Baby #3 Mini Maternity Session and Q&A | The Jacksons in Real Life

Baby #3 is almost here, so last week I posted and asked you for your need-to-know questions. Those questions will be answered and I have included a few cute photos from our mini maternity session at the studio last week. 

Do you know what you are having? 

Nope! We had an anatomy scan done around 20 weeks but we didn’t find out the gender. All was well and baby was healthy, that’s all the mattered to us. We found out with Caroline and Grady so I thought the surprise would be fun.

When are you due? 

Mid March technically but with this being baby #3, and me having another home birth, there is no telling. Babies tend to come when they would like and I am ok with that. 

Wait, homebirth? Hold up! Tell me more!

Yep, you heard right. This, Lord willing, will be my second home birth. In 2020 when I was pregnant with Grady I had one terrible experience right after another. I decided to take a different approach and found a way to birth that left me feeling knowledageble and empowered. Homebirth through midwife care and a doula was just what I needed. 

Jennifer Nelson with The Pittsburgh Midwife was my midwife for Grady and this babe. My doula with Grady was Martha Kenyon in Ligonier and this time, since Martha will be with her family for a wedding, my doula is Lisa Kifer. You might have seen Lisa a few times over the years because I have been her girl’s senior portrait and wedding photographer.

What do you think you are having? 

That is a GREAT question! Everything has been spoil down the middle for me based on Caroline and Grady. I think in the end, I would LOVE another girl and so would Caroline BUT I think baby is a another little boy.

I mean, these two are just the cutest and what would it hurt to have one more mini Aaron. 😉

Who will be watching the kids during birth? 

I’m not sure. Since babies tend to come on their own time, we have no set plan in place and are just going to roll with it. Our family and friends live close enough to us that the kiddos can hang out with them BUT this time my doula is also our babysitter as well. So Lisa is well versed in keeping our mini me’s busy if it all happens in the middle of the day and our families are busy. 

How does Caroline feel about all of this? 

She has been a trooper through it all and super excited for another sibling. For months she has told us she would like a big family like ‘The Waltons.’ However, two days ago she suddenly said she “changed her mind.” Oops! To late kiddo! 

Caroline has also informed me that if it’s a girl, she will hold her first and that if baby is a boy, I can hold him first. We have prepped her as much as possible in the “it could be another brother” area. A few weeks ago I even took her shopping to pick out a few boy and a few girl things. 

3 kids? Are you FINALLY done after that?

Probably not. 😀 I was one of two growing up and Aaron was one of 8. While I never dreamed of having more than two kids, only having two wasn’t the right number either. Yes, I know they say that three kids is the hardest, so we will be considering that as well. 😉

Are you still going to be working? 

Why wouldn’t I? I have spent the last 16 years pouring my heart into the wedding industry from brides and grooms to other wedding photographers, why stop now? With each life change comes an adjustment and this time it will be a bit harder than the last, but it’s always worth it. I might not have the largest wedding planning company or wedding photography business in Greensburg, but I can still serve my couples well and enjoy bring their wedding days to life. Maybe someday my little mini-me will join forces with me. 😉 

What I am not looking forward to, photos of all three of these little together. These two are hard enough as it is. lol Photographer’s kids, I tell ya what!

Just kidding, they are adorable little stinkers. 

How is Grady taking all of this?

So far, so good. The biggest change for him will be after baby arrives. He LOVES babies and taking care of them. For real though, he takes sissy’s dolls and plays daddy with them. He is adorable about it as he feeds that baby, pats it’s back, puts it to bed, and even tucks it in. I think he will be a little jealous but truly will love this little one.

Here’s to my last few weeks and our little family of 4 soon to be 5!