Maternity Photos Baby #4

My wonderful photographer that we have been using since I was pregnant with Addie moved to New York. Sad, sad day for us. Luckily there are quite a few really good photographers in the area. We have had some great photo shoots with other people. This is the first maternity photo session though that we had to use someone else. As much as I wanted the same photographer for all of them, I think these came out really nice!

I wanted to do something different with this one. How many different ways can you take maternity photos, right?! We have already done an indoor shoot, outside at a barn and at the beach. Since this was a winter baby we figured the snow would be perfect!! 

Our photo shoot got pushed back a week because the photographer had somethings come up. This was fine with me because I was still not feeling well and was hoping in another week I would be better. Ha! That was a joke! I was still sick and so so so tired from being sick. Honestly, I was not looking forward to taking these pictures. I hate the cold and was just not excited about it. The morning we were supposed to go, the sun was out and it was a gorgeous day! As we were driving through the mountain we noticed there was no snow. None. At all. I was starting to get worried and probably being a little negative, even though I was really trying to stay positive. I was thinking why are we driving so far (we went about an hour away from home) if there is no snow?? We could have taken pictures anywhere by our house if we wanted no snow! But, just as we got to our exit...ta da!! Lots of snow!! It wasn't nice snow, the ski runs were not even open yet. But it was perfect for what we were doing!

Once we got everyone bundled up and we talked about what kind of pictures we wanted, we headed up a hill to find a good spot! The kids were troopers. At first. We don't own snow shoes for the kids. Just snow pants and jackets. We borrowed some shoes for Johnny (his rain boots had seen their last days) and the girls wore rain boots. About 20 minutes in to our 60 minute session, Addie is crying because her toes are cold. I forgot to have her wear extra socks! We tried to tell her to just be tough for a few more minutes. She is so sweet and did just that. In between pictures she was crying and sitting with Daniel's jacket on but when we needed her she smiled and looked happy! Johnny was good. He ran around the whole time throwing his Ninja Turtle in the snow and climbing on the hills! Dia wasn't sure what to do. When we put her down she refused to move her feet!

I did get brave and do some bare belly shots (be warned, there are a couple at the end of this post!). The other 3 kids got bare belly shots so I had to be fair! It actually wasn't as cold as I thought it would be. I did those at the very end so that I could get back in the car and warm up! By this time there were quite a few people sledding where we were. Some of the people walking by tried not to notice me standing there. One lady walked by and told me it was an awesome idea!

After it was all said and done and the kids got their marshmallows that I bribed them with and we were all warm, I was glad we went to the snow and that it was done with!

Christmas 2013

As usual December was a busy month. Besides getting ready for a baby to arrive, we had a lot to do!

Johnny's preschool went to a retirement home to sing some Christmas songs. I missed it (I don't remember what I was doing. Maybe taking Addie to her music class?). After that we all went back to the preschool and they sang the songs for all of the parents. I was happy to see him singing and participating. This kid really LOVES to sing. I heard someone say once that a child that sings is a happy child (or something like that!). He must be happy because he sings all the time! When I look at him up there with his other preschool friends he still looks so small to me. 

After the program we headed over to the coffee shop that is run by the church (that also does the preschool) and the kids got to decorate sugar cookies! Everyone is so nice to Addie because she is an alumni so she got to decorate one too! Dia and I just ate one (or 2!).

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Addie goes to music at the elementary school twice a week with one of the first grade classes. In December they were working hard on a bunch of holiday songs. Then there was an assembly. Addie was under the impression that her class was going to get up on the stage and sing up there. Turns out it was a sing a long and everyone sat down on the floor. Only the Kindergartners got to get up and sing a song. She was a little bummed about that. The parents were supposed to sing the songs a long with the kids I guess. I was busy trying to control a toddler that can't sit still! 

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We can never pass up a good Groupon deal. We had seen one for The Nutcracker a couple of times and finally decided to buy some tickets and take Addie! I surprised her that night with the news of where we were going for our girls night out! It was at a high school and put on by a local ballet company so it wasn't anything too fancy but cool enough for a 6 year old! 

It was absolutely freezing the night we went. We ended up having to park pretty far from the entrance. I was pretty pregnant and Addie wanted to dress up. So I wore my high heel boots. Half way through our walk from the car to the entrance my leg started to cramp. I tried stopping and relaxing for a minute. I tried stretching, but every time I started to walk it would cramp again! Like I said, it was freezing outside and we both wanted to get in as fast as possible. So I took my boots off. I walked in to the school in my knee high socks. I got a few weird looks from people but I put my boots back on and we were okay for the rest of the night. The joys of pregnancy!

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Right after Christmas last year we bough a 4 foot fake tree for the kids. We knew they were going to have a playroom and I thought it would be fun for them to have their own tree. They were pretty excited to decorate it. I picked up a few ornaments from IKEA and my mom sent me a bunch of soft, fabric ones that worked perfectly! I also got new stockings this year. I have had my eye on these for awhile now but could never bring myself to spend the money on them. I even tried twice to make my own stockings and they were both major fails! I only ordered 4 (because they are a bit spendy). Maybe one day I will get Daniel and I one too but for now the kids each have one and that makes me happy!

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Christmas day was pretty calm around here. The kids are great because 1) They don't wake up super early  2)They seem to think it's normal to let your parents shower and have breakfast before you open presents. I really hope that lasts when they get older. It is so nice to have everyone fed (and me looking decent in case I am in any pictures!). 

I love how Addie is just as excited as Johnny when he opens presents.

I think the tea set was the biggest hit of the morning.

Diadora loves her babies! We found her one that is really cute and she loves to snuggle her!

For dinner on Christmas we headed down to Olympia to be with Daniel's brother and his family. It was a little crazy with all of the kids there but always fun. We also celebrate our 'when we started dating' anniversary on Christmas. This year makes 14 years!

On our wedding anniversary, December 30, we went out to eat at a fancy place. We had a gift card and decided to use it! I had been sick with a nasty cough and sinus stuff for about 2 weeks at this point so I really didn't feel like doing much. We just went to dinner then walked around the mall long enough to eat our Dairy Queen ice cream then we headed home! Happy 9 years to us!