Mike and I have some wonderful news!

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      We’re having a baby! I’m 13 weeks along right now, and so excited to announce the news. We’re due January 3, 2011, and everything is going great.

      The first trimester has been rough. I’ve been sick pretty much all the time for the last seven weeks. I had hoped I’d be better by now, but I’ve had no relief yet. I have days that are better than others, and I’m able to get my work done, so at least that’s good. Still I wish I could spend more time napping and less time doing anything else.

      We’ve had no complications, and everything is going exactly as it should. Due to my so-called “advanced maternal age,” we had genetic screening done last week to determine the baby’s risk of chromosomal anomalies. The hospital called today and said that even though I’m 35, I have the test results of a 20-year-old! The baby seems to be doing great, and so am I.

      Mike is thrilled about the pregnancy and has been taking good care of me. I can’t wait to see him as a father. If his adoration of me and our dog is any indication, he’ll be a wonderful dad. I’m so lucky to have him in my life, and our baby will be, too.

      Here’s a brief synopsis of our first 13 weeks:

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      4 weeks: We found out while packing the car for a four-day camping trip in Moab.

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      4.5 weeks: I spent those first few days isolated from the internet, cell phones, and even Barnes and Noble. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. I found a “What to Expect” book at a Walmart on our road trip, and read it in our tent.

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      10 weeks: Yes, I bawled. Look at those fingers. I couldn’t believe the fingers.

      917725976_G3Xwq-O.jpg
      10 weeks: Here’s our little gummy bear from the front. You can see the brain in this picture!

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      11.5 weeks: Shooting weddings has been ok, despite my constant sickness. I guess the adrenaline just kicks in and lets me do what I need to do. (Notice the Sea Band acupressure wrist bands)

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      12.5 weeks: Our gummy bear is looking more like a person!

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      12.5 weeks: Completely amazing.

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      13 weeks: At the top of Keystone Mountain last weekend, while shooting a wedding. My belly is definitely poking out! I didn’t expect to be showing so much already. Unfortunately I just look fat right now.

      917800341_HSUtd-L.jpg
      13 weeks (today): Excited to announce it to the world. Hello, world!

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      COMMENTS

      […] my pregnancy, so I thought that it’s time for me to remedy that. In my June blog post about our big announcement, you saw my collection of photos from my first trimester. Now that I’m almost 29 weeks along, […]

      wow!!!!!!!!!!! it’s fantastic!!! congratulations!!!

      i was born at 3rd of January, and want to say in all modesty it’s good birhtday for good person!!

      take care of you and your child!!! be careful!!!

      wow!!!!!!!!!!! it’s fantastic!!! congratulations!!!

      i was born at 3rd of January, and want to say in all modesty it’s good birhtday for good person!!

      take care of you and your child!!! be careful!!!

      Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you

      Be happy! You’re wonderful!

      Be happy! You’re wonderful!

      Congratulations!! That’s such exciting news! ๐Ÿ™‚

      congrats! so happy for you! i love how you call the baby gummi bear haha

      Congratulations! That’s wonderful news. I wish you and your growing family the very best!!

      congratulations charlotte and mike!! what wonderful news =)

      Much much congratulations!

      Much much congratulations!

      Deb and Rich, that made me laugh! I was definitely testing the limits of safety and wisdom last week! Thanks for your help, Rich. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congratulations to the two of you!!!! NO MORE standing on chairs at your photo shoots!!!!

      congrats Charlotte (and Mike)!

      That’s the best way to get your info. Join the pregnant community on here. They’re full of great information and advice. ๐Ÿ™‚

      That’s the best way to get your info. Join the pregnant community on here. They’re full of great information and advice. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congratulations!

      Congratulations on your news! I wish your family the best!
      (I’ve been reading since you were on the “wedding plans” livejournal page, and we got married around the same time. I love photography, so it’s been neat to follow your work. We had our first baby last June, and the other day I read your blog and wondered when you might have your first.) Maggie

      Thank goodness. I’ve been stalking the blog for months thinking annnnyyy time now. So happy for you guys!

      That is wonderful! So happy for you!

      Congratulations, Charlotte and Mike! ๐Ÿ˜€

      …and I love how you referred to the little one on the way as your “gummy bear.” ๐Ÿ™‚

      Oh yay! Congratulations on baby number three!

      How wonderful that your baby is coming in 9 weeks! I hope you’re feeling good these final months!

      ๐Ÿ™‚ thank you, my dear)))
      this time for us is very funny – new emotions and feelings – all this indescribable!
      =))))) I love the name Ann too – maybe you now the book “Tha man in a brown suite” (Agatha Christie) ? So, the heroine of this roman is also Ann =)

      ๐Ÿ™‚ thank you, my dear)))
      this time for us is very funny – new emotions and feelings – all this indescribable!
      =))))) I love the name Ann too – maybe you now the book “Tha man in a brown suite” (Agatha Christie) ? So, the heroine of this roman is also Ann =)

      Dear Charlotte and Mike, congratulations!!! I am happy of both of you. Your pictures, Charlotte always help “to set my mood into bright mode” even in very dull times. God blesses you with so amazing joy – having a Baby! Many best wishes from Russia!

      Congratulations to all of you!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      COngratulations! I am 17 weeks along today with #3. You will not look fat for much longer ๐Ÿ™‚ I always get excited when I can actually wear maternity clothes and I noticed this time how much room there is in my tops right now…that won’t last ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Huzzah! seeing you with your niece and nephews has always made me wonder if/when you’d have one of your own. You’re going to be fantastic parents!

      congratulations charlotte and mike! ๐Ÿ™‚ finally a baby! ๐Ÿ™‚

      JAN 3rd… is my son’s B-Day!

      And he is an amazing young man! You are in for the ride of your life Charlotte… hold on tight!

      CONGRATULATIONS AND BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!

      Tina

      Super congratulations from me and my wife.

      YAY! Congratulations to the both of you! ๐Ÿ™‚ Mine is due 9 weeks from today, omg! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Oh my goodness that’s awesome! I’m just a faithful livejournal follower of your photography, but I’m still supremely happy for you! ๐Ÿ˜€

      congrats!!!

      Oh my goodness that’s awesome! I’m just a faithful livejournal follower of your photography, but I’m still supremely happy for you! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Wooohoo!

      Congratulations you two.. that is awesome! Here comes the most likely to be photographed baby in the world ๐Ÿ˜›

      Yay!!!!!! Congrats on the new little gummy bear you guys!

      How wonderful, Polina! Congratulations to you! I love the name Ann… it’s my middle name. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Wooohoo!

      Congratulations you two.. that is awesome! Here comes the most likely to be photographed baby in the world ๐Ÿ˜›

      Ahhh! This is amazingly wonderful news. Every time you post about the kids in your families and at weddings I always think you and Mike have so much love to share. Now you can!

      Well, yes, of course. I was just kidding. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      We’re definitely planning on finding out the sex — we’re too impatient to wait. ๐Ÿ˜‰ It will be hard enough waiting until August when we can find out!

      The wristbands actually seem to help! They’re quite uncomfortable, so I only wear them when I absolutely need to be feeling good (namely, while shooting).

      woooohooooo))))
      congrats!!!
      we are pregnant too with husbund – 6 months =))))
      our first baby, girl =)
      we shall call her Ann))))))))))))
      take care))))))

      Charlotte! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.

      woooohooooo))))
      congrats!!!
      we are pregnant too with husbund – 6 months =))))
      our first baby, girl =)
      we shall call her Ann))))))))))))
      take care))))))

      Congratulations to both of you!! It is very exciting. Loved the picture diary of your journey so far.

      Charlotte! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.

      Congratulations to both of you!! It is very exciting. Loved the picture diary of your journey so far.

      Mazel tov!!! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple!

      (And yes, stay away from those What To Expect books… paranoia wrapped in fear. If you’re a little more crunchy, KellyMom is an excellent resource.)

      Congratulations!

      This is the picky copy editor in me speaking — I would hope that if you two plan on staying in America, he would be cool with your child spelling words in American English! Otherwise, the poor kid will be so confused in school. Nothing wrong with introducing him/her to British spellings at some point as well, though!

      Aw, yay! Congratulations!

      This is the picky copy editor in me speaking — I would hope that if you two plan on staying in America, he would be cool with your child spelling words in American English! Otherwise, the poor kid will be so confused in school. Nothing wrong with introducing him/her to British spellings at some point as well, though!

      (Same here!)

      Aw, yay! Congratulations!

      congratulation! you look just wonderful!

      Warmest congratulations from Moldova!!!

      CONGRATULATIONS!!! So excited for you both!

      Oh it is so wonderful!!! I am really happy for you!
      Congratulations!
      Before opening lj-cut I was sure that it will be exactly that good news ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Congrats to you both!!!
      I so understand you now and believe that all will be very good!!!
      I’m 41 old and just got my baby born. Almost one month full happyness :)))

      congratulation! you look just wonderful!

      Warmest congratulations from Moldova!!!

      Whoohoo!!! Congrats, that is so exciting!!!

      Congratulation Charlotte. You and Mike will make great parents!

      Oh it is so wonderful!!! I am really happy for you!
      Congratulations!
      Before opening lj-cut I was sure that it will be exactly that good news ๐Ÿ˜‰

      That is so awesome! Congratulations! I am so happy for you both! =) That’s awful about you feeling so crappy but hopefully in with the second trimester you will gain your old energy back and bee feeling great.

      Oh boy, Charlotte! This is such wonderful news!

      I have been following your LiveJournal for several years now, and it has been a pleasure getting to virtually know you and Mike through your posts and your photography. I have no doubt that you both will be wonderful parents and that your baby will grow up in a home full of love and wonder at all life has to offer.

      CONGRATULATIONS, CHARLOTTE AND MIKE!!!

      congratulations!

      wwwwwwoooooooo!

      congratulations! excellent news.

      CONGRATULATIONS! That’s so exciting, you’ll be wonderful parents, I am sure. ๐Ÿ˜€

      Yay! I think you will both make amazing parents, from what I know from years of reading your blog. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congrats! Hope the nausea settles down for the second and third trimesters. ๐Ÿ™‚

      That’s so great! (Everyone I know is having babies lately!)

      Oh, and how have the wristbands been? I was super, super sick with Sophie and have been exploring lots of “treatments” for if/when we get pregnant, but haven’t heard anything from anyone I know about them.

      Will just told me and I SHRIEKED! I am so, so, so excited for you! You’re going to be an amazing mom (and Mike is going to be amazing too). I couldn’t be more thrilled for you.

      Congrats! Hope the nausea settles down for the second and third trimesters. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Oh, Charlotte — what wonderful news!!
      You two are going to be fabulous parents!!
      C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!

      congratulations Charlotte – thankful that you are doing well and are healthy.

      Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

      Oh I’m so excited for you!

      I’m studying to become a midwife, so naturally pregnant women are incredibly interesting to me. I found this guy and began following his amazing adventure to start a family when he wife was around 17 weeks or so. Now their baby is walking and his blog is still fascinating. You should definitely take a peek! Congratulations!!

      Oh, Charlotte — what wonderful news!!
      You two are going to be fabulous parents!!
      C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!

      Congrats! You and Mike will be great parents! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Aw, that’s so wonderful! You all will be the best parents :)! I’m so happy for you two!

      Congratulations to you and Mike!

      Maybe you gave off some vibe in posts, as I was just thinking about this the other day looking at your recent shoot posts. Thinking you had to be having a child soon, and wondering how you would work it in with the shoots.

      Congratulations!! Such exciting news! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Dear Charlotte, I’ve always read and loved your blog, but never sent a comment because I’ve a bad english.
      Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for a happy and healthy pregnancy.
      Congratulations!

      OH my goodness! That was the FIRST thing when I saw the cut… “She’s pregnant!”…

      CONGRATULATIONS! That is so exciting!

      Hopefully your morning sickness will wear off soon. ๐Ÿ™‚

      i can’t believe that i’ve been following your work for a few years now.
      ๐Ÿ™‚

      congratulations, God bless you

      Yay! Congratulations!!

      Oh, Charlotte! Congratulations!!!!!!

      That is fabulous!
      I look forward to seeing your belly grow! You will be a beautlful mother!

      whay joy! ๐Ÿ™‚ a very warm congratuations to you and mike. xoxo

      Congratulations!! Such exciting news! ๐Ÿ˜€

      OH my goodness! That was the FIRST thing when I saw the cut… “She’s pregnant!”…

      CONGRATULATIONS! That is so exciting!

      Hopefully your morning sickness will wear off soon. ๐Ÿ™‚

      welcome to parenthood! Our 10 month old is the best thing to ever happen to us. I am so happy for you three!

      congratulations charlotte! the minute i saw that lj cut text, i said, “please let it be a baby!!” so happy for you both; i await all of the beautiful pictures to come with anticipation! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Yay! Congratulations!!

      SO exciting!! Congratulations!!

      Congratulations!

      Congratulations! Motherhood is a trip, for sure!
      My little guy was born on 1/31/10 ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congrats! Are you planning on finding out the sex?

      How exciting!!!! Congrats! Can’t wait to see the rest of the journey!!!!

      Oh, Charlotte! Congratulations!!!!!!

      Charlotte, congratulations! This is such wonderful news! You are going to be a great mom, and your baby will be one of the most photographed, I’m sure ๐Ÿ˜‰

      what wonderful news! Congratulations!

      CONGRATS!!!!

      whay joy! ๐Ÿ™‚ a very warm congratuations to you and mike. xoxo

      congratulations charlotte! the minute i saw that lj cut text, i said, “please let it be a baby!!” so happy for you both; i await all of the beautiful pictures to come with anticipation! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congrats!!!!

      SO exciting!! Congratulations!!

      So happy for you!!!!!!!!! And you’re due on my birthday ๐Ÿ™‚

      Enjoy this exciting time!

      Congratulations! Motherhood is a trip, for sure!
      My little guy was born on 1/31/10 ๐Ÿ™‚

      Charlotte, congratulations! This is such wonderful news! You are going to be a great mom, and your baby will be one of the most photographed, I’m sure ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Congratulations!

      MAZEL TOV! Oh, I’m so thrilled for you both!

      Congratulations! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Charlotte I cannot tell you how happy I am for you and Mike! I know I don’t know you guys all that well but for some reason I feel like I do and I just know you are both going to be incredible parents. Congratulations! If you want some maternity photos in the mountains, give me a call, I’d be honored to take them!

      WOW! What awesome news! Congrats congrats!

      What fantastic news! Congratulations! ๐Ÿ™‚

      That is amazing! Congratulations ๐Ÿ™‚

      ohmygoodness. I have been waiting for this day! hurrah! congratulations, Charlotte and Mike!

      Congratulations!
      Now you’ll know the real meaning of the word “happiness” ๐Ÿ™‚

      Heartfelt congratulations to you guys! Very happy for you.

      MAZEL TOV! Oh, I’m so thrilled for you both!

      CONGRATULATIONS!!!

      P.S. I can’t believe 35 is an “advanced maternal age”… What the heck???

      Congratulations!!! :)))
      And January the 3rd? That’s great. My daughter was due to January the third, too. But she decided against it and came on the first day of the new year. Who knows, maybe you are going to have a new-year’s Baby, too. :))))

      Ahhhh!!!!! Congratulations, Charlotte and Mike!!! I am so excited for you both!!!

      Congrat’s. All the best.

      yay YAYYY!

      congrats to you both!

      (ya know, I’d kind of wondered about some of you ‘I’m home sick’ and ‘I’m napping!’ posts) :p

      CONGRATS!!!

      And yeah, totally ditch the What to Expect book. It’ll just get you all worried over things that really aren’t enormous risks, and the helpful stuff can be found online (and more up to date) anyway. Instead, pick up a copy of Dr. Sear’s “Baby Book” (and maybe Pregnancy Book) and Henci Goer’s “Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” (it’s about pregnancy, not just the actual birth.)

      You guys are going to be fabulous parents! Congrats again!

      Congrats ! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thank you so much for all the support, guys! It makes my day!!

      Thanks, Liz! I’ll be doing stupid stuff at your wedding just like I do all the time, no doubt. ๐Ÿ˜‰ But I probably won’t be crawling on my stomach too much by then!

      ๐Ÿ™‚ congratulations!

      What to Expect definitely made me a little paranoid! My current strategy is not to read more than I need to know at any given time. And I prefer online info and info from my doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

      congradulations!!!!!
      %u043F%u043E%u0437%u0434%u0440%u0430%u0432%u043B%u044F%u044E %u0441 %u043C%u0430%u043B%u044B%u0448%u043E%u043C!!!

      If Mike has anything to say about it, the baby will spell words with extra U’s and will speak with a British accent. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      You totally don’t look fat! You got a cute baby bump! Embrace it! I already told you on fb but I’m very excited for you guys.

      Yay!!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Congratulations to both of y’all; what wonderful news!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ *hug!* ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congrats!! Hope the sickness fades and you have a picture perfect pregnancy!

      Congrats!!!! You two are going to be fantastic parents! We’ll have to be extra nice to you in October then – no crazy wedding shots for the pregnant lady!

      Such wonderful news and so wonderful to see you both so happy!

      How exciting!! Congratulations!!

      What fantastic news! Congratulations! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congratulations! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Our big announcement

      That is amazing! Congratulations ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congratulations!
      Now you’ll know the real meaning of the word “happiness” ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congratulations, so excited for you guys!!! You definitely don’t look fat but pregnant. ๐Ÿ™‚

      My best advice- ditch the WTE book. It’ll make you more paranoid than anything, LOL.

      CONGRATULATIONS!!!

      P.S. I can’t believe 35 is an “advanced maternal age”… What the heck???

      yaaaay!!! congratulations!! i’m so excited for you!

      Congratulations to you both! I’m looking forward to some photo documentation of the journey ๐Ÿ™‚

      That’s great! Congrats to you both! Are you going to teach him/her American English or British English? ๐Ÿ˜‰

      I don’t even know you, and yet I said, “Awww!” and teared up at the news. This baby is in for an incredible life. Congrats!

      yay! you’ll never feel so much love. i am so happy for you.

      Congralutions! What an exciting time in your life!

      Congratulations!!! :)))
      And January the 3rd? That’s great. My daughter was due to January the third, too. But she decided against it and came on the first day of the new year. Who knows, maybe you are going to have a new-year’s Baby, too. :))))

      woohoo! congrats to both of you.

      Congrat’s. All the best.

      congradulations!!!!!
      %u043F%u043E%u0437%u0434%u0440%u0430%u0432%u043B%u044F%u044E %u0441 %u043C%u0430%u043B%u044B%u0448%u043E%u043C!!!

      Congratulations!!

      Congrats!! Hope the sickness fades and you have a picture perfect pregnancy!

      Such wonderful news and so wonderful to see you both so happy!

      congratulations, Charlotte! what wonderful news!

      Congratulations, so excited for you guys!!! You definitely don’t look fat but pregnant. ๐Ÿ™‚

      My best advice- ditch the WTE book. It’ll make you more paranoid than anything, LOL.

      I don’t even know you, and yet I said, “Awww!” and teared up at the news. This baby is in for an incredible life. Congrats!

      Congralutions! What an exciting time in your life!

      I wanted to say again how happy I am for the two of you…such wonderful, exciting news!!

      I think my grandchild looks just like me!!

      Omg so excited for you two

      Congratulations! A baby is such exciting news and with you two as parents, the little one is definitely blessed!

      Charlotte, Congrats!!! I can’t believe 35 is advanced maternal age. Umm that scares me!!!! You look great!

      You look amazing! ๐Ÿ™‚ Congrats! (PS – I have those sexy Seabands, too – they are a miracle… hehe)

      Congratulations! Enjoy the upcoming months (if a guy is allowed to say that), and when the time comes, make sure to get a 4D ultrasound – the detail is spooky realistic.

      Oh, Charlotte! HUGE congratulations to you and Mike. What a lucky baby to have such great people as parents.
      -nicole and matt burg

      This is fantastic news! I am so excited for you and Mike. Yeah!!!

      YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! I loooove the pics. Of course you have awesome “journey” pics!!! I just took a pic of the pregnancy tests when I found out mine. All three of them. Haha.

      Soooo happy for you and Mike!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      I am beyond thrilled for you and Mike! This is such an amazing and life altering experience! Just being able to hear the heartbeat from within your tummy or seeing the ultrasound on the screen…I tear up just thinking about it %u2665 You two are going to be AH-MAZING parents!! Congratulations, Charlotte & Mike!! Congratulations %u2665

      Congrats Charlotte and Mike. You will love the little gummi bear so much!!
      I was really sick with each pregnancy(3), and had a girl each time. My daughter just had a girl and she was really sick also. Maybe it’s a girl ๐Ÿ˜‰ I’m sure you will be great parents and we will see beautiful baby pictures. It only gets better from here!

      Congratulations again. I was 33 when I had my little girl. (:

      Charlotte, that is amazing news! Congratulations and I hope you start to feel better very soon:)

      So very excited for you, Charlotte, Mike, and wee sugar darlin! I can’t wait to see your adventures as parents! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Yes! What a wonderful announcement! You have my heartfelt congratulations!!!

      What great news! So happy for you both!

      Congratulations! I hope this exciting news doesn’t interfere with your photography.

      Congrats! What an exciting time for you both!

      You look adorable ๐Ÿ™‚ You are barely showing…congratulations Mike and Charlotte!

      Congratulations!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Congratulations!

      “I have the test results of a 20-year-old” Young at heart, take notice!

      Am I weird for thinking “hahaha you peed on that stick” in reaction to the photo? ๐Ÿ˜€

      congratulations! I have been following your work/life on your blog for a few years now and was always curious to see if you two were going to have babies. I feel like I know you from following your blog so much. When I saw the headline for the blog entry I actually squealed a little! Congrats! Looking forward to see the whole process through your blog and pictures…it will be nothing short of amazing I am sure!

      I’m so excited for you guys! CONGRATS!

      I’m so excited for you guys! For some reason I thought I would not feel nauseous anymore at 12 weeks, but it took another 2 weeks for it to go away. Hopefully yours will go away soon too!

      Wow, that is big news! Congratulations to you and Mike!

      What an awesome lil baby photo journal so far! I love seeing the story through your photos!

      Congratulations to both of you! How exciting and amazing!!!!

      Charlotte Geary

      CHARLOTTE GEARY

      Lifestyle, event, and portrait photographer with a vibrant, joyful style and 17 years of professional experience.

      Located in Reston, Virginia near Washington, D.C. and available for travel.

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