This past week we were over the moon that we finally got to share that our little family is growing!! This baby is already an incredible gift from the Lord and we are so so grateful. We don’t take a day with baby Akins for granted. Thank you so much to all of our friends and family for the sweetest texts, calls, comments and notes this week…we have loved getting to read them and are grateful our baby is already so loved and prayed for!

When did we find out?

We found out about baby Akins two days before we were leaving for our big trip to Norway and Scotland this summer…cue all the happy tears and shock!! We’re going to be PARENTS!!! I’m a MOM…it’s still hard to wrap my head around…

We quickly planned a last minute trip that Sunday around the state of Virginia to share the news with our families and some of our closest friends…we bought a “I’m the Big Sister” t-shirt for Lexie the Cockapoo to wear and let her deliver the news when we got to their houses! My mom and my sister we’re both in happy disbelief when we shared the news and Ryan’s mom guessed the news and shrieked before even reading the shirt!! Haha!

Then we got on an airplane to head out of the country (praying the whole way that I wasn’t about to get hit with morning sickness up in the air)!

It was especially crazy because we were supposed to be taking this trip with some of our best friends who found out they were pregnant a few weeks before us…but ended up being unable to join us due to some severe morning sickness…while we were more than a little sad they couldn’t come, we were so excited to FaceTime them from our little Air BNB and share the news that there were actually THREE of us there! It’s been such a blessing to get to share this season with Amy!! (especially the tougher parts! Somehow texting pictures of your saltine crackers to someone who understands really helps you feel better…)

The trip ended up being the perfect baby moon for us and we are so grateful that we got to sneak in a last European adventure before baby!! (and get some super special early maternity pictures taken by our dear friends Jill and Katelyn…as seen in this post!! We bought this sweet little outfit for Baby Akins when we were in Norway and can’t wait to put them in it!) We love to travel and we can’t wait to show baby Akins the world!

In the meantime….the past few months have been a blur…

I thought it would be fun to share a bit about my journey so far and answer some of the questions we’ve been getting from friends!! The fun and joyful parts and also the harder parts…I want to be a mom that speaks life and encouragement into future moms who might struggle or experience some of the same things!

When is your due date?

March 18, 2018! 4 days before my 28th birthday! Of course a baby will be the best birthday gift ever, but I’m hoping not to share my exact birthday with baby A…Of course we’ll be thrilled no matter what, but I’d rather have the contractions and labor done by then so that I can eat cake and snuggle my baby to ring in 28! ;)

Are you going to find out if it’s a boy or girl?

Yes!!! Definitely! I’m not someone who loves surprises and there are already enough surprises when you’re having a baby in my opinion…haha! No final name decisions yet, but I love hearing suggestions!

Will you still take weddings next year?

Another definite YES!!! I love this job and my couples! I’m planning for a maternity leave, but I think I’ll be so excited to get to shoot again after a long break!

How are you feeling?

The first ten weeks I really felt like one of those magical unicorn women who never gets sick while pregnant…I had a few migraines, but I felt almost totally normal, had lots of energy, and ate everything I normally did…

And then the tenth week came and

BAM

all of a sudden I understood why women say pregnancy is HARD.

Nausea, just generally feeling ill and not like myself, not being able to be active or work as hard as I’m used to, EXHAUSTION like I’ve never known (coming from the girl who used to be able to get by with little sleep, loved pulling all nighters to get big projects done and could drive to a wedding out of town, shoot for 10 hours, and then road trip home late at night with NO PROBLEM), and ALL. THE. EMOTIONS. For a few weeks there there I could cry buckets at any slightly emotional commercial. The commercials could be about toilet paper and somehow I’d have tears falling…

In all seriousness though, for the past few years I’ve been so scared of the idea of becoming a mom! For part of my teenage years and into my early adulthood I battled crippling anxiety after losing my dad, and it took such a long time for those chains to be broken so I could live my life in freedom. And I was terrified that all the changes and unknowns that come along with having a baby could send me back into a dark place of fear. There is so much that is completely out of your control when it comes to having a baby and that can be scary…

But I can’t wait to continue sharing what God is teaching me through this about deeper trust, grace, and His perfect timing!! And even when I feel unprepared, full of doubt, or scared, He is with me and is teaching me so much more about who He is!

And He has been so faithful to me in this season (and I’ve never been more thankful for Ryan who helps calm my fears, prays for and with me for our baby, and will run out to Kroger or Taco Bell at the drop of a hat even at 11 PM for snack requests! :)

Speaking of…Any food cravings or aversions?

Cravings:

CHICK FIL A FRENCH FRIES with polynesian sauce…but that just might be because in general I try to eat really healthy and fries don’t make the cut ;). So this “craving” could just be my excuse to eat french fries let’s be real.

But I can’t get enough Life Cereal, grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, or limeade. Oh or lima beans…probably my weirdest craving…

Aversions:

This is BLOWING MY MIND…I used to be a 4 or 5 cups of black coffee a day kind of person…literally addicted to an unhealthy amount of coffee…and now I CAN’T. STAND. IT. Not even a sip.

I’m hoping to love it again soon, but will plan to stick to one cup a day :).

Also, I normally love Mediterranean food and vegetables (brussels sprouts are usually my fave), but I can’t do the stronger flavors…

I’m sure the second trimester will usher in some new cravings and aversions and I’m excited for all that’s still ahead!

I’m so grateful for the journey so far and am excited to continue sharing!! Thank you so much again for reading and sharing in our joy! More soon!!