Maternity Photos

Just before the Christmas holiday Eric and I got some maternity photos taken. We found an awesome photographer who was recommended to us by a friend and we are so happy with the results! Melanie Dodds spent several hours with us on a perfect Sunday afternoon capturing some fantastic and beautiful moments that Eric and I will be able to cherish forever. These are some of our favorite shots that Melanie took at the Zilker Botanical Gardens and on the lawn of the Palmer Events Center that overlooks the Austin skyline. I am 30 weeks pregnant in these photos. We can't wait to see the newborn photos that she will take of Anabelle soon after she's born!!
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Check out Melanies website!! http://www.melaniedoddsphotography.com/
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Pregnancy update!!!

me at 33 weeks.

So far so good! Everything is happening on track and she is healthy and moving around in my belly a lot! Her heartbeat is still strong and is usually around 150 bpms. She gets hiccups almost daily and we can't wait until our next ultrasound at 36 weeks so we can see her again. They will take all of her measurements and we'll get an idea of how big she really is! At this time the average baby is between 18 and 20 inches and about 4 1/2 lbs. She's getting BIG!

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Eric and I are getting so excited for her to actually be here! We almost have her nursery completely set up (I'll post pics soon). We are just so ready to meet her! I keep calling her "her" but we have chosen a name!! Anabelle Rose Otto. We think it's a beautiful name.

Tuba Christmas 2009!!

Every Christmas season about two hundred tuba players play holiday music on the steps of the Capitol in Austin. This is my fourth consecutive year to go watch the tubas! You probably wouldn't think that a bunch of tubas could play beautiful music but YES! they can! These are some pics from December 21st, Tuba Christmas 2009. My favorite song they play is Jingle Bells! It's pretty awesome to hear that song played by only tubas! Oh, did I mention my dad is one of the tuba players? Great job, Dad!!

My dad playing his tuba.

The crowd watching the tubas play at the Capitol.
Molly with 3 of her friends (who are all librarians) and Carrie with her friend, Hilary.

My two favorite guys.

My dad with some of his groupies (a.k.a. me, Carrie, and her 2 friends, Hilary and Jennifer).

Introducing Oliver!!!

Oliver is my sister, Molly's new mini-dachshund and he is ADORABLE!!! He's the perfect additon to the Dahlstrom family. He was only a couple of months old when she got him in December and he got to spend his 1st Christmas with all of us in Victoria. He had a great time and got to spend time with his cousin, Bailey. They get along (most of the time....OK some of the time) and Bailey was excited to have another pup around for the holidays! Look how cute he is!!

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Ollie!!!

Bailey checking out his new cousin.Ollie snooping for presents under the tree.