August 2 was our three year anniversary - yaaaaaay! We took a leisurely bike ride to our favorite breakfast spot, Lucile's, and we reminisced about our wedding day three years ago, with all our friends and family around. We wrote about this past year in our anniversary book (thank you Jenny and Kat!) pondering what it gave to us, and what this next year might bring.
This guy still makes me laugh every day.
Besties
This last year was hard. We had to say goodbye to our sweet and loyal deaf doggie Bijoux in late November - she was able to hang on for Thanksgiving with the family, but we had to put her down two days later. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life, and I still burst into tears sometimes thinking about it- but the joy she brought into our lives was amazing, and I'm trying to focus on the good things. I read something recently that we don't ever get "closure" - there's really no such thing, and that people and pets come and go, and we just have to remember the beautiful ways they touched our lives. I did write a post about Bijie last year, and if you haven't read it, you can see it here - but I love that she was with us on the day we got married, shuffling about the house, and making silly faces before our ceremony. She was the best. (and also the worst - but in the best ways possible)
Bijoux our sweet deaf dog. Wedding day photos by Jarrod Renaud
This year, however, we also got some pretty cool news that has changed our world. In late January we found out that I am pregnant! WHAAAA?!?!? It still hasn't really even sunk in, even though I'm now 30-some weeks along, and I can feel our little one squirming around in my belly as I type this.
Since we have a heavily seasonal business, being wedding photographers, we are very excited with the timing of this little blob- hopefully making his debut in early October. We found out early on that we're going to have a boy, and for someone who grew up with one sister and exclusively girl pets (except for that one time I was gifted a boy mouse who only lived a few weeks), this was a bit of a shock. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm just taking it one day at a time and enjoying everything that's coming my way. I won't lie- I DID cry a little when I found out it was a boy- but I think I cry a little at everything, so really it's no indication of how I really feel. I'm getting more and more excited every day to see what this adventure is going to be like - being a mom, having a little boy.
Also, this is now me on a daily basis getting out of bed. Or off the couch. Or reaching for anything from a seated position.
Here are some photos from the past few months. I'm excited to share more as we continue on through this journey of creating our own family and what it throws our way.
photos I took on a hike by myself the day after we got the results of the official pregnancy test- mostly just trying to comprehend what was about to happen, and how our lives were going to change- clearly not really being able to.
Lost in the Woods - New Belgium's sour release party, where I didn't drink ANY BEER, and then shooting a beautiful wedding up in Steamboat.
From our road trip earlier this year.
trying to actually document this little baby weekly - but failing to be consistent at all. Also, at the Ren Fest in Loveland, I rocked a sweet costume made by my talented cousin who even added a strip of honeybee ribbon to my ensemble!
Pregnant and in Hawaii- probably my favorite combo. Next year's trip will be a TAD different. And yes, there WILL be a 2018 Hawaii trip if I have anything to do with it.
above: Max and me at PRIDE, Denver, and then in Rocky Mountain National Park
Still shooting weddings, and enjoying bike rides together!
This is my most favorite thing that has ever happened on Snapchat, and I want it commemorated here forever.
Watermelon suit! And Bemidji time!
VACATION PICS
Side note, last Monday Max was involved in a pretty nasty accident -BUT HE IS OKAY- that totaled the Pilot. Not his fault, some lady ran a red light- and THE IMPORTANT PART is that no one was injured in this accident, even though when I drove up to the scene after he called me, I thought for sure someone had died. But everyone was okay. Cars can be replaced, but people cannot. RIP Honda Pilot. You were a great car!
We are now trying to figure out which car we're going to buy, and what our next step is- but I'm just so thankful that Max was okay in this accident. It's a scary reminder that things like this happen so fast, life is short, and every day is a gift.
I'm trying to do some self-portraits that aren't on my phone - here's one from about 20-weeks along.