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Week in Review

I’m 36 weeks and three days pregnant as of today, and I’m nervous the next three weeks are going to crawl by at a snail’s pace. We’re finally out of the holiday season at our house, after celebrating Serbian Christmas on Saturday with his family. It was my favorite Serbian Christmas yet, with lots of laughter, good conversation, delicious food and a fun game of Secret Santa (I got the most cozy shawl ever!). Last week, I had a set of blogger photos, headshots and family photos all postponed (two from sickness, one from weather), so I had a much-needed restful week (filled with a million errands, of course, but those felt good to take care of!).

Before launching into my week’s highlights, I wanted to mention that I’ve been wearing my Daniel Wellington Classic Black Sheffield 40mm Rose Gold + Classic Cuff Rose Gold Large nonstop lately, and that Daniel Wellington is offering Snapshots & My Thoughts readers 15% off orders using SNAPSHOTS15 as the code. Valentine’s Day is a little over a month away, and I think that this would be the perfect gift! Hint, hint, husbands.

Some of our most joy-filled moments of last week include:

  • Taking down all of our Christmas decorations on Sunday after Christmas celebrations on Saturday! I didn’t quite believe the whole ‘nesting’ thing when I was pregnant with Isla, but I’m feeling the strongest desire to have a spot-free, organized house with this pregnancy, so the fact that our house looks ‘normal’ again makes me so happy!
  • Doing a Sprinkles stop after running five errands with Isla, which naturally feels like ten when you have a toddler in tow. Isla loves eating alllllll of the icing!
  • Going to my 36 week appointment and making sure Emi was growing as she should. I am pretty sure that was the last time I need blood drawn for this pregnancy, which makes me so insanely happy.
  • Catching up with Meredith as she dropped off a dress for Alex’s wedding this weekend – I can’t wait!
  • Taking Isla back to school after the holidays – she literally ran down the hallway to her classroom. I love how much she loves it!
  • Being treated to a prenatal massage (Christmas gift from my sister-in-law) with Well Family Houston. I received my treatment from Brandie Mitchell, whom I loved! I highly recommend getting a prenatal massage with her!
  • Having Karine babysit while I looked at houses with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law! I am so hopeful that they’ll get the one we love!
  • Taking family photos of the sweetest little boy, Jack! 
  • Eating lunch with Brittany at Adair Kitchen and catching up after what feels like an eternity!
  • Visiting the Houston Polo Club with Ivana, who showed us around and told us which horses were friendly enough to pet. Isla was on cloud 9!
  • Tackling a new Target decor project, since I’m almost done with the nursery, and like I mentioned earlier, clearly nesting!

Hope you had the best week and are staying warm! It looks like the whole country was freezing this weekend! xo

Introducing Buoy Health

In 2013, one of my best friends, Andrew Le, started a company with three others –  Adam Lathram, Nathanael Ren, and Eddie Reyes – seeking to revolutionize the healthcare industry, specifically how people used the internet to self-diagnose. In 2015, they landed on the name Buoy. Their goal was simple, really – to build a healthcare companion that provides people more reliable, tailored information than what was currently available on the internet (for example, WebMD). What it does is very much like texting a real doctor: after telling it what’s going on, Buoy’s algorithm automatically asks you twenty questions to figure out what diagnoses are most likely and what to do about it (stay at home, see a doctor, etc). If needed, Buoy can even connect you with doctors nearby.

Week(s) in Review

Happy New Year! I am so excited for 2017 – namely because it’s the year that our baby girl will be born and also because our house should be completed by November/December (fingers crossed!). I’m seriously amazed by how quickly the past two weeks have flown by! Sasha has been traveling every week for work, but was here since the 15th and we have loved soaking up his time and attention. We seriously miss him when he’s gone!

Some of the biggest highlights from the last 14 days include:

  • Spending Christmas Eve at the Bayou City Fellowship service, then driving to my parent’s house in Katy, where we watched Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation (for the nine zillionth year in a row, and I’m not complaining!). We woke up on Christmas to stockings filled with goodies and lots of presents under the tree, and watching Isla’s excitement as she opened everything was so priceless. She basically owns everything Minnie Mouse now – umbrella, dolls, shoes, bows, socks, underwear, robe, etc. Lucky little lady!
  • Celebrating Meredith’s 30th birthday (which was on Christmas) at her incredible NYE bash! It was held at the Sugar & Cloth studio, and every single detail was unreal. She’s definitely the hostess with the mostess!
  • Spending the rest of NYE at the Jarvises house with our friends, the Duseks – of course, everyone was in bed well before midnight, but we had a delicious dinner and great time catching up beforehand! Isla was very excited to see fireworks for the first time.
  • Photographing the Dunk, Conaway, and Bandini families and also snapping photos for the MacLean’s pregnancy announcement – I loved capturing these fun moments!
  • Having our new house’s lot cleared and made ready for construction, which should start at the end of February! 
  • Going to dinner with the Thompsons before they headed to Las Vegas for Christmas. Isla and Truman are so, so sweet together!!
  • Almost completing the nursery – just have two pieces from By George Baby Boutique, a new ficus from Houston Interior Plants, a print from Meg Grant and a painting by Jamie Sawicki and then it’s officially done! I can’t wait to share photos.

The only real low-point was a trip to the Labor & Delivery ER after I had a few fainting spells, fortunately while I was at my 34 week checkup. It turns out I was really dehydrated, but both Emi and I are okay, despite getting jabbed far too many times to make sure that was the case!

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Cheers to 2017!

Favorite Christmas Reads for Kids

In our last Bookroo delivery, we received Seeking a Santa, which has become a nightly read in the lead up to Christmas (Isla has most of it memorized!). I typically don’t read seasonal books, but the holiday time is an exception, as all of the books on her nightstand are about Santa, Jesus, reindeer, snowmen, etc. I’ve put together a list of our holiday favorites, all found on Amazon, so you have time to order them and get them in time for Christmas! Isla loves each and every one of these easy-to-read books.

Week in Review

Less than a week until Christmas, and if you would have asked me on Saturday morning, when it was a very humid 82 degrees, if I felt festive, I would probably have said, “No.” Come today, when it’s FREEZING outside (Texas freezing of course, so low 40s), I am feeling very Christmassy. I am so excited about Christmas this year, as Isla is finally at an age where she (semi) understands what’s going on. We pass multiple nativity scenes on our dog walks very day, and on Saturday, she said boldly, “I love baby Jesus… and Mommy Mary… and Daddy Joseph!” It was so sweet! 

We spent a few treasured hours this weekend with my best friend, McKenzie, who was in town from Chicago (this is definitely mild weather for her!). Sasha and I also had our first solo date night in about eight months (crazy, but when we get sitters, it’s normally for double dates!). We went to Indika and then drove around our new neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. Afterwards, we watched The Intern, and were crying laughing at one of the scenes. It was the best night!

Some other highlights from the week include:

  • Going to the Cipher Escape Room to celebrate Angie’s birthday – we were so close to getting out! I am dying to go back and do the other room.
  • Having our annual Christmas night with my high school best friends at our house – Isla stayed up way past her bedtime, but has serious FOMO issues!
  • Celebrating Meredith’s birthday at Eloise Nichols, then going over to her house for some photos, including that cute ‘twinning’ moment with the pink boots!
  • Eating breakfast with Leah at Adair Kitchen! I love catching up with her.
  • Going to dinner with Destiny, Sid and Truman at MOD Pizza before they headed off to Vegas for the holidays! We played in the central grassy area afterwards and the kiddos (including Sid and Sasha, of course) were running around like crazy.
  • Taking sweet Jack’s newborn photos – he is absolutely gorgeous, just like the rest of his family!
  • Photographing Elly at Uptown Park after her first doctor appointment, so she came with ultrasound in hand! So excited for the Browns!!
  • Eating family dinner on Thursday at Peli Peli with my parents, Karine, Jill and Kevin. 
  • Getting a Bookroo delivery with two new books, one which Isla has become obsessed with – Tea Rex. Dinos and tea parties? Winning combination.
  • Going on multiple “‘ventures” with Isla all around the city (these are simply errands, but when you make stops at Crave Cupcakes, it becomes a ‘venture (i.e. adventure).
  • Celebrating Philip and Sydney’s big announcement!! I am so excited to meet their baby boy in June!

Hope you have the best week and most merry Christmas!!! Love and hugs sent your way.