Our last wedding as a "trio".

This last Saturday we shot our last wedding as a "trio".  Maren was 8 months pregnant, but still getting down on the ground to get the best angle!  We had fun, and we will miss Baby B at our next scheduled wedding on August 22 - she will most likely be with grammy Julia!  

To see more pictures from the wedding, check out our photography blog.

Earth angel.

About 6 weeks ago, Michael and I took a little trip down to Venice Beach in Southern California.  We walked the famous (infamous?) sidewalk, eyeing all the interesting people and their wares for sale.  After about 1 mile of walking in my flip-flops, my feet were KILLING me! Even worse was we had to walk all the way back.  My feet basically didn't recover for weeks.  That is until my mom bought me a new pair of flip-flops: enter Earth Exer-Fit divine-creations-from-heaven.  I admit, they aren't the coolest looking shoes in the world, but that hasn't stopped me from wearing them EVERY day!  I even wore them to a wedding we shot last weekend.  (Normally, I wouldn't do this, but since the groom was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, I felt at ease expressing my own comfortable-sensibilities.)  Here's to Earth shoes, my new love!  (I wonder if I can get sponsored by them?  Would the sponsorship run out when I cease to be pregnant?)

7.5 month update

I continue to feel great!  My back doesn't ache, I am able to sleep fairly well, I feel rested, I'm not grumpy, I'm eating well, I don't have to pee every 20 minutes, and I can still see my toes!  I don't even know I am pregnant except for when I feel a little kick on my bladder or some other internal organ!  She is moving around a lot, and now that she is bigger, when she kicks it hurts sometimes!  That is my biggest complaint, the jabs her growing body is able to perform on my insides.  It is really fun being able to see her move from the outside though.  Sometimes, I will find myself just staring at my own belly, totally entertained, watching her make shapes and deform the round circle of my abdomen. 

3.5 months

5.5. months

7.5 months

Mother's Day

I didn't really know how to take Mother's Day.  People began calling, texting, even sent letters, but I felt like a sort of fraud.  Am I really a mother yet?  I haven't really done anything but let this little pea inside me grow.  Does that count?  

Even though I don't think I've been through the war that makes me worthy to be awarded mother day praise, I do know enough about fostering a child to already be ever-more indebted to my mothers (Peggy-biological, grandmas, mother-in-law, etc.), but especially the one who carried me in her womb.  So, once again, thank you mom for all you did for me, have done for me, and will do for me.  I love you!

So here's to all the "real" mothers!  

Pregnancy Photo Shoot!

While in Fresno, Michael pulled me outside one evening onto the glorious street in front of my parent's house.  Though the scenery wasn't exactly stunning, it was fun having pictures taken of me - expressly because of my big belly.  

Seriously, one of the best things about being pregnant is not having to suck-it-in anymore.  The day I found out I was pregnant, I was like "Woo hoo, now I can let it hang out" even though the baby was only the size of a blueberry at that time!  

Week 31

For those of you who don't click on the baby countdown (in the right side column) to see how she is growing, here's an excerpt from this week (week 31):

"From this week on, your baby will continue to gain around ½ pound a week until
shortly before birth (even though it may feel like a whole lot more with every
step you take). Other highlights this week: Due to increasing space constraints,
your baby's arms and legs stay drawn up close to the body now, known as the
fetal position (oh, so that's where that name came from!). Plus, your baby can
now process information from all five senses..."

Isn't that cool?!? Well, the gaining a half a pound a week is a little scary, but the 5 senses thing is awesome!

Pedersen Baby Shower

The day after the Rodriguez (Michael's family) baby shower, my family's side threw another baby shower for us. What love we have! Annette Bauer, a great family friend, hosted the shower all on her own with the help of cute Julie Rose.


Thank you, Annette, for all the time and fun energy you put into planning this shower. It was a gorgeous setting (Piazz del Panne) with wonderful food and caring people!

My mother is feeling my cousin-in-law's belly while I sip my frothy (decaf) cappuccino. Sarah is one month ahead of me and she is also having a girl.

Tiramisu cake. Need I say more?

The cutest little labels (this one reads: yeah, baby) were on these shower gift bags.

The menu. I took one of both the French toast and egg scramble. Yummm...

Annette, the master of ceremonies, leading us to begin some fun games.

Here we are, diligently trying to write down as many answers as we can to the Baby Celebrity Name Game. Did you know a celebrity named their baby "Pilot Inspektor"? Now I can't go wrong after reading that name!

The second game: Trivial Pursuit... Mommie Maren Edition included questions like: What was Maren's favorite childhood storybook?, What was Michael's favorite childhood food?, and What is the size of Maren's waist today?

My beautiful mother-in-law, Julia.

Annette procured beautiful flowers from the local farmer's market. Michael couldn't stop taking pictures of them!

The last game was "Create a Diaper Using a Roll of Toilet Paper"! Michael's Aunt Julie here is the willing model. Thanks, brave ladies!

My sister-in-law Aryn and her group went all out with their diaper design. (Did my mom's influence in this group have anything to do with the funky suspenders?)

Gift time! Michael's mom wrapped up some of Michael's baby shower gifts she received and used with him! Here is a little baby blanket-outfit that was hand-made over 36 years ago for Michael!

My amazing and fun Grammy Louise. She does water aerobics 5 days a week! I hope my schedule frees up some so I can enjoy that great exercise in the water in these last months of my pregnancy with her.

A fun, after-bath, towel with a built-in hoodie. Having a baby, and getting all this cute stuff is a little addicting!

This gift didn't come with a name tag, so I didn't know who to thank until after I opened it. Once I saw that the little shirt said "Azusa Pacific" I knew it was from Michael's cousin Meagan, who attend the college. How cute the tiny shirt is, huh?

Saying goodbye is such sweet sorrow. Thank you to all my friends and family who attended the shower. Thanks to Aryn who drove 6 hours to come for the afternoon, and thanks to India who drove from Berkley to attend! What a loving group of women I have. My sincere thanks!