Photos – Page 3 – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

ASP Wedding July 19, 2014

One Year Anniversary

Today is our one year wedding anniversary, and what a year it has been! Since getting married last July 19 at The Carneros Inn in Napa, California, we have gone to Durango twice (still here), went to the Justin Timberlake/Jay Z concert in Miami, visited friends in Minneapolis, went to Bali and Japan (briefly!) for our honeymoon, celebrated two of our best friend’s engagements and two of our closest friend’s weddings, welcomed multiple sweet babies into the world, and last, but definitely not least, had a baby girl of our own! We are very excited about what year two has in store for us.

For more about our wedding, click here.

Photos by Ryan Ray

Baby June 7, 2014

Introducing Isla Milijana Petrovic

My water broke 13 minutes into my due date – Wednesday, June 4 – proving that all Petrovics really are Type A personalities and enjoy a good schedule. Sasha and I headed to the hospital around 2:30am, unsure of whether I really was in labor, as I wasn’t having any contractions. We arrived at Memorial Hermann Hospital at around 2:35am (we live super close), and got put into a room quickly. My nurse initially thought my water hadn’t broke, but after a secondary test, found out that it had. Since I wasn’t having any contractions at all, she started me on pitocin to induce labor. I still wasn’t feeling the contractions when they started, but we watched them pass by on the monitor. I was exhausted as I had only slept for one hour before being woken with my water breaking, so I fell asleep while Sasha took a work call at 6:00am – it was that exciting in the room! At noon, my mom came to visit and brought Sasha Lupe’s Tortillas – the smell of it almost killed me. I was STARVING at this point and eating so many ice chips it wasn’t even funny. Around 2pm, the pain from the contractions became too much, so I opted for the epidural. Before getting it, I made one last emergency trip to the restroom – I was determined not to poop during labor (TMI, I know – but it worked!). The anesthesiologist allowed Sasha to stay in the room, which was so nice. I gripped onto his hands so hard but fortunately didn’t faint (I received lots of oxygen during the day to prevent fainting). After the epidural kicked in, all of the pain went away; however, our day nurse, Annie, was getting nervous as when my contractions came, Isla’s heart beat plummeted, which likely meant that the umbilical cord was around her neck. Annie and Sasha moved me from left to right every five minutes (I couldn’t feel my legs at all), which became rather annoying and I was getting nervous. My ob-gyn, Dr. Tejml, came around 3pm and told me that she wasn’t happy with my progress as I wasn’t dialating quickly enough and I was beginning to get a fever, which is the sign of an infection (common when your water breaks). They had dropped my pitocin due to Isla’s heart beat action, but needed to increase it again to progress my labor. Dr. Tejml came again around 5:45pm and said that if I didn’t dilate further (I was 7cm) in the next 20 minutes, she was going to have to do a c-section. I was devastated. I did not want to have this major surgery, and was so scared about being cut open! So, I prayed and prayed, and when she returned at 6:05pm, she checked my dilation and thank the Lord, I was 10cm. She explained what I had to do to push, and around 6:10, we started. After about 17 minutes, she called in the forces, and 1 minute later, Isla Milijana Petrovic entered this world at 6:30pm, as cute as can be, even covered in all that goop. She weighed 6 pound 12 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long – with some long legs, not inherited from me! She has jet black hair and looks almost identical to me as a newborn (but I think she looks more like Sasha now!).

The last few days have been such a whirlwind – learning to breastfeed, struggling to sleep (both me and Isla), adjusting to life with a baby. I am truly on cloud nine. I love her more than anything in the world. I’ll post more pictures soon, but for now, it’s time to rest!

Personal May 5, 2014

A Weekend Well-Spent

Sasha and I headed to Austin at the crack of dawn on Saturday, after spending Friday with one of my best friends, Kirby, who flew in town from Oklahoma City for her baby shower (she’s due exactly 4 weeks after me!). We had plans to meet my childhood best-friend – Alisdair, (we met before we were one years old in Scotland), who came to live with us in Texas for his senior year of high school, then ended up going to The University of Texas at Austin with me and married an Austinite! They moved back to Scotland last year, much to my dismay, and I only get to see him once a year, so I was anxious to hug him and Erica. We stayed with another best friend, Sophee, at her gorgeous house (where we spent my bachelorette weekend!). She recently got engaged to Johnny (who took many of these wedding preview pics) – they are the sweetest, most attractive couple ever (see pictures of them at our rehearsal here). I am over-the-moon excited to be one of her bridesmaids next March. Her invitation was perfect (see picture below!).

In the late afternoon, we went to one of my good friend’s wedding – Eric and I have been close since fourth grade! Him and Alisdair also became best friends during our senior year, so we’re one big happy family. Stephanie, his bride, looked radiant. I love weddings! The reception was held at Thurman’s Mansion, just south of Austin. The venue couldn’t have been prettier, neither could the weather.

We had a big family breakfast at Kerbey Lane on Sunday morning, then headed back to Houston. I had a bit of a scare in the car, as I suddenly felt nauseous and then fainted while Sasha was driving. I am a big fainter (errh, fainted at the altar), and have passed out during every pre-natal appointment that involved needles, but this was the first unprovoked fainting, which is a bit concerning. I have my 36 week appointment today and plan on checking with my doctor. Fingers crossed!

I hope you had a good weekend! Happy Cinco de Mayo and first year wedding anniversary to my sister and Carl (pictures here and here).

the back view of thurman mansion in austin // sasha and kenneth getting rather competitive with bean bag toss (‘cornhole’)

sophee’s amazing bridesmaid invitation – obsessed and so excited // mother-son dances always make me cry

shameless selfie with my new ray-bans (after mine got stolen) and haircut (long overdue) // most amazing photo album from ryan ray

32 days from my due date (feeling ever-so-swollen) // dad and sasha being competitive per usual

post-breakfast at kerbey lane with dad // wedding selfie in the hot-hot texas sun (think 90+ degrees already)

outside kerbey lane with my childhood bestfriend/brother and his wife (vising from scotland) // belle is petrified of our stroller… so we’re practicing

Personal April 21, 2014

A Very Hoppy Easter

It is rare that Serbian Easter and Protestant Easter fall on the same day, since the former follow the Julian calendar versus the more common Gregorian calendar. Last year, Serbian Easter fell on the same day as my older sister’s wedding, so we weren’t able to go to Galveston to celebrate; however, this year we got to spend time with both families on the same day, which was so fun (and utterly exhausting).

The weather was absolutely amazing – super sunny, as evidenced by my very red shoulders today! We went to Sasha’s family’s church in Galveston (see pictures of a previous visit here), then headed to his mom’s beach house nearby for lunch and an Easter egg hunt with the kids. I love the excitement over finding eggs, and cannot wait to add Isla and Ana (Mila and Lazo’s sister who will be born one month after Isla) to the festivities. Around 3pm, we headed to Katy to celebrate with my family, where we found Easter baskets of our own. You can never be too old! We ate dinner, then headed home at 8pm after a long and exciting day. I love Easter so much, as it is the day to remember that Christ is risen and alive in us today (which reminds me of this song).

34 week bump! So excited to only have 44 days left!

City Guide March 6, 2014

San Francisco Travel Guide

I was in San Francisco last weekend and on the flight there, I did a little math to figure out how many times I’ve visited the Bay Area in the past 3 years – nine! If that’s not an indication of how much I love San Francisco, I don’t know what is! We got married in Napa last July, so we made a couple of trips for planning, but most have been for fun. My sister-in-law and one of my best friends both work for Google in Mountain View, so I’ve always got a place to stay (and the best hosts!). If you haven’t been before, or if you want some of my tried-and-true suggestions, please reference the list of my favorite food, drink spots and activities below! Also, please offer any recommendations – I’ll be going back again soon (hopefully!), and always love to try new places.

Other San Francisco posts here. Pictures from this weekend below! Find a Google map with these locations here.

Favorite Restaurants/Drinks

The Plant (Various): Hands-down, one of my favorite restaurants in America – there are so many delicious vegetarian options that I rarely order the same thing twice (try them all!)
Radish (The Mission): The veggie burger is so unique and delicious – very nutty (add cheese!)
Mission Cheese (The Mission): A cheese and wine lovers dream
Dosa (Pacific Heights): The Indian food here is melt-in-your-mouth delicious – try the paneer masala dish
Zazie’s (Haight Ashbury): Holy cow – the line here is indicative of how good the food is – come early for breakfast!!
La Boulangerie (Various): Starbucks didn’t decide to use La Boulange baked goods for no reason! I live for the coffee + oatmeal in the humongous ceramic bowls
Tacolicious (Various): I wouldn’t normally recommend Mexican food this far from the border, but it’s worth it! Amazing guacamole and Marina Girl Salad (YUM)
Helmand Palace (Russian Hill): My first taste of Afghani food and I hope not my last! Be adventurous!
Kokkari (Financial District): Hands down, my favorite restaurant in SF – the baked feta appetizer is all you really need, but you’ll want and love everything else too
Sweet Maple (Pacific Heights): Famous for their bacon, this place has some amazing veggie/vegan options (great salads and oatmeal)
Millenium (Tenderloin): One of the best all-vegetarian restaurants I’ve ever been to… get a bunch of dishes amongst your table and share!
Reveille Coffee Co (Financial District and Mission Bay – my favorite location!): Modern, glass wall coffee shop with amazing drip coffee and the tastiest homemade granola you’ll ever try
Woods Polk Station (Russian Hill): Tiny little beer (and wine) bar with a selection of empanadas (the cheesy aroma will lure you in)
The Brick Yard (Cow Hollow): This yuppie bar has a great atmosphere and gets pretty darn crowded during happy hour
Rickhouse (Financial District): I’m obsessed with the front doors alone, but the entire bar (quiet lounge area upstairs) is really cool (with great cocktails!!)
Cultive (Cow Hollow): My favorite frozen yogurt in San Francisco – the flavors taste fresh and not artificial (or as anti-artificial as cookies ‘n cream froyo can be!)]
Souvla (Hayes Valley): A very simple Greek menu, but the most delicious meal and make sure to order the Greek frozen yogurt… seriously heaven on earth!
Smitten Ice Cream (Hayes Valley): The eclectic flavors taste a little different than what you may be used to, but I’d sample them all! Delicious.
House of Nanking (Chinatown): Get to this (rather) hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurant in Chinatown early if you don’t want to stand in line outside! It’s that good! I got two tofu dishes and was in heaven – and stuffed!!
Greens (Marina): Ah, this vegetarian restaurant has my heart! The glass windows look out onto the Golden Gate Bridge, and Sasha (a carnivore) recently said the stuffed pepper was his favorite dish of our entire vacation!
Jane on Fillmore (Fillmore): This tiny cafe has a simple, but delicious menu, and is perfect for a ladies lunch.
The Mill (Fillmore): Amazing coffee spot near Alamo Square Park – gorgeous interior!

Restaurants on My “Must Try” List

Betelnut, Umami Burger, Presidio Social Club, and Outerlands

Favorite Activities

Mingle with the hipsters and sip on Ritual Coffee in the Mission or Reveille Coffee (various locations, but Mission Bay is the best/prettiest/offers more food – on this map)
Rent a GoCar and drive around the city in this baby-sized Smart Car
Grab San Francisco’s famous Blue Bottle at the iconic Ferry Building
Sip on New Orleans style iced coffee from Blue Fog Market
Act like a paparazzi in front of the Golden Gate Bridge
Shop at boutiques on Union and Fillmore Streets and in Hayes Valley
Explore Chinatown
Smell the amazing bread being freshly made at Boudin Bakery at Fisherman’s Wharf
Reminisce the greatness of Full House and sit in the park in Alamo Square (love the Painted Ladies!) – grab a coffee at The Mill beforehand!
Take pictures on and walk down Lombard Street
Go to the gorgeous sandy beaches of Point Reyes (where we took our engagement pictures)
Check out the redwood trees at Muir Woods
Go to Dolores Park to play, or if you’re getting coffee at Reveille in Mission Bay, then go to the Mission Bay Kid’s Park

Activities on my “Must Do” List

Bike to Sausalito
Take a Cable Car Ride
Visit the SF MOMA
Go to the Disney Museum
Play in the Golden Gate Park (and rent a paddle boat at Stow Lake)
Do a night tour of Alcatraz

Other City Tours

Paris, Durango (Colorado), Austin, Houston, Bali, Washington, DC

Me (6.5 months preggo belly!) and Georgia