Shelby and Daniel's Oak Canyon Nature Center Maternity Portraits

Oh my! The journeys that I get to witness and document and truly so life giving. They serve as these constant reminders of how immensely beautiful life truly is and how important it is to soak up those moments, right here, right now.

As I reflect on my journey from pregnancy to motherhood, in those first moments, I vividly remember the last few weeks as I very impatiently waited for Orion to join the world. Although the days felt exceptionally long, the moments, were very intentional. ⁠In what ways? I'd so love to share as I know there are so many mammas to be out there and for me, I learn through experience, through connection, through sharing. ⁠

✨Dan, my husband took off from my "due date" even knowing that first time mammas deliver on an average of 1 week of 2 days past. We spent everyday doing the things we love... walking, hanging out at the beach, eating at our favorite restaurants, watching series on Netflix, just being together. ⁠
✨I spent time really reflecting, connecting with my journey. I wrote my unborn daughter a letter, I wrote a letter to my biological father working through my disconnected past with him, I wrote a love letter to myself, I wrote a love letter to my future mommy self. ⁠
✨I completed my pregnancy journal. ⁠
✨I took pregnancy yoga classes. ⁠
✨I drank decaf lattes and sat in silence. ⁠
✨I took way more photos (and shared) than I'm sure most people feel comfortable. ⁠
I honored exactly where I was in knowing that time has a way of moving quickly and one day very soon, this human in my womb, would now be in my arms. ⁠

If I can leave with this, to all the mamas to be.... take as many pictures as possible, spend as much time with your partner, take naps, write in your journal, document your present moment in the way that feels best to you, remember how incredibly beautiful AND strong you are! ⁠

The only way out is through.
​ The only way out is through.