Monday... Wish it were Sunday.

this weekend has been something else...
really, it has.

one thing after the other.
its the only way of life, i suppose.
at least, for us self proclaimed Griswald's.
ha.

sunday, we took a mini break and headed to Normangee, TX for our maternity shoot.
special thanks and shout out to Katelyn of Southern Charm Photography for putting up with the cuh-razy A's. extremely thankful and blessed to have maternity pictures this go-round. i literally own a handful of preggo pics from Aislynn's reign in my belly, and that makes me sad, but girlfriend has so many other adorable snapshots, i hope one day, it makes up for it all.

by the time we got home from our session, i wanted to cry.
its official, i can no longer sit in a car for any extended period of time. =/
the weight on my umm groin area leaves me in horrible pain afterward. so horrible, i can't even lift my leg to put me one some sleepy shorts. last night, as i laid in bed, i wanted to cry, and mostly because i know its only going to get worse. and of course, the second my mind and body allowed itself to shut down, some little cupcake decided to wake up and box up.

anywho...
today, i am doing absolutely NOTHING.
NADA.
ZIP.
ZILCH.

i woke up this morning to greet some movers who hauled away our used furtniture to California for my sister and her hubby's new casita.
updated my May calendar.
andddd, that was pretty much it.

oh, and i happily ate 2 slices of pizza + a cupcake (courtesy of our concept maternity session)


ps. here's a little sneak peek and a 30 week snapshot.
**30 Weeks!! HOLLA!**
aislynn's hair piece is MIA, btw. 

happy monday!

blessed week!

faith & love,
casey

29 weeks.

wow.
already? ::insert sarcasm::

i think i could possibly do this all over again.
ha.

i'm tired... i think more mentally than physically.
or maybe the mental is rubbing off on the physical.
or perhaps, i'm just delusional.
or perhaps, just maybe i'm actually finally beginning to feel very very pregnant, and staying busy is no longer keeping my mind off the fact that i have a huge abdomen.
all of the above?
sure, why not.

-- my stomach is as hard as a rock, and i think this wears me out more than anything.
-- bathroom trips are at an all time high (and i'm gonna take a wild stap, and just say, by week 35, my home away from home will be cuddled up next to the royal throne.)
-- although, i haven't gotten the dark line, my belly button... well, let's just say there isn't much room.
-- i've gone up not one, not two, but three bra sizes. (i honestly think i was wearing the wrong size before hand, anyway. ha)
-- i've gained a whopping 11lbs so far, and very much anticipate gaining beyond 15lbs... i mean Bella is already bigger than normal, and she is already almost 3lbs, so yeah.
-- bending over stinks.  not because i'm not able, but because usually her big ol butt is stabbing me.
-- our stairs at home are the devil. prime evil. end of story.
-- feet are swollen, but tis normal, and thankfully not all day, everyday.
-- i'm exhausted.
very exhausted. i just want to sleep, and this Houston heat is not my bff.
-- i'm craving watermelon like a crazy insane preggo lady.


all of this on top of packing up the casita, baby shower planning, nursery designing, dr's appointments for me and my family, working and preparing for sessions, and whatever else is squeezed into my/our break-starved schedule.  resting has been at the bottom of my priority list.  i'll sleep when i'm dead, right? ha!

this past weekend, i dared to mow the lawn solo.  success, yet i came inside the house, and wanted to die thanks to my all black workout wardrobe, which was bittersweet partially because those are pre-preggo clothes, and they still fit. yes, actually fit. i also gave my sister and her beau a quick 20 min photo session, then headed out for a 2 hour client session.  all of this after cleaning, sweeping, vacuuming (yes, the ocd in me tells me to sweep and vacuum), mopping our entire downstairs.  nonetheless, after dinner at chick-fil-a, the world was again a happy place.

30 weeks has taken literally forever to get here, and i know this last home stretch is going to feel like decades. i remember with Aislynn, i simply decided i was going to be pregnant forever, and that's just how it was going to be.  this go-round, i pray she comes when God is ready, and umm... when i am ready.

ready to move.
ready to settle in.
settle down.
and RELAX for at least 3-4 days before Bella's arrival.

we shall see.

in the mean time, its go-go-go!
and its almost 3am, so i am going going gone.

hope you all are having a fabulous week, and hope your weekend is even more fabulous!
<3


faith & love,
casey

28 weeks.

At the end of the week, i'll be beginning my 8th month.
can't believe only 2 more months until this is all said and done,
until my vacay in preggersville is long gone and a distant memory.

i can't really put into words how i am currently feeling about it all being over with, soon.
it breaks my heart to know i will never ever be this close to Bella again,
but then it warms my heart to share her with others, especially jr and aislynn, who are waiting so anxiously for her debut.

every week is beginning to feel like a milestone.
i feel more pregnant than i did the week before.

this week, alone, i have never felt more pregnant.
everything is starting to kick into overdrive, and the rush of exhaustion hits me in waves, leaving me achy and scrambling for a soft spot to lay my head.

wednesday, i had my doctor's appointment, which from here on out, i will be attending every 2 weeks, and then every week until Bella says, "hello world!" everything is looking great, and Bella is growing so so much.  this next month alone, she is set to gain at least 2lbs.

other than that, we are slowly but surely, gathering goodies for when she arrives, and getting ready to move next month. things are happening fast, and i know in a only a matter of time, she'll be here, and this chapter will be closed, and another opened.

faith & love,
casey

27 weeks.

last Sunday (Easter), i FINALLY began the last leg of my preggersville journey!
i honestly can't believe how fast time has flown by,
but then i think back to the horrible "morning" sickness i had,
and i praise God, that was "so" long ago!
this pregnancy, has truly been something else.

this trimester, Bella, will be growing big and strong at quite a rate of speed,
and soon, she'll be in our arms,
and then soon enough, she'll be running a muck.

so, here we go-go!
holla!

Week 27

3rd Trimester:

why, yes i am doing the "pregnancy lean"

big belly makes my back cramp like no other. blah.

How far along? 27 weeks and 5 days
Maternity clothes? one maxi dress, 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts.

Stretch marks? Not yet. OH! Reminds me I'm out of anti stretch mark lotion!

Sleep:  the restroom breaks are at at an all-time high. sometimes, i don't even have to go, but because Bella's big butt rolls over onto my bladder, it tells a different story. silly girl.

Best moment this week: Today, is Jr's birthday! My sweet love! <3

Miss Anything? STILL dyingggg to head to the beach!

Movement: very much. way more than Aislynn. I just can't but wonder what's she's going to do when there is no more room left to flip. oyi.

Food cravings: Sweet, sweet, and more sweet! Jr took me to err McDonald's last night because he demanded I eat more "protein". haha

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken or meat... bleh. hence, the lack of protein i consume on a daily basis.

 Have you started to show yet: let's just say i feel like Shamu. k?

Gender: Princess
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks maybeee once a day.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On. <3
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to:  Moving and preparing for Bella's arrival!

Size of Baby: About 2lbs or more.

faith & love,
Casey

29 and young.

today, the GOOD Lord blessed one little lady with a sweet little baby boy.
he's the best thing to come from a Salvadorean since a pupusa. ha!

my knight in shining armor.
the cheese to my mac.

i love him more than he will ever know.
to the moon and back, and then beyond.
forever and for always.

happy birthday, sweetie! 

^^my handsome fellow^^

Faith and Love,

Casey

week 25 & 26.

i know i'm behind on weekly Preggersville post, but promise i'm trying to catch up.
last week, i was so busy, i didn't even have time to snap a weekly shot.
on the plus side, Instagram is now android friendly, and we have been wonderful friends for the past week!

i lovesss it!
follow me? caserz1986

Week 25

i am horrible. no belly pic.

BUT, i did manage to take a picture of A and I waiting at the doc's office.

glucose test was performed, which came back negative. Praise God!  

Week 26

LAST week of my 2nd Trimester! WHOO!

random ps. forget craving food, i am SO craving the beach!
oh, and a tan.
like, seriously. mama is pa-st-ayy.


Faith & Love,
Casey

loverly easter.

Easter came and went in a jiffy!
but so very thankful it came... always puts things back into perspective for me.
oh, how i love my daddy Jesus!

long story short, here are some snapshots from our weekend!
hope yours was fabulous, as well! <3

* Friday, we cleaned out the garage, and reorganzied everything.

an actual car could actually fit into our actually clean garage. 

here's aislynn having some good ol' old skool fun in the sprinkler, while jr and i got to work.

 *Saturday, we headed to It'z (its like Chuck E Cheese minus the mouse)

*afterward, headed to Target, and found a cute inexpensive potential stroller. See?

 

Easter Morning!
He is more and more ALIVE in our home with each year that passes!

...and the perfect way to end the day. <3

Faith & Love, 

Casey

Griswald's on the move. again.

PRAISE GOD!
we are finally MOVING!
here's a little sneak peek at our new casita!

*1 story.
*3 bedrooms. (easier to maintain! phew! going to use the secluded formal dining as my office)
*1800+ sq ft.
*built in 2010.
*nice open floor plan. (easy for a mama with kiddos)
*lots of prettyyy natural light.
*pretty kitchen. (can't wait to start baking and experimenting!)
*small backyard (ours is currently a beast.)
*no side neighbors. (to the left)
*no back neighbors.
*nice grass! a super plus!
*bay windows in kitchen (i'm obsessed with them! something about the light in the morning for breakfast and then for dinner, makes my heart smile.)
*great schools.
*great neighborhood. (its developing)
*and oh boyy... I can go on and on, its such a blessing!
**ps. rent is cheaper! holla! 

basically, its perfect for us!

a little back history for ya!
i had been looking for homes for an entire week straight.
it was already getting superrr late (as in early morning. 2am to be exact)
something told me just to look once more before shut eye, and i came across this house.
nearly died.
we went to view the home.
put in our application.
next day, found out there was a riduculous amount of applicants.
next day, found out they went ahead and went with an applicant without pets.
a few days later, found out minds were changed, and it was on the market again.
a few days later after that... its ours!

=D

Jr and i prayed we would be led to the "perfect" house... one, we can settle in for a long while, and hopefully purchase within the next year or so, and this one is amazing in every way!  we knew eventually He would put the house directly in front of us, but the waiting was killingggg me... just so much to do, and so very little time to get it all done.  my preggo hormones were in overdrive and um overkill.  but just last night while devouring some yummy Papa John's pizza, we received the call, and i nearly fell off the chair, i was SO excited!

Move in date: May 18, 2012

ps. thank you to those for your prayers! 

pps.  here is our WONDERFUL realtor! she is truly amazing and such a sweetheart!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristi-Dowell-with-Century-21-Western/318207758216943

Faith & Love, 

Casey

happy (crazy) april.

let the month of cuh-razy begin!

forgive us, if we aren't around much...
here's what our calendar looks like this month (alone) without any additions:

April 1: 

Session canceled (because my mama friend and i are rowing in the same boat of overwhelm. boo.).

BUT, fear not.... there is still PLENTY to do. ahi.

April 4: 

dr appointment

April 7:

cleaning garage

April 8:

EASTER!

TOTALLY GOING TO RELAX, and do NOTHING ELSE.

April 13:  

Jr's 29th birthday, and IF we have time, maybe dinner.

April 14: 

hair appointment

baby shower

April 15: 

maternity photo session in College Station

April 21:

concept session
packing 

April 22: 

packing

April 28:

Mom's Birthday

April 29:

packing

*now, during this month, we have NO idea what day exactly we are moving.
*all props for my upcoming session are hand-made... not to mention sewn.
*new and further business tactics needs to make itself in the works...  <open rant: i'm such a softie, and theoretically, i put my work before my family. no more. my job is my job... not my hobby. i am worth more, and i need to realize that. i'm ready to give my business wings! slowly, but surely... and with a newborn, i'll be forced to take it easy and not rush into anything and everything, just to try and get ahead. like every/most photographer(s), ultimately, i wish for clients who are equally invested. and ultimately, i wish to have the time, effort, and abilities to be able to invest in what they deserve. those are by far, the most rewarding sessions. :close rant>
*jr works every weekend, and possibly sunday's as well.
*another doctor's appointment, which i have all of a sudden forgotten the date.
*jr may or may not switch to working nights... we have no clue when and/or if this is going to happen.
*baby shower planning.
*shopping for baby goodies... we have NOTHING but a pacifier. fail. 
*dress fitting for maternity session.
*finish up Easter wreath... just gotta add some burlap flag bunting.
*design, work, and finish photo shoot hair pieces.
*church, of course. (may end up watching it online during breakfast. =/)
*every thursday, we take Aislynn to gymnastics from 6:40pm-7:45pm.
*oh, and Jr gets home at around 6pm, everyday.
**oh, OH, and i feel like a whale, and its hot... makes me sad and want to cry... i feel handicap. =(


and the list goes on... not mention everyday regular life.


so yes, seriously...
need some prayer...
prayer for patience, strength of the mind and errr body, and motivation, where there is a current lack there of, thanks to the overwhelming to-do's that are screaming at me.


ps. this got me thinking...
maybe, i should compose a list of to-do's just for Bella.
wait.... its 3am. maybeeee, i shouldn't.

^^sneak peek of my dress^^

                           not going to look exact, but she isn't exactly preggo, either. ha.

g'night!
happy weekend!
blessed Sunday!

and i'll leave you with this:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. 

—Isaiah 43:2

Faith & Love,
Casey