Simistar

GORGEOUS dress! Great choice:-)

Originally Posted by jillybeans127 

 This one is for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and beginning of reception.

Delaney is a GREAT name !!!  If we have a girl next time (IF there is a next time, lol;-)) then that will be on our list... Funny b/c I was thinking if we did have a girl, I couldn't think of a "d" name I really liked...now I have one:-)

 

Originally Posted by carly 

No names yet here.  Since we JUST starting thinking that this was for real like 3 days ago, I have alot of catching up and daydreaming to do!  My husband is Italian, first generation, with a nice Italian last name, so I really want something italian.

 

One of my fave girls names that I had to get rid of b/c it doesn't work with my last name is Delaney.  I don't know if it works for you, but I love it.

Oh my gooodness, I TOTALY know how feel!

We were totally worried about jinxing things, especially after going through IVF...

I wouldn't even let myself look in the window of Pottery Barn kids when I walked by (and that store is RIGHT by my place:-))
It's kind of a weird mind turn...actually akcnowledging finally you're carrying a baby and it's even weirder when you start letting people (and work!) know:-)

Names...

My husband is Jewish so they have a tradition where if someone if your family has died, you name a child with the first letter of that person's name...

(his sister died several years ago...)

So, we have to come up with a boy's name that starts with "d" :-)

We haven't decided on one yet though:-)

you???:-)
 

Originally Posted by carly 

Thank you so much!  Honestly, I don't think it's real to me yet.  We've kinda kept it distant and not thought about "baby" and only been thinking about "pregnancy" since it's been such a long and bumpy road, but now that I'm in the second tri, I guess I need to start being a tad more confident and start thinking BABY!

 

Congrats on baby girl!  I'm such a girly girl that I thnk planning for a baby girl would be so much easier for me, but for whatever reason, I really think boy for me too.  Do you have names and stuff picked out?  Talking names is one of my fave things.

omg, omg, OMG!!!!

Carly!!! I'm SOOOOO happy for you!!!!!

For sure your brother is helping from afar!!

I think I'm a bit teary for you too:-)

BTW, we JUST found out yesterday - we're having a boy!

I was actually convinced we were having a girl, so it's gonna take some time to wrap my head around a boy (what will I DO with a boy I asked my DH?:-))

But as long as he's healthy, we're happy:-)

 

Originally Posted by carly 

I've been avoiding this thread for the last few months for fear that sharing my news would be a jinx, but we are officially in our second trimester this week, so I feel safer announcing - we're finally pregnant!  After two losses, 2 years of treatments and taking a break this summer after losing someone very close to me, we got pregnant the birthday month of my lost brother and I know that he is pulling some strings from wherever he is to make this happen for us.  Our EDD is 04/13/12.  And I'm guessing boy.

You look amazing - better than the model picture!

Originally Posted by mishele81 

I posted my dress a long time ago but now I have a pic of myself in it as well as the model

.

Hi there!

I used the Extreme version of Fotofusion...which is, agreed, expensive (around $300)...

I bought that version for a number of reasons, one of them being that I too, LOVE designing albums and knew that I'd be using it for designing family albums after trips as well as albums for friends etc...

PLUS, I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to stuff like that and idd not want to drive a designer crazy by constantly asking for changes to what they'd done:-)

That said, if you don't mind someone else designing for you, then I'd say between the cost of the software and the book AND if you include the time invested it will take you to do yourself, it's probably about the same (maybe even less?) to have someone design for you...

Sarah Sproullie is a vendor on this site and makes fabulous albums and her prices are reasonable.

http://sproulliedesigns.webs.com/

 

As for designing pages using photoshop Elements...I'm sorry I can't help...I've never used this software...I've only used the full Photoshop...(though i can say Fotofusion is WAY simpler and faster for doing layouts than the full Photoshop:-))

 

Hope this helps:-)

 

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather Penrod 

Hey there!

 

I went to the template site you used but all those programs cost over $100.  Which did you use?  Did you find it cheaper than having a service do it for you?  I personally LOVE designing my own digi albums but I have always used the softwear that the printing comp comes with but they dont offer flush mount.  I can't afford a $100+ program for layouts because I am about to buy Photoshop Elements ($80).  I am wondering if I can create my layouts using elements?  Anyone know?

 

Thanks!!!

Heather

thank you:-)
 

Originally Posted by ChristiandRyan 

this turned out great!!! I LOVE it!!

Hope everything's okay! But stress CAN play a huge factor, so it is probably just your job...:-(

Originally Posted by AngelaPolles 

Thought I would give everyone an update, I'm not pregnant  but I also still haven't had my period since August 9th and I am always 29 days exactly! I think I'm just a lot more stressed out with my job then I think I am! I made a doctors appointment to make sure everything is OK!

I hope everyone is having good luck!

Thank you!!! I put my new (and limited) photoshop skills to work:-)

My husband loved it and thinks I should start a business doing announcements, lol - so if/when you are successful in TTC and need an announcement... ;-)

Originally Posted by JoanneIreland 

Simistar, how did you make that magazine cover, it is so cute!

Originally Posted by mochamakes3 

 

It's been a little while since anyone checked in. Would any of you like to share how the process is going?

I thought I'd check in!:-)

Just finished my first trimester screening and everything's looking good! *huge sigh of relief*

We are finally starting to tell people...I just told my work yesterday:-)

I also just posted an announcement for all my friends on FB...I'll try to attach it here, since we had some fun with it and I thought you guys might get a kick out of it:-)

Originally Posted by Gin Bootles 

 

hey can i ask you how much that costed you?

Hey, no problem - I'm just trying to remember myself:-)

Okay, so, keep in mind, cost will vary greatly depending on size of album you choose, how many pages, and what kind of cover (leather, etc)...and of course, which company you use.

I used Balck River Imaging, which is one fo the only companies I could find that sell albums like these to consumers instead of JUST pro photographers.

I ordered a 12X12 black leather with 30 double-page spreads or 60 pages (or "sides" as they're sometimes called...) - which is actually pretty large and thick:-)

So my total order, with taxes and shipping was $560 USD.

So, definitely not cheap, lol, BUT cheap-ER than ordering the same through a photographer... at least most photographers I checked with charged a design fee (which I think has a huge range, from $200 - $1000 ?) and then they charge for the actual book anywhere from $700 to a couple thousand...

The kind of album I ordered is called "Tuscany"..

And the base price for the leather covers, including 20 pages, is $249 USD.

Every page after that is an additional $7.50 USD.

I then also bought Lumapix Fotofusion software to design the page layouts. If you are proficient in Photoshop and have it on your computer, you can obviously design the pages with that as well...

I bought the "extreme" version of Fotofusion...but ONLY because I wanted a 12x12 book with 12x24 panaromic layouts and you can only do them that large with Extreme.

And b/c as far as I could tell, that's the only version where you can save multiple layouts to one project and be able to see them all at once while you're working on a project.

That said, I think you can buy just the "Essentials" version and have everything you need...for a LOT cheaper:-) - like $100 I think.

If the largest you want to go is 10x10, you can do panoramic layouts with Essentials for 10x19 layouts.

And you'll just have to save each page as a separate project...which is kind of inconvenient, but again, cheaper:-)

Hope this helps:-)

oh my gosh -- SOOO glad to hear this!! For you and your new family AND b/c it really does give me hope everything will be okay:-)

I agree about Baby Center... a friend told me about this site... You can register on the site and get weekly emails updating you on what your baby looks like that week, what parts are developing etc...it's pretty cool:-)
 

Originally Posted by Ayita 

Well if that can bring good luck to all you ladies... after my miscarriage in Mar 2010 I went to see a specialist and started all kinds of tests. I did not go through all of them though as I ended up pregnant again in July 2010. My first trimester was difficult and complicated - with no right to travel, gym, intercourse, nothing... also had some kind of scary news at the 2nd trimester ultrasound (the anatomy one), but in the end my baby stayed in and - although delivery was a bit difficult -  I had a beautiful, healthy baby girl on April 29 .

 

I'm 38 so you see, hang on in there !! It can happen !!

 

I spent  a lot of time on babycenter, it helped me a lot through my pregnancy - specially when I hit the hard parts of it, lots of info and reassuring advise. If you saw what docs can tell you sometimes - like this poor woman who was told to come in for a D&C, refused and ended up having a live baby !!

 

I hope things will get better for y'all !!

Sooooooo...bit of a story to my u/s on Wednesday, but the bottom line is, there is at least ONE in there with a god, strong heartbeat, so that is fantastic news:-) A teeny bit disappointed it's not twins as the thought of going through all this a second time makes me want to hurl at the moment:-)

So, the long story...

On the Tuesday night before my scheduled u/s, I started not feeling well...not crampy like I had felt sometimes, it was a different kind of pain...centered on my right lower side and going into my lower right back...I went to bed early and figured I'd sleep it off.

Wishful thinking.

Of course, I should add, it's murphy's law my husband had JUST flown out of town for work...something he could not get out but tried:-)

Anyway, I woke up at 3am and felt quite nauseous (which I haven't felt at all yet during the previous weeks) AND in MAJOR pain on my right side.

I ate some toast and took some extra strength tylenol and that seemed to help...for about 30 mins. Then the pain came back extra strong and I honestly can say I've never felt pain like that (and I once had kidney stones:-))...

I got really upset b/c I thought maybe I was miscarrying. Then I went online (keep in mind, I could barely walk...but I hobbled to my computer) and after googling a bit I was convinced I was either miscarrying (though wasn't sure b/c I wasn't bleeding) or had appendicitis.

So I called a cab at like 6:30am and went to emergency.

They took blood and did some ultrasounds...that's when the u/s tech told me she sees at least one with a good heartbeat...(I'm still holding out hope there *might* be two b/c I'm not sure how hard she was looking for a second:-))...but then she can't see my appendix.

So, then they're thinking of giving me an MRI b/c I can't have a regular x-ray to check if it's my appendix.

They did give me a shot of morphine which helped for a couple hours:-)

FINALLY a gynecolgist comes to talk to me b/c my blood work came back showing no infection (so not likely it's appendicitis)...and she tells me I have something called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.

Apparently a percentage of women who go thru IVF develop this condition...and a smaller percentage get severe symptoms like I did/do.

Basically, my ovaries, b/c of the fertility drugs, swelled up to the size of grapefruits and my right one had become particularly inflamed.

I was sent home with some painkilelrs that are safe to take in first trimester...and therefore don't do much:-)

And was told symptoms would subside in 48 hours...which they have, but I'm still not back to *normal*...

I immediately researched this condition online and it looks like moderate and severe cases need to be monitored pretty closely, so I've made an appt with my regular doctor for later today AND since I couldn't make it my scheduled u/s on the Wednesday, I've rescheduled an appt with the fertility doctor for Saturday morning.

I'm kind of unhappy with our clinic and doctor for not warning us this could be a problem. I had never even heard of this condition until the doctor in the ER told me about it.

Anywaaaaaay... so I'm not sure what this condition means long-term for the pregnancy, but at least we've got ONE that's sticking around:-)

My husband flew home early so I now have someone to wait on me too:-)

Originally Posted by mochamakes3 

Simistar - How did your U/S go? I hope your baby is doing well.

15 weeks...that's REALLY sad to hear, so sorry for your loss.

I am totally worried something like that will happen for us since it was hard for us to conceive...I keep thinking *something's* going to happen...just being anxious I guess.

I have my first ultrasound tomorrow and am praying everything looks okay...

Sorry to hear about your struggles...a lot of us have bee there unfortunately, and we're here for support

 

Originally Posted by 1sunshine 

Havent been around for a long time n i just came across this thread.... Congrats to the expecting ladies and to the ones that are having a hard time i know how u feel, its comforting to know that u are not the only that is having a hard time Ttc... Well this is my story I am never been regular I can go for a year wo a period n every time I went to the drs they said it was no big deal.... Well hubby n I started trying last year around may and by December found out I was pregnat n @ week 15 lost the baby since February I been in and out of drs.... I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism my hormones are all over the place haven't had a period since November 2010 been in hormone therapy... It's safe to say that I am a little stress about it n it's really hard at times when it seems that all my friends are getting pregnant left and right... It just makes me wonder why I can't.... Sorry if I am venting.

Originally Posted by kelly79 

 

How did you get the picture into the album? Did you glue them in?What type of photo printing paper did you use?Did you use anything to seal the photos for protection?What type of printer did you use? A wide format printer?

Hi there!

Actually, the album is done digitally...i.e. I assembled the layouts for each of the pages on my computer and then I emailed those files to a online company who does these books.

That company then takes my emailed JPEG files and prints them into this book.

The pictures are actually a part of the page, if that makes sense...like a magazine page.

I doubt a home printer, even of very good quality, would be able to print these types of pages out...especially b/c they are thicker than regular paper... even thicker than cardstock paper, but not quite as thick as cardboard:-)

The company I used was:

http://www.blackriverimaging.com/index.asp

And the layout software I used to makes the pages was:

http://www.lumapix.com/index.shtml

Originally Posted by Evgal 

 

You look gorgeous and the book turned out amazing!

Thank you!!:-)

Congrats to SeaPrincess too!

VERY nice way to tell your hubby TLGnhci :-)

So, I had my second blood test this morning...first was on Tuesday...and both show a BFP!!!!

Finally!!!

I'm really starting to think this thread has some good karma or something suddenly attached to it:-)

Next up...and ultarsound in July...

Now I can spend my time worry about THAT:-)

(BTW, I *tried* to surprise my husband with some pink and blue balloons, but he wrecked it:-) He caught me in the elevator with the balloons after work:-))

Originally Posted by TLGnhci 

Congrats to you too SeaPrincess!!  Very happy to hear!

 

So, here is a synopsis of how I told the hubby:

 

I cooked a nice dinner, and we decided to eat out on the porch.  I handed the hubby a little bag and told him I got him an early birthday present.  (his bday is June 27th)  On the top was a note, "You will need these come February."  Inside was two Ravens Pacifiers, his absolute favorite team.  He looked puzzled for a minute and I watched as he figured it out (noticing that he has wine and I don't).  Then, he was like "Really?"  And then he got excited.  Within a few minutes, he was like "I have to tell someone."  Lol.  We told both sets of parents and they squeeled like little children.  For the next ten minutes or so after telling him, he just looked shocked.  It was the cutest thing ever. 

just read this! CONGRATS to you too!!!

Wow, this forum must be good luck!:-)

 

Originally Posted by seaprincess 

Congrats!
 

I actually have some news too...I got my first BFP on Sunday! We have been trying for almost a year, and thanks to charting I was able to time BD this cycle despite it taking until CD86!

 

I got my BFP on CD99! So hopefully it was a quality egg and this is our sticky baby.  We're due Feb 20, two days before my birthday!

 

GL to all the TTC'ers that your BFP is around the corner when you least expect it.

 

You SHOULD want to say your good news!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

This should be a place where we can be happy for each other AND console each other:-)

Keep us posted on how you told you your hubby:-)
 

Originally Posted by TLGnhci 

Awe, well I was excited to post in here, but seeing all the trouble you girls are having makes me not want to say my good news.    But, maybe it will be the start of good news for the rest of you as well!!  I wish all of you the best in your TTC!! 

 

And so,..... I am shocked to say it, but I have two positive tests on my hands.  So, I take it that means I am officially preggo?!  I am excited but scared at the same time.  I didn't expect it so fast.  I am going to tell my hubby tonight.  Any ideas for a unique way to do it? 

Originally Posted by JoanneIreland 

 

Thanks Simistar! I'm from Ireland but living in US at the moment (long story, came here for work temporarily, met my fiance, well boyfriend at the time, decided to stay longer and got a green card via work, so split my time between the two as my company is international), so my health insurance is in US. I think I will definitely make a doctors appointment and go ask for the tests. My doctor isn't terrible, but not great either, if I feel she is not taking this seriously I think this will be a good sign for me to change PCP. Thank you so much for the advice! Ordered my book and thermometer last night and already have my prenatal vitamins and iron supplements. I quit smoking almost 4 years ago, started working out at least 3 hours a week since February so overall doing good, although I do want to focus on less stress at work, i literally work around the clock and I can feel it taking it's toll on me, plus I want to cut back on the booze, have gotten into the habit of having some wine to alleviate the work stress and wedding stress and I think I should cut back or even cut out altogether if planning to have a baby.

Wow -- sounds like you're doing all the right things!:-)

I know what you mean about work stress, and that CAN play a big factor, so do what you can to alleviate the stress...maybe consider yoga in your workouts? I don't do yoga myself, but friends of mine swear by it to help them de-stress:-)

One big things is start tracking your cycles, which can be hard if you're irregular..I'm not as irregular as you I don't think, but I certainly don't fall into the "28-day cycle norm".

I bought a Clearblue Digital Fertility Monitor (not cheap! About $200) which I thought really helped me b/c of my irregular cycles. BUT, lots of girls with irregular cycles, just use the regular ovulation sticks, basal temperature etc etc and are fine;-)

I think it's a GREAT idea to go to your doctor sooner than later. And absolutely, if you feel he/she isn't taking you seriously, get a new one who will:-)

It's amazing how much time all this stuff takes...and unfortunately, a lot of it is "cycle" dependent...meaning you'll often have to wait for your next cycle to start to do a certain blood test or take a certain drug or get an internal ultrasound, etc etc...and every time you have to wait for your next cycle, that's another month gone:-(

And if they DO find something that needs to be dealt with ( a cyst, polyp, whatever) then that adds time on too...

Thankfully for us, it seems there weren't any major red flags, just the usual stuff when you try to conceive when you're older (lower sperm motility, etc).

Most doctors will likely tell you (and your fiance!) to cut back on drinking when you're TTC...I still had a glass about a once a week:-)

Originally Posted by JoanneIreland 

 

I am so nervous with my age, but even more so the fact that my periods are so irregular, don't get them very often, and when i do it's hardly worth even calling a period.

 

 

Hey there!

I see you're form Ireland, so I'm not sure how things work over there in terms of when they recommend you see a fertility specialist and get tests etc...

In Canada, they generally recommend at your age (and my age! over 35) to try for six months and THEN consult a doctor.

I REALLY wish we had taken more initiative and gotten tests done earlier.

We probably would have had to pay for the tests instead of having them covered by health care, but I really felt we kind of wasted six months. We totally could have asked our regular doctor to order the tests, we didn't need a "fertility clinic" to do that.

So, if you're concerned, and especially b/c you have such irregular periods, you should consider going to a doctor sooner than later and asking for some tests on both you AND you hubbie-to-be.

If no red flags show up, great! keep trying for six months or whatever and then get fertility intervention.

BUT, if red flags DO go up, this will save you precious time!

Whatever happens, good luck:-)

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone! Every positive vibe in the universe helps I think:-)

Things *seemed* to go well today...well, they did...But of course, we won't REALLY know for another 10 days or so. That's when you do the pregnancy test after embryo transfer day.

Best of luck to everyone too:-) I'll keep y'all posted:-)

Yes, it sure has been quiet...guess that means everyone's busy trying to get pregnant?;-)

I've been going though my first cycle of IVF...we're doing the embryo transfer on Sunday, so my fingers are crossed everything goes okay....then we have to wait two weeks (two weeks! uugh) to find out whether it "took"...

Am thinking positive thoughts for you:-)
 

Originally Posted by Teira1031 

Looks like nobody has posted on here this year... anybody our there TTC? we started in April and havent had any luck yet, hoping this month will be the month!

*blushing*

Thanks y'all! 

And good luck with all yoru projects and planning...it may seem like a pain now, but trust me, you'll miss it when it's done:-)

Hey there,

I may have changed since I got married there (2008), but we had more than 20 ppl and we were charged per person after that, for both the sit-down dinner and the cocktail hour...

Hope this helps:-)
 

Originally Posted by Emma Dore 

Hi Ladies I'm newly engaged as of two weeks and we are definitely having our wedding at Secrets Maroma! My fiance and I were there last year for a wedding and fell in love with the resort.  I emailed the wedding coordinator a few days ago so waiting to hear back. What I am curious about is the cost of larger parties.  On the website there is only packages that accommodate up to 20 guests.  Do they have other packages or is it a charge per person after 20? Would love any info you have for me!

 

Emma

They both look beautiful, but I prefer the first one on you:-)
 

Originally Posted by kwebb28 

Hey everyone!! I am thinking of buying this Maggie Sottero Destination dress(rd1086)! I LOVE it!!!! But there is another dress by  Alfred Angelo that I also adore! They are 2 different dresses...I'd love to have anyone's opinion about which one I should chose! My family hasn't been much help with deciding because they love them both too!! lol

 

 

 

Awwww... thanks ladies! Means a lot coming from such super gals:-)
 

Originally Posted by ablj209 

Your photobook looks fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aumuller 

That looks amazing! Must have been so much work but you saved a ton of money I'm sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 82turtles 

Just read through your photographer review.. wow, sounds like such a mess (and thanks again for posting the review for other brides to know to stay away). Your album turned out so beautifully though!! Great job putting that all together!

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalbride610 

Thanks for the info!  I'm definitely looking into this.  And your pictures look beautiful!

Hey ladies,

This question is actually for a friend of mine getting married in England.

She's only have one bridesmaid and is wondering what to do about music.

(We had NO wedding party at our wedding, so we played one song for everyone being seated etc and then another for me walking down the aisle...)

She's having a string quartet play and I think ideally she'd like to walk down the aisle to something different than the bridesmaid, but she's wondering what other people have done in this situation, since it will only take like 30 seconds for the bridesmaid to make it down the aisle:-)

Do they cut one song REALLY short for the bridesmaid walk and then go to a song for her...? That may sound weird...?

I'm thinking she uses the same song she's walking down the aisle to for the bridesmaid walk, BUT have the string quartet do an "intro" or the beginning of the song quite different for the bridesmaid, then go into the main part of the song for her...?

Not sure...

What have you girls done or are doing??;-)

Advice/suggestions appreciated:-)

Thanks!