Mountain top maternity

If I told you she was an amazing helicopter pilot {currently 8 months pregnant} you may already think she was rad. What if I then told you she volunteers tirelessly in hopes for finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis (an awful disease that one of her best friends suffers from) Not just a little here and there... we're talking she rode her bicycle 1,200 km with the Gear Up 4 CF crew,  as if that wasn't enough she organizes huge garage sales,  and the local Great Strides walk and every other event the Campbell River CF chapter comes up with.  She is a force, and someone you want to know.  I affectionately believe she is a rock star.  

I have flown with her a few times, most recently she flew Bryce and I to a mountaintop for our wedding photos (a truly remarkable experience).  When I found out she was pregnant, I naturally imagined her and her baby bump on a mountain top.  When she suggested having her brother fly us up to a snowy peak I was instantly on board.  (Yes her brother and her dad are both pilots as well and they make up Grizzly Helicopters).  Kristas hubby had to work, so we substituted in her more than willing mom in.  Her mom mentioned to me that Kristas first time in a helicopter was when she was 5 weeks old, so it all just seemed to fit so well.  I feel lucky to have the opportunities that I do with such incredible people.  Flying 10 minutes out of the Campbell River they basically fly me to paradise and as they are hovering over the below area say "Erin, does this look ok?"  Um... ya... if you're into the whole winter wonderland pristine beauty kinda thing.  A fresh pile of snow with not a footprint to be seen.  Untouched.  Beautiful.  It was insanely cold and windy,  I could have spent hours up there (if my hands and face weren't numb) however I believe we were only there for about 20 minutes or so.  In any case, 20 minutes on a mountain top and a remarkable experience with amazing human beings.     

Maternal Musings

The thing I love about a maternity session with a first time momma, is that everything is unknown. That feeling that you want to control things, but you can't. You don't. You want to know when the baby will come, what the baby will look like, whose eyes? lips? You are praying for a healthy baby, a good birth. You are afraid of the unknown and terrified of not being good enough. You are expecting the worst, the best... the most. You have no idea what is about to happen. You are uncomfortable, like, seriously uncomfortable. You have gone through so much growing this baby and you have no idea, that the best really is yet to come. Or at least, that is how I was.

What I love about maternity sessions is that through the photos, you are transported outside of your own discomfort and fear, and are somewhere on the outside, looking in at the most glorious parts. The way you grew that baby. The way your body grew the eyes you are yet to know, the feet that will touch the earth, the hands that will draw all over your bathtub with crayons, the mouth that will say the whole alphabet at 21 months. The way you didn't know how to grow vital organs, but you did it anyways. The way you did your very best, even when you were convinced that you weren't.

The thing I love about a maternity session is that it is true love, struggle, devotion and unconditional love... celebrated. All you ladies growing people... You go girls. You grow those babies, you eat that chocolate, you cry, you laugh, you pee 25 times a night, you online shop, you cut your hair, you get a pedicure, and you celebrate you. Because you are awesome. Growing people is no small matter, and YOU should be celebrated.

maggie eagle

beautiful belly

maggie and bridget

whole family

Bridget

bw

off into the distance

Can't wait to share Bridget and Jeremy's beautiful baby photos {check back on Monday}. Their New Years baby Ben, has already arrived. {and he is INCREDIBLE} for now... here is their maternity session with their gorgeous Newfoundland pup Maggie. xo

2011:Maternity Favorites

pearson

pregnancy

trees

bridget

jeanine and ry

in the barn

mere

Lindsay and lace

barn

stripes

light

k

kristina

andie

jeanine

beautifully pregnant

In 2011 I was blessed to cross paths with some incredibly beautiful women growing some pretty incredible people. Vancouver Island was the perfect backdrop for some of my favorite outdoor maternity photos of 2011. (many of which I haven't even had a chance to blog about yet!) Do you have favorites?? I'd love to know which maternity session from the great outdoors you loved the most! Thanks so much for stopping by. xo

Expecting.

There is nothing quite like waiting for a baby. A gorgeous little boy and another little one on the way. You all look gorgeous and I'm so excited to meet your newest addition. I have to be honest here folks, seeing all these beautiful pregnant mommas, kinda makes me look forward to the time when it is our turn again. You? However, now is not the time. So, for now... get your pregnancy fix here, with Jeanine and her beautiful family.

To grow a baby

You may recall the beautiful Tiffany and handsome Braden from their amazing wedding in 2008. Knowing Tiffany for, forever its pretty fabulous to be carrying babies at the same time. Its also nice to get talking about the whole process. I've been thinking a lot lately about pregnancy.

As human beings, generally... we don't really know the first thing about actually growing a baby. I don't know how to make eyes, or hair, or more importantly vital organs, but apparently our bodies do. Women's bodies just know, and without any input from the brain, or logic or reason... a baby is created. That, in itself is incredible, and absolutely deserves to be celebrated. One thing I know for sure about pregnancy now, after going through the experience myself is that there are a whole lot of NOT very glamorous moments involved. It isn't just beautiful photos of a gorgeous belly and then a perfect little baby a month later. There is a lot of struggle, there are emotions, there are countless physical challenges, nervous breakdowns, tears, endless fears, worries and an amazing amount of 'firsts'. I absolutely get it.

More than ever, I now appreciate and realize the intense value in maternity photos. In capturing a glimpse of the beauty of growing a baby. The magic in setting aside the struggles and challenges, and just simply appreciating the beauty of what is happening within the female body. Not to mention, allowing a woman going through so much, to see herself in a different light... my lights.

There are big miracles in life, medical miracles, and unbelievable stories of survival against all odds. Its no secret that pregnancy is a miracle. But I also believe it is a miracle that we fall asleep at night and wake up breathing in the morning. That our bodies carry us around in this world day after day, put up with our clumsiness, bad habits and keep that heart beating and oxygen flowing, all without any intellectual input from us. We think we are cool, or in control, or clever... but at the end of the day we are nothing without our little beating hearts. So, along the same lines when carrying a baby inside your belly you can try and read as many books as possible, you can be the smartest in your prenatal class, know all the terms... but when it really comes down to it, we have very little control over our pregnancies. Our bodies will grow these babies, and then deliver them. Wild.

Here are some of my beautiful friend and her husband a month before their due date. I'm so excited to meet your little one, and see what a marvel you've created together.