I was so thrilled to be hired to create the maternity art for A’s walls. She was very far along, in her last month, but her images are just stunning. She has gotten the first one as large wall art for her home and I am thrilled to be able to have the chance to see it huge.

A, it was a pleasure working with you, and I look forward to photographing your child later this month.

Please, if you are looking at these, leave a comment below. Jane Photo donates #1 to Vancouver’s Food Bank for every single one of them. Get a bunch of friends together and make it a party. Last month to help the Food Bank!

Meet J and L, from France. (No, I don’t speak French, and I don’t think it counts that my eldest daughter does, lol. But I see many French clients here at Jane Photo for some reason.) They run a hair salon out of Yaletown, the hippest neighbourhood in Vancouver, and when they got to the studio, L did his wife’s hair! I just loved that, and esp loved how great it looked for the whole session even after I had J down on the floor a bunch.

I just love their images, don’t you? I can’t wait to meet their little daughter, Ms P, due at the end of July.

As always, each comment you leave here on the blog (tell your friends!) gives the Vancouver Food Bank a $1 donation, with which they can purchase $3 of food for the needy. Such an easy way for you to help out!

Here are some words from the parents-to-be:

You’re a long way from home. Tell us what brought you here from France.

We decide to come in Canada for change our life and routine.

When did you decide to try for a baby? Did it take a long time, or was it quite quick?

We decide to try last june and after a miscarriage in August we was finally pregnant in October.

How has your pregnancy been? What is your favourite thing about it? What is your least favourite thing?

The pregnancy was wonderful, the nine month passed so fast. My favorite thing was feel the baby move and see her in the ultrasound. The least favorite was the morning sickness.

How do you envision the birth? Do you have plans for it?

The baby birth is suppose to be for july 20. For the moment we have no plan so far.

You have already chosen a beautiful name for your little girl. It is one made quite famous by Pablo Picasso. How did you come by the name?

We prefer keep the secret for that.

Do you want to tell us about your business?

We have a hair salon in yaletown, vancouver, right on the corner of homer and davie, called “Opus.” We are both hair stylist: L (dad) is stylist and J (mom) is coloriste. We try to be complimentary in our life.

How long are you off on mat leave?

The mat leave started june 27 and finish October 1 so it is going to be 3 month.

Thanks, guys, and much good luck with the birth!

Meet the wonderful K and G, from France. My favourite thing about their maternity session–apart from the awesome images–was how in love this couple are. K just lights up when she looks at G, and he’s just so obviously smitten right back. (Around here, we joke that the word “smitten” derives from the old Latin phrase “smacked by a mitten.” So I’d definitely have to say these two are mitten-smacked.) Love like theirs is such a pleasure to be around. I’m so happy for these guys with this little baby on its way. I know it must be a challenge for them to embark on parenthood so far away from home, but hopefully this taste of the images from their session will ease the pangs for the family overseas. Can’t wait to meet the little one, K and G!

As always, please feel free to comment on this post, because comments you leave in 2009 are worth $1 each (each!) to Vancouver’s Food Bank. A great way to feed a needy cause.

Here are some words from the mom-to-be:

Congrats on the upcoming babe! Were you trying to get pregnant?

We just talked about it in September; a couple of weeks later I was pregnant. So no time to really think about it, it was just great.

Did you have any morning sickness?

I am having a very nice and straightforward pregnancy, with no morning sickness.

Did you guys find out if you are having a boy or a girl?

We did ask and apparently it is a girl.

What is your favourite thing about being pregnant?

The thing I like the most it is feeling the baby moving, it’s kind of surreal.

How has it been being pregnant in all Vancouver’s recent heat?

The weather is a bit hard on my legs but I stopped work last week so I can spend time at the swimming pool or the beaches. I am very lucky.

Do you think G is going to be a great daddy?

I have no worries for G, he is going to be a wonderful dad and he is very happy to have a girl.

I know babies have their own plans when it comes to the birth, but have you got an idea of things you want for your birth?

For the birth I am hoping it will be like my pregnancy. I want to stay home with G and my Doula has long as I can and go to the hospital as late as possible. I may ask for a water birth.

Do you have any words of wisdom for other pregnant women?

Hope you can have the same pregnancy as me. Enjoy it, it is only 9 months.

Mom was nice enough to answer some questions for us.  I love it when moms take the time to do this, just love it.  Somehow, it fills it all out and personalizes it for everyone who visits.  

As always, please leave comments because this year, 1 comment=1 can for the Food Bank.  Donate now!

You tried to get pregnant for some time.  How long did you try, and when you found out you were having twins, what was your reaction?  

We had been trying for 6 years.  IVF was our last hope and it worked on the first try.  My first thought was boy we are getting our money’s worth!  Then we got really excited as there are twins on J’s side of the family (although they are identical).

How long did you carry them?  How long were you in the hospital?  

I carried them until 38 weeks 2 days  Everyone was amazed that I made it that far since twins are known to come early. I spent 3 nights in the hospital.  I was free to go after 2 but given the option to stay so I took it and am soooo glad I did.

The twins are just over two weeks, but your weight has just been tumbling off (you look great!).  Did you expect it to be harder?

Absolutely.  What I did not know was that much of my weight gain was water retention so it came off quick.  I lost over 40 lbs in under two weeks.

What were the kids’ birth weights?

Mr S was 3290 oz and Ms S was 2625 oz

How has your family taken to having a set of b/g twins?  

Everyone is very happy for us.  Knowing the struggle we went through having one of each is such a blessing.

Could you tell them apart right away?

Oh ya.  Mr S looks like I did and Ms S just like J.  Their personalities are resemble us in the same way as well. Ms S is laid back and quite like her Dad and Mr S is vocal and needs stimulation like me.

What, so far, has been your favourite thing about being a mom?  

Bath time.  I take them into the tub one at a time and nurse them in there with me.  They love it, esp. Ms S.  She loves to just float and look at me.  It is a very nice way to bond with each of them individually.  

Is your husband just smitten?  

I think the infant stage is hard for men.  When they are asleep on his chest, yes very smitten.  When they need TLC he is not sure how to respond to their needs.  He is learning and very willing though.

Are either of you getting any sleep?

Jim needs to work so I try the best I can to let him sleep.  He will get up if I ask.  My mother has been a huge help and I have the opportunity to nap in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, she is going home tomorrow and I will be utterly lost without her.

What is your absolutely favourite thing about little Ms S?  Little Mr S?

Ms S, her peaceful presence and Mr S, his cute chubby cheeks.  So kissable.

What are you most looking forward to as they grow?

Oh boy, this is a tough one.  I guess I would say watching their personalities develop and how they interact with one another.  Right now they do not realize the other one is there.  You hear about the unique bond between twins and now I will get to witness it.

How much do I love these hats mom had for them?

Reality

 

Woo-hoo, baby-to-be! Becky and Jane Photo got together for our second maternity session just to switch up our scenarios and try a few new things. I was longing to get out into an industrial area, and Becky was game. So after doing a few more pretties in the studio, off we trundled. So fun. We stopped at a park partway, and then headed down to the nitty and the gritty. Within a block radius, we had all the yummies we could possibly long for.

I just love my job. I love it so much sometimes I want to pop. Do these images rawk, or what? Jane Photo was soooo lucky to be hired to photograph Becky and her upcoming bundle of joy. Becky’s babe is due in another month. She doesn’t know yet if she’s expecting a boy or girl. That’s so cool, I think, to have the anticipation. As Becky put it, there aren’t many happy surprises left in the world these days, and this is definitely one.

Can’t wait to photo your little arrival, Becky, and it was so much fun today.