What in the world did we used to do before iphones? I mean seriously. How on earth did we function? This alert popped up on my phone the other day. It was a great visual confirmation that my 1st trimester is behind me and that my 2nd trimester was beginning that day. I needed that reminder. Even though I knew the date in my head and knew that I was ending that first 12 weeks of hell...it was still good to see it in a visual presentation. This same iphone app also gives me a weekly photo of what the baby looks like in utero. It's great for the kids to see. My favorite part is when it sends me little notes reminding me what pregnancy symptoms I should have at this stage in the game. (exhaustion, nausea, sore chest, dizziness, and so forth) It allows me to realize that I'm not crazy and that these symptoms aren't just mental.
Anyone who is friends with me on facebook probably read late last night that we tried out our fetal home doppler for the first time yesterday evening. Within 60 seconds of touching the doppler to my belly, we picked up the babys heart beat going strong at 171 beats per minute. It was an exhilarating sound. That swoosh, swoosh, swoosh gets me every time. This is the first time I've ever used the home doppler machine. They were just coming out with them to rent when I was about to deliver Kenidi. Therefore, this is a new experience for us. I managed to find a brand new one at a bargain price on eBay instead of having to rent one for $40 a month from one of those doppler supply places. Score! I thought it would take me a while to find the heart beat beings that I'd never used one before and had no idea where to place it. However, after stumbling on my own heart beat first, I then found the baby's. I guess I'm far enough along now that it was pretty easy to locate. Thankful for that.
Next, I just had to give a HUGE thank you to all of you who commented here on the blog regarding my announcement post and to those of you who've facebooked me, sent me direct emails, tweets, etc., in the past couple of days. I've been bombarded with well wishes and prayers that are too priceless to count. I can't even begin to express what that means to me - to us. You guys are the best encourager's, supporters, and friends a girl could ever ask for. I loved reading your stories and comments about your own "surprises" or how your family has handled baby #3, a special needs child plus, and so forth. Your accounts of your own lives and how they've mimicked mine help me tremendously. It gives me the "girl power" I need to tell myself...I CAN DO THIS! So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to be here for me. To be excited for me. For us. I cried and cried when I read some of your words. Gosh knows I am an emotional and sappy mess right now but something about your support and well wishes for our family just had me melting into my keyboard over the past couple of days.
Along with the emails regarding well wishes came a ton of emails inquiring about the HCG diet I was on. Many of you had questions or wanted my opinion of it. So...here it is. Yes, I lost weight on the diet. However, looking back - it is no wonder. The diet is restricted to just 500 calories a day. If you go over that 500 calories, the HCG hormone stops working and you have to start all over again the next day. I realize now that I don't know that it was so much the HCG hormone that was helping me to loose the weight as it was the fact that my body was starving in general. (although I got used to it - the 500 calories a day was a nightmare in the beginning.) Our bodies aren't meant to consume that little amount of calories each day. It's not healthy and it's not realistic. I've worked with great trainers and known the ins and outs of fitness that "works" for a long time. However, I've gotten lazy in my old age and was looking for a quick fix. Well this is where the quick fix got me. Pregnant! LOL! I had to give myself the HCG in a shot form in my stomach every morning. Initially, that was intimidating. However, I quickly learned that the shots were a piece of cake compared to the lack of food I was having to adjust to each day. The needle was small - very tiny - and I never even felt so much as a prick when I gave myself the injections. I literally felt nothing. No pain whatsoever. Was it an inconvenience? Yes. Again, I lost weight on this plan but in hindsight...it is not something I will be doing again and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know. (for multiple reasons) So...there you have a quick overview of my two cents. My OB, old trainer, and family doc all gave me negative opinions of this diet. I now know to listen to people like them. Ha ha! Stubborn I say. Stubborn. My OB has referred me on to some prenatal yoga classes as well as some Mommy to be water aerobic classes here in Florida. I start those next week. I've never done yoga in my life and am a bit concerned about what a tool I'm going to look like in there attempting to do yoga while big and pregnant. I know some people swear by it. The doc thinks that the yoga and the water aerobics will help with my heart/blood pressure issues too. So, we'll see what kind of a cheese ball I can make of myself while in these classes. I don't even have anything to wear to a "yoga" class. And the swimming...oh God help any on lookers who have to witness me in a maternity swim suit. Looking toward the positives though, maybe I'll meet some new Moms. Some new friends. I'm always up for meeting new friends. And the really good news...in a pool I will fit in. You know...Shamu belongs in water. BWWAAAHHHHH!
Lastly, no...NO TWINS on board. I got that question several times in a few emails in the last week. The doctor has assured us that there is only one bambino in there. That was actually the first thing they checked for with my first ultrasound. They said sometimes multiples are a result with women who were on the HCG hormone. OMG! Can you imagine if they would've told me I was having twins? I can't even go there. LOL! The fun part that was a common statement in many of your emails is that this baby will be a natural "born-ified" Florida beach bum. Being born a Floridian, this child has no chance of not loving the beach. It is odd to think that we have two Hoosier born and raised children and will now have a true blooded Floridian baby as well. Best of both worlds! I can't wait to make this new little one the subject of my camera lens. Get ready for a ton of newborn photography come December. This poor child has no idea what he/she is getting ready to be born into. It will come out thinking it's famous - due to all of the paparazzi like camera shooting. Wink wink! ;0)
Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone. And all you Indy people, soak up the Indy 500 festivities for us this weekend, will ya? We will be missing that little piece of home come race day. :(
As I type this "formal" announcement, it still seems so surreal. Although the reality of it all has finally sunk in, I'm still in awe of God's great plans for us in this life. Every time I think, "I've got this," he quickly reminds me just how much I really don't "got this!" Our most recent chapter I am now penning in our life is no different. Not planned, never even within our radar but God knew better. He knew otherwise.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to pick up on my hints, my sickness, and my one liners over the past few weeks. I knew that most of you knew the "announcement" even though I hadn't confirmed or denied it in my own words as of yet. My parents have been bombarded with questions and I left them dodging bullets as much as they possibly could until recently. I get daily emails from those of you out there in cyber land begging for a direct answer from me. Many times in the past though, some of you have assumed I was maybe pregnant with our different announcements but instead those announcements had to do with moving or something as far away from pregnancy as possible. Given the issues last year within our family and my medical diagnosis concerning my heart and such, I never imagined having another child at this point. I knew I'd always wanted more some day but my thoughts of that "some day" were quickly erased from my options last year. I put the idea behind me and rarely did the thought cross my mind. I was coming to grips with the fact that it was quite possible that my child bearing days were over. Again, God knew better. There I was again - thinking I knew it all. How wrong I was.
With a miscarriage in my history (which happened with our first child back in 1998), I am always hesitant to spread the word before the end of our first trimester when pregnant. Those who have lost a baby early in pregnancy understand this completely, I'm sure. And even though I knew that all of you "knew," I still wasn't ready to mutter the words from my actual lips per say. So...here we are...and here are the words from my own mouth...We are indeed pregnant and expecting our third child. Meet baby Seaman...
(Baby Seaman at 8.5 weeks)
I found out "for sure" back on April 9th. I had been on a diet called the HCG diet. I'd lost 20 lbs. thus far and was feeling good about getting some excess weight off that I had gained in the past year due to stress and the issues with my heart. After always being regular, I quickly realized that my cycle wasn't on time. I was in denial initially because the hormone that I was taking for this particular diet was the same hormone that your body releases when you are pregnant. Therefore, I thought the diet hormone just had my body thinking that maybe I was pregnant and thus delaying my cycle. I truly wasn't at all thinking that I was actually pregnant. Finally, the doctor who was observing me on the diet told me I needed to take a home pregnancy test. So I did. I remember thinking, "I know this is going to come up positive no matter what because I have the HCG hormone running thru my veins right now." And sure enough...
It was positive.
No shocker there though. The doctor told me that many of his weight loss patients see positive pregnancy tests due to the hormone they were taking. So again, I'm in denial, just believing that my body is now late because of the hormone. I gave it a few more days - still no cycle. Suddenly I began to feel symptoms. Yes, those type of symptoms. Sore chest, nausea, you know the drill. At that point, I start to think..."Oh Angie you are loosing it. Now your body is feeling this stuff and it's all mental because you've had pregnancy on the brain the past week." I continued to remain in denial. It wasn't until the doc finally decided that an actual blood test was best that I began to panic. Yes, I panicked. A baby was not in MY plans. Although Brent had just weeks earlier mentioned wanting another child, it was definitely not on MY list of plans. I am raising a beautiful special needs child that is a second by second hour by hour job. I have an 11 year healthy and wonderful son getting ready to start middle school in a few months. I just knew that there was no way God was laying a baby in my lap right now. I knew he knew better. I knew he knew our events last year. I knew he surely realized that a baby was not a good thing right now. He is our all knowing and all powerful God. He knows everything, right? Therefore, he definitely knows the struggles I've endured over the past year. I fully anticipated that blood test to come back just showing HCG in my system from the diet I was on - meaning that there wouldn't be enough HCG present to reflect a real pregnancy. If it was just the diet, the nurse told me the HCG level would be less than 5.
Waiting on the blood work to come back was horrific. It was the most agonizing week of my life. They lost part of the blood test - had to go back in and do a 2nd round of testing, etc. What should have been an answer within 24-48 hours took a full 7 days to get back to me. I was beyond nuts at that point. Everyone who knows me well knows that I suffer from having any kind of "patience" in life as it is. So to put me thru that waiting for a week was a cruel joke. I knew God had his hand in that because he knows how bad I suck at waiting on HIS answers. He knows I am horrible about waiting patiently for anything. I know the big man upstairs laughed at me all week as I cried, squirmed, worried, prayed, paced, etc. He's been known to have a little fun with me like that in moments past. I had been on heart medication that could be dangerous during pregnancy. I was also on a daily aspirin regimen per my cardiologist which is not good during pregnancy either. I was worried that if I was truly pregnant that I'd already done damage to a fetus because I was completely clueless to the fact of a baby being in there. Needless to say...I was nothing short of a basket case that week. Finally, the office had me come by for my blood work results. When the nurse handed me my sheet, she smiled and said..."Angie...normal HCG diet numbers are less than 5. Your HCG numbers came back at two thousand one hundred and twenty one." Yeap, 2121. Clearly the number was way more than just 5. And clearly I was pregnant.
My knees went weak. I could barely hold the paper with my test results which read...
I don't even remember my drive home that day. Everything was a blur. I didn't know how to be happy at that moment because Satan had me filled with so much worry and what if's that I could barely see past his dark cloud. I was worried about Kenidi and how this would affect her. I was worried about my age - 34 - yet I will be 35 next month. I know there are increased risks for down syndrome and such at an "advanced maternal age" such as mine. Given Kenidi's unexplained health issues, I worried about the what if's should we have another child with more special needs. I worried about my heart stuff and how this would affect a baby and my long term health. I worried about my weight which is no where near where I would want it to be before starting out a pregnancy. I worried about how I would devote the necessary time to Brennen as he enters middle school this fall. It is going to be such a change for him and I want to be there for his every need. Kenidi takes away from a lot of my time with Brennen. We all know it. It is life when it comes to raising a special needs child. So to think about throwing a newborn into that mix really frightened me. Not only all that but last year was rough. Real rough. How would this baby affect not just me, but "us." I walked around in a daze unable to function. I was flooded with emotions. One minute I was crying and asking God how this could possibly fit into MY life plan and the next minute I was on my knees thanking God for unexpected blessings such as a third child. At times I felt so selfish - reminding myself that some women NEVER get to feel the life of a baby growing inside them and here I get that blessing 4 times in life. As I would start to panic again and start to stress, I'd tell myself how much of a gift this baby was - planned or not. One blog reader friend of mine reminded me that there are no surprises with God. He knows everything before it happens. Although it was a huge shock and very much a surprise to me, it wasn't to God. (Thank you Amanda!) She was right. Even though this wasn't MY plan, it was definitely God's plan.
Fast forward a few months. Here we now sit, 12 weeks in saying asta lavista (sp?) to the first trimester. Numerous OB appointments later and seeing baby Seaman wave to us on repeated ultrasounds the last few weeks, I'm elated and excited about this child. I am madly in love with this being growing inside me and can't even remember the days in the beginning now where I had such worry filling my mind. It has also slowly but surely sunken in that I'm going to be changing diapers again for another few years at least. I'm also reminded that I'm going to be one of the oldest Moms in the MOPS groups, that I'm going to have a child starting kindergarten again in five years, and so forth. Brent has been excited from the get go and walks around saying "I still can't believe there is a baby in there." He had expressed his want for another child especially concerning Kenidi's needs when we are both gone from this earth. He had been expressing an uneasy feeling about her care should something happen to the both of us later in life. Weeks before finding out I was pregnant, he had said to me that he thought we should have another child to help Brennen - help take care of Kenidi some day once we were gone. We both act like rookies or something because it has been so long since I've been pregnant. (seven years ago basically) Brennen is on cloud nine and just can't wait. He has been asking for a baby brother for at least the last 4 years that I can remember. Of course he is pulling for a little brother even though he swears he won't try to give the baby back if it is another girl. Brent has stated that he wants another girl and me...well I just want a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy. Whomever this little being is inside me, it has definitely given me a run for my money over the past 12 weeks. I've been sicker than a dog - something I never really had to endure with Brennen and Kenidi's pregnancies. Every day I battle nausea throughout the day and night but thankfully have gotten past most of the vomiting after those first few weeks. (although I was hugging the porcelain goddess again this past Sunday) The doc took me off prenatal vitamins and put me on adult gummy vitamins each day so that helped tremendously with the vomiting. The nausea has stuck around for the long haul though. I've sucked down more peppermint dinner mint candies in the past 8 weeks than I have in my whole 34 years of life. Rumor has it that they are supposed to help with the nausea. I think the rumor is a sick joke myself but I keep eating them in hopes that they will one day make a liar out of me. My blood pressure is crazy and my pulse is even crazier right now. They've switched my heart meds that were working so well and placed me on something that isn't working fast enough. My OB just upped the dosage again yesterday because my blood pressure is still somewhat high. Will you please pray about this with me? I have two more trimesters to go and the heart issue will only get worse if they don't get it under control now. Because of the new meds, my headaches and migraines are back pretty consistently again. I haven't had to battle those for over a year now since my cardiologist got everything under control with my PFO heart condition last May. Yes, this is the same heart condition that celebrity Brett Michaels was just recently diagnosed with after his stroke. Needless to say, this baby is already off and running when it comes to keeping me on my toes. He or she is making it known that they are in there and raring to go. :)
Oh and before I go any further, don't let me forget the funniest part to this whole story. After learning that I was definitely pregnant, the weight loss doctor informs me the HCG diet hormone I was taking is actually what they give women who are infertile and trying to conceive. HA! No wonder why I got pregnant. Not that I ever needed help getting pregnant anyhow beings that I'm Miss Fertile Mertyl (sp?). With all three of my past pregnancies, we got pregnant the first month we tried with each of them. You go adding HCG hormones to that mix and I'm really gonna end up preggers. I just wish someone would have warned me about that before I began the diet. Again, that would've ruined God's plans though I guess. Well...probably not. He's got mad skillz. LOL!
My actual due date is December 9th, 2010 - An early Christmas present this year. My OB has informed me that I will not be allowed a VBAC and that I have to have another c-section. Therefore, they are already throwing out the date of December 2nd for a "birth" day. (they like to do c-sections a week prior to your due date) Our world is getting ready to change drastically and Kenidi's world is about to be ROCKED to the core. She is our baby in the house - always will be - and she knows it. She really loves babies so she will either really love this child or she is really gonna hate it. :) Time will tell. She has been the center of the universe here in the Seaman household for the past 7 years. We pray she doesn't handle the baby as she did Sydney - our toy yorkie puppy. As we taught her to be "gentle" with the puppy, she would at times bring the dog into us as she had it hanging by its hind legs in her hands. She'd look up at us and mutter the word..."Gentle???" as she either had the puppy in a choke hold by its neck or was about to break her legs by holding her upside down like a chicken she was about to slaughter. No joke! We pray she handles this transition well and that she doesn't end up feeling threatened or acting out in any way. Kenidi act out???? NEVAH! LOL!
So there you have it. The confirmation. The gossip. The goods. The 411. The low down schmo-down. For those of you who've emailed me and asked or hinted, I apologize for not addressing it with you. I just felt the need to wait. I know you were all frustrated with my consistent..."If I tell you, I'll have to kill you" response. If you posted something specifically about being pregnant on my facebook page recently only to find it deleted later, I apologize. Again, I was just waiting to spill the beans in my own timing. I appreciate all of your patience and all of your support. It means more to me than any of you will ever know. Gosh knows the next 6 months are going to be a hoot to say the least. And while I'm thinking about it, I need baby name ideas and cute maternity clothes. I'm clueless on what is out there now days. Like I said, I thought my child rearing days were pretty much over. As for the baby names, I don't like common names or names that can be shortened. I like names that can't be found on sticker or pencil rounder in a toy store. You know, I like names that your kids get ticked about because every time they find key chains in a souvenir shop, they never have their name listed. I don't want a name that starts out as Sophia but then some relative starts calling them Sophie instead and then everyone else follows suit. Names like Brennen and Kenidi are just that - Brennen and Kenidi. There isn't an option to have a nickname or shorten their names. Love that! So...if you have some really cool ideas on different and unique names in the next 6 months, by all means send them to me. And if you know of some cute maternity stores online or something, forward me the link. I need all the help I can get with this one. Apparently God didn't want me loosing weight after all. He instead wanted me to look like shamu the whale had escaped from Sea World here in Florida. We are traveling at the end of next month and God forbid the sight when I have to go in public with a bathing suit on now that I'm pregnant. Scary stuff! Thank God I can laugh at myself though. What is life without a good sense of humor, right?
Before I sign off on this post, I must give Glory to God for this new chapter in our life. Although I had a hard time digesting this surprise, I'm now dumbfounded by the gifts that God continues to bless my life with. I am humbled by his ability to think that I can handle more on my plate. I am grateful for his plans and not mine. I am thankful for his games of "shock and awe" even though he about knocked my knees out from underneath me with this one. In the end, God clearly knows something I don't. This child has a purpose and from the moment I saw him/her waving on the ultrasound, he/she in that instance left a permanent mark on my heart - forever. We saw the little bean on the ultrasound at the doctor again today. Either it is going to be a boy - maybe the next Sugar Ray Leonard due to all the punches and kicks it was throwing or it is going to be one beautiful and gorgeous little girl with mad dance skillz. Either way, I'm in love.
I'm having another child. WE are having another baby. Brennen and Kenidi are having another sibling. My parents are going to be grandparents again. In fact, my Dad show the ultrasound photo today and is already pegging the resemblance to him considering all the hair. HA HA!
(Baby Seaman at 11 weeks 5 days)
Change. It follows me everywhere. I need to have a permanent tattoo placed somewhere on my body that reads..."Change - it's my life motto." Let's face it...change has become a constant in my world. I'm learning to embrace change a lot these days. Change. It's a good thing, right? Especially when a baby is involved. The pain and recovery of a c-section, the sleepless nights in the beginning, and so on are all worth it in the grand scheme of things. Life will suddenly become instantly harder for me while raising a newborn, a special needs child, and an 11 year old son in middle school but I just keep reminding myself that none of this was a surprise to God. It was truly meant to be.
Lastly, I can't thank all of you enough for your prayers this morning as we embarked on our 12 week appt. Today was the day that we had the preliminary testing done in regards to any signs which might point toward down syndrome or any other genetic abnormalities. God is good~! The ultrasound test (called an NT scan) revealed good news at this point. The technician and the doctor said that they don't see anything as of this moment that points to anything of concern. I will have two additional blood tests as well as another ultrasound scan to combine with this result that will hopefully reveal a more for sure answer around 18-20 weeks. This NT scan is something fairly new and was not offered back when I had Kenidi and Brennen. In the last 7 years however, it has been added as another way to pre-determine the presence of genetic abnormalities. There are some chances of false positives as well as false negatives. At this point, I'm praying that God has his hands wrapped around this child, our pregnancy in general, and my heart issues so that everything progresses smoothly. It's going to be one hot and sweaty summer. LOL! :)
Thanks for your support. Much love, Angie & baby Seaman
You came here to see how my doctor appointment went today, right?
Or maybe it was to hear/read the BIG announcement I promised this week.
Well...guess what???
I'm mean. Really really mean. As you all know, I can be really cruel with secrets, waiting, and stalling. LOL! So without further a due (sp?)...
Shhhhh....!!!
I've decided to keep that secret and that doctor appointment mum for one more night. Never fear though...the announcement post is ready. All I have to do is hit "publish." (Which I will do tomorrow morning. I promise. Pinky swear.) So stay tuned and hang on to your seats for one more night. The big reveal is just hours away.
I know. I'm cruel. I'm sure some of you are saying that I'm "of the devil" right about now. Can't say that I blame ya. I'm still dragging this fun out for one more night though. HA HA!
Sleep on it. I'll be back in the morning. Grab your favorite mocha, coffee, or morning tea - pull up a chair - and get ready. It's going to be a lllooonnngggg one.
MY SIDE KICK, MY NEWEST FASHION ACCESSORY, & PRAYERS
I love this girl.
She has been giving her teachers and bus driver a run for their money lately so I feel for them. As her Mom, I'm used to it. Thankfully she has patient aides and a wonderful teacher at school and her bus driver and his aide are just as patient. Unfortunately her teacher is leaving and changing schools after this year so we won't have her again next year. BOO! Kenidi can't catch a break when it comes to keeping the same teacher two years in a row - anywhere. I hate that for her. Either way, I adore this child and her smiles. Brent calls her my little side kick or my little buddy. She follows me like a duckling would follow their mother. She snuggles with me every chance she gets and I am madly in love with her affection. Her world is soon to be "rocked" and I pray she handles it well. I've found myself in recent weeks trembling with fear as I envision how she will soak it all in. I've found myself with tears rolling down my cheeks as I ponder how her huge heart will process this soon to be newness in her world. With her inability to communicate as a normal 6 year old would, I'm unable to sit her down and simply talk thru feelings with her. I'm not able to explain how such surprises and blessings will one day be a priceless gift to her as well. One thing I know for sure though is that God is good and he will hold all of our hands thru the "rocking" of her world and thru all of the newness in general.
Speaking of rocking ones world, the heat here in Florida has been rocking mine. In regard to really insignificant news today on the blog or a very cheesy segway (sp?)...I carry a bottled water with me 24/7 now just for the fun of it. It's my new fashion accessory. LOL! I think I've consumed more water in the past couple of months than I have in all of my almost 35 years of life. No joke! I could seriously float away into the Gulf of Mexico without any need for a flotation device. Water has become our best friend in this house in recent weeks.
Lastly, I'm calling on my prayer warriors this morning. Please think of us around 10am today. We have a BIG and very important doctor appointment today. I'm praying that God has his hands in the results of this appointment and that I can rest a bit easier for a while. I'll explain in further detail once the appointment is over. I'll most likely update you tonight or tomorrow with an explanation. In the meantime, will all of you who continue to pray for my family - lift us up today in regards to healthy months ahead? I'd greatly appreciate it if you would. I know there are tons of you out there who always have my back when it comes to prayers and thus why I feel so comfortable asking for them today. Until tonight or tomorrow, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Oh yes...this is how some of the rich and famous live here in Naples. Another one of my favorite boat docks/marina's, this local has some super duper mega yachts. Their size and their beauty just aren't done justice in my photos. I was unable to truly capture just how mammoth these boats are in person. As you walk past most of them, they have their own staff on board taking care of everything from the cooking to the cleaning - inside and out. Notice in the shot above how this particular boat has a garage underneath it for its own smaller boats. Wowzers!
The sleek windows, sunning decks up top, and even the anchors themselves are something to be seen. Each boat is so very different and beautiful in its own right.
As you pass these boats, some of the owners are sitting on board having lunch, or reading a book on the top or back decks. These individuals dock here and port from all over the world. When you pass by their "good life" in action, you wonder what it is they do for a living or what brought them to today. Everyone has a story - good and bad stories which make up their life as a whole. I'd be so fascinated to sit and talk with some of these couples and just learn what helped and what hurt them along the way. Life lessons from those who've experienced it first hand is true knowledge. And knowledge is power.
I had Brennen with me on the dock this particular day. He was doing his own shooting with his own camera. Like cars, he is infatuated with these boats. He notices every minuit detail on each one. My first born is a very observant individual.
One of my favorite things to do is read the names of each boat. It makes you wonder how they came up with that name and what the "story" is behind it. I know when Brent and I used to boat, we had fun naming them. We stopped boating when we had Brennen. Brent and I have talked about having another boat again now that we live here in Florida and the kids are older. Boating in the gulf of Mexico is way different than boating on Lake Monroe though. I think that is my biggest fear - getting stranded in the ocean somewhere and then praying to God that Sea Tow (like triple AAA on water) is able to help us. We see at least one story on the news every week of someone who went out boating and the boat capsized killing or injuring those on board. Inexperienced ocean boaters get out there and think it is just like boating on a lake and they quickly learn otherwise. People are cruising along - not paying attention and run up on sand bars - throwing them over board and so forth. Then you have the idiots who get out there drinking and run head on into another boat. The gulf is a scary place unless you are experienced.
I love how this boat above used crosses as the T's in their boats name. Very cool!
This big bad boy above was so big that my lens couldn't even fit the entire boat in the shot. I needed my wide angle lens on this day and didn't have it with me. Go figure!
Same with this biggin' below. Too big to fit him all in.
And check out how this boat below has it's own diving board (right over top of the wave runner) off the back. Too fun!
The sail boat in the shot below was gorgeous. It was made of the most gorgeous wood from end to end. It had clearly been well taken care of. I only wish I would have grabbed a close up shot of the wood detail itself. It was nothing short of amazing.
And just because this boats name was too good to pass up...
Notice it reads...Life is Good III. Yes, three. Wonder where the Life is Good 1 and 2 are, eh? Are they cars, more boats, a home in the Caribbean, etc.? Again, they all tell a story and it is hard not to be intrigued with their meaning. Touring these docks are just another way to pass time here in Naples. The adventure makes for a great afternoon or evening. It's just one of the many fun things to do on a whim. There is always tons to do. Naples is a community that definitely offers plenty of excursions and extra-curricular activities aside from the already incredible beach days and nights.
On another note, I'm headed off to bed. Brent and I just returned from date night out this evening. We enjoyed crab stuffed mushrooms, Caesar salad, the best filet's in the world, garlic mashed potatoes and an upside chocolate souffle for dinner. I tossed my cookies a couple of times already earlier today so I was praying that I made it thru dinner. Thankfully, God knew that "we" had been craving this particular restaurant so I managed to eat like a pig and enjoy every second of it without tossing it back up into the white porcelain goddess. :) However, after hitting downtown 5th avenue following dinner, my heiney is exhausted. Hope all of you had a fabulous weekend and that your Monday is off to a great start. Huge hugs, Angie PS...Be sure to check back in a day or two for a BIG announcement. Yes, the one you've all been waiting for. Wink wink! ;)
This is one of my favorite set of docks here in Naples. I love nothing more then to get out and walk boat docks down on the water with my camera in hand - anywhere - here in Florida. There is just something so peaceful about being near the water and the beautiful boats, rather at a marina, a large dock, etc. The boats shown in this shot are tiny tiny compared to the big yachts we see parked at some of the area marinas. I still have some photos to share with you from last week when Brennen and I went exploring at one of the larger docks that houses MASSIVE yachts on the water. They are stunning boats and leave me walking around with my jaw on the ground because I'm so amazed at their interiors, their private diving boards off the back, the sun decks up top, and the full fledged garages underneath them that house their "smaller boats" and wave runners. Amazing - simply amazing!
Either way, this is one of my favorite dock areas not for the boats necessarily but because of the bright and vivid colors as well as the cabana bar on the water. Everything about it screams beach, Florida, the tropics, and total fun in the sun. Even though I'm not a drinker, I love seeing everyone perched atop their bar stools next to the bay here at Shane's cabana bar. The backdrop in front of Shane's bar is all of those colored buildings you see in the first image above and in this shot below.
There are great shops, condos, and restaurants such as "Tavern on the bay."
The whole place just makes you smile and totally causes you to forget real life.
As for our regular day to day news...not a whole lot going on. Still battling the sickies and praying for one step to get in front of the other hour by hour. The migraines have subsided somewhat and now present themselves in a dull headache fashion. Maybe someday soon all of this will seep away like a bad dream in the night. And hopefully some day soon the agony of it all will result in a beautiful outcome. Aside from all of that, I've just been trying to keep up with jewelry orders and the day to day routine of life.
As for Kenidi news, she was asked to ride her therapy horse (Dotty) in a demonstration for the United Way last week. She rode in front of a group of United Way executives and I couldn't have been more proud of her at that moment. As she climbed off her horse, she hugged her and gave her the usual kiss that she always does. Needless to say, her and her little pink cowgirl boots really worked that crowd. She ROCKED that arena like she had been birthed in that environment from day one. Kenidi has an amazing connection with her horse and because of that we are so pleased that the stable has asked her to come back and ride thru the summer. We were so worried that she was going to have serious withdraws from her horse while they break for the summer there at the stables. Needless to say, we were so grateful when they called and told us they were opening up some riding opportunities thru the summer for a select few kids and wanted to know if Kenidi could participate. Of course we said "YES!" And in other Kenidi news...I had to chuckle when speaking to her teacher this morning via phone as she proceeded to ask me who does Kenidi's hair. Kenidi has never lacked compliments when it comes to her hair. She has a specific cut that she wears really well. I'm always telling her how jealous I am of the way her hair lays. It's just gorgeous. I'm very particular about the cut she has and I know how it should be done and done right. Some stylists make the angled bob look like a mushroom cut if you aren't careful. I've worn the style long enough myself to know when they cut it good and when they cut it so bad that it appears to be just a hot mess all the way around. It takes a skilled hair dresser to get Kenidi's hair correct and when they do, she owns it and owns it well! Of course I am waayyyyy biased because I'm her Mom. :) Luckily, we stumbled upon Alanna Burke at Salon Bamboo when we first moved here to Naples. When approaching a new salon, I always ask..."Who do you have that does a great angled bob cut?" Luckily her salon referred us to her. We adore her and are so thankful for her mad skillz. Apparently Kenidi's teacher/class aides think that Alanna pretty much ROCKS in the hair department as well. :) So, if you need a fabulous stylist in the Naples area, go see Alanna. She won't disappoint! And Brennen - well he is finishing out his last few weeks of 5th grade. His class is preparing for their 5th grade graduation. Every time I see info sent home from the school about the graduation, it reminds me that we are one day closer to him becoming a middle schooler. To be honest, that shakes me to the core and makes me a nervous wreck. I know he is ready and I'm just praying that all we've instilled in him will follow him into the middle school and that he will continue to do well, make good choices, and choose friends that have similar morals and values. Oh and that his "mouth" doesn't get any "mouthier" than it already is. LOL! Wishful thinking??? No really, I'm excited for him but as his Mom, I'm shakin' in my boots. God and I have had some deep conversations lately in regard to middle school and keeping Brennen on the up and up. I pray the big man upstairs is hearing my frantic prayers. :)
Unfortunately, Florida schools go all the way up to June 10th before they let out for the summer. Therefore, we have a few more weeks of what we view as "normalcy." After that, it is days spent sunnin' at the beach, cruising the lazy river at the local water park, some new travels, and so on. I'm looking forward to being able to sleep in and get up at a decent hour rather than the crack of dawn every morning. I'm mainly just anxious to have both kids home all day so that I can soak the both of them in all summer long. We have great plans for the summer and I can't wait to embark on some new endeavors as a family.
I'm gonna sign off for now as I watch the end of American Idol tonight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my season prediction, Lee DeWyze, will once again reign true and that he will take home the Idol win next week. Great guy. Incredible voice. Extremely humble character. Love his relationship with his Dad and his parents in general. Just love him period! GO LEE! You got this!
I had the wonderful privilege of working with this gorgeous pregnant Mama the other day. These are the type shoots that make my job so very easy. She was a stunning subject, knew how to position herself with very little direction, and was an absolute beauty. The entire session was a breeze.
This Mom is pregnant with her 2nd child but you'd never know it by her pristine skin and her adorable figure. She was adorable from every angle.
CONGRATS to Mrs. B and her sweet little girl to be. (due at the end of July) I can't thank her enough for the opportunity to work with her.
Should you be pregnant or know someone who is and want to schedule a maternity session with me (sometime preferably between your 31st and 36th week), please contact me at Angie@AngieSeamanPhotography.com
Aside from the shoot, we've had a great week and a wonderful weekend. Last night we had dinner with some friends and today we pretty much vegged out around the house watching some great old movies like "Son in law" with Pauley Shore. Love the oldies but goodies. We are now gearing up for the season finale of Desperate housewives and Brothers and Sisters. As I wait, I'm munching on a banana with a spoonful of peanut butter wiped over each and every bite. It's like art work - just enough of the peanut butter wiped onto a small bite of banana. Too much peanut butter makes the taste too dry. Not enough peanut butter makes it too banan-a-eee. I've mastered the exact amount with each swipe/bite. Yes, it takes a village to make the world go round and I'm part of that village. HA HA!
Much love, Angie
PS...Just an FYI side note for the day. For some reason I am seeing a lot of people google the name "Angie Grace Seaman" via search engines which lands them eventually on my blog. I laugh when I see it because it shows me that it is clearly someone who doesn't know me very well. (which is totally OK) However, just so each of you know, my real name is Angela - not Angelica. I go by Angie instead of Angela. Angelica is just the beginning of my business name (Angelica Grace Designs). And no, my middle name is not Grace. Grace is actually my daughter Kenidi's middle name. I'll refrain from sharing my middle name with all of you. It's not one I prefer to share. LOL! So there you have it. Some new info for the day. :) Some "inside" details so to speak- just in case there are those few of you out there who didn't know my true name and were ultimately getting it confused with my business name. You got the scoop now. Hugs, Ang
Although we don't own a dog who is producing dog crap in the front or back yard, my day yesterday was just as grand as hers. (above) Mother's Day this year is extra special for me and my awesome family treated it like so. I woke up to my husband clearing the dishwashers, folding towels from the clean laundry and putting them away as well as being serenaded by 2 beautiful children who walked in my bedroom hand in hand with a gift bag and a card for me from their dad and them. They handed it to me at my bedside with smiles. Kenidi especially. She grins from ear to ear anytime there are presents near by. I opened an incredibly wonderful card signed by four as well as a beautiful Mother's Day gift that will replace the watch Kenidi lost of mine last year around this time. I've been without a watch for almost a year now and had finally just begun to get used to it. Now though...I have a beautiful sentiment to wrap around my wrist again which will be a reminder of just how precious time really is. That didn't stop Kenidi Grace from attempting to run off with it yet again though. I practically had to pry the new watch out of her grubby little theif-a-licious fingers in order to get it back. She is a hoot! Like I told Brennen yesterday...I am so proud of the two of them and am so very blessed to be their Mother. After all of the excitement, we ran to have a late Mother's Day brunch down the street. I stuffed my belly with a custom ordered omelet and a slice of french toast. Yes, I basically had to be rolled out of the restaurant when it came time to leave but I enjoyed every minute of it. It was Mother's Day so I splurged in the food category as so. We came home and vegged out for a bit after that. Brent and Brennen went and washed my car then they came back and we went and picked up my own Mom for some visiting time with her. She stayed over at the house most of the day with us. We ordered in and watched a marathon run of "The Duggars - 19 kids and counting" on TV. We both laughed while watching it all day and were in awe at how one woman can birth 19 kids and still be as sane, calm, soft spoken and passive as their Mother is. I would have done been loooonnnnng gone by #3. LOL! I kept thinking that surely the cameras would pick up a moment where she looses it or even raises her voice just a tad bit to discipline them - but NO! Never! She was as lucid as lucid gets. I admire that woman and feel as though she should be made into a saint. :) Not only does she have 19 kids but they are all home schooled as well. I looked at my Mom and said "she never gets a break." They are with her 24/7. At least some of us get a bit of "me" time when our kids are in school each day. Again...sainthood is calling for her.
All in all...I had a fabulous day with my family and with my own Mom as well. I was missing my Step-Mom and my Mother in law yesterday though. It just felt odd not making the rounds to spend the day with them on Mother's day too as we've always done in the past. My day was almost too "free." I found myself missing the hustle and bustle of traveling around to my 3 moms houses and visiting with them on our most important day of the year. :( Also...just a huge shout out and a thanks to all of my girlfriends who texted me yesterday wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. I have the best friends in the world.
I hope all of you were able to enjoy your Mother's Day festivities to the fullest extent yesterday and that your Monday was a beautiful one today. I'm hunkered down with the kids now trying to determine what we are going to do for dinner. Back to reality today although I could easily go for another omelet with a side of french toast right about now. HA!
I drug my sloth butt out of the house this past week and made myself do some shooting. It was hot as blazes here in Florida but the "high" I got from being out with my camera helped cool the soul like an air conditioner and a fresh blue raspberry snow cone would on a hot summer day. I needed it - in a bad way. I took frequent trips back to my vehicle for water bottle breaks but I managed to capture some of the tropical color here in the Naples area on that day.
Many people have asked me to describe what I love most about being a full time resident of Florida now. They want to know the pros and cons between living in Florida and living in my home state of Indiana. Aside from being down the street from the beach, the first thing that comes to my mind when I explain the differences between living in the Midwest and living in the tropics is color. There is just so much color bursting from the seams here in sunny southwest Florida. Whether it is the plants, the flowers, the beautiful island style homes, the color of the sea on any given day, the cotton candy colored skies as the sun sets each night, the bright orange hues as the sun rises each morning, or the color of the businesses that line the streets...it all exudes color - and LOTS of it!
The vibrant colors and the sunshine that beats down here everyday is what allows you to feel "alive." You walk out the door and can't help but smile because every little thing just POPS with color. I find that it all literally jumps out at me. Don't get me wrong, Indiana has some beautiful flowers that bloom in the spring and everything begins to green up again at that time. However, Indiana doesn't BURST with color. Living in the tropics, snakes/gators, and all...reminds you that life should be full of zest and umph. Without color, life is blah for me. My photography is based on color and my AGD designs are always based on color as well. Therefore, living in an area like Florida really suits my fancy because it drips color from every possible angle. My soul needs color just like it does chocolate and guacamole dip. LOL!
I also love how the beach life in this city leaves a trail of everything nautical. Even some of the street lamps near tin city and the docks in town have marine lights perfectly placed for our pleasure. For a person such as myself who loves all things nautical, this is also an added plus. Everywhere I look I am surrounded by something that reminds me of the water. And since I have a total love affair with the sea, I heart that! :)
Speaking of nautical, Brennen and I went down to some of the marine docks recently and did some shooting with our cameras. I will have to share some of these massive yacht photos with all of you. Brennen and I walked around in absolute awe as we stood before these huge ships that were some peoples 2nd homes on water. It's always fun to dream and that particular outing left us full of dreams regarding sailing away into the sunset on yachts with their own diving boards, garages down below for small boats, sunning decks, etc. We were in another world and it was a blast to witness it in all of its glory. I hope to be able to post some of those photos later in the week. I'm slowly but surely getting back into the swing of movement again. My migraines are back with a vengeance and have left me hugging my pillow in the dark on many days recently. Praying for relief that is long lasting. Enjoy your weekend and again...Happy Mother's Day friends! Hugs, Angie
As you can see, I have a lunch date today. Kenidi's class has invited their Moms in for a Mother's day lunch. How fun! I'm eager to see what all they've whipped up. I just enjoy seeing her little classmates and watching everyone interact with one another. Each time I spend a day in one of her classes, I am reminded how phenomenal her teachers and aides are that work with her on a daily basis. These special education teachers are nothing short of amazing. Her bus driver and the bus aide are the same way. They all endure so much on a daily basis with these kiddo's and yet they continue to love them like they are their own. We are so blessed by the wonderful people that have always been a part of her life.
I spent the morning out shooting today and boy was it a hot one. The heat index in Naples, Florida has been around 103/104 degrees in recent days. I was sweating like a dirty pig by the time I was finished but boy does photography fuel the soul on days when you are lacking the extra umph! The heat has taken its toll on me recently so I don't go anywhere far from water lately. :) And speaking of that, Brennen's football league has come to a close for the Spring season
I'm grateful that the league is over because I felt so bad for those boys playing out in this Florida heat. It made me a nervous wreck. Therefore, he is done until basketball begins in the Fall again. Kenidi has 3 more weeks of horse therapy and then she is off for the summer too. All of the activities that keep us on the run are coming to an end. We are all very much ready for a summer break for sure. There is a really cool water park close to our house and I'm guessing that we might do a season/summer pass there and spend most of our summer days off there during the week. Kenidi will love it. And then on other days, we'll be vegging by the pool at home and just chillin' together or headed to the beach and catching some gulf waves by the sea shore. Fun stuff!
For now, I'm headed out the door and over to Kenidi's school for the Mother's Day lunch. I hope each of you have a phenomenal weekend and a very relaxing and blessed Mother's Day on Sunday. Hugs...Angie
I know. I know. Just lemme' have it. I totally suck at blogging regularly lately.
Rumor has it that I should be fired!
My heiney has been a bit under the weather and thus being totally lazy over the past couple of weeks. I haven't been out shooting, I haven't been to the beach, I haven't done j-a-c-k! Well, I take that back. I've been hugging the poolside with the kids a lot lately as the temps here in Florida are hitting the 90 degree mark. We've also been to dinner and such with new neighbors/new friends and blog readers/friends, etc. but can you believe that I didn't take my camera with me on those occasions? GASP! I figured I'd spare our new neighbors and friends the first few events with my camera. There will be enough time to come for those paparazzi moments with Angie. LOL! Either way, this passive behavior of mine in the last few weeks is why I have zero blog material lately. I'm having camera withdraws and must get out shooting again very soon before I dry up and blow away.
I'm currently catching up on my mountain of laundry, cleaning up around the house after a long weekend of lounging by all, and then headed out the door to run some 'must do' errands for today. I'm so behind that it is stupid. My next photography class just started too so I'm busy diving in - getting to know all of my new students. Hopefully I will find some time in the next week to get out and get creative with my camera again which should then result in some blog content. Wishful thinking. Ha ha!
Thank you to all of you who've been so very patient with me and my lack of posts. Love you guys to pieces...
