INSIDE THE CAPITAL

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Recently, we made a quick trip from Seattle to Washington, DC. With just three days to take on the town, we found ourselves gallivanting from The National Mall to Arlington, VA, cramming in as much as possible. This is our second trip with Avery on hand, so it was challenging to mark everything off our bucket list…but we did managed to check out these must-see spots:

The Washington Monument

The Pencil, otherwise known as the Washington Monument, is one of the nation’s most recognizable structures. It’s the first thing we saw as we flew into into DC.

It was built to honor George Washington.


The obelisk-shaped memorial is made up of marble, granite and blue-stone gneiss. It’s the world’s tallest structure made of stone and the tallest obelisk, at 555 feet tall.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial
A white stone building with 36 columns and featuring a solitary 19-foot-tall statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in contemplation, flanked on both sides with inscriptions of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address.

The views over the reflecting pool to the Washington Monument are amazing.

World War II Memorial

At the east end of the Reflecting Pool sits the World War II Memorial, which honors all 16 million people who served the American armed forces, including more than 400,000 who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

It contains 56 granite columns that symbolize unity among the 48 states, seven federal territories and the District of Columbia. And the two 43-foot tall structures highlight America’s victory on the Atlantic and Pacific fronts during World War II.

The U.S. Capitol Building

The domed U.S. Capitol building is where the business of Washington – and America – happens, and is a massive network of buildings, offices and meeting rooms.










We got to do a private tour thanks to a friend who works at the Capitol Building. We went on a Sunday when the Capital is closed so we had the whole place to ourselves.

White House


We just took pictures outside the White House since we didn’t have time to do the tour.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Dedicated in 1954, the Marine Corps War Memorial (or the Iwo Jima Memorial, as it’s often unofficially referred to) honors every Marine who has served since the founding of the Marines in 1775. The design of the memorial was inspired by Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It features six 32-foot figures raising a 60-foot bronze flagpole. The entire memorial is 78 feet tall.

U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing


Cameras were NOT allowed on the tour so the closest thing we got to actually money was this million dollar case full of ten dollar bills ya’ll!

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History




What’s great about DC is that its monuments and memorials are FREE and open to the public 24 hours a day! You can’t beat seeing the Hope Diamond for FREE!!!

THE GREAT EIGHT

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A little over a month after giving birth, I went in for my routine MRI/CT scan. As you can tell from the title, my scan was great!! So now instead of going every 4 months like I was doing before I got pregnant, I am now schedule to go every 6 months.

Thank you to everyone for your endless support, love, and prayers.

xoxo,
Cammy

BUMPIE

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When I discovered the BabyPics app, I completely got really excited about capturing my growing belly bump! It’s a great and easy photo-journaling tool to document your growing baby belly “bumpies” week after week. I’ve started when I was in week 16 and probably around week 28 is when you can start seeing some major belly growth!






He’s here!!! He’s finally here!!! Welcome Avery Grayson Reyes

APRIL FOOL’S BABY

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I went in for my weekly OB appointment on March 31st and when they checked my blood pressure – it was high! So high that it was best that I head on over to Labor and Deliver! They were going to induce me since technically I was already full term.

I was not ready for this – but no one ever is…right?!?! I mean, I haven’t even packed my hospital bag yet!!! Luckily our car seat arrived the day before!

So we checked into University of Washington Medical Center at noon and on April 1st we welcomed baby Avery Grayson Reyes at 5:43 p.m.






My dearest Avery,

From the moment they placed you in my arms, you snuggled right into my heart.

xo,
momma

COUNTING DOWN TO BABY REYES

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With my due date just around the corner, I’m sharing some maternity photos that Andy Shepard captured. Also, enjoy a few fun facts about my pregnancy below










Best Part of the First Trimester: Hearing our baby’s heartbeat for the first time! Andre and I scheduled an ultrasound at 10 weeks to check up on baby and make sure there was indeed a heartbeat. I’ve never been so nervous for anything in my life! Hearing that tiny heartbeat was the sweetest thing and really made the pregnancy feel so much more real.

Worst Part of the First Trimester: The nausea! It kicked in about week 10 and didn’t subside until around week 16. It was an all day, every day nausea that never went away. Also having to take the prenatal vitamin that was also making me feel nauseous which is why I ended up taking them right before I go to bed.

First Trimester Food Cravings: iced honey green tea

Best Part of the Second Trimester: Finally gaining my energy back and being able to get up and go somewhere. Pregnancy massages.

Worst Part of Second Trimester: The nausea that lasted the first few weeks into the 2nd trimester. Other than that, it was great! I had the most energy and felt the most like myself.

Second Trimester Food Cravings: Chocolates (all kinds), strawberry milkshakes, fried chicken, Eggos ice-cream (esp. ice-cream sandwich & haagan daaz mini),

Best Part of Third Trimester: My Baby Shower and having my best friends fly in from out of town to attend the shower! Getting to listen to baby’s heartbeat at weekly doctor visits!

Worst Part of Third Trimester: Finding a top to wear every morning since I basically rotate the 2 pairs of maternity jeans that I’ve purchased. My massive and annoying boobs.

Third Trimester Food Cravings: Cheetos Puffs, mango, yan-yan

I can hardly wait until our baby make their debut. Both Andre and I are so excited (and antsy) to meet the baby and already feel so blessed to be able to be their parents.

THE BEAUTY IN IMPERFECTIONS

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When I first found out I was having surgery, one thought that came to mind was ‘I wonder how big the scar will be?’. I assumed it would be this ittybitty incision, and that it would be easy to cover up but boy was I wrong. I woke up to find my entire stomach covered up in bandages and days later after the covering was removed, I realized how big of a scar I had. So apparent it ran down my entire stomach ending a few inches past my belly button. I was sad to say the least, but looking back at it now, I have no reason to feel ashamed. I’m proud of what it means. It means I survived something that would have certainly killed me, if it weren’t for the wonders of modern medicine, perseverance, and a whole heap of love and faith.






And now, 4 years later, I’m growing a tiny human being inside and it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world. I never thought I would get to experience this having come a long way with this battle. So now, instead of being ashamed of it, I’ve learned to embrace it. Embrace the fact that I had to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of my life. And with my due date just around the corner, I know the best days have yet to come! I thank my lucky stars that I beat cancer’s ass and I’m still standing here today to tell my story.

Special thanks to Andy Shepard for capturing these amazing photos.

YOU’RE THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF MY RAINBOW

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Now that the gifts have been opened, the food eaten, the games played and the mommy stories shared. The much-anticipated baby shower is over and now it’s time for the final step: Sending out thank you notes! I want to adequately thank my generous friends and family for helping celebrate this special milestone with me.

Since St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, I figure what better way to send out a thank you note than with a little “POT ‘O GOLD” since I’m one very LUCKY gal to have such amazing, beautiful people in my life!

I’m a huge Pinterest user and came upon this blog with the perfect saying and has “free” printable tags!

I purchased a box of thank you cards and personally handwritten each message to my guest using my calligraphy skills (which I’m still working on).

Here’s what you need to make these St. Patricks’ Day favors:

Materials:
Clear Plastic Tubes (I found these on Amazon)
Butterfinger ‘Nest Egg’ candy (luckily Easter is also around the corner)
Giant bag of M&M’s
Printable Tags
Ribbons




Make sure you clean and dry your containers. Add your candies to your container (I put the Butterfinger at the bottom and then filled the rest with M&M’s to make it look like the rainbow).

Cut out your tags, punch a hole at the top, and use twine to tie them onto your favors.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

DREAM BIG, LITTLE ONE

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I am so thrilled to be able to share photos from the most beautiful baby shower I have ever been to and even more excited because it was MINE! Ha, I still can’t believe it!!! I have to say, I’ve never had a party planned in my honor where I didn’t plan it myself or contribute. I have always been the planner and the crafter and the doer, but with this one my friends kept me completely in the dark, all I had to do was show up and pick my jaw up off the floor after I took in all the sweet details of the day.

































So many of my dear talented friends hosted the shower and each brought their own expertise to make this a picture perfect event!


Special thanks to Mel, Stephy, Mur, Jaimz, Nancy, & Mich for all the work into organizing and putting together this memorable event. A big thank you to Stephy, Len, Chel, and Che for flying in to celebrate this joyous occasion with me. Erika for lending out her guest room. My sister Diane for the delicious cake made from Flour, Sugar, and More Bakery. Andy Shepard for taking amazing photos. And Gian Cruz for catering a delicious brunch!

31 WEEKS BUMP UPDATE

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How far along?: 31 weeks and 1 day
Total weight gain: 16 pounds total. I gained 3 more pounds since my last checkup on January 18, which puts me at 147 pounds.
How big is baby?: The size of a pineapple. Weighing in at about three-plus pounds and measuring about 16 inches long.
Sleep?: So far so good! I sleep best on my left side and wake up just once to use the restroom.
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Best moment this week?: Being told at our OB appointment today that baby is measuring right on track! Yay! Getting to read a bedtime story and feeling the baby kick right afterwards!
Worst moment this week?: Not fitting into anything cute. Feeling really fat instead of feeling preggo…thanks boobies…grrrr!
Movement?: Plenty! Baby moves around ALL of the time. It is the best feeling ever, and I find myself stopping everything to just really soak it in. Every movement, every little kick and hiccup, they tell me that everything is going to be okay.
Labor signs: Nope! Thankfully!
Food cravings?: Grapefruit, peanut butter sandwich, & ice honey green tea
Symptoms: A general ‘full’ feeling in my upper stomach. Low back pain, fatigue and shortness of breath has also gotten a lot worse as my lungs are all squished up now…ahh!
Stretch marks?: Belly is still stretch mark free
Belly button in or out?: Still an innie
What I miss: Being able to go bowling
What I’m looking forward to: If we’re having a little boy or  a little girl!!! I think there are so few genuine surprises left in life I couldn’t think of anything better than letting this baby be one of them. I can’t wait for Andre to be the one who reveals to me what we’ve had (as tears stream down his face)!

28 WEEKS BUMP UPDATE

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Hello, Third Trimester!!!

3 more months to go!

I’m ‘sorta kinda’ showing…if I wear really tight clothing, otherwise according to people I don’t even look pregnant….let alone be ‘only 28 weeks’ pregnant.

I had an OBGYN visit today as well as the big glucose test (which I passed..YAY!). We got to hear the baby’s heartbeat which was in the 150s.

I don’t have any weird cravings that most pregnant women talk about. I think it’s just their way of wanting to eat something pickled without feeling to guilty about eating it. The only maternity things that I’ve purchased are 2 pairs of Paige maternity jeans that I absolutely love!!! I wear them ALL the time.

Not only is the belly growing..but my boobs have become massive. And gross. And annoying. And FULL. And uncomfortable. I cannot stand to wear a regular bra for very long and I hate that sports bra gives me a uni-boob.

I have lower back pain and shoulder pain that easily goes away thanks to pregnancy massages! I still continue to take my prenatal pills that makes me feel nauseous but as long I take them before going to bed then it’s not so bad!

Absolutely LOVED the tumbling feelings in my belly. It’s weird and sometimes it hurts, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I also cannot seem to stop touching/rubbing my belly these days. I’m not sure what that’s all about, but it’s oddly soothing to me!

With 12 weeks to go:

  • I’ve gained 13 pounds which puts me at 144. I’ve read weight can either continue increasing by a pound a week, or slow down to stall out completely as you get closer to term, so will see how that goes!
  • No stretch marks (knock on wood). I don’t use any oil or cocoa butter.
  • I am tired. No matter how exhausted I am I cannot fall asleep before midnight. I’ll start dozing off sitting up multiple times throughout the day, but when I lay down in bed I just can’t fall asleep.
  • I walk. A lot. Everyday. To and from work so that’s has become my daily exercise.