Spring time photo shoot

Before we left Okinawa I wanted to do one more mini photo session with our friend and fabulous photographer at Boundless Love. 

She was doing Spring Mini Sessions so I jumped on board to get some half way through my pregnancy pictures.  (I was about 22 weeks when these were taken.)  And I got to snuggle an adorable bun bun! 

All pictures - ©2013 Molly Rogers, Boundless Love
Okinawa, Japan
http://boundlesslovephoto.com/

Okinawa Baby Shower

I've been wanting to catch up on my blog for weeks now, but we have been saying good bye to Okinawa, moving back to the States, and vising my parents in VA the last 2 weeks and things have been busy! 

My dear, sweet friends in Okinawa threw me an amazing baby shower on March 2 before we left on the 9th.  The shower was held at one of my favorite Okinawa restaurants, Cafe Green Green.   They went over the top creating a space invader theme for the shower and every detail was thought of!  I'm doing a star/space theme in the nursery, so the space invader theme was perfect and super cute. 

The girls know I have a major sweet tooth, so they made a sweets table with a candy bar and pineapple filled angel food cupcakes.  They also made those super cute blocks!

Me with my wonderful hostesses.

Pax and I were showered with so many wonderful gifts!

Surrounded by so much love and support!  I love these ladies!!

It was a perfect afternoon spend with awesome friends.  I loved every minute of it!  And Pax got some amazing new things.  I can't believe he's really going to be here in a few short months!

Suprise Going Away Party

Last weekend I was totally surprised when my friends at the stable threw me a wonderful going away party.  Brad was totally in on it and made up a excuse to why we needed to be at the base by the barn on a Saturday and I totally bought it, but when he turned into the barn instead everyone was there in the driveway holding up balloons and a sign.  I was so shocked, happy and totally emotional.  It was the last thing I was expecting.  (You can really tell I wasn't expecting to be at the barn that day by my totally inappropriate barn outfit.)

Everyone in the driveway welcoming me.

The barn owner giving me a going away present - Okinawan Shisa Dogs.

My wonderful co-workers who put it all together - Karin, me, Aimee and Amanda.

Adorable, yummy cupcakes that say "We will miss you Eve"

Me and one of my favorite little boys on the planet and my former student, Max!

I love these precious girls so very much!

Awesome collage frame present with pictures from all 3 years of me and my favorite horse.

Giving my good friend Karin a big thank you hug!

The day was so special.  The girls decorated with pink and blue balloons and colorful tissue paper flowers.  They grilled chicken and everyone brought yummy sides and salads.  They were so sweet to make sure the food was full of fruit, veggies and beef/pork/processed meat free.  I could eat everything!  The whole thing was just amazing.  I felt so loved and appreciated.  I really did work super hard out at that barn for 3 years and it was so special that people let me know I meant as much to them as they do to me.  It will be really hard to leave all these amazing people I've grown so attached to. 

I've learned a lot, I've grown a lot, and I have made memories (good and bad) that I will never forget at this barn.  I don't think I've ever worked harder or been more invested at any job before.  I feel very grateful and lucky to have had this experience and to have gained life long friends in the process. 

Cherry Blossoms

Up north in Okinawa Spring has already sprung!  It's cherry blossom season.  Last weekend we had a gorgeous sunny day and decided to take the journey up North to go check out the beautiful trees. 

Our first stop was Yaedake Park  in Motobu Town.  You could wind you car up the mountain side under a canopy of pink, fluffy flowers. 

 At the top we got out and admired the view and flowers close up.

Our next stop was at the Nakijin Castle Site.  I've been to this castle so many times and I especially love it at cherry blossom time.  The trees here weren't quite out yet, but we still enjoyed a stroll around the old castle site. 

Cherry Blossom ice cream!  I loved it, Brad didn't.

Other than going up to see the trees we had such a chill weekend.  It involved movie marathons and watching all 3 Lord of the Rings movies.  I just love being able to savor these last little bits of quiet and relaxing.  Our little man is on the way and boy-o-boy will our lives be changing.  I hope you all had a great holiday weekend! 

Blueberry - 6 weeks

Nov 7 - Nov 13, 2012
How Far Along:  6 weeks.  Brain cells are forming 100 cells per minute!

Size of baby: Baby is 1/4 inch, the size of a blueberry. It's 10,000 times bigger now then at conception a month ago.

Total Weight Gain: Meh, probably some. I haven't had the energy to work out much this week because I have a stupid cold. 

Maternity Clothes: No! Maternity magazines, yes.

Gender: This week I feel like it's a boy.  I found my self wandering around the baby section at the store picking up little outfits and almost bursting into (happy) tears. 

"Mommy's little monster" gah, love.

Movement:  I'm riding, running and doing yoga.  I also started using a new pregnancy workout app on my phone that uses weights and resistance bands.  I love that there are videos for each exercise.

Sleep: I can't wait to get into bed at night!  Especially with this awful cold (which I'm refusing to take any medicine for) and running around after the horses and kids I'm just wiped out at the end of the day.

This has become pretty standard.  Going to bed really early with my kitty and kindle. Yawn!

What I miss: Coffee.

Cravings: Rice pudding, so weird.  Tried to make it from scratch and it turned out disgusting! Milk.  Salty snacks.

Apple cider, perfect fall treat.

Symptoms: Where have these boobs come from?! 

What I’m looking forward to: I have a "welcome to pregnancy" class at the hospital this week.   I am planning on announcing my pregnancy after our first ultrasound before Christmas when I'm 12 weeks.  I bought a really cute frame for the ultrasound photo that says "Dear Santa, we just had to peek!"  

Sweet Pea - 5 weeks

Oct 31 - Nov 6, 2012
How Far Along:  5 weeks.  Baby's head is forming this week (jaws, cheeks and chin) and so are baby's kidney's, liver and lungs!

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a sweet pea.

Total Weight Gain: Better be none. 

Maternity Clothes: Nope!  But, I am having a hard time seeing "normal" clothes that I love and want to buy, but know I shouldn't because by the time it gets to me it might not fit! And it's way too early to start buying maternity clothes.

Gender: No clue.  Except the online Chinese gender predictor says it will be a girl.

Movement:  I'm riding, running and doing yoga.

Sleep: I'm really tired these days! 

What I miss: Coffee.  I'm trying really hard to like this organic raspberry leaf tea.

Cravings: I'm usually a sweet tooth person, but have really been wanting more savory foods lately.

Symptoms: Normal beginning of pregnancy stuff. 

What I’m looking forward to: I've scheduled my first 2 appointments at the OB clinic.  My first ultrasound will be on Dec 10 when I'm almost 11 weeks.  I'm excited and nervous!  I want everything to work out so bad!    

It's Happened!

I am beyond elated and over-the-moon happy and excited that I am PREGNANT!!

My body must have really loved being in France because I came back to Okinawa and got pregnant right afterwards.  Brad and I were not trying by any means, but were also not doing anything to prevent pregnancy.  Just going with whatever happens happens.  But, the truth is I have wanted a baby so badly for forever.  I've always wanted to be a mom.

In the next couple weeks I noticed a few subtle changes in me and even took an early pregnancy test which came back negative.  But after missing my period for a couple days (and being able to smell everything!) when I suddenly woke up at 5:30am having to pee I grabbed another pregnancy test and totally expected it to be negative, but it wasn't.  I sat in the bathroom and cried happy tears rocking back and forth holding the test and kept looking at the results again and again to be sure what I was seeing wasn't a dream. 

Meanwhile Brad was still in bed wondering why I was in the bathroom so long.  I came out and got back in bed and he took a look at me and said "what's going on? You're being weird."  Since I knew it would be a shock and a surprise I didn't want to tell him right then, I wanted to make it special. 

For breakfast I had to make excuses for why I didn't want to eat the organic cheese (unpasteurized!) on my eggs, or the turkey bacon that I usually love.  For lunch I had to substitute my normal turkey sandwich for grilled chicken.  Oh already so many changes to get used to!

We already had plans to go out to my favorite vegan restaurant for dinner.  While we were out earlier in the day I found a frame that said "Why hello life changer" and thought it would be perfect to give to him that night with a picture of my positive pg test.  I also made him a funny card to go along with it.

Brad's like "wait... what?"

At the restaurant I was so nervous.  When I gave the card and frame to him I couldn't hold back my tears of happiness.  He said "you've got to be kidding me." I said "I'm pregnant!" and he gave me a big hug and kiss, but I think it took a good couple minutes to sink in! His reaction was pretty perfect, actually.

The next day I made Brad a thanks-for-knocking-me-up cake.

This week I went to the doctors office and they confirmed my at home results.  I really am pregnant.  I'm due July 3, 2013!! 

5 weeks on Halloween... so brand new! The fifth week of pregnancy, or the third week after conception, marks the beginning of the embryonic period.

Handing out candy - Halloween 2012

Oct 24 - Oct 30, 2012
How Far Along: 4 weeks
Size of baby: Baby is the size of an orange seed. Baby's brain, spinal cord, heart and other organs are beginning to form.

Total Weight Gain: None from the baby, but still had some left over from my France trip, oops. 

Maternity Clothes: Hopefully not for awhile, but I have a feeling I'm going to pop early.  Brad and I were both huge babies (+ 9 lbs!).

Gender: My preference is for a girl, Brad's is for a boy.  I will love either with my whole heart!  I just want to stay pregnant and have a healthy, happy baby. 

Movement: No movement from baby of course.  I'm trying to say moving though.  I'm still riding, running around during my lessons, going for relaxing runs and doing yoga.

Sleep: As good as it can possibly be after realizing your dream has come true!  So relaxed and happy.

What I miss: Homemade skinny margaritas with salt (to go with the taco salad mentioned below!)

Cravings: Taco Salad, organic chicken, and coffeeeee because I've had to majorly cut back.

Symptoms: I can smell everything, which can make me have a couple bouts of nausea here and there, but no morning sickness yet! 

What I’m looking forward to: I am so in love with this baby already.  I know it's early and I know that things can happen and that it's a vulnerable time for pregnancy.  So, we have told our parents, and our siblings, but we'll keep it a secret for a few more weeks.  OBGYN will see me starting at 10 weeks and then we can get our first ultrasound.  Until then I have 5 long weeks to wait.  I can't wait to see our baby for the first time. I can't wait to hear our baby's heart beat!  There really is so much to look forward to.  It's that wonderful holiday time of year and this baby is going to make it extra sweet and special.  We have an amazing vacation planned for the beginning of December and Brad will celebrate his 29th bday. 

Yonabaru Festival

We went out to the Yonabaru Festival, a 2 day event that comes together every year to practice 400 year old traditions to pray for a good harvest and to chase the devil away.   

We went out on Saturday evening and there was a lot going on.  There were tons of vendor booths offering the typical strange Okinawan fair food and carnival games.  There was a really interesting and entertaining sumo wrestling tournament going on as well as a Taiko drum performance, eisa dancers, Okinawan traditional dances, Hawaiian dancers and live music.

We had a great time and it is always fun to experience and participate in the interesting Okinawan culture and traditions.