DIY Pregnancy Photos

So I have always been the type that is extremely uncomfortable taking photos. I think it is mainly because I think posing for them seems cheesy and forced for the most part. It is only after they are taken that I look back and realize I am glad I took them. Having this attitude I was reluctant to hire a professional photographer to take pregnancy photos. There are a few things I hate in pregnancy photos: a naked belly, fabric wrapped around boobs and lower half, hands cupped to shape a heart on the belly, lots of odd looking pictures with the father, pregnant ladies not wearing tops or anything at all, etc. I know that some people love these style of photos but they are not for me.

However, I did think it was important to document this moment in my life so I decided to ask my husband if he would take some photos of me. I found several styles in Pinterest I liked and they were mostly of women standing in nature backgrounds. So off we went to Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, AZ and got some great pictures in the grass and later I went in my sisters yard and leaned on her fence and took a few more.I should add that my husband owns a professional camera so it was easy for us to take our own. He’s also skilled at editing photos and can really make them look professional.

Since it was my husband taking the photos, I felt confident and comfortable. I found that having him take the photos made the process much easier because he wasn’t barking at me to look a certain way or put on a fake smile. I would highly recommend that you do your pregnancy photos yourself if you don’t have the budget to higher a professional photographer or the desire to “let it all hang out”  in front of someone you don’t know. If you don’t own a professional camera, then try asking a family member or friend who does if you can borrow it for an hour.I think you will like the natural look that ends up coming from your personalized pictures.

Also, an added bonus for me in all this was knowing that the father of my child is the one behind the camera, a memory I will cherish forever.

Pregnancy Photo

New Mommy Blog on the Block

I was one of those ladies that was determined to never start a mom blog. Mainly because I encounter several mom bloggers in my line of work and most charge for posting about your product, which leads me to believe their reviews aren’t honest. Companies don’t want to pay mom bloggers to write a negative post about their product so the blogger’s review is most likely biased and untrue. I never want to become like “those” mom bloggers but I do see a benefit in sharing my experiences with others. However, the community of moms on the web is so strong it’s hard not to want to be a part of it.

This is my second pregnancy. Tragically, my first pregnancy in January 2011 ended in a miscarriage at 7 weeks. It took almost an entire year for us to get pregnant again and just as my Dr. was just about to prescribe fertility testing, I got a positive. I couldn’t have been more shocked. I had more symptoms the weeks I wasn’t pregnant than I did the month I was. Needless to say, worry set in immediately. Since I had lost a child before I was mentally preparing myself that it could likely happen again. It took me several months, successful ultra sounds and doctor’s visits before I started believing that we were actually going to have a baby. I am almost 17 weeks along now and starting to feel more excited every day. I am not saying I don’t worry any longer but I at least am trying to enjoy the here and now.

On Friday we will find out the sex of the baby. We opted to get an outside ultra sound because my shower is on May 5th and we wanted to know before then. Plus my husband is too excited to wait for the 20 week ultra sound. We are really excited to see our baby on the screen. I must say that every time I go to an ultra sound I have extreme worry that there will be no heartbeat or the baby stopped growing. However, I am trying to stay positive. I believe I started to feel a few light kicks this week too so that brings me some comfort.I’m trying to take it one day at a time.

A little about me: I live in the Phoenix area with my husband. Right now my two dogs are my babies. My hobbies are writing, hiking, volunteering and trying my best to be artistic. Anything else you want to know just ask.