Maternity Shoot: Rachael McCall Photography

One of my best friends, Rachael took my maternity pictures for me the other day.  

All I have to say is she is amazing at what she does and she captured exactly what I had imagined in my head. That's talent I tell ya.

I wanted the shoot to be very natural and relaxed and that's what I got.

I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Thank you Rachy, 

I love you! 

View more of Rachael's amazing photos on her blog HERE!

regrets and resolutions.

I got an e-mail the other day that was definitely an interesting read.  Then while watching General Conference, I realized Elder Uchtdorf quoted from this exact e-mail.  I thought i'd post the whole article/e-mail for you all to read....

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them. 

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five: 


1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. 

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. 

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.


2. I wish I didn't work so hard. 

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. 

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle. 


3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. 

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win. 


4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. 

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying. 

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships. 


5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. 

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. 

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. 
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.


I love Elder Uchtdorf's remarks and how he tied this into the gospel.  He ceases to amaze me. Please watch if you haven't already....

as of late.

I figure an update is in order for B and I... so here I go.

We made the move down to California at the beginning of this month.  As I have said in previous posts, we are having the baby here because I am covered on my mom's insurance through Kaiser and there aren't any in Utah.  Flying down every month for appointments was starting to get REAL old, so it's been nice not having to worry about that anymore.  We are living at my dad's house for the time being.  We had an opportunity to have our own apartment through Branson's work, but we realized how nice it is being at my dad's and the convenience of everything.  So it's worked out really well.

Branson is out here selling for Elite until we have the baby.  He has been interviewing with a couple companies and is actually really excited about both.  We are both really stoked because job offers in the past just haven't appealed to him much so this is a big step.  We are really excited to see where that takes us!

You can definitely say I am "feeling" the last month of pregnancy.  I feel like I still can't complain because I've had a great and easy pregnancy thus far... but you can say I'm ready to have this baby.  About two weeks ago is when sleep started to become a struggle for me.  I have never had trouble sleeping... ever! However, that is so not the case anymore.  I toss and turn all night long and wake up about every hour or two to pee.  It doesn't help that B and I got used to our king size bed back in Utah and are now on a queen again...we miss the extra room!  Poor B isn't sleeping well either because I get up so many times a night and am always moving around.  Sleeping sucks and I could use a good eight hours of uninterrupted sleep...but reality is I won't be getting that for a LONG TIME!  I'm really not a very good napper either.  I gotta learn.  I have been having braxton hicks contractions up the ying yang this week as well.  My stomach is constantly hard and his little feet are shoved up under my rib cage.  That feels spectacular.  But really, that's about it.  I'm just uncomfortable but what eight month prego lady isn't, right?

As far as baby Parker goes he is healthy and strong!  Since 33 weeks I have been monitored weekly because of the 2-vessel cord thing that I posted about HERE.  I go to the hospital every wednesday where they do a non-stress test on the babe.  They check my fluid levels first and then hook me up to a monitor where they listen to his heart for 20 minutes.  It's kind of annoying to have to drive 45 minutes to Riverside every week, but it's nice that we get to see him so often with the ultrasounds.  But as far as the tests go, everything has been perfect!  He was almost 5 pounds already about two weeks ago which is great!  A big worry with 2-vessel cords is small babies- that is definitely not the case here! The fluid in his kidneys that they saw at 20 weeks is also gone! So everything couldn't be better and we thank God every day for that :)

I am 35+ weeks now and Branson and I can't even explain how excited we are to meet this baby.  It's been such a great bonding experience for us and we feel so blessed and grateful that Heavenly Father has entrusted us with one of his children.  I can't wait to see Branson as a dad.  He absolutely loves kids  and I can't even imagine the love he will have for OUR son. Cannot wait.

I saw this quote on Pinterest the other day and fell in love with it...

Is that sweet or what?

We love you so much already Parker!

last but not least.

My third and final shower was thrown by my wonderful mama in California.

Tons of friends and family came and it was such a blast! 

My busy mom put so much time and work into this shower and I'm so grateful for it--and her!

It was awesome to visit with so many people that I hadn't seen in ages.

Not only was it a great party, but it was a great way to end my "birthday weekend."

Now all we need is a BABY!

35 days...

showered with love.

I have been lucky enough to have three baby showers for our little guy.

The first one was in Vegas at my sister-in-laws cute apartment.

A ton of my in-laws came and even some friends from Vegas.

It was a great time :)

Cute diaper cake and one of my favorite books growing up!

Allyn (on the left) was sweet enough to throw me this shower...along with my wonderful mother-in-law of course.  Everyone decorated a bib for us and they turned out SO cute. I wish I had taken a picture of the finished products!

 Got some awesome gifts!

 Allyn made some amazing Quiche! Mmmmmm..so delicious!

Two of my greatest friends, Lyndsey and Megan, threw me another shower in Utah.

Megan's house is the CUTEST thing ever, as you can see in the pictures.

I'm sad I didn't get very many pictures, but luckily Meg was able to snap a few.

I love all these girls and was so glad they were all able to make it.

Lynds, Sam and baby Ro. Love this picture of these beautiful ladies.

Thanks to everyone who came and I love you ALL!

birthday weekend.

This past weekend was one of my all time favorites. My 23rd birthday was on the 15th and I got to spend it with my favorite person!

I loved having a birthday on a Saturday because I literally had a whole weekend to celebrate! On Friday we decided to head down to San Clemente for some beach action.  Considering it was 100+ in Murrieta that day, we thought the beach would be perfect. And indeed it was.

Afterwards we hit up some In-N-Out on the way home.  It's tradition...and don't mind that I had a burger and a half, fries and a shake. Baby was pleased :)

On my actual birthday Branson had a whole night planned in Beverly Hills.  

When we got there we walked around some shops and stared at all the ridiculously expensive cars parked on Sunset and Rodeo.  Then he takes me to one store in-particular...

I was SO excited! We walk in and the employees all yell HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLY! I felt so cool.  Then they had a little necklace laying out with a note that said happy birthday.  When I looked at the necklace I was confused for about 1.5 seconds because it had a "P" on it...then it clicked.  I have LOVED the name Parker for our baby boy but Branson wasn't completely on board...until that night.  This was his little way of letting me know that we are naming our babe Parker.  How sweet is that?  I haven't taken it off since. I am so in love with it.

Then he surprises me with an amazing dinner at Morton's Steakhouse.  MAN that place is way too good.  Let me just say I could have bought a nice pair of shoes for the price of a slab of meat...(good thing we have American Express rewards points...ha!) No but really it was the best steak I have ever had!  And will probably be the last. But that's what made it so great :)

They even personalized the menu for me!

Branson had even more birthday surprises that made this one day I will never forget.  He spoiled me to death and I definitely felt the love. I am one LUCKY LADY!

so long Cindy...

After eight wonderful years together, it was officially time for us to part....

Yep. That's right...we sold Cindy! This was the car handed down to me when I turned 16 and she is officially gone.  Branson and I were sad to see her go.  She was a great car but we are ready for something bigger.  With baby boy on the way we decided that an SUV would be a better fit for us- Much safer and easier to maneuver in and out of.

Time to go SHOPPING! :)

Look at those miles!! We are surprised it sold so fast considering the mileage was so high, but we weren't mad about it.

On to bigger and better things :)