maternity pictures

last weekend and the weekend before that, we took some maternity photos to capture my ever-so-lovely baby bump! we are exactly 2 weeks away from having the "contents" of that bump in our arms! what a wonderful and exciting thought. a surreal thought, actually! this is already one LOVED little boy, so i can't even imagine how we will feel on the morning of november 20!!! the pictures where i am wearing black and austin is wearing white were taken in odessa at noel heritage park by my good ol' mom. the bare belly shots were taken in and around our house by austin. i thought i would be able to get rid of all the icky-looking stretch marks, but my plan failed, so i just decided to post them as is! i figure those stretch marks are just a small part of the joy of being pregnant. of all the pregnancy symptoms, discomforts, annoyances, sicknesses, etc that i have heard and read about, the stretch marks are the only think i can say have annoyed me from time to time. second to the stretch marks would have to be the swelling i have experienced on and off since the summer months. the tightness has never really been painful, just ridiculous looking. pregnancy, overall, has been an extremely joyous and wonderful time in my life! i have loved all the "firsts"..doctor's appointments...movements...feelings and emotions...planning our lives once owen arrives...looking ahead to a different set of "firsts"...thinking about what he will be like...etc. it has all brought me so much happiness. austin and i are very much looking forward to taking this journey into parenthood together! we are looking forward to helping owen grow up in a Christian home where he knows he is safe and forever in God's hands. we are looking forward to all the exciting times as well as the trying times that will make us all stronger. we are looking forward to learning and working together as the parents God has called us to be! we are blessed in so many ways and cannot be more thankful! here are the handful of pictures that were the best of both photo sessions.

have a great weekend!

:) carianne