This week marks my last week of working before I officially turn on my auto-email responder and have a freaking baby! It honestly doesn’t even seem real that John & I are about to be parents (like, what??) and every day that passes makes us more and more excited about the arrival of our little boy or girl! My due date is officially December 14, and I’m hoping that taking the last 2 weeks off will give me time to finish all of my preparation – I’ve still got a few clothes to wash, Christmas gifts to wrap, and freezer meals to make! I also plan to use these last couple weeks to soak in quality time with John, our friends, and our family before this baby comes into the picture and changes life as we know it forever!

I’m so grateful for how wonderful this pregnancy has been, and also how lucky I got with timing! Even though I always said I didn’t want a December baby (I’m a Christmas-freak, what can I say?), having a baby right at the beginning of my yearly off-season is going to be such a blessing. I normally take the month of December off completely, and I hardly ever shoot much in January and February since it’s so cold and brown outside, so this year shouldn’t look much different than years past as far as how much I’m working! My plan is to start back shooting in early March (once the grass starts looking greener and baby Mallory is a couple months old!) with engagements, bridals, and newborn sessions – and then to be back 100% with weddings and traveling in April.

While I’m on maternity leave, I will still be checking emails once a week and will also still be booking new wedding & newborn clients for 2018 – just because I’m having a baby doesn’t mean I’m giving up my dream job! I’ve always wanted to work AND be a mama, and I am so grateful that this job of mine is going to allow me to do a bit of both.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what the new year has in store, both personally and professionally, but I already know it’s going to be amazing. Thank you guys for all your support, kindness, love and laughter this year!

Enjoy a little tour of our nursery! John was the real superstar on this entire room. He repaired the walls, replaced the ceiling fan and outlets, painted every inch (my little sister also helped with that!), hung curtains (which his mama made for baby Mallory, aren’t they beautiful?), AND built the beautiful built-ins (which, I have to admit, are my favorite part of the room. SO MUCH STORAGEEEEEE) – and he did it all while I basically just sat on the side and directed / watched! I’m the luckiest girl in the world to be married to someone so wonderful, and I’m in LOVE with how the nursery turned out! Sources listed at the bottom of this post, if you’re interested!

Wall Color: Ivory Lace by Sherwin Williams
Glider: West Elm (color is Dove Gray, Performance Velvet)
Lion Rocker: Land of Nod
Pouf: Restoration Hardware
Zebra Head: Target
“Hello Sunshine” Pillow: Land of Nod
Curtains: Ikea (Pom-poms were sewn on by John’s mom)
Crib: Target
Painting above crib: I made it a few years ago!
Laundry Hamper: Container Store
Floating Bookshelves: Ikea
Built-in bookshelf & diaper-changing space: Made entirely by my husband!)
Cactus Lamp: Target
Boxes Artwork: Sarah Jane Studios, via Etsy
Cube Bookshelf: Ikea
Cubes in Bookshelf: Target
Globe: Target
Going-Home Outfit: Gap