Coffee and Treats with the Girls

Here's another batch of photos from Saturday, just a lazy afternoon having coffee with my favorite people. We ordered some treats to share and grabbed a few more casual photos and a belly shot here and there. Oh yes, and we were joined by a fluttering of colorful butterflies! 

This time my mom joined us and we rotated the camera between the 4 of us. :)

Preggie Pics

Here are my favorite shots from the little photo shoot we did at my home on Saturday. These are my amazing and beautiful sisters and we're lucky enough to be doing this together. Daena, who is standing in the middle, is 37 weeks, Cara, on the left, is 23 weeks and I'm 27 weeks. Daena and I know what we're having and Cara is not going to find out, hence the colored ribbon. ;)

Thank you husband for taking these! 

Had to try something a little cheesy too! 

We shot a few on Saturday afternoon as well and I hope to share those soon. It was such a fun day for us girls, something we'll remember forever. 

Maternity Style {27 weeks}

{dress - Goodwill, purse - H&M, bootiess - T J Maxx}

The belly button is starting to pop! Yes, unfortunately this does happen to me though only in the last 2 pregnancies. Curiouser and curiouser. Love this dress for it's rockstar comfort (I went to church, napped, and vacuumed in it - feels as good as pj's!) and it's bold 70's hippie print. 

PS: Bought this off of the Halloween rack about 7 years ago at a thrift store. That was a particularly good Halloween as there were about 5 such dresses, all waiting for a crazy woman to snatch them up and wear them daily (forget Oct. 31st). All 5 have turned out to be some of our absolute favorite preggie dresses. 

Pretty Picks {color!}

{yes, happy weekend}

 {butterflies and flowers}

{I'd like to dip everything into an ombre effect}

{adore this look}

Oh Baby Girl

{a tiny signet bracelet for you from your grannie}

Oh baby girl, 

Here's how we found out about you. 

At the end of December, we went for a 18 week ultrasound. Your daddy and I had decided to find out what you were and to keep it a secret between the 2 of us. We were just too excited to know and could not wait one second longer. Your brothers came along with us to see you that morning, very eager to see your face. We told the doctor who did your ultrasound what our plans were and she assured us that she would write it down, put it in an envelope and seal it. It sounded so very private! You were upset with her, she said, and would not move out of your position which had your tiny legs tightly crossed. She said she would patiently and repeatedly look, so I breathed a sigh of relief. I was anxious to know. We checked out every part of your body, your organs, your bones. Little E immediately decided you were somehow related to pirates, only because he could see nothing but bones on the screen and where there are skulls and bones, there are pirates and treasures. Our doctor was very thorough with her inspection as there is a little concern at your growth and health since your mommy is nearing 35. I suppose God made my body in such a way that having children is just a little easier and less complicated for you when I'm younger. So we're eager to see your growth in there. But all is well and you look wonderful. 

About 45 minutes later Dr H tells us nonchalantly, out of the blue, "Well, it looks like a girl." I was completely shocked, first to hear those words come out of her mouth and then because she had said them at all! Apparently she had forgot our arrangement and now the cat was out of the bag. She showed us why she thought that but said that she couldn't get the best angle and so she called in an ultrasound tech for a 2nd opinion. When we left that morning, we were mulling over the fact that they were 90% sure that you were a girl and that they would confirm it at 25 weeks. Wow! It was unbelievably surreal for me, much like that moment when I stepped on the stage with your dad to say my wedding vows 13 years ago. I wasn't sure what to do with the news and I didn't know if I really could rejoice like I wanted to. Kind of bitter sweet in a way, to hear the words you've waited to hear for so very long but then to be in limbo about it still. 

We decided to tell close family but to wait to tell everyone else once we were absolutely sure. And last week we found out, with absolute certainty, that you are indeed a girl. Woopeeeeee! And I'm sure I'll never be more thrilled to hear the word labia spoken so generously in a 30 minute time period. Haha! 

You're a girl .... it's amazing. I did not think I would have that honor. I was fairly sure that I would be the very happy and proud mom of not 1 but 4 boys. And I would have loved them all whole heartedly and without regret. But God has given me you and I feel so lucky. So blessed. 

Thank you God for this gift. We will cherish her always. 

With all my love, 

Your mommy

3 Boys

     {This is a part of a series in 2013, a portrait of each of my boys every week of the year.}

The 3rd week in February

Little E

My goodness, you're something else! You think you can get the baby out by poking your finger into my belly button. Sometimes you do so with earnest and it's obvious that the whole thing baffles you. :)

Monty 

Here you are counting your savings, hoping to have enough to buy a Hexbug spider. You're pretty great at saving your dollars and coins. 

Parker 

I find you sitting in bed, playing games or reading a book, much more often now that your room has changed. You're starting to enjoy having that alone time, undisturbed by the noise of the house. I get it big boy ... I get it. 

(Will have to post some pics of the room makeover soon. Well, as soon as it's finished.)

Maternity Style {26 weeks}

{sweater - Aerie, dress - Free People from Besselli (GB), necklace - Express, bag - Anthropologie, Dr. Martens - Free People}

Froze for these pictures, as you can tell, though I assure you that I covered up with a lovely, heavy coat when traipsing outside in this outfit. You just get to a point in winter when you can no longer stomach those same ol' clothes. So I'm moving onward and upward with my inbetweener clothes and I DON'T CARE HOW COLD I GET. No more tights, done with you horrible things! Sorry, I'm not usually this mean. Rawr. 

It's a GIRL!

 We've waited so long for you, little one, and you're finally on your way!

We celebrated the exciting news with some pink balloons that faded to white in the snow outside. There's a story to tell and I will soon. :) In the meantime, have a beautiful weekend.