Photo Shoot

John & I decided that although we were taking pictures on a fairly regular basis of the growing bump we wanted some that we could actually enjoy so at about 34 weeks we had a professional maternity photo shoot done and got some great pictures of the bump. Here are a few of our favorites.

Single Digits

We're in the home stretch now. With 8 weeks to go until D-Day (and only 6 to go to the bar exam) I'm getting bigger by the minute and Baby P. is always really active!

10 Weeks To Go and Counting

Here is the last picture taken of me in our old house at 30 weeks pregnant. Over the last few months I quickly outgrew the house on Rosehill. Luckily my belly and I fit in the new house!

Lara Queen Plaisance, J.D.

On May 10, after 3 long years I graduated from law school. I was very happy that both my family and John's family and my best friend Jackie came to celebrate with us. And while graduation felt like a big accomplishment, I am now in the process of preparing and studying for the bar exam and passing that will be the real accomplishment. The baby bump will be with me every step of the way. I keep telling John that this should be one smart baby after sitting through a semester of law school and a summer of bar prep classes in utero. Maybe we should just save the baby the trouble of what I've had to go through and just name him/her J.D. since he/she will already have a head start in following in his/her mom's footsteps!

Baby Shower

On Sunday, May 11, my sister Paula, my best friend Jackie, and John's aunt Glenda threw a baby shower for us. We had a great time and enjoyed spending the day with great friends and both our families. Thank you everyone for coming and for your generous gifts!

Retirement

On April 20 my dad, Duane, retired from nearly 40 years in the ministry. We had a great weekend in Storm Lake with the whole family. That weekend was the kickoff for the eventful spring and summer of 2008. In this picture: John, me, the bump, my mom Donna, my dad Duane, my brother Phil, my sister Paula, her boyfriend Sumit Gupta. Phil's family was unable to make it to this dinner, but joined us the next morning for church and a reception.

It Keeps Growing, and Growing, and Growing

Here I am at 21 weeks. The bump is definately growing! This week was pretty exciting for me. I felt real movement for the first time. Up until now (for the past 5 weeks or so) I've felt little "flutters," but a few nights ago I felt a real kick and then it didn't really stop for the rest of the evening. John is anxious to be able to feel it too, but of course every time I call him over to feel it, it stops. We're hoping he'll feel it some time this week. The whole thing is becoming very real and we're getting more and more excited every day to meet Baby Plaisance.