Maternity Pictures.

On May 6th, Mr. Skinny and I got together with a friend from high school and did our maternity pictures. She does them on the side for a little extra cash - she's a missionary - and had never done a maternity shoot before. Thank goodness for pinterest - we based just about all our shots from a pinterest inspiration! We had a blast, and I'm so glad we took them, and that we waited so late to take them! 

Have a look at a few of them! 

Did you/would you take maternity photos?

Full Term: Thirty-Seven Weeks.

My little sweet pea,

We made it to full term! You can come out any time now, Daddy and I are quite ready for you! I've had a few people ask if I'm anxious and I'm truly not. I'm comfortable knowing (as much as I can) what's coming up, and I know it's all in God's hands. I have loved - and still do love! - being pregnant, watching my body change and grow. Sure, I complain a bit, especially at night if I'm on my feet all day, or sitting too long. I'm tired, it's hard to change into my pj's, my feet and back hurt, but then I sleep, and wake up the next day feeling refreshed again. But, on the other hand, I'm so excited to meet you and be a mom, that I'm ready for you to come! I'm excited to see what my body can do to deliver you, and experience that special part of womanhood - becoming a mom! I'm excited to start the next chapter of our lives with you. To watch your Daddy turn from a husband into a father, to see him hold and protect you and love you! So to sum it up, we're ready for you - come whenever you'd like!

Your Grandma Crane is still adamant you'll be early, which is fine with me, but I have a feeling you'll be stubborn and just because she's insisting that, you'll be late just to prove her wrong. 

We had another appointment last week, and we'll have them every week from here on out. We met another midwife, and I found out that midwives are only on call Sunday - Thursday nights. If you aren't born during that time, then I'll have to have one of the doctors. I know I just said come whenever, but I would absolutely love it if you came at night during the week so a midwife could deliver you. When they measured me, I was still the same 34 cm that I was at our last appointment two weeks ago. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but then I started to get worried that you weren't growing, so I turned to the internet and started googling. I also put it in the message boards on one of my pregnancy apps, and it seems like it might be a sign that you've dropped! So I'm going to stay on board with that one. I also got tested for group b strep, and that came back negative. I'm excited for that so hopefully I won't have to be hooked up to any IVs during labor, as long as I keep myself hydrated!

We took our maternity pictures yesterday, and I'm super excited to see how they turned out. Daddy is a little worried because he's self conscious about his smile, even though I think his smile is super cute. At first, it was hard because there were a lot of people around, but then I got more comfortable with it, and didn't care what other people thought about my big belly.

With my maternity pictures done, I'm finally getting my hair cut today! I'm really excited to get my "mommy" hair cut. I'll be cutting off about 11 inches to donate to locks of love and going back to short. I've never been nervous about getting my hair cut, but I've gotten so accustomed to having long hair now I'm a little bit worried I won't like my hair short! I know it'll be easier with you though!

Your height should be somewhere in the 18.9 - 20.9 inch range, and weight 6.2 - 9.2 pounds. I had a woman in church tell me you were going to be small since my belly wasn't that big, but then I have a feeling that you'll be big because there have been a lot of big babies born around me in the past few weeks.

The only things we did this week to finish up getting ready for you was put the car seat back in the car, and we got a mirror so that I can see you when I'm driving. Daddy cleaned the car out for me, too! I also bought a breast pump on Saturday, but it's still in the box so that if I don't need it, I can take it back.

My hospital bag isn't really packed, but I don't know what else to put in it! Most of the things I'll need I'm still using, all my toiletries, my clothes - since my wardrobe is shrinking I don't have extra clothes to pack! So right now, the bag is out, and all your clothes are in it, along with my birthing/exercise ball, but I can't pack anything else, I don't think anyways. When we lived in Maryland, Daddy would pack most of my things to come home, so hopefully he still remembers what to pack and he can finish that up for me.

You're still moving around in there, but a lot of it is more dragging movements rather than flailing. I'm sure you're just running out of room! I still feel the same, heartburn is a barely there symptom, my hips hurt if I sit too long, back hurts by the end of the day, but I wouldn't change anything. I've had a wonderful pregnancy. I still don't think I've had any contractions, but a few times a day, my stomach gets really hard, it's a little uncomfortable, but I can't tell if that's your butt moving somewhere or if it's a contraction. I might mention that at my appointment this week and see what she says. I've heard Braxton-Hicks can be painless, but I'm not sure if I'm just reading into it too much.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but 2 weeks ago Daddy got laid off, but he's back to work now, and I think the permits for the job are going to come in soon, so he'll be back to working long hours! Hopefully that means we can get on board with our bills and such again, especially with me quitting my job - this week is my last week yay! - but he's hoping to take a few days off once you're born to help me out. Grammy wants to take a few days off, too, and if you come on time, Grandma Crane is off the week of Memorial Day and she'll help me too! We'll be playing it all by ear, it all depends on you!

Can't wait to meet you!

Love,

Mommy

Stretch Marks.

One morning last week, I was looking at my belly, which I absolutely adore, and noticed these pink lines.

"Crap. Those are stetch marks."

This is not my first encounter with them though, when I was in high school, Mr. Skinny, who was my boyfriend at the time, got me a job at McDonalds. At first, it was fine, I was still cheering and kept my weight the same (I think). But then I decided my senior year that I didn't want to cheer anymore due to coaching changes, I gained weight once McDonalds food was my meals for probably 5 meals out of the week or so. I'm not sure how much I gained, but I know I gained a good amount, and fast, which resulted in stretch marks on my sides.

I've gotten used to them now, they've never really bothered me, but I've never been that comfortable in my body that I've worn any clothing were they show. My inner thighs have some, too, but who can ever see them? When I was on WW and loosing weight, I did get a little concerned about them, only because I really wanted to wear a bikini at some point and I knew people would see them. I asked other's opinions on the 20's board, but most just said that they didn't let them bother them, and that's the attitude I tried to adopt.

Once I got pregnant, I saw all the worry about stretch marks, but didn't think I would get them because I've gained weight before, and no one in my family got them, and they say that stretch marks are genetic. During winter, I normally put lotion on, but I never really paid much attention to making sure I put enough on my belly every day. It was the last thing on my mind. Well, then I woke up with them. I really think they appeared overnight.

At first, I was really disappointed that I had them. I know what they'll look like in 5+ years since I had them from McDonalds. With our maternity pictures hopefully happening next weekend, I was envisioning this perfect smooth belly for them. I was complaining to my mom, complaining to Mr. Skinny. I even showed them to my brother, who promptly said, "I can't see anything." He's gonna make a good husband someday!

Then I thought about it. Why be disappointed? I'm going to have a daughter, and what would I say to her if she started complaining to me about stretch marks when she's pregnant? Sure I'll sympathize, knowing they won't go away, but I'd tell her to wear them proudly. They're battle scars, a badge of honor to wear and show the world that you grew a human inside of you!

If I ever get to the point where I'm comfortable to wear a bikini, which is a whole other topic in and of itself - should moms wear bikinis - I'll wear my stretch marks with confidence, knowing they they are there for a reason, and show the world that my body can do something incredible.

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Do you have stretch marks?
How do you feel about them?

Thirty- Four Weeks.

Little Miss - 

I think that's what I've decided to call you, Little Miss, I think it's pretty cute, but I'm sure once we have a name for you (we're waiting until you're born to make our final decision), you'll have a ton of different nicknames. 

I can't believe how fast time is going - less than 6 weeks until your due date! But I know not to get myself too wrapped up about that date, only 5% of babies are born on their due date. I don't have any feelings whether you'll be early or late, whenever you decide to arrive is good for us. I told my boss that my last day is May 11 - 2 weeks before my due date, so it would be appreciated if you would stay put until at least then. I'd really not prefer to go into labor at work considering it's just my boss and me, he'd be in a panic and wouldn't know what to do, and would probably be super upset if my water broke in his log cabin home with wooden floors. So after May 11 - it's all you, unless you'd like to come on a day I'm not working. I'm okay with that, too. 

Daddy said that each morning when I text him that I'm up, he's waiting for the text message to tell him I'm in labor or my water broke or something. But, another request, Daddy's job isn't the more secure right now, and his health insurance is a little questionable, so let's figure that out first, too. Hopefully that will get figured out this week or so. It's just not the best time, but not to worry, we'll figure it out. 

I feel so much better not worrying about how much weight I'm gaining. When I was at the doctor's last I think I was up 30 lbs. or so, but that's because I was sick and all I was eating was chicken broth. I bet my weight will stay about the same from that appointment for my appointment on Wednesday, assuming we get our insurance figured out and I can go to the doctor's. Daddy's coming to that appointment, too, and we're meeting with a midwife at our hospital. I have really high expectations for this visit, so we'll see how it goes. I'd love to have a midwife deliver you, so I want to ask her exactly how I get a midwife for the delivery. We'll see what she says. 

I also want to ask about my hip pain at night. Holy moly do my hips hurt at night. Sleep is becoming less comfortable each night, I wake up thirsty, then drink my water, wake up in 25 minutes to go to the bathroom, but I'm thirsty again, drink water... you see the pattern. I've been sleeping with my body pillow, and that helps sometimes, but for whatever reason my hips always hurt first thing in the morning. A couple times in the middle of the night I actually have to limp and stumble to the bathroom because I can't walk right. I'm sure it's just my hips widening for delivery, but hopefully the midwife can offer a useful sleeping tip.

So let's see - you should weigh about 4.2 - 5.8 pounds, and be 17.2 - 18.7 inches long. If the size of my belly is any indication, I'd say you're on the big side of that, but who knows. Maybe for whatever reason, you just like a lot of room and you're super petite in there. You're tasting more foods, and can recognize salty and sour foods. Your eyes are open unless you're sleeping and you're putting on more fat.

I'm curious as to which of your "personality traits" will stick around after you're born. You never move in the car, so I'm wondering if you like car rides and they soothe you - that would be awesome. You also don't really respond when I'm listening to music. Granted, it's usually in the car, so you could be just sleeping from that. Even when I was singing in church, you weren't moving a whole bunch. Moving happens most often when I'm sitting and relaxing. I love looking at my belly when you're making it move all over the place, I just can't help but think how amazing it is that you're in there and I'm your house for another 6-ish weeks. Incredible! I want to catch it on video, but it always happens so quickly that I can't get it. And when I do get my phone out, you stop. I think you'll be a bit stubborn, but with parents like us, I don't know where you'd get the genes to not be stubborn.

My eating hasn't been terrible, trying to focus on fruits & veggies, healthy things, but it's hard! With summer produce making a comeback though, it's been easier to pick up fresh produce. I got a huge thing of organic strawberries yesterday, and I have no doubt that I'll eat them all myself this week. And I think my craving of the week is going to be sweet potato fries - at least they're healthy, right?

This weekend is our shower baby girl! It's gonna be pretty small, but I'm excited to see family and get a bunch of stuff for you! Then hopefully Daddy's job is figured out and we can get the rest of the stuff we need for your arrival. I can't wait to wash your clothes and get everything all set up for you. I really should start packing my bag for the hospital, too! We also have our maternity pictures in the next few weeks. I'm thinking either next Sunday, or the following weekend. Hopefully we can take them outside.

I think that's all for this week! Keep moving & growing!

Love,
Mommy

Are Maternity Photos Necessary?

I'm not sure when Maternity photo sessions really started popping up, but I know it's really just this generation, I think. My mom doesn't even have any pictures of her bump when she was pregnant with my brother or myself, let alone a bare belly shot. She didn't even wear tighter shirts when she was pregnant, so she's always commenting on my tighter maternity shirts. It probably all started with Demi Moore's maternity shoot. I love pregnant bellies, I always have, I'm just amazed that a woman's body knows what to do in order to grow a tiny human.

Anyway, I've been dreaming about being pregnant forever, and wondering what my body would look like during my pregnancy. I've been pinning maternity photos since I joined pinterest, and trying to figure out how I'm going to take my maternity pictures. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on them, and ideally I would love a friend to take them. Of course, one with some photography experience. This leaves two people, a friend I went to high school with and my sister-in-law's ex-partner. Mr. Skinny wouldn't really be comfortable with the ex-partner because she's not really in the family anymore and that might be awkward.

Back in December, I messaged the friend I went to high school with, Candice, and asked her if she would be around sometime in April or May-ish and do maternity pictures for us. She's a missionary, so I wasn't sure if she'd be around to do a shoot. She said that she was planning on being in Amsterdam in April-May, so that wouldn't work. I was kind of bummed, but wished her well and reminded her to let me know if her plans changed.

I didn't really think about it since then, I kept pinning some shots and looking at them. Thinking I could take them myself, but knowing that wasn't really very realistic, just pushing it to the side.

Candice sends out a newsletter 2x/month and when I saw her last newsletter saying that plans changed and she wasn't going to Amsterdam, I immediately messaged her and reminded her that I'd love for her to take some pictures for us. She wrote back and said that she would love to, just hasn't done a maternity shoot before, but said we could figure it out. I am super excited. She's going to take some shots, and then edit them and we get all the pictures to do with what we want. I am so excited! I've been pinning and looking for shots. I'm actually more excited for these pictures than I was for my wedding pictures.

But are maternity photos necessary? I take my own pictures each week, is it really necessary to pay someone else to take pictures of yourself? I think that it is. If nothing else, it's a beautiful part of life, and you'll get to show your baby what your body did when it was growing them. I would absolutely love to see what my mom looked like when she was pregnant with me. Granted, I'm sure boys wouldn't be as interested, but I would love to see what my mother-in-law looked like when she was pregnant with Mr. Skinny. I think it's a precious time in my life and it's definitely a time to remember and something to be cherished. I will love to have my pictures and I hope my baby will love them, too!

Here's a link to my pinterest maternity board, if you want to check out the shots I really like. I think some can be super awkward and some can be a little too sexy for my taste at least.

Tell me:


Do you think maternity pictures are a waste of money?