it was surreal when we found out I was pregnant.
![nude pregnant person lays in bed cuddling with partner portland, oregon maternity photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/314735314/4e8261b48277d17dadf57640ee5c8d26-9506116c-300.jpg)
My husband and I live on a small, 5 acre farm in Forest Grove with our 2 horses, 2 sheep, & 2 cats.
We loosely planned to start a family but it was still surreal when we found out I was pregnant (although I felt it right away).
![pregnant person and partner kiss while cuddling in bed portland oregon in-home maternity session photographer](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/502835314/audrey_bare-14-8f2c6d11-300.jpg)
![in-home maternity photography session portland oregon](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/212835314/audrey_bare-16-78cd963c-300.jpg)
I felt extremely connected to my growing baby inside.
I decided to do this project when I was already over-due because I wanted to remember that dream-like, slow-moving time towards the end. I was planning a home birth and I was getting close to falling outside the pocket of allowance for that.
![in-home maternity photography session portland, oregon](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/981935314/audrey_bare-4-770ab5d9-1500.jpg)
![in-home natural light maternity photography session portland, oregon](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/981935314/audrey_bare-5-a0c1e089-1500.jpg)
![pregnant person poses nude on bed at in-home maternity photography session portland, oregon](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/589045314/audrey_bare-8-53c1d376-300.jpg)
![in-home maternity photography portland, oregon rushes & waves](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/299045314/audrey_bare-9-a3cb1c1d-300.jpg)
and even though it’s strange, I appreciate it way more now.
![in-home family photography documentary session portland, oregon family photographer](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/752145314/Audrey-4-c0806221-300.jpg)
![mother and baby lay in bed together in-home family photography portland, oregon](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/659245314/Audrey-9-cde3a9bf-1500.jpg)
![mother and child lay in bed together in-home family photography portland, oregon](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/659245314/bare_postpartum-1-7-f817b5d3-1500.jpg)
![in-home family photography session portland, oregon c-section scar detail shot](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/659245314/Audrey-14-3f542b4c-1500.jpg)
![in-home family photography portland, oregon mother and child cuddling in bed](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/659245314/Audrey-16-9e916d5c-1500.jpg)
— it’s the vessel that delivered me my soul mate, and what continues to keep her alive. It feels more whole, more sacred, and imperfections matter less.