Recent Shoots

Big News…

We are expecting! Yep, a baby. A baby on the way! I really could write forever on the flood of emotions I’ve had this year. We started “trying” in January. We found out we were pregnant shortly after our trip to Mexico in April. We’re gonna have a little tequila-lovin’ sombrero-wearin’ baby!

In May, I layed on the doctor’s table crying with Jason by my side as I saw the thump thump of the tiny heart beat. As I saw it, flickering on the tiny screen, I suddenly realized, I’m going to be a mother. It is such an amazing feeling. As much as us pregnant moms all dread it…it feels so good to have the symptoms of pregnancy..the heartburn, the pain in my pelvis, the tiredness and crazy days where all I want to do is lay around and dream of my little baby arriving. I love closing my eyes and imagining holding a little angel, sleeping in the rocking bassinet next to me…and knowing that in just three short months, I will, for the first time, hold my own child.

I, now, am having this nothing-could-be-any-better-than-this feeling. The joy that something so beautiful is about to join our lives. We are now 28 weeks. Yes, that is seven months. And counting. I am already in love.

At 14 weeks, we went for the high-tech fancy 3D ultrasound. A confused tech wasn’t sure the sex of our little mule. Yes, we called our baby a mule. It was funny. We (including family) got a kick out of this little nickname. Richard (my step-pops) bought the baby anything with a mule resemblance…usually the Donkey Shrek toy. Richard would find the one and only kid in McDonalds and bribe him with money for the Shrek toy. Then, with a huge grin, would bring over the “mule” for our little fetus..and for laughs, of course.

A week after the ultrasound appointment, we went back for another try. This time baby was cooperating and the tech said, “It’s a girl”. Looking at the little girl bouncing on the monitor, crying, shaking, smiling, holding Jason’s hand, we laughed and hugged.

Everyday I think of my little girl. Knowing that in just a few short months I will be holding her, loving her, knowing she was sent to us from up above. As I sit here and dream of her little face, tears are spilling. All the years I dreamed of having my own little girl..in all the years I pretended with my little Cabbage Patch dolls, played house and ran around with my little plastic girl..in all the years I wrote in my purple diary about my little girl, names of baby girls I’d like to have…it is almost here. And this time it is real. She’s not plastic, her name will for real be printed on her birth certificate and those plush diapers will for real hold a real mess.

Pixie Jo. That’s her name. About four years ago, Jason and I were at a gymnastics banquet. A little girl marched across the stage with her blonde ponytail atop her head like Bam-Bam. She reached for her award and the announcer said her name. Pixie. Jason and I immediately looked at each other and smiled. That’s it. That’s our little girl’s name. Jo comes from my grandma Jo Jacques. She passed way before I had made my way into this world. From the stories of Jo, she was an amazing woman. We can only hope that for our little Pixie. So the middle name Jo, she shall take.

Let me just tell you…taking photographs of yourself is extremely difficult. Taking photographs of yourself while 7 months pregnant…RIDICULOUS! Just imagine this…a 10 second timer, moving very fast, getting in a sitting or “cute” standing position in hopes that the shutter fires when the wind is not blowing and your placed exactly as planned. Then getting up from that position to go check out the image on the back of the camera that is near the ground. Which means big belly has to follow. UP, down, Up, DOWN..quickly. Not good. About 10 minutes into the shoot I have to go to the restroom. Oh, just great. Drive home, relieve the bladder…hmm, maybe I should change my outfit. 8 outfits later and another location, I have these to show. I made a collage and gave them to Jason for his 27th Birthday. He loved them. That’s all that matters.

My Momma Mia is my best friend.  I wanted to make the announcement of our pregnancy a special one for her.  I put together a “Mother’s Day gift” of pictures of us set to music.  This was sure to get her all emotional.  At the end of the slideshow, I added a clip of Jason and I taking the pregnancy test and seeing the results.  Real Footage.  Real emotion.  Check it out HERE.

And you can see mom’s reaction when she found out we’re expecting HERE.

So of course a trip to Babies R Us to start the registry is a must!

Is she ready to be a grandma again?

Little Pixie Jo, we are ready for you. Ready for that heart-bursting, soul-satisfying kind of love. We’ll see you around Christmas.  In the meantime, we’ll prepare for your arrival.  Your nursery is painted!  Your crib is picked out.  Now we just need your precious life to join us.