Engagements, Babies, and Pregnancy-OH MY!

Check out Laura DeMars {Photography's} latest blog postings!

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Okay, I'm all sorts of excited about this- my new business LOGO!  That's right-it's all legit!  Check out Brooke at B.Schroht Designs!  She did an awesome job and I am thrilled!  Happy Dance!

Our weekend

Oh my goodness did we have a busy busy weekend!  We are really not used to that, I like structure, order, consistency-and this weekend was anything but that!  In the midst of running around everywhere-we managed to have a lot of fun!

Friday: my parents babysat Ingrid while Michael and I had our doctor appointment with my OB.  We left feeling encouraged and like we have a little more closure.  Apparently, I am a weird case.  The doctor said they only see what happened to me maybe every few years!  We will never know what truly happened, but it is probable that I had a tubal pregnancy that naturally flowed out the end of my fallopian tube and miscarried.  The other, less probable-but still-an-option thing that could have happened is that I had a normal miscarriage and a burst ovarian cyst at the same time (but really, what are the chances??).  Either way, the doctor wants us to wait a few months to start trying again (TMI?).  I need time to let my body really heal.  We are okay with this.  It's still disappointing though, we wanted our kids 2 1/2 years apart-and that's exactly what they would have been.  Now are kids will (hopefully) be between 2 3/4 -3 years apart.....Lord wiling.  Next time I will be brought in for an early ultrasound because I have a 10% chance of having another ectopic pregnancy.  We are, hopefully, looking forward to an uneventful summer.

Friday night was followed by pizza with my parents, and Ingrid putting on quite the show for us.  She learned to say "Octopus" (which sounds like "ot-to-pus"), and instinctivly took in all the applause and took a bow.

Saturday:  the morning was spent at the Farmer's Market looking at home made items, listening to Cabin of Love, and having adult conversation (well I did at least, Michael chased Ingrid around).  I got a chance to talk with a family friend who also happens to be an amazing photographer-so I learned lots and I can't wait for all my upcoming photo shoots!!  We also had a picnic in the park, and Ingrid (who rarely can be held down, even to eat) actually enjoyed it!

Saturday afternoon was spent at my friend Emily's parents house.  I did a photo shoot with her boys (if you want to see the photo's, go here), and I loved how everything turned out!  Later we had fun in the pool and a great dinner, it's so nice having some friends in town!  Saturday night we got to see my sister and Ben, and Michael and Ben went to a late night showing of X-Men, which I couldn't be more thrilled about because that means I don't have to see it!

Sunday:  Morning breakfast with the entire family, afternoon lunch with the in-lawed family, and finally a relaxing afternoon at home.  Phew!  I need a nap!...seriously though-I really do.

Happy Monday!

Logan & Brayton {Kids session}

Wanna see more of this??

Isaac Hougas, fresh from the oven {newborn session}

Wanna see more of this?

....and I know you do!

Finding normal again

This weekend was the closet thing to "normal" that we've experienced in the past month.  After a month long cancer scare with my mom (which included two nasty surgeries, one of which was just done at Mayo) that ended up in relief, a tubal pregnancy turned miscarriage, and numerous health problems with Ingrid and myself, we finally had, what felt like, a normal weekend.  We hit the memorial day parade- and Ingrid went wild with glee at the sight of all the "twucks", and then when her almost 2 year old "ants in the pants" hit we high tailed it over the The Village of Yesteryear, her favorite place to explore.

It felt good to grill out, enjoy walks, and play with side walk chalk.  Like maybe everything will feel normal again really soon.  Yesterday I had a blood test again and my doctor told me my HCG levels are down to 3.  Even though I already know that I lost this pregnancy, it felt like a knife in the heart.  Three.  Last week they were in the 200 range.  Hearing that is like reality hitting you again, this really happened.  I have a doctor appointment on Friday, and we're hoping for encouraging news, maybe it will be safe to plan for a baby again in the future. Until then....I will soak up every bit of sunshine with Ingrid, and enjoy every moment of being the mother of one.  

Baby Cocoon

So I have been wanting to make a baby cocoon for a photography prop for myself for a while, and I came across a pattern recently, but because it wasn't exactly what I want, I used it as a guide and made changes along the way.  So for all intents and purposes I posted below the pattern that I re purposed.

Materials:
1 skein of Lion Brand Wood Ease Chunky yarn
9mm hook

Pattern:
-Chain 6, join with slit stitch (6)
-2 HDC in each stitch around (12)
-1 HDC in 1st stitch, 2 HDC in the next stitch, repeat around (18)
-1 HDC in next 2 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat around (24)
-1 HDC in next 3 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat around (30)
-1 HDC in next 4 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat around (36)
-1 HDC in next 5 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat around (42)
-1 HDC in next 6 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat around (48)
-2-3 rounds of HDC (48) (depending on how deep you want the cocoon)
-Finish off and weave in loose ends.

There has been a baby boom as of late-so I fully expect this will come in handy in the coming weeks!