Maternity Pictures

I wanted to get some maternity pictures done around 33 weeks because of how uncomfortable my pregnancy has been I knew sooner was better, just in case. I had this idea to do a lifestyle shoot at a snow cone place and James and I would take our own traditional pictures.

I searched for a photographer and found that most lifestyle photographers were way too expensive for just a maternity shoot. However, I found a photographer who had great pictures on her facebook. They were clear and high quality and had good composition and were edited well. All important things to me. She hadn't really done a lifestyle shoot before but I had a feeling she'd be able to pull it off. So we met at this cute little Snow Shack by my house one evening and this is the result. She did such a great job. I'm very happy with them.

Because we hired someone for the above pictures, I thought we could manage a few that were more traditional. Looking back, probably never again. Ellie does great with the timer on the camera, but getting a good shot and only getting to take one picture at a time was too time consuming. And the mosquitoes were eating me alive. I'm allergic to their bites too so the days following was me laying on the couch with ice both on my back and my legs. So thankful Ellie didn't get bit. Surprisingly!
And James and I didn't get a picture just the two of us. Oh well, right? *sad face*

34.3 weeks

July Part 1

32 weeks pregnant. 

  

For the 4th of July we went to the park downtown where they have some events. One thing they do is chalk art on the side walks. We went when Ellie was a baby and thought she like to check it out this year. There were some really impressive masterpieces but of course Needed a picture of Anna and Elsa (even though, I admit, they look a little weird).

  

Then we let Ellie play at the park for a little bit before we went out to lunch.

Earlier that morning Ellie pooped in the potty for the first time. She decided she wanted to potty train after seeing her best friend Phoebe use the potty at our house and she has done awesome since. So anyways, for pooping in the potty (which is a big hurdle for toddlers!) she got to pick out some ice cream. Yummy!

 And she wanted PINK ice cream

It gets dark late around here and James and I didn't care enough to go anywhere and our neighbors across the street always go firework crazy so we figured we could just watch them light theirs. But my friend Lindsay, who lives kitty-corner from us, invited us to their firework extravaganza so here are some pictures from that. 

June Overview

Well look at that. June came and went. I said at the end of May, "We have all of June, all of July, then we're having a baby in August." And just as anticipated, June flew by. This pregnancy, while I really really hoped for better than the last, has been sooo hard since 26 weeks. I was pretty sick up until 16 and had a few good weeks after that which was good since James was injured. Then at 26 weeks, all the upper right back pain, that radiates through my right ribs, like I had with Ellie, came back and has only gotten worse. James and I think it is worse than when I was pregnant with Ellie. Although, I do have to do a lot more now this time around having a 2 year old at home. But grateful for naps because I HAVE to lay down by 1-2pm for the majority of the rest of the night.

Anyways...

28.3 weeks pregnant

James and Ellie playing at the table. Ellie is really into all her little toy; like her Magiclip Cinderella, the Little People she has, and the fairies and ponies that came from the dollar section at Target. She likes to sit there, in that spot. and play with them all.

29.3 weeks

Ellie got to have a few play dates with her best little friend, Phoebe, this month too. They are so cute together. They are about 4-5 months apart and are on complete opposite ends of the height spectrum, as you can see. Makes us laugh.

I saw someone ask a question on Facebook about the circus and I thought, "Huh? What Circus?" I looked it up and found out the Shriner Circus was in town that weekend. I thought Ellie would really enjoy going so I threw the idea past James and we agreed to take her. But come the day of, I just couldn't go. I was in so much pain and laid down all day long. I tried to rest so I could go, because I was really upset about it, but every time I got up the pain settled in fast and I knew I wouldn't be able to sit in the chairs James said he would take her alone on a date. I sent him with my camera! I was so sad to miss it, like I said.

Ellie had a blast!! It was a lot longer than I expected it to be too so I am glad I didn't go. I wouldn't have lasted that long. James said Ellie's favorite part was the guy coming out of the Cannon and she still talks about that. They also had a pony, camel or elephant that people could ride for more money, James spoiled Ellie and let her ride the pony. She doesn't look super happy in the picture but James said she enjoyed it and it was hard to take a picture and walk along side her, ha.
I'm glad she had fun with her daddy and that she still talks about going. That makes it all worth it. It's crazy how much we enjoy doing special things for our kids.

30.3 weeks pregnant

Ellie has really been into Cinderella lately and I scored this magnet set off a Facebook yard sale for a couple of bucks and she plays with it almost everyday. I love watching her playing and imagination have evolved too. She used to just mix it all up and look for an outfit to put on her, but now she makes a "closet" of all Cinderella's clothes. James and I found this laying out after she went down for a nap and I had to take a picture. She had never matched the gloves and flowers and hats together before that I've noticed. She also takes an interest in wedding dresses and veils and since Cinderella doesn't have a veil in this set she uses the fan and holds it behind Cinderella's head and calls it a veil. After I saw the fan it in the collection lying there, I decided to make one. (not pictured). But I took some sheer white fabric, cut it and glued it onto a magnet that James flattened and cut down. She loves it and now the fan is properly used as a fan again.

I have a long chore list for James to get done before the baby comes. I feel bad, but not really, you know what I mean? LOL. But my car needed a good cleaning so I sent James out there with Ellie and they got to scrubbing. Ellie had a lot of fun! It's all new and exciting to her which makes it fun for us too.

Ellie and her boo boos. Good thing they are "getting better like Dad's knee."

May Overview

May came and went just as fast as April. This pregnancy is seriously flying by. I can't believe it.

23 weeks 2 days

24 weeks 3 days

I spent a lot of time searching for the perfect bed for Ellie's big girl room and I found one off of a Facebook yard sale page. We decide to strip the chipped white/glazed paint and just give it a fresh coat. Between me being pregnant and James' knee injury it took us WAY TOO LONG. But Ellie was so excited to be in a big girl bed. She did great. The first morning she came out on her own and woke us up. I was surprised. I thought for sure she'd stay in there and yell at us over the monitor that she was awake. Then after a few nights she tested what would happen if she got up after we put her down. She quickly learned that she just goes right back in there. So that pretty much has stopped. She also was caught playing for way too long during a nap and reading books. While it was adorable and melted my heart, she needs naps still so I had to correct that too. All those situations have been super minor though. I'm so grateful with how well she took to her new bed. She's a big girl now!!

One rainy afternoon she came to me and asked if she could play outside. I told her it was raining so she went and found a jacket and gloves and came to me and asked for an umbrella. Love! 

"Mom! Look! The number 8." Sure enough the bracelet was twisted like the number 8. 

Impressive

 We had a dead tree in our backyard. I was sad to see it go. Out backyard was landscaped in a pattern along that back wall so now that pattern is all messed up. Ha. However, now I have a spot to put a gardening box if I ever decide to. Our backyard doesn't get good sun until the afternoon and even then the trees shade all open spaces that a garden box could possibly go. So we'll see. I'm getting used to the empty space now.

 Recently, Ellie has been coming up to me and calling me "Anna." She usually pairs it with a question, "Anna, what are you doing?" "Anna, want to play?" I play along and call her Elsa.
Here she is knocking on the door saying, "Anna!"
She cracks me up. Roll playing every second she gets.
p.s. that's her Coronation stick, she says.

 I've been taking my weekly maternity pictures before church on Sunday and on this particular Sunday she must have felt extra pretty because she asked to go outside and take pictures. 

 Then it was my turn. 26.3 weeks