Another baby.
YAY!
We are happy and excited...
I do generally like being pregnant until about month 7 when a rather normal-sized bump turns Godzilla sized!
The whines and moans of pregnancy and our battle wounds turn into the most hilarious conversations with women, don't you find?!

I have always found this so funny.
We ladies LOOOOOVE to talk about pregnancy, birth and all of the trauma that goes with it!
I love it...I am a big talker about how big my babies are...10lbs 5oz and 9lbs 12oz....oh yah LARGE.

The biggest debate I find...one that can often get a little heated is to:
Epidural or "au-natural."
Being American and having worked for several years in the medical field, epidurals were pretty much the norm to me.
For the most part, most American hospitals have an 85% epidural use rate for labors.
I had no idea when I moved to England how un-common getting an epidural was!
Only 25% (in general) get epidurals.
Now I don't really know why that is.
I've got theories but nothing concrete.
From conversations I have had with most English women regarding this, it seems there is a lack of information about how an epidural works and that it is NOT actually a scary thing.
BUT the biggest thing I have found is the unwritten feeling behind what is considered a strong woman versus a weak one.
So you can imagine when my first pregnancy arose what kind of opposition (oh yes..opposition) I had when I started talking birth plans.
My routine midwife (sidenote: in the UK you see a midwife for appts versus a OB/GYN), always told me that because I was tall I would labor easily and that it would be "SUCH A SHAME" if I decided to go the epidural route.
I was even told (more than twice) that if I got an epidural it would keep me from bonding with my baby.
Now, at this point, I had NEVER had a baby so I didn't know if I could go it alone or if I would need some help.
I was certainly up for giving it a try.
All I knew was that I wanted the option if it came down to it!

When it came down to 6cm...I had enough.
Epidural it was.
That lovely man of an anthesiologist came in and delivered the goods.
My stress level went down, my husband and I played games and watched movies while
we waited for the "space" to have our baby.
Considering the issues I had after the birth of our first, it was a great blessing!

Now that is what works FOR ME.
I figure motherhood and life is stressful and hard enough...why not do one of those mothering tasks a little bit less complicated?
I know plenty of women who feel they have more control with natural labor and some who really don't like needles and can't handle the thought of having one in their back....there are plenty of reasons why.
Everyone is different and what works for one might not work for another.
I am all for WHAT MAMA WANTS MAMA SHOULD GET...whatever that may be!

I get a lot of grief here for not going the "natural" route.
I've been told I'm a "weenie" and "not tough" for getting epidurals.
While aggravating as these comments may be, I am smart enough to know that the true mark of a tough mom doesn't lie in just the moment of giving birth.
It's in EVERY DAY the day after you have that baby.
The sleepless nights, changing nappies, feeding, clothing, soothing,
the growing, the worrying (oh heavens the worrying!), the cooking, the solving of the whining,
the disciplining, the right kind of rearing, the shear strength to take on everyday!
This is the only list that I am POSITIVE never ends!
Oh you mom's know what I am talking about, right?!

The beginnings of the babe.....


the rockings at night....



the moments that make you cry....


the times that make you laugh.....


the ones that make you want to scream.....


All adding up to a few of these....








Trust me...giving birth is only the beginning.

Week sixteen of fifty-two....

Ugh....it is sick isn't it?!
How can a photographer NOT catch up on their own childrens photos?!
Oh poo.
Well, I didn't forget about taking my 52 week photos.....it's just the editing of them that is getting me behind!
Well here is week 16....my start to my catch-up....I have more to throw on here...in due time!

Easter day 2011.
I love the tradition of Easter dresses.
I always got a new dress and hat (oh yah...you remember the white wicker looking ones!) for Easter.
Shopping for that with my mom is one of my fave memories.
My children were less enthused but they sure looked cute!

Week fourteen & fifteen of fifty-two....

So I know it's a little cheeky to count this as TWO weeks but I am giving myself a GREAT excuse!
My two littles were SO SICK!
My British babes just don't know how to handle this dry heat weather!!
In fact, neither do I anymore!!
I usually wind up with something too!
Two hospital visits and three urgent care visits later...I think we may be on the mend!
Let's not mention the 20+ photo shoots I have had in the last two and a half weeks!

Well here is what we did this week!

My sister's lovely neighborhood had a an Easter egg hunt and she invited us over.
It's kind of become this thing..
We go over to her neighborhood for Halloween too (when were in the country of course)
My guy loves his Aunt Kimmie's house and the cousins that live therein!


My dude.....such a dude.
He loves his cousins SO MUCH.
He was totally enthralled with running around searching for eggs...
I couldn't believe when I saw this in his bucket when he finished!


YIKES!

My baby girl....she was not so sure what to do.
I showed her how to find the eggs....she found a few...then something funny happened.
Somewhere inside her squishy little head she figured out that things are in these eggs....
yummy edible things.
So she didn't bother to find anymore, four was enough.
She plopped herself on the ground and found, what I am sorry to say husband dear,
the delicious Hershey Kiss inside.
She ate not one.....but five and loved every minute.
Sorry babe...the American in her loved that Hershey more than Cadbury's.
Don't worry though hun....you converted me!



HAPPY EASTER!!

Week thirteen of fifty-two.......

I think one of the greatest pleasures in living in England is the markets.
I was lucky enough to be near this yummy continental market in Chelsea this weekend.
I literally could smell it before I even arrived there!
I love them....the fresh veg and fruit, the French delicacies, Spanish chorizo, Portuguese rolls, savory English pies, cupcakes.....is your mouth starting to water yet?!
Well feast your eyes on these......


I bought that yummy heart cake for Big Daddy Delish....he loved it!

Pies in honor of Kate & Wills.....so sad I won't be in the country for that one!

I joke you not when I say.....I could eat that whole table of cheese.
Oh cheese.....I love you so much.




I am glad I only bought a French cheesecake and the heart cake....the rest would have been more than the fatrolls could handle!!

I'll bet you thought that I had forgot?!
I didn't.
Just so busy with life and prep for the Southwest Baby Show (see post a bit further)
BUT BUT BUT I didn't stop taking photos of all that has been going on in our little family.

So here are the last few weeks:



Can we talk about the amount of grief that I get for always having a bow in my baby girls hair?!
THIS is proof that she in fact NEEDS IT!
Her punk rock hair keeps her purty blues from being able to see.
The bows (as many as they are!) are a complete necessity!



She is so much fun to wake up.
Almost always happy and giggling!





This was a bad week.
I am generally not known as a person who is quiet.
I share my opinion, whether it is warranted or not.
I realize that is not always how I should be.
Living in England has taught how to be a little more conservative because at times it is far more appropriate.
However, in some instances, I find that being quiet is almost suffocating.
It's like I am living in someone else's skin.
Blurred and gray.
I found myself that week feeling like saying exactly how I felt would totally free me.
I didn't of course because I am stuck in a spot where I am unsure if it would do good or do more harm.
It is an ugly place to be but one thing is certain, finding the middle is a must.
I can't be quiet anymore.





The following week was brightened by the new seeds of a garden.
Mr. Bond and I have always talked about having a garden even before we were married.
We finally have enough backyard space to do it!
Everyone, cousins and all, got their fingers dirty and dug up some dirt.



My favorite is the middle photo of the right three.
That gardener has a great backside ;)



My babies were all about "helping!"



To what to my wonderous eyes should appear but
"Goldfish" by Pepperidge under the name of "Finz" here!
Many of my friends are always surprised when I lug a suitcase full of American goods back to England with me.
"Really?! They don't have that over there?"
Oh yes my friends!
I bring back Aunt Jemima's, JIF peanut butter, anything Trader Joe's, and Goldfish.
NOT ANYMORE!
I think I literally leaped for joy in the aisle when I saw them!
Under a different name but they are STILL the same!!
Happy days!


Cousins with fishes...*ahem* FINZ....
Little boy with wellies on the wrong way....who INSISTS they are "right & awesome!"
And a beauty little munchkin munching away....


Oh let me not forget the fresh blooming pear tree buds.....
CANNOT WAIT for these in the fall....
That pear crumble was TROUBLE!



Ah, the reason for my procrastination.
The Southwest Baby Show.
So much to do to prepare for these things!
Since we have moved to a new city, I thought it appropriate for the city to get to know Pied Piper Photography!
It was so much fun and so worth it!


Facepainting, bouncy castles, little dancers, vendors of all sorts of delishness....
even my little dude had his facepainted....albeit untraditional....Super Mario was his request!
What a riot!




Our stand with the girls hard at work!


PHEW!
Caught up and I will TRY to be better!

Enjoy!

Next door.
Yup, our fun little cousins live RIGHT. NEXT. DOOR!
It is completely "awesome!" according to Mr. D.
It makes for fun times and *ahem* grabbing a model or two when I need one! ;)
They are so much fun, we have such good times.
It was so serendipitous (don't you love that word?!) that our house popped up when it did.

There is still NOTHING in our back garden.
No swing set, jungle gym or trampoline.
It is in MAJOR need of an overhaul which, fingers crossed, will be done before the summer starts!
YET...they still get back there, run around and make up whatever fun they like!

Poor Ru Girl...
I always feel a little bit frowny faced when the three amigos play together.
They are all so close in age, abilities, height etc...minus the squishy munchkin.
She doesn't seem to mind though, she still thinks she is JUST like them.
She runs around with them the best she can and thinks she is a BIG girl!




The caped crusader himself who happens to be giving me instruction in this photo.
When cousins are over it is "not photo time" mom!





The girls always talk about all of us being family...
so true...kisses, laughs & all!

Our sweet niece had beautiful baby Kayli just a short couple of weeks ago.
I felt it only appropriate to bring her into our 52 weeks project.
We had them over last week for a little photo session.
Miss Ru could not get enough of her!
Nor could I....











Week seven coming quick and a fun little contest too!