New Blog

I have a new blog/website...woohoo! So from now on I'll be posting over there. :)

www.kushon.com

Winter you are NOT my friend

Well, let's start from the beginning. I went to work yesterday morning knowing that we were due to get some yucky weather but figured like every other snowy day in Northern Virginia it would be a lot of school closings and delays but major roads would be fine. Around 3:00 pm or so the sleet started falling and I thought, "hmmm...this doesn't look good." Luckily, the family I work for let me hit the road around 3:20 pm so I could get a jump start on my ride home before things got really bad. I left thinking that I would get home early and have a chance to get some stuff done around the house. As soon as I turned on to the main drag I realized traffic was not looking promising. This is a view from my car. Things were just inching along and the snow was already piling up. Oh and just to give you a little more information I work about 18 miles from my house and my commute on a normal day takes my anywhere from 35 mins to an hour depending on traffic. So after about an hour and only making a little progress I still was hopeful that things would pick up. I was happy to be driving an all-wheel drive vehicle because so many smaller cars were skidding on the snow covered roads. I had to keep getting out and dusting off my mirrors and windows because I just couldn't keep up with how fast it was falling. Hours started to pass and I started to realized that I may never get home. I kept inching along and then traffic would just not move at all for 10 mins, 20 mins, an hour...and so on. Intersections were horrendous because people couldn't get their cars up slight hills so all you saw were cars turned sideways and people pushing each others cars to try to keep traffic moving. I kept thinking, well at this pace I'll get home by this time and then before I knew it that time had passed me by. Eventually I got within five miles of my house and Tim told me to get off the main drag because if I stayed on it I would be sleeping in my car due to a bus turned sideways, abandoned cars, and a tree that had fallen on a car that was blocking all lanes. Tim took this picture with his phone. He said there was no one in the car so they must of been okay and abandoned their car.

So about my fifth hour in the car I realized that I could no longer wait and that I was just going to have to get out of my car and pop a squat and pee in front of traffic. I put up my hoodie opened two car doors and did what I had to do. It's amazing how modesty goes out the window when you just have no other choice! I have to say it was a slightly chilly experience...especially since I was experiencing stage fright, if you know what I mean! Right after that adventure a power line exploded in front of me giving me a slight heart attack. By this point I was about 3 miles from home and was cramping and having horrible back pains. I was so worried that I was going to go into labor and I was going to have to abandon my car and walk my pregnant self to the hospital. Luckily, that was not the case. Eventually, I got to the road that was within walking distance to my house and after fighting my way to make a left turn (fighting because all traffic lights were out and people wouldn't let you through) it took me about another hour to get to my neighborhood. When I pulled into my driveway I almost kissed my house. I plugged in my dying phone in and called work and let them know that I had finally made it and called to check up on Tim. Thankfully, he got home shortly after me. He probably would have been home a bit earlier but being Tim he was busy pushing cars up hills and being his normal helpful self. When he walked in we couldn't do anything but laugh and basically just shake our heads in disbelief. What a nightmare! Then while I was making dinner at 11:00 pm, Tim decided to break the news that part of our large tree had fallen and smashed part of our fence.
Lovely! We had the same thing happen last year during a storm!

Oh well...in all of this I was just happy we made it home safely and got to sleep in our bed. It was quite and experience but now that it is over I can laugh at it and start packing a survival kit for the future to store in my car. I can now officially say that I am over winter.

Okay...little girl, we are ready!!!!

So I never really thought I would get to the point in my pregnancy that each day I would hope for those painful contraction to begin. I love being pregnant so I just figured that I'd be really sad when it was coming to an end. However, I have now entered into the, I CAN'T WAIT to meet my baby phase and the, I'M FEELING ROUGH AND HUGE part of all of this. It's so funny, I go to the doctor expecting to hear that I am making progress below the belt but after several weeks of the same I can't help but feel slightly disappointed when I leave. However, in all of this I really just want her to come when it's time and to be healthy. I thought I was excited for my wedding day to arrive but this is so much more exciting and each day I wake up hoping that today is the day!

On a random/funny note, apparently I have become quite a snorer these days. I have been really congested the past several weeks and poor Tim said today that he couldn't even fall asleep last night with how loud I was snoring. He eventually resorted to shaking me and telling me that my snoring sounds like I'm dying...haha. Oh, the glamourous parts of being pregnant.

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted on any progress and please say a prayer for us! :)

38 Weeks -- Holy Moly!

As I sit here and type, "38 weeks", I can't help but find myself a bit speechless. Where has the time gone? I really feel like things are happening in warp speed and just going faster and faster. I just can't believe that I could be meeting my baby girl any day now! I guess I am a little nervous but really I am just excited. After months of daydreaming and preparation it actually is almost time!

I am still feeling really good but am definitely feeling the aches and pains of being 9 months pregnant. I feel bad even complaining at all because I really have had a truly wonderful pregnancy and feel so incredibly blessed. I'll take these back pains, rib kicks, sore hips, heartburn, and achy feet and use them as a reminder at how fortunate I have been these past 9 months.

We took these pictures after I spent the whole day "nesting", which I now absolutely believe in. I woke up this morning and practically jumped out of bed so that I could start my day of cleaning and organizing. I was cleaning like a mad woman. I even washed some walls!?! Who does that!?! Tim finally told me to sit my butt down....just in time for the Steelers game. :)



I think Doyle is excited to be a big brother!
Anyway, I am feeling really good at all that we accomplished this weekend and am ready for the countdown to continue! Hurry up "Special K" your family is REALLY REALLY excited to meet you!!!!

33 Weeks

Well, a lot of clothes are getting a bit too small these days, including my pink shirt. I put it on to take my 33 week photo and let's just say it looks slightly ridiculous. Anyway, here is what I'm looking like these days. I'm a little nervous how much bigger this belly is going to get in the last few weeks leading up to d-day.
I am still feeling great. Before this weekend I didn't really believe in the whole "nesting" thing but now I do. I got home Friday night and just start ripping things apart and building carseats, swing, stroller and putting together the nursery. I think Tim was slightly worried when he walked in the door Friday night and I had the place in shambles. Luckily, he was out hunting all yesterday so I was able to finish up and pretty much get the nursery 85% done! I'm really excited how it is coming together and just have a few more things to get. I'll post pictures of the finished product hopefully in the next week or so!

Pittsburgh Baby Shower

I had the most wonderful baby shower the Saturday after Thanksgiving back home in Pittsburgh. All my sisters, both soon to be grandmas, baby's great grandma, great aunts, friends and family were all there. It is such a great feeling to know how loved this little girl is already by so many. I really couldn't ask for more.

Tim came for the first part of the shower and like his normal charming self walked around and I think chatted with just about every guest and then thanked and welcomed everyone and then said a prayer before we sat down to eat. What a special guy I got there. He really is going to be such a good daddy.

Here are a few pictures from the shower, taken by my big sister Emily.

Of course she's got to have some Steeler gear. :)

My two best friends from high school and me.
My sisters and my mom.
This was probably the most special gift, thanks to my mom. My mom put together an amazing scrapbook for our little girl. She wrote it like a story that baby k is telling about her family and where she came from.
Needless to say I made it to the first page and after looking at the first four pictures of Tim and my parents as babies I lost it...
I am not one to cry easily but for some reason this made me melt. Just seeing pictures of Tim and my parents as babies followed by the rest of our families really touched me.
Thanks so much mom, it was an amazing present for our little lady that I've already looked at soooo many times!

Thanks to everyone that was there and was so generous. Tim and I feel so incredibly blessed by all the wonderful people in our lives and can't wait to bring our baby girl home to meet each and every one of you!

We are down to the wire now with less than 8 weeks left!

Erika & Steve {Engagement}

Not only did I get to go home to Pittsburgh for a whole week over Thanksgiving but I also go to photograph one of my favorite engaged couples! Erika is my best high school friend's little sister so I was more then happy when I was asked to do their engagement pictures. We headed over to North Park and had a great time wandering around on what was a gorgeous Fall day. These two are true lovebirds and just laughed the whole session. I was also thrilled to hear that they are getting married where Tim and I had our wedding reception, Armstrong Farms! Good choice you two!

I think engagement sessions are quickly becoming some of my favorites to photograph.

Congrats to you both!