Two Things

Notice I started my post a little differently? Yea. Things are changing. I'm taking a little break part of this week, going on a mini (procreation) vacation and I'll only be up to two things. One of them I don't need to spell out. And the other... Playing with my new toy.I'm also over here today.

So, I'm Kinda a Sore Loser

I'm always amazed when I watch the Academy Awards. The glitz and glamor is quite impressive. Never is there so much hype over who's wearing what and who's arriving with who. But that's not the part that impresses me the most. What takes the cake for me is the composure the losers keep on their faces just as they realize they didn't win.

It usually goes something like this:
Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hatheway and Julia Roberts are nominated for Best Actress. ...(I know this has never been an actual match up but just try to follow me).

The video plays snippets of each of them in their starring roles, then cuts back to a five shot of them just before they announce the winner. All of them staring with painted smiles as the host opens the envelope... And reads the name printed inside... JULIA ROBERTS! And everyone claps. And they keep the cameras rolling on the 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th place losers because... Well, because it's heartless, and we're all waiting for one of them to crack. But that you won't see... Because they're actors. That's what they DO.

Now me on the other hand... I couldn't act if you paid me. I was in a play once after taking acting classes in the fourth grade. When it was time for me to recite my lines I froze, and perspired. My parents asked themselves why they decided to shell out money for these classes. AND SCENE... That was the end of my acting career.

But it's not just on stage that I can't pull off a different character. I can't lie with a straight face, I suck at poker... Or a slightly more childish version of the game which I prefer... Old Maid. You can read my face like a billboard.

So when it comes to my emotions... Disappointment to be more specific, I'm not good at it. I broke out in hysterics after I didn't make the 8th grade dance team. Tears. Wailing. Snot... The whole nine yards. So needless to say if I was up for an Oscar and my loser face was planted on the big screen a split second after my heart being ripped out, it wouldn't be a pretty sight. I'd probably step on the gown of the chick who beat me as she's walking to collect her award. Or maybe I'd pull a Kanye, stand up and tell her I'mma let her finish but I really was the best actress of the year.

I can play the scenarios in my mind all night long but it doesn't really matter cause I'll never be up for best actress... Or an acting award of any sort. But if I was, and I lost, I'd probably be a sore loser. Sadly that's how I am. I like to win.

And I say all of this to tell you that I'm trying to win a photo contest this week. It's for the best Holly Jolly Belly Photo. I don't have as much of a belly as some of the entrants even though I ate as many cheeseburgers as I could before this photo. But even though Spawnie isn't as big as some of the competition yet... Quite honestly I think mine is one of the cutest ones in the bunch, and after all of the torture I put my husband through in helping me capture this photo I will be pretty ticked off sad if I don't win.

What am I up for you ask? Well... if I win I get a trimester worth of bellybars for one thing, but the BIGGEST thing I REALLY REALLY want to win is the AVENT Twin Electric Breast Pump. Yes... a breast pump. I never thought I'd be dying to win one of these but I guess that's just goes to show how grown up I'm becoming... Or that I'm really excited to see what being milked like a cow feels like. Either way, I'm in it to win it and I'd REALLY appreciate your help! And guess what? My birthday is Thursday, the last day of the contest. So consider a vote your birthday present to me! Because really... I'd hate to spend the evening of my birthday doing something like this:Except picture a beautiful Macbook Pro, sadly destroyed by my hysteria, and me behind the camera... Tears. Wailing. Snot. Luckily I'd be in the privacy of my own home--No big screen to display my horrid reaction. But my husband and dog would fall victim to my violence.

Please don't let that happen to me them! Go to Bellybar's Facebook Page and vote for this adorable photo. Your kindness would be greatly appreciated! Oh, and I just saw you can vote for more than one, so while you're there also vote for Gena Morris. She has an adorable picture with bells around her tummy!Oh, and if you're feeling extra kind and want to give me a second birthday present, give me a "thumbs up" for Best Mommy Blogger here.

UPDATE: THE POLL IS OPEN NOW... VOTE HERE. You can vote once PER DAY!!

Choosing a Maternity Photographer

There's a few things I've been looking forward to since I found out I was pregnant... Or even before then. Call me vain but I've been looking forward to getting maternity photographs for a long long time.

I'm going to another consignment sale tomorrow night and they're giving out a free belly shot for first time moms-to-be then free follow up sessions with your new baby. I HOPE it's as good as it sounds because I'd love to get a deal on these, especially since they're not cheap.

If it doesn't work out, I have a picture in mind of how I'd like them to look but I'm not sure exactly how to go about finding the photographer. I started by asking for a few referrals from friends on Facebook and Twitter. Then I checked out Craigslist to see who had some deals, and finally just Googled some.

I know I like the studio look better, or at least black and white backgrounds. I don't like the outside ones as much just because I feel like they look more like modeling shoots and I'm not going for the "model" look as much as the "casual mom" look, haha.

If I do decide to do some outside I'd like them done maybe something like this:

(Photos by Bloom Austin Photography)

Or like this in a field:

(Photo by Sara Lopez Photography)


(Photo by 3 Little Monkeys Photography)

I like blue jeans... Not a dress. And a plain white or black shirt that buttons. I'd like to unbutton the bottom so you can see my tummy, but I don't like the holding my bare boobies action that much. Don't get me wrong, those pictures look beautiful when done right, but I don't think that's my style. This is basically EXACTLY what I'd like to wear:

(Photos by Carrie Biggar Photography)


(Photo by Pinkle Toes Photography)


(Photo by Christie Stockstill Photography)

I like this one but with jeans on.

I also would like my husband to be in a few, but not all of them... Not even most of them. Maybe like three, haha.

(Photo by EP's Photography)

(Photo by Sara Lopez Photography)


(Photo by Luz Del Alma Photography)

I'm sprinkling some samples I like from local photographers I've found in my area so far. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this look... I like how the woman is sorta blended in with the background but the belly sticks out. I wouldn't necessarily want them ALL like this, but I'd like a few! Being vain again... I like my hair down long and I'd like to show it off in photos so maybe white backgrounds would look nice too.

(Photo by Christi Long Photography)


(Photo by Christie Stockstill Photography)


(Photo by Damon Leo Photography)

I LOVE these on-location photos!

(Photos by Bloom Austin Photography)


(Photo by Barbara Legere Photography)

I am not sure about costs or what my budget is exactly. I'm hoping I can find a good deal and pay no more than $300 for the sitting fee and for a CD of the digital files giving me the rights. Think that's very realistic? I would LOVE to find a photographer that's working on their portfolio and would give me a ROCKIN' deal. My husband isn't too excited about forking out the dough for this, he says he'll use my camera and take the photos but I know how that will go...

He gets all fussy and whiny after taking a few shots for me around the house. He took my 26 week photo and it's blurry!! So yea, that option is out of the picture. But I also can't fork over $1000 for the digital prints... YIKES!

The frustrating thing when I search around for styles I like is I can't find a lot of African-American examples. It would be nice to see examples of how my skin tone and my husbands would look on black and white backdrops. I wrote to the photographer behind EP Photography because I really liked her site, and funny enough... The music she had playing on it.

I'm also debating when to have them done. I'm 26 weeks now, and I am worried if I plan them around 35 weeks she'll come then (crossing my fingers she doesn't). I've heard 7-8 months is a good idea. What do you think? Maybe around 32 weeks? I'll be exactly 8 months. I don't want to be too big to where I don't feel pretty either... Ok, I'm stopping with the vainness now ;)

Maternity Photos!

I got my CD of maternity photos yesterday and I'm so happy with how they turned out. If you live in Texas and are looking for a Central Texas maternity and newborn photographer, be sure to check out Forever Bliss Photography. She's great and her fees are AMAZING! I'm talking less than $100 for the sitting AND the edited prints on CD which you can print out for yourself!

Originally I didn't want to do outside photos but I realized that it would be nice if my husband were in at least a few of the pictures. I ended up liking those way more than I thought!

I wrote on my Parenting.com blog today about my husband's moodiness towards posing for photos but he was a trooper for these... Even though he ran to sit in the car after his part.

Little does he know we'll be doing these shoots just about every season once Ladybug gets here, but I'm hoping by then he'll be less camera shy. We'll see.

I uploaded an album of most of my favorites on my Facebook Fan Page, so if you can,"Like" your favorite! I want to get some printed to put in the nursery, and in an album.

Here's a few of my favorites:

What do you think? I think with a daddy like that Spawnie's GOTTA be cute! :D

***Random.org Winners!***

$40 to The Design Girl Studio = #16, Jennie W.
$25 to Passion Spice Maternity = #12 Mrs. Lopez

Email me back at babymakingmachine(at)gmail.com and I'll get you in touch with your prize sponsors!

Utah and Central Texas Family Photography

Remember me showing off my maternity photos last month? Oh you don't? Ok I'll show you again! There's a bunch more on Forever Bliss Photography's site. Ooooh I love them, and they are already put up around the nursery and in different parts of my house (soon to be replaced by newborn photos I'm sure). My husband keeps asking why I have pictures of my stomach up all over the place, I tell him he just doesn't understand.

He was also a little embarrassed by having to be in the photos and that he had to do "stupid poses" but I told him Tara is a professional, she knows what looks good, and they do look good! She's going to be doing many many more photos for us in the future, if she'll have us, and I'm SO excited to see Lil' J captured by her lens. Hubs isn't looking forward to taking more pictures but I keep telling him he has to... I need to think of some good bribes so he won't whine.

Forever Bliss Photography also does family portraits, engagements, wedding pictures, children's photography and more!

I'm not sure what's cuter here, the announcement or the baby but say it with me... "AWWWWW!" I'm working on making... Yes, making Lil' J's dress for her baby announcement.


Forever Bliss Photography is doing mini sessions for summer and Father's Day. It's a 30 minute session and you get ALL of your edited pictures on a CD (it's about 20-100 photos!)! The special is just $75! For those of you who live in Utah, (I guess in the Provo/Salt Lake general area) or if you live in Central Texas, you can win a FREE mini session from Forever Bliss Photography (remember, that's 20-100 photos edited, on a CD!). Don't live in the area? Sorry... But let your friends who DO live nearby know about this awesome deal!

Just leave a comment letting me know what kind of photos you'd like to have taken! For an extra entry let me know her favorite session posted on her site. Blog followers also get an extra entry!

Contest ends June 14th at 11:59pm.

Random.org will choose a winner! Good Luck!

Wordless Wednesday: Are You Kidding Me TSA?

Our sixth flight in seven weeks and they made us do this as we went through security...

So what exactly are babies hiding in their shoes these days?

At least they let her keep her diaper on.

Mother-Daughter Photos and Photography Session Giveaway

Holding my sweet baby girl makes all my worries go away. Gosh... I said I'd wouldn't be that mushy gushy mom but here I am... I love her so much!! *GUUUUSSSSH!!*

When we visited Utah, my college friend and creator of Grand Felicity Photography was able to capture some tender moments between my daughter and I on the day of her baby blessing.

These are some of my favorites!

Becca was so patient with us (Lil' J wasn't so happy) and was great at picking out locations! She let us do our thing but also guided us into natural poses. Needless to say I'm SO HAPPY with how these turned out! This was the shoot I got my new blog header from.

She's sweet enough to offer a free session for my blog readers. Here's what you'll get!

A Newborn/Family combined shoot
Up to 2 hours with Photographer
2-3 locations
Family of up to 6 people (each additional person is $25)
High Resolution CD of 25-30 fully edited images
$25 Print Credit
Online Proofing for six months on her website

It's a $200 value you'll get for free!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what you'd use this for!

For an extra entry you can comment on your favorite post on her photography blog, subscribe to her blog, or you can blog or tweet about the giveaway! Just leave a comment for each entry!

It's open to people who live, or will be in Utah. Preferably in Utah or Salt Lake County.

You have until next Saturday at 11:59pm to enter! Good luck!

My Push Present

Well, her too. But I'm actually talking about the lens I used to take these pictures of my little chunk.

I've been working on my push present wish list since before I was even pregnant. A gift for having a baby?--I mean, besides the baby? Cool! I got the camera I was eyeballing for Christmas/my anniversary/ my birthday, so I made another request for this occasion. My husband got me (ok I got it for myself but let's pretend its from him so it goes with the Push Present philosophy) a Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens and I LOVE it!

We just got back in town and I tore it out of the box this morning, skipped the instructions and snapped away. As you can see, it makes an amateur like me look like a skilled photographer, and it was only $95!

So I did end up with a little sometin sometin besides my baby but it makes mommy happy, so everyone's happy! Plus, grandma gets more pictures.

Whatcha think?

Shopping Spree: The Best Way to Make Up for Shots

No one likes getting shots. Lord knows I didn't. Heck, I still don't. So when Lil' J had her first round last week I about lost it. Ok, actually I DID lose it. She freaked out too but had forgotten about it a couple minutes later. I on the other hand, couldn't get the memory out of my head. She was laughing and cooing one second, the next she was turning red and screaming her head off. And there I was holding her arms down. I felt like a jerk. I told myself I wouldn't, but I cried too.

I promised her I'd make up for it and I did. Right after the appointment with the mean nurse we went to Old Navy's baby sale and had a little shopping spree. We scored BIG!

Two jean skirts, a pair of pants, a sweater dress, two bohemian-style dresses, a pair of sparkly moccasins, a beautiful long sweater, and a jean jacket that she can wear with it all--All for $117!

At first I had put the pants back cause I thought the total was going to be closer to $200 but when the lady rang me up and the total only came to $107 I went back to get the adorable brown pants (and I think the FIRST pair of pants I've bought for her).

Everything I bought (minus the jacket) was on sale for $5-15!

Sadly, Lil' J slept through all the shopping, but she was happy to take part in a photoshoot when she was feeling herself again. I am so blessed to have this little angel in my life!

She measured 95th percentile for height and 90th for weight so I got almost everything in 6-12 month size so she can wear it longer. The dresses I think she'll be able to wear as shirts even when she's older.

If you ask me, she looks good in everything.

What do you think? Like her fall wardrobe?

Oh, by the way, everyone who comments on this post before Sunday September 19th at 11:59pm is entered to win a $100 gift card to Old Navy. If you're a blog follower/subscriber (or become one) you get an extra entry. Also, go here to get a special coupon for 30-40% off. It's a fast one so good luck!

PS: I just took this video of her in her other bohemian dress. I just had to share! We had too much fun. The whole video coming for Wordless Wednesday!

*Thanks Old Navy, for sponsoring the shopping spree & giveaway*

GAP Model in the Making?

Lil' J loves to pose for the camera and I love to take pictures of her, so we're quite the team.

GAP is having a casting call for baby and kid GAP models. I went over to my friend/ photographer Tara's house to take some of her 3 month photos today and I decided to snap a few myself while I was there (I don't think they allow professional photos).

Here's some tips I've learned for taking pictures of my baby:

1. Natural lighting is best: I take photos outside, but in the shade so the sunlight brightens up the pictures. That way you don't need the flash on your camera. It looks nicer and they're almost never blurry!

2. Get real silly: I blow kisses and make faces at Lil' J to get her to smile.

3. Get their attention: Babies love to make eye contact so I get down on her level to get her to look in my direction--The direction of the camera.
4. Have food nearby: Lil' J is happiest after she eats, and she likes to eat whenever I offer, so sometimes we'll have nursing breaks, and she's nice and stuffed after, willing to give me big smiles. I imagine it's similar with big kids.
5. Know when to stop: Lil' J loves taking pictures but she, like anyone else has her breaking point. I take a break and come back after a nap. (photo shoots wear her out).

So how do you think I did? Not bad right? Maybe she's a GAP model in the making?

Everyone who comments on this post before October 9th is entered to win a brand spankin' new pair of GAP 1969 jeans. Followers and subscribers get an extra entry! Good luck!

*Thanks GAP for sponsoring this giveaway!

She'll Grow Into It: Sorta Wordless Wednesday

Ok, so the hat's a little big, but it doesn't get much cuter than this, does it? There's lots more where that came from at Lollipop Moon (seriously, I'm not just saying that, I can go crazy at this shop!).

What do you like? Everyone who lets me know in the comments before November 3rd will be entered to win $25 to the store! Random.org will choose the winning comment. Good Luck!

*Thanks Lollipop Moon for sponsoring this review and giveaway!