It's A...Baby

It's a BOY!!!!!!!

Yep a stinking boy but I'm happy, dad’s happy, even the girls are happy. This is my first boy and I knew it was. Everything about this pregnancy has felt so DIFFERENT!

With this baby, I truly didn't know I was pregnant. I felt weird all the time. Extremely moody. Very nauseated and on the verge of passing out but I thought nothing of it...until I was borderline forced into taking a test. Read more about that here.

We discovered this news in a very bittersweet way. I had a mild bleed and cramping episode after my little Target run and I called my doctors office. They saw me the following morning and as the ultrasound tech was doing my scan my little man wanted to do a roll with his legs open and BOOM! The tech was like do you want to know what you're having. I laughed and said "Even if I didn't I think I know now." We laughed and she agreed that's definitely a boy! 

Life for us has been a little scary after receiving our placenta previa diagnosis. Nonetheless, we are doing well! Fingers crossed the placenta moves! 

Nevertheless, all is well in my soul!

I wasn’t really sure how I wanted to tell the girls so I went to Pinterest!

Looking for a fun way to tell your kids?

While searching Pinterest I found the coolest idea ever! Water gun painting!

Supplies:

1. Water guns

2. Foam Board or Canvas

3.  Acrylic Paint

4. Water (freebie, use the sink)

5. Sharpie

6. Stencils (optional) 

Instructions:

1. Take your board or canvas and decide if you want to write or stencil the words  "It's A..." or some other saying. 

2. Fill your water guns with paint and water mix. 2/3 paint and 1/3 water. (make sure the kids aren't around when you do this.

3. Shake up your water gun. Test it out in the sink to make sure it's the color you want.

4. Head outside in the grass and lean your board against a tree. 

5. Count to 3 and let your child shoot the water gun! 

6. Share with family and friends!

Shop the bows! Click here.

Related Article: Top 5 Things on My Registry

My oldest decided she wanted to great a box for the gender reveal as well and this is what we got! I made the shirt and I think it turned out quite well! 

Saved by Grace

"Here I am, God arms wide open. Pouring out my life gracefully broken."

Tasha Cobbs

I grew up in a VERY religious home. My mother is of the apostolic faith and my father is Baptist. I went to church multiple times a week. I knew all of the books of the Bible – backward and forwards. I primarily attended church with my mother because that’s how things were. So naturally, her faith became mine.

I, however, was not the perfect Christian/Holiness girl. I didn’t believe that my head always had to be covered or that I needed to wear dresses to my ankles. That was just not me. I always searched for my true self. I wear earrings, pants, and makeup - I don't believe that defines my faith. I don't believe that I am now somehow unloved by God.

Religion was scary and for most people it still is. Christianity, in particular, seems to be set rules that you have to follow and if you don’t you’re doomed to hell. Despite my thoughts and feelings on this, I know that God is real.

I’ve been SAVED BY GRACE!

Grace in the Christian faith is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

There have been times in my life where I know it was no one other than God that brought me through. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that He is real no matter what anyone says.

When I heard this song by Tasha Cobbs all I could do was weep. My heart so full. There will come a time in your life when you don’t know where to turn. You feel so alone and you have no choice but to seek something higher than yourself. God has kept me. He’s loved me more than I’ve loved myself. His grace has protected me over and over again.

If you only knew my story, I should be dead…but I’m NOT and for that reason alone I will forever be grateful.

First Five Things To Do Once You're Engaged

Congrats! You and your partner have taken the next step in your relationship and decided to get married! Take a minute to soak it up, this moment. The newness of this next big step for you two together. Now, let’s talk about the first five things to do once you’re engaged!

My name is Jessica Hunt, and I have been a professional wedding photographer for eight years and published over 150 times in my career. Today I’m going to share with you my top five tips for what to do once you’re engaged! Honestly, weddings are WORK. It’s going to take a lot of planning and preparation to pull of the wedding day of your dreams.

1. CELEBRATE

No, seriously, I mean it! Take your time and bask in this. You and the love of your life are getting MARRIED! That’s huge! Don’t let the rush of your new life take away the magic of this moment for you. Look over at your soulmate, give them a big kiss, and bask in this moment! Be sure to let your closest friends and family know about this big step you’ve taken together, and get ready for the long road ahead!

2. PICK YOUR DATE

Before you can book any vendors like your photographer or venue, you will need to have your wedding date selected. Most vendors will not take retainer fees to book your wedding without a set date!

So, look over your calendar, talk with your family, and chat with the love of your life. Don’t rush on choosing a date, though! Think about the theme you want for your wedding and the seasons. Do you want a winter wedding or a fall wedding? How hot do you want it on your day? Think about your dream day and choose a date that will reflect that! You’re not restricted to just Saturdays either, don’t forget! Change it up, save a little money, and book for a Friday wedding! The first vendor you will hire and that will probably play a role in choosing your exact date is your wedding venue, so keep that in mind when deciding on your date for the wedding day.

3. CHOOSE YOUR THEME

What do you want your day to look like? Think about your color palette, think about the venue you have picked, and the season your wedding day will be in. Are you a more casual couple looking to have a brewery wedding day or does a formal, black-tie event fit your vibes a bit better?

This is a BIG DEAL. Choose what you want for your day and make it happen! You can choose for your day to look however you would like, but you just have to decide! If you’re unsure of what to select as your theme or even HOW to go about doing so, you and your future spouse may want to consider hiring a wedding planner for your event to help with things like guiding you on how to select a theme for your wedding.

4. BOOK YOUR VENDORS

Many wedding vendors book up to a year or more in advance, so as soon as your book your venue and have your date set in stone, you will want to start booking your other wedding vendors. If you have your dream vendor in mind, go ahead and inquire with them to start the inquiry process.!

Do research on your vendors, too! Have they worked on a real wedding like yours? Is the venue ready to handle all 300 of your friends and family? Make your decisions wisely and then TRUST your vendors, they are event professionals who know the most about pulling off a successful wedding day.

Make sure to scoop up your dream vendors as soon as you can, because if you wait, that photographer or venue may book a different couple for your date. Waiting to book with your favorite vendors could result in them being unavailable for your date! The sooner the better!

5. SEND SAVE THE DATES/INVITATIONS

You’ve posted a few pictures on Facebook about your engagement and changed your relationship status, but it’s time to let all of your loved ones that you’ve got a date. Do you want to make sure those you care about the most are there on your day, right? Since you’ve already got your wedding photographer booked by this time (RIGHT?? Wink, wink, wink! ), use your engagement photos for save-the-dates!

Not interested in save-the-dates? That’s fine! Skip ’em! Send out formal invitations a bit early, In fact, doing things early in this wedding business is NEVER a bad thing!

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed looking over the first five things to do once you’re engaged and ready to start planning your wedding day.

Meet Jessica Hunt

Jessica Hunt is a wedding and anniversary photographer serving passionate couples anywhere and everywhere. She has been photographing weddings professionally for 8 years and has been published nationwide over 200 times in her career. Jessica enjoys hitting the gym, binging true crime dramas, listening to political podcasts, and drinking too much coffee. When she’s not shooting weddings across the United States, you can find her curled up with her two cats and sweet pup watching the latest terrible action blockbuster. Get in contact with Jessica today to chat about your wedding day or anniversary photos!

How I'm handing being Plus Size and Pregnant

Photo by: Denise Benson Photography 

Being a plus sized woman in America is hard especially when you see women paraded on television that look nothing like you. Even the plus size models have a particular shape. It’s usually the coke bottle, pear shape and ya girl here doesn’t have it! I’ve struggled to fit into the typical plus size world because I’m not super curvy and I would get dirty looks shopping in plus sizes stores. On more than one occasion the sales associate told me she thought I was lost. 😒

I’ve been plus sized for most of my life. It didn’t really hit me that being plus sized and pregnant mattered…not until I got my paperwork at check from my doctor. They gave me a cute little sheet that had my weight, height, how much I have loss or gained (I lost weight by the way) and my BMI. IT WAS 34! I’m considered obese. My doctor hasn’t harped on me about losing but she has encouraged me to move – start walking for 5 minutes a day just to get the blood flowing. And honestly, I’m not mad. She has treated me like a human – which is all I want. I know I weigh more than I should but I don't need to be reminded of that every time I go to the doctor.

What being plus size and pregnant means to me is still being able to be fabulous and pregnant? I can do any and everything every other woman can do. I WILL take those maternity photos. I WILL share my growing belly. I WILL give in to my cravings and I will enjoy this pregnancy!

I believe pregnancy is supposed to be a joyous time. I'm determined to do that. I move when my body says move and I rest when my body tells me to. Understanding what's best for you and baby is the best thing you can do while pregnant!

What are or were your biggest fears during pregnancy?