Hi! Last week I posted about getting pregnancy photos taken by our friend Photographer Will Robb. The photos are ready now and I wanted to share some here! These were taken when I was 31 weeks. I have 100+ more photos but the ones above are my favorites:)
Andy and I both enjoyed the photo shoot. Will and his wife, Sue came over to our apartment with all the equipment, and set up a shop here. Obviously I’m not a professional model so I usually get pretty nervous in front of camera, but I really felt at home while he was taking the pictures. The shoot lasted for about 5 hours, but the time flew!
I love how the photos came out and it is really nice to have something to remember this time in my life.
So, I’ve been reading a book called “Making children mind without loosing yours” by Dr. Kevin Leman for the second time. The book was passed down from my grandmother-in-law to my mother-in-law to me. I read it when I was about 18 weeks, and now I’m getting close to the end of the pregnancy, I decided to read it again. So whenever I take a long bath, I take the book with me and read it in the bath.
I’ve noticed that I have a different feeling reading this book for the second time now. For instance, in the beginning of the book, Leman talks about how his doctor gave him advice about leaving the baby with a baby sitter for a couple of hours every week in order to take his wife on a date without the baby. He discusses how this system worked worked well for both he and his wife, and (amazingly) the baby in the long run. He writes that it was really hard for him at first, but it helped a lot in order to maintain a strong love relationship between he and his wife. This, in turn, helped both of them to become stronger parents. Quality time alone as a couple leads to quality time together as parents.
Leman wonders what would have happened if he did not take the advice given him and instead restricted his entire life around a little baby… He strongly holds that if he had done this that the baby would not have grown up to be as responsible and disciplined as she is now.
When I first read this, I was thinking, “leaving a baby for a few hours? This won’t be hard for me! I want to go out and take a break sometime and I can have my mom come over to watch the baby”. But now when I re-read the same thing, I wonder if I can actually do this. I feel so attached to the baby already and leaving the baby just for a few hours sounds like a real big deal. It’s strange how my feelings and attitude have changed over the past couple of months. I feel the baby move and I’m looking forward to her coming every day.
Anyway, although it may be hard for me, I want to try to leave the baby for a few hours each week to go out with Andy. I plan to make a conscious effort to do this even if it feels scary. Perhaps starting on my birthday, which is 10 days after my estimated due date. It will be hard I am sure, but I think it will help my whole family in the long run.
Any opinion? If you are a parent, do you find it hard to leave your baby to someone else?
P.S. Last day to enter the cut out dress giveaway! The winner will be picked and announced tomorrow:)
13 weeks
Samantha Nandez says
I'm so excited for you and your hubby! It may be hard to leave the baby for a little while, but I think it'll definitely be worth it. I can't tell you how many couples I've seen go mad when they don't save time for themselves.
LiPeony says
awesome pictures! The one with the little booties on your husband is hilarious. I'm not a mother but I can imagine how hard it may be to separate even for a few hours from the baby. I've heard/read about this and it makes a lot of sense especially the "quality couple time = quality parenting time"
excited for you!
Jen says
Awww I love it!! You look amazing.
I'm excited for you.
God bless you.
Ai says
Oh yey! almost there chie….
your pregnancy pictures are all so wonderful…with lots of emotions as expectant parents.
i am a hands on mom to two active toddlers, I never experience leaving them with a nanny only with mom in law but usually only for some hours if I need to run some errands out of home. Of course, but now that I will undergo an operation soon i am considering leaving them with a nanny. Yet, i am still not that confident to leave them with a person i do not know. for sure, they will look for me since they are not used to be with a stranger. But i think having a nanny from time to time is also essential if u really need to distress from motherly life and just be with hubby out for a date once or twice a month.
I hope i could share more of my mommyhood experience..maybe next time.
Happy pregnancy again. enjoy her while shes still inside you. YOu will miz that moment..being preggy.
hana says
Such cute pictures! Your little one will definitely know how happy you guys were waiting for her 🙂
I don't think I'll be able to leave my baby and go out with my husband without thinking about him the whole time. Perhaps when he's not a newborn anymore and is on a more predictable schedule I might consider it but since I have no family here, I wouldn't know who I could really leave him with that could take good care of him.
Emily says
Gorgeous pictures! I think that's good advice, though it might be easier to start with only leaving for a half hour or an hour at a time. I kind of wish we lived near family. We felt too bad to leave our colicy daughter with anyone. We need to get out now that she's not constantly crying. 🙂
Lorena O'Neal says
beautiful photos and beautiful mommy! how exciting.
RACHAEL says
you look gorgeous chie! i hope i look as lovely as you do when i have babies one day 🙂
that photo of you and your husband, with the baby's dress on his head is my fave, it made me laugh! x
Love Baby Grand says
Beautiful photos! 🙂
Emeraldflare says
so much love in those photos! you look great! thanks again for sharing your pregnancy journey. My hubby and I are hoping to start a family in the near future so reading all this is really helpful 🙂
September Daze says
I love the photos… you can really tell how much love you and your husband have each other (and soon for you baby!) My favorite is the one with the heart on your belly! You look so happy 🙂 I think sometimes new parents are so focused on their baby that they forget they need to nuture the love between them too! As she gets older, then she won't have such a hard time being away from you two. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
vivatveritas says
>hana
i saw your post on your blog! congrats, thats so exciting…:)
how is everything going? is breast feeding going well?
>emeraldflare
thats great that you and your husband are thinking of starting a family! andy and i took some time to talk about it and really enjoyed having time of ourselves before we started on family, and i think it worked out great for us. im thrilled to hear that my little journey has been helpful!
yum says
Your sister can help you! I just practiced bathing a baby and keep carrying her at a mall last week!
Adrienne says
Beautiful pictures!! There is always so much advice about how to raise children. I think you will find that each child is so different it's hard for a "one size fits all" mold. Some children respond to different parenting methods than others. As a new mom, time for yourself and your spouse is important, but listen to your instincts. If you are not quite ready to leave your baby with someone for a couple of hours for the first month or so, don't do it! Wait until you are ready. Otherwise this "special" outing will be miserable for you!!!
Kayla says
What wonderful pictures, they came out so nice! As a parent (step parent really) of a five year old, we still find it hard to leave him in the hands of someone else. Not that he can't handle it, I don't know, it feels strange. BUT, we also don't have him full time, we share custody with his birth mother..so that might have something to do with it. I do think it's important to make time for one another though definitely.
–Kayla =)
satomi says
素敵な写真！
お腹に字が書いてあるけど、もう名前決まってるのかな＾＾
赤ちゃん服を被ってしまった旦那様、面白い！！
ちえちゃんは妊婦さんでもアクティブで尊敬するよ。
お身体お大事にね！
vivatveritas says
＞さとみさん、
名前はキコにしようと思ってます♪希望の希に湖で希湖。うちの親には天皇家じゃんって反対されてるんですが。。涙
そろそろ日暮里行くのも控えなきゃ。。とりあえず土曜は混むので避けてます！