My Loves! - Maternity Pics

A huge thanks to Stacy Reeves (the most amazing wedding photog in DFW) for capturing these precious moments of our sweet family of four.  Stacy is a dear friend and does not do maternity sessions, but I was able to talk her into doing them with Travis (here is her blog of them) and thankfully able to weasel my way in for another session.  Here are some of my favorites!

Xoxo,
Gara

All I could do was laugh...

After church today, Brandon, Travis, and I ventured to Olive Garden for an early lunch. Travis was particularly "on fire" today. B and I use this term for when he is especially busy, talkative, onery, etc. almost as a warning to the other to be on your toes. His appetizer while we had our salads was some croutons - he usually goes for bread, but today, he wanted some salad dressing covered croutons. After each one went in his mouth, he would immediately demand more (both verbally and with his hands). We did our best to keep up with his requests in hopes of keeping him satisfied and to prevent him from digging in to our salads for more on his own. When our food arrived, Travis had some lasagna and fettucine alfredo from my plate. He was sucking the sauce off the lasagna and handing the noodles back to me. He seemed to be enjoying the fettucine when he wasn't trying to wrestle the salad bowl or butter knife away from me. After some good bites, he began to lose his focus on eating and started moving the food he no longer wanted off of his tray. I bent down to pick a noodle up off of the floor that Travis had dropped, and when I leaned back up I noticed that Brandon had a fettucine noodle on his nice church shirt right in the center of his chest. Finding food dropped on B's shirt is not totally uncommon, but since B was not eating, and does not even like, fettucine alfredo, I was pretty confident he didn't put it there. I told B that he had a noodle on his shirt to which he exclaimed "I didn't do it" (which I totally alread knew). At this point, I just busted out laughing. Not like a lame little giggle, but a real belly laugh (not unlike the laugh that started when the sonographer told me that T's head was measuring 6 weeks ahead at his 36 week growth ultrasound). It didn't take long for Brandon to get the giggles too, and, of course, Travis chimed in with his best fake laugh. I guess I'm a little surprised that it took me to 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant to realize that B and I are totally screwed! Not really, of course, but it was super funny to just get a glimpse of how crazy life was with just one and how it is about to get so much crazier. We enjoyed the rest of our meal while shoveling yogurt melts to the kid and chatting about how we couldn't imagine going down this crazy road ahead with anyone else but each other. We were also praising God for our friends that have gone before us (and survived to tell the tales) and for our friends that are going to be joining us at the funny farm in just a few months!

Up, up, up!

I have been super busy wrapping up some photography sessions over the past few weeks in preparation of going on "maternity leave" for a few months as we transition into our new house and as a family of four.  The business has been great, but I've missed spending our family time on the weekends.  Thankfully, I do most of my shooting at fun outdoor locations so sometimes Daddy and T tag along.  We have to be in separate areas when the actual session is happening, but at least we get to play afterwards and usually grab lunch or something.  I love having them around!

Brandon and his Mini-Me!

Xoxo,

Gara

The Conversation NOT to Have with a Preggo Person

This happened on the Wednesday before we left for Savannah so it has been a few weeks ago now, but I'll do my best to recount exactly what went down at my favorite pizza buffet joint.  This was the craziest conversation I've ever had with a stranger, and I just do not think this post will accurately portray the nuttiness of the whole thing.  My dad was with us so I definitely have a witness otherwise I don't know that I would believe it myself.

I'm guessing since it is a serve yourself buffet I had walked by this particular table of 50-something ladies (if you can call them that) several times over the course of getting Travis something to eat, then getting our drinks, and then getting my plate.  After they were done, the women walked by and one said that she just had to ask me something since they had apparently been talking about me their entire lunch.  She said "are you due TODAY?" (emphasis on TODAY!).  I just smiled and said nope and that I had several weeks to go (I had already started generalizing the whole how long to go conversations because people always keeled over when I told them I wasn't due until June).  Usually, that was enough of an answer and the questioner moved on, but not this one.  Assuming that the question already asked isn't rude enough, she proceeds with:

1) "Well, it must be twins."

Me: "Nope."

2) "Well, it has to be a boy."

Me: "Nope."

3) "Well, is all you do is eat?" (Friends, I could not make this up!!)

Me: "Nope."

4) "Well, you must come here often then?" (See above where we are at yummy pizza buffet)

Me: "Um, Not Really."

5) "Well, Good luck" (not in the like genuine sense, but in the jerky voice).

Me: "Thanks."

I literally didn't know what else to say.  Of course when she left I thought of all of these hateful things that I should have spouted back.  I'm, of course, glad that I didn't say anthing of the sort.  My dad, bless his sweet heart, made some comment about how black (I was wearing a black dress over leggings) was supposed to be slimming.  I don't think he really realized how ugly this lady was being or he might have pushed her over.  I really don't give a rats about the questions 99% of the time and am so used to the "Twins?" comment that it just rolls off me, but this lady almost had me in tears. 

I sort of hope she stumped her toe on her couch or something when she got home.  Growing babies is the most amazing thing and the fact that God made my body able to grow a human is such a miracle.  I totally embrace it and am so thankful that God also made my body able to "mostly" go back to normal.

We are getting close now so if you see me out (which will get less and less frequent), please tell me how gorgeous I look and how I must love my babies so much that I totally sacrifice my entire body all the way to my ankles in order to provide for them and that you can hardly believe that I'm almost due because I hardly look pregnant.  And try to keep a straight face.  :)

Xoxo,
Gara

Travis and Angel

Xoxo,
Gara



35 Weeks

How far along?: 35 weeks.  Today marks the infamous 35 weeks/35 days to go point in this amazing (and super speedy) journey.
Total weight gain: 42 lbs. There is always something a little depressing about rolling over to the next middle digit in my weight.  I'm guessing I get one more middle digit before this thing is done!
How big is baby?: 5 and some change.  She seems pretty long and can definitely make the whole big belly shake which makes me thing she is healthy as a horse!
Stretch marks?: This was my response during Travis's pregnancy:  "None on the belly, but I'm afraid I may get some around the belly button - the skin is looking awfully stretched."  With Maryn, they are already all over the bottom half of the belly and are getting even with the belly button.  Aye carumba!
Sleep?: Not too bad.  I'm about to have to start napping when T naps though as I'm ready to go to bed by 9 on most days.
Best moment this week?: I had my Diapers and Bows shower with all of my awesome Sunday school and mommy church friends.  They did not disappoint, and Miss Maryn already has a bow hanger full of accessories.  So blessed to have such a great support system.
 

Holly (finds out next week), Krista (finds out next week), Melanie (& Keller),

Jennifer (& Libby), and Me (& Maryn) 

(in order from most time left to least time left)

This pic is just some of the preggos from our Sunday school class.  I promise we did not send around an email encouraging everyone to start having unprotected sex.  :)  Super exciting to be in this season of our lives with so many great friends!

Movement?: She can still take my breath away with her jujitsu moves and pelvic floor ballet performances.  I'm thinking she still has plenty of wiggle room what with my super-human uterus size and all.
Food cravings?: Apples with caramel and frozen grapes.
Labor signs?: The braxton hicks started last week some time.  Mainly in the evening because I'm pooped and I've been lifting T-man.
Belly button in or out?: Ready to explode!
What I miss: Having skinny calves.  People tell me that I carry all my weight in my tummy - they are sweet, but totally wrong.  Every inch of my body (except for the upper shoulder blade region on my back - at least that is what B tells me - looks pregnant.  I'm guessing my legs have to turn into trunks and my butt double in size to keep me from tipping forward all the time.  :)
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a final completion date on our new house in the next week or so and paying all of the bills for M's arrival beforehand.  They suck, but at least you get better discounted rates if you pay them up front.  Thankful that we have some money in savings to be able to cover these costs.
Milestone: Got a good deal on a double stroller that our chicco infant seat will be able to fit in.  We really don't need many additional things (which is good since we have no room).  We will fish out the bouncer seat from the garage and the bassinet is in our closet - we will wait until the last possible minute to set this stuff up.

Prayer Request:  I've scheduled my C-Section for 6/14 (40w3d), but have pretty much decided that if I go into labor on my own before then and conditions are favorable that I would like to try a VBAC.  I've been prayerful for a long time about this, and I'm praying that God control the whole situation for me and allow a safe delivery that is His will.  Any words of encouragement and prayers about this are greatly appreciated!

XOXO,
Gara

What's in a Name?

Naming your children is kind of a big deal being that they sort of have that name for a while.  :)

We have always wanted two things with our names:  1) to honor family and/or tradition, and 2) to not have five of the same named kid in their kindergarten class.  I have loved having a unique (read: totally made up) name, and I'm pretty sure Brandon was Brandon H. for at least a good portion of his school days.  We were totally able to do that with Travis's name and are super excited to be able to do it for our daughter as well.

We chose Maryn in honor of our grandmothers.  Some are no longer with us, and some still have many years left.  Mauddell (Brandon's paternal grandmother) passed away many years before I came into the picture.  Lou Anne aka Grana (my maternal grandmother) and Joan (pronounced Jo-ann) aka Nannie (Pop's mom and my step-grandmother for 20 years) are both doing well in Lubbock.

Mary Margaret Travis (1/7/18-12/24/04) aka Grandma (my paternal grandmother) was the closest thing to an angel on earth that I've ever known.  She absolutely had the sweetest spirit and was such a Godly woman.  Her commitment to her family and her church were unmatched.  She taught Sunday school for a million years and no doubt led many young boys to know and love the God that she so whole-heartedly worshipped.  She had a son in the Brownfield ISD for 36 straight years (she graduated one son the same year another son started kindergarten - TWICE).  I watched her take care of my grandpa for many years and never sensed anything but unconditional love for him even in the toughest times.  She was such a testament to faith and prayer, and I can't help but think that she is so proud of me and my commitment to my family.  I only hope to be able to leave a legacy like she has and look forward to sharing her bible and her cornbread recipe with Maryn one day.

June 20, 2003

Mary Oler Fowler (8/27/35-12/22/06) aka Granny (Brandon's maternal grandmother) was so sassy and such a spit-fire.  I loved hanging out with her and trading witty jabs.  She was a great cook, and I have such fond memories of hanging out and eating at Granddaddy's and Granny's house.  She was a hairdresser for a million years and those clients were her extended family which I think says a lot about a woman and her ability to love and make friends.  Granny was very active in her church and know that many were blessed by her smile (and chocolate sheet cake).  While Granny was in the hospital, her beauty shop clients and church family and all sorts of folks in between visited and shared amazing stories about her.  I know that the family cherished all of these visits.  Granny loved her Pomeranian, and I'll never forget the look she gave Brandon after he ended up in the pool following Brandon and his piece of ham.

June 21, 2003

As you can see from the bolded letters, we were able to include a little bit from each of their names in order to come up with Maryn.  We used the "y" in the spelling in tribute to the two Mary's that we each knew and loved and will see again one day.  I hope that Maryn treasures family, community, and God like her grandmothers did.  Rochelle is mine and Lovey's middle name so that was the easy part.  I look forward to sharing with Maryn about her grandmothers that have passed before her and for her to meet the ones still around.

Xoxo,
Gara