BABY JAMES

HE'S OUR LITTLE GIFT AND WE CAN"T WAIT TO RECIEVE HIM AND WELCOME HIM TO THE WORLD! (my husband came up with this idea for the picture, how clever)

Maternity Shots

My cute little sister Amber is such an amazing photographer. She came down last weekend for my family shower and brought all her backgrouds and lights. I was really impressed with the shots she took. It was a lot of fun too. It was so funny, because during the majority of these, she kept on making me stick out my tummy. I love you Amber and thanks a ton for being so great. We are so excited to be a mommy and daddy!! During this photoshoot we almost got arrested. If you look at the picture where I am sitting infront of the brick wall, we only took like 8 different shots there and then moved. Yet we parked right next to that business building, which was in a back alley. Well, as we were taking pictures in another area we suddenly saw a bunch of cars arriving an blocking our car in. So we went over to where they were and they were Spanish speaking so we could barly communicate. The lady and husband were ticked. We told them what we were doing, yet they could not understand us. We hadn't done any harm so Amber got in the car and started to manover herself out. Then a big huge hummer blocked us in on another side. Amber did manage to get out, then I again explained myself to this guy who could speak english and we told him we were just taking pictures and did not touch anything of theirs. He said he would explain it to the ones inside. So we drove away thinking all was well. At home we hear a knock at the door and low and behold it is a cop. We could not believe it. So we explained everything and he said that they were thinking we went into their shed, which we didn't even touch. The cop took down my name and information and then said that some people just get very peranoid. That was our adventure of the photoshoot. I am now 36 weeks and am realizing that I could go into labor at anytime. Yet, I am not feeling close at all. I still feel great, but am realizing that this little guy inside of me wants more room. He is moving all the time and gets right under my ribs, which is not to comfortable. Another change I have been experiencing is how dang full I get when I eat. It bugs me, because I barely eat anything and my tummy just feels bloated, man I wish this happened normally, because I love food and sometimes eat to much. I guess he is just taking up all the room and leaving no room for food to come in. Lastly, sleeping is becoming a lot less comfortable, just cause my big tummy is in the way. I am constantly moving and making potty breaks every 3 hours in the middle of the night. Even with these changes, I am totally enjoying these moments of holding our little son inside of me. We just keep on counting down the days. I finally have a phone now, since the last one went missing, but I have lost all my numbers. Please email me at shannannielson@gmail.com so I can have your phone number again. Thanks!

Hypnobirthing

I have been thinking a lot about our little angel who is growing and getting ready to come down to us. It really is a miracle how a little one is formed into a perfect being. We just feel so honored and grateful to have the opportunity to bring an innocent and perfect child into this world. As I am now 34 weeks today, I am feeling my little boys personality. Josh and I have really been enjoying the kicking and communication we have with little James through touch. Whenever I start rubbing, poking or touching my stomach he starts to react and sometimes I can even grab some part of his body. It is so much fun seeing my stomach go up and down and doing the wave. It is so neat to seriously see him moving so much. I am sure he is going to be one active baby. Throughout this pregnancy I have really felt strongly about having a natural birth, without medication. My mind is at great peace when I think of this, to some of you I know you may think I am crazy and think, "good luck", yet as we all know it is up to the one that actually has to go through the birth. Josh and I have been attending Hypnobirthing classes every Wednesday. I love the idea of hypnobirthing and how their whole method is to make the natural birth more comfotable, easy and relaxing. It is not as it sounds, it is not actually getting hypnotized, it is getting yourself into such a deep relaxation that you place your mind some place else, other then where the pain is expected to be. I have been learning that giving birth is so painful because of the fight or flight that the mother goes into during the stages of bearing a child. I have been learning that we have to place mind over matter and allow our body to do what it is intended to do naturally. I am a true believer that my birth can be easy and enjoyable, with my husband, who will be my amazing birthing coach. Almost every night I do a relaxation technique with Josh or with a CD that helps me relax. It feels good to have to make time for myself. I think I have been getting wrapped up in everything I have to do and where I have to be that sometimes I forget about me. During these relaxation times, I feel united with James and am able to think about the birth and focus on what really matters- My little family. We are so excited to have our little guy join us soon. I have no complaints as I have had a very easy pregnancy. I have not been sick, emotional or different. I feel that I have been extremely blessed and the only change I can actually notice is my big tummy that keeps on growing, growing and growing everyday. My tummy is so tight and I just keep on thinking how can it stretch anymore? I am not able to eat as much as I would like either, because James is taking all the room. It seems that my stomach is squished or smaller or something, cause trust me I want to eat more, I just get so full and have to go to the bathroom so often. Oh, the joys of becoming a mother are all worth it.