<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2286.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1394" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2286.jpg" alt="maternity photo" width="500" height="334" /></a>When you work as hard as we did to get pregnant, you savor every second of it.  For me, a good part of that savoring is photo-documenting the miraculous changes happening in my body.  I am not one of those women who worries that I am fat or not looking my best.  In fact, I feel more beautiful as a pregnant woman than I ever have before.  Every glance down at my ever-expanding belly puts a smile on my face, reminding me that we are the lucky ones- those folks who walked the journey of infertility and will (hopefully) emerge with a healthy baby girl in only a few short weeks.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2213.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1392" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2213.jpg" alt="maternity photo with ultrasound pic" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">During my first pregnancy, I was careful to also document my growth, knowing that it might be my only pregnancy.  Budgets and knowledge were different for us then.  So, I had no idea it was possible to hire a pro to take some maternity shots.  This time, we hired  Stephanie of <a href="http://www.brighteyephotography.com/">Bright Eye Photography </a>to shoot my belly bump along with our annual family holiday pic.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2437.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1395" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2437.jpg" alt="maternity photo with big sister" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The photos were even more fun since we got to involve our daughter.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2266.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1393" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2266.jpg" alt="maternity photo with big sister" width="334" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Her favorite game is playing doctor, which became an adorable moment to capture.  Who better to check on than her little sister?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2505.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1396" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1B8A2505.jpg" alt="big sis, lil sis maternity photo" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">She is SO excited about the pending arrival of her little sister.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/unnamed.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1401" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/unnamed.jpg" alt="black and white maternity photo" width="334" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This was my favorite photo from our shoot.  It makes me chuckle every time, and I LOVE that maternity jeans and toddler jeans both have navy blue elastic waistbands!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-7.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1399" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-7.jpg" alt="winter maternity photos" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Lucky for me, my bump was big enough to shoot at only 20 weeks, but as the weeks go by, there are more opportunities to take gorgeous photos.  Sometimes, you don't need a pro -  just need a willing mother and brother (who are both pretty big photography buffs) and a neighbor with a row of snow laden trees.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1397" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-4.jpg" alt="maternity photos in the snow" width="500" height="354" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We braved the cold, the blowing wind, and the knee-deep snow to get a few outdoor shots during the first blizzard of 2015.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-6.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1398" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-6.jpg" alt="snow maternity pictures" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We looked at lots of inspirational shots on Pinterest, and it seemed that to get the best photo, you had to shoot on location in Yosemite - or someplace else equally grandiose and pristine.  With the right framing and cropping, we were able to make it appear as if we were out in the vast wilderness, when in reality, we were just standing in my neighbor's back yard.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-8_edited.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1400" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/snow-8_edited.jpg" alt="belly bump photos in the snow" width="359" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">With all that snow, I was thankful to be only 8 months along, instead of 9 or 10.  No blizzard babies, please!</p>