Wildflowers Photography » Pregnancy

Half Moon Bay & my pregnant belly!

Joy — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:40:34 +0000

we took a quick little trip up to half moon bay, near san francisco, a few weeks back to photograph hayley & alex’s wedding (photos from their lovely day soon to come) and we were very lucky that my mama selflessly volunteered to watch the kiddos so we could spend two extra days up there as a little escape before baby #3 is born (thank you, mom… what a blessing it is to have you in the lives of our children daily). it was dreamlike. the little town is up in the mountains and the weather was cool and foggy the whole time (loved this!), we stuffed ourselves with amazing food, starting each day with the local fave of sourdough cinnamon french toast and we able to use two hands to eat – wow! – then we walked on the old weathered pier, enjoyed the little antique store treasures, drove through the tall sycamore groves, stopped along the rode at many farm stands and, more than anything, just remembered how much we actually like each other. :) something so crucial that is so easy to forget. this husband of mine, he is sure a good one.

so here are a few photos from the weekend, including a little impromptu photo session donny took of me and my belly (33 weeks along at the time). we happened upon this heavenly wildflower field just in between the ocean and a giant hay field and well, you know i can’t pass up a field of flowers. especially those the color of clementines! as for the baby update, we can’t wait to meet this little lady already! i am almost 37 weeks now and we are planning for a waterbirth at home with a wonderful midwife and hoping that gracie and brandon can be involved. they have loved being able to measure my belly at our appointments and can’t stop talking about how they are going to catch their sister and then we will all cuddle in our sleeping bags on the living room floor after she is born. i am praying it all goes in such a dreamlike fashion. ;) i have many more family sessions and wedding wrap-ups to blog in the meantime which i am sure will be followed by plenty of clementine photos! here are the half moon bay pics for now, starting with a few from the iphone of our way up there and at the wedding…

Austin, Texas Sessions… Part 2!

Joy — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:57:42 +0000

here are more photos of the wonderfully sweet families i had the joy of photographing in austin!

the leblanc family…

the vandewalle family…

ashley, jonathan & their little cupcake in the belly…

Amy & Billy & Little G – the miracle baby in the belly…

Joy — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:34:00 +0000

after years of sadness, doctors, pain, injections, surgeries, grief and heartache, this little baby is the wonderful fulfillment of so many hopes and dreams! amy and billy have given their little boy the name, “graysen” because they love that when you say the name, you hear the word GRACE. they firmly believe he is a gracious gift from God and i couldn’t agree more. the day of our shoot, it had been raining all day but we just figured we would shoot inside if we had to… but, 5 minutes before they got to my house, the sun came out to play… it was like a scene out of a movie as i walked out to greet them and saw the sunbeams streaming through the clouds. i still had my backyard set up from the workshop and it was so fun to use as our backdrop! amy and billy are dear friends and it was incredibly touching and surreal to be standing before them with such expectant joy after all of the trials along their journey. it was a wonderfully beautiful afternoon…

Glowing.

Joy — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 23:44:23 +0000

there was a little bit of magic in the sunshine on this lovely evening session with shannon, danny & baby girl in the belly. louie, the pup, came along to play, too!

Cia, one lovely mama.

Joy — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:14:26 +0000

8 months along and just strikingly lovely.

The Smith family & one BIG ice cream party…

Joy — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:50:57 +0000

my sweet friend chrystal had been anticipating me coming to document that belly of hers for months and months. and then last week the little baby boy in her belly decided he was ready to come out but it suuuuure wasn’t time yet… so chrystal ended up in the hospital and then was sent home with strict orders to be on bedrest. chrystal had dreamed up all sorts of fantastic locations for us to frolick in when i flew out to texas, but with her being on bedrest we had to get a bit…. creative. :) so what is the best way to put a smile on a very pregnant girlie’s face?…. ice cream!!! chrystal told me that her and her boys (and hubby) were equal opportunity ice cream lovers, no particular special flavor, so i decided a SERIOUS ice cream party was in order. we went crazy and her hubby was so incredibly sweet to assist me in dishing out (no joke) 20 different ice creams, candies, bananas, sprinkles and chocolate. he even brought me a verrrry tall ladder so that i could perch up and document the party in all it’s messy glory. nick – you officially win the prize as husband of the year. i know chrystal wishes we could have been running all around town taking photos of that pretty belly, but i have to say that i haven’t had this much fun on a shoot in a long, long time. nick, chrystal, blake and brayden have grown to become one of my favorite families ever. they embrace life. they hug tightly. and they give of themselves generously and selflessly. i can’t wait to meet little ryder and see the wonderful completion to this already amazingly joyful clan.

chrystal… i really hope these bring a smile to your face as you are laying in your bed anxiously awaiting them. :)

Carly (& her belly)… Sneak Peek!

Joy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:00:24 +0000

she was most definitely glowing. :)

Ella in the belly…

Joy — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:59:40 +0000

this is the catalan family. they are tender, genuine and they live their lives with great purpose. we met anna a few years back when she was coordinating a wedding we photographed. she was waddling around joyfully with a huge smile, 8 months pregnant with caleb (the big brother to be) and we instantly fell in love with her. donny and i visited them this past weekend (anna with baby ella ripe in her belly) and as we walked down their driveway afterwards, our hearts were full. donny grabbed and held my hand tighter and with more conviction than any other time i could remember, and we drove home talking about our hopes, our children and what we can do to live life more like this beautiful, selfless family. i can’t wait to meet ella, whose name so appropriately means, “bright light”.

“for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. i praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made.” psalm 139:13-14.

Bathing Beauty…

Joy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:54:54 +0000

here is jenny, 35 weeks and absolutely glowing. jenny is my best friend…. i mention this because only a best friend would have gotten into this ice cold water in the middle of november to let me live out this vision i had for her when she first told me she was pregnant.

thank you, my friend.. you are one beautiful mama.

Robin & Brian (& the belly)…

Joy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:26:16 +0000

robin and brian just moved to pasadena…. new city, new house, new little family in the making. so we decided to shoot downtown in their new stomping ground. we walked and talked, picked up a caramel apple along the way, stopped some traffic and then caught a glimpse of the most amazing full moon rising as the sun went down. i am counting the days until i finally get to hear this little boy’s name that has been kept such a good secret. :)