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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Baby Girl Shadow Box

Just like many of you, I troll around Pinterest almost daily looking for inspiration for everything from a photo to a new recipe.  When I was pregnant, I came across a great idea to make a shadow box with some of the baby items from the hospital.  Of course, I pinned it and planned on making it immediately after having the baby.  HA!  It only took me 3 months, but I finally put it together.  I plan on displaying it on one of the shelves in our play room (also still needs to be put together).

Items included in the shadow box:
Hospital Bracelets
ID card from the Hospital Crib
1st outfit from the hospital: Kimono shirt & Baby Hat
Photo Collage/Birth Announcement

All pinned down & ready to put inside the shadow box...
Final Product....

Click here to see my inspiration on Pinterest

Friday, November 30, 2012

Kalins Family Christmas Shoot

Christmas Photo Shoot with the Kalins Family!
My favorite picture...
 Giving Baby Girl #3 some love...can't wait to meet you & take your pictures in January!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Back in Action!

Did you think Sew Snappy was going away?  Nope.  Sew Snappy had to take a back seat for a minute but I'm back!!  I've been a little busy giving birth, figuring out motherhood, and taking an insane amount of photos of my sweet baby girl, Eloise.  Since all the birth announcements have gone out, I wanted to share my creative process in shooting the birth announcements photos.

Would you believe that I shot this photo in my craft room/make shift studio?

As I was trolling around Pinterest for photography ideas and tips, I came across an idea to use wrapping paper as a background for photos.  I knew instantly that I would use the idea to take pictures of my baby girl.  All you need is a roll of fun wrapping paper, scotch tape, & any embellishments/props you see fit. 
Tape the wrapping paper on the wall & roll it out on the floor.  I put a piece of poster board underneath the bottom part to prevent the paper from ripping when I put stuff on top of it.  Make sure to tape the paper against the wall at the top & bottom. Add your embellishments as needed.  I used a fun birthday banner that I found in the Party section at Target.  
Of course, you need to have good lighting to achieve any great picture...
Try shooting near a window or using lamps to add some soft lighting.

I positioned the baby and kept her happy by letting her suck on the pacifier until I was ready to shoot. 
  
Here is the finished product again:

You better believe that you can expect more DIY photoshoots like this with my new favorite subject - Baby Eloise!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Week 40 Wrap Up



How far along? 40 weeks.  Baby Girl is as big as a pumpkin.
Total weight gain: 35 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? Yes.
Sleep: Nonexistent.
Best moment this week: Knowing the end is near - scheduled an induction for Thursday. 
Miss Anything? Work - just kidding!
Movement: Yes. It used to be cute but now it can be straight up painful!
Food cravings: Not really. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Besides the skunk smell that filled my house courtesy of Piper?!?
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Contractions here & there
Symptoms: Aches...Pains...
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Anxious
Looking forward to: Baby Girl coming into the world!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Week 39 Wrap Up




How far along? 39 Weeks.  Baby is ~7 lbs & ~20 inches
Total weight gain: 35 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes.  I've been wearing my favorites and the most comfortable options over & over lately.
Stretch marks? Yes.
Sleep: Ha.
Best moment this week: Congratulating my fellow first time mommies on their new arrivals!
Miss Anything? No.
Movement: Yes. 
Food cravings: Not really
Anything making you queasy or sick: Getting out of bed at 530am to get ready for work.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Contractions here & there...
Symptoms: Heartburn has been on another level this week. 
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Anxious  
Looking forward to:  The last day of work!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Week 38 Wrap Up




How far along? 38 weeks.  Baby Girl is as long as a leek and weighs ~7 lbs. 
Total weight gain:  35 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? Yes.
Sleep: Not the type of good sleep normal people have. 
Best moment this week:  A sweet little hug/snuggle that I got from my youngest niece Reese.  Made me yearn for my baby girl to come even more.  
Miss Anything? No. 
Movement: Yes.
Food cravings: Iced Coffee.  Note: I hate coffee so this is extra weird. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nothing Imminent - 1cm dilated, 85% effaced. 
Symptoms: Heartburn, aches & pains
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On.  
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody. 
Looking forward to: My next doctor's appointment on Tuesday

Monday, August 13, 2012

What I will miss about being pregnant


These last few weeks of pregnancy are ROUGH.  Physically, I'm over it.  Emotionally, I'm ready for the next step.  As I look back on the last 9.5 months, there are some things that I will definitely miss about  being pregnant...

1. VIP treatment.  People in general are nicer to you once they know you are pregnant and even nicer once you start to look pregnant.  In some ways, it is a little bit disturbing that we all aren't just nicer for no reason.  I can't tell you how many times, people have let me go next in line when it wasn't my turn or offered to carry something as if I had no arms.  My dry cleaner started carrying everything out to my car last week even with a line of customers behind me - unexpected and sweet. 

2. Maternity clothes.  Let's be real, that lycra panel that makes any maternity bottom a maternity bottom is fabulous.  No more "sucking it in" or struggling to button your jeans.  I told Brad a while back that I hadn't "buttoned or zipped a pant in months" as an excuse for something random - haha.  I'm a total shopaholic and loved shopping for all things maternity clothes.  I'm pretty sure I own most of Motherhood Maternity's Spring & Summer 2012 line.  

3. Baby movement. One of the best parts of being pregnant is feeling the baby move.  The fact no one else could feel her move the same way that I could has always made it more special.  There have been times where I was sitting in a meeting or driving in the car and would feel the baby move, it's like your own little secret.  More importantly, feeling the baby move is the most reassuring feeling that everything is ok.  Even as I sit here now typing this, getting kicked at 38.5 weeks pregnant still makes me smile and feel at ease.

4. Food-palooza.  
Would you like to look at the dessert menu? Yes.  
Would you like whip cream on that? Yes.  
Would you like one more piece? Yes.  
Do you need a box? No, I'm still working.
Can I get you a cocktail? No, but I do know what we would like for an appetizer.
How is that pizza tasting folks? Great - can I get a side of ranch dressing?
1 or 2 scoops? 2 scoops. 
What size? Large.

5.  The Nesting & Efficiency.  For lack of better phrase, "I get sh*t done!"  My To Do lists have never been longer or more all over the place but they leave me feeling accomplished and prepared when everything is crossed off.  Oh joy, when I get to create a new list!  Poor Brad has never had so many requests to "help out, real quick," "come here, real quick," "read this, real quick," or "move/reach this, real quick."  Over the past few weeks, the nesting has gone to another level.  My bathroom vanity is organized like no other - not one unnecessary or expired item left!  The baby's dresser & closet is stocked with clothes and organized by size.  My hospital bag is packed with a last minute checklist near by.  I stocked up on personal items so that I won't have to stress out when I run out of my favorite brand of hair product or face cream while caring for a new baby.  The real doozy - I created a database with the mailing addresses for the birth announcements & made sure that all the addresses are current.  See, I get sh*t done. 



Week 37 Wrap Up




How far along? 37 Weeks.  Baby Girl as a long as a stalk of swiss chard. 
Total weight gain: 34-35 lbs.
Maternity clothes?  Yes. 
Stretch marks? It's looking rough these days. 
Sleep:  As if...
Best moment this week: Completing all my paperwork for my maternity leave.  One less thing to worry about it. 
Miss Anything? Not really...
Movement:  Yes.
Food cravings: I had 2 dreams where I was drinking iced coffee and couldn't stop thinking about it all week.
Anything making you queasy or sick:  No
Gender:  Girl
Labor Signs: 1cm dilated, 85% effaced
Symptoms: Nausea, Braxton Hicks, Swelling, Pelvic Pain, Back Pain....
Belly Button in or out?  In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Honestly, Tired. 
Looking forward to:  Getting my car detailed & Brad installing the car seat.  I'm thinking it will "will" the baby to come.