Little Miss Sweet Cheeks...

"Maternal love, like an orange tree, buds and blossoms and bears at once.  When a woman puts her finger for the first time into the tiny hand of her baby and feels that helpless clutch which tightens her very heartstrings, she is born again with her newborn child."  -Kate Douglas Wiggin

What a birth this was!  Baby A came a day before her estimated due date.  Her momma started having contractions early in the morning on December 3rd and they continued on throughout the early morning hours.  Once the sun had risen they made their way into the birthing center.  When I arrived mom was around 6 centimeters and was having regular contractions.  Within seconds of walking into the room I observed a husband who was so in-tuned to his wife and so compassionate to her every need.  He rubbed her back, held her hand and fed her snacks to keep her energy up.  Mom also had an amazing doula that helped her get through each and every contraction flawlessly.  As the hours ticked by, mom kept  calm and labored quietly and peacefully.  Around 3:30 pm her midwife told her that it was time to meet her little angel.  She pushed with great strength and courage and I was in awe with how quiet and controlled she labored!  Dad was sitting behind her giving her encouragement and strength and at 3:43 p.m (about 14 hours after mom's first contraction) baby A arrived earth side.  Both of her grandmas were there as she entered the world and it was touching to see their tears as they met their newest granddaughter!  Baby A had a big brother at home anxiously awaiting to meet her, so shortly after she was born mom and dad called him and introduced him to his baby sister through FaceTime.  He was very excited to see her!  It was a beautiful birth and it was my pleasure spending the day with this loving family!  Thank you for letting me photograph baby A's birth.  She is a little beauty with the cutest cheeks I have ever seen!!

The Magnificent Baby M

I have complete respect for all mothers, no matter the kind of birth they experience.  It takes a lot of courage and sacrifice to birth a child regardless of whether it is a natural birth, medicated or a c-section.  I have a strong sense of pride for the women I photograph!  They are all amazing women who love their children selflessly day in and day out.  

Baby M's birth was one of those that doesn't come often I believe, and her mother deserves a gold medal for the strength and courage she had during the process.  She stayed calm when the nurses in triage told her she was already dilated to a 9!  She stayed calm as the doctors and nurses got everything in order while she felt the strong urge to push and birth her baby.  All I can think is that Baby M must have had a deadline she wanted to meet, because that little lady came fast and furious!  From start to finish it was maybe a measly 2 and half hours, maybe!  It was quite extraordinary!  It was a joy to watch her daddy swoon over her.  It was easy to tell how much he loves his little girls!  It was my true pleasure to be a part of this beautiful birth!  Way to go momma, you rocked it in every way!  Thank you for letting me be a part of it!

6 month milestone!

"A gift you are from heaven above, a perfect example of God's precious love." 
-Wendy Snyder

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to take some photos for baby G's 6 month milestone.  Her birth was beautiful and it was a privilege to be able to photograph her then and now.  She is growing so quickly and she is so beautiful in every way.  Her daddy is a fireman and I loved the fact that her family wanted to incorporate that into her photos.  I feel honored to have met this amazing family and I am grateful I have been able to capture such monumental milestones for them!

Welcome to earth sweet angel!

Early on in the pregnancy mom and dad were excited to be welcoming another handsome boy to their family.  But to their surprise, at their 34 week ultrasound, little Baby J surprised them all when it was revealed that they would actually be welcoming a beautiful baby girl instead!  

Baby J's due date came and went and we were all anxiously awaiting her arrival.  The big day came early on Friday June 19th, when her momma woke and knew that this day was going to be it!  Mom was prepared with her birth affirmations posted on her wall.  I love seeing this at home births.  The words written up on the walls bring strength and comfort to an already peaceful setting. When I arrived, mom was laboring in the shower.  She was focused and knew what needed to be done.  Soon after my arrival, her midwives arrived and helped her into the birthing pool.  It wasn't long after being moved to the pool that mom was ready to push.  She was strong and she labored like a warrior. She had the amazing support of her husband and three midwives that were all there cheering her on and coaching her through each contraction.  The moment we all had been waiting so patiently for came at 11:22 a.m. There SHE was, sweet Baby J, beautiful and glowing!  Watching the bond between mom and Baby J was a delight.  You could feel the love between mom and daughter the moment she was placed on her chest!  

All I know, is that Baby J has been born among an amazing family!  Mom and dad had so much support from parents and siblings and they were all there in the other room, waiting to see the new addition to their family!  Not only that, but she has one handsome big brother that is going to be watching out for her, every step of the way!

The Gorgeous baby G!

Who doesn't love a birth where the gender of the baby is unknown?!  There is so much excitement in the air just waiting for the big reveal.  I loved the fact that their nurse was on pins and needles the whole time!  She even tried to peek in the charts to see the gender but to her disappointment it wasn't in there to be found! 

I can tell you one thing, this sweet little angel knows how to plan a perfect day to be born!  It was Easter Sunday, early evening when mom and dad arrived at the hospital.  We all waited patiently for the arrival and at 10:48 p.m. mom and dad welcomed a beautiful baby GIRL to this world!  They were elated to have another little gorgeous girl to add to their family!  Many family members hung around waiting eagerly to hear the news and their excitement was such a joy to watch!  

I couldn't ask for a better job!  There is nothing more beautiful in this world than watching the birth of a child.  For me, every birth has certain highlights that stick out to me, making each birth a unique experience I will never forget.  For me, this birth had many of those moments.  The way dad looked at his wife and his new daughter nearly brought tears to my eyes.  There was so much emotion, and it made my heart swell!  Sweet baby G had some of the cutest facial expressions I have ever seen and I am so glad I could capture them!  Thank you for allowing me to be there with all of you and join in on this pure moment of joy!  It was a beautiful day and you now have not one, but two beautiful little girls!

Precious Baby A

What an honor it was for me to attend this beautiful birth!  I arrived in plenty of time and watched as mom progressed smoothly through her labor.  She had an amazing team surrounding her including her wonderful husband and a very supportive doula and midwife.  This was my first birth with a doula present and it didn't take long for me to fully understand the benefits of a doula.   She was such great support for both mom and dad and you could really feel the bond between mom and the doula.  I had not met this family previously but within minutes of photographing them I could sense the connection between mom and dad.  They were very in tuned and she would look to him for support and he would give her exactly what she needed.  He encouraged her and calmed her throughout the whole process and it was moving to watch.  It was late in the evening when we all finally got to welcome Baby A to the world.  She weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce and her beauty and perfection was evident right away!  She is such a beautiful little addition to a very loving and wonderful family!