diapers and skinny jeans

With less than two weeks to go, I've started my preparations for my journey back  into the workplace .  While you can never completely prepare yourself for that first day back on the job, there are a few steps that I've taken to make sure that everything is in place and at the very least, make the transition a bit more smooth. I'm hoping these might help anyone going through the same thing, and maybe even start a discussion, too.  I'd love to know what helped you make your transition! Inventory your freezer For those of you breastfeeding, it was so important to try and gauge how much milk my child would need for the amount of time I would be away from her and plan accordingly.  If you have the ability to start building up a stockpile of freezer milk before you go back - even better! Plan a practice day It's as beneficial for you as it is for your newborn to have a trial run of being away from each other.  Practice setting your al...

While it has been a magical few weeks being a stay-at-home mum, I have my feet planted firmly on the ground with the realization that my return to work is quickly approaching.   Much  too quickly, might I add. I wish I could say I've taken this whole time to rest, recover, and lay happily in bed snuggling my newborn.  However, my role as mother, and the boundless love that comes with it, stretches to more than just one precious little girl - two of them, to be exact! This bittersweet, slightly painful, slightly freeing time is something I've experienced before. With Sofia, I threw myself into the abyss of seemingly endless 40+ hour work weeks. I fought for months to keep up with the demands of breastfeeding and my diminishing supply through broken breast pumps, no privacy, feeling bad about taking breaks and more. Those are memories I don't particularly enjoy revisiting, however, they have taught and prepared me with beaming confidence to tackle the...

From the beginning, this pregnancy seemed so much the same, yet so distinctly different all at once. I didn't get sick, I wasn't too turned away by my favorite foods, I had occasional heartburn here and there and overall, was able to relax and enjoy the experience.  What was strange was how differently I was carrying - having been told more times than I could count that I had looked as if I had "swallowed a basketball".  I think I was persuaded a few times in my head that maybe this was  different, maybe it really was a baby boy.  Yet still, in my heart I had an overwhelming intuition I would be holding another little girl in my arms, someone so very similar to her sister yet so distinctly different all at once. My little may flower. Saturday night, the air was warm and sticky.  Sofia, Erick and I read stories by a big window fan in her room trying to distract ourselves from the heat in our upstairs apartment. ...

At 11:36 AM with three sets of good pushes, Alba Mae said hello to the world. It was Monday the sixth of May, her hair in dark brown mops with Papa's eyes, Mama's lips. We are home safely and adjusting to blissful life as a family of four. (Thank you all for your well wishes, happy vibes, and congratulations over the past few days. Our hearts are full! I'm sitting here shaking my head on how I haven't updated my maternity series in a while, and look here we are - baby in arms! I have much more to share with you over the coming days about this incredibly empowering experience... for now, I'm off to have more squishy newborn cuddles. Bliss!)

Everyone was sleeping, I was anxiously tossing and turning in the quiet of the morning.  The sun was barely peeking its way through our window, the air was perfectly cool.  I tip toed to the bathroom, making my way through another contraction.  This could be the day.  I am putting my last load of baby's laundry through the wash, my sink and dishes have been cleaned.  This has been a morning I want to always remember, especially because I think it is leading to a very special someone's imminent arrival. Friends, I may just be going in to labor and delivery sometime today! I have the biggest smile on my face and am shaking a bit from nervousness and excitement.  Birth is the most empowering, difficult, and incredible journey I have ever taken and I can't wait to do it again.  If you're following along on Instagram or Twitter , we should have more up-to-date happenings as things progress! Oh my goodness, this is happening!  Baby De La Ro...

The dwindling days of late pregnancy are coming to a close, and all the time we thought we had left to finish up the tiny details is quickly passing us by.  As of today, I am thirty-six weeks and three days.  It has completely taken me off guard that many of you have checked in with us, making sure we're okay - especially since it's been a few weeks since we've jumped back into the series . To everyone that's said hello, we thank you. We're still here, just busily trying to stay on top of things around the house, meeting up with and put finishing touches on sessions with photo and video clients, taking the plunge into a brand new career (more on this later!) and basically just playing a  giant  game of catch up! It has been raining here lately.  Lots of rain.  While I'm thankful for the stormy weather and Spring's appearance around Chicago, we haven't had many opportunities to be outdoors for many of our portraits. We've made ...

The cold weather made being able to see my burgeoning baby bump over the layers of clothing nearly impossible, but it didn't stop us from going and having an adventure.  Yesterday Erick, Sofia, baby and I took a hike in a muddy forest just outside of the city.  Baby is stronger than ever, jabbing and kicking with such force that sometimes all I can do is just sit down and laugh.  My belly will bounce and ripple, and every now and again I'll catch Sofia or Erick looking over with a wide-eyed stare.  We can't wait to find out who it is that's growing in here and causing such a ruckus! The reality is truly starting to set in, and I've been reading up a lot on water birth and catching up on episodes of The Midwives I've downloaded (I cry every time!)  This pregnancy journey has been so much fun.  Relaxed, exciting, and fun. Huge smile! WEARING: KNIT DRESS IN BLACK BY AMERICAN APPAREL  |  PHOTOS: BY ERICK ...

Pops of color on a blank white canvas.  While we have quite a ways to go, we have been busily cleaning, painting and preparing Sofia's old room into a shared nursery for her new companion.  The farthest we've gotten has been a fresh coat of white paint on the walls and a bit of toy organization, but slowly we'll be finishing up and all the unfinished pieces of the puzzle will finally fall into place.  Progress is being made, and I am quite enjoying the relaxed approach we've taken in collecting, sorting and piecing together.  I can't wait to finally share the finished product! A few favorites we've collected so far: • the colorful & modern themis mobile • a wooden rainbow block set • our replica Eames rocker You may have noticed I've been taking a little space to breathe, and for those of you still checking in this space, thank you.  I've been bitten by the nesting bug (finally!) and have dipped my hands into as many projects as I ca...

A very late, but very cozy, 31 week bump.  Some days I honestly feel enormous, and others like today it seems my belly has shrunk during the night.  I'm resting assured that baby is growing and progressing well within the normal range, but it's still a strange sight to see as things shift and progress in there.  These days I'm often wondering what this baby will be like - musical, goofy and full of whimsical dance moves like big sister? Perhaps a more calm, reserved and quiet child is on its way - an opposite. As always, photos by my talented husband  

The countdown is officially on, baby. Less than 9 weeks now (since yes, we are a bit behind with the series again). WEARING : REVERSIBLE EASY SWEATER IN ROUGE BOUCLE BY AMERICAN APPREL   |  PHOTOS: BY ERICK

The sun had barely decided to shine its light through our windows this week and besides being completely bummed out, we raced against the clock - already a week behind in our series since returning home from Mexico.  Armed with the last twenty minutes of light and that bed we all practically live in, we made the most of trying to put together a few usable portraits.  I'm consistently amazed at what Erick is able to pull off, even in such a short amount of time!  He has been such a huge support to me always but I think it's been most noticeable on this crazy journey that we call "the growing of baby number two" .  Oh, how this pregnancy has been similar, yet so incredibly different all at the same time... boy? The anticipation is bubbling! And let's just get one more thing sorted:   I am tired. Winter is drawing to a close, and while I've enjoyed her beauty and the quiet moments spent at home, I am beyond ready to wel...