Maternity Photos

Beth Armsheimer is a very talented local photographer, we went to high school together! 

She shot these at the Kaleidoscope Inn, where we had our wedding reception three years ago :) 

Check out the beautiful images she captured of Matt, (Ada), & I. 

Matt & Kara Maternity Pictures

Isn't the fish eye one hilarious?! My belly looks HUGE!! 

I adore the one of Matt & I looking up at the camera, that one definitely deserves a frame :)

25 weeks!

Here I am at 6 months 1 week pregnant. There was a fire east of Santa Maria, so the sky had a red, hazy appearance. This picture looks like I've antiqued it or something because of it! Kinda cool.

I'm still feeling great! Ada moves around constantly. Matt loves feeling her and can tell where she's hanging out in my belly.
She had her first hiccups this past week, it was awesome! I was thinking, "What on earth is she doing in there? It feels like she's body-slamming my stomach!"
I realized that the bounces were pretty equally spaced. Then it hit me: she had the hiccups! :)

For the record: I hate eggplant. The texture grosses me out.

Six months pregnant!

Weekly photo shoot time! Being silly with Matt. Yes I'm still wearing my high heels...I refuse to give them up. Yet. My feet haven't changed or gotten swollen so I'm going to wear what looks good :)

Total weight gain/loss: Gained 7 lbs. total 
Maternity clothes? Still loving my maternity jeans and wearing normal shirts and dresses.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Is glorious! Been putting a pillow between my knees which is comfy. Matt even tried it out and likes it! 
Best moment this month: Sitting on the couch with Matt's hand on my stomach saying, "It's Daddy! Kick for Daddy!" And Ada did it three times! So cool :)
Movement: Is so much more noticeable now! I can see my tummy move and so can others. She's a strong little girl and loves to let me know it. 

Food cravings: Not so much. Just been eating normal. Still loving fruit though!
Gender: Female!
Labor Signs: Minor Braxton-Hicks contractions, nothing huge. Like a little cramp then it goes away.
Belly Button in or out? Still in, but it is pretty shallow. 
What I miss: Squeezing through small spaces without hitting my stomach!
What I am looking forward to: Being done with finals, and moving into a 2 bedroom condo!
Milestones: Making it to "V-day", where technically she could survive outside of my body. We're not going to let that happen...but it is a neat milestone. And the fact that I'm SIX months along! Very exciting :) 

JAM!

It's a summer tradition in our family to make strawberry jam. Ever since I can remember, Nana has made jam to last our WHOLE family last the year through! This is incredible, seeing as Sean goes through about a jar a day. I might be exaggerating. But seriously, that kid eats PB&Js like nobody's business!
Every time Lindsay and/or Rach come home from Utah, what do they make sure and take back with them? Strawberry jam. 

What is requested when we drive out to Utah to visit them? Strawberry jam.
What is served at dinners with Nana's homemade bread? Strawberry jam.
We love this stuff :)

Step 1: Start with succulent Santa Maria jam berries, wash.

Step 2: Mash!

Step 3: Add zee sugar

Step 4: Let sit, add pectin. Stir, stir, stir. My mom teased me about my face when I was on hour 3 of jam making and stirring as I stared off into space. I looked thrilled I guess ;)

Step 5: Pour into containers and put in Nana & Bobba's freezer!

Sandy says, "You guys are boring...just in the kitchen working all day. Play with me!" 

Hooray for strawberry jam 2009!

Next summer, little Ada will be there with us learning the ways of jam making :)

Click here to hear the song I was singing all day...throwback to jazz dance class '93!

Stakeout

At my mom's on Sunday, this is what took place. A stakeout. Three hunters luring out their prey..."gaining their trust," as Sean put it. Hold very, very still.

Sandy! You moved! Now the rats will never come out of the bougainvillea to eat the peanut butter. Yup, the back bougainvillea bush has a lair a la The Rats of NIMH.

The plan is to gain their trust then exterminate them. I'm surprised the neighborhood cats haven't done something about them yet. Sandy is too slow...she just barks them back into their secret lair!
My mom was on the phone with Lindsay giving her a play-by-play on the action.
Yes, we are easily entertained :)

23 Weeks!

Here I am after church yesterday at 5 3/4 months pregnant. I feel fabulous! A little more tired than usual, but that's to be expected. Ada is getting stronger and stronger every day, and she lets me know it all day long with her kicks and acrobatics. She's an active one, which I am grateful for...it's very reassuring to feel her boppin' around in there :)

4th of July!

We had a wonderful day celebrating our nation's freedom.

First, Matt and I headed down to Lompoc to join the Millers for yummy burgers, juicy watermelon, Shrek corn (ask Ryan about that one), and badminton! Don't mind me hitting it over the fence...oops!

Of course we forgot our camera. I'm forgetting lots of stuff these days...pregnancy brain is real! Matt was so sad because he wanted to document the momentous occasion! The last time he remembers his family doing something like this was Thanksgiving when he was 7 years old. It was wonderful :)

In the evening, we drove to the beach to watch the fireworks with some of my family visiting from Kansas.

Here is Matt telling his riveting story of Francis Scott Key to Jessie, Becca, Chris, Daniel, Colleen, and my mom.

Two of my beautiful cousins, Becca and Jessie.

The best accidental picture ever!

And the beautiful fireworks at Oceano. It was great because we had these right over our head, and could see Pismo's show down the coast as well.

Some people ditched their fire, so we swooped in and took it over! We sang Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, & Foo Fighters songs accompanied by Matt on guitar. It was a perfect day!