Maternity Photos + Our Delivery

Maternity photos . . .

It’s been three and a half weeks since Mary Jane joined our family. She came six weeks early, so life feels like a game of catch up. Slowly but surely, we’re getting the hang of nighttime feedings, diaper changing and swaddling. Overall, our first month of parenting has been filled with a lot of learning and an overwhelming sense of joy.

These are a few favorites from my maternity photos with Haley. We had such a good time snapping them and chatting about Mary Jane’s upcoming arrival. Little did we know that in just a few short weeks she’d make her surprise appearance.

After my preterm labor scare and getting put on bed rest (details via my 3rd trimester update), I was sure I’d be able to stretch things out to deliver closer to her due date. A week passed, and I started having contractions again the following Sunday night. Two shots and an awful lot of fluids later, we managed to slow the contractions down. Even though I was 34 weeks along, buying time was the name of the game.

I woke up Monday morning, November 21st, and the contractions started again. This was it.  Thankfully, our hospital bags were already packed, and we were ready to go.

[At this point, I felt scared, extremely nervous and was attempting to channel my inner yogi. I now realize that my weekly yoga classes were THE best form of labor and delivery prep. All the deep breathing techniques really helped to manage the stress throughout the entire process.]

The time came, and we delivered our sweet Mary Jane at 6:38PM. Though my delivery was quick and painless, the overall experience was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. At just 34 weeks, I knew she’d have to stay in the NICU. The thought of not getting to bring her home was heart wrenching.

All I could do was focus on the positives. I was healthy, and Mary Jane was healthy. She was breathing on her own and weighed 5 pounds and 10 ounces. This was far more than any of us expected, and everyone felt very optimistic.

After two weeks in the NICU, we finally got to bring Mary Jane home. She’s currently eating like a champ, gaining weight and starting to outgrow some of her premie onesies. Weighing in at 6 pounds and 8 ounces, her now chubby cheeks are a very welcome sight.

I promise to share occasional baby updates and photos. We are so grateful for all your thoughts, prayers + kind comments. We really do feel the love.

maternity photos by Haley Nord