Women around the world struggle with infertility. It knows no boundaries, and it doesn’t discriminate. Like many other women, Victoria has struggled for eight years to have her miracle baby. I (Jes) went to high school with Victoria, and although we were acquaintances, we weren’t ever really close until we went through the struggle of infertility together. We would bond and share our stories of our failed IVF attempts, the swelling and bloating, the shots that never ended, the tears, the countless blood tests, and the heart breaks each time our dream of becoming a mother never came to fruition. I am not sure what I would have done without having Vicky by myself through the entire experience, and between the both of us, we have shared over a dozen failed medical intervention attempts at getting pregnant. It was a sad part of our story for a really long time, a part of our journeys that neither of us wanted to accept, and through determination, strength, and love, Victoria is finally having her miracle baby! We couldn’t be more excited for her to welcome sweet baby Brielle into this world, in just about a month!

People often ask if it is difficult for me to photograph maternity, birth, and newborn photography, but honestly it has been so healing for me. Not to mention, I am one of the lucky ones, and I was able to adopt my daughter, Katlyn, and she is everything I have ever needed and wanted in a child. So here we are… almost a decade through our infertility journey and we have both come out on the other side. As I sit here and write this blog, tears fill my eyes, not out of jealousy or sadness, but out of pure gratefulness for this experience Victoria and her husband Bryan are going to share together. Whether you adopt or birth your child, the love and experience comes down to just being a mom. I can picture Victoria rocking baby Brielle to sleep, crying in the middle of the night because she just doesn’t think she can take one more sleepless night, and excitedly screaming when her baby girl says her first words or takes her first steps. Victoria was meant to be a mamma, specifically a mamma to this baby girl with the love her life.

Victoria and Bryan have known each other for many many years, since she was 14 in fact. Their love story didn’t start until much later in life, but ever since they reunited a few years ago, they have been inseparable ever since.

Being pregnant hasn’t been all sunshine and flowers for this sweet mom to be, but she isn’t complaining one bit, she has waited so long for this day. She has fought severe morning sickness, daily migraines, and a lot of discomfort, but she knows it will all be worth it.

“Feeling her move is so amazing and reminds me how lucky I am. I have always loved the name Brielle, and Bryan loves it just as much. Her middle name is Anne after family. She will probably be called Brie. We are beyond excited to meet this little lady!”

It was really important to Meg and I to be able to gift this session to Victoria and Bryan as a congratulatory celebration as they welcome their first born daughter into this world. We met last Saturday morning at The Liriodendron to hide from the rain and the gray skies. We decorated the dismal weather with pink balloons, Brielle’s adorable little pink shoes, and the love these two parents have for the unborn baby girl.

“Jes and Meg are so sweet. They are patient and know just how to get you to laugh. I love how genuine they both are and that makes you so comfortable, even if you don’t know what your doing! They will always get great candid shots.”