36 weeks: a bumpdate! {my maternity photos}

I cannot thank my sweet and super talented friend, Andrea Doan enough for taking these belly shots for me! We took them last week at 35 weeks. It is so surreal to see myself with a lovely lady lump (as my husband calls it). We are now just 1 week away from being full term and 4 more until the D-day. I am dying to meet her!

Here is my glorious update from the last few weeks… just a reminder of how I know I’m pregnant.

1. My Dr. says… “your weight is doing just fine… just ease up on the salt.” Which I interpreted as “your weight is fine, but you’re looking a little swollen-ish.”

2. For those of you that really know me well, you’re right, this is not my original wedding ring… this is my 8-month swollen salt finger ring from Target. Thanks for noticing.

3. Normally when I try to squeeze through tight places, I turn to the side, suck in and scoot by.. now, I am much more narrow going straight through. That’s fun.

4. I have mastered the 3 pillow fort I build around myself in bed every night (for comfort and to prevent me from rolling onto my back… apparently a 3rd trimester no-no)

5. My husband blindly reached to grab my hand last night in bed to pray and he landed right on my pokey belly button covered in stretch mark prevention oil. He was so grossed out. I laughed until I cried. These are the things you have to live with, honey.

6. My dog looks at me a little funny.

7. Random people in public have started to say… “whhoooaaaa…. baby’s comin’ any day now, huh?” I don’t have the heart to say I have 4 more weeks, so I just respond with “YEP! Any day now!!”



Thank you Andrea!!!!! What a gift you have given me. I just LOVE you!!!!

jen - November 15, 2011 - 1:49 pm

“this is my 8-month swollen salt finger ring from Target” – you’re hilarious! you’re still SMOKING hot! miss seeing you, EXCITED for you to be a mommy! :)

misti swink - November 2, 2011 - 8:57 pm

LUV them sister!!!!! xoxo

Mindy - November 2, 2011 - 2:24 pm

You are freakin’ adorable. The end. ;)

Matt + Steph got married! I have a new cousin!

Matt and Steph have one amazing love story… and since Matt is my cousin, I have a very personal bias toward their experience as a couple. In short, they were each other’s very first relationship… Matt was Steph’s first boyfriend and Steph was Matt’s first girlfriend when they met in 2009. As the world would hear this, one would assume that this couple must be awkward, unattractive, socially inept and unable to find love until their mid 20’s. It was quite the opposite. They both made conscious decisions while growing up to remain pure, waiting.. and waiting.. and more waiting until God brought them the one they were to marry. This also concludes the following… in their relational purity, each of them had also chosen to be physically pure.. not just within their preparation for marriage, their entire lives. Again, as the world would hear this… WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU DO THAT??? Were they a part of some weird religious cult? A solitary living program? Nope. They are both beautiful, well-rounded and perfectly socially adjusted individuals that have been raised to know God and know His promises. They have each taken their faith seriously and literally when it comes to singleness, purity and a marriage covenant. They understood at a very deep and mature level that when the most traditional wedding vows were created, they stated… and still do.. “You may NOW kiss your bride” This means one thing. NOW. Not before, as even that morning, they do not 100% belong to each other. But NOW… she is yours, all yours. Keep scrolling to see their first kiss. Not their first kiss as a couple, their first kisses EVER, and ONLY for each other. What a beautiful love story. You may recognize Jenn, Steph’s equally adorable twin sister! I photographed these exact moments in the exact location for her wedding about a year before! Steph with her mom and dad..Matt with his dad and brothers!I love this shot of Matt and his sisters, Abbi (left) and Kenna (right) …and all the groomsmen harassing Matt on the right!He sees her for the first time, with tears in his eyes.The KISS!!! (and the VERY happy reaction!)
Steph and the SECOND love of her life.. her twin sister, Jenn’s baby boy coming this winter!I love you both so much! Congratulations and many, many blessings to come!!!!

Nora Rose is 6 months old!

Sweet little Nora Rose is already 6 months old… she survived her first Major League Baseball season cheering for daddy. She must have brought him some serious inspiration. Our very own Diamondback rockstar pitcher Ian Kennedy had quite an impressive season and a promising pitching career ahead! Pretty little Nora and mama Allison are his biggest cheerleaders!She has the best faces!

And here are a few that Amy snapped!Bump it!
She was so mesmerized by the balloons and I love this angle Amy got!

Anne Elisabeth - October 29, 2011 - 9:44 am

To cute!!

Sweet Avery… an American honey.

My precious little niece… 8 years old and we’re praying she grows up a little slower. She is just too irresistible … and looking forward to her new cousin, Swayze!!

misti swink - November 2, 2011 - 9:08 pm

Thanx uncle Stacey, only u could make my little brat look so sweet.. hee hee xoxo

Stella and Hank!