Deep Running Roots

Yesterday I mentioned how hard it was for me to leave the Zabies Nursery in New York. 

Sounds crazy, right?

Well let me fill you in. 

In August of 2009 my sweet guy and I got married in Jekyll Island, GA. 

We chose this location for many reasons- it's proximity to the ocean, it's beauty, and it's ability to house all of our family and friends in one location.

One thing we really loved about the location was the hundred year old oak trees. 

In a way these trees were symbolic.

They symbolize our roots running deep together and even the strongest winds can't make us falter.

The daily winds from the ocean and occasional winds from hurricanes have shaped them to be more beautiful than ever. 

That was what we hoped for our marriage (and family)- to grow, change shape and be stronger and more beautiful than ever as a result of any hard times along the way. 

When trying to decide how to decorate the Zabies room and trying to keep in gender neutral I scoured the internet of all things vinyl wall appliqué. 

Some things were too girly and some were too boyish. 

Then I came across some oak trees. 

That's when we decided that an oak tree would be perfect- it was everything we had envisioned for our family. 

Our roots had grown deeper, we were laying roots in New York and our babies were a part of that- not to mention that the tree looked a lot like the trees we said our vows under. 

Josh painted the room without my help since we were super cautious during my pregnancy so assembling the oak tree in their room was one thing we did together. 

It was one of the last things we did in preparations for our family to grow... as husband and wife... a family of two... and the only time we argued during the entire pregnancy! Let's just say his brain works differently than mine and we had differing approaches to getting the job done!

After all of our belongings had been moved out of our house my sweet friend, Stacy, did a photo shoot of us in the nursery in front of the tree. 

I will always cherish these photo and keep them close to my heart. 

I know sweet girl, it is so hard to say goodbye!

Looking at these photos makes me miss our home in New York. 

I also can't believe how much these cutie pies have grown in just three short months. 

Those outfits were 18 months and now they are 2T while knocking on 3T's door!

But with that said we are laying new roots and now our roots spread even further than before making us stronger than we ever had hoped!

We also had more family photos taken in and around our home but that's for another post!

Have you ever had to leave your babies' nursery behind or are you planning to?

I highly recommend an in home photo shoot!

Wedding Photos : Brooke Roberts Photography

Nursery Photos: Stacy Claire Photography 

Weekly Twin Bump Photos

I did not blog through my pregnancy. I don't know why I didn't. Pregnancy Brain?

 I had plenty of time to do so. 

I loved being pregnant and seriously felt the most beautiful I've ever felt.

 In honor of feeling beautiful and pregnant here are my belly shots. 

This photo was taken for my guy. 

He was promoted, no joke, the day after we found out we were expecting which is what moved us to CNY from my deep rooted home in the south, good ole' Georigia. Ahhh! 

He moved to CNY over a month before I did. He missed me and wanted to see my growing belly. 

This is the picture he got. 

We moved from our home in Georgia at 13 weeks arriving at our home in New York at 14 weeks. I didn't get around to taking another weekly photo until 15 weeks. 

My first CNY bump picture. 

We had only been in our new home for a few weeks and hosted our first happy hour. 

It was water and lemonade for this gal. 

Our first trip to Skaneateles, NY. It was a beautiful spring day. 

Date night with my guy. 

My Baby Shower in Georgia with my family.

Baby shower in St. Louis with Josh's family and friends. 

I was clearly exhausted from driving 16 hours home from St. Louis in this photo. 

I. Look. So. Tired. 

{I had no idea what exhaustion was! Ha!} 

Josh was painting a guest bedroom and 

I hopped in for a quick photo and got away from the fumes as soon as possible. 

Messy hair, don't care!

 Another fun date night with my guy. 

We went exploring the finger lakes with my in-laws when they visited. 

One of my ONLY bare belly pictures. 

Dressing your bump is so much fun. 

I much rather a dressed bump picture to a bare bump picture.

My sweet Granny requested a picture of my pretty face and this is what she got!

In July we had a Zabek family reunion and my parent came by {as in drove 4 hours} for a visit. 

It was closer than the 16 hours and this girl missed her mom and dad terribly. 

The week I went into pre-term labor and was put on bed-rest. 

Photo was taken a few days before. 

Can you tell my cervix is dilating and effacing?

Me either!

Yes, technically on bedrest. 

My photographer gracefully came to our house and 

photographed me in bed with the exception of me standing for a few minutes for this photo.

Still on bedrest but a girl has to look good, right?

I had weekly appointments and throughly enjoyed getting spiffied up for them. 

Another request from my sweet Granny to see my sweet face. I'm so thankful she made that request. 

I was heading to another weekly appointment and feeling great. 

Little did I know I was dilated to 4 cm and effaced 90%. 

Can you tell? Yea, me either. 

This was the last photo I took of my lovely baby bump that I adored. 

Blessed

Happy Thursday friends!! The sun is shining on this blustery and bitterly cold day here in CNY. It's a GREAT day if the sun in shining even if the windchill is -8 degrees. No, seriously! We have less sun shiny days than Seattle, Washington. Everyone in these parts are suggested to take vitamin D supplements. For real!!

I recently shared our birth story and the complications that I had after my c-section. I got a lot of feed back from so many friends and family that hadn't heard all the gory details with many words of encouragement and praises of how strong I was or how they couldn't have done what I did. 

I did it for these little girls right here, our Miracle Zabies. 

I fought every day to see my babies grow, live their lives,

to experience life with them 

and to see all of the world's wonders through their eyes! 

Friends, I did not do this alone. I prayed every single waking moment of every day! I can't count how may times I was joined, hand in hand, with Josh, my Mom, and Ashley praying for relief, clarity, strength and healing. 

I was not strong, HE was! Jesus carried me through rough waters and over mountains!

He held me up when I could not do so for myself,

he held my babies when I could not

and for that I am thankful! 

It feels so good to be a Christian. 

I never knew that motherhood would help me to grow so much in my walk with Jesus. 

Every child that is born is a miracle! Really if you look at the science of things it's pretty amazing. 

These are my very own miracle babies. We had the odds stacked against us from infertility to being born pre-term and then complications for myself afterwards. 

They are worth every prayer, every struggle and every tear shed. 

If I knew then what I know now, I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Thanks to my cousin {in-law} we snagged these adorable Miracle Baby Tees {and a Miracle Mama tank}.

Miracle Baby Tee: Tink & Key   |   Head Bow: Emerson Grace Boutique 

We are truly blessed!

Throwing back on Thursday...

Last year we went to Georgia to visit my family for Thanksgiving so that most of my family and friends could meet our sweet little ladies. While we were there my Mom wanted to have family pictures taken. She had been asking me for a few years to have pictures of us (me and Josh) taken with her and my Dad, professionally. We always had someone snap a quick picture here or there at family functions but never had any nice photos taken. I gave in and arranged to have our photos taken by a family friend who did a great job. The day was cold but she worked quickly and the photos turned out great, with the exception of my 3 month postpartum body that I still critique in photos... but that isn't anything she could have made better... photoshop? Ha! I kid!... Kinda! I love photography in general but especially love any photos of my girls, my guy or my parents. Looking at these picture brings tears to my eyes because I can not believe a year has passed since the Zabies where this small. Where did my babies go? Time needs to slow down!!!

Josh, Kensington, Quinn and myself with my parents, Nana & Pawpaw. 

Clearly we were still learning how to hold our babies and not look awkward! 

Look at those babes!

Us with my parent again. I just love these pictures and I'm so thankful I gave in to my mom's request!

This guy right here stole my heart many moons ago!

How cute are they? So sweet!

Such great memories from that day. The Zabies had their first experience at Ross' Diner for lunch and also met my God Parents later that day. Sweet, sweet memories.




                                               

Wishing you Joy...

May this holiday season be filled with love and joy.

From our family to yours. 

My first attempt to design our Christmas card myself.