Life since our last update? “Busy!” Mercedes exclaimed. “Which is pretty typical for us.” Jeremy grinded it out working with his basketball athletes and
personal training clients this summer, and Mercedes somehow survived the combination of summer heat, pregnancy, nursing school (summer quarter Anatomy
& Physiology…yikes…), and nannying. Whew! Thankfully, Jeremy stepped in and took over a lot of the household responsibilities so she could
make it through. 

For me, it’s easy to forget what life was like before I became a mom sometimes. But chatting with Mercedes and Jeremy reminds me. Of what? Well, mostly
of the many, many things that used to fill our time — back before we pumped the brakes big time — when everything got pared down and simplified,
many times over. 

For some couples, this change takes their lives by storm. But when I saw them for maternity photos, Mercedes and Jeremy already seemed to anticipate that
impending shift. And they were embracing it. And it was a beautiful thing.

Jeremy referred to this last stretch of waiting as “prepared enjoyment.” Mercedes talked about spending a few slow days at Lake Roosevelt and Lake Coeur
d’Alene, looking forward to squeezing a little more out of summer next year with their little guy in tow.

After such a full summer, I figured Mercedes was ready for some pampering. So let me tell you: I was ready to make that
happen! All she had to do before her session was shower and dry her hair. When she arrived, she got the full boutique maternity experience: hair, makeup,
and any gowns of her choice from my maternity wardrobe.

Here’s what she had to say about the session:

“It was a blast!! My body had been feeling pretty run down and just fatigued, so just having to show up to Heidi and let her do the rest was amazing. It
was so fun to go all glam because at 36 weeks, it just doesn’t happen too often. When I first got pregnant, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about pictures
that far along, but I absolutely loved it and highly recommend doing it. And, if you’re going to do it, go all out! Being able to chose from Heidi’s
collection of dresses preventing me from having to try and shop for one, and we were able to do multiple looks. It was nice to feel pretty and feminine
and also to spend the afternoon with Jeremy. While pregnancy may feel long, it’s a short period of time worth capturing. What our bodies are capable
of is worth the pictures. Basically, if you’re going to take the time to do the shoot, do it with a professional and go big!”

What will they do with these photos? Well, it should come as no surprise that Mercedes has plans: “As with all of our big moments, they’ll go up around
the house! I’m so glad that we have been able to document all of this. Being parents was something we couldn’t wait for, and knowing how quickly kids
grow, I’m thankful that we will have so much to look back on.”

It’s safe to say this baby was much (much, much, MUCH) prepared for by these two. It seems like a lot of first-time parents can become almost paralyzed
by the many decisions hanging over their heads during pregnancy. But with her background as a nanny to newborn twins, Mercedes already had some pretty
definitive ideas about what she wanted, especially when it came to baby gear. When I took these photos, the nursery was already set up and decorated
in “foresty greens,” and the Halo Bassinest was ready and waiting next to their bed. Jeremy referred to his “checklist” a couple of times, which just
really made me smile. The last thing he wanted was to have to leave Mercedes and the baby to get some item they forgot about or didn’t have on hand.
A pre-hospital Costco run was already in the works.

 

But the closer they got to their little boy’s arrival, Mercedes started realizing there were some things she couldn’t prepare for 100% — especially when
it comes to labor and postpartum recovery. She confessed, “I just don’t know a lot about it, and it’s something that’s not talked about enough. Because
I’ve nannied, I feel good about the parenting side, but taking care of myself in this new way can sometimes feel daunting.”

Amen to that. I have to tell you: I look forward to a day when pregnant moms don’t feel like they’ve been kept quite so much in the dark on labor and postpartum
— in fact, it’s a huge part of why I’m working on these blog posts.

Aside from all that– hearing that little glimpse of recognition that every aspect of life can’t be perfectly prepped,
carefully controlled, and beautifully wrapped up with a lovely bow?

That’s what told me Mercedes was actually ready (like — REALLY ready) for motherhood.

On the parenting road ahead, there will likely be so many things that don’t go according to a perfectly laid plan. There will surely be bumps, lots of
potholes (hello, Spokane), and possibly even a few fender benders along the way.

My prayer is that, even in those stressful moments, this special couple can set down their roadmap and keep their shocks
at the ready: their teamwork strong, their love steadfast, their preparation high, and their flexibility on point.

I just know they will be the most perfectly imperfect parents this little boy could ever have.

I can’t wait for them to meet each other.


In closing, I’d like to formally take responsibility for sending Mercedes into labor. (ha!) You see, I e-mailed her some questions about her pregnancy
to help me put this blog post together, knowing FULL WELL hitting that “send” button would basically guarantee her baby would arrive before she got
a chance to finish answering them. And…it worked! I can’t wait to share some precious photos of sweet Camden and talk new parent life with you all
so, so soon.

This post is the third of a six part series following Spokane parents Mercedes and Jeremy throughout their journey to first-time parenthood. To read the first installment (pregnancy announcement), click here. To read about the gender reveal, click here. Stay tuned for the next installment: newborn photos!