27 Weeks

Posted in Baby, Brazil, Friends by Ashley Z Harper

How far along: 27 weeks & 1 day — This means I am officially in the THIRD TRIMESTER and this past Sunday marked the 3 month countdown to our due-date!
Baby updates: Baby Harper is weighing a little over 2 lbs and is 14-15 inches long! We had a great ultrasound on Friday and learned that he is growing big and strong — in the 81% for weight! He is opening and closing his little eyes, has basic-functioning lungs and moves around constantly.
Mamma updates: I’m generally feeling great, although new little aches, pains & other uncomfortableness creeps in each day. Sleep is usually pretty good but I am having more nights where I just can’t seem to get comfortable.
Things I miss: Nothing this week.
Cravings: Confession – I brought back 2 boxes of Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies from the US and they are already gone…
Weight: +16 still.
Best moments of the week: It has been so nice to be home again. São Paulo really is home now, and being away for over 5 weeks was tough. We have had a blast getting together with our friends over the past week.

Paige, Suzanna, me, Jana & Paula at La Maison Est Tombee. Also a creepy guy in the background.

Also, like I mentioned, we are thankful to have had another great ultrasound where we got to see our little guy and confirm that he’s growing big, strong & healthy! Praise be to God!

23Apr2013

26 Weeks

Posted in Baby, Family, Travels by Ashley Z Harper

How far along: 26 weeks & 2 days
Baby updates: Baby Harper is weighing about 2 lbs and is 14-15 inches long!
Mamma updates: I’ve been feeling great lately, although I do think the uncomfortable stage is starting to set in. Usually I’m fine but our flight from the US to Brazil was especially tough for me.
Things I miss: Nothing this week!
Cravings: I have still been craving ice cream / milk shakes but also fruit and fruity candies like jolly ranchers and starbursts (which I otherwise would never want!).
Weight: +16 and wearing basically all maternity clothes these days.
Best moments of the week: The absolute highlight of the week was celebrating Mike and Shannon’s wedding in Denver.The entire weekend was so fun and special. It was great getting to meet all of Mike’s family, getting to hang out with all of the Harpers, AND, bonus — my parents and grandparents came too!

Rehearsal dinner with my parents & grandparents!

Harper family with Mike & Shannon! *Note: Sharon's dress is from their most recent visit to Brazil! :)

Harper family with Mike & Shannon! *Note: Sharon’s beautiful dress is Brazilian! She got it on their most recent visit to Brazil. 🙂

Michael & me with Harper siblings, Joe & Lise!

With the other parents-to-be, Christy & TJ, at Mike & Shannon’s Irish send-off party!

Mamma Harper, Christy & Mamma Zais feeling Baby Harper

Christy, Mamma Harper & Mamma Zais feeling Baby Harper

Michael and I arrived back in Brazil yesterday and I have to say, although my time in the states was amazing, I have never been so happy to get home!

18Apr2013

Dominating DC!

Posted in Friends, Travels by Ashley Z Harper

I’m excited to be in Denver today and can’t wait to celebrate Shannon & Mike’s wedding this weekend, but it’s always a little sad for me to leave DC. It’s one of my favorite cities and for some reason, it just feels like home. That being said, I am so thankful for the sweet time we were able to share with so many dear friends over the past week. Here are some highlights that I haven’t already posted about:

Friday night Nats game with Connor, Tom & Margaret:

Saturday morning White House Garden Tour with Emily & Kern. So beautiful!

Bo Obama. nbd

Monday dinner with dear CHBC friends, Jess & TJ, Becca & Steven and Alex & Nathan.

Tuesday night pizza with the original bombshelter crew (Laine & Emily!), at the bombshelter.

General beauty in DC — cherry blossom season is the best!

There were so many other fun, special moments that I didn’t get on camera (dinner with Paige, lunch with John & Shaunna, Eastern Market with Connor & Tara!), but big thank yous to everyone who made time to get together with us. Hopefully we’ll be back soon!

16Apr2013

25 Weeks

Posted in Baby, Friends, Travels by Ashley Z Harper

How far along: 25 weeks & 2 days
Baby updates: Baby Harper is weighing 1.5-2 lbs now and is over a foot long. He’s starting to beef up a little and apparently he is also growing hair and opening his little eyes! Weird!
Mamma updates: This has been a great week for me. I still need a good night’s sleep but generally I am feeling great during the day.
Things I miss: We went out with friends to Lauriol Plaza and I definitely missed enjoying their amazing frozen margaritas!

Friends at Lauriol Plaza

Cravings: I’ve been having serious cravings for ice cream and oreo milkshakes this week.
Weight: +?. I’m living out of hotels right now and haven’t gotten to weigh myself so I’m not sure. However, I can report that I’m wearing almost exclusively maternity clothes and that the belly continues to “grow by the second,” as Michael says. I like it but also get a little scared when I think about the fact that it will only continue to grow for almost 3 1/2 more months!
Best moments of the week: It has been great to be back in DC with Michael. It’s the city where we met and fell in love and just holds so many fun memories for us. Further, we have been so blessed by all of the friends who we have gotten to see here as well. More on our time in DC soon, but in the meantime, here are a couple of quick highlights!

The prettiest time of year in DC

Night 1 in DC, reunited with my old roomies, Laine & Emily!

GULC campus

9Apr2013

24 Weeks

Posted in Baby by Ashley Z Harper

How far along: 24 weeks & 2 days
Baby updates: Baby Harper is weighing over 1 lb now and is around a foot long! He’s been extra active this week – cartwheels and somersaults galore! Now if only he could tell me what name he wanted to be called – it’s such a tough decision!
Mamma updates: This past week has been unusually emotional for me. It was like, literally overnight, all of these mama hormones and maternal instincts started kicking in and I started feeling super connected to our little guy and just couldn’t wait to hold him! It’s hard to explain because it’s not that I wasn’t excited about him in the past, but some kind of switch flipped and I now feel differently about it. It’s weird, but I think it’s a good thing.
Things I miss: Nothing this week!
Cravings: Along with the emotions, this week I also had the strongest cravings ever. At one point I HAD to have Zaxby’s chicken fingers, fries and sauce and then later I was DESPERATE for ice cream.
Weight: +12. And lots of strangers have started to approach me and ask me when I’m due or congratulate me, which means I’ve hit the point where I look undeniably pregnant.
Best moments of the week: I loved spending a little more time at home with my family. One night my mom sat up with me for an hour just feeling Baby Harper move around and kick. Then I headed to Chicago to attend a conference for work and am now happily in DC, reunited with my sweet husband and some of my besties! So fun getting to see so many people who I love right now!

5Apr2013

Fun in the Carolinas

Posted in Family, Friends by Ashley Z Harper

As I pack my bags to head to Chicago tomorrow morning (for a quick work trip), I wanted to recap some of the fun moments that I haven’t already posted about from my time in South Carolina.

Easter brunch with family at Great Uncle Johnny & Aunt Sharon’s.

Charleston Starbucks date with Bess & Mary Carol. Look at those eyes!

Cheering for my mom (and watching her dominate) at her tennis match! Shopping for Baby Harper with his daddy. PS – Anyone have any tips on baby carriers?Visiting the newlyweds, Meredith & Andrew Flandry, in Chapel Hill.

Spending time with my treasured friend, Cyrus!

Sad to be leaving South Carolina! It’s been such a wonderful trip!
Next stops: Chicago for the weekend, DC for the following week, then Denver for Shannon & Mike’s wedding and finally, back home to Brazil!

3Apr2013

Baby Shower in Columbia, SC

Posted in Baby, Family, Friends by Ashley Z Harper

Last week my mom’s dear friend, Jane Suggs, and my cousin, Dolores Long, threw a beautiful baby shower for Baby Harper and me. Jane hosted the shower in her gorgeous home and they served a delicious dinner to a group of about 30 ladies which included a mix of family and friends from across the state. I was so touched by everyone who came and the generosity and love of our friends and family. It’s such a blessing to be so strongly supported during a time like this.

The amazing set-up and decor including the beautifully done diaper cake.

My sweet, pretty mama! I hope I’m like her!Friends & family! I swear Amanda gets prettier AND sweeter every time I see her.

Jane giving the loveliest toast and blessing. Time for gifts! I was thankful to have my precious cousin Margaret beside me, helping me get through them all!