Nashville Maternity Photoshoot
The time has come to say goodbye to my last and final bump. My childbearing days, just like that, in three short days will be over. It is bittersweet. I cannot wait to meet our sweet boy, and I am so overjoyed to see him and finally hold him. I have also been taking in every moment the last few days as I feel him move. Every hiccup, every kick. Every time I look in the mirror at my belly, I think to myself, will it be the last? I am not in love with being pregnant. Yes, there is a special feeling you get and the magicalness of growing a little person is awesome! But, after two back surgeries, pregnancy has always been really hard on me. Therefore, I am not sad because I am in love with being pregnant, I am sad to say goodbye to an era. No more tiny human growing for me. As a woman, that is hard. I can’t explain it, it just is.
The journey to my fourth pregnancy was a long one. When Tim and I married we always talked about having four kids and we both wanted a big family. After a miscarriage and then the birth of our third child Noah, I was not sure at times that it would happen. I always felt deep down though that it wasn’t over, that our family was not yet complete. No matter our circumstances or timing not being quite right, I simply knew that in my heart. And as soon as I found out we were expecting this past December, I was right. I immediately felt at peace, as if our family would be complete, and this baby was a final blessing to our story.
Deciding how many children to have or when you are done having them can be such a difficult one. I know that I never felt at peace and kept having that desire for one more after three. I decided not to ignore that desire and will forever be grateful that I didn’t. Especially when I meet this tiny new human on Friday morning! So I say this to all of you mamas out there trying to decide what is right for you and whether your childbearing journey is over. Don’t listen to anyone else! Don’t worry about the circumstances! Don’t stress about the timing! Listen to yourself and let your heart, your spouse, and the Lord guide you in your decision. The decision comes from within. My heart is full. My cup runneth over. Thank you, God, for the four beautiful little humans you have blessed us with!
I almost did not do this maternity photoshoot, but I had done one with each of my children to capture pregnancy. I am so happy I decided to do these as I think they are now my favorite. All of my pregnancies have been special in their own way, but this one and this shoot holds that very special place in my heart because it is the last. In celebration of this pregnancy and the end of an era, I will forever have these beautiful photographs to look back on. One day they will be a very special treasure for my children. ♡
Thank you to my girl Jessica Sloan for coming to the studio and taking these for me!
In studio hair & makeup by Whitney Legrand
