Happy Holidays from Aria!

Hey everyone,
Thought i'd share some pictures of Aria! It's been a couple months since I have been on here with my photos so.. I'll try to limit it to two! Here she is at 8 months, 17 lbs, and 29" long..

Shawna Soo Photography- 1st Birthday Smash

This is sweet little Blaire! Her mom and I came together to do this fun little birthday smash photoshoot! I had the wooden floors in my house and she brought over wrapping paper for the background, handmade chalk board, and polka dotted banner. She also made her entire outfit and brought along a smash cupcake! It turned out GREAT! Take a peak!
www.shawnasoophotography.com

XOSO

Baby and on a budget?

I'm thinking about doing an extensive post about which baby products are worth buying and which are worth waving. Let me know if you want to see that and if i get some interest I will post away!

XOSO

First snowfall

Here we are with the first snow fall of Boise, ID. This time of year brings back the childhood memories of tree decorating and sledding. It makes me want to slap on a snow suit and go make some snow angels! Here is a picture of our beautiful family Border collie, Capri Sun, playing in the snow and losing her tennis ball.

Paint A Rug

There was too much pitter patter from my dog in the hallway so I decided it needed a rug. I didn't want to spend too much on a rug and I needed it to match my style I had going on. I went to walmart and bought a lengthy green rug, black paint and I borrowed a stencil from a friend.

Knotted Jersey Headband DIY

I made this one for my daughter. I hope this helps!
XOXO

Eating my eggs with chopsticks

I'm back to the blogging scene! This blog will focus on crafting, coupon strategies, life, my photography and of course it will have a plethora of pictures of our new addition. I'm sorry to have up and left my fellow blog world but I was taking time off to bring a wonderfully made beautiful little girl into this world. She has opened my eyes to a whole new world of love and a whole new life of learning. I look back on my past and think "WOW I was missing something." I have never in my life felt so fulfilled and grateful before.

My pregnancy was not the easiest and for a while we wondered if something tragic was going to happen to us. The doctors had realized that something was not right around 22 weeks by an ultrasound that showed my cervical length. Over the weeks the length began to shorten more and more. This shortening is not suppose to happen until baby was ready to come out. This is what helps the baby make their grand entrance into the world. When I came to 27 weeks I was admitted into the hospital because of contractions and they decided that bed rest would slow down the process of this shortening. By limiting my activity it would limit the amount of stress and weight the baby bared down. Around this time the painful contractions began all day every day which also sped up the process of this shortening.

Bed rest was rough. Having to lay staring at a wall or TV screen all day every day was not my forte. I'm a bit OCD and a little restless so when I was forced to sit I just wanted to clean or craft. As I would go against the doctors orders my contractions would flare up and I would be back in bed at square one. The contractions became so intense and so constant that I would barely be able to make it to the bathroom with out having them. Showering everyday was not an option unless I wanted to have contractions following hours after, that could possibly put me in the hospital.

We were admitted to the hospital 5 times in a 10 week period due to false labor. We thought we were going to have her around 28 weeks and by that time she was only a pound. My heart was heavy each passing day. I kept thinking "Why?" There is no reason that life gives you obstacles, but it will never give you more than you can handle. I like to think that this obstacle in life gave me strength.

Ben stood by my side in every heartache and every struggle. He held my hand during hospital visits, carried me to the car, helped me in and out of the shower, off of the toilet, made me dinner and always helped me up when I was down. This 10 weeks was the most difficult time in my life. I'm beyond grateful for having such a strong best friend to be there for me.
When 32 weeks came along we were so sure that this was it. We spoke with the neonatal intensive care unit when they came in to brief us when I had gotten admitted. This hospital visit lasted almost a week before I was sent back home. They noticed that the baby was behind in her growth by almost two weeks. The doctors said this could be an issue or I might just have a small baby. Along with that news they also had found an arrhythmia in her heart beat which sent us to get a fetal echo-cardiogram done. Thankfully her echo came back normal!

I'll speed up now because i'm realizing this is getting lengthy. 27, 28, 32, 34, 36, and finally we held on until 39 WEEKS! She is truly a miracle to me. My little fighter Aria Coralie was born March 22, 2013 by induction! She weighed 5 lbs 12 oz at 5:23 PM. When she was born there was an overwhelming amount of relief that flowed over me.  I take far too many pictures of my daughter and this is where I start posting an obscene amount!

First day

So every one says that their child is the most beautiful, but mine really is. :)  She has spent a couple weeks struggling with pretty intense reflux. Although whether it's a good day or a bad day, she is the happiness in my life.

Our first family photos

I'm trying to take monthly photos of her. The first month was ADORABLE. She loved the camera and knew how to pose! ;) The second month was just as cute!

I had read about introducing your dog to the idea of a baby before hand but I did not prepare for that. When I was in the hospital I kept thinking "AH what if Capri terrorizes the baby?!" Which is a silly thought because my border collie Capri Sun, is the sweetest girl. She was hesitant at first but grew an attachment to the babes.

 

Can you believe this?! The left is Ben and the right is Aria. It is SO adorable! When I was born I was a fat white bald baby. I love that she looks so much like her daddy.

Are you sick of all the baby pictures yet? Too bad! :)

Okay so I think i've made it clear that I am utterly obsessed with my little miracle!

Mothers day

That is what I have been up to in the past year. I'm so thankful to have been able to bring such a beautiful little girl into this world. She is my everything.

XOSO