Baby Gallery!

A friend of mine from Temple has an awesome gallery up at Cafe Twelve right now called Images of Cambodia.  The photos are really lovely - and I'm pretty sure they'll be up for about 2 more weeks, so if you want to check them out, be sure to go! (I bought one to hang in our new house!)

This got me thinking, though.  Maybe I should do a gallery of pregnancy and baby-themed photos to help raise money for our home birth.  The only downfall of home birth in many parts of the US is that it isn't covered by health insurance - can you believe that???  Women are practically forced to have their babies in hospitals!  Ok, I'll get off my soap box. =P

But anyway, paying for this birth is our biggest challenge right now.  We're looking into buying a little house for the three of us and have been putting away most of our income for our down-payment.  Little Smoosh is going to cost us roughly $3000, which is actually very inexpensive, but when it's all out of pocket and you're trying to buy a house, it's still a little difficult!  Every extra dollar that we make beyond what's already budgeted goes toward our darling little one.  Plus, we're planning to ask for donations instead of gifts at our baby shower (with a few exceptions) since so many people have generously offered us car seats, baby carriers, bassinets, furniture, clothing, etc. and there really isn't much else we need!

But what better way to raise money for our natural home birth than to have a gallery of pregnancy and baby pictures?  What do you think?  I think I'll start planning!

Thirteen weeks - and two days!

Smoosh is thirteen weeks and two days old today!  It's so exciting to learn about how our tiny one is growing and developing - so much is happening right now!

I promised one of my oldest friends that I would take some current belly pictures - there really isn't much of a belly to show off yet, but you can see a tiny little bump.  It was a fantastic day for taking photos - sunny and warm and beautiful!  I took these while Nathaniel was replacing the brake pads on our car over in Jersey.  I didn't have a tripod with me so I propped my camera up on a lawn furniture table with my phone and the lens cap under the lens.  Necessity is the mother of all invention!

I'm enjoying some rest now after walking around the neighborhood and describing things to Smoosh.  I can't wait until he or she can see these things in real life - there is a lot of beauty in this world.

I hope everyone else had a lovely day!  I'm off to enjoy the rest of mine. =)

Heartbeats.

These last few weeks have seen a lot of changes for the Ryan family.  We're excited to be nearing the end of our lease and to be spending two months house-sitting for a relative in a beautiful little nook near Abington (I'll be able to walk to Whole Foods!!!).  After that, we're not sure what the future holds, but we've been considering our options for a while now.

Two weeks ago we went to our first pre-natal appointment and heard the baby's heartbeat.  It was the most astonishingly beautiful moment - I could hardly believe it.  But there was the sound - the rapid beating of a tiny little heart in a tiny little body.

Today I am thirteen weeks pregnant!  Wow, time has flown by so quickly.  I think I'm getting some of my energy back, but I'm also SO hungry all the time - and if I don't eat right away I quickly become nauseous, which is really frustrating.  I'm trying to stay on top of eating lots of good fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, etc., and getting my vitamins.  But it's more work than I ever thought it could be.  I'm worn out just from trying to keep up with eating!  I never thought I'd say that!

Even so, with all the changes, I am happy to be carrying this little one.  I am growing more and more in love every day.  I can't wait for this summer when I can totally rock my beach-ball belly!

Newborns and Natural Environments

The shoot on Saturday went really well!  I have to admit, I got distracted a few times just watching this beautiful, newborn baby - she was absolutely wonderful.

It's always a gamble taking pictures of smaller children.  If they're having a bad day or they're shy, getting that beaming smile they're known for can be a little challenging.  That's partially why I prefer to come to people's homes to work - it's the same principle as home-birth, really.  I want everyone to be as comfortable as they can be, and I want to be on their turf, not mine.

Fortunately, the two adorable little boys weren't shy at all.  They were giggling, smiling and showing off the whole time.  In the end, I had a really enjoyable experience just being around three such sweet children and spending some time with their parents, who both I and my husband love, before they move out of Philly.

It was a good day!
_________________________________

P.S.  To see more photos from this shoot and others, be sure to check out (and Like!) my FaceBook Page!!!

Everything is new.

Today I get to do something I really enjoy - baby pictures!  I love weddings, I love documenting the joy of that day for two people.  But really, one of my favorite things in the world is baby pictures.  (I am so impatient to start taking pictures of our Smoosh!!!)

Everything is new to babies.  It's such an amazing part of life, when you're tiny and experiencing everything for the first time.  I just can't get over how awesome that is.

I'm glad to be able to take these pictures for friends of ours from church.  They're leaving Philly soon and I'll miss their family a lot.  Both parents have been so encouraging and friendly to us and have even given a lot of valuable advice to Nathaniel as he's studying in paramedic school.  And, needless to say, their children are absolutely adorable.

Well, I'll be heading out in a minute so I've got to go.  Have a lovely day, everyone!