Oh Baby Girl

When you kick it sometimes feels like I have a tiny pair of baby shoes on spin cycle in my belly. 

When you stretch it looks like I have a mini bowling ball sticking out of one side of my belly.  I like to pat the round little bump because I'm pretty sure it's your bum, I hope you don't mind baby!

I don't know if I've felt you hiccup yet.  If I have felt you then you hiccup very quickly. Hiccup, hiccup, hiccup.

I think I'll pick up a music cd and some books for you to listen to this week.  It's about time we started reading to you!

We love you baby girl.  9 more weeks until we get to meet you!

Love you so much,

Mama and Papa

29 week check-up.

Oh I am one happy girl! My experience at Dr. Pugliese's office was fantastic!  We did have to wait a little bit and as most people know Matt loves waiting (teehee) but it was well worth it.  After I completed the routine paperwork and did the sample in the cup deal (yes, they had lids on the cups) we waited in a small brick room for the doctor to come in.  She arrived and asked if we had any questions.  I explained we were going through Bradley Method classes and I wanted to confirm she was okay with that.  Without hesitation she said, "yes!"  So great to have a doctor that's on board with what our desires for a natural birth.  After welcoming and congratulationing us she measured my belly.  Measuring perfectly at 29 weeks! Then we listened to the whooshta whooshta of our sweet baby girl's heartbeat.  It was beating at 152 bmp.  Perfect! 

We are setup for our next appointment on Feb 28th. I will be 32 weeks and we will have a full ultrasound done! I can't WAIT!

On the way home we checked our mail and there was a box!  We opened it up together, with help from the girls of course, and we found our first baby gift!!! 2 sheet protectors, a pack of adorable receiving blankets and a monkey blanket!! Thank you Katie and Izac!

I've officially started our baby stash in the guest room :-)

The NEW doctor.

I am happy to report I have an appointment with our new doctor tomorrow at 1:15!  Her name is Dr. Pugliese and she comes very highly recommended.  Our Bradley instructor recommended her and has had a number of students deliver babies with her.  It's good to know people that have personal experiences with a doctor.  Matt and I are looking forward to the appointment.  Her office staff has been very helpful in figuring out insurance payments and getting me scheduled quickly. They called today and have me on the schedule for tomorrow.  I am especially excited because I found out their clinic does routine ultrasounds at 32 weeks so we'll get to see our sweet B one more time before delivery :) 

Baby B is 29 weeks today!  She is dancing around a lot and I think I can tell where her head and booty are :)

In other news, Matt's job is going well! I have two photoshoots this weekend and am hoping they can help me find other clients.  I am putting together a Children's gallery and will post that to my website sometime today.

It's a beautiful day in Louisiana.  Sunny with a high in the mid 60s... in February! I don't miss midwest winters on days like this.

I will post again with a report once we have had our appointment!

Finding my dream.

Some days things come at you in a way you would never expect.  Today it was a combination of watching the Super Bowl followed by The Voice.  These two television shows may seem like they are on opposite spectrums but the truth is I found there to be a very strong link between the two.  A dream and a dream fulfilled.

The Giants and the Patriots each had a dream going into today- win the Super Bowl.  Get the W. Become the Champions.  However, this wasn't a dream that could be fulfilled in one day.  It was  the result of practice, determination, failures, victories and most imortantly the vision of a dream that began a long time ago, probably in childhood. The day they signed on as a professional with a team was a victory.  Each win leading up to the playoffs was a victory.  Each individual on each team claimed a victory in making it to the Superbowl.  But today the possibility of fulfilling that lifelong dream of winning a Super Bowl Championship became reality for one team.  Congratulations to The Giants.

As I watched the aftershow for the Super Bowl, I listened to the players give tribute to their coaches and the people that helped them get to where they are. The victorious team fulfilled their dream and I couldn't help but share in their joy, despite the fact that I had nothing to do with their win. Big alligator tears whelled up in my eyes, I pictured these players as children. I envisioned them training and working hard to build themselves up to a place worthy of professional status. I knew they had each faced defeat but given their performance today, they had all come back to a place of success. Whether by sheer talent or sheer determination, these players earned this victory and this fulfillment of their dream.

Then I switch gears to The Voice, a program that showcases vocal talent that is a step above the rest.  It's not American Idol- these contestants have earned their way to this stage thanks to practice, determination, failures, victories and again, much like the professional football players, a dream that was born a very long time ago.  Some competing on The Voice have already performed with Grammy winning artists.  One contestant was a backup singer for Alicia Keys. Another was a child star in The Mickey Mouse Club cast with Christina Aguilera.  Much like the dream of securing a Super Bowl win, these contestants also have a dream.  Their dream is to be the best at what they do and to make a career out of their vocal talents. 

I had the same teary-eyed reaction as I watched The Voice.  Listening to one particular contestant sing opera spoke to a place in my heart that I'm not sure I've felt stirred in quite some time.  As he sang the opera, I found such beauty in not only his voice, but in his pursuit of his dream.  He explained to the judges that his experience of putting himself into a box of what he thought others would view as talent had not gotten him where he wanted.  For this audition, he would do what inspired him most, sing opera.  Our pop culture today would probably opt for a pop or country music star, but this voice chose to go his own way and it paid off.

So what does all of this mean? Yes, people have dreams. They work hard to achieve those dreams and with a little bit of talent and a lot of faith, many go on to fulfill their dreams.  After watching the SuperBowl and The Voice, I retreated to my bedroom and suddenly I felt tears once again.  But this time, it wasn't out of joy for the football players, or from the beauty that I heard in the opera song, they were tears of deep sadness.  The truth is, I realized something.  I can't answer to you what my dream is because it seems I just don't know right now. 

I used to dream of singing on a big stage.  Well, my junior and senior high youth performances would have to count as fulfillment of that dream.  Anything beyond that was cut short when I developed voice nodules.  I no longer had the voice I used to.  I could look at it as a broken dream, but I prefer to look at it as God leading me in another direction.  Shortly after high school I went on a search for my faith and it ended when Jesus Christ saved me.  This dream was one I didn't realize I had, but am thankful for with every breath I take.

After becoming a follower of Christ I returned to school and completed my college degree with Honors- definitely a dream fulfilled.  I got married and took on the role of wife. Another dream come true.  And finally, in a few short months, I will fulfill one of my biggest dreams of becoming a mother. 

But why the tears of sadness?  I am not completely sure. 

Professionally, I love being a photographer, but really at this point I don't see myself hitting it big in that arena.  Don't get me wrong, I do it for the people and the joy that comes from giving them beautiful portraits.  I love capturing the emotion and beauty of the human soul in a photograph.  It truly is a passion of mine. I'd like to think I've been blessed with a talent in photography and I'll continue to work at becoming better.  But at the end of the day, it's not my dream. 

Right now the only thing that comes to mind is dreaming of being a better person.  For starters, being a better wife.  I want to be as supportive and encouraging as I can be.  I want to stay positive and act in a way that shows the highest level of respect for my husand.  I want to have a marriage that is passionate and filled with romance like the early days when we first met.  I often feel like I fall short in the role of wife.  I don't want sympathy because I know I do a lot of things in the role of wife quite well.  But I know I could do better.  A lot better. 

I also dream of being the best mom I can be.  I know I will fail many many times, but I pray that God will equip me with the tools I need to succeed as a first time mom.  I pray for my baby girl.  I pray that one day she would look up at me with her big brown eyes and say, "Mom, I love you and who you are."

Beyond improving myself as wife and learning how to become the best mom I can be, I have no dreams.  That is where the deep sadness comes in.  I think in some ways I have lost myself in the role of wife and soon-to-be-mom.  I have lost the passion in life that used to make my heart sing.  I find joy in every day, but there is something missing.  What that something is, I need to find.

I will spend this week praying for my dreams, the ones I have yet to discover.  I will seek God and His plan for my life.  I want to stir the place in me that was stirred while listening to the opera singer.  I want to wake up each day with a dream in mind.  Something that makes my time on this earth more than just an existance. During this time of seeking, I will praise God for my many blessings.

Here's to finding my future dream, whatever that may be.

Hello Third Trimester!

The rain is gently tapping on the windows.  I'm watching some unknown movie with Reese Witherspoon (I thought I knew all the movies she was in).  Lola is snuggled next to me and Stella is at the other end of the couch.  It appears to be a quiet Saturday but the truth is I might be going a little insane.

Baby B will be 29 weeks on Tuesday.  I am thankful this pregnancy is going by so fast but the evil monster of fear and anxiety over her birth is already beginning to creep into my thoughts.  I spent some time reading my Bible this morning and am thankful I am never alone.  God is protecting my sweet baby B and I know that come time for her birth, God will be very present there too.  For that knowledge alone, I am thankful.

For now I must focus on today and preparing for our sweet baby girl's arrival! Insert warm fuzzies here.

Doctor New:
After a less than mediocre appointment with a local clinic I spent most of last week researching new doctors and clinics and comparing hospitals.  I called on our Bradley Method instructor, Brandi, for some advice and direction.  She was a Godsend.  She directed me to a new doctor and after verifying with our insurance that she was in-network, I was told I could setup my first appointment with Dr. Pugliese!  We will deliver at Lafayette General Hospital. 

Baby B News: At 28 weeks she is measuring at 27 weeks (withing 2 weeks is normal), she is head down and is a very active little girl!  Her heartbeat was in the 150s and kept jumping around due to the acrobatics that Baby B was performing in my belly.

Here are the most recent pics of our sweet Baby B!

27 weeks

 28 weeks, 4 days

She currently likes to stick her booty out on my right side making my tummy look anything but round.  It's so fun to know I am seeing her booty, though! I haven't felt any hiccups yet- although I could miss them since Baby B is so active she's almsot always jumping around between the hours of noon and 10pm.  It's the strangest feeling and sight to see my stomach move and to know there is a little life inside.  God is amazing. 

I am feeling awesome. I think I got over the cold/allergies that tried to take me down last week! Hoping this fresh rain doesn't stir things up again. 

I'm going to schedule my next doctor's appointment with my new doctor, Dr. Pugliese, on Monday and will report in after that!  I've heard wonderful things about her as well as the doctors in her practice. 

One more exciting personal note! I called a former Bradley student yesterday morning.  Brandi (our Bradley instructor) suggested I talk to her about her experience with Dr. Pugliese.  Her name is Sunny and we ended up talking for 45 minutes about Dr. Pugliese, her 4 month old little girl Isabelle and their church.  I'm very happy to report Matt and I will be attending church with them tomorrow!  Praying we find it to be a good fit.  Sunny also invited us to visit their small group next weekend. 

Have I mentioned how good God is?  Because he sure seems to know exactly what I need, when I need it.  Obviously moving comes with its challenges but having Matt gone this past week definitely stirred up a lot of my concerns over meeting new friends, finding a church and a community of like minded friends.  Starting over is hard and while I know God is at work, it's still exhausting and down right depressing at times.  But I have so much to be thankful for.  So far God has blessed us with a place to live, friends nearby, an amazing Bradley instructor and now hopefully a new girlfriend for me :) 

I will report back after our next doctor's appointment or when anything of interest arises :)

Happy Saturday, all!

Apple Cinnamon Crepes with Greek Yogurt

I woke up this morning with a NEED to do something fun for myself.  I looked at the bowl of fresh fruit we have sitting on our counter and instantly thought, Apple Crepes!  It's a good thing my craving consisted of ingredients I had in my cupboard.

I am not what you would call a master chef, so recipes like crepes usually freak me out. But I managed to find one that seemed very simple and relatively fool-proof.

As I mixed my dry ingredients in the blender I was proud of myself for attempting such a fun breakfast on a whim.  After adding my eggs to the dry ingredients I emptied the blender and scraped the very thick batter into a bowl. This is when I realized I must have done something wrong. I'm pretty sure I could have built a stone wall with my batter. It was too thick.  I ran over to my recipe to find I had forgotten to add the milk! All 1 and a 1/4 cup of it!  After adding the milk this is what I poured into my bowl.  Much better.

The batter has to set for 30 minutes on the counter so I peeled and chopped my apples.  I mixed my cinnamon and sugar and I melted my butter in the pan.  This is when my house started to smell like a little local dinery.  Buttery cinnamon deliciousness wafted through my kitchen. 

I was nervous about making the crepes but I nailed the temperature and my butter gave the crepes a beautiful golden glow.

Mmmm, these crepes were a hit! Well, for me. I dined alone.  But I'm sure others would have enjoyed them too. The final presentation! Yum. Oh, the dolap on top is NOT whipped cream. It's actually Greek yogurt! I used plain but vanilla would be great too. Oh, so good.