• LIVE, LAUGH & ALWAYS PHOTOGRAPH.

This fourth month has been incredibly rewarding watching our daughter develop so much, but being a working mom is a TOUGH JOB!!  I think it’s even harder than taking care of a newborn with little sleep. 

Since Vivienne has been born, I have REALLY tried to be present and in the moment.  I’m so glad I took this step back because I would have missed the moment my daughter rolled over for the first time.  I WAS PRESENT AND IN THE MOMENT!!!  I will remember this forever and that is more valuable to me than interrupting the moment to take a picture.  The best part is that it’s almost like she waited and did this in front of both of us!  It’s a first moment that we did not miss and I’m so thankful.  As much as I love my camera and love capturing memories, it’s pretty incredible to be thinking only about this teeny rock star and not about my settings!

I want us to remember all the things that have happened over the past four weeks.  Vivienne, this list is for you and here are a few memories from month four:

  • You started grabbing your feet or as I call them footsies
  • You rolled over the first time, and Mommy and Daddy saw it in person!!!  You are still figuring out how to get that arm out though….
  • You’re talking more and louder which we love hearing (for now lol)
  • You make it known when a stranger holds you.  Strangers are dangerous but mommy and daddy’s friends are not
  • One of mommy’s favorite memories was when she was holding you standing up and she sang a whole song to you and you smiled the whole time!!  Something that mommy will never forget
  • Your small giggles, we can’t wait to hear your baby laugh
  • Crushing tummy time and holding your head up more and more each day
  • You started holding your bottle
  • Teething – it still continues and it will for a long time (I assume)

Here are a few of your favorite things:

  • Standing up on our laps, you smile instantly!
  • You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Hot Dog Hot Dog Hot Diggity Dog)s
  • You love the car rides and looking around wherever we go

I love remembering the memories with you and will never forget them.  I rush to leave work so I can spend as much time as possible with you.  Happy four months Vivienne!  I can’t wait to see how you develop over the next few months!

Xoxo Jen Araya

This is Vivienne’s first Costa Rican dress!!!  This is so special to me because my family sent it to us after she was born and I’m so excited to dress her up in the dresses I wore as a kid!!!

If you are expected or recently had a baby please check out Babyfab!  They have the cutest clothes AND the best part is a percentage goes to babies in need!  Check them out babyfab.net/jenaraya

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Leah and Jamie met each other while they were out with friends one evening.  Leah and I also work together at Cumberland Farms.  We got to know each other through work, AND  we are also part of the Corporate softball team.  That is where I met Jamie!  He would be our only fan at times, but he also came through when we needed an extra player one game.  He officially became our extra team player.  Both are great softball players but now back to the real story.  Leah and Jamie’s wedding.  They are the nicest people you could ever meet!  They complement each other and always have fun.

Jamie and Leah got married at their local church that they walk too every Sunday in Milford.  It was so sweet to see Jamie’s face when he saw his beautiful bride walking down the aisle.  They were surrounded by 120 of their closest friends and family.  They found the perfect venue to have their wedding reception at, the Thayer Homestead under a gorgeous white tent in Medway, MA.  They always say rain on your wedding day is good luck.  Well, Leah and Jamie got a nice shower during their bridal portraits.  As I ran to my car to get my umbrellas a nice guest came running over to the couple with a table umbrella.  It was perfect and hilarious at the same time. 

EPIC is the only way to describe their wedding celebration.  Their first dance was by Journey but then out of nowhere our DJ Bryan Pierce started playing Despacito by Justin Bieber and that’s when the party started!!!  They are both great dancers and this is the top first dance that I have witnessed in person.  From the photos you can tell they are a fun couple. 

Leah and Jamie, I’m so happy for you both!!!  Enjoy married life!

xoxo Jen Araya

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  • November 3, 2017 - 2:03 pm

    Mike Tierney - Very Happy for you both!
    Looks like an awesome wedding and you looked beautiful!
    CongratulationsReplyCancel

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Our IVF Journey has had its ups and downs.  I have talked about this before, but have to say again: there are so many unknowns!  That’s the reason I’d like to share a little bit more about our experience with you today, and I’m going to start with the team that helped us.  The staff at IVF New England needs some recognition.  Our nurse, who would call me every day, was so wonderful and made this whole process much easier than I thought it would be.  What an amazing job she has too!  Helping couples get pregnant and being there on the phone listening and answering ALL of our questions; they have changed our lives in the best way possible.  Everyone I met throughout the IVF Journey has been so nice and helpful.  I felt that I was being taken care of at every appointment.  I felt like they cared for me as if we were best friends.  They made the atmosphere so relaxing and calming, especially for such a stressful situation.  I can’t say enough good things about IVF New England!  I HIGHLY recommend them.

Exactly one year ago are IVF Journey took a positive turn.  I went in for blood work two weeks after transfer, and at that point going to the office to get blood drawn was my new normal morning routine.  We knew that day that we would be getting a phone call in a few hours to tell us good or bad news.  I know I keep repeating myself, but it’s such an emotional rollercoaster.  I was a bit distracted that day but tried to keep the day normal and go with the flow as best as I could. 

Transfer was on October 4th, 2016.  I had some bleeding on day 3, which at first I was freaking out over, but it was a good sign and meant that the embryo was implanting and making its’ home for the next nine months.  I’m not going to lie, I secretly somehow just knew I was pregnant but didn’t say it out loud because I didn’t want to jinx it.  I also did not want to get Sean’s or my hopes up.  I had been feeling EXTREMELY tired.  My body felt different, but not in a bad way.  I would say to Sean, when I yawned, it felt like a very deep yawn.  Weird, I know!  Hard to describe but it was different, and I had no proof until October 17, 2016. 

I received the call while I was at work, and to this day I can’t remember the time.  I tried conferencing Sean in on the call but it was unsuccessful.  So I got the news that my count was great and that we got a positive test, and after hearing CONGRATULATIONS there was a huge sigh of relief. Needless to say we were SO EXCITED to get the news.  At this point, I was already falling asleep on the couch by 8pm every night.  (This was one one of the reasons why I secretly knew I was pregnant!!!)  I did not attempt to take a pregnancy test until after the blood work.  Again, I didn’t want to get my hopes up because you can get a false positive.  I may have already known, but I had been waiting years to pee on a stick and get a positive so I did it!  For the first time ever it was positive. 

Happy 1 year anniversary of finding out we were pregnant!  October 17th will always be a special date in our lives! 

Xoxo Jen Araya

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One year ago, October 4, 2016, was the day we had been waiting for: Transfer Day!  This day was something I would ALWAYS think about, and it was just getting us one step closer to becoming pregnant.  This day also had a lot of what if’s.  What if it doesn’t work the first time?  What if I miscarry?  What if I get pregnant?  What if we have to do this multiple times and it STILL doesn’t work?  What if I never get pregnant?  What if they had to thaw out multiple eggs?  So many worries!

Luckily it was like the stars had aligned for us, it was meant to be.  We had a relaxing morning, I believe our appointment was around noon time.  On our way to the appointment we stopped at Starbucks so I could get my usual drink, Strawberry Acai refresher (I don’t like coffee) and then made our way to IVF New England.  The reason we stopped for the drink is that you need to have a full bladder for this procedure.  We went over all of the paperwork and what you can and cannot eat just in case you are pregnant.  I took 2 days off from work for our Transfer.  I could have gone back to work the next day but I wanted to take it easy.  They say to go back to your normal everyday life, but I took the extra day JUST IN CASE!

It is not until you arrive at your appointment that you find out how many eggs have been thawed, and you just hope it’s only one or possibly two at most.  We were very thankful to hear that in our case it was just one.  Like all medical procedures, they double and triple check your bracelet and make sure they have the right information.  Once that was confirmed, off we went!  It was really cool to see it all happening on the screen.  I will say this, Transfer is the easiest procedure in the IVF process.  Besides being uncomfortable from not being able to pee for a length of time, it was a breeze.

Fast forward a year, and our daughter is here and 14 weeks old!  It’s so crazy to reflect and look back at this time last year.  We feel very lucky that we had a successful transfer, and haven’t taken that for granted for even a minute.  It’s funny to think about, but before I was married I told myself if I couldn’t get pregnant that I would never do IVF.  When you’re at a fork in the road and you have to make a decision to try IVF or not, what do you do?  It’s a tough decision.  I did not want to have shots every day BUT I would have regretting not trying.  If any of you are trying and having trouble, or wondering if it’s right for you, I would absolutely say go for it based on our experience.   I felt like it would have been a HUGE “what if” to add to that list above if I didn’t.

Happy 1 year Transfer anniversary!  To be able to celebrate with our 14 week old daughter is something pretty special that I will never forget!!!

*Note – Most of these photos were taken with my iPhone*

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  • October 9, 2017 - 5:51 pm

    libby - Sean and Jen,
    These are just such beautiful, special pictures. Much love to you both – well, all 3 of you! These are just so special.
    Love, Mom-LibbyReplyCancel

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I feel like I’m repeating myself but I can’t believe we have a three month old baby.  I know you’re only a few months old but time is going by too fast!!!  I wish I could stop time and enjoy every new thing that you do!  My time was up and I had to go back to work this month.  Leading up to it, I shed A LOT of tears.  I know you’re in good hands but this was the first time that we would be apart for a long period of time.  I only left Vivienne with Sean when I would photograph weddings.  That was it!  She always came with me EVERYWHERE!  I wouldn’t want it any other way, but she is my new best friend!

This past month was harder for me because I knew my time was running out.  I didn’t let that get in the way of enjoying my time with her.

I want us to remember all the things that have happened over the past four weeks.  Vivienne here are a few memories from month three:

  • You have been sleeping 7+ hours – scared mommy a few times when she got a full night of rest, she woke up in a panic.  Thank you to Dock a Tot.  If you are a new mom you need to check this product out.  Click here to order your own.
  • Being able to put socks on your feet. Having the brace on, we couldn’t put these on you.  Something as small as putting socks on and playing and kissing your feet make me really happy.  (Yay footsies!!!  Baby footsies are the best!!)  Also…..
  • Watching your legs kick and go crazy at times make me so happy that your hips are healed! Makes mommy REALLY happy to watch you do this
  • Your more on a regular routine with feedings and sleeping
  • I Cherish our conversations when you are on the changing table in the morning and at night
  • The way you play with your hair
  • Watching you develop and hold your head up more. I will always say that you are growing up too fast!
  • Mommy went back to work – very hard for her
  • You started doing tummy time
  • Teething – it has already started!
  • You had your first road trip up to Mt Washington Resort in New Hampshire – you are a rockstar!

Here are a few of Vivienne’s favorite things:

  • Love putting your hand in your mouth
  • Love your new tag blanket
  • Love to have something against your face when you fall asleep
  • Love the car ride, even a quick 5 minute ride to Grammy’s house l lulls you to sleep right away

I love remembering the memories with you and will never forget them.  Everyone asks do you take pictures all of the time since I’m a photographer.  My answer is yes/no.  Yes I am taking more with my phone because it’s right there.  No because I want to be PRESENT AND IN THE MOMENT!!!  I will remember this forever and that is more valuable to me than interrupting the moment to take a picture.  I love our adventure so far and can’t wait to see what is new for you next month!

Xoxo Jen Araya

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