Happy 20 Months, Baby Girl.

Love You, Baby Girl.

Don't grow up too fast...

A Look at Thanksgiving.

Pregnancy: Week 11

Pregnancy: Week 11

DATE: November 25, 2010-Thanksgiving. (Though we thought you were only 7 weeks!)
How far along: 7 Weeks
 Total Weight Gained: Unknown.  I never weigh myself, ha!

How big is baby?

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.
 Maternity Clothes: No.

Sleep: Good.
Best Moment of the Week: Spending Thanksgiving with My Family! Decorating th house for Christmas, and Watching Christmas Movies with the Hubs all weekend!  When Nik came out, saw tree for the first time, and held her hands up, and said "Hot, Hot" in a hushed whisper, and then blew on Tree, ha!
Movement: Sometimes I think I feel little sudden flutters, movements.
Food Cravings: Milk. Eating a lot of cereal. Two bowls a day.
Starbucks Mocha Frapachinos, no whip.  Pumpkin Cheescake- I ate practically all the Pumpkin Cheescake I made, myself. Mmmm....
Food Aversions:  Soda. Caffeine.

Morning Sickness: None.
Gender: Unknown.

Symptoms: Nausea if I don't eat.

What I miss: Sharing a Cocktail with my family at the Holidays and not being able to share our good news yet.  We are waiting till we are 12 weeks!
What I'm looking forward to: Telling everyone!! And, my 1st Doctor's Appt Monday. We have been waiting to avoid bills, ha

Gobble, Gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving, Yall!

Check Back on Monday for details

on my very First Blogger Event in Chicago

and my FIRST GIVEAWAY EVER!!

Hope you all have a Happy, Healthy, and Safe Thanksgiving!!

Love Ya!

I HEART CHRISTMAS.

My Company Christmas gift came this weekend.  I had a difficult time deciding this year. Last year, I got a Mikasa Glass Candy Dish, the year before, a Camping Tent in the hopes that hubs and I would go camping, but then Winter came, and a baby in the Spring. The year before that, I missed the deadline to order, ha!Hopefully, we can make plans to go Camping sometime next year, I have never been, and am really excited to go.  And, as girly as I am, I think I might be able to rough it for at least one night. As long as I have my "Louie" Louis Vuitton, right (ha, ha, that a "Newlyweds" reference).

This year, I decided on this:

To replace my "If Lost Please Return to Tiffany" Toggle Bracelet that I lost the Christmas I worked at Bath and Body Works, to earn extra money for Christmas. Ironically, I took it off and put it in one of our Communal smocks so I wouldn't scratch/nik it while at work, and then I left it in there, and forgot about it. Someone found a nice surprise that Christmas in their smock.  Looking back I have a fond memory of working there, but that job was actually a nightmare! They had all us Christmas help on stocking and unloading most of my time there, with the occasional floor walking/assisting customers. I think I worked the Cash register twice the whole time I was there.  I did enjoy the Festive atmosphere and meeting/helping Christmas shoppers, and handling all the products. But, I don't think I have ever been paid less and worked harder in a shorter period of time in my life, ha!  To top it off I bought Christmas presenets for all the women in my family, so they probably got their money back, ha!  Oh well, I did get to work with an old friend of mine, but needless to say, I did not offer to stay on when they offered me an extended position.

I don't know when I'll ever be able to replace my Tiffany Togle, hubs doesn't even know Tiffany's exists on the map, even though it's my favorite store outside of Victoria's Secret.  But, the Brighton, Bibi Heart Bracelet, is a very pretty and intricate design.  It's design was inspired by Bali.  I have never been to Bali or anywhere Tropical, so I thought why not? And, after watching "Eat, Pray, Love," and her trip to Bali, I was inspired.  And, I let Nik have the tin heart it came in.  Who doesn't love new jewelry.

I will probably put it in my stocking for Christmas!

Speaking of Bath and Body Works. I went in there recently becuase I received my annual Christmas gift certificate for a free $13 gift with a $10 purchase. I went to get candles like I usually do, and I must say I was a little shocked that what you used to be able to buy for $10/$13 for a candle is NO LONGER.  The $10 candles are now like mini votives, what is up with that? I am very dissapointed in this fact. The cute frosty glass casings are gone as well, and they all look like Yankee Candles now. I like Yankee Candles, but if I wanted a Yankee Candle I'd go buy one. What happened to the signature frosty glass Bath and Body candles?  I want those back. I hate when companies change their signature products. Ugh!  Wish I could've stocked up on them before they switched to this new design.  Grr, Roar!

Top Two Tuesday!! Top Two Christmas List!!

It 's time again for Top Two with Taylor at The Undomestic Momma!  I have been so swamped at work at home, I'm sad to say I haven't been keeping up with Top Two. I thought I'd grab a few momwnts to participate this week, so I don't fall behind indefinently!

Obviously, I LOVE anything Victoria's Secret, and I really want a pair of Ree-Tones, but what I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT is:

1.

 Our computer is still on the Fritz. We still can't upload any photos.  A IMAC is my dream computer so I can do more with my photos!  And, it's just so pretty!  So sparkly and shiny!  Ahhh....

and

2.

CS5 for MAC, or another Adobe Photoshop Editing Program for MAC.  So, I can take photos to that next level.  Dream come true!

Head on over to Tay's and see what other Momma's and Ladies have on their Christmas Wish List this year!  Can't WAIT to see everyone's picks!

Merry Wishing!!

Chicago Blogger Event!

Stay tuned!  I have some pics to share from this weekend and the Team Mom/Child's Play Chicago Blogger Event at Navy Pier!  My First EVER Blogger Event!

Swamped at Work! 

Love to All!  So excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and still have some pics to share of the Pumpkin and our Fall Sessions!

Happy Monday!

(Holy Exclamation Mark!!)

Veterans Day.

For those who served so that we may live free.  Thank you for the gift of our freedom, and our children's freedom.  That's you Daddy and Grandpa and Great Grandpa Berner, Karen and Frank Sartiano and many other members of our family.  God Bless you all!

Pregnancy: Week 9

Pregnancy: Week 9

DATE: November 11, 2010
How far along: 9 Weeks (though we thought you were only 5 Weeks at this point!)

Total Weight Gained: Unknown.  I never weigh myself, ha!

How big is baby? 
My little Olive.

 Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!
Maternity Clothes: No.

Sleep: Good.

Best Moment of the Week: Lunch with the Hubs, Dinner out with Nik and the Hubs, window shopping, then a movie with the Hubs, while Mimi and Papa watched Nik for the night!

Movement: Fluttering in my stomach.
Food Cravings: Milkshakes, Juice, Water. Very Dehydrated!

Food Aversions: The smell of over-ripe bananas makes me feel sick.  Any amount of caffeine makes me feel sick. Soda. And too much Juice.

Morning Sickness: If I don't eat in the morning, I get nauseated, sick, and close to fainting. I have to eat a bagel with cream cheese every morning.  And, usually need a morning snack as well.  Eating dinner earlier at night as well.

Gender: Unknown.

Symptoms: Nausea if I don't eat.

What I miss: Cocktails, ha!

What I'm looking forward to: My 1st Doctor's Appt. We have been waiting to avoid bills, ha!

Fall Festival.

It was high noon, and there were som harsh rays, but I just LOVED the colors (yellows, greens) we captured in the corn maze balanced with her fall coat.  I am in love with corn mazes, they are so much fun, and so great for photo ops!  This was an amazing maze!

I had Hubs take this picture of us peeking from behind the corn.

Fascinated with corn.

How Happy Does she look in this photo, on her way to the Festival.

Who doesn't LOVE Free Fall Fun!



Leaves.

These past three days have been so beautiful. I was missing the warm fall weather for photo ops for the Pumpkin. I took these on Sunday after the pumpkin woke up from her nap. Wasn't too long before the sun started to fade behind the homes in our neighborhood. The sun is setting so early now. When I get off work, it is already setting. I guess our photo sessions are going to be limited to the weekend now. I was so sad bc I had a couple shoots in mind, and had been waiting for some warmer weather. Mother nature graced us with three beautiful days in a row, and wouldn't you know it, my company has been in overtime for practically 8 months straight, and I wasn't able to take a hour off of work to take advantage of the warm weather and grab some shots I have been dying to take. Grr, Roar.  I had hoped to grab a couple possible Christmas Card shots before the cold weather hit. I think we have seen the last of the warm weather, and it breaks my heart.

The Daddy emptied our Little Tykes Turtle Sandbox out this weekend (the one that I snatched off the curb of a mansion near our home). Here I was trying to prevent him from dumping it, saying "No, No, No, it's still warm, she can still play in it, don't throw it out."  Nik was sad to see it go as well.  It just breaks my heart to think that summer is gone, and warm fall days are coming to an end. My pumpkin is getting so big. I swear she just went through a HUGE growth spurt. Where did the time go. I am so sad at this.

You might have noticed my blog header is a little different. I had a meltdown today. For some insane reason, I decided to try and change my blog today. I have been wanting my photos to appear larger than they do, and after ruling out that Flkr was the cause, I decided it must be blogger, and thought that changing the template would allow for larger photos. Well, I neglected to save my blog before hand, duh!, and I tell you I had a mess on my hands trying to get it almost back to where it was prior to my meddling. I don't know why I do these things to myself, ha!  So, I can't get it back quite the same, the pattern doesn't go all the way to the top, and I don't know why, so there's A LOT OF PINK at the top. I think one of these days I will switch to a photography blog template so I can upload larger photos. I discovered changing the template does not make the photos larger, so I just kept the right justified template.  I discovered I think you have to edit your photos in photoshop to get them to appear larger on your blog. If anyone else has any tips of this, please share.

Hope everyone is having a good week. I just realized last night, I have so many photos I haven't shared. From our pumpkin patches, etc. I hope to share some of those with you while it's still Fall.
Is anyone else getting really excited for Thanksgiving and well, Christmas. I think I am going to put up Christmas decs this weekend!  Is that crazy!??  I can't wait for Christmas for the pumpkin!

A Look at Halloween.

So, we're a little behind on pics lately, but I wanted to share.  I actually begged the daycare provider the Monday before Halloween to please, please, please use hand sanitizer and wash hands and try and limit hands in mouth all week before Halloween. We had a visit to Chicago to visit my brother, sister-in-law,& nieces on Thursday, a family memorial service in Iowa on Saturday, and Halloween on Sunday, and I really didn't want her to get sick. And, wouldn't you know it, she woke from a nap Sunday afternoon warm. The fever dissapated, and the hubs dismissed me saying she was fine, and I was over exaggerating.  Then, as we were going to leave the house to go visit family on Halloween, getting a late start already, the hubs says to me, have you felt her forehead, she has a fever. Ugh, are you kidding me???  Can we get any kind of a break, the child is sick every three days. EVERY THREE DAYS, literally.  What are they doing over there, licking each other. Come on, it's her first real Halloween.  We took her temp and sure enough she had a fever of 101.7.  Josh's sister and family were heading to his mom's house, and we didn't want to get any of them sick, so we were hoping to hit the in-laws house after they had left.  We were already dressed and Nik was in good spitits so we headed to my parents house to wish them a Happy Halloween.

Nik learned to say Halloween literally in 2 seconds, and she had it all night long. In that little baby girl voice of hers, with a little sing songy high lift at "ween."  I don't know why we didn't teach her Trick or Treat sooner, but she picked that up right away too, but sounded more like, "trick treat."  Of course, she "woofed."  BUT, she refused to wear her dog hat, which was the cutest part, with the big floppy ears. I even had the sewing lady fix it bc it hung down in her eyes to much, but she still refused to wear it.  Oh well, wait till I tell her all these stories.

And, with us running late, the sun setting earlier, and Nik coming down with a fever, I just didn't have the heart to torture her to take a lot of photos. I just wasn't on with my camera, and completely neglected to adjust my settings correctly, and forgot to shoot in raw and jpeg so I could edit at a later date. Oh well.

Daddy is usually "Jason," but Nik had run off with his mask, and we couldn't find it running out the door. I guess he looks more like a lumberjack here, ha!

I was just a cat again this year, cause it's cheaper, and easier. I had though about being a dogcatcher, but I never looked into the costume.   I think next year I will be a witch, my mom found me this great hat.

Nik and I with my brother.

Some mice showed up to the party too...Just kidding. I saw these through the door of my parents house and thought it was a cute pic.

This is Glenda. Nik loves her. She sits at the bottom of the steps at my parents house, and Nikolina gives her hugs and kisses and carries her around the house. Of course, she had to join us outside for pictures.

Look at that face. I had to apply her make-up, literally no less than 8 times, bc she kept rubbing it off, accidently.  She held that fever till Wed morning, when she finally broke it, just a little warm.  By wed afternoon, it was gone.  Just breaks my heart.

Hope you all had a Happy Hallo"WEEN."

Shutterfly Christmas.

Eeeeeek!!  I am so excited!! I LOVE Shutterfly!

Many of you bloggers out there may have seen the Shutterfly Promotion.  I LOVE Christmas, and I have sent out my own Christmas Cards since I was 18 years old!  Sending Christmas Cards has always been a Christmas Tradition in my family, and one that I want to carry on into my own family.  This tradition always puts me in the Christmas spirits, and the more you send out, the more chance you might get one in return, and who doesn't LOVE receiving Christmas Cards at Christmas!

Since I have met my husband 5 years ago, sending Photo Cards has been my favorite way to send Christmas Cards (and they are my favorite ones to receive).  It's like a present within a present.  Before, I started using photos, I used to write long letters in each Christmas Card. Family and Friends always loved it, but it was so tedious and took hours.  With Photocards such as Shutterfly offers, I feel like you often don't have to say too much, becuase a photo is a snapshot of your life in itself. Takes a lot of the pressure off of writing a long, personalized message on each card. And with a little one running around, that's a huge relief.

I discovered Shutterfly a few years ago, and I have always wanted to send Shutterfly Christmas Cards, but I have always simply ended up using a local Photo Print shop for printing the photos to insert or photocards.  But, the quality of Shutterfly cards is no comparison to local photo stores and the price is so affordable compared to most Professional Photography Christmas Cards, or even some non-photo Christmas cards bought at the store. 

I was given the opportunity to participate in a giveaway that Shutterfly is offering to Bloggers.  I went to their website, and I was blown away at all the choices.  They have a Holiday Card for everyone!  I was asked to pick three of my favorite cards, and I have to say, this was no easy task!  The choices just kept coming and coming. I thought I must surely be through nearly all the choices, when I looked at the scroll bar, and I was only 1/4 of the way down the page! But, I was really happy for all the choices. Even a slight difference int the design makes a visual difference and adds a personal preference to the card.

I have received Shutterfly Holiday Cards from family and friends throughout the years, and you will not be dissapointed in the quality of the photo, print, and paper card stock. It is fabulous!  You wouldn't believe that they were so affordable.  I am confident that everyone will LOVE these Christmas Cards, and I can;t wait to send ours out!

It was hard to look past the beautiul photos of children to find my favorite design, but these are my three favorite cards:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/modern-damask-red-christmas-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93479

I Love the colors, the Damask design, and the saying, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  I remember that song from Childhood.  I also love the cursive writing.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/oh-holy-night-religious-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93479

I loved this as well. "O Holy Night" is one of my favorite songs and truly reminds us all the true meanign of Christmas. I loved the balck and white photo, and the simplistic nature of the colors. I loved the mix of the cursive with the block print.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/modern-damask-gold-tarjetas-de-navidad?sortType=1&storeNode=93479

I loved the colors of this design. Shutterfly has some wonderfully brillant colored Christmas Cards with pinks, greens, and blues, which warm the heart during this cold, white blanketed season.  The damask is used here as well, and Feliz Navidad is one of my favorite ways to say "Merry Christmas."

It was so hard to chose, I LOVED them all!  I chose desings that would be perfect for one photo, but I also like the multi photo design possibilities.  I prefer the 1 sheet flat cardstock as opposed to an actual fold card.
I also have to show you these two, because I really liked them as well:

I Love that you can further personalize it by writing a short letter to keep friends and family informed on what has been happening in your life.

I LOVED this one as well!  If I had three or four children, I would def use this card. I LOVE that there is room to write under each photo to tell friends and family what each child has been doing/a little about themselves.

Beyond Christmas Cards, Shutterfly also offers Beautiful! Birth Announcements, Shower Invites, and  Birthday Party Invitations, Photo Books, and Calendars.  I am thinking of definently looking into the photobooks and calendars for Christmas gifts.

You can also become a member of Shutterfly and have access to free photo storage, where you photos are never deleted, and they are stored at full resolution. You receive a 100% satisfaction guaranteed promise, free 50 4x6 prints, and the convience of picking up your order at a local CVS, Walgreens, or Target.  You can't beat that!

Head on over to Shutterfly and check it out!  Happy Shopping!



Disclaimer: This post is a promotion for Shutterfly.  For this post, I am receiving 50 free Christmas Cards courtesy of Shutterfly.