One Pregnancy Post A Week: Almost.

I think I've taken a total of a maybe a dozen bona-fide "baby bump" photos since last September (usually taken by yours truly). I never felt the need to record the progress of my, to put it bluntly, 9-month+ journey of constant weight-gain. Maybe I'll regret it later...I'm guessing I won't. But once in a while, I'd be bored or would be wearing a cute outfit and I'd had a camera handy, so I'd take a picture. That's how these two pictures came to be. 

{Click below to read more.}

One Pregnancy Post A Week: Boy Things.

In less than a month, we will have a mini Franco in our home! (Still no name.) 

Here are some things on my wishlist that I'd love for our little one.

left-to-right: muslin wrap || wooden toys || whale bath spout

muslin swaddling blankets (I've heard these are the best) ||  t-shirts from zara || check cap

well-designed children's books || gray & colorful patterned bedding/deco || baby bow ties

hooded jacket || twill skinny trousers

One Pregnancy Post A Week: 34 Week Belly.

This is my pregnancy post that I forgot last week! I took a walk last Thursday to the corner store by our apartment, in these heels, and this belly, going uphill about a third of the way, for about forty-five minutes. I was a little sore the next day...probably not the best idea. At least I got my exercise done! That has to count for something?...

Walking is my preferred exercise of choice. It's easy to do and enjoyable. I plug in my headphones to my mp3 player and play some upbeat music (Lenka is on constant repeat right now) and before I know it, a half hour has gone by and I've walked around my neighborhood. I bet I look funny with my watermelon belly, walking around--or waddling, rather--trying to look like it's totally normal. And when I wear my striped shirt, I probably look like a giant bumblebee, too. (Franco never misses an opportunity to bzzz around me when I do...ha, ha.)

So that's my 34th week so far. I've got less weeks than the total months I've been pregnant, so that's a good sign! We're getting the "nursery corner" ready this week and searching for a carseat. Exciting! =)

One Pregnancy Post A Week: A Name.

We still haven't decided on what to name our baby boy over here. It's not that my husband and I don't agree on a name, because we do, actually. We have a first name and a middle name chosen; we just decided to keep it between ourselves right now. It has more to do with the question, "is it the right name?"

I believe that giving a name to a child born into this world is a sacred and special event in his or her life, as well as in both the parent's lives. It is a "name [the child will] be known by throughout his or her lifetime, distinguishing him or her from anyone else."* No pressure...So our response to the constant inquiry, "Do you have a name picked out?" is and will continue to be, "No, we're waiting to meet him first."

For now, his nickname is Boyo, and once we get to see and hold this little miracle in our arms, we will give him a name.

We are, however, entertaining any suggestions for names, such as the list above that my sister, brother, and cousin made up early this year. Coincidentally, Niches is my nickname, given to me by my older-by-3-months-cousin, Eddie. When he grew old enough to speak, he could not pronounce my full name, which is correctly pronounced, "Ahn-Eh-Leez-Eh", so he shortened it to "Eez-Eh" which became "Neech-Ehs" and it caught on. I was too young and powerless to stop it. Sigh. ;)

*quote from this talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard.
previous pregnancy posts here.

One Pregnancy Post A Week: Le Belly Fotos.

 

 

I told myself I wouldn't take or post pictures of my weekly pregnancy progress--the self-shot photos of me standing in front of a door/closet/window/wall would not be flattering...so I was happy and grateful when Nichole, a fellow WUCO wife and friend, offered to take some pictures of my little 6 month belly at the Santa Monica Pier. These are some of my favorites, though Nichole posted a few more on her blog. As it was an impromptu shoot, I'm glad I at least wore something that matched!

p.s. the sunset was as beautiful as it looks. And this was during the middle of January...I just love southern California.

Previous Pregnancy Posts

One Pregnancy Post A Week: Nesting

Nesting: n. the tendency to arrange one's immediate surroundings, such as a work station, to create a place where one feels secure, comfortable, or in control

A few weeks ago I went into full "nesting" mode. I had always heard about nesting during pregnancy, but it's definitely a new feeling when you're actually going through it. It was satisfying for me to organize, clean, declutter, store, and of course, buy some new things!

I wrote a lengthy description of my nesting experience so far.

{Click below to read more.}