Maternity Photos

We had our maternity photo shoot done with K.Bee of Kimberly Jarman Photography. I am spoiled when it comes to my taste in photography, and I am so lucky to have had my top choice of photographers. I didn't realize how good it would make me feel to see these pictures. The confidence boost was breathtaking to realize that I could be so pretty even when I am this round :)

Belly Time-Lapse at Full Term

Today makes me 37 weeks along, which means I am officially full-term!!! Here is the official belly time lapse. The only question remaining is how many more photos will be added before we have Zach in our arms ...
Here's the latest on the "baby pool" and every one's guess on when Zach will arrive. My due date is January 7th, but the "bets" range from Christmas Day to January 11th.

Belly Pictures - Month 9

33 weeks (baby is the size of a pinapple):

34 weeks (baby is the size of a cantaloupe): 35 weeks (baby is the size of a honeydew):36 weeks (baby is the size of a crenshaw melon):

9th Month Reflections

Wow, here we are in the home stretch! Here's the latest:

- Nesting has officially commenced! I am a woman on a mission to sort and organize just about everything in the house. It started with the kitchen, pantry, garage, laundry room, our closet, and especially baby Zach's room. It took 7 loads of laundry, but I have all his clothes, blankets, and linens all clean and ready!

- Sleeping has never been as unpredictable for me than the last month of my life. Some nights I sleep perfectly soundly, but most nights I'm up to the bathroom 2-3 times. It wouldn't be so bad, but it's so hard to fall back asleep with the pinching heartburn, back pain, and breathlessness. Sometimes sleeping in the recliner helps.

- Thanksgiving was an unusually disappointing experience for me. I love to eat, especially pregnant! But my abdomen is out of room and my turkey plates were sadly not-so-piled-high. We have much to be thankful for and it was a long, but very good day running around to all the family.

- I have officially made it to 36 weeks still working out and exercising! I really do hate it, but it's healthy for me and the baby. I really can't imagine feeling any less strong than I do, I am so glad I have kept fit. My gain is 29 pounds right now, so right on track to keep within the 25-35 pound guidelines from the doctor. Cardio at the gym fell off my radar a while back. Pregnancy yoga was a once weekly activity until about two weeks ago when it became too hard to breathe while bending. Now here I am still doing personal training with Cara though this week. Now we'll be on to walking the neighborhood as my workout ... or rather "waddling the block" as Blaine says!

- The weather is cooling off, and I reluctantly ordered a few winter maternity clothes online. I thought I'd particularly love a white cable-knit hoodie, but Blaine says I look like Frosty the Snowman, and after re-examining the mirror ... he's so right!

- My hormones must be running a bit higher than before. There have been a couple of very random incidents of bursting into tears ... it's kind of an out-of-body experience!

Dear Baby (from Daddy)

To my dear son Zachary John,

In 42 short days, I will finally get to see your beautiful eyes and I can’t wait!

Prior to your arrival, your mother and I have lived a life full of many adventures. Through our four and a half years of marriage, we have traveled, gone on multiple random adventures, and taken on many different challenges (one of them being that yappy yorkie-poo!). From starting a business, attending grad school, setting up a house, multiple weeks of travel, to attending ASU football games there have been many trying times. However there have also been a lot of smiles, hugs, and laughs in our lives with many tribulations. Through this time, we have grown to love each other, learn from each other, grown spiritual with each other and respect each other. It’s been a wonderful marriage and I love your mother more than I could have ever imagined.

However, at the beginning of the year 2010, we looked in each other’s eyes and knew that we wanted more in life. We wanted to grow in another way with each other, bringing up a child, in God’s way and living life to its fullest with our future children. Now we have been blessed with a son to be, and we are so exited for your arrival into this world. Your mother has been her usual self in making everything perfect for your arrival. We won’t tell you about the 8 shades of blue paint on the wall or the “where should the monkey decal hang” stresses. We have witness the excitement that your arrival is bringing to all the grandparents and family members and that has also brought joy in both me and your mother’s eyes as it shows us that you will have a lot of people who will love you immensely.

Your mother and I have already dreamed of the many different activities and quality time events that we will partake in with you. From seeing you take your first steps, to hearing you say your first words, there are many of God’s miracles that we will be experiencing in the next year to come and we are beyond excited. And of course, we can’t forget about taking you to ASU football games.

With this said I pray that God will bless your life and provide me and your mother guidance in raising you. I will do my best to learn to hold you and hug you and keep you comforted and always be your protector and guidance. You are my son and I will always try to be the best father that I could possibly be.

With all my love,
Dad

Thankfully ... a name!

We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We had a very special announcement to make to our family and friends: the long-awaited name for the baby!

Drumroll please ................... our son's name is Zachary John Shelton!

Early on in the pregnancy, I was so sure it was a boy that we never discussed girl names at all. The initial list of favorites were Tyler, Dylan, Bryce, and Zachary. Many long-suffering conversations later (poor Blaine!), we had extended then narrowed down to the "top 10" of Zachary, Grant, Andrew, Joshua, Tyler, Logan, Gavin, Isaac, Trevor, and Elliot.

There were two "ah-ha" moments that led us to choose Zachary. When we were first trying out names, Blaine was talking to the belly and asked him if he liked Zachary ... and low and behold, a GIANT kick in response.

More meaningful was the realization of the names meaning. Zachary means "God remembers" ... and although that's pretty neat and all, I found it very perplexing. After all, God is all-knowing, so how does God "remember" something if He isn't capable of "forgetting"? Only a day or two after discussing this perplexion with Blaine, I was sitting in our church's small group chatting about the story of Noah. It came to discussion about how Noah was floating out on the water for 5 months before "God remembered" Noah. That was the moment that someone said, "when I read the old testament, it seems to me that when God remembers someone - that's when He is taking action through them and in their life".

That was when I knew Zachary was it! It's a lovely, strong, somewhat unique name ... but we love that my son's namesake is born of our desire to raise a son whom God's hand is acting through him and in his life. Blaine and I debated the name a little more after that, but I'll never forget the moment that he took me in his arms, looked me right in the eye and said, "Aleasha, his name is Zachary".

As for the middle name, I asked Blaine long before we ever conceived that if we had a son, could his middle name be for my grandpa John Kasiniak. My grandpa was a very special person in my life. As an only child, my mom's parents lived with us from when I was 3 years old until I went to college. My grandpa was my constant playmate, read to me, took me to garage sales, and generally helped me get into just enough trouble to be always having fun. He was a faithful husband, a proud soldier, a providing father, and the best grandpa I could've ever wished for. I miss him very much, and hope he is looking down on us proud to have our first son bear even a little part of him.

Aleasha and grandpa John:We revealed the name over the Thanksgiving weekend. Blaine's idea was to do a 'hangman' game with the Chew family, and a word-jumble with the Shelton's. I failed a bit as game-show hostess by forgetting that there was an 'H' in Zachary ... but nonetheless, the name was unveiled!

The Shelton reveal:

... and then the ensuing mischief:

Belly Pictures - Month 8

29 weeks (baby is the size of a butternut squash):30 weeks (baby is the size of a cabbage):31 weeks (baby is the size of 4 large oranges):32 weeks (baby is the size of a jicama):

8th Month Reflections

Here a bit on month 8:

- Somewhere between 31 and 32 weeks, EVERYTHING got more difficult (walking, sleeping, eating, breathing, etc).

- It was really cool to finally see 3-D images of the little guy at my 30 week ultrasound. It's funny to me that every other 3-D ultrasound I've ever seen has seemed kinda creepy-looking ... but with my own baby, it's totally fascinating!

- We had my baby shower this month. I am so blessed to have my mom and friend Cara to host it (not to mention the all the help from Jessica, Molly, and Kym!). It was a mid-day affair for a whopping 40 guests! I had such a great time and my little boy is totally spoiled with the car-fulls of gear we toted home.

- We took the "Birth Basics and Breathing" classes at the hospital. It was really informational and we found our instructor, Janice, an absolute hoot. Blaine was a great sport, the only eye-rolling was regarding a classmate who asked way too many annoying questions (can you believe that it wasn't ME?). We learned a lot, but it also kinda scared me ... I feel almost too educated about the dangers/gross stuff than I needed to be.

- I was surprised to find myself melancholy about managing my last wedding of the season at 33 weeks (technically 32 weeks and 6 days). I plan to make appearances at the rest of our weddings, but I was kinda sad to officially step out of my lead role.

- This month of the pregnancy went by pretty fast. I've been really busy with work and baby preparations, and am only just now starting to get more uncomfortable than I've been.

Baby Shower

I am such a lucky girl! I was thrown the most amazing baby shower thanks to my mom, Cara, Jessica, and help from Kym and Molly too.

Cara orchestrated the giraffe-themed event at Brio for a Sunday brunch attended by a whooping 40-something guests. Yummy Italian munchies, the world's best carrot cake, and a mountain of gifts made for such a fun day.

I was so glad to share the day with my family and friends. I am so grateful that me and this little man are so stinkin' spoiled!

Dear Baby (from Momma)

Dear Baby,

I've been meaning to write you for a while. I can't believe its been 7 months since the day I found out you were on your way to our home. It sometimes feels like that was just yesterday, but most of the time the days go by so slowly because I just can't wait to meet you.

Your daddy and I got to see the first 3-D pictures of you this week. It makes me that much more anxious to hold you and to have you here with us. I think you are going to look just like daddy (he's a handsome guy, so you've got a lucky hand there!), but hopefully you'll have a hint of me in you too! Daddy hopes you'll have my eyes. You've certainly got his head though ... all 97th percentile in circumference. It panics me to think of how I'm going to get you out, but I know it's all worth it for you!

I can't say that I have loved being pregnant with you. The affects on my body have not been entirely pleasant. Never doubt for even a moment that I have loved carrying you. Knowing that God is knitting you together, the details of you both inside and out ... it's just indescribable. Feeling you move and kick makes me smile every time as I dream of who you might be and what lies ahead for all of us.

You won't understand this for decades to come, but it's mind-boggling to know how much I already love you. You are my first child, my son. The hopes I have for you are endless. My dreams are for you to smile MUCH more often than not, to be grateful for all I know you'll be blessed with, to find happiness in your life and in the life you share with others, and most of all, to chase fiercely after God so that He may act in your life and through your life. This particular desire we have for you is the reason for your namesake, but that is a whole other story! I hope that you find a passion in your interests and occupation, whatever talents you choose to pursue. I find myself praying for you and your one-day spouse already; that God look after her and guide her ... that one day you might be as joyfully fulfilled in your marriage as your father and I are.

You should know that one of the greatest things I will ever do for you is marrying your father. God really orchestrated that one, but the effects of that blessing will echo long into your life. He is the best father I could have ever chosen for you. He is so smart, brilliant really. He inspires me often to keep learning about the world and to challenge my mind. He will no doubt encourage the same in you. He is also the most generous person I know with how caring he is. I am spoiled with how he loves me and puts my needs before his. It is with determination that I continually attempt to match his kindness, but always fail in comparison. I hope you inherit this quality of his.

Make no mistake that both your father and I have our short-comings. Please learn to be forgiving of us and learn from our mistakes. Know that we will always strive to do our best for you in a love that is unconditional. We will act in accordance in God's command to parent you with a balance of discipline and patience, encouragement and kindness ... to raise you up, and one day, let you go.

Oh my little guy, cherish each and every day. Live it to it's fullest. Love furiously. Chase any dreams you may have with courage and determination. I will always be here for you. You will always carry my love with you.

I love you my son,

Mommy

Baby Shelton in 3-D!

I had a routine ultrasound today at 30 weeks. We have 3-dimensional pictures! I'm not sure if it's kind of creepy or really cool ... but here's science's best guess at what our son looks like:

I think he's all daddy! He's going to have Blaine's nose for sure ... and I think the little guy will look a lot like his daddy. He may have my lips and chubby cheeks though :)

Everything with baby and me are perfectly healthy. Even my weight gain is right on target. The only unusual thing is that he is looking to be a BIG baby. He's already 4 pounds, and his weight and measurements are all around 3 to 3 1/2 weeks ahead of my due date. It has no bearing on when he'll arrive (I was told that is more about hormones that are released when his lungs are mature). It does mean that he could possibly be a 9 to 9 1/2 pound baby. Yikes! Apparently, as we go through the next several weeks, the doctor will re-evaluate me to see if she will advise a scheduled c-section. On that note, I will finish this post with today's photo of his giant (super-smart!) head that is still measuring in the 97th percentile:

Belly Pictures - Month 7

25 weeks (baby is the size of a rutabaga):

26 weeks (baby is the size of an English cucumber):

27 weeks (baby is the size of a head of cauliflower):

28 weeks (baby is the size of a Chinese cabbage):

7th Month Reflections

My thoughts on the 7th month:

- I've noticed that my movements in or out of various seated or reclined positions are accompanied by "sound effects". Most commonly are the noises "oomph!" and "heave-ho!"

- I mentioned it last month, but really, the snoogle pillow is still the best invention EVER!

- Blaine was smart to ban discussion on naming the baby with others. It is impossible to choose a name that would make everyone happy. (But we still haven't decided yet.)

- My 3rd official craving resulted in a $30 purchase of Chinese food ... all for myself! (The first two cravings were french fries with chocolate cake incident and then a calling for a bean burrito. Both happened in the 1st trimester.)

- I am getting a handle on my weight gain again. No longer a few pounds over-weight, now I am just on the upper end of the range I am supposed to be in. I am clocking out of this 7th month (28 weeks) at 21 lbs gained.

- Blaine is 30! We had a blast throwing him a "Cabo Beach Party" at my parents' house. I was sad not to partake in the margarita-machine fun, but the Sparky-on-the-beach cake was yummy!

- Maybe I am crazy ... well of course I am, but I think my sciatica pain is actually getting better. Either I am used to it or it's not bothering me as often as it was.

- I am starting to get stretch marks!!! Boo!

Blaine's 30th Birthday

We celebrated Blaine's big THREE-O this month. I couldn't have pulled it off without all his help (yes, it's shameful, but it is crazy wedding season after all).

To the best husband a girl could wish for: you are an amazing man, and I hope you can see all you've accomplished and become in your first 30 years. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for you! I am so blessed to walk beside you yesterday, on your birthday, and in the years to come!

Barb and Bill (Aleasha's parents) were kind enough to offer to host the party at their house. It was a "Cabo Beach Party" so the beach attire, Mexican food, and margaritas were plentiful!
My favorite element of the party was the cake! Nothing embodied what I wanted the theme to be about than Sparky himself chillin' on the beach (with a bucket of beer of course)!

Belly Pictures - Month 6

21 weeks (baby is the size of a carrot):
22 weeks (baby is the size of a spagetti squash):
23 weeks (baby is the size of a papaya):
24 weeks (baby is the size of an ear of corn):

6th Month Reflections

My thoughts on the 6th month:

- All at the same time, I feel like I've been pregnant forever ... and like it's going by so fast!

- I really thought I'd be one of those women who relished in the joys of pregnancy and loved every moment of it ... but I don't. It makes me feel like a bad mom to say it, but there is nothing miraculous about the nausea, sciatica, discomfort, or weight gain.

- Feeling him move and kick is the BEST feeling ever! There is nothing quite like it. I get kicks, squirms, flutters, somersaults, and even feel him stretching out. It's the very best part of this journey so far. The only downside is that it can be borderline uncomfortable and downright distracting when I am in the middle of something else. I don't care though, he can interrupt me anytime he wants to, I just love feeling him.

- Oh my goodness, I feel so R-O-U-N-D! I've been bumping into things all the time, most notably a guy's bald head while he was bowed praying in church. So embarrassing! I can't believe how much my personal-space-bubble has changed, and I still have a whole trimester to go!

- I was told by my husband that I have a "cute" waddle. My massage therapist said I look "cute" puffy with retained water. I think they are full of bologna!

- I am officially trending upwards of where my weight gain should be by about 2-4 lbs. It's time to lay off the Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (anything with chocolate and peanut butter has tasted soooooo good lately!)

- I've turned the big 2-9. The best birthday present I got was from my mom. It's a "snoogle"! The best body pillow ever invented has saved this round preggo lady from restless sleep. I've named him Giovanni, he is my new lover! Poor Blaine and Rudy are now squished over to about 15 inches of bed space.

- I am officially, but hopefully temporarily quitting high heels :(

Nursery Design Dilemas

Wow, I never imagined how conflicted I would be about designing the nursery! It's kind of similar to wedding designing for me in terms of the creative process ... but I know much more about linens, flowers, and large spaces than I do about bedding, baby furniture, and paint chips. All I know is that I want it to be just perfect for our little guy.

So I started off by collecting a million ideas in images. Here is the document that started to get just A LITTLE out of control. Yes, that is 57 pages of pictures, colors, screenshots, and links.

Next, I had a very serious conflict to balance: furniture color and bedding color. White, brown, or black furniture? Bedding that's bold and modern, simple and sweet, or should the color be most important. Long story short, we figured out the decor first.

We had it narrowed down to these 2 choices:

Then we stumbled upon THEE bedding on clearance when we went to start the registry. It was like winning the lottery! It's actually much cuter in person than in the picture because all the soft colors are actaully mod-ish geometric patterns.

I am going to pair the bedding with these cute wall decals I found on Etsy:

And lasy but not least, here are the furniture sets that we are still deciding between:

Stay tuned for before and after photos of the baby's room!

5th Month Reflections

Here is what's been going on in the 5th month:

- I am very confused on how to count the months in pregnancy. Between my books and the internet, there are at least 3 different ways people count them. For my use, I have concluded that I will use the system that has my due date actually landing on 10 months... it seems to make the most sense to count each 4 weeks as a month.

- My instincts were right all along. It's a boy! It actually took me about a week for it to sink in still. Now seeing all the little boy things in the store makes me melt!

- Picking a name is going to be hard! Blaine and I have mostly differing taste in names, and only a few we both like.

- Designing the nursery is also more overwhelming than I thought. I've started with a 33 page document on my computer filled with clipped pictures of ideas, bedding, colors, and such.

- I am very disturbed at the way my belly button is continuously morphing. It has so far journeyed through stages of innie, flat-ish, semi-outtie, lop-sided outie, and now flatting again. It's really weird!

- It's crazy to hit the halfway mark at 20 weeks. Really, it's astonishing to realize how fast its gone and how soon he's going to be here!

- I am still obsessing about my weight gain. At 20 weeks, I've gained 11 lbs. I am no longer 'underweight' on the chart :( ... now I'm hovering at 'just right'. It's time to cut back on the ice cream!

- Right at 20 weeks, the little kicks started! It's so much fun to feel the little 'thumps' in my belly. I am really looking forward to when they are strong enough for Blaine to feel.

Belly Pictures - Month 5

17 weeks (baby is the size of a turnip): 18 weeks (baby is the size of a sweet potato): 19 weeks (baby is the size of a mango or heirloom tomato): 20 weeks (baby is the size of a cantaloupe):