75% Baked

Baby C is officially 75% baked… or 30 weeks complete out of 40. You didn’t know I was so good at math, did you? All is well in pregnancy land, though we’re feeling the effects of the third trimester too. I tire easily once again and though Mr. C begs me to slow down and take it easy, I just can’t keep from cleaning, cooking, and all sorts of other domestic duties. Some say it’s the “nesting” instinct kicking up to high gear, but I think that’s just the person that I am. I’m not good at the resting part. I’m very good at the staying busy part. Though, I can feel the baby telling me that this won’t fly much longer. I feel this the most on days when I wake up feeling as though my body has been through a war. On those days where I’m up before 6 to get ready for work… I just want to cry. But again… that’s probably hormones. ;)

The bump is growing slowly but surely and making it apparent that I’m pregnant and not just getting fatter. It’s been fun to run into people we don’t see very often and have them exclaim, “Oh my gosh, you’re pregnant?!” There’s no mistaking it now, though I’m happy that most of my weight appears to be centering around my bump and not all over my body. I joked with Mr. C and friends that I was going to be the Michelin Man of pregnant ladies, but happily, that does not yet seem to be the case. I’m praying that swelling will continue to allude me and that I’ll continue to be somewhat comfortable in this home stretch. Some days I feel and look great, other days I feel like I’m going to explode and hopefully, don’t look that way. I have a pretty great support system with friends (you know who you are) who have helped me feel calm, helped me feel that I will be a good mom and who have helped me feel good about myself during this time. Though that sounds like the least of concerns of a new mom – you have to feel good to look good and when you’ve got both, it seems like you can conquer anything. Praise God, I’ve been almost anxiety-free when thinking of motherhood. Just excited and filled with love for a son I haven’t met yet.

Next weekend starts up “baby shower season” and I’m pretty excited. It will be so nice to see our friends up north and our loving in laws, and to get more prepared for Baby C’s arrival. He’s going to be such a spoiled grandchild. Grammy C is making sure of this, I know. :)

We’ve been working a bit on the nursery and it’s really coming together. Most of the furniture is in, though we’re waiting on our glider chair to be made. The rest is just the decorator stuff that I’m taking care of one item at a time, as I find just the right thing. I really wanted to create a fun space for a baby that didn’t look too baby-ish in our home (I’m not much of a theme-y person!). I’m hoping that’s what I’ll achieve. Either way, home will always be where our hearts are, and we can’t wait to bring this new little guy into it. 10 more weeks…

Project 365: February

Well, against all odds and my own lack of will, it looks like I'm doing much better with my Project 365 goal. Two months complete - that's 16.67% of the way done and FAR better than last year. :) I do owe this months success to the inspirational February Photo A Day prompt from Fat Mum Slim and her awesome photography challenges. I caught the January one through friends on Instagram and was reluctant to join in. After drudging through the month of January with little to inspire me for my photo a day, I stumbled across the prompt for February and it sounded like a lot of fun.

I do have to say that it was fun to think creatively each day and to search the world around me for just the right photo. The cons? Reluctantly, I used my iPhone for almost every singe photo and that was a personal caveat to my goal for the year - I wanted 50% of my photos to be taken with my digital SLR this year and not the ease of a point and shoot and iPhoneagraphy (Google it - it is a word and it has a cult following). The whole point of Project 365 for ME was to develop my photographic skills and talent and I'm sorry, but phone photos are just plain lazy for me. The other sad part was a real lack of FACES in the photos. The prompt might be part of that, but my laziness was more so a factor. I LOVE portraiture and I LOVE candid shots of people in every day life. THOSE are the photos I'm striving towards creating. So... though this month was awesome and I don't regret it at all (because I got through 29 days of photos with ease), I'm going back to trusting myself to create an image each day in March. Wish me luck... in the meantime, this is what February looked like for us:

Project 365: January

Well, in yet another effort to start a great goal, I've decided to pursue Project365 once more. If you're not familiar, feel free to check out a very similar post LAST YEAR. Yes, I've tried and failed before, but that's the great thing about goals. They are a work in progress! I had a fun time this month but noticed how hard it is in my daily routine to pick up a camera. I've got a great idea for next month that should really help me get inspired. Hope you enjoy!