Ode to VPC

The house is becoming emptier with each day. Only the large pieces of furniture are left now, besides what remains in the kitchen and garage. We are going on a trip on Monday, but once we get back we’ll probably finish up everything within the following week. And before the last day of May we’ll say goodbye to a house we’ve lived in for nearly three years. We loved our time here and have so many wonderful memories. I even learned how to swim finally here and conquered my silly fears of jumping into water. Our little puppy grew up to be the sweetest dog we’ve ever known. And we started our own family here although our little one will not be coming to this house when we leave the hospital. We’ll be in a different house instead and completely ready for the best of brand new memories. But VPC will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s the house we completely and wholly settled in after so many moves in both of our lives, while together and not. It’s the house with the backyard I actually cried happy tears about when I first saw it. I have to tell this house thank you with another happy tear in my eye.

The following photos were taken a few days ago while I packed.























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Today’s Target Haul: Blue Swimmy, Coral Berry, Cuteness

Just had to pick up a few things. For our trip to Miami Beach next week, a new swimsuit. It’s a dark blue sparkly material with a pretty braided strap. Mother’s Day cards! The cutest mini-container of Vaseline ever. Revlon lipstick in Coralberry. More belly cream. Eyelashes (for next week, and got a kit because all of my other glue is old now). And a new shower caddy for the new house.

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22 Weeks: Pregnancy Update: What I Eat, Exercise, And More

I am feeling AMAZING. Today marks 22 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I had a checkup today and baby’s heart rate was 156. It is usually around 154 so baby was extra active this morning. My doctor actually had to move around her “scope” a few times because the baby was flipping into different positions which made the sound of his heart rate less audible. Amazing. :) Everything with me and baby is right on track. My blood pressure was normal again and my iron levels are great. I feel so lucky because I am constantly thinking that something is going to be wrong. My weight gain is also on track – I have gained 11 pounds so far. My doctor said I should have a total weight gain of 30 pounds by the time I give birth which is right where they want me to be (since I was not a skinny ninny). Again, feeling so lucky and blessed that everything is just fine.

Just as I had planned, I am not going crazy with my eating habits. I still do not understand the entire craving thing. (Maybe it is coming later?) Most of the time it’s still hard to even eat and I just make myself eat. I get full very easily! I think it has to do with how I was losing some weight before I became pregnant. I was making sure to eat less and just eat better things. So it’s been a good transition. There have been a few strange things I guess like the time I bought portobello mushrooms and had three chicken salad, cream cheese and sauteed mushroom sandwiches in less than 24 hours. But I am just trying to get some different vegetables in my diet. I don’t consider it a craving. Bottom line is: I am not eating ice cream and pickles just yet. In fact most “sweet stuff” is too rich and I can’t even eat it. I just want to eat the good stuff! For breakfast I have cereal with organic milk, whole wheat bagels with cream cheese or a Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit and hashbrowns. I have the Chick-fil-A breakfast often really, and most often right before my doctor’s appointments.

For lunch and dinner it’s always random things. I still am not really into eating meat but try to eat it. (I do like tuna salad sandwiches though.) I love bread, things covered with cheese, pasta, and fruit. I am always trying to snack on different fruits. I’m loving mangos the most and hate waiting for them to ripen. There’s nothing worse than a teasing mango. (Oh, peaches are so good too. I need to get more today.)

The biggest lifestyle change for me is drinking water constantly. All day, all the time. There are some days when I don’t do a good job with it, but on most days I am completely determined to drink water every hour just about. Especially since it’s a good way to help with your blood pressure. I am amazed (and so is Daniel) that I bought a water bottle and actually use it every single day. What a smart purchase. :) Plus I also drink water to balance out the soda I am still drinking. Yes, I couldn’t give it up. I need my bubbly Mountain Dew. One or two a day is fine.

As for exercise, it hasn’t happened yet. I keep thinking I will go and ride my bike, but I never do. So far photography has been my only exercise and moving stuff into our new place is now an exercise. I think it’s enough for now. Plus I am not supposed to be doing anything too crazy since I have a marginal placenta previa. And I’ll know if that’s getting “better” at my next ultrasound on May 15th.

Symptoms: Still get heartburn each day, multiple times a day. I read to not drink any fluid while you are eating (only drink before/after) and it should help. I will start doing that today. My feet and ankles were swelled for a few days which was a crazy sight to see. But as soon as I told everyone about it, it went away! Looks like they were swelled because of my double-wedding weekend last week. Other than that nothing else crazy is happening. I definitely feel like I am losing strength in my abdomen – it is hard already to get myself out of the car or the bed. It takes an extra ummpfh to propel myself upright. Lastly, my hair is still falling out. But I still have a lot left, oddly. I only wash my hair every two to three days so I can try to ease the effects. I also try not to brush it often. Also started doing coconut oil treatments again when I don’t have to leave the house and can just be an oily ball. I will write more about this hair experience in a later post.

Soooo as revealed a few paragraphs up, we are moving into a new house by the end of the month! (In fact, all of my shoes are already there. So I’m basically finished, ha.) We are so excited about it. Finally, no more dark-vintage-Pier-1 house. We will be in a bright, happy house with fresh carpet and fresh paint. It is just super clean. We forgot what that felt like! Sure we really loved our current house (I’ll be writing about that later) but it was time to upgrade. The house we are moving into was built in 2000, and the one we are in now? 1972. So you can imagine how it is falling apart. It desperately needs updating and that just isn’t happening with a rental.

What else.. we still have no idea what to name our little guy. It is so hard for us. Naming our girl would have been easy, we had at least five names already which we were perfectly fine with. But for the boy we feel extra sensitive about how his name will carry him through his life. So I am happy we have a few months left to marinate on this. :)

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My Summer Plans

Well I guess there are only three so far! One is easy and two take more effort.

1. Go on a boat with friends, maybe once, maybe twice. Get some sun and cruise. They can have a few beers, and I’ll have popsicles. :)

2. Finish planning the location for the baby shower. Thinking it will be in late July around the time of our wedding anniversary. We decided it will be a co-ed shower for ladies and their gents. And we might have it at our house, or alternatively, a real sassy place. Emailed Luma for pricing on their cellar (pictures here). It’s a little moody and dark in there but it reminds me of our wedding reception. Also emailed Lago for their pricing (it would be nice to have a brunch there). I think Lago is my favorite place because it would be so bright and colorful for the shower. Randomly emailed Sleeping Moon Cafe too to see if they can do events. It seems like a cute place for a baby shower – they have unique decorations with trees and twinkly lights. Might also give 310 Lakeside a buzz. I have a feeling that 310 will be the most affordable while still being really classy. But if none of these places end up being a go for our date and budget, we may end up just doing the shower at home. We should be moved into a new place by then.. somewhere. But I really, really want to do it at a restaurant or other cool venue since I did not have a bridal shower or anything like that. This is my chance to have some more fun. :) I just wish my parents could come and share the experience with me. :( But when they are able to come together, we can go have dinner and do something really nice. Plus I am definitely going to have a smaller, post-baby party in October or November I think.

3. We also want to have a babymoon (vacation). We will be in the Miami area for one of my last weddings next month. I consider that a babymoon somewhat, although I will be so tired. (The morning after the wedding, we leave and make a pit stop in Boca Raton for a family session!) Still it is a getaway/roadtrip and will be fun. We’ll make the best of it. I try to keep in mind that our life is already a constant moon of some kind. A sweetmoon. :)

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Makeup and Skin Update: No More Urban Decay

If you know me, you know I love my beauty stuff and talking about products. But I have been lazy with my eye makeup lately. It is because of these two things! I am throwing them away today: an Urban Decay 24/7 eyeshadow pencil, and the same brand/line of an eyeliner. I can’t tell you how sick I am of this Rehab eyeshadow pencil – I’ve probably been using it since December. And combined with the black pencil, this stuff smudges all over my eyes and is hard to get off. It’s just feeling yucky. I am not going to use these sticks anymore. From now on just powders (and no more 24/7 or waterproof)! And I am thinking about getting some Estee Lauder shadows since it feels so classy and familiar. All of these other brands are starting to get on my nerves with their hip vibes.

My skin is still doing very well with the Dermalogica special cleansing gel. I am going to get the Dermalogica gentle cream exfoliant this week and use it twice a week instead of the cleansing gel. The cream exfoliant has lactic acid in it which is good stuff my skin has been missing.

Oh, my hair is still falling out due to my pregnancy hormones (I guess). I still have a lot of hair left though so I think I’ll make it. Maybe. :) I am going to start putting coconut oil on my scalp/hair again once a week and see if it helps. I’m also keeping it up most of the time and will probably start lightly braiding it. I hardly wear it down because it’s been so tangly and stringy. Aaah! But in the end I really do not care, it’s just a minor annoyance. Little baby is all that matters. I’ll wear a hat.

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20 Weeks Today: We’re Having A Boy!

The last two days have melted together like a hundred heart shaped candles in a bright coral flame. The happiness and excitement were of a certain type I’ve never felt before. I had a feeling this entire time that we were having a little boy. And it turned out to be true! We were most happy that everything was normal. But when the tech first looked between those little baby legs I could tell immediately due to all of my recent ultrasound studying. It was so obvious and Daniel could tell too. Ultrasounds are hard to discern overall at times but this certain trait was just out there for all to see. It was such a happy moment. Maybe my big brother and little sister dream will come true. :)

There was one issue with me – my placenta has attached low and is below the baby. It should hopefully correct itself and make its way beyond the cervix. This means I definitely have another ultrasound in the near future to check the progress. If it does not move as my womb evolves (these are things I have never typed before, which is interesting) then I will have to get a c-section when ready to give birth. I really do not want a c-section so hopefully my ‘centa makes some moves.

Today is the first day I have noticed some of my pajamas getting tighter around my body. I am plumping up like a dinner roll.

I can’t wait to meet this little man. The one who gives me heartburn will make my heart smile.

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Completely Random Monday Musings

I am down to nine emails in my inbox. I am down to my last ten blank DVDs. My to-do list still has fourteen lines but there is an end in sight. I am feverishly working on finishing photo edits right now so I can get myself to the beloved post office within the next few hours. Should I invest in a small scale and labels so I can have the mail carriers pick up packages at my house? Hmm, that would be a smart move. I’ll look into that. (It would be fun too!) Correction: I was feverishly working. Obviously since I am procrastinating by writing a blog post, I need to save some more time. Of course a scale and shipping labels are a great idea. :)

Then I’ll be grocery shopping because our fridge is now cleaned out with only the bare necessities remaining. And after that? A quick stop at a house I found and got the lockbox code for this morning. I want to take a peek and see if it’s worth it for Daniel and I to stop by this afternoon. Apparently it’s definitely worth it because the property management company has already received so many applications. We would have to submit ours tonight in order to have a chance.  The price and location are just perfect though. Now I am thinking I will really like this house actually and it will be snatched away. But there’s no stress here. We’ll just see what happens.

Then there is tomorrow. The Tuesday of all Tuesdays. We find out if we are having a boy or girl, and if everything is okay with our little potato. I have felt baby move a few times each day, but it is still so very light and short. Since I am such an anxious mama, I am worried baby is not moving enough. So tomorrow will put me at ease hopefully for another four weeks.

I cannot believe I will be twenty weeks pregnant in only a few days. This time has really went by quickly. It makes me think the next half will go by slowly. I know I am moving more slowly for sure and that must be a sign. The future is such a surprise already. I wonder how big my belly will really become. I wonder what the first real kicks will feel like. There is such anxiety, nervousness and bliss in the air. There is also a confidence that is building inside of me each day. It’s a feeling of responsibility and overwhelming love that is hard to describe.

I could burst. 

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Uneventful :) But I’m 19 Weeks Today!

That’s how things are lately, a little uneventful. Just the usual is going on. I’ve been feeling great but still need a nap here and there. I first felt baby move just a few days ago when we were in Ikea. We were in a furniture aisle, almost ready to leave, and I felt little punches. Not butterflies or popcorn popping, but punches. Thanks, baby! But then I did feel fluttering. There was a really random and unappealing lawn chair sitting in the aisle we were in. I sat in it and cried! Happy tears! It was a defining moment in our pregnancy for Daniel and I.

Baby must like meatballs and lingonberry sauce. I know I sure do. I have felt baby move a few more times since then, but it is usually so short. It isn’t strong yet. But I know that time is coming soon!

Let’s see. I have a family session tomorrow in Kissimmee. And on Saturday there is a get-together for my husband’s work. I am thinking about bringing our dog since it’s an outside/grilling type of thing. Then next week is the big week of the ultrasound. I keep on counting the hours down to Tuesday. The 17th. Aaah!

Currently I have heartburn. No big news there. We went to a food truck gathering tonight for the first time in a long time. I overate. But it was fun.

What else… there are so many websites I need to start working on. These are ideas that have been in my head for years. I think during the summer I will be able to jump on them all. There’s eight new websites though. It’s a little intimidating. I must be crazy. Why did I think of so many? I am interested to see which ones will take off better than others though. Most of them are listed on the top of this page, but a few are missing.

The rest of the month has a few weddings and an engagement session. So does next month. I feel like I keep repeating myself but I so badly want to write something but there isn’t much to tell! I have continued to clean a lot and organize things around the house, preparing for moving. I have managed to throw so many little things away. Birthday candles, empty jewelry boxes and shoe boxes, piles of string and rope. Just such random things. Those things that haven’t been touched in a year and probably won’t be used again. It feels great and I am never sure why it does. It just makes me feel more… put together.

I think that is all for now. I am just working hard in every way, and relaxing whenever I can. It looks like I have a wedding to shoot in October. Originally I wasn’t going to do any other weddings in the last months of 2012, but I hope that this booking goes through. The location is just amazing. And when the location is amazing, you know an amazing couple chose it. So I am really looking forward to revealing the info about that.

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So Full, So Round, So Happy

I need to get a few things done and reply to some emails, so I will make this quick. The doctor’s appointment was fine, and everything is great. Baby’s heart rate was 150, and four weeks ago it was 154. Also my blood pressure was 120/78, and last time it was 120/74. So it’s interesting that there was a 4 point difference in both of our blood/heart related things.

I have had a crazy day as far as eating. I had Chick-fil-A for breakfast: a chicken biscuit, hash browns and medium fruit cup. Then when I was home I had a banana, the last of a Publix cherry cheese danish, and a huge enchilada from the other night. Needless to say I have heartburn right now and feel so full that I don’t want to move. It feels like there is a basketball inside of me. So much pressure and action in there. It is not comfortable. But I am very happy that my appetite is getting better and I know the baby is strong. I still can’t say for sure that I feel baby moving. Sometimes I *think* I do, but it’s not clearly discernible.

So the big news is that our anatomy ultrasound is on April 17th at 10 AM. So not only will we know boy or girl (if baby cooperates) but they will check all of the goodies on the baby to make sure he or she is growing properly. I am feeling anxious yet again and can’t wait for that appointment. I continuously want reassurance that baby is fine. So today’s appointment definitely helped with that. And the 17th is so close! As soon as I know the sex I will be very tempted to go buy everything and anything for baby. I will be going craaazy because for this entire time there has been a feeling that I am only “halfway pregnant” since I can’t feel the baby move yet. So by the 17th not only will I probably feel movement, I’ll know everything. And that is a ticket to freedom. I will still worry a lot but at least I will know that there truly is a baby on the way! It will feel completely real.

Oh, the blood tests for defects, disorders, etc. came back negative. That was also great news. Having my blood taken all of those times was well worth it. Now the only other blood test I will have will be when I have a glucose test sometime after 24 weeks.

What else. I have two weddings later this month, and a few next month (one being in Miami). So after that I will be taking a break until baby arrives. And of course during that time we will be moving to a different house. I am just so excited for all of this “activity” to keep on rolling. And I look forward to next year and resuming my photography with more drive and passion than ever.

Also this morning I stopped at Target and “bit the bottle” because I got maternity denim shorts. I really needed some simple, throw-them-on-and-go shorts. They are not the most flattering things but not having a zipper or button is pretty cool. I am not into that belly band thing, it just seems awkward. So my plan is to wear these crazy shorts and dresses all summer. I am almost set. (I am not buying many maternity clothes, just things that are stretchy. I’d rather spend money on the baby’s stuff instead of clothes I will only be wearing for a few months. Just not into that!)

Edit: But I will probably be getting one of those belly support bands in the future. Just not the band that is only for holding jeans together, since I won’t be wearing jeans or pants.

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I’ve been a bad updater.

I was updating all of the time – now look at me. Boo! And this post is going to be so spotty looking. Hang in there.

Just been busy cooking, cleaning and feeling better than usual. Also excited for my checkup on Thursday morning. It’s time to listen to the heartbeat again and make my ultrasound (GENDER TIME!) appointment. So… is it Thursday yet?

I haven’t been stressing about finding a new house. I have calmed down. Just enjoying life and taking care of business.

We had dinner a short while ago… I am still so extremely full. Made enchiladas. I boiled three chicken breasts with salt, pepper, celery salt and three sliced carrots. Then I browned a diced white onion in butter. When the onions were translucent, I added the pulled apart cooked chicken, a handful of the carrots, and more seasonings. Mixed it all together and warmed it up. Then the chicken mixture went into a bowl with sour cream, cheese and a can of diced green chiles. Theen, I put the mixture into flour tortillas. Seam side down in a baking dish. Covered it with a chopped fresh tomato and two kinds of enchilada sauces that I mixed with sour cream. So there was sour cream inside, and outside. What is better than that? Baking it for about 45 minutes – that’s what!

After eating only one enchilada, I felt like a blimp. But that didn’t stop us from having the cutest, perfectly portioned ice cream cups ever. Blue Bell doesn’t kid around. I really think it’s my favorite ice cream. I wonder if I should go have another one of those little cups…

Oooh, I am glad I am blogging on a regular basis now because I was just reading through my posts and realized that I forgot to get that perfume I wanted. Dreaming of the smell right now. Mmmhmm.

What else… I got bagels today and strawberry cream cheese. I forgot how much I love eating that.

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