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New Life by Haley Ross
Materials: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned Paper & Phrases: Colorbok; Chipboard Die-Cut: Riff Raff Designs; Alphabet Stickers: Doodlebug Designs; Pop-dot: 3L; Photo Flaps: Close To My Heart.

This Sucks.

Don’t get me wrong, I am impressed by the miracle of life. But pregnancy + me = not so much. I hate being pregnant. Besides the anticipation of the baby’s arrival, there’s nothing I love. So if you love being pregnant, I am happy for you. I really am. Jealous even. But if you don’t…. then here are:

10 Reasons why Being Pregnant Sucks.

(I am going to limit myself to just 10)

1. No unpasteurized Cheese. May not seem like a big deal to some, but when our Wine Club meets every month, the only thing to get me through the tortuous evening is the cheese. And I like the soft unpasteurized kind the best.
2. Ugly maternity clothes. Nicole Richie came out with maternity wear! I was so excited; she is one helluva cute pregnant lady. So I logged on to shop. But unless you live in L.A. where the weather is balmy, you’ll be like me, stuck shopping at UGLY maternity stores where they attach FRILLS, FLOWERS and BUTTONS to everything. Blech. And even in the cutest clothes, I look like a walking pear.
3. Empty hands. These hands like holding a glass of wine at a party, in front of the tv, during dinner…. Let’s just say I likes me some red wine. My hands are lonely.
4. Fat hands. I hate not being able to wear my wedding rings which prove I have someone at home who loves this beastly, waddling walrus.
5. I can’t dance. Not even at home, alone, while watching So You Think You Can Dance. (Not that I do that……). My coordination is gone. Instead I likely resemble a Bozo the Clown Bop Bag when I dance.
6. My skin. Breakouts make me think of Jr. High School. Which makes me feel insecure again (why is everyone staring at me?). That makes me puke. Even more than I already do.
7. Barfing is “the norm”. Barfing should not be "the norm"! In the past, throwing up (my mom says that is the most polite term…) only ever happened after a good night out (sorry, but true). Now I have chucked all over town & it doesn’t phase me. That’s not OK!!! If you see me ralphing in the line-up at Shoppers Drug Mart (been there), remind me to find a quiet place to recover instead of letting me yell at the cashier for not double-bagging. Ew.
8. Brian’s cologne makes me sick. So does your perfume. Just so you know.
9. I can’t sleep on my tummy. I try. Oh, I try. I was sleeping on my tummy when I was 7 months pregnant with Miles. But not this baby. Oooooh no, this baby isn’t as hard (?) and doesn’t let me throw all of my weight on top of him. Also, this baby would prefer it if Miles didn’t step all over it. But Miles thinks otherwise…
10. The food I once loved, I now despise. I don’t want to touch a burger, I don’t want to look at Orange Juice. Offer me a frozen yogurt... bugger off. Even when I think I want it, I get it and instantly feel turned off.

Portrait of a pregnant Haley.

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I Feel Huge by Haley Ross

I am pretty happy with this page. Last night at about 10pm I was thinking it was going to be a lost cause. But Michelle helped me pull it all together by giving me these daisy's and much to my delight, all of my doodling turned out (the black is stickers, the white is mine). I used up some old flowers of Michelle's, but I will admit the rub-ons were new (cute huh?).

Materials: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; DieCuts & stickers: Colorbok; Rub ons: October Afternoon; Pen: Sakura & EK Success Zig Writer; Daisies: Martha Stewart Crafts

Sometimes....

...things just work out.
My friend (and resident teacher/scrapbooker/photographer) Michelle Gier showed up at my house last Sunday with Starbucks in hand. (Yeah, I know, great friend). I had totally forgotten we were scheduled to go take some "belly" shots.
We went down to the Sheep River (my favourite place in town) and Michelle clicked away. My husband Brian was so uncomfortable it was almost hilarious. But as he loosened up, the shots got better and better. Michelle did a fabulous job. AND, she did all that without her camera (she used my unfamiliar camera and my brand new lens which I am in LOVE with).

This is one of my favourite shots. Makes me cry.

Thanks Michelle. Blessed am I to have a friend like you.

Thank you Lord, for not giving me stretch marks, yet.

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iBaby by Haley Ross
I was so nervous to write on my photo (I used a Zig Vellum Writer which works awesome!). The picture is a 12x18 cut down a little and printed at Shoppers Drug Mart. I am having a great time working on my Pregnancy layouts. I guess because it is new and pretty exciting still.
Materials: Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Chipboard: Heidi Swapp; Stickers: 7 Gypsies; Ribbon: ki memories; Brads: Basic Grey; Pen: EK Success; Cardstock: Worldwin