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Amanda Shoemaker

Yesterday I heard the news that two people really close to our hearts lost their daughter in a horrible train accident. Mine and Michael's hearts are aching so bad for their family right now, we are still in shock.

Randy and Sarita are two people we met 8 months before our wedding. I had been trying to find something fun for Michael and I to do together to get in shape before our wedding, and a girlfriend of mine suggested 805 Bootcamp. We called Randy and signed up the next day. They have an awesome website that gives you an idea of how much fun their program is : http://www.805bootcamp.com

 The first day, we seriously thought we were going to die before we even finished the warm-up!! They had no sympathy for us, and continued with 8 counts, dee-dee's, turbos, and the list goes on. We both knew we were in for it, but the atmosphere of the group of people, and the motivation from Randy and Sarita was so welcoming and inviting we couldn't wait to come back. Each "tour" is twelve weeks of really intense workouts to increase your strength and endurance, and its all done outside, with people who are there for the same reasons, to lose weight and get in better shape. We made so many friends through bootcamp, there seriously has never been a nicer group of people. Randy and Sarita opened their home so many times for fun get togethers, it was like this huge family of bootcampers!

I completed two bootcamp tours, and my hubby completed 6. I was in the middle of finishing nursing school and planning our wedding, not to mention studying for my state boards and working. Even though we didn't do it together, I had never been so proud of him. His dedication to this program was unreal, and I give Randy and Sarita all the credit in the world for that. Bootcamp was his life the months leading up to our wedding, he ate, breathed, and slept 805 bootcamp. Here are some fun pictures just so you get an idea of how awesome it really was

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, my handsome hubby rocked a sweatband at camp, I still giggle every time I see a picture of him wearing one!

Moving away from California was hard enough leaving our friends and family, but I know for Michael leaving his bootcamp family was especially tough. He had really built a bond with so many of them, and it had become part of who he was. We were lucky enough to have a big group of them at our wedding:

 

 

 

 

We are so lucky to know Randy and Sarita who brought together so many people for such a great cause. It is so hard to understand why God chooses to take people from this world so young, but we know his plan is so much greater than ours and through all of the heartache and pain we have to take heart in that.

The story of Amanda's accident can be read here:

Amanda Shoemaker

Here is a photo from the VC Star of Randy with his daughter

  

Words cant express our sorrow for them, we send our condolences and love as their family deals with this tragedy. We love you guys and you are in our hearts and prayers.

How?!

Please tell me how a belly has the capacity to stretch any bigger?!?!

Senior Shoot: Amber

I got back from a senior shoot this evening, and while my computer was taking forEVER and ten days to upload the files from my card to my harddrive, I did manage to stay up long enough to do a few quickie edits and wanted to post them for Amber. Thanks for letting me take your photos today, I had so much fun and hope you enjoy them!! :)

 

 

Weekend Re-cap + Nursery + Baby

Ok so I know how far behind I am on blogging, I swear I think of it every day and then just manage to let it slip away.

My hubby and I had the best day off together yesterday, with our jobs and schedules, and now his new business its been hard to find time to spend just the 2 of us, and yesterday was perfect. We slept in, he made me breakfast, we cleaned, went to the dog park with Kobe, grocery shopped, and watch Stepbrothers before bed (HILARIOUS movie, if you havent seen it you have to!). We know that time alone is going to be few and far between once Olivia comes so we are trying to enjoy it as much as possible and we had a great time.

The previous week, my sister was here to visit (for a whole week!), we painted our office, the nursery, and bought all the fun stuff to go in it. I dont have a picture of it completed but you can at least see the color...let me know what you think, I am still on the fence about it since its not very "baby-ish"

Here is Aunt Bean, testing out the paint color...

 

And here is mommy, still unsure if the shocking color will frighten my baby! (and if thats not a HUGE belly I dont know what is!!)

 

Daddy and Aunt Bean putting the crib together

 

The crib all together (I loooove the crib!!)

 

Aunt Bean and the Kobester (who is no longer a puppy and now a gigantic dog!)

 

Mommy and her giant belly with Aunt Bean

 

Mommy and Olivia with crazy Uncle Josey...dont ask!

 

It was so so much fun having my sister and Jose here, I wish they lived down the street so we could hang out with them every day :(

The best part was Olivias glamour shots...check them out (I know I am a biased mommy, but I think shes the cutest baby ever!)

With all the room in my belly, you have to wonder why she is so squished that her FOOT is by her face!

 

Here she is with her little mouth open, I think she was saying "I cant wait to meet you mommy!"

 

Being shy

 

I think she was opening her eyes in this one

 

Love this smile...for those of you who know Michaels family she already does the "Matty"

 

Still the sweetest sound...her heartbeat

 

With her squished up little nose

 

We cant wait to meet you baby girl! I cant believe I am almost 32 weeks...time is flying. I cant say I am 100% ready for her, we still have our child birth classes, parenting classes, a couple books we want to finish, baby showers, and the nursery to finish...but I am just getting SO excited I cant stand it!!! :)

Remembering Madeline

Ok, so I realize that I do not "know" this family in real life, but I cant help but want to share their story with anyone I can. My friend Anjee at work had this linked on her blog, and I have been following it ever since. If you dig deep into the blog, you can read up about the struggles this adorable little girl had since she was born, her story, and now her legacy. I understand I am pregnant, and 100x more hormonal than normal, but it just breaks my heart and has made me realize what a blessing life really is. If you get a chance, browse through the blog, scroll down a little and watch the ten minute tribute made by her parents, it may make you hug your family a little tighter tonight.

Madeline

a n t i c i p a t i o n

So the last couple of weeks, the anticipation of having a baby girl here in the next 8-10 weeks (or possibly sooner depending on how long she decides to reside in my uterus) is really setting in. My hubby brought our crib and nursery glider upstairs today because we are putting it together this weekend! I am painting my baby girls room this weekend. Its just kind of surreal, to think, that in such a short time, my life, our life, our families lives will change so drastically.

Part of me wants to be in this exact moment, at 2:43 pm on Monday April 13th forever. Part of me wants to be 30 weeks pregnant, daydreaming of my baby who swims and kicks around inside me, wondering who she will look like, what her first words will be, thinking about what her laugh will sound like, when she will get her first tooth, etc. Part of me wants to savor this moment in my life where I am a newlywed, its just me and my husband, life seems so easy but yet so full. Part of me wants to be pregnant forever simply because it really is God greatest gift, the blessing of creating life.

The other part of me is so excited to BE a mommy. To deliver my daughter, to see my husbands face light up when he holds her for the first time, to witness my parents and in-laws become grandparents (grandparents?! MY parents are going to be grandparents?!?! holy moley!), to see my sister and sister in law fall in love with their niece, to get to introduce Olivia to all of my family and friends, to dress her up in her adorable outfits, to take thousands of pictures of her and plaster them all over this blog and our home. To watch her sleep, and snuggle her all day every day. To be able to call myself a mom. The only mom I have ever known is my own, and let me tell you, those are some pretty big shoes to fill.

My heart is torn between both, but lets face it, the reality is that she is coming, ready or not, and its coming so fast I feel like I am going to blink and she will be here.

Wouldnt it be great if life had a pause or slow down button?!

7 Months!

 

From TheBump.com: Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments. 

REALLY?!?!?!? My itty bitty baby girl that was once the size of an appleseed is now 2.5 POUNDS?!?! People always say that time flies when your having fun, its seriously true. Ok so maybe its not all fun, the swollen ankles, the exhaustion, and the ever expanding waistline, but I just cant even believe I am 7 months pregnant already and my daughter is like, a real baby now!!! I have been feeling her move around constantly and have been able to see her kick from the outside now. That has to be the single most amazing thing thus far, seeing her move around so much that my belly moves, its crazy! I love this growing people business, its so fun  :)

So many things to say, its been forever since I caught up on here. I actually am working on a new blog, typepad is on my last nerve (I know, it wasnt even a year ago that blogger did the same thing to me), and I wanted a nicer blog that looks prettier to use for posting photos of seniors I have been photographing, so once its all prettied-up I will post the new link!

At my last OB appointment baby was great, but mommy had slightly elevated blood pressure combined with the recent swelling, so I have really been keeping an eye on it because the last thing I want to deal with is pre-eclampsia (for those who dont know, it can be very dangerous and the only real treatment if your unable to manage it with meds is delivering your baby). I have been taking it easy on my days off and trying to stay off my feet more at work which is near impossible some days. I am hoping to work up until the end with this pregnancy so that I can save my time off for when baby is here. Keep me in your prayers that this will be possible.

My sister is coming to Arizona for a WEEK next week and I am sooo excited. We are painting the nursery, putting together Olivia's crib and rocker, and hopefully organizing her closet. I am sooo excited I cant stand it. Not only because I miss my sister like crazy and am really excited to spend time with her, but I am really stoked she is helping put together her first niece's nursery, its going to be fun! We are also going to get a 4D ultrasound that week so stay tuned for pictures!

I have a couple baby showers coming up in May that I am really excited about! I am excited to start putting all her stuff together. The sad thing is I have already bought so many things, I cant help it, when I see something that screams baby girl I just have to get it!

I came home yesterday to the best suprise ever, my sweet hubby (who I dont brag about enough on here) cleaned our house, spotless! I mean really, the carpets, the BATHROOMS, it was all sparkling clean and it was sooo nice to come home to! Kobe went yesterday for an "interview" at a doggy-daycare place and we were really impressed, he is going to start going a couple of days a week when we are unable to take him to the dog park or out for the minimum 1 hour of exercise a day he needs. This place is really super cool and the people loved Kobe so I am excited about it. Funny that we wont have to put our child in day care, but our dog!

Anyway, off to start my day, I will update with pictures soon!

Olivias favorite book

When my hubby picks out a book every night to read our precious daughter, I swear this her favorite!! Now Michael and I find ourselves using that phrase all the time when we do stupid things!