Our Maternity Session at Cross Estate Gardens, New Jersey

So many times, I encourage parents to get in the pictures with their children. And that looking back on those pictures, they will be so happy that they did. It can be hard, trust me I know! At 35 weeks pregnant, I realized we still hadn't taken our maternity pictures. And I had every excuse as to why. I hadn't found the right dress yet. I had been getting so tired lately, and there was no way I was going to be able to make myself look decent enough to be in front of the camera. And let's just face the biggest excuse..... I'm just flat out camera shy!

Thankfully I have had enough friends and family whom I don't often get to see wanting pictures, and encouraging me to do so. Oh, and my wonderful husband who would bring it up when I least wanted to think about it. So I sucked it up. I found a dress that would work well enough (even though we struggled getting it zipped up) and I did some research on nearby locations that would excite me enough to actually go through with it all. This is when I found the Cross Estate Gardens!!

This beautiful location in Northern New Jersey made the perfect backdrop for what I envisioned for maternity photos, and we were so lucky to have just enough green to make it look like Spring was here! We ventured out on that Sunday afternoon, with a tripod in hand so that Kay could jump in a few pictures with me, and we made it work. And guys, can I just say that looking back on these I am SO HAPPY that I took my own advice and did the pictures!!

I really thought that I would find myself picking through every hair that was out of place and ultimately decide to never show them, but as soon as Kay showed them to me, all I could see was this beautiful season of expecting our first child, and this amazing, loving man that I get to call my husband. These pictures are so precious to me now and I can hardly believe that I almost missed the opportunity to take them!

So PLEASE!!!! Next time you find yourself making excuses not to be in that picture, remember that one day you will be so happy that you let any insecurities go and just be you in the moment with the ones you love!