Belly Charms Bracelet Winner!

I used random.org and lucky number 69 was selected!

Congratulations MeggyNC!!

69. MeggyNC said...
I follow your blog <3 :)
megcarter.nc@gmail.com

January 12, 2011 7:41 PM

I'm going to email her now and she'll have 48 hours to respond or I'll select a new winner.

Thanks for entering everyone!!

Belly Charms Mother's Bracelet Review and Giveaway!

Hello everyone!! I know I've been seriously slacking around here lately, sorry for that. I'm hoping with this New Year and the end of the Holidays I'll have more time to get back to blogging and catch up with some of my favorite internet friends. To start us off nicely, I have a great review and giveaway!

During my pregnancy with Rosemary, I remember looking through websites checking out personalized Mother’s jewelry. That’s where I first came across Belly Charms.


Belly Charms is an online store offering a large variety of jewelry from pregnancy belly button rings, mother’s bracelets, child safety ID's, children’s jewelry and so much more. Sonya (the owner and designer of Belly Charms) has such a large selection of products; I am amazed at her creativity and talent!

I was so fortunate to be given a wonderful opportunity to review a beautiful piece of jewelry from Belly Charms!

I selected a stunning Swarovski Pearl & Antique Silver Mother's Bracelet. The bracelet comes with 5.6mm silver pewter beads separated by sterling silver spacers. The name on the bracelet is surrounded by 6mm Swarovski Pearls and antique silver beads. There is a nice selection of colors to choose from and sizes as well, so that made ordering really easy. I chose the rose colored pearls for Rosemary’s October birthday, and cream rose to accent. My bracelet shipped very quickly after I ordered and arrived packaged in a lovely box.

I couldn’t be happier with how my bracelet turned out. As you can see, it’s perfect!

It is so professional looking and gorgeous, I’m still surprised that someone made this by hand! It’s so lovely, very well made, and since it’s personalized with Rosemary, so very – very special to me. I honestly treasure my bracelet so much and I wear it whenever I think of it.

This bracelet retails for $42.99 and I truly think it is worth every dime!

I know I’ll have this beautiful keepsake forever, and you can bet I’ll be getting matching ones for my future children!

Please check out the Belly Charms website, Blog, Etsy, Facebook and twitter sites for more information on all the fabulous products Sonya has to offer!

Not only was Sonya gracious enough to offer a bracelet to me, but she is offering one to one of my very lucky readers!! The winner is in for a real treat!

To enter to win your very own personalized Swarovski Pearl & Antique Silver Mother's Bracelet from Belly Charms, please visit the Belly Charms website and return here commenting on something you'd love to have. Please leave an email so I can contact you if you're my winner.

For extra entries you may do any or all of the following:

1. Follow my blog publicly via Google Connect (over on the right side bar). You must follow publicly in order for this to count. Current followers just have to write that you already follow me. (2 entries)

2. "Like" Belly Charms on facebook

3. "Like" A Mama Stork Knows on facebook

4. Follow Belly Charms and myself on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may do this once a day. Please leave a url so I can check your tweets. If you don't tweet, you may instead add this as your facebook status. You may use the following to tweet/post:

"Enter to #win an elegant Swarvoski Pearl Mother's Bracelet from @BellyCharms over at @AMamaStorkKnows http://bit.ly/f4a70m #giveaway RT"

Leave separate comments for all of your entries and remember to leave an email address in at least one of them so I may contact you. You must do the main entry in order to win the bracelet.

Good luck!!

Giveaway is open to entrants in the U.S., and ends on January 17, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A comment number will be drawn at random from random.org. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. If I don't hear back, another winner will be selected.

I was provided with this product free of charge by the highlighted company and/or its PR agency in order to test the product first hand and to provide you with my personal opinion on it. The opinions I have provided are mine and mine alone. I am in no way required to write a positive review and my review was not influenced in any way by monetary means. Please investigate before any and all purchases as I am not liable nor responsible for any losses nor damages you may incur. Please read my Terms of Use before entering this contest.

Rosemary's First Year Video

I finally found time to finish Rosemary's first year video and here it is! It's a bit long, but I think worth it. :) Enjoy!

WW - Hap-Bee Halloween!

12 Months Old!

Happy Birthday my sweet little girl!

This has been the best and shortest year of my life! I'm so blessed to have you and I hope one day you can realize just how much love I have for you.

I'm feeling so many things right now. Shock over how fast this year went. Sadness that it seemed to go so fast and that you're growing up so fast. Excitement that you're a year old and doing so many neat and wonderful things. So much love that I couldn't even begin to describe how much I feel for you.

This past year has honestly been so wonderful. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without you. Lately I just hug and squeeze you even more than usual, remembering that soon you'll be too big to want me to do it. Thank God you can't run away from me yet! I rock you more at night now that every time I lay you down, I'm reminded that you are going to be too old for me to do it oneday. I just can't believe this.

I can't believe my tiny newborn is this huge toddler now. Taking steps on her own. Wearing big girl clothes. Defiantly doing things she knows she shouldn't. How did this happen overnight!?

I've been working on a video for your birthday and all I do is cry and wish I could do it all over again. All of it. The late nights, the colic, the first smiles, the first everythings. It's so hard to remember that you're still little and there are so many firsts still to come. I'm trying but I can't help but be overwhelmed with how much already you don't need me anymore. I know that every thing new that happens in your young little life is cooler and better than the month before, but I just really need you to slow down a bit for me. Please!

Ok, I realize I sound incredibly selfish and sappy, but I just don't know how to stop right now. I just love you so much and I'm overwhelmed with how much things are changing. Looking at all the old photos and remembering is bringing so much back! It's hard to look at those photos and you in person now and see my tiny infant. You're all grown up! Well, a grown up baby at least.

This past month has been a big one it seems.

You now have seven teeth and a molar on the way. Looks like a full mouth of teeth when you smile. Incredible!

You eat pretty much everything now. I'm excited to give you whole milk soon and peanuts too! Then we can pb&j sandwiches at last. Pancakes are still your favorite followed by bananas and melon. Although, you did have cake at your party this weekend and on your birthday today, so that may be your new favorite. :)

Still in size 3 diapers during the day and we just moved up to size 5 overnights.

You're in size 9 month clothes with a few things in size 12, but not much. We don't have a doctors appointment until November 3, so I won't know your measurements until then, but I'm guessing almost 19 pounds when we go. You love the food!

The most exciting thing is, you too your first steps!! Just this past weekend at your birthday party, which was awesome. You did it in front of all of you immediate family, which was so neat to share with everyone. Way to go!

You're slowly starting to stand on your own for longer periods of time, but not that long. By next month I'm thinking you'll be a pro.

You crawl on all fours most of the time now. Only took you 11 months to ditch the army crawl (which you still do pretty often too). No big deal. I just think it's cute to see you actually going around on all fours after all this time army crawling.

Your favorite toys are books, your play kitchen and home, a stuffed brown dog, and your musical instruments.

We started a toddler class last month that has play time and band time, and you just love the instruments. We have a lot of fun at that class playing and now you even have some instruments from Uncle Kevin at home.

You also are playing more independantly at home. This is nice for Mom to get some things done on her own. :)

We went to your fist cider mill and pumpkin patch this month too. You loved the tiny bit of donut you got. Not too interested in the pumpkins, next year!

I'm trying to remember all the new things from this past month and I think I got them. Still no words really. You say the da da sound, but I'm not really sure it's on purpose yet. Occasionally I think I hear a "doggie" sound, but I'm not sure on that either. Soon I bet!

Happy Birthday my love! Thank you for the most special year of my life. Truely!

I know I'm sad that this first year is over, but I really am so excited and happy for what lays in store for us and for you. You have so much yet to do and I just can't wait to see how much you love life and all the new and fun things you'll be discovering. It's going to be so great. I know it.

love you forever with the most love you can imagine,

Mommy

Wordless Wednesday - First Tiger's Game - We Won!

Wordless Wednesday - Sleeping Angel

11 Months Old!

Hopefully I'll have some more pictures I took up on the 365 blog from her 11 month photos later this week. Hopefully.

Rosemary,

You're 11 Months old! Well, yesterday. Can you believe I forgot to write on it. Guess we were just having too good a time celebrating on a lovely Sunday.

This past month has been wonderful. Busy and flew by quite fast just like every other month. We had a wonderful time though. Enjoyed the ending of you first Summer and the beginning of your first fall. Now it's sweatshirts and socks and shoes until next Summer! Good thing I love fall and Pumpkins and Cider Mills and BIRTHDAYS!

You're more and more like a toddler every day and it's been great watching you get around. No steps on your own yet, but we're in no hurry for that! You climb on everything and anything you come across. Faster and faster every day. I know those steps on your own are coming soon!

One new thing this month is that you FINALLY started crawling on your hands and knees! After over three months of army crawling only, occasionally, you'll crawl on your hands and knees. And only sometimes. You're so silly! Mom just can't wait until your clothes aren't filthy from the army crawling. :)

Your favorite toys this month are books, your laugh and learn toys, and of course anything you can touch that you shouldn't be (like tv remotes, phones and cameras). You got a new maracas and drum set that you like to play with too. I love watching you figure out how to turn the buttons on and beat on the drum so it makes noise. Too cute!

You're in size 3 diapers. You're in size 9 month clothes, but we're just switching over to 9 month pants finally. I'm sorry about the short thing. Not completely my fault...

You have 5 and a half teeth now. The top right wants to be through, and might be through a little, but you won't let me check it out for myself.

Pancakes and bananas are still you favorites but as we start trying more and more food this may start to change. Maybe. :) You could have pancakes for every meal every day I think. I finally gave you spaghetti just this past week and you loved it too! Get ready, it'll be a staple in your life forever. Glad you liked it. :)

No words yet. We're trying though! Lots of babble. Occasionally you'll throw out a dada that Dad thinks might be the real deal, but I'm still not sold on it.

Not too much else new this month. The most noticable is just how fast you're getting at moving around. It really is amazing to watch you crawl and pull up and shuffle along the couches and walls. It's so hard to believe you're able to do these things on your own! A few short months ago you could barely lift your head and now you're almost walking! My baby. All grown up.

Only one more month until you're one! It's so sad and so awesome all at the same time. I have no idea how we got this far already. It literally feels like last week I was pregnant and now I have a small adult sleeping in the other room. It's very surreal. Sometimes I just still can't believe you're here and you're mine and the next I'm expecting you to go off to college. Thank God that's still a few years away!

Thanks for another great month my love,

Mom

Wordless Wednesday - Say What?

CSN Stores Review Coming Up!

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores with products for every need or want you'd have. Stores with Console Tables and other furniture, home decor, housewares, home improvement, shoes, pet goods, baby and kids supplies (which of course is my favorite to shop for) and the list goes on!

CSN Stores approached me awhile ago with a great opportunity to do a review for them, and in a few weeks I'll have that up for everyone to see.

When I was deciding what to review, it seriously took me a few days just to narrow down what I'd want first, there's so much great stuff to pick from. I ended up choosing the Fisher Price Shopping Cart as Rosemary is starting love her push toys and I just know she's going to love it!

Take a look over at CSN Stores now to see how many wonderful products they have and I'll report back here in a few weeks on how my shopping experience was with them!

10 Months Today!

I'll be posting more pictures to my 365 blog later this weekend when I finally get caught up!

Rosemary,

Ten Months old today! Wow!

This month has got to be the fastest month yet!

I blame this on full Summer mode. :) We've been doing so much lately. We've been out of town several times and I really think those two weeks alone let us fast forward through your 10th month.

This month you're doing more than ever! It's seriously amazing to see the difference.

You still are crawling, determined to continue on with your army crawl. No hands and knees for you! You get all over the house and fast, so I don't think it's slowing you down any! Now on top of crawling you pull up to stand on EVERYTHING! At first it was just me, now anything you crawl to you pull up on. Very scary when you don't hang on! You of course don't think you need to...

You got your first bruise from falling two weeks ago and have continued with new ones just about every other day. :) Let's hope it's not causing any brain damage!!

Besides standing all the time (which is by far your biggest achievement this month) you're just amazingly more and more like a person instead of a baby every day. You love to play and talk and investigate everything! Your personality comes out more all the time. I'm calling it now - I think you're going to be on the shy side. An observer. Quiet. I could so be wrong, but so far you just seem like that's the way you're heading. Very dainty. :)

This month your favorites are still books, your laugh and learn kitchen and home and all electronics still. Add that to the climbing and it keeps Mama busy!

You're in size three diaper now. Mostly size 9 month clothes. The pants are still 6 months shorty. :)

I actually bought you your first real pair of shoes this past week too! You just think they're ok. Harder to crawl and pull up with them on. But you're oh so cute in them!

You have three teeth and I think another one is coming soon! Two bottom front and another right next to your right one. So cute how uneven your smiles are!

You love pancakes and bananas the most. Although you eat pretty much anything we give you still. Little piggy! New nickname among the family is goldfish as we think you'd eat until you burst!

One of the funnier (now that it's passed) phases this month is when you finally started standing in your crib and couldn't get down on your own. It only lasted a week (thank goodness) as I'd lay you down for bed or a nap, you'd get up, figure out you couldn't get down or out, start crying, I'd come get you, lay you down, repeat. Poor thing! It was a rough week for all of us sleeping wise. Too cute though when you finally figured out how to sit.

We lowered your crib all the way down too. Had to after you were such a big girl in there. :)

One of your favorite things this month was finally going on the swings! You LOVED, LOVED, LOVED them! We've gone back since and it's just too cute to watch that face light right up.

I'm sure there' so much more we did and that you've learned this month, but that's all I can remember at the moment.

Another great month past my love! Can't believe only 2 more months until you're one! I just can't believe you're so OLD! Where is my baby going?!

Love you forever,

Mom

A Not So Wordless Wednesday - Last Picture Pregnant

Here we are at 41 weeks. Rosemary arrived via C-Section at 41 weeks, 1 day. Today Rosemary is 41 weeks, 2 days. Officially an outside baby longer than an inside one. Why did it take longer for that 41 weeks 1 day to go by?

Playing With Photoshop

I recently got photoshop and I've been playing around in it a bit. It's hard to figure out! Here's my photo from today for my 365 blog.



I wasn't too thrilled with the straight out of the camera version, so I attempted to do some actions on it in Photoshop. Here's a few of the edits.







My real problem is that even if I figure out how to use Photoshop properly, how do I know what the best way to edit it is? I'm just going to end up with 5 different photos of each photo. So... that's like 1000 pictures on heavy picture day... :) I think I'll just have to do one photo every once in a while.

Anyone have any tips on learning photoshop? Great websites or books?? Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday - Please Let Me Out Mom!

9 Months Today!

To see more of Rosemary's 9 month photos from today, check out my 365 blog.


Rosemary,

9 months. Let me repeat that. 9 MONTHS.

Oh my. I can't believe it. You are almost to the point where you have been an outside baby just as long as an inside baby! Pregnancy seemed so long when we were there, and now it seems so long ago. Ka - Razy.

This month has been so fun and I've loved this one more than the one before - of course.

You're crawling around like mad now. Over obstacles and around and around you go.

You love to pull up too. Uh oh. We lowered your crib the next day. You aren't pulling up on everything quite yet, mostly just lowered objects and your favorite stable one seems to be me. This isn't really my favorite phase as you're constantly pulling my shirt down to share with the world. Lets move on to the couch, shall we? :)

Recently you even began standing all on your own! We have to place you there, but you hang on all by yourself.

You went swimming for the first time this month and loved it!

We went to the zoo and you loved... the fountain? Maybe next year it'll be more fun for you.

You're still in 6 month clothing, but that's about to change this weekend. Time for some big girl clothes!

We've also moved you up to size three diapers. Such a big girl! At least to us. Your stats at the doctors today were great! Up to 15lb 6oz. HUGE! I have no idea what I'd do if you were really 22lbs. I think you're a big girl even if everyone else says you're pretty small. Petite. :)

You're still on homemade purees but you LOVE table food. And I mean LOVE. You've tried so many foods, but I think chicken, pancakes and bananas seem to be your favorites. Not that you refuse much, but you seem to get pretty excited over those. You hate cheese. We'll work on that.

You play more and more all the time. You just got some big girl toys like a bead maze and little kitchen that you love to stand on and press the different buttons to make the noises go. You still enjoy books, especially the textures. You love to turn the pages. It's pretty cute. You unfortunately are still pretty obsessed with cords, outlets, vents, remotes, phones, and more recently, my lens cap.

Still only two teeth, but you've been teething bad lately, so I expect more this month. Fingers crossed they start to pop out soon, it seems to make you pretty uncomfortable. Not the easiest on Mom and Dad either.

One of the biggest things this month was that you were Baptised. Wonderful day and I took lots of pictures so you can remember when you're older - lets add in another of course here.
:)

You also had your first Father's Day and first Fourth of July which were also pretty wonderful too. You sure are lucky!

You also got your first official official haircut at a salon. It went... ok. Lets just say it'll grow back. :)

I think that's most of the special moments for you. I love you and I can't wait to share how wonderful month 10 is with you!

Lucid New York Giveaway Winner

I used random.org and lucky number 51!

51. Ingrid said...
I have your blog button on my blogroll.
http://averyandme-ingrid.blogspot.com/

I'll message Ingrid to let her know she's won! She'll have 48 hours to respond or I'll select a new winner.

Thanks for entering everyone and Congratulations to Ingrid!

I've got a bunch of new reviews and giveaways for the next couple of weeks set to start later this week so check back to see ones from Guidecraft, Eleven, Belly Charms and more!

Wordless Wednesday - With Daddy

Lucid New York Giveaway Extended! - CLOSED

Since the entries are so low on this lovely puzzle piece necklace giveaway from Lucid New York, I've decided to extend the giveaway for one more week!

It's such a cute necklace and I'm thinking that busy summer schedules and the Holiday have kept people from entering. SO... One more week!

The extended deadline for the giveaway will be Friday, July, 16th.

Here's the original link. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday - Cuddle Time

Rosemary's 1st Fourth of July

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!

Rosemary's first was wonderful!

We headed over to my in laws early afternoon and enjoyed a day hanging out on the water, barbecuing, and relaxing with family.

J's parents, my parents, and all my siblings were there as well. It was such a lovely way to spend the Holiday!

I took a lot of photos with my new camera, but I haven't really learned enough about it yet to figure out how to get good fireworks shots. I got a TON of Rosemary of course.

She's the best subject anyways. :)



Hanging out at home before heading over to Grandma and Grandpa's house on the lake. Little Miss 4th of July herself!



Filling up on yummy water. Rosemary much prefers everyone else's bottles to her own sippy cup - of course.



Of course most of it ends up down her chin and on her shirt.



Watching the boat go by with Grandpa (my dad.)



J and all Rosemary's aunt's and uncle's coming in on the boat.



The weather was beautiful, but a tad hot. We made poor Lucy get in the water periodically even though she makes it known she is NOT a water dog.



After Rosemary went to bed we went out on the lake for the night. Here's J enjoying a beer in the water.

J's parents lake have a really nice fireworks show and after some cruising around the lake with my family we got to see a really nice display.

This was our are only chance to see fireworks this year as we didn't want to actaully take Rosemary to see them. She goes to bed pretty early and with them starting so late we didn't think it would be a good idea to purposely keep her up late for them.



It was a great show and a perfect way to end the day!

Amy Adele Giveaway Winner!

Sorry for the delay in posting the Amy Adele winner!

J had off last week so we had lots of family time. I have a post in the works filling everyone in on the fun. :)

I used random.org and lucky number 2 was chosen for my Amy Adele winner!

2. Jennifer said...
Entry #2 - follow publically GFC

Congratulations Jennifer!

I'll send Jennifer an email this morning. She'll have 48 hours to respond or I'll have to select a new winner.

Thanks for entering everyone!