Today Marks 13 Days and Counting...

Pete is having a great month with ND being #1 in BCS Football right now!
Had to give them a nod for dear old Dad!

13 days.  Pete and I have decided the baby isn't actually ever coming and I'm going to be pregnant forever.  Not because we are in misery the last leg of this pregnancy, but it seems so odd to accept the fact we only have a couple weekends left without being mom and dad!  We seem to have settled into life with me pregnant and the impending delivery seems eons away.  When in reality it could be here any day!  My feelings are this little bean isn't making his or her debut until December...but what do I know...I'm just the host.

The maternity photo shoot this weekend went far better than I ever could have imagined!  I went and got my hair did that morning to give myself as much confidence as I could going into the shoot.  Monique Smith is the photographer from Brown Eyed Girl Images who I had the pleasure to work with.  I have never felt so comfortable having someone take my picture.  The shoot was so much fun and I cannot wait to see pictures!  We get a sneak peek in a few days, but the gallery won't be ready for 2-3 weeks.  I'm going to be very patiently in agony waiting to see how all the shots came out.  I think we did a good job capturing the vibe from my inspiration photos.  It has my wheels turning for the photo shoot we will do with Baby D once the little peanut decides to arrive!

Pete snapped my pic as I was greeting the photographer...do you see the nerves on my face?!

We received a darling little outfit from Aunt Fran & family this week.  It's all washed and ready to go for a couple pics on Christmas day.

The reindeer on the butt is just adorable! 

I have a feeling Baby D will have several outfit changes on Christmas day.  I have a couple ideas for Christmas day attire already.  And if it's a boy I have a ridic adorable plaid outfit from Janie and Jack that will be in the outfit rotation.  God bless us if we have a little girl.

Also this week my niece Demerese who is a senior at high school in MA performed a piece of Les Miserables at Downtown Disney with her theatre group!  My dad and I went to watch and she was fantastic!  While I think she should be planning her future in NYC, she has brighter plans of a future as a dentist:)  It was great to enjoy some time with her. 

I like to think she gets her talent from her Aunt:)

This week we will enjoy Thanksgiving at our house with my entire family!  Cool weather and a feast is exactly what this preggo mama dreams about!  Looking forward to all the action at the house and spending time with the family.  We had a "friends" Thanksgiving feast at the club last night.  We ended up with 10 adults and 14 children - two of which were under the age of 1! It was quite a night and I'm sure the older members of the club were less than entertained with our shenanigans!  Although I hate to admit this, I think the 10 person adult table rivaled the kid's table in terms of noise level!  Either way it was a lot of fun and Pete and I are very thankful for the "family" we have inherited here in Bay Hill!

Maternity Photo Shoot Planning

So I've caved - I'm doing it!  I've been told by too many mommies I'll regret not taking a few professional maternity photos.   I have a great opportunity through Heart to Heart Birth Center (where we are delivering Baby D) to work with Brown Eyed Girl Images at a discounted rate.  So this weekend I'm doing a maternity mini-session!  I always get awkward when having professionals take my picture.  The whole, "Look in each others eyes...tilt your head to the left...now lean in for the kiss..."  turns me into a pre-teen, giggly girl.  And I am much more a fan of the shots taken at random than of posed pictures.  In an effort to get the most of what I would envision of a maternity shoot, I've done some digging and found a few maternity shots I think are darling.

I might add a pearl necklace to this shot

This girl has an amazing newborn photo shoot I'm probably going to be "inspired" by as well

Love. 

Stunning.

And here are a few of the pieces I've managed to pick up to help recreate these images.

The shirt has slits up the sides so the Baby D can peek out 

This is a ridic DVF dress/caftan that I found at Nordstrom Rack

This is a little pj I have that might drapes nicely over Baby D - may include it in the shoot

The photographer will be here 11:30 on Saturday!  We're going to use our wedding pictures as a little inspiration, too.  Maybe recreate the one with Pete and I with the ivy wall...and maybe me in the doorway of the house.  So many options!  Can't wait to see how they turn out - I just need to put my professional face on and not act like a 12 year old girl when getting my picture taken!

Finally hit the ol' Watermelon

The day has arrived where I am officially as large as a watermelon!  The weight is definitely being felt as I lug this baby around.  It really is hard to "take it easy" when my brain is telling me "Go, Go, Go!" and my body is screaming "NO! NO! NO!"  

As of today...20 days and counting!

Bay Hill Member Guest Kick Off Party

Pete and I with Matt @ the Kick Off Party

Awards Night @ Member Guest Tourney - they didn't post ANY of us dancing:(

Bay Hill Wine Social - Can't wait for my turn to really enjoy these events!

Counting the Days

Can it be?!  As of today we have only 27 days remaining until our due date?  Although our doula let us know that the average first time mom carries 41 weeks and 3 days...sooo we may be cooking this bun a little longer than 27 days in this oven, but either way it is coming quickly!  I have a mixture of emotions as this journey nears its end.  There is an overwhelming joy/excitement to meet our son or daughter, combined with a bittersweet feeling about the ending of the pregnancy.  I know, I know...women are screaming at me - "Just wait - you're gonna want that thing out of you!" But honestly, this is such an amazing miracle!  Spending everyday with my little baby growing inside me; kicking and squirming; making me feel love without ever seeing his or her face - it's the most miraculous thing I've ever experienced in life.  Yes, I'm swollen (pre pregnancy wedding ring size: 4.5 - pregnant wedding ring size: 7!), my back aches, there are pains in muscles I didn't even know existed and a plethora of other pregnancy symptoms not appropriate to write about, but I wouldn't trade one second of those pains!  I know that every symptom is a result of Pete and my love growing inside of me.  (Okay, so maybe another symptom would be a tad more emotional;)  This is by far the most fantastic experience of my life!

Pete inspired the board - he wanted to celebrate ND's win

Bay Hill held it's annual holiday fashion show - I did my best to squeeze into one of my maternity dresses that still kinda sorta fit...

Fall Preggo Fashion!  Making the most of this last month where I'm really "blossoming" all over:)