Happy Pregnancy Moments

You know, this pregnancy has been super stressful. Because if it's not one thing, it's another. And some days I'm not sure how I've continued to hang onto my sanity. Maybe I've learned a thing or two about letting go. Or maybe I've just got awesome and supportive people in my life.

Speaking of awesome and supportive people, a couple of weeks ago Roy, Charlie, and I headed over to my friend Becki's house for a BBQ with a few of my good friends. When we got there, we were surprised to see that it was actually a party for us (a sprinkle, if you will, because we already had a baby shower not all that long ago). Roy's family was there, too. I was completely and totally touched by the gesture. And yes, I was surprised! It was a very low-key gathering with just a few gifts. All in all, a perfect afternoon.

Here are a few pics from the day, most of them courtesy of Becki, and in no particular order, because seriously, particular order just takes too long sometimes:

Us with Roy's family



My mother-in-law gifted me a Ju-ju-be bag that I'd been coveting for months!



Charlie and Luke (Becki's son) have it out over fridge door rights.



This is probably Charlie asking to be picked up.



Opening gifts



Helping clean up after the party



Me and my boys



Me and my girls



Someone's eyeing the cupcakes!



And now, for more photo goodness! Becki, who is a budding photographer, took some maternity photos for us about a month ago. We went to our wedding venue, and while it was as lovely as it was when we got married, there were bugs flying around everywhere. And then the security guard told us they'd found a deadly rattlesnake in the area we were shooting just a few days before. Sigh. So we hightailed it to a park closer to home, but we spent a lot of time sitting in traffic while trying to get there. I am super happy with the photos we got, though. Here are a few (okay, a lot) of my favorites:



















Nice, yes? I love them and am so glad to have these. Thanks, Becki!

One thing this photo shoot made me realize is that our days of low-maintenance photography are over. It's pretty hard to get a toddler to stay still for the camera. But Becki did a great job, and honestly, I do love candids (some of which I've included here).

Another thing is the comparison of my belly between the maternity pictures (much smaller) and the sprinkle (freaking huge), even though the two events took place less than a month apart. It's amazing how much growth happens in such a short amount of time.

And lastly, even with how over-the-top crazy this pregnancy has been, I know I'll look back on it with fondness. There are just too many good things about it to let the stress completely overshadow my happiness at having Burt Reynolds join our family. I treasure every kick, every middle-of-the-night trip to the bathroom, every box of Kleenex I've gone through (thanks, pregnancy congestion!), every Braxton-Hicks, every sleepless night; these things will be mere memories in just a few short weeks. (Well, not the sleepless nights...) But I can't wait to meet our boy.



(Me, 38 weeks pregnant)