The Year in the Life of Motherhood Project :

Part 3

32 Weeks - 37 Weeks

With every day we get closer and closer to meeting this little one. I go to sleep each night thinking, I may be called at 4:00am to rush to L's side and witness her miraculous birth story. I get a little too invested in all of my clients but this one is tugging at my heart. I want to witness the moment where L says, "it's a girl or boy" and calls this sweet growing baby it's name. I want to experience her strength and witness her Hypno baby ways.

I am also excited to move into this next part of the photo series where its all about the motherhood reality. Pregnancy is inspiring and life changing but pales in comparison to the lifetime of child rearing. I can't wait to document the bringing home of this baby, the sleeping and not sleeping, breast feeding and juggling a million things at once. Not for me but for L. to have this proof of her invincibility and tenderness when faced with 5 little ones. 

Part three is of our last few sessions before their beautiful birth story (which I'll probably do as it's own part all together!) We got to celebrate L. and her sweet marriage, her relaxed moments of solitude waiting for this sweet baby and the chaos of being a very pregnant mom with 4 older boys in the heat of the summer.

32 Weeks

There is something rare and fierce about a couple experiencing a pregnancy together. It shapes you, challenges you and prepares you for together guiding and caring for this little one through life. To do this now 5 times is an incredibly beautiful thing to watch. L. and her husband reflect the joy and courage it takes to bring up 4 boys and still get so excited to talk about baby number 5. For me it was fundamental to the story to get to document their love and intimacy there in their own bedroom and space. 

[ Also that gorgeous land we did the outdoor photos on is their neighbor's back yard. Which seriously has the most lush landscape I've ever seen! ]

32 Weeks

A milk bath session in one of her favorite places in her home. Her remodled bathtub where she goes for rest and empowerment. 

37 Weeks

Summer is hot for all of us and North Carolina has not been spared the hellish temperatures. But I can't even imagine how it feels to also be really pregnant, have all 4 boys home from school for the Summer and be dealing with the heat. L. of course doesn't ever let it phase her and literally swims in the pool almost every day. When we met for coffee the first time back at the beginning of the year, this idea of her being 37-39 weeks pregnant and chasing her kids around the pool was a memory she never wanted to forget. I could not wait to capture this chaos and joy for their family. It was the perfect way to finish the first half of our series.