Thoughts from my Heart...

     I am absolutely obsessed with blogs and peoples' opinions on things and how they view life.. This specific one touched my heart this morning. I am a lil' emotional as I sit at my work desk for the last time before I start maternity leave next week. I realize that my life is about to change and I will just have to take things day by day. I have been in a place of "In Between" both emotionally and physically. My old self, My new self.. My old Life.. My new life.. trying to balance with one foot in each world. It's exhausting.... Not knowing what the future holds. I know it's going to be beautiful, but geezzzeee I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared outta my mind. I am so thankful and blessed to have a supportive group of friends and family literally waiting on standby for the "event of the year"! (Harper's arrival) Please take the time to read this blog (just click the link) and take it all in.. As women we feel the need to not only have it all together but KEEP it all together! This reminds us that
"It's going to be ok"...

http://www.scissortailsilk.com/2014/07/21/what-you-probably-need-to-hear-the-most-right-now/

37 Weeks

37 Weeks Today: Friday July 24th

"Well, she is running outta room in there! Looks like you are about 3cm dilated and Harper has a strong heartbeat..  Have you noticed or felt anything different? As of now we still just wait until she is ready. Could be any day... Again, make sure you have the car seat properly installed and your bags in the car, ready to go "

-Dr. Ramos

Weighing in at 127 lbs.. and normal blood pressure I still feel energized. My feet are swelling more so at the end of my day and my ring doesn't fit anymore! : (  Ty has been helping me out alot around the house and cooking dinner for me. There is still a ton I wanna do to her nursery, but I have convinced myself not to stress over it because she won't be in there for a while anyways! Hospital bags are packed and ready.. All my cute pjs are washed and ready for when I get home. All her clothes are washed and hung up.. and here we are.. just waiting.
To be continued.....

Maternity Picture Disaster

     Sooo.. I have officially had my first Pregnancy Pity Party and it came at the worst time! Maternity Picture Day! The day, as a photographer, I have been looking forward too! On this day, of course it's pouring rain in my neighborhood and when it finally decides to stop it's 1200 degrees outside and mosquitos are swarming everywhere! So we make a run for it when the sun comes out.

      I had both my outfits planned out, Tyler's pants ironed, Coopers bandanna ready and we were set! 

My very dear high school friend Stephanie was shooting for us (she did our initial pics when I first found out I was pregnant and made our announcement).. She is amazing. She knows my style and understands how I like the lighting and details of the pics. She met us at the location and we were chasing the sun for the perfect rays! 

     15 minutes into it... I felt it.. and it hit me like a ton of bricks.. not to mention the humidity, mosquitos, swollen ankles and boob sweat... I went back to the car, alone.. to change to the next outfit and caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window.. talk about DUNZO... I lost it.. the ugly cry was in full force and there was no stopping it. Which then lead to swollen nose, messed up lashes, puffy cheeks and overall gross face. I just didn't feel pretty or radiant like I wanted to feel. I lost all confidence in myself, therefore it was going to show in the pictures. Steph and Tyler were a ways away and I had to signal to them to "come here" cause I was so choked up.. I couldn't get anything out.. you guys.. I WAS A MESS! Talk about drama queen! Of course Ty runs to me thinking something is "Really Wrong".. I felt so embarrassed, but at the same time my emotions and hormones just got the best of me. 

As always, Steph pulled through and produced some awesome pics I will forever be grateful for. Even though we didn't get the chance for my outfit change, Tyler and I are so happy with how these turned out. As a mom of three Steph knew exactly how I was feeling at the moment and assured me I was beautiful and that she was really happy with the shots she had already taken. We called it quits early and Ty took me and my crybaby pitiful face to Sonic for an ice cream and then home to relax in a bubble bath. 

Cooper LOVE!

With all the baby excitement in the house we have to remember who the first child was... This Kid!

Brownley "COOPER" Clay Holmes 

(Yes, like Bradly Cooper)

He has been our #1! I may be a lil bias, but he IS the smartest, most loving lab in the whole world! Cooper, our English Chocolate Lab,(that's why his head is square) is about 16 months and is so ready to be a big brother. It's funny how dogs can sense a change in routine. Coop always sleeps in HIS bed in OUR room. Lately, when I wake up to find his bed empty he has gone over to Harper's room... 

He normally hasn't been allowed in there while I've been decorating and getting things ready, but when I saw his sweet face looking at me from across the hall the other morning my heart melted! HE KNOWS! He doesn't chew or mess anything up. He simply just wants to be in there. He knows the love and energy that room is about to have!

I wanted to do something special for him so he still gets attention when Harper arrives so I signed him up for Bark Box! It's amazing! It's a monthly box (I'm obsessed with them) that comes in his name and has goodies for him. Simply go to the link www.barkbox.com , select your size dog and how often you'd like to receive the boxes! His first one arrived this week and it was perfect! Even Tyler was impressed! It came with a long jerky chew toy, some organic biscuits, a frozen treat and his favorite a new pool toy to fetch!

We are so in love with him and can't wait to see how he reacts to having Harper around. 

36 Weeks

36 Weeks Today: Friday July 18th

"You are full term.. good to go any day now.. She's about 6 lbs and I don't anticipate her getting any bigger. She's head down and ready. Take it easy this next week and just relax.. Call me if you feel any contractions and pack your bags, cause she's coming"

-Dr. Ramos

Helloooooo 36 weeks... THIRTY SIX weeks! It seems like the beginning of my pregnancy the weeks were dragging on and now I'm like wait wait slow down!!! Ready or not, here she comes! I think for the most part we are ready! We've been spoiled by our friends and family and Harper is set on everything she needs including clothes that will last her till Prom! I'm not kidding.. (shoes to match, of course)

I'm feeling good.. normal as I can be. The pressure down there is starting to take a toll on my small frame. and the wabble is no longer a dance move, but my everyday walk. I pee every 10 minutes and cant drink enough water. Last night I woke up in so much pain due to my Charlie Horse leg cramps.. those are no joke! Ty popped up (prob thinking my water broke) and was like "Babe Babe, whaa whaa whats wronggggg"? I could barely speak enough to tell him to flex my heel back to make it stop! So awful!
So now we just sit and wait till the princess is ready to make her arrival! 

Also, today we celebrate Poppa Bear's 30th Birthday!
I love him so much and I know I have said it a million times, but I really can't wait to see him with Harper. We were on the couch last night and she was being a wild child in my belly and he was just in awe of how a woman'd body can stretch and adapt to growing a baby. She is totally going to be a Daddy's Girl and have him wrapped around her little fingers!

Pretty in PINK!

Sunday we were showered with love from my girlfriends from work. They are seriously all like sisters to me! I can only hope and pray Harper has genuine friends like mine! Once again, it was all so perfect! Pink EVERYWHERE! The thought and little details my friends put into this shower for us from the decor to the cake to the amazing custom Harper cookies was all so special. 

and to call myself out now... YES.. I wore the same outfit! I had such good feedback from it the first time.. Why not? and to make it even better Tyler help me pick it out and put it together!!  (as I was throwing a fit in the Francesca's dressing room cause nothing fit me right) So props to you babe!!! 

Friends, Family & Baby Shower Fun

I am absolutely overwhelmed by the LOVE our friends and family have for our baby girl! Everyone is SO excited for her arrival and having that support is unlike anything I have ever experienced... IN MY LIFE!

Needless to say, we were spoiled rotten this weekend. 

Saturday we had our Family & Friends Luau Shower at my in laws house and it was so perfect. 

It's rare to have family members, cousin in laws and step parents all together at the same time. I have to say I caught myself looking around and getting emotional just seeing "OUR FAMILY" together.

Tyler and I are SO blessed to have such great couple friends! These guys have been in Tyler's life since elementary and their wives are such strong, beautiful women that I'm lucky to call MY friends! We've made so many great memories and I can't wait for and all our kids to grow up together!! Such a cool feeling!

"Our World Is Better With Friends Like Yall"

xoxo- Ash and Ty

35 Weeks

35 Weeks Today: Friday July 11th

OK... I'm entering the "Uncomfortable" stage.. I've been super blessed to have an easy pregnancy thus far. No morning sickness ever, normal hormones (well, sorta),  no crazy cravings, no heart burn or high blood pressure swelling. However, I have a feeling these last couple weeks are going to go by soooo slow. I can't sleep. I wake up every 10 min cause I just can't get comfy, my back is achy and I cant easy roll over or get up to pee cause it's all a process. Meanwhile, Ty is sound asleep so peaceful, I wanna just hit him with a pillow!! #thestruggle

On another note I can't get enough time with my husband. Even if we are just doing nothing.. we are together.. Just us... I'm trying to take it all in. I know these first couple weeks/months with Harper are going to test the strength of our relationship. He is SO excited and I can't wait to see him become a Daddy. 

We have our last two baby showers this weekend and I love love love all the LOVE our friends and family already have for Harper! I can't wait to post pics and show yall all the goodies she gets! Stay tuned! 

34 Weeks

34 Weeks Today: Friday July 4th

Can you believe it's already JULY?! This year is flying by! 

     This weekend we celebrated the 4th of July.. and Ty and I are finding out how much things are changing. I would normally be searching PacSun or Target for the cutest fringe American Flag bikini and Ty some sorta Urban Outfitters America Beach theme outfit to celebrate in style.. 

Packing the cooler with Coronas and cut limes, charging up the Beats by Dre Pill and throwing all  the dark bronzing oils we could find from last summer in a bag. 

     Instead, we had a very low key Family Friendly day. We managed to scrounge up some red, white and blue, took Cooper to the Friendswood neighborhood park, ate sno cones and visited at the little craft tents that were set up. That lasted about an hour before we were drenched in sweat from the TEXAS heat.. so back to the house we went. We were perfectly content watching Netflicks on the couch in the AC on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. All that mattered is that we were TOGETHER..relaxing... (in the AC)! 

This is Coop and I waiting in the car cause Ty was determined to find him a red bandanna. Makes me laugh, but also makes me think of how he is going to be with Harper.. Wanting her to have the best of everything!