Exciting News to Share!

What has been happening behind the scenes of Joie Cruz Photography? I have been MIA here for the last six months, but for a very good reason. I am excited to share with you that I am pregnant with triplets!!! Yes, that’s right… 3 little babies in my belly bump. This is such great news for us as we experience this adventure in 2019! We are happy and filled with love!

We are doubling our family size in less than a year!

So much has happened these last months and it has been a roller coaster ride at times. I dedicate this post as a celebration of life…because regardless I am carrying life and I can’t live in fear. I have held back from sharing because this pregnancy is high risk x3. I totally understand how new mommas wait until the first trimester to share with the world because of all the what ifs. That first trimester hesitation, for me, has basically been the entire pregnancy. With this stated, I invite you to celebrate life with us and to pray with us through the rest of our journey.

One in 200 Million

My husband Carlos and I have been to countless doctor appointments since finding out our triplet news on New Year’s Eve. So many medical professionals have told us that it is rare to have “spontaneous identical triplets.” At the first ultrasound, our initial reaction, as Carlos and I looked at each other after the midwife said “I see three heart beats”, was to giggle. Friends, not just any giggle, but one of those hearty nonstop high school giggles! I am sure it was a combination of nervousness and mentally asking ourselves if this is really happening. We will be doubling our family size in less than a year! Looking back to 12-31-18, I am so happy that my husband gets to experience it all with me. I feel like I am reliving this memory as I write it to you.

Maternity Portraits During Philadelphia’s Cherry Blossom Festival

To celebrate getting up to week 20 of our pregnancy, Carlos took me to the Shofuso Japanese House in Fairmount Park during Philadelphia’s Cherry Blossom Festival. We arrived as the park opened which was perfect to get some quick portraits before the crowds filled the relaxing place. The beautiful pink hues of the Cherry Blossom trees had just started to bloom that week and formed a canopy of pink flowers. This is one of my favorite times of the year! Flowering trees makes me so happy 🙂

It was fun having my son and husband on the camera side of taking our maternity portraits. They can be super silly while taking my pictures. My son is so used to me talking about picture locations and I noticed he would tell me about why the lighting would be perfect at certain areas. He definitely made mama proud! My husband Carlos also had fun making me laugh as he took the pictures. I think you would agree that he did a wonderful job capturing this moment!

Letting My Light Shine

I have always been private about my personal life. Actually posting about my pregnancy journey makes me feel vulnerable and nervous. Friends, can you believe that I’ve started writing this post at least four different times in the last three weeks? Seriously, I have different parts in different notebooks with scribbles all over… However, in my heart of hearts, I have deeply felt the need to share. I have always believed that when we let our light shine we unconsciously give permission for others to shine also. Who knows, maybe one day someone will stumble across this post and find it helpful… and for that I am humbly grateful.

Steps of Faith

Life takes faith. Period. It takes faith to look beyond circumstances. It takes faith to keep that internal peace that goes beyond understanding. With my faith, I will celebrate life! Yes, everyday I will thank God for the opportunity to be a vessel for my baby girls! I am amazed at how my body is able to grow and nurture life. I can feel them each day moving and I also know who is kicking or who has the hiccups. All this to say, that I have been bombarded with a lot scares and alarming medical reports. Nevertheless, I can’t stand my faith on those reports. Not yet. I have to stand on Christ the Solid Rock because every day is a walk of faith. I choose to think positive and I choose to say “It is well with my soul.” Life does happen. For me, right now at this very moment, I choose to celebrate life and to enjoy the NOW moment.

With Love,

Jocelyn