Yesterday marked 20 weeks pregnant!

I am measuring right on target with my belly at 20 cm! I still get a little sick in the mornings if I don’t eat RIGHT away! I am exhausted still and had a bad cold/sinus thing for the last two weeks that I am now just getting over – thank You Jesus! My migraines have decreased and I think I am feeling pretty good – other than the cold!

We are still in shock over this baby boy! We’ve gotten so many great little gifts already for Fitz! Thank you everyone!

Here are the comparative photos at 15 and 20 weeks!

Look at those chubby cheeks – I am blaming it on the fact that I don’t feel good!

I do love having this baby “bump”! My mom had me on May 26th and we were talking about how she didn’t even start showing till February – and she was MUCH thinner than I was when she got pregnant! Strange how it’s different for everyone!

The problem with my uterus has fixed itself – so that is good news!

Thank you again to everyone who reads my blog, supports my photography, and rejoices with us over this miracle!

About 4 or 5 years ago – we were sitting in the Fitz’s living room at Christmas and Christy starts telling me about her friend Rachel. Rachel was a school teacher but she loved photography. She took a leap of faith and started her own business and it was really starting to take off! Christy brought up her website and we browsed the amazing photos! I remember the newborns being BREATHTAKING!

Jared said – hey didn’t I walk down the aisle with her at your wedding – indeed he had! From that moment on I bookmarked her blog and have been reading ever since. When KT lived with us for that semester in college – we would look at Rachel’s blog every day and I would say – someday KT – someday I wanna have a business like Rachel – I want people to look at my work and feel that same emotion I feel when I look at hers.

Rachel – I can honestly say that though we never met or really corresponded till recently – that YOU encouraged me to quit my job as a secretary and follow my dreams. When I got discouraged I would go to your blog and read your words and see your photos and KNOW that this was my purpose!

You have inspired me and helped me get where I am today – THANK YOU! You have always been true to give God the credit and talk openly about your love for Jesus – thank you for that!

Which was why – when we decided to visit Dave & Christy – I KNEW that we had to book a session with you! I had hoped beyond all hope that we would be pregnant for our session – and look at that – we were! We had a great time with you and just loved getting to meet you and be in front of your camera. You honestly made us feel like we were old friends just playing in a field!

I cannot thank you enough for sharing your talent with us!

Make sure to check out our session on her blog!

I just got the link to our photos last night and I already have an order written out – but I have to look at them AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN just to make sure! THEY ARE AMAZING!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Last year I got an email from Ben about his wedding to Ashley – on 9.19.2009. That same day a bride I had been conversing with to find a date called me saying that Belhurst Castle had an opening at the last minute – for 9.19.2009. I had to email Ben back and tell him that I wasn’t available after all!

I LOVE Mandy & Jason and am so thankful for their wedding – but was so sad at missing the chance to work with Ben & Ashley!

Fast forward to this past June – I photographed Ashley’s sister’s wedding – and had SUCH A GREAT TIME! I have also photographed her younger sister and her boyfriend! I love this family!

Ashley & Ben – thank you for making my job easy and so enjoyable!

I love that series!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those ones!

Thank you again SO MUCH!!!

We had our first OB appt with Dr. Becker in Wellsboro today! I was so nervous – of course I threw up this morning – but I’ve been throwing up every morning. I didn’t want to go – I just wanted to cancel and pretend that everything would just be fine. Out appt was at 7.45 am so I picked up J from work and we made it right on time. We went through the medial history of both of us and then came the real stuff!

Dr. Becker came in and asked some more questions. I wanted 3 things from today’s appointment – have been praying for 3 things.

1. I cut down my medication to 10 mg a night. I tried to go off it completely and literally could not function. I did the research – prayed about it – and researched some more. I feel confident that being on such a low dosage will be safe and fine. Dr. Becker agreed – thank you Jesus!

2. I needed to hear a heartbeat. Even if it was just a few seconds – I needed to hear it! Because we are so early – it was tough to get – we could hear mine and only mine. Then – really quick – but so fast and clear – we could hear the woosh woosh woosh woosh of OUR BABY! We only found it twice – but it was there and strong! Jared and I both cried – couldn’t even look at each other without crying!

3. I really wanted to see our baby – that memory of a blank screen is so vivid in my memory – I needed to be able to open my eyes and see our baby! To get a firm due date – Dr. Becker scheduled an US for Monday at 1.30!

I prayed for 3 things and each of those prayers were answered! Praise Jesus!

Everything looks good so far – they took 8 vials of blood – EIGHT! I got a flu shot and our next appt is November 19th at 4 pm!

20 weeks will be DECEMBER 25th – WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT – we will find out if we are having a Fitzgerald Douglas or an Isa Samantha!

I feel so much better – like I can breathe and really be excited – and go buy some new clothes – cus my jeans aren’t cutting it anymore!

Thank you so much everyone – for your prayers – your thoughts – your tears – your excitement – EVERYTHING! I love all of you more than you know!

I cannot wait to have a baby shower and invite every single one of you!

Dave & Jared have known each other for a long time – they went to NCA together. We ran into Dave in Wal*Mart one night and got talking – he was engaged to a sweet girl named Jenna and they were really frustrated with the price of wedding photographers. Definitely a God appointment! They came to the house a few nights later to look at my work – which there wasn’t much of – and said – YES!

We started to hang out with them and became close friends.

Jenna is from Troy and almost everyone from the Troy area has heard about me because of Jenna – who told a friend of a friend of a friend about me. Jenna & Dave really helped my photography get off the ground and spread the word about me – which is one of the MANY reasons I love them!

Dave is from a very large family – 10 kids! Their family has grown lately with some new grandbabies and they needed an updated family photo. Getting the whole family together is difficult so we only had a small window to do photos. And then it rained. Now – we need the rain but I couldn’t reschedule this session since Kathryn and her family were leaving to go back home the moment it was done. The skies cleared just in time for our shoot! Praise Jesus!

Which is another AWESOME thing about this family – they LOVE Jesus!

The crazy thing is that they are ALL beautiful!

Cousins and all the grandkids!

Dave & Jenna are the ones in brown!

They are all YANKEES fans – so they had to get a photo to represent that!

Thank you so much VanLoon family for being awesome!

Shelly is such a sweetheart – I cannot wait to meet baby *O*!

I LOVE that series!

Thanks again for having me photograph this miraculous time in your life!

I took Nicole’s maternity photos and we are signed on to capture little *E* till he is at least 1!

He is the sweetest thing ever – so cute and chubby!

Oh my goodness. Such precious moments!

You guys have such a sweet blessing! It’ll soon be time for his 3 month session – can’t wait to see him!

Little *L* was so great during our newborn session. He is the perfect miracle to cuddle with!

Thank you so much Angela – his cuddles were just what I needed!

SO SWEET!

I bought this blue sheet just for this purpose and had been saving it for a little baby bird!

I almost forgot to get these shots – so glad we remembered!

Angela – thank you so much for having me over – can’t wait for our sessions in the fall!

Kaitlyn will be a freshman in college this year and for her graduation present I gave her a photo session of her choice!

She wanted some pictures with her kitty, Topanga – her boyfriend, Zac – and her horse, Honey.

I LOVE those shots!

And these mushrooms were just begging to be photographed!

Thanks so much Kaitlyn – it was a great sesson!

Have a FANTASTIC time at college!

Lael & Mark were married on July 11th, a BEAUTIFUL day!

They had a moving ceremony and a fabulous reception with tons of dancing!!!

Mark’s mom and Lael – what a sweet moment!

LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!!

This was a BEAUTIFUL moment – the choir was amazing!!!

Mark sang to Lael with Ithacappella – it was AMAZING!

It was a GREAT night – thank you so much Lael & Mark!