Any day now, our hearts are going to burst with love for a new tiny person! A little baby for Sarah and Nick... and a new niece or nephew for me and Liam! Yuss... we're always keen for new mini humans to try and squeeze favourite Aunty and Uncle status out of.
They are known as 'Rainbow Babies' - babies that are born following the loss of another baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. At first I thought that sounded a bit airy-fairy. But there is a beautiful and very true meaning behind it...
Beautiful, bright rainbows come after a storm. They are symbols of hope and promise.
Everyone experiences storms of differing degrees. But these storms shape us and grow us... and we appreciate the rainbows at the other end even more.
Last year we shared the story of my sister and family losing their precious girl, Victoria, at full-term. I wrote that blog wanting Victoria's little life to be celebrated, not swept away as if it didn't happen. We wanted to acknowledge the times in life that don't always go the way we plan them. At the time there was nothing could have prepared us for what happened, it was so unexpected - everything was looking normal and healthy until the moment her heart stopped beating. But looking back, we can see the many ways our family was being prepared. We can see the abundant blessings that Victoria brought us and many others. We can see how much she changed so many hearts, without her even seeing the world. Her short life was more than valuable. Amongst the huge sadness and grief, there is a strength and a unity that grows through the storm. And there is an incomprehensible happiness knowing that soon they will be blessed with another beautiful child. We are beyond excited about meeting this little bundle who is already such an incredibly loved and valued part of our family.
Sarah and Nick are the perfect parents for this little one, and can't wait to hold him or her in their arms.... for the next step in their family journey.
They are known as 'Rainbow Babies' - babies that are born following the loss of another baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. At first I thought that sounded a bit airy-fairy. But there is a beautiful and very true meaning behind it...
Beautiful, bright rainbows come after a storm. They are symbols of hope and promise.
Everyone experiences storms of differing degrees. But these storms shape us and grow us... and we appreciate the rainbows at the other end even more.
Last year we shared the story of my sister and family losing their precious girl, Victoria, at full-term. I wrote that blog wanting Victoria's little life to be celebrated, not swept away as if it didn't happen. We wanted to acknowledge the times in life that don't always go the way we plan them. At the time there was nothing could have prepared us for what happened, it was so unexpected - everything was looking normal and healthy until the moment her heart stopped beating. But looking back, we can see the many ways our family was being prepared. We can see the abundant blessings that Victoria brought us and many others. We can see how much she changed so many hearts, without her even seeing the world. Her short life was more than valuable. Amongst the huge sadness and grief, there is a strength and a unity that grows through the storm. And there is an incomprehensible happiness knowing that soon they will be blessed with another beautiful child. We are beyond excited about meeting this little bundle who is already such an incredibly loved and valued part of our family.
Sarah and Nick are the perfect parents for this little one, and can't wait to hold him or her in their arms.... for the next step in their family journey.
I've been sending telepathic messages to the baby to stay in that tummy until I was able to post this blog though, and to arrive into this world on a day that fits around my schedule! So far, so good ;)
How ridiculously adorable is Penelope?! She's such a big girl now...
Three years old, and about to be a big sister! And apparently, a mother soon too. She's been having extremely frequent scans with her toy stethoscope and over the past 8 months has had many different babies in her tummy... ranging from baby caterpillars to her latest - a girl called 'January'. January has been coming out in '5 weeks' for about the past 3 months!
If I got $1 every time someone told me they thought Sarah was one of the most gorgeous pregnant women they have ever seen, I'd be rich. And it's true, she really does do pregnancy extremely gracefully! She's all baby... and that's one pretty big bub inside that tummy. She also doesn't complain. About anything. If all I knew about pregnancy was through her, I'd be thinking it was a dream!
The beach and Penelope have never reeeeally mixed. The feeling of sand between her toes is more of a terrifying, world-ending situation, rather than relaxing or fun. We amped her up about going to the beach for the photos though, and she kept asking if it was time to go yet! But when we arrived and there were horses galloping around, she opted to watch from the safety of the car, because the horses might eat her. Fair enough. If I was faced with an animal about 10x my size, I would probably stay in the car too.
Sarah, you are a true beauty.
When I do maternity shoots with Sarah, they seem to be multi-faceted, multi-day shoots. It's just what you do for sisters who you love photographing! So welcome to Day 2... something a little more fancy for the ladies of the house!
And I'll end with these images, because as one of my fabulous friends said to me... they are such celebration images, and Sarah is a preggy babe!!
The fact that these are blue actually holds no clues as to whether it will be a boy or a girl - Nick found out at the 20 week scan, but Sarah didn't! How they manage that, I do not know... but if anyone can keep a secret, it's Nick.
The fact that these are blue actually holds no clues as to whether it will be a boy or a girl - Nick found out at the 20 week scan, but Sarah didn't! How they manage that, I do not know... but if anyone can keep a secret, it's Nick.
Sarah, Nick and little P - ah! SO excited. It's so surreal to think you will have another child sometime in the very near future... you are such an amazing family and we love you so, so much. Can't wait to come down to meet him or her! All the love and prayers and blessings in the world xoxoxo