Coming this August, we will be welcoming a new addition to our little family…a baby GIRL! It still doesn’t seem real, but my growing bump sure makes it feel so- it finally popped just last week! It’s been a complete whirlwind since we found out at the end of last year, but it’s all starting to sink in now that I’m a little over 4 months along and we couldn’t be more over the moon excited to share the news!!!

We found out just before Christmas, which was the best gift we could have ever received. It was actually right after we had been traveling non stop for 5 weeks, ending with our GMGC Resort 2019 shoot in Harbour Island followed by a quick work trip to Aspen, then back to NYC for design work. Right when we landed, I knew something was off. I had been feeling really tired, but this was a whole different level of tired, and that night we found out the news!  We were overwhelmed with all kinds of emotion- we were excited, scared, grateful, worried and little of everything else in between. Even though we had talked about this moment for years, actually feeling it for the first time was so surreal, and a bit of panic began to take over us. But, once it all started to settle in, our worries turned into pure joy that we’ve been riding off of ever since.

The best part of finding out then was that we were heading back home to Charleston after NYC to host our families for Christmas. It was absolutely wonderful to be able to share the happy news with both of them in person and be home where we could actually take a break and give ourselves a rest. Thomas turned to me at one point and said “this is our last Christmas, as just the two of us”. At that moment, it really hit me that there was going to be an actual person in a few months time! And our lives would forever change, for the better.

The first trimester was pretty tough. We were on this high of excitement from finding out, but when my nausea hit a few days after Christmas, so did some pregnancy blues. I felt really strange, like all of my energy and excitement for the other things I love- especially creating and working- weren’t there as strong. I knew it was a phase and would pass, but it was hard to not feel in control, and I had this weird guilt for feeling this way. I had to force myself to get my work done and I had to accept that I was now going to be moving at a slower pace, needing to take breaks and even naps (and I’ve never been a nap taker). I had anticipated some sort of morning sickness, but I hadn’t known mine would come in the form of 24/7 nausea. I basically felt car sick all day, everyday. Plus the extreme food aversions made it extra tricky to handle. I am so grateful for my wonderful husband who was the absolute best during this time, making me homemade ginger ale, heading out late in the night to get me more carbs (the only thing I could consume), laying with me when I couldn’t do anything and reading to me every night before bed. But I would do it a million times over to grow this healthy baby. Once my second trimester hit, it all subsided and now I feel absolutely wonderful! As long as I get at least 9 hours of sleep!

I’m now just passing my 16th week and baby is looking strong and healthy and I just feel so anxious to meet her! We are already working on her nursery, Thomas and I have booked a babymoon for ourselves at the end of Spring and my mom and sisters have been hard at work planning my baby shower. I find myself already wandering into her room everyday when we’re home, daydreaming about what she’ll be like and how much fun we’re going to have with her. Over the years, as we’ve traveled, I’ve slowly collected things for my “future daughter”- books, clothes, toys, momentos- to hopefully give to her one day. I never knew if I would have a daughter, and I would happily take any gender, but I have a sweet spot for little girls things (I was the girliest little girl you could ever imagine- I know, huge surprise!). I have all those items laying out in her room now and in August, I’ll actually get to give them to her! I think the thing I am most excited for though is to watch Thomas become a father and see his relationship with her. As someone who didn’t have a relationship with my biological father growing up, it brings me to tears every time I think about how special their bond will be, especially since I never got that. He’s going to be the most amazing father, too! Out of the two of us, he’s the one who’s really great with children since he’s so goofy and funny and loves teaching them things! He’s already so excited, reading every book he can get his hands on. I already love her so incredibly much my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest. We can’t wait to meet our sweet baby girl!

Our amazingly talented friend and photographer, Ryan Ray, flew out to Charleston last week to capture these film photos for us (shoutout to Indie Film Labs for turning them around so quickly!). My baby bump just started to pop, so there was finally something to actually capture on camera! We’ve shot some of our life’s most precious moments with Ryan, starting from way back in 2012 when we did our engagement photos with him. Over the years, he’s become a great friend and we are so thankful to him for capturing these photos for us. We will treasure them for forever, and I can’t wait to show them to our little girl someday!