I still have a ton of family and engagement shoots to blog, but I wanted to get this one up quickly, it has special meaning 🙂

One of my best friends, Kirsten and her hubby Brett are expecting their first child at the end of January!   They live just outside of Peoria, IL (where I went to College) so making her baby shower would be no easy feat!  But I planned ahead with the help of her mom and was able to surprise Kirsten at the shower. She had no idea I was coming!  You can see her reaction in the video at the bottom of this post (thanks Laura for capturing it!)  Here are a few from the actual shower:

The monkey talks, hence the reason she has it to her ear!

Us 🙂

Kirsten called me soon after she found out they were expecting to see if any of my trips to IL coincided with the time maternity photos should be taken (7-8 months along).  Since I refuse to go to the Midwest in the Winter, I had no plans to be there.  She was pretty upset, there is no one local she wanted to trust with that!  I snapped a few frames at the shower, which was held at the local Zoo.  (it doesn’t look like it, but its about 30 degrees here!)

The following day, we did another short maternity shoot!  Kirsten is a yoga instructor in Peoria, IL (check out her studio – Namaste Wellness). We decided to shoot her maternity session in all yoga poses!  She was so excited 🙂  I also got to take her class – what a great experience!

Ok I snuck in one non-yoga pose!

I know this one!  Downward Facing Dog!

Fav #1 <3

They are waiting to find out the sex – I can’t wait! I am hoping for a little girl to spoil!  🙂

Fav #2 <3

We had to stay inside – there was snow on the ground outside!!!  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

xoxo, M

Can;t figure out the video thing…here is the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPaMRlbj4xo