After learning that his partner was pregnant, a Kentucky man took a walk in her shoes — well, in her belly.
Mother-to-be Iana Thomas, 22, is expecting a baby boy this December, and recently she and the baby’s father posed together for a sweet maternity shoot.
But one particularly unique shot stands out from the rest, and has captured the attention of the internet: In it, the couple stands together partially obscured by a tree, angled in such a way that makes it look like the father is actually pregnant.
Junior, is that you? A Kentucky couple expecting a baby posed to make it look like the dad was actually pregnant
Iana suffered her second of two miscarriages earlier this year. Devastated, she and her partner continued to try for a child — and two months later, she was pregnant again, this time with what she calls the couple’s ‘rainbow baby.’
The term ‘rainbow baby’ is commonly used to describe a child born after a couple suffers a miscarriage, stillborn, or other loss of pregnancy.
Once she was far enough along, she and her partner hired a photographer to take pictures of them in a part, celebrating their impending arrival.
There were more traditional shots, like one in which the dad-to-be kisses Iana’s belly. In another, they sit on a park bench with their pup between them.
Get ready for the dad jokes! Iana Thomas and her partner were excited to show off their humor in the fun shoot
But one funny photo from the shoot has gone viral. The couple stands partially behind a thick tree. Iana is shirtless with her belly out, standing in front of her partner. Her head is back and hidden from the camera.
Her partner, meanwhile, has obscured his body behind hers but peeks his head forward — creating the illusion that his head is on her pregnant body.
‘This photo really explains us well,’ the mom-to-be told Yahoo. ‘Not only for the sense of him “stepping in my shoes” but the humor behind it. He’s always been my “goofball.” That picture, in particular, spoke volumes to us and his personality.’
Though not everyone has immediately understood the image, they are thrilled with how it came out.
‘A lot of the people took a negative approach to the photo at first and didn’t understand the humor, art, and concept behind it, but we love it, and ultimately that’s all that matters,’ she said.
Little miracle: They are expecting a baby in December after two miscarriages
Photographer Robert Morton, 29, thought the image was both touching and important.
‘A common saying for most couples is “We’re pregnant.” Of course, it’s just figuratively speaking, but how would it look if [they both] really were pregnant?’ That was the inspiration for the photo,’ he said.
He also added that ‘a lot of African-American men aren’t in their children’s lives nowadays, and with this picture we wanted to show things from a different perspective.’
The couple may have also been inspired by Brittney and Malcolm Fontenot from Knoxville, Tennessee. In January, they staged a similar shoot with photographer Nicki Kaylor, and went on to have a little boy in March.