My heart has been bursting with all of the love and congratulations we’ve received over the last week about this baby on the way!  You guys have been so excited with us and for us and it brings me to tears just thinking about how loved this baby is already!

I thought I’d use this post to answer a few questions that people have been asking us… and share a few more of the photos Kim DeLoach took for us :-)

Will you find out if you’re having a boy or a girl?  Yes!!  I’m such a planner and I also like being in on secrets.  And this falls in both of those categories!  But don’t worry, we will share the news with everyone else too!  We have friends who have gone both directions before and all I can say about those who wait to find out is “bless you and your will power!”  It’s super impressive.  But, Kim actually compared finding out the gender ahead of time to having a First Look on your wedding day and I love it!  Finding out the gender is like seeing your husband before you walk down the aisle… it gives you a chance to connect, to have those quiet moments when you really know this is happening, and it’s just as fun and exciting as the real thing.  I’ve had the amazing privilege to be in several delivery rooms the last few years and each time that baby enters the world, it’s incredible.  Just like when the bride walks down the aisle… it’s incredible.  And I cry almost every time!  So, for us, finding out what we’re having will be like when we had our First Look.  And we can’t wait!

Will you continue with Crossfit during your pregnancy?  Absolutely!  I’ve been doing research on this since Ben and I started crossfit almost 2 years ago and everyone I’ve talked to has confirmed what I’ve read.  (Almost) no matter what kind of exercise routine you were doing before pregnancy is ok to continue doing during pregnancy.  My coaches have been telling me that for ages, my doctor gave me the go-ahead, and I’ve even heard from other moms who have given birth that have confirmed it too.  One friend told me that two friends of hers have been doing crossfit over the last several years and each of them had a baby before starting crossfit and had their second babies while doing crossfit.  And both told her that they’d never have another baby without crossfit being in their routine.  My doctor said that it will help me with labor, delivery and even recovery… so bring it on!

But HOW can you physically do Crossfit as the baby grows??  Modify, modify, modify.  First and foremost, I’ll be listening to my body.  If it hurts, I won’t be doing it.  I’ll be taking more breaks than I normally do, I’ll be drinking more water than I normally would, and I won’t be pushing/pulling/lifting as much weight as I have been.  And as the baby grows, there will be certain movements that will be impossible to do… like burpees (oh darn!) ;-)  There’s also a website called CrossfitMom.com that has some really helpful advice and modified workouts so I’m sure some days I’ll be doing those WODs in place of what they’re doing at our own box.

Will you keep doing photography and continue shooting weddings after the baby is born?  Absolutely!  I remember sitting at my desk when I worked at Upward thinking how perfect owning my own photography business would be whenever God chose to give me a family.  I could stay home with my kids but still have work that was for ME (because let’s face it, I know myself and I know that I’m going to need something other than the baby to pour my energy into).  I could arrange my schedule how I needed to and work as I needed to and as time allowed.  There will be LOTS to figure out, but I know several photographers who have walked the path of owning their own business while being a wife and mom so I have lots of women whose brains I’ll be picking over the coming months!  We’ve also had several friends offer to keep the baby when we do start shooting weddings again in the spring of 2015 so I will not complain about those offers!

And before I sign off for the weekend, I get to announce the winner of the monogrammed rain jacket giveaway from Three Threads!  Congrats, Melissa L!  I’ll be in touch soon!

Don’t forget!  You still have today to place an order from Allison and save 15% off your entire order!  Visit her Etsy shop here.  Just think how great it will feel to have some Christmas shopping already finished!