Maternity Series |12 Weeks|

So, as part of a new package I want to offer to clients in 2012 (still yet to be named), I've decided to embark on a maternity photography series.  Ideally I would have had a model to use for business purposes, but since I myself am pregnant and wanted to do another series of 'belly shots' like I did with Victor, I decided to combine both projects into one.

It's pretty simple; take self-portraits (or assisted portraits) of myself throughout my pregnancy.  I'm going to aim to do them weekly, but we'll see how it goes, I'm sure I will miss a week here and there (with Victor's I went from 2 week intervals to 3 week intervals once I was put on bedrest, hopefully that won't happen this time!). I've decided that instead of using the same location every week like I did with Victor's belly shots, I would choose a different location everytime to mix it up (and also to double as location scouting for future shoots!) I'll treat each week as a 'mini' shoot and take different shots to include, not just the the typical 'belly' shot, although that will be the focus, of course.

Now, this is NOT my original idea; in fact, I'm drawing inspiration heavily from Bleubird's maternity series that she did last year (check it out if you haven't seen it, she's GORGEOUS and has such great style!)  I was also really insprired by Cole's maternity series, which was the one that started them all, I believe.  If you haven't seen these, please go take a peek at them here and here.  Oh, and check out this adorable maternity book, I plan on doing something similar with these shots. I'm using the idea of writing a mini letter to the baby every week as well, even though it's written in English and not French (for business purposes...and also so Dan can contribute/understand, haha!)

Anyway, I'm really excited to start, it will force me to get out and take some real self portraits, which I haven't done in over 2 years (not counting Victor's belly shots). Now, I am sooo not a model, I'm actually totally awkward in front of the camera, so it will probably take a few weeks before I can look natural, but hopefully it will come with time.  I'm starting at 12 weeks, and let me tell you, I have a little pooch already by the looks of these shots!  I can't wait until the weather gets a bit nicer and I can start wearing pretty skirts and dresses, and for the backgrounds to look a little less...umm...dead.

(Shots taken at my sister's house)

I'll also be posting these over on my photography blog, but I'm not sure when I want to start, I may wait a little bit before posting (not sure when I want to 'announce' my pregnany to clients)

So, here we go, wish me luck! (And I'm sorry if you are tired of seeing these types of series, but I'll keep it down to once a week, tops!)

G. 

This...

...is what has been consuming my mind (and body) for the last 14 weeks or so.

Due September 23rd, 2011.

Not gonna lie, I had a total and complete MELTDOWN when I found out (tears and all).

Pretty much the exact opposite reaction to Victor's conception.

I felt guilty about it for a long time, but then forgave myself and said that my reaction was real, and that I can't blame myself for my feelings.

This was SO not planned, and SO not expected (again, as opposed to Victor).

It's throwing our lives (and especially my career plans) for a real loop.

We're worried, and scared about how we'll manage, but we're dealing as best we can.

And...

As my belly starts to puff out a little bit (much quicker than the first time), I'm starting to embrace and look forward to the arrival of this new little being who is going to complete our family.

We're on the journey again, a bit sooner than expected, but we'll enjoy it nonetheless.

Be back soon, promise this time.

G. (and Kid A-2)

Victor's birthday

Finally getting around to blogging about this!

So Victor's birthday wasn't anything fancy or complicated, but this year I think that simple and easy was all that we could handle.  We decided to go swimming at the Aquatic centre in Saint John and then head back home for cake and pizza.  The day before his party and the morning of, it stormed really bad so I was worried that we wouldn't be able to go, but luckily my parents were able to drive us (our car was buried under 2 feet of snow!), and a few people were able to make it, so all in all it turned out.  He LOVED swimming and didn't cry once the entire time (even when we went into the 'cold' pools), his little lips were quivering but he didn't want to get out! Unfortunately you aren't allowed to take pictures in there, but I think that next time I may sneak in my phone to snap a quick photo of him swimming, it's so cute!  We then went out for lunch (won't mention where, let's just say a popular fast food chain where Victor may have had his first fast food fry *cough cough* McDonald's, don't judge *cough cough*), and then we headed home for the afternoon to rest (all the kids slept sooo well). 

I got things ready and picked up Victor's cake, which my friend Vanessa made for us.  I wanted to make a cake based on his favourite book, "Squishy Turtle and Friends", but I knew that I would never be able to make anything as nice as I wanted, so I hired her to do it for us since she makes such cute fondant cakes.  It turned out great!

At around 5 oclock everyone (my parents, my sister and her husband, and my friend Sara and her family) met up at our place and we had pizza, snacks and then some cake.  Victor opened his presents (spoiled again!) and then he 'blew' out his candle.  I think that he was pretty overwhelmed/junk food'ed out by that point, because he really wasn't feeling the whole cake thing, which is too bad, but it was a long and tiring day for him so I'll remember that for next time.  The photo below pretty much sums up how he felt that night I think, haha.



It's kind of a bummer to have a 'winter baby' because around here it means being stuck inside and not having a whole lot of options for activities (not to mention natural light for photos, ack!), but I'm hoping that next year I can come up with more of a fun 'theme' and make it a bit more of a special affair.  For now though, my bébé is 1 year old and that's all that matters.

(Félix partied well into the night, as you can see.)

I still plan on doing a 12-month update for Victor, if I can ever get my act together, so that will be next, and then some non-Victor related stuff, I promise!

Thanks for sticking around this desolate little place,
G.