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!!!