A Year of Violet

Everyone knows I'm addicted to Pinterest and I found this idea on there when I was killing time on bed rest.  The basic thing is taking weekly pictures of your baby through the first year.  I'm going to use different fabrics for backgrounds and at the end of the year make her quilt with all the different ones we use.  

Here are the first three photos.

I can't believe how much she has changed in just two short weeks!

Miss Violet has arrived

Violet Jane

Born 3/13/12 @ 8:55PM

7lbs 11.5oz 19.5 inches

Fat or Pregnant?

During this pregnancy I have played a game with myself, "Fat or Pregnant?" I've become obsessed with how I look.  Honestly, I don't think I have ever focused on how I have looked so much.  I guess in my mind I saw pregnancy as the great equalizer, that when I was pregnant I would just be pregnant not overweight.  Ha!  That doesn't go away my friends, silly me.

I don't have a lot of photos of me during this pregnancy because I don't feel as though I have looked sufficiently pregnant.  I know I'm being stupid and I know someday I will regret the lack of photos, especially if Violet wants to see photos of me while I was pregnant with her. I actually just scrolled through my pictures and I only have pictures from the gender reveal party and the baby shower!  How did that happen?  I don't even have any pictures of myself from Christmas!

I decided this week that I needed to get over that.  So I searched the internet for some cute poses of maternity shots and found one I liked.  Yesterday Marc helped me.  It was actually really easy to do ourselves.  I mean, they aren't fancy or anything but I'm happy.

It's really hard for me to post this picture, I don't know why.  I even sent it to my Mom to make sure it wasn't awful.  I'm so weird.  My mom said I should have included my face BUT I wasn't thrilled with those ones, I like the focus being on the belly.  And I have plenty of pictures of my face because when you are overweight cropping is your friend.  

So here I am in all my pregnant glory.  

When Violet is born, I'm going to have a photo taken of me holding her up against my belly with the ribbon and put these two pictures side by side.  I think it will be cute.

Being Pregnant and Banded

One of my biggest concerns when I was looking into weight loss surgery was about pregnancy.  The main reason for me wanting to lose weight was to have a healthy pregnancy.  I went with the band because I felt it was the better choice for me especially when considering I wanted to have a baby in the future.  

At least in the blogs that I follow there haven't been a lot of first time moms with the gastric band.  So I didn't have a lot to go off, plus I think banders sometimes don't post as much about pregnancy because they don't feel it's band related.  I'm totally guilty of that but I've tried to start blogging about all aspects of my life.  I thought it would be helpful to share some things I've learned and experienced while being pregnant with the band.

*I had approx. 7.8 ccs in my band when I became pregnant.  Both my band doctor and ob/gyn agreed there was no reason to take any fill out unless myself or the baby wasn't getting proper nutrition or if I became too restricted.

*I have had no fill removed during the pregnancy.

*I had pretty bad all day nausea during the 1st trimester.  I was never really sick in the mornings.  I don't know if my band helped me to not throw up or what.  I would have to immediately eat something when I woke up.  

*I did find that if I ate too fast or certain things, when the food would sit in my pouch for awhile it made the nausea worse.  I will admit around week 11 I found myself thinking of going in to get some fluid removed but the nausea started to get better so I'm glad I stuck it out.

*The 1st trimester the only thing I could stomach on a regular basis was carbs, saltines and mashed potatoes were my friends.  Not so much my scale's friends though.

*I have gained 39lbs during this pregnancy.

*Though I was hopeful I wouldn't gain much, it didn't happen.  I do know that when I got pregnant I was already up from my lowest of 309.4lbs.  (100lbs lost)

*If you remember, I broke my foot the week before I found out I was pregnant.  By the time the boot cast, physical therapy and my orthopedic doctor cleared me for exercise I was battling high blood pressure so I haven't exercised at all during this pregnancy.  I dream of spring walks with Violet.

*My high blood pressure is not because of my weight.  My blood pressure has NEVER been this high even 100lbs heavier.  My ob/gyn has made it clear that this happens to people who weigh 120lbs, it's just something people develop in pregnancy.

*I have had a few instances of eating too fast and such where my band declares it is still there and functioning.  I find when I get sick from being stuck, that I am more nauseous and it takes me a bit to recover, unlike before pregnancy.

*I feel as though I've had less instances of getting stuck while pregnant than before, it's almost like I'm more conscious of my eating too fast.

*My band hasn't interfered with my pregnancy at all, no issue at all.  My port was relocated higher up so it's not in my stomach area, not sure if that makes a difference or not.

*Even though I have never been pregnant without my band I feel as though the band hasn't been a problem at all which is what I wanted before surgery.

If anyone has any questions feel to ask! 

Book of the Month: February

It's no surprise that I have been reading a lot.  I mean, daytime sucks the big one and there is not much else to do while on bed rest.  I read 14 books in the month of February bringing my grand total for the year to 25.  I'm totally going to hit my goal of 60 books for 2012, thank you very much bed rest.

I didn't do this in January but I have decided from now on each month I will pick my favorite book that I read in that month.  

February Books:

12. Home Front by Kristin Hannah

13. Hidden Wives by Claire Avery

14. Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

15. The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

16. The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards

17. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

18. The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

19. To Be Queen by Christy English

20. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

21. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

22. The Lost Hours by Karen White

23. Learning to Breathe by Karen White

24. Deep Down True by Juliette Fay

25. Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

"Before Ever After" by Samantha Sotto.

This month it's hard for me to pick a favorite, I really enjoyed a lot of these books.

This book is part fairy tale, part romance and part self discovery.  I really couldn't put it down.  

Here is the Amazon description which is way better than I can describe.

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well. As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

February Honorable Mentions:

Home Front by Kristin Hannah & The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

Happy Reading!

Crafting Update

I've been crafting again!  Well, not again really.  I've been crafting pretty consistently while on bed rest.  I just haven't posted any pictures in a bit.

I made these with inspiration from a craft I saw on pinterest.  They didn't quite come out like the ones on pinterest because I used different fabric but I think they are cute.  

Here are the ones from Pinterest.

Source: goinghometoroost.com via Leslie on Pinterest

I made Violet a cute little tutu for her newborn photos.  I didn't make the tulle go all the way around so that it wouldn't bunch up underneath her while we are taking the photos.  I also made the elastic longer so we can just pin it to her size. The tulle is a cream color but it looks a little more white in the photo.

A headband to match.

Here is another Pinterest inspired craft.  A holder for her headbands and hairclips. I made all the clips.  I love that you can just attach them to whatever headband.  A lot of these are over the top and for photos and I have some supplies I ordered online for more everyday headbands.  This was seriously easy to do.  I painted the frame, hot glued the ribbon on the back and Marc put the hooks in for me.  I could have done that myself but he offered so I took him up on it.  

Here is the one I saw on Pinterest that inspired me.

Source: theparopost.com via Leslie on Pinterest

Lastly I have some pacifier clips that I made.  I have been looking to buy them and most stores want $7 or $8 bucks for them.  I think that is RIDICULOUS.  So I looked online and I looked in the stores and decided to whip them up myself.  I bought cute little suspender/alligator clips and ribbon and on the end is a loop of elastic to attach the pacifier or even a toy.  They were the easiest things ever and probably took me about a minute to make each one.  I want to get some cute little embellishments for the alligator clip part, you can see on the teal one I added a flower.  I think I'm going to make a few for gifts for people I know who are having baby soon plus the ones for Violet.  I bet you this craft cost me less than $2 to make each and I think I'm overestimating at that.

Right now I have two projects going, a crochet bobble blanket for a family member who is pregnant and a rag rug for Violet's room.  I'm hoping to finish both this week but we shall see.

Make a List Monday - Books/Authors

So it's almost 3AM here and I've been up for about an hour.  The joys of not sleeping while pregnant.  Oh well, at least I don't have to be anywhere tomorrow!

I didn't have time to do Make a List Monday from Robyn's Nest  last week but I'm going to today!  This week's topic your Top 10 list of Books/Authors.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that having me pick my favorite authors/books is not an easy thing but for Make a List Monday I will do it!

1. Jennifer Weiner

I love all her books and I frequently re-read them because they are just that good.  My favorites are "Good in Bed", "Little Earthquakes", "Goodnight Nobody" and "Certain Girls".

2. Kristin Hannah

Another writer where I have read all her books.  My absolute favorite is "Winter Garden" followed closely by "Night Road".

3. Wanderlust by Danielle Steel

This is one of her older books and for some reason I find myself reading it about once a year.  I just love the story even though I know what is going to happen. 

4. Diane Chamberlain

I found her books about two years ago and quickly read them all.  I do that a lot, find an author I love and cruise through all their books.  I think my favorite of hers is "The Midwife's Confession".

6. Jennifer Donnelly

I have loved her Tea Rose series and she also writes young adult fiction as well.  "Revolution" was sooooo good!

7. Jodi Picoult

I love her books and am looking forward to her new one that is coming out next week.  I think my two favorites of hers are "Second Glance" and "Handle with Care".  

8.  Tasha Alexander

I love love LOVE her Lady Emily series.  I also look forward to a new book in Lady Emily's adventures.

9. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

I just recently read this and let me tell you the story just transported me.  I couldn't put it down!

10. Julie Klassen

"The Girl at the Gatehouse" is my favorite of Julie Klassen's books.  I read them so fast that I get sad when they end and I have to wait a whole year for her next book.