Our Babymoon! {Exuma, Bahamas}

For Christmas, my parents so generously gave Tommy and me a week long trip! We decided to use it for our “babymoon” aka the last big trip before baby boy comes in August!

We chose to go to Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas and it was absolutely wonderful in every way. Last June we went the all-inclusive ”route” in Riviera Maya, and although it was absolutely amazing, we knew we wanted to do something a bit more adventurous for this trip!! We also didn’t feel like we would really get the bang for our buck with me not drinking.. ha!

So, we rented an airbnb for the week, a jeep (and got “upgraded” to a Toyota yaris upon arrival LOL), and packed our bags for what turned out to be one of the best weeks ever!

Instead of writing everything right here, I captioned the photos with all of the adventures and day trips we took! Enjoy reading and looking through the photos!

Thank you, Mom and Dad for a truly incredible vacation!

Driving on the “wrong” side of the road and the car was a little intimidating! Tommy did a great job though. When we first arrived, it was late at night (our flight was very delayed… avoid BahamasAir at all costs….) so we had to find our airbnb in the pitch black! With no road lights, no signs, no street names, etc., it was difficult but we somehow made it! Waking up the next morning and seeing that crystal clear water for the first time was amazing!

We stayed in the peach villa on the left! It was great but very basic inside. If we were to come back, I think we would consider an airbnb that at least had a kitchenette so we could store some drinks and make coffee in the morning! Not many places are open until lunchtime, so getting coffee/breakfast was sometimes hard! We did like how remote our place was, though! It was about 30 minutes from town meaning the beach was almost always empty and very private!

At our AirBnb, there was a restaurant and dock where you could rent jetskis, boats, paddleboards, kayaks, etc! The food was delicious at the restaurant (Exuma Point Beach Bar and Grill) and we loved getting to know the owners/our AirBnb hosts, Maryann and Elvis!

On the first day, we took a jet ski around the island and saw a huge sandbar, several sea turtles and fish, a 30 foot blue hole filled with fish, swimming pigs, a giant starfish and more! It was spectacular!

The little piglets melted my heart! How adorable are they?! I want one!!!!

We were surpsied how aggressive the pigs were. They are used to the tourists bringing bread so they immediately swam towards us as we came in on the jet ski!!

The next day, we drove to the other end of the island and visited a few beautiful beaches along the way. Finding them rpoved to be wuite difficult but the view was WORTH IT once we arrived. Our airbnb hosts wrote a guide for us to follow, but because there arent street names, the instructions said thing likes “drive 5 mins after you see a small orange abandoned resturants, when you see a dirt road and a trash can, turn left” HA! There were abandoned restaurants, dirt roads, and trash cans everywhere!!!

We were told we HAD to try the conch nachos at Tropic Breeze Restaurant, and we were so glad we did! They were absolutely delicious! So were the wings!

Homemade carrot cake recipe from the Chef’s mom! We loved all of the local Bahamians we met. They were all so warm and welcoming and excited to have us on their island.

Mid-week, we rented a boat for the day. This was Tommy’s dream day. We went all through the Cays and stopped for lunch at Stocking Island at Chat N Chill Bar/Grill! It was so beautiful and fun! A very popular spot!

Fun to see sailboats from Annapolis!

Chat N Chill

On the last day, we got day passes to a local resort and had access to the pool, kayaks, paddle boards, etc. all day! It was so fun! The bar had swings for seats and we enjoyed drinkin (virgin piña coladas for me, of course!) and swingin!!

…and finally, I just have to include one baby bump pic! I was 18 weeks pregnant while we were away! It turned out to be a really great time to go although still pretty early!

Meet Baby Owen Patrick {Lifestyle Newborn Session in Rodgers Forge, Maryland}

I will never forget last March when my sister-in-law, Tricia, (also Tommy’s twin sister) and brother-in-law, Jake, invited all of us over for dinner and announced they were pregnant! It was such exciting news and I couldn’t believe I was going to be an aunt!

Fast forward a few months and they announced it was a boy! We were all so excited and couldn’t wait to meet this sweet boy. 

Owen was due to arrive on Christmas Day. December 25th came around and Tricia headed in to the hospital. Early the next morning, Owen made his arrival. I stayed up texting my MIL all night long. We were so excited we couldn’t sleep. I remember rolling over around 4 am to wake Tommy. “It’s time to go!!!!” We arrived at St. Joes around 5am and 37 minutes later heard the little chime over the intercom signaling a baby had been born. We just knew it had to be him!

When Jake finally came out to announce the news and bring us back I was in the bathroom SO sick . Sorry if that’s TMI (I had just found out I was pregnant a few weeks prior and the morning sickness was REAL). I was having major FOMO as everyone walked back to meet baby Owen! But I eventually made my way (half alive ha) and of course my eyes filled with tears, he was the cutest blonde haired, blue eyed little guy. 

I photograph babies all the time, but holding my little nephew was just so special. He really is so special and our family will never ever be the same!

Tricia and Jake are doing such an amazing job at being parents. It’s so fun to see them as a mom and dad. They have transitioned into their roles so effortlessly!

I love you guys and I’m so thankful I could take these photos for you!

Tricia worked so hard on perfecting every detail of this nursery. I loved watching it be completed! SO much love went into it!

so little in his daddy’s hands! I love this one.

beautiful watercolor prints by my talented sister in law, Melissa!

milk break!

handmade quilt by JJ (grandma) :)

gorgeous mama!!!

“um excuse me. its my turn Aunt Allie” ;)

love seeing maternity photos in the nursery!!

Announcing Baby Webster!

Tommy and I have very exciting news to share!!! We are expecting our first child this August! We are feeling so blessed and so excited to welcome this little love to our clan.

We found out in early December and it was SO hard keeping the secret with all the holidays!! Somehow we made it through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New years Eve and all the holiday parties in between. I got really good at making mocktails or accepting wine and having Tommy drink while no one was watching.. ha!

We shared with both our parents asap. We told my parents with a Christmas ornament. They were 100% speechless and so so so surprised! We shared with Tommy’s parents on his dad’s birthday a few days before Christmas! My father-in-law always gives us scratch off tickets, so I have started giving him them on special occasions, too! I found these awesome scratch offs that say “We’re having a baby!!” underneath. Both my FIL and MIL were also in shock and so very excited!

THANK YOU so much to my friend Marie (from Marie Medina Photography) for taking these photos for us. She just launched a new website and needed some photos so after capturing some for her, she captured these for us! She’s amazing and perfectly captured exactly what I had in mind!

We can’t wait to meet Baby Webster this summer!

quick snack break….. :) featuring my signature one eye roll

Marie just launched a new website and we used a bunch of confetti for her shoot prior, so we decided to use some for ours too since we already had it!!! :)

Introducing Hallie Rae Paulovkin! {Baltimore, Maryland Birth Story and Fresh 48 Photographer}

One month ago, Hallie Rae Paulovkin was born. Capturing her birth was by far the most memorable photography experience I’ve had to date. 

Anna Grace and her husband Kevin beautifully captured our wedding day in August of 2017 and we have remained friends since! We go to the same church and Tommy and I have gotten to spend many Sunday’s with their sweet two year old, Payton, while volunteering in the nursery!

I was absolutely thrilled to find out they were pregnant with their second and even more thrilled when AG emailed me about birth and fresh 48 photos. I knew it would be an amazing opportunity but I didn’t quite understand just how special it would be!

Hallie’s due date was Sunday, October 21st but she clearly was SUPER comfy because she didn’t make her appearance until the following Friday, October 26th!

Around 1 PM on Friday, I went to St. Joes and the waiting game began! Around 8:45 PM, Kevin called me in and after two pushes Hallie made her debut at 9:02pm!! I was in tears watching the whole thing! Childbirth is simply incredible. 

After being cleaned off, Hallie was measured and weighed, given her shots, and swaddled up tightly so Kevin and Ag could hold her!

The next day, I went back to the hospital and did some family photos of the four of them! Payton wasn’t so sure about her new role as big sister, but we managed to still get a few :)

Enjoy these photos!

birth playlist!

Prepping to get ready to start pushing!

few sips of water before go-time!

one of my favorites!

two pushes and…….

HALLIE ARRIVED!

happy happy tears!

Sweet girl wasn’t ready to leave her mama yet!!

Heading over to have her measurements done!

Another favorite!

The nurse in the room was a hoot! Pretty sure she was yelling something like, “Plumber’s Crack!!!’ haha.

Tricia + Jake Pregnant {Hampton Mansion, Towson Maternity Photographer}

If you follow me on any social media platform, you probably know by now that my SIL and BIL are pregnant with their first baby and due this Christmas!! December 25th really can’t get here soon enough!!

We are all so excited to meet their sweet baby boy in a few weeks. I am secretly hoping he comes early so we can meet him even sooner!

I loved being able to capture their love and excitement for each other and their precious baby. We met at Hampton Mansion a few weeks ago and had such a fun time taking these photos. There’s something so special about taking photos for family… everyone is just more comfortable and laid back!

Can’t wait to share SO many more once baby Willertz arrives!

My favorite!

You’re glowing, Tric!

At some point during these sitting photos, Jake made a comment about feeling like he was on a bob sled team, and I still laugh every time I see them!!

You are so stunning!!

Kaelyn + Brandon Pregnant {Lifestyle Maternity Session + Loch Raven Reservoir Maternity Photography}

I just loved meeting Kaelyn and Brandon. They have been together and married for several years now now and if you spend any amount of time with them you will see that their love for each other is inevitable!

They are thrilled to be expecting not one, but TWO, baby boys this December!! They were shocked to find out that they were having twins and even more shocked to find out that they were both boys!!

Emery and Aidan are due December 20th, however, Kaelyn is almost positive they will arrive before then!!

Before I take their newborn photos, I went to the Phillips adorable home in Loch Raven Village to capture some photos of them pregnant.

We had lots of fun around their house and with their adorable labradoodle, Calvin, and then headed to Loch Raven Reservoir for some photos outdoors by the water!

It’s like he knows! Such a sweet boy :)

Favorite!!! You’re gorgeous, Kaelyn!