It’s common here in Korea for women to head to a 조리원 joriwon, a postpartum care center after giving birth. Think of it as an all-inclusive “hotel” of sorts for mama and baby. (I plan on writing up some posts on my experience this “last” time around). The typical stay is two weeks and a joriwon package often includes a prenatal massage, a postnatal massage, and a photo shoot package (maternity, newborn, and 50-day shoots). The photo shoot package is in partnership with a nearby studio.

The first weekend of February I had my maternity shoot. We headed to the studio early in the morning for a 9:30 shoot. Luckily we’ve been here many times before (it was the same studio where I did my maternity shoot for O’s pregnancy, O’s 50-day, 100-day and 돌 dohl photoshoot).

Studios here offer a variety of outfits for mama which makes for one less thing for you to worry about during pregnancy. (I did have to do my own hair and makeup and coordinated outfits for hubby and the kids.) They’re fabulous with the kids, blowing bubbles and making sounds to get them to look at the camera and the shoot is relatively quick and painless, followed by around a 30-minute wait and then a slideshow is ready to show you the pictures!

As we sat and watched the slideshow, (*cue the emo music that brings on the tears) I couldn’t help but get choked up with so many emotions. Though we had thought we were through, God blessed us with another. And I’m thankful for this shoot capturing this season of anticipating the arrival of baby.

And one last one… to my partner, in all senses, my best friend and baby daddy, you are the real MVP. From enduring the first trimester where I was basically incapacitated, to allowing me a few days alone at my parents’ this past weekend, I could not do this without you. You are my rock, my strength. And though there are so many storms that will come, I am thankful to be weathering them with you.