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Pre-kids, I always talked about how I wanted a huge family.  8 kids.  All boys.  I never imagined myself as a mother to girls.  I don’t know why.  Perhaps it was the knowledge of the emotional mess of a teenager I was… (who am I kidding?  I’m still an emotional mess)…and I wanted to avoid that drama.

When the ultrasound tech said “It’s a girl.”  Tears streamed down my face.  My mom and mother-in-law squealed with delight and hugged.  A girl.  I fell even more in love with my growing Lula at that moment, and I vowed to be the best mother I could possibly be to her.  Ryan was commercial fishing in Alaska and I called him, not expecting him to answer on the first ring.

“Well?  What are we having?”

“A healthy baby girl.  I can hardly believe it.”

“A girl?! Hot Damn!”

Pregnancy and Motherhood has brought out femininity in me that I never knew was there.  I became increasingly astonished and amazed by the female body…all the mystery, miracles, and beauty it gives the world.  I took ownership over how wonderfully awesome it is to be a woman, embraced it.  I started speaking out via the blogosphere about body image, the definition of true beauty, woman banding together, and women’s rights.  I wanted my small baby girl to grow up and see a mother who is comfortable in her skin, who respected nature’s role in the female body, and who fought for equality for women and girls everywhere.

When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I was determined to own my body, pregnancy, and birth experience and to trust nature.  To trust my amazing body.  My pregnancy and birth of Olive was not only healing, but incredibly empowering.  I know that my experience will have such a positive impact on my daughters as they grow and learn about the wonders of their bodies.  Someday, when they have children of their own, I hope that my experience will provide confidence and strength for them to trust their bodies to do the work they were created to do.

I was overjoyed when I found out Olive was going to be a girl.  I had grown so much since becoming pregnant, then a mother to Lula…  I liked who I was.  The woman I had become.  I felt that I was the perfect woman to be the mother to two little girls.  I am confident in the morals, ideas, and guidance I am instilling in them…and I couldn’t be more, “Woman Power!” fist up in the air, jacked-up about my two little ladies.  Because, well, we are awesome.

A few things have changed since pre-kid days.  I no longer want 8 children, for starters.  More than 2, but definitely…definitely not 8.

Boys?  Sure!  Girls?  Bring ‘em on.

Right now, I am marinating in all the love these two beauties are giving me.  I am so content with just that.

This Woman’s Work is now open to sponsors!  I couldn’t be more excited about this new venture, and my first sponsor is none other than one of my best friends of over 15 years, Katrina, of Katrina Amburgey Photography.  I always seem to ask her to photograph things she hasn’t done yet.  I like to think I push her creative envelope.  Every time, she goes above and beyond anything I could have hoped for.  Katrina photographs families, newborns, weddings, engagement, seniors…and she is now doing boudoir sessions that are simply divine.  Our beautiful pictures were taken in her studio, which is not only HUGE, but has phenomenal natural lighting that makes every picture absolutely perfect.  I really love how she captured the essence of my relationship with my girls.

For all of my local readers, if you book a session with Katrina Amburgey Photography, and give her the offer code “womanswork” you will get 10% off your selected package!*

Now, I’m off to make the tough decision of which one of these will be on canvas!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, readers!

 

*good through the end of 2013