Anniversary Maternity Photos [Photographs by Anjuli]

Last month we had our maternity photos taken (and boy, am I glad we did them at 33 weeks instead of 37, considering what my feet and cankles look like these days!) We knew when we scheduled the shoot that we couldn't have hired anyone but our favorite San Diego photographer, Anjuli. She did our two-year anniversary photos, three years ago.

We decided to head to the old downtown area of our new city (just a few blocks from the house we just bought!) to capture some memories of this crazy time in our lives - moving, celebrating 5 years of marriage, and getting ready to welcome our baby. We are thrilled with the results - what a treasure to have these pictures to remember our last little bit of life before three. Thank you, Anjuli!!

outfit 1
dress: Imanimo (on sale now!)
shoes: Steven Madden
belt: Emerson Fry

outfit 2
top: H&M
jeans: Gap Maternity
jacket: Skunkfunk

E
chambray: Old Navy
vest: Heritage 21
pants: Dockers
shoes: Red Wing Iron Rangers


I have so many, many more thoughts on pregnancy and motherhood swirling around in my head these days, but lately those thoughts have been mixed with paint colors, craigslisting furniture and trying to keep my feet from ballooning with water weight. I feel like life might actually be slower and simpler when baby arrives!

Five years of marriage

I know writing a mushy anniversary post is so bloggy cliche, but I was feeling really mushy this morning on my fifth anniversary, so you all can deal (or just roll your eyes and ignore it).



When I think about the giddy feelings of five years ago, I can't believe how naive and unprepared I was for marriage. I imagine many brides feel this way before their wedding day (especially those separated by 2,000 miles for most of their relationship, like we were!) I dreamed about travel, and romantic dinners and cuddling at night and kissing every morning.

I had the silliest ideas about how marriage would fulfill and complete me. About how fun and exciting and romantic it would be every day. Marriage was going to fix all of our long-distance communication struggles, soften our rough edges, and insta-solve our conflicts.



But of course, marriage has turned out to be so much harder than I expected. It has been refiner's fire. It has been a wrestling of wills. It has been many, many moments of "intense fellowship" (as one of our pastor's calls marital conflict). It has been tears and frustration and disappointment and "I can't believe you!" and "how dare you!" and "who even ARE you?"

It has been long discussions with no resolutions. It has been going to bed angry sometimes and waking up still angry. It's been staring blankly at a wall for an hour and thinking there is just no way to fix this.

It has been the hardest five years of my life.

And it has been the best.




Marriage has been so much more transformative and more fulfilling than I could have imagined. It has taught me about myself, it has taught me about others, and more than anything, it has taught me about the character of God. It has shown me my own selfishness in ways I never could have seen on my own, and it has changed me for the better. It has been a comfort, an encouragement, a haven and a home. (And it has involved those travel adventures, romantic dinners and morning kisses too!)

Marriage didn't fulfill my deepest needs, but it did point me to the place where my deepest needs are met. It drove me, time and time again, to Jesus and his redemptive love.



And as I sit here getting pummeled from the inside by one of the greatest blessings our marriage has produced while my husband builds homes in Mexico with our church, I am extremely grateful that God saw fit to bless me with E, and to bless me with marriage.



Here's to another 5 years of companionship, blessing and lot of growth!

three.

\

The first year was exhilarating.
The second year was maturing
This year, the third, is blossoming.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh, no, it is an ever-fixèd mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark
Whose worth's unknown, although its height be taken.

-William Shakespeare

E, I love you with all my heart - for who you are, and who you will be. Thank you for loving me the same, and better.

p.s. our two year photo shoot, and our second anniversary party in Italy!

28 years

Happy 28th Anniversary to my parents who are a true inspiration.

Thank you for creating a wonderful family life, and a wonderful example of marriage by God's grace. I love you both!

ps. their 27th anniversary

Anniversary photo shoot

Don't mind me while I obsessively refresh a flight status all day today and watch the clock tick slowly by. E comes home tonight!

In the meantime, I thought I would share the rest of our second anniversary photos from the shoot just before we left for Italy (May feels like an eternity ago...)

We had such a great experience with Anjuli of Photographs by Anjuli. She shot this gorgeous wedding of E's friend last spring and I met her at the wedding.  After seeing the wedding photos, E and I decided we'd love to schedule a session with her for our anniversary.

I love Anjuli's soft editing style - & she was so laid-back and encouraging during the shoot (she kept telling E what a natural I was, how gorgeous the lighting was, that we were so easy to shoot) :-)
She was also quick. We received access to an online gallery within a couple weeks, and got a cd in the mail less than 4 weeks later (packed in a gorgeous fabric sleeve). Thanks again, Anjuli! You rock.

Here are a few of my favorites from our session.

details

Photography: Photographs by Anjuli

Location: Felicita Park Escondido, CA

Him

tweed coat: thrifted (similar)

tie: Macy's (similar)

jeans: Levi 527's

shoes: Vans

Her

dress: Macy's (similar)

necklace: gift (similar)

cocktail ring: Shabby Apple (no longer available)

shoes: Elle (similar)

hair: Jen at Envy Salon

two years

To my love, on our second anniversary.

Little Hands Photography

I can hardly believe we've lived and loved together as husband and wife for two years. It may be cliche, but it's not an exaggeration to say that I love you more now than I did on that muggy June day two years ago.

many waters cannot quench love.

(Song of Songs 8:6,7)

I love you, sweet.

(ps. a sneak preview)

1 year

It's hard to believe that one year has passed we said our "I dos".

A year of firsts is over, and we've [mostly] settled into married life.

We celebrated the milestone by heading to Palm Springs for a short weekend getaway.

California still gets me every time.

Shortly after headed east from SD, we hit the dry, dusty, rocky desert. (most of it wasn't even this green)

Then about 2 hours later, we emerge into this lush, green oasis!

i love the diversity of surroundings!

We stayed at Korakia Pensione, a hybrid Mediterranean Villa/Bed & Breakfast. The website describes this place as a retreat, which is the perfect word for our weekend.

There are no tvs, alarm clocks, technology (they did have very slow wifi, so we couldn't watch the world cup games, but we got over it). The grounds were beautiful, peaceful, serene.

We stayed on the Mediterranean side and felt like we stepped into another world (even though we were just a couple blocks off of Palm Springs main drag)

we stayed in the Acropolis Suite

Amazing stone tub with rain shower!

Later that afternoon we did a little shopping at the Desert outlet malls, where my husband bought his first J.Crew shirt. (he was pretty excited about that)

Then headed back for a relaxing evening in.

Because we opted out of cake at our wedding, we celebrated our anniversary with a honeymoon bottle of Chianti (from the Chianti region in Italy!)

YUM

Both days we had late lunches/early dinners and then settled in around 8 or 9 with wine/ champagne, cheese and fruit and chatted in the dim lamp light.

in the mornings, breakfast was served on this idyllic patio

we were early-birds and showed up at 8:30am for breakfast, but still needed to sit in the shade. it was at least 85 degrees already!

They served simple yummy breakfasts of french toast, and hashbrowns and eggs. (i was too hungry to take a photo of the food!)

Saturday morning, we decided to go for a short hike at Tahquitz canyon. It's a 2.5 mile trail with slight elevation that ends up at a 60 foot waterfall. it's pretty pricey to use the trail ($25) but since this was the only activity we did, it was worth it for us.

wading was allowed in the waterfall pool--and even thought it was ice cold, it felt delicious in the 100+ heat.

silhouettes

Then we stepped into the sun and a nice couple offered to take a photo

We spent the rest of the weekend lazing and loving it. Sun, books, a pool, and my lover.

could life be any better?

We needed at least 3 more days of this!

To my husband:

This year had been the biggest challenge, the best adventure, and the most fun I've ever had.

I love that you are in my present and future.

The new-found love tummy butterflies were sweet, but this feeling is infinitely better.

I'm so excited for the rest...

Happy Anniversary!