Scrabble Sundays: Baby Bear

I know it's not a Sunday but I have missed the past couple so here's a make-up one. I had Papa Bear help take this today as it proved impossible to get this shot myself. Or frustrating at least. He did a wonderful job and I'm proud that he not only got it in focus but got the exact framing I wanted. Way to go baby!

We are now 39 weeks, with only 6 days until his due date. It has been a chaotic last few days with lots of little false alarms here and there. I've had contractions very close together and long a few times now and then after a while they just stop. This little nugget is playing games with me. I wish he'd pick something like Candy Land or Clue instead. This one's not so much fun.

I will have pictures from week 37 and 38 coming soon. A friend of mine from college did maternity pictures of me and I love what I've seen so far! She's awesome! I'll have to share when I get the rest =)

I have also done a few family shoots recently I need to share and I will be posting a tour of my studio on Monday!

Belly Painting!

(all images in this post were taken by my lovely and wonderful mother)

The day after my shower before my sister-in-law Leah had to go we decided to do a little belly painting as we ran out of time at the shower. We did this at Leah's shower for my niece and it was so much fun! It was such a beautiful day outside and we enjoyed soaking up the warm weather. Especially Leah coming from New Hampshire.

I really enjoyed just sitting there and having them decorate my belly. It tickled a little bit. It must have tickled a lot for the little mister because he was a little Mikhail Baryshnikov. He danced and kicked so much he was making it hard for them to paint. It's quite a sight to see him shapeshifting my belly like that and I think they got a kick out of it.

I think they did a beautiful job!

I had my second shower Saturday and it was incredibly lovely! So wonderful to be surrounded by such great people. Their warmth, love and generosity truly touched me and I love each and everyone of them, even the ones I just met!  I'll post pictures once I get some.

Dave had his diaper party (a party for the guys where they bring us diapers and we supply drinks and food) the same day. I won't be posting pictures of that though =). I wasn't there but I let's just say I came home to Papa Bear wearing a diaper. Haha. He asked me if I still loved him when I walked in. Silly boys! And of course I answer yes.

Week 30: Backlit

I think we've got a pretty large baby on our hands. Or in my belly rather. We still have 2 months to go and I already have strangers saying "Any day now!" to me. So, either he's big or it's cause I'm the size of a smurf that my belly looks extremely huge. Either way it's starting to get uncomfortable. It's like there is a little car jack inside me that is trying to spread my tiny ribcage as far as it can. Space is getting tight in there for him and he's got to find more room somewhere. Or make it. 

The most common advice you hear when pregnant is to sleep as much as you can now and to do as much together as you can. We have failed miserably at both of these. We did make an attempt though and got our bums off the couch for a date night on Saturday. We went to dinner and got some ice cream because even though I'm not a huge ice cream person I just had to have a sundae. We had a great time and giggled the whole night. I really love that man =). 

For any of you who have children (or just know people who do), what's the best advice you would give us during this time? 

Week 29: Night and Day

We are officially in the third trimester and it is absolutely evident. Not only by the growing bump but all of those lovely symptoms are beginning. It's already impossible to get comfortable. Can't wait to see what the next 65 days will be like. =)

I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that he will be here in two months. We have less than 10 weeks to tackle a ridiculous to-do list. Most of our remaining days are already planned out and filled with baby showers, diaper showers, and classes. Good news is after what feels like months of researching I think that our registry is almost complete! We've already been gifted some wonderfully sweet things. I have been in constant amazement this entire pregnancy with how incredibly sweet people can be! It makes me so happy to bring a baby into a world with people like that.

One thing I am loving about this time is how much I am feeling him now. Each movement is so strong now. Especially when food or music is involved. He loves to breakdance and Hammer shuffle in there. It's amazing how much you can love someone you haven't even met yet. Our lives are already so much better with him on the way. Our home and hearts are bursting with love and incredible joy!

Week 24: Be Mine

Hello all you lovely people who are reading this. I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day. I spent it at work, seeing my dad and watching The Bachelor with my mom. The boyfriend and I work opposite schedules during the week so no date night for us. He did surprise me with BEAUTIFUL flowers and delicious Chevy's flautas though. If you only knew how I love both of those things you would know how romantic it really was. And of course we did a little Valentine's themed shoot on Sunday.

The wind was ruining everything but it was still fun. That is until he got a splinter jammed in his nail from picking up all those hearts. Ouch! Sorry honey!

I made him a Valentine involving this:

Oh how I love that boy!

Valentine's Day marked our 100 days till Baby Bear arrives! That means today we are officially in the double digits. Oh, wow. So much to do in the next 99 days!

What did you all do for Valentine's Day? Or what did you do to protest it?

XOXO,

Tenley

Week 23: Library Nerds

The boy and I were rebels this week and went to the library for our shoot. I couldn't stop laughing and thought we might get kicked out. He was making the funniest faces and picking the most ridiculous books the entire time (not all shown). It was so much fun!

Though Papa doesn't read much, other than magazines, I find sanctuary in any space filled with books. I seek out the magic within the walls of a bookstore any time I need a pick-me-up. In fact I went today for just that reason. I love to sit on the floor for hours and look through photography, art and graphic design books. I save the fiction novels for home and my comfy bed.

Reading was exciting for my brothers and I when we were little. We would go to the flea market or bookstore and get to pick out books all of the time. We all really looked forward to embarking on our next adventure through the words on a page. I hope that this little nugget loves reading too. Imagination is a very precious thing to me and I think that reading really helps it flourish. 

Yes that is a Dr. Phil book in Spanish as well as Charlie St. Cloud in Spanish. The Zefron is a very serious topic in our house. =)

I wish I could dive into the wonderland of another novel. Unfortunately, it has been all "What to expect" and various pregnancy reads for the last four months. I'm looking forward to having a little time off before the baby comes and getting to read for pleasure.

What are some of your current favorite reads? I love suggestions!

XOXO,

Tenley

Shapeshifting Shadow

My shadow, the shapeshifter. Always changing. The familiar morphing into the unknown. Expanding from the form I once knew. I don't recognize this figure. It is not my friend. Peter Pan may have wished to keep his shadow sewn tight but I am eager to break free of its grasp. To shirk the constant reminder of what my shadow has now become and what it will be four months from now.

Pregnancy is a blessing. To have a child will be the greatest present I will be gifted in this life. I have dreamed of being a mother for as long as I can remember. It was the one thing I knew I had to do in this life. I always saw pregnant women as incredibly beautiful and figured that the one day I was so lucky to join their elite clan that I would glow in the same way. That I would feel just as beautiful.

How wrong I was. Though I could not be happier about the blessing forming inside me I feel betrayed by what is happening on the outside. With every week I continue to grow in welcome and unwelcome places. I don't feel beautiful. I feel huge. I wish this was not so difficult for me. That I could marvel and enjoy every symptom of this time. I bask in the thought of the gorgeous little boy that I am creating within my frame. Then I see my shadow snickering next to me. Reminding me of the toll I will pay for this wondrous journey. I would despise it if it weren't for what it stood for. The light at the end of the tunnel.

For now I will sit in traffic in this tunnel and try to avoid my new frenemy until I make it to the other side. Grow to the size of the Empire State Building if you must shadow. Whatever it takes to get to the light. My precious gift. My baby boy.

Week 21: Sway to the Rhythm of Love

"Play the music low, and sway to the rhythm of love"

This week's shoot is named after the Plain White T's song "Rhythm of Love". It has been on repeat in our household. Everyone, including the pups, loves to dance around to it. It's just such an awesome song. Not to mention that the video is super swoon worthy. I mean vintage inspired beach scenes and a circus themed party with twinkly lights? Talk about my dream wedding reception. Pretty sure I actually just drooled on myself watching it. 

We've been trying to play the baby as much music as we can. Music is very important in our house, especially because Papa Bear is a musician. The baby gets a nice ear-load of Mama singing all day. Lots of Glee, Disney, musicals, Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles, the Temptations, Bon Jovi, Journey, Wilson Phillips (only "Hold on" I promise), etc. This worries Papa Bear greatly. Both my singing and the selection. He has me play the baby Mozart for about 20 minutes a day with the headphones over my belly (like below). Hopefully he will love music as much as we do and play guitar like his daddy.

And here is the video for the song:

What a catchy little ditty! Yes, I just said called it a ditty. I've just out-cooled myself. 

Hope you all are having a lovely Tuesday! What's your favorite song of the moment?

XOXO,

Tenley

Week 18: Mistletoe

Twinkly lights. Elf. Hot chocolate. Jolly neighbors. Paper Snowflakes. Christmas Carols. The world is just so magical during the holidays. I have always loved this time of year. I didn't realize how much more special it could be when you have a bun in the oven. A squirmy bun at that.

Papa Bear really hates taking pictures so when he said he wanted to be a part of this series I was flabbergasted (such a fun word). He still complained after 3 pictures that it was taking too long but at least he's got his partici-pants on. Hooray for small victories.

We went to two Christmas parties this week.

One more traditional family party:

(Camera Phone Photo)

And a crazy ugly Christmas sweater party: 

(Camera Phone Photos)

We got him a Grandma sweater at the Salvation Army but there was nothing good for me. Shame on me for getting rid of mine from last year. I ended up getting a toy sack from Michael's and we cut out the bottom to make it into a dress. We went all out. Side ponytail and all. I was nervous we would be the only ones looking so ridiculous. I was very, very wrong. Everyone was dressed crazy. It was so much fun!

I felt the baby really moving for the first time that night while sitting near the speakers. He really is our child. Neither of us can sit still if there is music playing. We are a ridiculous dancing family. I read that I am no longer allowed to bounce, jump, or do jerky dance movements recently. A little bit of me died while reading that. Worst part of pregnancy yet. 

XOXO,

Tenley

Week 17: Pregnant Paperdoll

Ever since I saw this absolutely wonderful maternity series by Pacing the Panic Room I knew that I had to do this when I was pregnant. Then I saw James, of Bleubird Vintage, beautiful series with her little one and it made me need to do it even more. When I saw that little plus sign I immediately started thinking of ideas. Naturally, it will be done in my own silly style. One picture a week showing my every-growing baby bump.

I decided not to start the series until we were out of the first trimester and our families knew. Hence, the 17 week start. I plan to make a book for the little baby-bot with letters to him each week.

I have had the idea to do a paperdoll themed image for so long now.  Don't you just love paperdolls? I just think they are so precious. Especially vintage ones. 

XOXO,

Tenley