Leg Warmers

It's almost July and I needed a sweater for my walk tonight! Really?!

I'm not the only one that thought it was chilly tonight... even the art installment by the seawall near our place thought it was a little nippy! Some knitter(s) thought to come to it's rescue, and made some leg warmers for it =)

I was just reading about the recent installments of "knitted graffiti" in Europe, so knew exactly what was done to this art piece from a mile away. I think it's a neat way for people to express their talent and creativity... and what courage to display it for the public to see!

Sticky Balls

Don't worry, this post is not as gross as the title suggests; it's actually quite yummy!

As mentioned in a previous post, my dad had been cooking for us while he was visiting. For lunch today, I ate the last of what he made... so we made burgers and corn tonight on the barbie.

However, for dessert, I remembered that my dad bought a pack of peanut rice balls from one of his trips to T&T. He didn't make them because we had too much to eat and was too full for dessert.

Wardrobe Overhaul

I had the idea to not get maternity wear because I thought it would be such a waste to purchase clothes I'd use for just a few months. But alas, at 22 weeks... I was outgrowing my regular clothes so my parents took me shopping when they came to visit. Also, my sister had sent a couple of pretty maternity tops with them for me. The one I'm wearing in this portrait is one of them.

I must say, they have really started making fashionable maternity wear. I love my maternity jeans... and my new maternity tops have rescued me from feeling like Winnie the Pooh with the belly hanging out a little bit at the bottom.

Au Revoir

After a couple weeks of being unplugged for most of the time... I am finally back online and back to blogging. I did take pictures everyday even though I wasn't posting. There are lots of photos to go through... but I will be posting the missed days in between this post and my last one as I find time to work on them... so watch out for those.

The last two weeks has been busy with travels. Sean and I went on an Alaskan cruise with some of my family for the first week, then flew to NYC with my parents for the second week. Despite the trips being somewhat disappointing, especially for my dad... I was happy to be able to spend some time with my parents, whom I don't get to be with nearly as often as I would like.  It has been great to be in their company, as well as to be spoiled with my dad's cooking.

Tonight, however, my time with my parents came to an end... until we see each other again. We took this portrait just before Sean and I dropped them off at the airport.

Mama & papa, thank you for visiting me. Safe travels... I miss you already =(

An Old Favourite

Some bank errands led to a visit to Metrotown this afternoon with my mom & dad. For lunch, we went to Thai House and enjoyed an old favourite - their mullet fish! Not sure why it's called that... but it is sooo good!

Mom & Pop

I'm not sure if it's just the pregnancy hormones, but I've been missing my family a lot lately... more than usual!

Today, I worked my butt off in the office... getting everything done and making sure everything is taken cared of while I'm away for the next two weeks. Tonight, I went to the airport to pick up my mom and dad... have been looking forward to this for a long time!

Some other family are also in town to go on this trip with us... can't wait to board that ship and explore Alaska with them!

Hello... Anybody Home?

Another disappointing game for Canucks fans.

The city gets revved up for a big celebration, but nothing to celebrate after a frustrating lost despite our guys out-playing and out-shooting the Bruins!

This is the stretch of Georgia Street that was shut down. Just hours before taking this photo, it was filled with fans gathered to watch the game on the big screen set up on the street. And when the Canucks won the two home games, people stayed downtown to celebrate late into the night... but tonight, it's sadly empty and quiet.

If You Got It, Flaunt It!

A baby belly, that is! I haven't looked so good in a bikini in a long time! Doesn't that belly look hot?! =P

Tonight, I had a date with my bikini! Ahhh... to be in the pool, I wonder why I hadn't done this sooner? I enjoyed my date in the pool, and I think baby did, too!

Strike A Pose

I'm either camera shy or just have a big ego and can't stand bad photos of myself, but I'm almost never in pictures. However, since being pregnant, I find myself coming out from behind the camera more often to allow myself to be the subject of a photograph.

Last night, I met up with some relatives for dinner. I felt like dressing up, so slipped into a black dress that flattered the belly, adorned myself with some accessories and took the time to put make up on. When I got to the restaurant and saw my aunt for the first time since being pregnant... she said, "You're having a girl, aren't you?!" I asked how she knew, and she replied, "You look pretty, that's how I know! When you don't feel like fussing with how you look, it's a boy. When you spend time making yourself look pretty, it's a girl."

Well, I don't know how true that is, there seems to be a million beliefs about how to tell whether a baby in the belly is a boy or a girl... but I will say that I've been more willing to take my self portraits since being pregnant. And of course, one has to look nice for the camera (or at least look decent)... so I do find myself spending time grooming and I do feel beautiful being pregnant... more beautiful than I have felt in a while.

As a photographer, I am passionate about taking photos to offer people memories frozen in time that they can keep forever. However, I didn't give myself that gift... until I became pregnant - I didn't want to miss out on memories from carrying my first baby! I hope my new-found courage in being the subject of photographs will stay with me post-pregnancy.

Sunday Beach

What an awesome day! I hope that summer has finally arrived.

After a short headshot session in the morning, Sean and I packed up to spend the afternoon at English Bay with the Sunday Beach Vball crew! Sean got to play a few games and even got to improve on his hits.

Me, I had to sit on the sidelines and watch everybody else play, wishing I could play. =(

This is me and belly cheering while daddy plays vball.

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

The baby pool is locked and we are ready to make the announcement! We are having a GIRL!!!

Sean and I are both very happy. We didn't really have a preference on the sex of the baby, but Sean had a feeling that it was going to be a girl. Daddy knows best, I guess... he was right!

Can't wait for all the photo shoots I can do with my baby girl!

Gremlin Sabotage

There's a gremlin in there that knocked me out and left me napping on the couch from after dinner at around 8pm till 11pm. There goes my opportunity to go hunt for my photo of the day.

First Clue

Today, we went to see our doctor to go over the results from the detailed ultrasound we did two weeks ago. Everything looks great - baby has all four limbs; baby's heart, lungs, internal organs are healthy; baby's facial features show no signs of any genetic abnormalities; my fluid level is what it needs to be; my placenta is nice and high, which is a good sign for being able to birth naturally.

Then, the reveal of the sex of the baby... I started crying! It wasn't a reaction to a specific gender, I think I would've reacted the same way even if the doctor announced the opposite sex for the baby. I believe it was because this one more piece of information just made the baby more real to me.

I got a request to postpone locking the pool until tomorrow because a friend couldn't enter their guess into our baby pool tonight. So, I won't be spilling the beans yet on what we're having; however, this photo is a clue. =)

p.s. if you haven't joined our pool and wanted to... you still have time. Go to http://www.expectnet.com and enter Co-McMillen for game name. That should bring you to the page where you can enter your guess/es.

Up For The Cup!

Today, the sun seemed to be shining brighter, the energy in the city is electric... you can feel the tension in the air.
 
Tonight was the first game in the Stanley Cup finals and our city's very own Canucks did not disappoint! They beat the Boston Bruins by scoring the winning goal in a scoreless game, with 19 seconds left in the game. The city is abuzz - people cheering, car horns honking, high-fives and flag waving!

One win closer to Stanley! GO CANUCKS GO!!!