Though it's always rewarding, it can sometimes be tough to be a parent. Things can especially be difficult if one of the spouses is away in the military.
Often, military members are deployed when their wives are pregnant, which can make things very challenging for both partners.
Most pregnant women want their partner to be there to support them through the ups and downs of pregnancy.
It's always nice to have your spouse there to hold your hand, whether you're vomiting in the first trimester, going for a checkup in the second trimester, or going into labor at the end of the third trimester.
Nicole Bedwell knows personally what other military wives are going through: her husband, Wesley, is a soldier.
When Nicole found out she was pregnant, she didn't want to let the physical distance affect her relationship or pregnancy.
So, when it came time to do her pregnancy photo shoot, she knew exactly what to do.
[H/T: Love What Matters]
Photographer Traci Lynn shared Nicole and Wesley's pictures on the Facebook page Love What Matters.
Within days, the photo blew up. The post received over 28,000 reactions and over 1,300 shares.
When Traci shared the photos on her own Facebook page, Traci Lynn Photography, she wrote:
Every now and then, life introduces me to extraordinary people. Nicole + Wesley are two of those people.
I haven't officially met Wesley, but the stories, the updates, and spending time with Nicole has really been wonderful.
Traci told LittleThings:
Nicole hired me for the maternity, birth, and newborn “belly to baby” package.
The maternity session would happen without Wesley home, [as he was] deployed at the time.
We wanted to incorporate him, so we planned to bring props to give a nod to him being away.
Nicole expressed how upsetting it was that he was deployed, so we decided he needed to be in them somehow.
Nicole got him to pose like he did and send me the images to Photoshop together. I put them side by side to show the difference between the locations.
[Though] 7,000 miles away, they waited together for [baby] Pyper. (He's stationed in Japan.)
Nicole developed hypertension and the doctors decided it’d be best to have her induced April 12 instead of the original date after the 22nd, while Wesley was still deployed.
They had already bought a ticket for the first date, but Nicole worked for an entire day on the phone getting him a new ticket to get him home.
He made it here and will be home for less than a week.
Pyper was born on April 12.
Because she was delivered early, she is in the NICU working on her breathing. Her proud parents are hoping she'll get to go home soon.
People everywhere have had incredible reactions to the photo of Nicole and Wesley "together" before Pyper's birth.
Traci explained:
When people see the picture, I hope they thank a soldier for their service and feel the love radiating from it.
Even 7,000 miles away, Wesley's love for his wife and newborn daughter is amazing.
The anticipation was well worth it!
If you're thankful for the sacrifices that servicemen and -women make for our country, please SHARE these incredible photos!
