PREGNANCY PHOTOS!!!

This pregnancy I vowed to myself to take on a different state of mind and attitude.  Not just on how I viewed being pregnant but also in how I took care of body.  Before my husband and I took the natural first steps to conceiving I started working out and running consistently at the very beginning of the year.  Me and my workout partner CJ were getting up at least 5 days a week at 5:15am to run and lift weights at 24 hour fitness.  So when I did find out I was pregnant I was able to continue my journey in trying to remain fit.  Now, I am not the fittest pregnant person, which I am ok with, but I am proud at how I have taken responsibility for how much weight and body fat I have taken on with these two babies.  So with that, I wanted to go all out with my pregnancy/maternity photos.  Mind you, I loved my maternity photos that I did my first pregnancy.  They remind me of how much of a team my husband and I had to become in order to raise our first child in a city that was so far away from any family.  However, these current maternity pictures remind me of how BLESSED I am to 1)Be able to carry life with no complications; 2)Have great health in my mind, body, and spirit; and 3) now be surrounded by a community of talented people who give of themselves in helping me see my dreams become reality.

SPECIAL THANK YOU’S go to a couple of people who made this photo shoot possible.

• Alana Fickes – The AMAZING photographer who recreated and captured the visions I had in my head
• Brittany White – The AWESOME make-up artist who used my face as a canvas and turned it into a masterpiece if I do say so myself
• Angela Kim, Maria Pelletier, & Nina Elcao – The WONDERFUL women of Maker who helped facilitate us being able to use a stage to shoot the photos
• Maker Studios – The FANTASTIC company that allowed me to shoot and share the joys of my pregnancy with you all.

(All of the photos were shot by Alana Fickes, makeup by Brittany White, and braids by Amber Harris.)

 

My Themes were Rosie The Riveter, Queen of Hearts, and Goddess

 

 

4 Annoying Things People Say When You are Pregnant With Twins

So now that I am 20 weeks pregnant, when people see me they can obviously see that I am with child.  If someone asks if or when I am expecting I proudly say, yes I am expecting twin boys sometime in either February or March.  While I completely understand the excitement behind meeting someone having twins, I don’t understand some of the statements that follow…

1. Are the twins natural? To me, this is like asking,  “So what position did you and your husband have sex when you conceived?”  How I got these babies in my body is no one’s business but mine, my husband’s, and my OB/GYN.  To ask me if I used some form of help with conceiving is assuming that my body couldn’t do this on its own.  While I cast no judgement on women who do need some assistance with getting pregnant, why can’t people assume I am healthy and have a plethora of eggs.  It just seems like such a private question to ask and if we are really that close of friends that you feel comfortable asking me, then you would already know the answer.  I know people don’t mean any harm by the question but damn.  Even the use of the word “natural” put such a negative spin on woman who have to use the help of doctors to conceive.  Are their twins “artificial”?
2. You’re are gonna get REALLY BIG.  Well so will your eye and your lip if I punch you in it for being so rude.  I am fully aware that my stomach will probably be larger than it was with my first son, even though I’m in way better shape this pregnancy.  However, I do not need the reminder.  If I blow up like a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, lets just wait until it happens before making any predictions.  Now don’t get me wrong I am so proud of my bump! But sometimes I just want to put a bump on people’s head when they feel free to comment on my upcoming girth.
3. So you’re definitely going to have a C-Section.  So should I assume you apparently have a medical degree with an emphasis in multiple births?? LOL.  I have never been pro c-section because I prefer not to have my abdominal muscles cut open.  However, if there was a medical emergency and I had to have c-section, I guess I wouldn’t have a choice.  Twins can be born vaginal and many of them are.  So instead of putting your energy on assuming I will have to undergo major surgery, let just wait and see what will happen.
4. Twins! That’s gonna be really hard.  Thank you Captain Obvious for that beautiful revelation.  Raising twins will be difficult but not as difficult as it has been for me to hold my tongue and not start cussing people out.

Again, I know people don’t mean to come off nosy, insulting, or all-knowing but they are.  LOL.  I know I’m not the only pregnant woman that has the hear the multiple comments and questions that might make you tear up or strangle people on site.  Hell, I probably have said a few annoying things myself to pregnant friends while not really thinking fully about the potential impact of my words.  However, it seems like with this pregnancy I must have on a shirt that reads, do you have a ridiculous question or comment about being pregnant with twins? ASK THIS LADY.  But even with all the not so good comments, I am so appreciative of this one word that I get more often than not and that’s “CONGRATULATIONS!”  It is like music to this big pregnant lady’s ears.