper market. I think we got plenty of diapers at the shower too to hold us over in terms of throw away diapers to supplement so we just need to keep accumulating reusables and we are off to a good start in that department I think. Major things we still need are our crib ordered (mom gave us the check... we just need to order it), a tall baby swing (tall so kitties aren't as tempted to hop in for the ride), pet netting, and then down the road gates and safety items.

I crocheted the majority of a cute green and pink striped baby hat yesterday while Jordon and his family went fishing at the lake by our house and then did a fish fry for lunch. Jordon, Aaron, and I went swimming in the afternoon. It was such a beautiful day for it and felt so amazing to be floating. Feeling weightless is great right now. I was only out in the sun for 30 minutes and used lots of sunblock, but still burnt a little, but it felt great to get some sun. I hope to get lots more before baby comes :0 ) After that, Jordon and I got ready to go to our 3rd Hypnobirthing Class. I think I am getting better everytime at being able to relax myself. I did have a little anxiety after leaving though as I discovered I really don't know much at all about the actual labor/delivery process. Most the moms in the class were on their 2nd kid and I felt like they were speaking another language when they asked certain questions. Jordon made me feel better though as I know we will be discussing a lot of that stuff in centering classes and I still have time to research everything. We are interested in donating cord blood we decided also during class so I need to call on that too. I don't think we can afford to save it for Nieva, but if we can help someone else down the road by donating it I pray we will be fortunate enough to blessed in return should the need arise.

After the class, Jordon and I went to chill at Barnes and Noble for a few hours. I of course had to look at pregnancy mags and books and even picked out an album to showcase all my belly bump pictures in. Found some interesting information on using tens units during labor (British tradition) as well as some Doula techniques recommended to help with labor. We have considered a Doula, but I think we probably are going to skip it as of now. I am hoping Jordon can be supportive and informed enough to be there for me aside from the midwife throughout labor.


We ate at Qdoba after B&N. Was fun sitting n the patio there as the sun set. Was just a really relaxing and great day yesterday.

-A <3




Dear Ava,
You are punching and kicking so much at night that sometimes Mommy startles awake, but it is so reassuring to feel your presence that I can hardly be irritated. I know this is such a special time that will be gone before I know it. I think you are going to be a fiery child. You will likely be born a Leo (A fire sign)... which I am excited about because it means you are highly compatible with both Jordon and I's signs. I know astrology is new age jibberish, yet it shocks me how accurate it is with the people I get along the best with.

I knit you a cute hat yesterday. Its a very pretty pale pink and sage green striped long stocking hat. I think it should fit you into the colder months of Autumn that will be coming soon after you are born. Snow Butt has been extra clingly lately and he likes to cuddle with my belly and paw at it. Sometimes you kick back in response. He is very curious about you. I hope you will eventually be able to be buds. I think the other critters are pretty oblivious, but they will all get to meet you soon enough. Grandma Becky got you some cute outfits and bottles and pucks this past week that will look so cute on you. I can't believe in as little as 2 months I may be holding you! :0 )

Love you!!
-Mommy

30 Weeks Belly Pic

First Baby Shower & 30 Weeks today!!!! :0 ) 8+ to go!!!! :0 )

So our first baby shower was this past weekend. It went incredibly well and we had so much fun! We started eating about 1. My Grandma and Angie had brought pork loin, sides, fruit pizza, cakes, etc.... and my mom made a yummy pink punch from raspberry sherbert and strawberry pop. As people came we Lana had them submit an ornament on the "advice tree". After a bit we did introductions and played some games (baby price is right, drawing baby on top of head, measuring the mom-to-be's belly, guess the baby food, a diaper raffle), and of course opened gifts. After that everyone had cupcakes and went to swim in the community pool. Ended the evening by ordering Pizza Hut and starting a firepit in our back yard. Thanks so much to everyone that could make it!! Really had a lot of fun. (pics soon)

-A <3

Dear Ava,

You are already very loved. I just know you are going to enjoy all the bright start toys and especially the books someday that people brought to the shower. Daddy was very excited because someone even bought you a toy that talks in Spanish. He really wants you to learn. He also told me he had decided what your nickname from him was going to be. Evita, which in Spanish means "Little Ava". I thought that was adorable. He is very excited to teach you Spanish. Maybe Mommy will pick up some things along the way too haha. We both have so much we want to teach you. We get to meet you now in just a few months!!

Love,
Mommy

Hypnobirthing and Baby Shower Invites week 28/29

So we had our first Hypnobirthing class last night. It is a method for birthing that is supposed to allow the mother to be in such a deep mode of relaxation that she doesn't experience pain in the same way. It involves training the mind to be accepting of contractions (they call them surges or waves), and to help think of them as natural and calm rather than painful and harsh. We watched a few videos of women giving birth who had been trained with this method. They looked shockingly calm. Our midwife told us everyone she has helped with birth who has done this program has been very happy with it. I tend to be anxious to begin with so anything that will help me be calm sounds great. We got a cd and book to help us and we have 3 more 2.5 hour classes. The whole package including discs and training for only 35$..... very reasonable!! Our midwife's clinic offers it as a service to help pregnant mothers. Jordon came with to the first class and he thought it also seemed really interesting. As part of the first class we did a few hypnosis techniques to understand the principles of the program and it was pretty cool what the mind is capable of doing. I am hoping to try the first disc tonight.

I am excited that we have a baby shower this Sunday. Its our first one and I had a lot of fun making Baby Shower invites during down time. I designed them completely from scratch in photoshop and then printed them on a color laser printer and put them together with a bright colored flower brad. I am hoping to get a few other things made by this weekend (some ornament type things for people to write Parenting advice on or "last words" for the mom and dad to-be haha. Also thinking about making a banner with some fun ribbon and a decorative piece with a glass vase , stones, and sticks :0 )

I went to Kansas City this past weekend too to visit Kristin and found a gorgeous black and white maternity special occassion dress to wear for my shower and some other events this summer. Also found a couple cute flowy overshirts (navy blue one in my prego pic is one of them) and a gorgeous smoky tie-dye sundress/skirt. I was super excited about finding some stuff to wear for summer. Its so hard to find maternity clothes around Sioux Falls. Especially that fit with my style.

Here are some pictures!


-A <3






Dear Ava,

You have just been rolling around like crazy lately. Daddy is always in awe how much you make my tummy move. I have a feeling you are going to be quite the little go-getter. It may be as soon as 8 weeks now or as many as 12. I am hoping to get your nursery in order soon. I've also been coming up with lots of ideas for pictures to take of you :0 ) You are going to have some serious paparazzi as a baby haha. Daddy and I cannot wait to meet you.

Love,
Mommy