Birth Photography - Winter's Story

The formatting on my photography blog is giving me trouble, so I want to post a few blogs here until I get my business blog at vcbphotography.com up to par!

Last night I had the extreme pleasure of being there to witness Winter's birth. It was so very special and intimate and I am so lucky that Toya and Shawn allowed me to be there.

I got to the hospital and there she was, looking stunning (as always) and barely even batting an eye with her painful contractions.

The medical staff was very attentive and Toya breezed right on through all the questions since she is a nurse herself.

After Toya was taken back to the OR, I got a few minutes to talk to Shawn and help him get ready to meet little Winter!

She was only back there being prepped for about 20 minutes but to Shawn and I it felt like forever!

The finally she arrived!! 

While Toya was in recovery little miss Winter got to know her Daddy. 

She was so sweet! Hardly even cried a peep.

She came in a little over 6 pounds, that cute tiny little thing.

Daddy was of course mesmerized by her sweet little face.

The nurse took her measurements

And her little foot prints too!

Then we waited for mommy to come back to the room.

Such a little angel.

Toya was all smiles when she got to see her little girl again. (And looking fabulous after surgery I must say!)

After some bonding time she spread the joyous news!

Sadly then it was time for me to hurry home to my own little one, it was a magical night! Happy birthday Winter Noel!

Baby E is 2 Months Old!

And here we are again, my little man, you are two months old today! Unbelievable. This past month flew by as I know that they all will. I loved getting to know you more this month, your little personality sure is shining through now! 

Month by Month Baby Questionnaire!

Age: 2 months

Weight: We will find out tomorrow- I think you are almost 12 pounds!

Length: Don't know yet

Size (diapers, onesies, etc.): You've been in size ones for quite a while!

Eyes: dark/slate blue still, your Daddy and I are hoping they hang around!

Hair: Light brown and long in the back :)

Sleeping: It's hit and miss bud! Sometimes you do great and sometimes you don't :( I still love your midnight snuggles though! The days are long and exhausting because you aren't a napper...

Eating: You are getting much better at not hanging out on the boob all day. Thanks buddy!

Milestones: You smile so much now, I can tell it's the real deal. You've learned to hold things in your hands!

Memorable outings: We had your first roadtrip! We visited Pop and Susan out at Camelot and went to Austin to stay with Aunt Nahal. You also got to spend some time with your Papa and Nani when they came down to see you.

Favorite toys/activities: You love being held, rocked, read to, and played with. You really like books and baby einstein.

Words/sounds: Your coos have changed to gahs and goos, you're learning so much everyday.

Nicknames: Baby E, Little Man, Mister Man

Funny moments: You met Arya and we tried to get him to pet your head while you were breastfeeding, but instead Arya patted mommy's boobie! Hehe.

Looking forward to: Teaching you new things, and you sleeping better :)

Ethan is 1 month old!

Hello my sweet boy!! I can't believe that you are already one month old! I am trying to write this as you are taking one of  your very few and short naps throughout the day, hehe. Let me just say that I can't imagine life without you now. You are the love of my life and I can't wait to see what's in store for you as you continue to grow! I am going to try and do one of these posts each month, I promise they will get longer when you give your Mama a little more of a break during the day! Just know I love you little boy, so very much!

Happy One Month my Little Man!

Month by Month Baby Questionnaire!

Age: 1 month

Weight: At your last doctor's appointment a week ago you were 9 pounds 8 ounces!

Length: The doctor's office said you were 21 1/2 inches long (did you shrink baby boy!?)

Size (diapers, onesies, etc.): Still in newborns but won't be for long!

Eyes: dark/slate blue, your Daddy and I are hoping they hang around!

Hair: Light brown and long in the back :)

Sleeping: We figured out you had some bad reflux, so since we got you on some meds you've been doing better at night sleeping in 3-4 hour stints. However you hate napping during the day (unless someone is holding you of course!)

Eating: You can't get enough! Gigi calls Mommy your "Boobie Buffet" hehe.

Milestones: You can hold your head up so well! Also when we do tummy time you roll over on to your back. Your eye contact is great, along with those cute little smiles that we just aren't sure if they are "for real" yet! 

Memorable outings: You've been to several restaurants, a family picnic, mommy meetings, and a play group! You've been a busy little man!

Favorite toys/activities: No favorite toys just yet! Unless the paci counts :) Favorite activity is eating! Hehe.

Words/sounds: You've just started cooing... cutest. thing.ever.

Nicknames: Baby E, Little Man

Funny moments: Mommy laughed really hard when you pooped up a storm while Daddy was changing you!

Looking forward to: Seeing that first real smile/hearing your first little giggle or laugh!

Introducing...

Ethan Reed Grazioli

photo credit: Amber DeJean Photography based in Hammond, LA

Our beautiful baby boy was born last week on August 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM. He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 21 3/4 inches long! We are over the moon in love with our little man! I will be posting his birth story on the blog soon :)

Long Overdue Bumpdate!

Soo... I'm not sure how I am supposed to get back in to this "blogging regularly thing" especially when I have a bambino who is making their appearance in a few more weeks! But.. I'm trying. This blog has meant so much to me and I've grown and changed more than I could have ever imagined and I'd like to keep it going to so I can look back and get a glimpse into who I was in these fleeting moments. Life changes and goes by too quickly. I just want to hold on to these moments a little longer!

So I know no one these days even really follows me... lol. But I wanted to post about our gender reveal before I fast forward to where I am today in my pregnancy! It was a really fun time with friends and family and such a big surprise for us!

We had the party at a bowling alley and it was very fun indeed. Here are two pics from the day (the other ones are lost in the abyss of photos on my computer!)

If you can't tell from the balloon behind Kyle's head, we are having a BOY!

 Ethan Reed

Now that you are all caught up on Gender, here is what's going on with mama these days... :)

How far along: 32 weeks! Wait, What!? Can't believe time is flying this fast!

Baby size: Average size is 3.75 pounds, 19 inches long, about the size of a small pineapple :)

Weight gain: Not a pound gained still!!! Woohoo!

Maternity clothes: Maxi Dresses, maxi dresses, maxi dresses, and no bras please!!! ;)

Stretch marks: No new ones yet, lol!

Sleep: Sleep is getting worse and worse! More potty visits, more turning from side to side... I will NEVER understand side sleepers and I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again!

Gender: Baby boy, Ethan Reed :)

Movement: Yes! SO MUCH movement.

Best moment this week: I got to hear Ethan's heartbeat today at the midwives' office! So sweet every time!

Looking forward to: Our last trip before baby this weekend for the 4th of July, Rio Frio here we come!

Food cravings: All I was craving was junk food, that's finally run it's course a bit. Bring on the fruit and veggies please!

Weirdest food I ate this week: I nonchalantly grabbed a pickle, then had a bite of Oreo cheesecake, followed by some pretzels, I call it pregnancy scavenging!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, but still on my meds to keep it at bay!

Labor signs: None! Just a few more weeks until I will be looking forward to these!!

What I miss: Beer. I just want a tall Blue Moon SO BAD!!

Symptoms: SO SLEEPY!!

Workouts: Walking, stretching, do kegels count? lol

Things that suck: Wanting WAY more caffeine than I'm allowed ;)

Things that don't suck: Our beautiful little boy will be here in less than 8 weeks!!

Half Way There!

Sooo on Friday I hit the 20 week mark! Soooo exciting! But it was also a scary day for me... I'll tell ya why in just a minute.

Life lately has been pretty fun!

Lazy days taking naps with the Pup.

Fun crawfish boils with friends!

AND seeing our baby on the big screen! Sucking his/her thumb :)

We now have the envelope that will reveal the gender, BUT I have to wait 2 more weeks to find out at my Gender Reveal party!! :( One word. TORTURE.

OH well... On to the survey.

How far along: 20 weeks! Half way there!

Baby size: Average size is 10 1/2 ounces (doc told me he/she is about 11 ounces!), 6 1/2 inches long, about the size of a Banana :)

Weight gain: Not a pound gained still!

Maternity clothes: Maxi Dresses, Preggo Jeans, found some great shorts last week!

Stretch marks: No new ones yet, lol!

Sleep: Sleep is getting worse and worse! More potty visits, more turning from side to side... I will NEVER understand side sleepers and I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again!

Gender: 2 more weeks until our Gender Reveal Party, but I already have the envelope! :/ Grrr. Ultimately I'm looking forward to finding out with all of my friends and family though :)

Movement: Yes! So much more movement now, little kicks, and acrobatics are going on for sure.

Best moment this week: Seeing our baby at the ultrasound, so sweet.

Looking forward to: You can probably guess... finding out pink or blue!?

Food cravings: This week it was fried rice, so we treated ourselves to some Hibachi Saturday night :)

Weirdest food I ate this week: Nothing out of the ordinary.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still feeling nauseous in the mornings... ugh, it's so annoying! But it's ultimately getting better.

Labor signs: Here is the scary part. So Friday I was photographing a wedding, and I started getting really bad cramps, they actually felt like mini contractions. I was so scared and had no back up to shoot the wedding for me! Luckily there were several pregnant ladies there and one who was a nurse, they asked me some questions and realized I was probably dehydrated, and being dehydrated can bring on labor and contractions! They poured like 40 ounces of water down my throat and after an hour or two the pain went away and I felt much better. Needless to say, I have had a glass of water within 2 feet of me at all times since then! Stay hydrated ladies!

What I miss: I just miss feeling normal lol.

Symptoms: Still some nausea, back pain here and there, and I've been unnaturally tired this week! That could be from shooting a wedding and 4 sessions last week though!

Workouts: I've been taking walks out by the lake, stretching and trying to fit in some prenatal yoga when the pup lets me!

Things that suck: Nausea. GO AWAY.

Things that don't suck: My mom being here for me  and not 500 miles away anymore! I love her!!

Back with a Baby!

Oh my my my....

It has been FAR. TOO. LONG.

My world has changed drastically and I am so happy to be back to tell you all about it!

Let's re-cap shall we?

Since my last post I've...

-Moved to Austin in December 2012 to stay with my Mom while I figured things out

-Got down to 165 pounds working at LifeTime & Waiting Tables

-Became an Auntie in January 2013!

-Met an amazing guy who lived 500 miles away and debated what to do about that

-Ended up moving 500 miles away to be with him in March 2013

-Hello New Orleans! Hello amazing food and alcohol! Hello gaining 50 pounds back! :/

-Turned 24 and celebrated life with everyone I love

-Worked a boring old office job until I decided I wanted to follow my passions

-Started my own photography business in September 2013!

-Found out we are having a baby on January 1st, 2014!

WHEW. Didn't I tell ya things changed!?

Here are a few pics to recap the year :)

So back to the whole "Baby" thing...

It was quite a surprise and not the way we were planning on becoming parents, but it's a blessing and it's here and we couldn't be more excited!

Those were from our Announcement shoot!

This was my baby being shy at his/her last ultrasound! My baby? Shy!? WHAAA?

And here I am last week, at 18 weeks preggers!

How far along: 19 weeks exactly! Almost half way there!

Baby size: Average size is 8 1/2 ounces, 6 inches long, about the size of a Mango :)

Weight gain: Well, since I was overweight to begin with, I've been trying to keep it down! So far I've lost 2 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight! Yay!

Maternity clothes: Yes, I've bought some new clothes, mainly because I gained weight before I got pregnant, and needed to go shopping desperately! That being said, I could live in maxi skirts 24/7.

Stretch marks: No new ones yet, lol!

Sleep: Sleep is decent! I only wake up once per night to use the bathroom so that's a plus!

Gender: 3 more weeks until our Gender Reveal Party, but I technically could find out next Wednesday at my appointment! :/ Grrr. Ultimately I'm looking forward to finding out with all of my friends and family though :)

Movement: I was at the family doctor yesterday and he was listening with a stethoscope and said the baby is kicking can you feel it!? I was like, is that what that is!!? LOL. So yes, now that I know what to feel for, I've been noticing more little kicks.

Best moment this week: It's always a good week when you hear a doctor tell you the baby is doing just fine! Other than that, I don't have any shoots on Saturday so I'm looking forward to relaxing with Kyle and some friends!

Looking forward to: Next week, my Mom is coming in to town, we are seeing Jillian Michael's Tour, and I get to have my 20 week ultrasound!

Food cravings: Wings, wings, and more wings. I love spicy stuff and sour stuff so much right now! I eat pickles, sour patch kids, and spicy wings like they are going out of style!

Weirdest food I ate this week: My combinations are kind of weird, I will eat something sweet, like a blueberry waffle and then go for a pickle right afterwards lol.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just this cough I've had for 2 1/2 weeks, makes me throw up every morning!

Labor signs: Nope, but I did get some crazy back pain a few days ago, which was scary! But a Tylenol and good nights rest made it feel much better. 

What I miss: I miss going out with my friends on the weekends, playing darts at the bar, and softball on Friday nights! Feels like all I do is sit on the sidelines :/

Symptoms: Still some nausea, it was HELL for the first 16 weeks, finally has eased up this past month, but then I got sick with a sinus infection, so I haven't been completely healthy and happy yet!

Workouts: I've been taking walks out by the lake, stretching and trying to fit in some prenatal yoga when the pup lets me!

Things that suck: Feeling like an alien has invaded my body, I just don't feel like ME anymore... It will all be worth it in the end though :)

Things that don't suck: My wonderful man taking care of me and this beautiful new life that's on it's way!