Baby Girl

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Monday, February 17th
We found out yesterday that we are having a little miss, not a little mister. All along I thought we were having a boy. There were actually very few people who guessed that it would be a girl. All I could think about was being a boy mom, boy names and boy nursery ideas. I’m sure it’s partially due to the fact that I’m drawn to all things blue. I’d even think of baby as a boy. Thus, to our great surprise the technician told us that our baby is a girl! I was honestly so nervous during the moments leading up to finding out. I had fleeting fears that maybe the baby wasn’t ok or that something was wrong. I can’t imagine what it would have been like without Jonathan right next to me. The words “everything looks great” were like music to my ears. Then we saw her sweet little face and I couldn’t image anything more perfect. She was so beautiful. It sunk in so much more that a baby is going to be here soon. I get to hold her! That seems crazy. We are so thankful that she is healthy and active. She was a little still at first but then put on a show for us, sucking her thumb and dancing around. It felt so strange, especially since I can’t feel those movements yet. 
After we left Jonathan asked if I was ready to start calling people. I said “not yet” just because I needed a moment to soak it in. A little girl! Our little girl! I had hardly thought about having a baby girl, but now it was real. We went home and pulled together pink-ish outfits for our announcement photo. It still didn’t sink in fully. I kept saying, “we’re having a baby girl!” Later on that night we went out to celebrate Valentine’s Day and talked about what an amazing little person she will be. I started dreaming about teaching her piano, art and other fun things. We know she’ll be so special, no matter what.
Now we start the fun process of thinking up names and planning a girl nursery. I can’t stop thinking about what she’ll look like either. I framed the image of her profile and set it on my desk to look at while I work. I’m so in love with that sweet face. If she has her daddy’s curls I will be done in forever! We’re just so thankful that she gets to be our gift.
I love you little girl,
Mama

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15 week update

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Technically, this is at 14.5 weeks, but hey I probably won’t take bump photos every week. Besides, the bump is actually smaller this week it seems! 
How big is baby: Navel Orange | 15 Weeks 3 days

How I’m feeling: I’m still feeling pretty well these days. I’ve had a few flare up of nausea (and the other fun thing that usually accompanies it) at night, but it’s nothing compared to the first trimester. My stomach feels very tight, especially after eating.

Weight gain/loss: 3-4 lbs? It really depends on how much I’ve been eating! 😉

Maternity clothes: Yes! I pulled out the maternity jeans I bought yesterday. I don’t really need them, but they’re so comfy! Everything but the tummy part fits great. (Destination Maternity at the Jacksonville Town Center is great by the way!) They kept falling down but I loved wearing them because I could eat as much as I wanted and still feel comfy! My “bump” still comes and goes quite a bit. I never know if it’s going to be there when I wake up, but I’m getting more creative with how to dress. 

Stretch marks: Nope!

Sleep: I’m still loving sleep, but I don’t seem to need as much lately.

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: I don’t really have cravings but I do have definite aversions. My body doesn’t seem to like much wheat, carbs or junk food. I’m kind of sad about that because I love pizza, burgers and fries. I’m guessing because it’s harder to digest? Regardless, I can’t get enough veggies. My favorite meals these days are southwest spinach salads with lots of avocado and barbecue veggie burgers. I’m still trying to figure out what makes me feel the best.


Movement: I thought I felt “butterflies” the other morning. I’m not sure. I can’t wait to feel some real movement!


What I’m loving: Eating lots of yummy food and meal planning. I’ve never put this much effort into being healthy and eating clean, but I love it. It feels good to know I’m giving my body and my baby good nutrients. 


Symptoms: A little bloating and a lot of tightness in my tummy area. I assume it’s because my insides are making more room for the little one. I feel like there is no room for my food when I eat! 


What I’m looking forward to: Finding out if baby is a boy or girl in just ONE WEEK! Ah! We will be celebrating our Valentine’s Day then and I cannot imagine anything more perfect.


Best moment of the week: When Jonathan kisses my tummy and says, “You know what? We’re having a baby!” It’s the best.

Mood: Honestly, it’s been a hard week personally. It’s had nothing to do with the baby, but a few things we’ve been going through have been a little tough to deal with. Other than that, good!

I’ve loved thinking about this verse all week:

“You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” (Ps. 139:15-16)

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14 week update

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Sorry for the iphone photo! I haven’t taken any real bump photos yet, because it’s just not that noticeable…most of the time!
How big is baby: Navel Orange | 14 Weeks 3 days

How I’m feeling: I’m feeling wonderful for the most part. Eating pretty healthy and exercising helps a lot with my mood and energy level. I shot a 10+ hour wedding this past weekend with only a 10 minute break and I felt great.

Weight gain/loss: Maybe 2-5 lbs? I feel huge these days, but I’ve stayed pretty steady at 115 for the past month. 

Stretch marks: Nope!

Sleep: I love sleep! In the mornings I feel like I could sleep the whole day away! 

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: No cravings yet. It seems like my body isn’t very fond of lots of carbs. I can definitely tell when I eat more sugar and carbs vs. veggies and protein. I’m going to try to be more strict about it from now on. I feel worlds better when I eat healthier. 

Movement: Nope. We can’t wait to feel our little one move. Jonathan is especially anxious.
What I’m loving: I love knowing that our little one is with me all the time. Honestly, I forget that I’m pregnant quite a bit. After I eat a larger meal, I love to go look in the mirror at my little bump. Sometimes it looks like it’s only a small pooch, but after I eat supper it normally shows up a bit more. I love thinking about how our little one is growing and changing. I guess seeing a more distinct bump makes it feel more real.

Symptoms: Just bloating still. Again, that seems to be directly related to how much carbs and sugar I ingest. I have a little back pain too, especially when I’m carting a bunch of photography equipment. I’m hoping some of the excursuses and stretches I’m doing will help.

What I’m looking forward to: Finding out if baby is a boy or girl in just 2 weeks!!! We cannot wait! I’m also looking forward to more of a bump. The little pooch stage feels so awkward to me. I’m sure I’ll wish for these days back again when I’m huge this Summer! However, my pants seem to be fitting better this week. Maybe it’s because baby is moving farther up? I’m ok with it though!

Best moment of the week: When Jonathan says hi to me after coming home from work, and then says hi to the baby too. It’s so sweet.
Things I’m struggling with: Honestly, the changes my body is going through can be a little hard to accept sometimes. Most women struggle with some body issues and I’m not exempt from them either. I’m trying to just let it go and love what’s happening to me, regardless of how I feel when I look in the mirror sometimes or when I have trouble finding things to wear in my closet. I don’t want to worry about it, but instead take care of myself and cherish this amazing journey. 

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12 week update

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How big is baby: Peach | 12 Weeks 5 days
How I’m feeling: Much better than the last two months. Morning sickness is finally easing up and I have my appetite back!
Weight gain/loss: I feel like it’s a lot but so far the scale doesn’t say anything different. Maybe 2 lbs.
Stretch marks: Nothing yet!
Sleep: It depends on the night. I feel the worst in the evenings, so I’m usually propped up on pillows and chewing some TUMS. Falling asleep isn’t so great, but I stay asleep for the most part.
Diet/Cravings/Aversions: None really. I’m just happy to want to eat again. Morning sickness was rough. I’m staring a meal plan in order to get a lot of nutrition for baby and it’s going pretty well so far. Hopefully I can stay healthy throughout this journey.
Movement: I thought felt movement the other day, but I think it was just the symptoms of bloating. Ha! Hopefully I feel something unmistakable soon!
What I’m loving: Sleep and more sleep. I’m still a little tired, so I’ve been trying to get as much shut-eye as possible on slower weeks. I know things are about to get a lot busier, so I’m trying to take advantage of a slower pace these days.
Symptoms: Just bloating. I know, so fun. It’s one thing I really hate, but eating small, snacky meals seems to help. Nothing else is a horrible bother right now. My clothes aren’t really comfortable right now, but I’m trying to hold out for when I absolutely need to purchase maternity clothes. I also have a vendetta against pants right now. Things will get a little easier when the weather warms up. I have plenty of dresses, it’s just been a little too cold to wear them. 
What I’m looking forward to: Finding out the gender! I’m so impatient to know! I’m dying to start planning and buying anything! I’m glad it’s only a few more weeks to wait!
Best moment of the week: Feeling more like myself again. Ah, I feel like a new woman! 

Baby Blair on Board!

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I’m so excited to be starting this little blog devoted to our little one coming this Summer. I’ve been thinking about it for a while because I’d love to be able to keep a record of this journey, without overwhelming my photography blog with baby things people may not want to read. 
I’m so excited about this journey and I’m looking forward to being a mama. I’ve been feeling a lot better lately, I’m assuming because I’m finally into the second trimester. I started meal planning in order to get good nutrition and have been exercising a little more! (Yay!) I’m hoping now that I’m eating more than just mac-and-cheese I’ll get a baby bump soon. We’ll see! For now I’m in the awkward in-between stage where my regular clothes don’t quite fit like they used to but I don’t need maternity clothes yet. I think this is mainly because I have a lot of waist-highlighting items and they just aren’t comfy any more!
Overall we’ve been feeling so elated (and a little bit terrified) that we are having a baby. Jonathan often looks at me, grabs by hand, smiles and says, “You know what? We’re having a baby!” It’s the sweetest thing. It still doesn’t feel quite real yet. Still, I’m hoping to soak in every moment, thankful that this is even happening. I don’t want to ever take life for granted, especially this little life.
PS: I’d love to know if you guys have any great recommendations for great pregnancy, new mom or parenting books! I’m guessing that I’ll have more free time before the little one arrives than after. 🙂 
Photo credit | Lauren Kinsey