Brooklyn natives Shakeel and Nia Luke made their first appearance on MunaLuchi Bride with their sophisticated and chic New York engagement session. Now they are married and expecting their first child! To celebrate their little one on the way, the wanderlust couple traveled to the Caribbean for their babymoon and effortless maternity session in Grenada.
Nia and Shakeel first met while attending Benjamin Banneker High School. Developing a friendship first, they later attended and graduated from Howard University together where they started dating their senior year. Five years later, Shakeel popped the question on top of the Dumbo House rooftop. Then Covid-19 hit.
While the world stood still, their love continued to flourish. One postponed wedding later, on May 8th, 2021, after having to cut their guest list due to pandemic protocols and waiting an additional year to wed, they said “I do!” in front of loved ones.
Today, they are celebrating their next milestone together: a baby boy!
Nia shares, “I am excited to raise the little being that’s one-half of me and my husband. I am excited to teach our child and to travel with him. Ultimately, I want him to learn about the world through all of his senses, not just by the book. He is going to be our little best friend!”
Keep scrolling to view their stunning maternity session in Grenada (expertly captured by Careem Gilbert at CG Creative Productions) and read about their excitement as they anticipate becoming parents. From balancing careers and parenthood to dreams for their baby’s future and advice for other moms-to-be, they can’t wait to welcome their son into the world this January.
From the Muna Team to one of our very own Muna Couples, congratulations!
- Couple: Shakeel and Nia Luke
- Due Date: January 14, 2025
- Location of Shoot: Silversands Beach House; St. George, Grenada
Did you have a theme for your maternity shoot?
Not necessarily a theme but we wanted to have a shoot that was in our comfort and element. We travel a lot and our place of peace will always be the ocean. We were traveling for our babymoon and thought there would be no better place to have our maternity shoot than the turquoise waters of Grenada.
Do you know the gender of your baby or any names you’re thinking about for your little one on the way?
We are having a baby boy. We had a private, cake-cutting gender reveal with just the two of us so that we would be able to bask in the excitement. It is so exciting being that my husband is the only boy in his family and our son gets to carry on his last name. We have not settled on a name yet, we are still feeling out his energy and will name him when he gets here.
How has your partner supported you during your pregnancy?
My husband is typically my greatest supporter and is always there for me. It is hard to believe that he has found ways to be even more supportive throughout this pregnancy. Physically and emotionally, Shakeel has been my rock every single day from the moment we found out. Not only has he found ways to make my days easier but has also found warm moments to pour love into me and the baby. From memorable, dated, handwritten notes to up and moving us to be closer to family. I have had a beautiful and peaceful pregnancy because I have such a great spouse.
How do you plan on balancing your business (Black Diamond Couture) and work within corporate America in software sales with motherhood, in addition to keeping your romantic relationship thriving?
Career and time management are conversations my husband and I had before family planning. It was important to both of us that we set intentions to still enjoy our marriage while being the best parents. We started this journey by moving closer to our village shortly after we found out about the pregnancy for support. Then we moved back to New York from DC to be closer to our family and childhood friends. We are so excited to raise our child with the very individuals we were raised with.
Currently, I am a Software Sales Executive and also own a made-to-measure fur line, Black Diamond Couture (BlackDiamondCouture.com). I am very lucky to be able to work from home and to work for a company with a great culture. That is very hard to find these days in corporate America. My business is seasonal and while these next few months will be busy, I have been very organized with scheduling time around my day-to-day to fulfill and send off orders. The key to working while pregnant is organization. Between pregnancy brain and much-needed naps, everything needs to be scheduled.
After the baby comes I have a great amount of time off that I get to spend with him. During that time I get to see if I want to jump back into my corporate career right away or if I want to take time off and stay home with the baby. Having a supportive husband has left room for that decision. Being an ambitious woman who enjoys working hard and climbing the ladder, being a stay-at-home mom would be entirely new for me. However, having the option to decide later on is a blessing.
What is something you’ve learned about yourself during pregnancy?
I’ve shocked myself with maturity (lol). I have grown so much over the last 7 months, not that I wasn’t mature before. Pregnancy and the parenting journey take a ton of research. It also takes a lot of what I call ‘administrative work’ which is not my strongest. Everything from organizing various doctor appointments for yourself, researching the products you want for your baby, organizing Lamaze classes, finding pediatricians, and just the overall research of what you choose to put in your body while pregnant.
To say the least, my husband and I have been busy and on it. I am surprised that I have been organized and able to manage everything without falling short. I have a very handy baby organizer book that has been helpful and my husband is great with organization which is helpful. However, again, every day I shock myself with the amount of growth that has happened in such a short period of time. I have a totally different mindset. I am typically someone who is always on the go. These days I have learned to listen to my body and be still.
In your motherhood journey, who inspires you?
Without a doubt, my mother. My mom (my parents) has been the greatest blessing from God throughout my whole life. There has not been a moment when she stopped being a supporter or parent. From birth until now, my mom has been selfless, shows up, and loves her family. Growing up I watched my mom work hard and she never complained. I came home from school and we always ate dinner together at the dining room table with my dad. It did not matter that she needed to wake up a few hours after she rested. She enjoyed being a mom whether it was making me a custom leather Halloween costume for school or cooking for all of my friends that were always at my house. My mom is a great spirit, she is just so kind and refreshing to be around. I am so proud of her.
One particular memory I will always have during this pregnancy is my mom coming to our home to help us move.
We took the Amtrak train to meet my husband at the house to finish helping him pack up the house. With Shakeel and my friend, Haben, my mom was picking up heavy boxes and bags to make sure we got the job done. Also, she transformed our backyard for renters. My friend always says “Your mom is stronger than me”, lol. She is! She gets the job done. It reminded me of not having housing in college and my mom hopping on the Megabus from New York to DC with me each week, during the summer, to talk to the Dean of Housing and to apartment hunt until I found something. I was never left to figure it out on my own. She has always been hands-on, showing up emotionally and physically. Being pregnant makes you appreciate and understand your mom so much more. If I am half the mother she is, I would be doing an amazing job.
Overall, I am inspired by all moms. My family and friends embrace being a mom every single day with tenacity. I learn so much from them.
Is there any advice you would like to share with other moms and career moms?
Finding out that you are pregnant is a whirlwind of exciting emotions. You are going to read books, save parenthood Instagram posts, and hear a ton of advice from other parents. All of those networks can be useful and beautiful. However, there is one thing to remember: this is your journey. You hold the pen and create the story of your own pregnancy.
Ask yourself, what kind of pregnancy experience do you want? How do you want to fuel your body and spirit during the next 9-10 months? What birth plan are you most comfortable with? Then you can add outside advice from those who may have experienced what it is you are interested in. You do not need to listen to the noise and feel the pressure of doing things that do not work for you. Find a doctor that you trust and run everything by them. If you are unsure if you can put it in your body while pregnant, call your doctor.
Lastly, find your peace during pregnancy.
This is not the time to involve yourself in any drama. This is actually the time to find the healthiest environment for you and your family to thrive in, before and after the baby arrives. The environment can be your dwelling or it can be your support. Find genuine peace and love, and bask in that. That was the recipe for such a beautiful pregnancy for me.
As for career moms, I am still learning myself as this is my first child, so I do not have much advice. I do have advice for pregnant moms! Try to find your own tune. This is not the time to stress yourself out at work, trying to be a superhero. Be gentle with yourself. Take naps if you can. Carrying a baby is a full-time job of its own, so when work gets tough, remind yourself of that and slow down.
Looking for more gorgeous maternity shoots?
Click here for more.
Vendors:
Photographer: Careem Gilbert at CG Creative Productions & CG Creative Photography
