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!

Papaya - 22 weeks

Feb 27 - March 5

How Far Along: 22 weeks

Size of baby: a papaya, 8 in, 1.2 lbs

Total Weight Gain:

Maternity Clothes: I'm still wearing the same things.  Lots of skirts and dresses. Looking forward to doing a little shopping when I get back stateside! 

Gender:  I've got a wild man in there.  He's a mover.

Movement: No doubt about it. 
Exercise: I'm walking and running mostly these days.  We've only had one car, so I haven't been getting over to yoga class very much and we've been so busy with this stinkin' move that I've been exhausted.  I will be so happy when this move is over.

Sleep:  He's active when I first lay down to go to sleep and I love falling asleep with a smile on my face and a hand on my belly.  And usually right after I wake up and start moving a bit he'll move around and it's an awesome start to the day.  Blissful.  

What I miss:  I want a margarita!  And I would love to run with out feeling like I'm going to pee my pants.

Cravings:  Apples.  Going to FINALLY get a granny smith apple in t-minus FIVE days.  And since we have practically nothing in our apartment since the movers came I'm really missing my fruit and spinach smoothies, and eggs... and cooking food in general. I'm eating a lot of salads this week which is good.

Symptoms:  Everything is getting bigger.  And I'm hot.  Pretty much always unless I have control over the AC/fans/windows.  It's terrible.  Everyone will be fine and I'm like "Can I open a window? Can we turn the AC up?" as I'm sweating rivers.  Poor Brad woke up the other morning with icy hands and my cat had freezing cold little ears and feet.  I was comfortable. I felt so bad! And I'm usually always cold.  NOT excited to see how I'll like being 9 mo pregnant in the middle of FL summer.  
Best moment this week:  My baby shower!  I'll post on this soon.  And I did a lil mid-pregnancy photo shoot and I can't wait to see how the pictures turned out!

What I’m looking forward to:  We move back to the States on SATURDAY!!!  I can't wait to run around the lake, eat at all the fantastic American restaurants, go shopping in actual stores I want to shop in, I can't wait to go shopping in an American grocery store that isn't the commissary... ok you get the idea.  Mostly I can't wait to give my mom and dad a big hug when I see them this weekend.  We'll be staying with them in VA for a few weeks before we go down to FL. 

Since I haven't posted belly pics in a few weeks on here:

Seeing these pictures off of my iphone makes me realize how terrible my iphone has gotten.  Please excuse the grainy, slightly blurry pictures!  So excited to get my new iphone 5 next week! But, you get the idea.  I finally look a little pregnant.  I'm pretty sure I can still hide it though depending on what I wear.  While my belly button has been out since about 18 weeks my belly itself has taken awhile to pop, but it's finally getting out there a bit.  I like to joke that I am carrying the baby in my butt because that's what's really expanding the most.  So after 5 months of being pregnant but not showing it's fun to finally look the part!

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.