Our free Xmas cards!

Well I have to say I am more than impressed with the results of my 50 free Xmas cards from Shutterfly! I got to choose any 5 x 7 stationary photo card. Usually photo cards feel a bit like a photo (kind of flimsy) but these were thicker and feel very durable! There were so many awesome choices and I have to say I was extremely happy with the outcome, they are beautiful! And the best part we only had to pay for the shipping, $8 for 50 amazing cards.... can't beat that! I am so hoping they do this again next year! So here is the finished product (I know that's why you've read this!).....

So from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

xoxo, Amber, Gerald & Lucy

1st Ornament!

We got Lucy's "1st Christmas" tree ornament tonight! It's a tradition I started w/Ryan, his first Christmas I got him a personalized ornament and then when Zach came along he got one his first Christmas too! Now it was Lucy's turn! I think it's super cute, reminds me of the old school Frosty the Snowman movie!

I know I still need to fill you in on some of the traditions we started but that's another blog!

Xoxo,
Amber

50 Free Holiday Cards from Shutterfly!

Hey all you bloggers!

     If you want to get something free and cute enter in this holiday promotion on Shutterfly! All you have to do is write a blog about the promotion and then follow this link and fill out the form. I am just doing this so I can't tell you the end result but I know that I really love Shutterfly! They have a lot of great cards and always send me good deals on prints! They also carry so many different types of fun products for your pictures! I love how colorful and fun their holiday cards are, shows you Christmas doesn't have to just be in red & green! Here are a few of my favorites:



Mod Snowflake is a fun and colorful Christmas card. I love that you can pick your three favorite pictures and it's great if you have kids to include their current stats! (like what is shown)


Hip & Happy is another colorful card. I love the unique design on the top, it's more of a modern holiday design! It's simple and beautiful!


Joy & Peace is a fun and super cute New Year's card. I can totally imagine little Lucy's picture on this card!

As you can see I love the multi-color and more modern design cards but they have plenty of more traditional cards. They really do have something for everyone! 

Those are a just a few (it was hard to choose!). So check them out when you get a chance!! Here's the link to Shutterfly! Have fun and join in on the free cards!!

xoxo
Amber

Getting back to blogging

Hello All!!

I know it seems like a lifetime since I've blogged but I am going to try and get back on track! I feel like I have been in a new mommy coma for the past 2 months! I have been trying to keep pictures updated on my facebook and it would make for an extremely long blog if I tried to give you a detailed account of the past 2 months.... so I won't! But what I will say is that these past 2 months have been magic! It seems insane that Lucy has only been in our lives for 2 months because now we just couldn't imagine life without her!
I do plan on posting a blog about our birth because I just can't tell how amazing it was. I feel more strongly now than ever that we made the best decision for us to use a midwife and do a home birth. That being said I do believe that every woman has to choose the type of birth that is right for her and I place no judgments what she decides, as I would hope others would do towards me!
Lucy is amazing and growing so much every day. Her personality is big and bright already! As much as I am loving every second of being home with her, I will admit that motherhood is challenging and there are times where I feel very overwhelmed. But overall I super grateful to be able to be the one taking care of my beautiful daughter!

Well that's all for now!

Here's a cute picture before we sign off!

Lots of Love,
Amber & Lucy

Family Picture and our Sauna

I love taking bump pictures w/Gerald in them! We needed a picture for our baby shower invites and I just can't help sharing a few! I already love taking family pictures!!




This is my first week back to work after a weeks vacation and I have to tell you I am tired! We must have done a lot of growing in that week (or we just got spoiled w/relaxing) because by Wednesday I was done! My feet hurt, my back hurts, I am tired and cranky! I know poor Gerald right! haha It's true though, I also think this heat wave is not helping. Our new cute house has no a/c so when it's 90 outside it is probably 100 in our house! This is making me miserable. I get home and open all the windows, turn on fans (which barely help) and just sit on the couch because i simply cannot do anything else!
Finally last night we broke down (mostly cause I keep breaking down!) and got a small window unit for our room but it really only makes our room cool. I mean it was nice to be able to sleep but now I feel trapped in my room! But my very generous friend from h.s. is going to let us use his old portable a/c unit that he no longer uses! We are picking it up tomorrow and I am so exited and grateful! I will be able to function in my house again, so thank-you a million times David!
I am also excited because Rich and Britt (Gerald's brother and sister-in-law) are coming to visit us and see our new house this weekend! We have been so busy lately I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen them!
Well it looks like I have another exciting weekend to look forward to, I hope you do too!!

Xoxo,
Amber & Lucy

Hello 3rd timester!

Saturday marked the official start of my 3rd trimester! 12 weeks and counting until Lucy's due date is here and again I can't believe it!! We have a ton to do in the next couple months and we are super busy! I don't have a completely free weekend until September! I'm sure all the activities will be a nice distraction and make these next few months zoom by. Here are a few new baby bump shots!

I guess to some I apparently don't look as if I'm in my 3rd trimester but I just have to say it's super annoying when a complete stranger asks if my doctors have said whether her growth is okay or if anything is wrong! I'm sorry but even if there was (which there absolutely is not! in fact at every appointment she is EXACTLY on schedule) why on Earth would I tell you? As Dr. Karp says (The Happiest Baby on the Block), "America's favorite pastime is not baseball but giving unasked-for advice to new parents," or in my experience pregnant women! It's funny because I haven't really run into this too much, I get advice from family but typically I don't mind, but I was just super annoyed/offended that anyone would even suggest that there was something wrong w/my baby (especially not even knowing me)! Well just to make sure we are clear I'm great, Lucy's more than great..... she's perfect and not every pregnant woman looks the same, so what may seem small to you may be normal for me! Ahh..... I feel much better now!

Well I hope everyone else is doing well!!

Xoxo,

Amber & Lulu

We Registered!

Today we accomplished the exciting task of registering! We were both very excited to go do this and then we started...... People have told me how overwhelming it is but I guess you just don't know until you know! The stroller alone took at least 15 minutes! By the time we were done we were both exhausted, feet hurting and ready for a nap (I left w/a headache). We started at Babies R Us for the bulk of our needs and went to Target for a few miscellaneous things. It was very tiring but we are both happy it's done and now if I want to add or adjust anything I'll just do it online. So in case you feel like doing a little shopping here's our links:

Babies"R"Us - Baby Registry

https://www.target.com/registry/baby/23M1UP62C60SN

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week! Lucy & I will be enjoying some time off as I am on vacation this week! I am very much looking forward to some needed rest!

XOXO,
Amber & Lulu ♥

End of the 2nd trimester!

As of yesterday I am 27 weeks, this marks the last week of my 2nd trimester! I can't believe how the time is flying! As we get closer to Lucy's birth the anxiousness is really setting and I feel a bit crazy trying to get everything done or at least even looking at the list of everything that needs to get done!

Last Thursday we had a midwife's appointment and everything went well. My fundal height was 28 cm (right on track) and Lulu sounded great! She was very amusing while Lorri (our midwife) was listening to her w/the Doppler she decided she had had enough and either punched or kicked it! It made me laugh, mostly because I get punched and kicked daily by her so it was funny that she tried to do it to someone else!

Speaking of getting kicked the fun aches and pains of pregnancy are really setting in. While at my appointment I had a Braxton Hicks contraction, it wasn't painful and my midwife actually had to tell me I was having one. Now that I know what it is I realize that I have been having them (maybe for the last week and not too often) and as of right now they don't hurt just feel uncomfortable! Another uncomfortable pain is Lucy's foot (or other appendage) in my ribs! Sometimes is really hurts when she does a quick kick and other times it's just super annoying! But I remind myself that as much as I don't physically like it, I am grateful to be constantly reminded that she's ok in there!
As I enter the 3rd trimester I am dealing w/these and several other fun pregnancy aches & pains (leg cramps, back aches, etc.) but as long as my baby girl is growing and is healthy I don't mind! I think I can manage a few more months because once she's here all this won't even matter anymore (the aches & pains that is!).
Looking ahead we have a lot to do, in August alone I have 10 appointments and classes to attend (all together) so far and I know there will be at least one or two more, but we are very excited because it's all in preparation for her arrival! So since we know we have a lot coming up we took our last (mini) vacation/anniversary trip (before Lucy comes) to Santa Barbara this weekend. It was a short getaway but it was much needed and much appreciated! We just went on little adventures all over and enjoyed each other's company. My hubby is the sweetest and I am very grateful that he made our getaway happen, we came back tired and happy!

Well here are a few pictures from our SB trip...

Us on State St.

Us @ the SB Mission

@ Cold Spring Tavern

& family photo @ Cold Spring Arch Bridge!

We hope everyone has a safe & happy 4th! We are looking forward to relaxing & then tomorrow going to register!!

Lots of Love,
Amber & Lucy

27 week bump @ SB Mission

2 years later......

2 years ago today I married my best friend. I know it sounds cliche but it's very true. I have known Gerald for almost 7 years, we have been dating for 4 1/2 and now married 2 and during all that time together he has truly become my best friend. I knew 2 years ago (well I actually knew 4 years ago) that I wanted to marry him, when he asked me there wasn't a second of hesitation and on our wedding day the only nerves I had were from excitement. But over the past 2 years I think I found out why I wanted to marry him so badly. My husband reminds me a lot of my dad, one of the people I look up to and respect most in this world. They are both hard working, loving, completely devoted and very selfless. I have always thought my dad was an amazing husband and always hoped that one day I would be lucky if the man I married was half of what my dad is. I can 100% say that my husband is just as amazing. He has shown me the kind of love, respect and silliness that most women dream of (had to add the silliness because that keeps you in love). Every day I wake up and am just in awe that this man still loves me and wants to be with me as much as I do him. Of course as in any marriage we have our blissful days and our uglier days but that's what makes a marriage and I wouldn't change a second of what we've been through. He is the person I want to grown old with, the person I want to be with forever. And now just when I think he can't be any more amazing he has given me the greatest gift of all... making me a mommy. I know parenthood will be another rewarding yet difficult adventure but there is no one else I would I want to go through it with. He will again prove to me what a great man he is when he becomes a father because I know he will just be phenomenal! Lucy and I are very lucky to have him as the man in our lives.

I love you so much boo and I just want to say thank-you for being you and for saying "I Do" 2 years ago, you have no idea the happiness you bring me daily.

Love a million times over,
Amber

100 days left......

until my baby girl's due date! I know it's highly unlikely that she will actually arrive on her due date (if she follows my husband's wishes she will arrive 8 days late on 10-10-10) but still to know in roughly 100 days I will be holding her causes several emotions. I am so excited, stressed, fearful and anxious all at the same time that it's making me a bit crazy I must say but the end result is going to be worth it a million times over! We move into our new house this weekend and after that it's all about the baby for us! We can't wait to register, start our birthing classes, have our baby shower and then just set it all up and wait for her to make her debut into this world (and all of that will happen in the next 100 days)! She has no idea how loved she is already, yes everyone tells me she'll be spoiled but I think she'll mostly be spoiled with love & attention because so many are waiting to meet her! I am most looking forward to that moment when Gerald, Lucy & I first become a family.... the moment right after she's born when (hopefully) her daddy will lay her on my chest and the three of us will be able to embrace and bask in her arrival... it's going to be amazing.


I know I need to post a father's day blog & belly pics (maybe tomorrow) but we have been so busy packing and moving stuff that I just don't seem to have time lately but hopefully soon!

Until then.... we hope everyone has been having (and continues to have) a great start to the official summer season!

XOXO,

Amber & Lulu

An email, a picture and a faint line.....

Today I was going through my email when I found an email sent to me by my sweet Aunt Nettie that included this picture...


This is a picture of my Grandma's headstone and next to it are the flowers that I had recently laid when Gerald and I had visited her. This picture causes a lot of emotions for many reasons but for me the biggest reason was that I opened this email the day that I found out I was pregnant with Lucy.

That morning I had taken a pregnancy test (it wasn't a super cool one, just a plus or minus one) and the the plus sign was very faint. Gerald and I weren't sure if it really was a plus sign and since I had to go to work, we would have to wait until that evening to retest. But as soon as I saw that faint plus sign it was like I knew, of course I didn't want to get too excited in case I was wrong so the anxiety of waiting drove me crazy all day!

I knew I would feel 2 feelings the day I found out I was pregnant, one was overwhelming joy and the other was overwhelming sadness. Sadness because I knew I would not be able to share my joy with my Grandma. I have always had visions of sharing this time with her, watching her hold my baby and having her teach me things about be being a mother that only she knows (she was like a baby whisperer). So when she passed I knew I had to let go of that, it was difficult and still is accepting the fact that I can never have her physically here with me to experience the greatest joy of my life.

So there I was, it was the middle of the day, C (little girl I watch) was napping and I went to check my email. In my inbox, on the day that I was waiting to find out if I was pregnant, was this email with this picture. She was with me. I am not a religious person and I cannot say what happens after death but I know on that day in that moment I felt my Grams. I knew I was pregnant at that point, test or no test. And sure enough later that afternoon I took two digital tests and both said "pregnant." And even though I will never get to make that call to her and hear her voice sound off in excitement and love that she will once again be a great-grandma, that day she was with me, that picture gave me some of the comfort I needed. I will always miss her and I will always love her, I wish so much that Lucy could have heard her stories and tasted her cooking, watched her hands as she sewed but unfortunately life isn't always fair or kind so if pictures and memories are all I can give my daughter of her amazing Grandmother than I will show her them often and speak of her daily.

Xoxo,
Amber & Lucy

23 week bump and other updates!

So I know it's been a few weeks since I posted but we have been busy busy over here! Last week we had two midwife appointments (one with our Kaiser midwife and one with our personal midwife). Both appointments went very well, they went over our ultrasound results and confirmed that both Lucy and I are healthy! Lucy has all of her parts (organs) and everything is growing exactly on schedule! Both of my midwives reminded me that we need to sign up for/look in to birthing classes! I can't believe we are already at that stage! Time is going by extremely fast and Lulu is growing so much!
It's very neat that not only can Gerald and I feel Lucy moving but we can actually see here move too! Gerald calls it earthquakes, the first time he saw it he was in shock! It really is special and has yet to get old or boring!
Now that I am 23 weeks it is definitely obvious that I'm pregnant and I am beginning to feel the weight of it more and more (in my back and recently my feet!) But I have to say one cute moment happened over the weekend. I saw my 6 yr old nephew and while I was standing he looks over at me (and my belly!) and says, "Wow Ammie your belly is getting very bigger! Is it because your baby is getting bigger and bigger?" I just had to laugh because he is probably the sweetest kid ever (and he loves feeling his little cousin move).
So here are a few 23 week bump shots!



As you can see my belly is getting "very bigger"! :)

Also some exciting news to share: we are moving! Our lease is up and as of right now we have a roommate but we feel it's time to be completely on our own (especially with Lulu coming). So we found a great little house (duplex really) in old town Orange, it has 2 bedrooms (yipee!) and a cute font and back lawn area! It really is all we have been looking for and we very excited! So within the next few weeks we will be in our new home and then we'll be able to go register! (the list has no end!!)

That's all for now!
XOXO,
Amber & Lulu

20 week baby bump!

So as promised here are my 20 week baby bump shots! i don't know if i'm big enough yet to know whether i'm carrying high or low, my guess is low, But I'm not sure, especially since I've never been preggo before! Well anyways here they are!





Hope everyone has a great week!
Xoxo,
Amber & Lulu

20 weeks!!!

Today I am officially at the halfway mark of my journey! I am so excited! Yesterday was a tough day for me, so it is very nice to have a reason to celebrate something I'm looking forward to. This week has been rough but also amazing because I am feeling Lucy more and more each day and so is Gerald. I feel like the more I can feel her and connect with her the more my love for her grows. I am nervous for October to come but also very excited to see my daughter. Only 20 more weeks to go! (no tummy pics just yet!)


Have a great weekend and I'll hopefully post a few bump shots this weekend!
XoXo,
Amber & Lulu

19 week ultrasound

On Tuesday we had our official ultrasound where they do all the measurements and tell you the gender. At first it was just me in the room and it was really neat to see all my baby's organs, including her little heart! The technician didn't say much but i could pretty much tell what she was looking at. Then Ger was allowed in and then we got confirmation that she is indeed a little girl! I wasn't surprised, I've felt like I knew she was a girl from the beginning. She was being a little bit stubborn and wouldn't turn her head to the side so we cold get a profile shot but that's ok! we got some cool shots of her hand and little feet and her lips! The technician isn't allowed to say anything to you besides the gender but she did say that she's a girl and is growing right on schedule! So that makes me happy and reassured that everything is probably going as it should! Here are the new pictures of our Lulu!









Another sweet moment we had last night was Gerald being able to feel Lulu moving. I felt her kick and told him and so he kept his hand on my belly until he felt her moving! Watching him lay his head my my belly to feel and be near our baby girl was probably the sweetest moment of my life. He has been so eager to feel her and I could see the awe in his face when his moment came. I know he is going to be just the most amazing daddy. I can't even tell you the amount of love I felt for my little family in that moment, it's truly overwhelming.

Well that all for now... I should have some belly shots coming soon!

Lots of love,
Amber & Lulu

Mother's day

Happy be-lated mother's day to all you mommies out there! We had a great mother's day over here. We spent Saturday and Sunday morning with Gerald's mom in Desert Hot Springs and ended our weekend with dinner with my parents at the Cheesecake Factory! It was a lovely weekend and even though Lulu isn't here yet I got some lovely gifts. My hubby was super sweet and got me pretty purple tulips. Here are a few pictures from our weekend! (btw I am 19 weeks in the photos!)

17 week bump & appointment update!

So this past Wednesday we had an appointment w/our Kaiser midwife. I'm not super found of her based on our first visit (she was very cold) but I think maybe she was just having an off day because she was much friendlier this time. Either way it doesn't matter a whole lot because the likelihood that she would deliver Lulu is slim (I promise a detailed post on why that is will come... eventually). But what matters is that Lulu sounded great! We got to hear her little heartbeat and I love the fact that every time the midwives seem to find her fast and they always comment on how strong she sounds!! Not only does it make me proud but it's simply reassuring that since we don't know too much about her at this point but we do know (health wise) seems to be great! Her little heart was beating fast too, the midwife clocked her at 160 beats per minute! We also got to schedule our official ultrasound while we were there! The best part is that it's just a week and a half away on May 11th! We are very excited to get confirmation that Lulu is indeed a girl.

On a funny note, my midwife made a comment that I thought only a mom or someone who really wants children could take as a compliment. While checking the heartbeat she said that I had a great torso for carrying twins or triplets because it's so long and that she would bet I don't get any stretch marks! She said I have a good body for pregnancy! I know it seems silly but I felt proud hearing all that (except for the twins/triplets part! thanks but hopefully no thanks!).

Well I know these are almost a week late but here are a few 17 week belly bump shots! She is getting so big and I feel her more and more each day! Gerald is so sweet every night before I go to sleep, he lays next to me and put his hands on my belly waiting to feel her kick. Then he'll lay his head my my belly and tell her come on kick me or something sweet like that! :)

Well that's about all for now!!

Until next time....

xoxo,

Amber & Lulu

It feels like bubbles......

So this week I believe I started feeling the baby! I know as a first time mommy it's hard to know for sure until the baby gets bigger but I'm pretty sure it's her! Some women describe it as flutters, to me it feels like bubbles popping in my tummy!!

Many (my husband included) may doubt that it's actually the baby but instead something else more familiar to a pregnant woman... gas. It's not, that's all I'll say because that topic makes me embarrassed! Plus it's happening in my lower abdomen right where I can feel my uterus and also it happens usually while I'm eat/drinking or shortly after! So even if it's not, I'm hormonal so why not just let me continue to believe it is! It makes me happy and this week has been a bit stressful so I need all th happy I can get!

Have a bubbly weekend!!

Xoxo,

Amber & Lulu

p.s. my husband is already jealous that he can't yet feel her.... :)

What's in a name?

Many of you know that we are going to name our daughter Lucy Ann Cromwell, well many of you may not know the meaning or reason behind her name. As I have said we have had our names (boy and girl) chosen for a while & by a while I mean maybe over a year or more. So I'll break it down for you because some may think that her name is a little old fashioned or plain but to us it is special and loved by the both of us!

Lucy came from a few places really. As many of you know I (and Gerald, though not as much as I) am a huge Beatles fan (Sigh if you must but oh well) and one of my favorite songs is "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." But hold on because that's not the only reason! I have always thought the name Lucy was so beautiful, it just sounded like a strong, timeless name (like one of my favorites Lucille Ball, though she is NOT named after her, as much as I love her, no!). I looked up the meaning of Lucy (a long time ago) and it mean light or the bringer of light! When I read that I just thought how perfect. Plus Lucy was the only girl name that Gerald and I both agreed on and both liked!

Now Ann, which I have already heard form others so please don't say, "That is boring" or "Everyone has that middle name," comes from a very special place for both Gerald and me. It is a family name on both sides of our families. From Gerald's side it is his mother's middle name. His mom is probably one of the sweetest and kindest people anyone will ever meet. I dare you to find one person who could say anything remotely negative about my mother-in-law, go ahead I'll wait. Every one of Gerald's friends loves Sandra and when you speak to her you know why. I was so thrilled when I realized that this amazing woman would be my mom too (that was long before my wedding day). So it's easy to say Gerald (and myself) wanted to find some way to honor her. Now as far as my side goes Ann also comes from a very special person, my Aunt Shirley. My Aunt Shirley was my dad's oldest sister, she passed away when my dad was 13 and though we've never met I've always felt a connection with her. Part of that may be because many of my relatives (my Dad especially) have always said that she and I look a lot a like. So it just seemed right to use her middle name. I should also add that all of her siblings rave about what a sweet person she was and how much she loved her family (especially her children), Though she was taken from us at only 25 years old, I think this is the least I can do to honor her as well.

Also I would like to note that our little Lucy will have a part of her Great Grandma Dodge with her too. My grandma's first name is LaRee, and Lucy's first two initials are L.A. like the first two letters of her grandma's name.

To wrap up our daughter may have a more traditional name but her name has meaning and was picked out with love by both her parents!

Xoxo,

Amber & Lucy

In Utero Mother's/Father's Day?

So Gerald asks me last night if he has to celebrate or do anything for me for Mother's Day this year (because we were discussing our plans). This is what happened next:
My response, "If you want to but it's not like she's here, I'm not really doing much yet."
He says, "Well you are growing her."
Me:"Well yeah but still, I don't know what the etiquette is when you're pregnant."
Ger: "When's Father's Day? June?"
Me: "Yes"
Ger: "Well I fully expect something on Father's Day."
Me: "You haven't even done anything yet!"
Ger: "I've put up with you." (followed by a roar of laughter from him)

Oh yes he got the evil stare and then said he was only kidding. But in all fairness I haven't been a peach lately especially since the hormones have really started to kick in (I cry over EVERYTHING!). And he has been very good with me, so I guess he may deserve something.
But still we never resolved when you are supposed to celebrate Mother's/Father's Day, when you're pregnant or not until the baby is born. It may just be something that you have to decide for yourself, I don't know! What did you or would you do?

XOXO,
Amber & Lucy