BABY GRACE

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,an hour in the life,babes,birth,family,just because,lifestyle,newborns — admin at 12:34 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2019

I spent the afternoon with Missy & Cody about a week after Grace was born – getting baby snuggles and taking some pictures!!

WOULD YOU LOOK AT HER ROLLS!!

I mean – honestly – LOOK AT THAT FACE!! ANGELIC!!

Hey baby girl – you better get used to the clickity click of that camera!!

ABSOLUTELY DARLING!!

Grace upon grace upon SO MUCH grace!!

THOSE SQUISHY LIPS!!

I just can’t stop!!

Those shots – MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!

BABY GIRL!!! YOU ARE ACTUALLY HERE!!!!

WELCOMING BABY GRACE

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,an hour in the life,birth,expecting,family,just because,lifestyle,newborns — admin at 12:42 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2019

THIS!!! THIS MOMENT!!!

Watching Missy bring this sweet girl into the world was one of the most impactful moments of my life so far!

I’ve walked the past 7 years with her. There has been so much pain and heartache – followed with so much joy and grace – and now – GRACE! It was overwhelming!!

Those are my favorite shots!!

Birth tricks you – you have your baby and it’s AMAZING – but then you remember that it’s not over!

THIS PHOTO – SO MUCH in this photo!!

LOOK AT THOSE FAT LITTLE FEET!!

AND – AND I GOT TO CUT HER CORD!!! SERIOUSLY – such a beautiful moment!!

OH BABY GIRL!!! I just can’t even deal with how much you are loved!!

SO CLOSE TO 8 POUNDS!!! WHAT!!!

Cody – holding his baby girl!! After she was born – I turned around and hugged him while we both SOBBED – SO MUCH GRACE in this picture!!

CODY & MISSY – I know I’ve written it so many times – I know I’ve told you SO MANY times – but thank you!!

THANK YOU for letting me walk so closely with you. Thank you for asking me to be there for her first breath on Earth!!

You guys – I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

I spent 18 hours in the life of Missy & Cody – 18 of some of the most intense hours in anyone’s life – and we still love each other – AND – AND – I didn’t miss it!!

WELCOMING BABY GRACE

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,an hour in the life,birth,expecting,family,just because,lifestyle,love,newborns — admin at 1:27 pm on Friday, January 11, 2019

Missy was able to rest (as best as you can while in labor) for a small chunk of the evening into the early morning.

Cody, Missy’s mom, and I were able to drift on and off in the hospital chairs as best as you can imagine …

But then it started!

And she says baby … it’s 3 AM and I don’t want to push out this baby!

December 27th – 3 AM – let’s start pushing. I say us like it’s a group effort!

So tired – so very very tired – and so close to meeting her little girl – but it still seems so far!

There’s not much I feel like I can do to help. She’s going to be in pain no matter what. That pain WILL end.

BUT until then – I CAN get cold washcloths!

And it REALLY starts!

These photos – this part was hard for me.

I don’t have much sympathy and empathy in general – but watching my dearest friend be so close to meeting her daughter and feeling the contraction come and knowing that she has to push but doesn’t really want to … ooooh – that was hard to watch!!

AND THERE SHE IS!!!

AND I very seriously got so wrapped up in the emotion of the moment – that I forgot I was taking pictures!

The focus isn’t where I would love for it to be – but I think you can still feel the emotion in this moment!! In fact – I KNOW you can!

OH MY HEART!!! She’s here – after 2 hours & 18 minutes of pushing – about 33 hours of labor all together – and 9 years (yes – years) of waiting for this little girl – SHE IS HERE!!

That tiny tear – that FRESH baby – that beautiful MIRACLE!!

WELCOMING BABY GRACE

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,an hour in the life,babes,birth,expecting,family,just because,lifestyle,love,newborns — admin at 1:14 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2019

You’ve seen me post about Missy. And her husband Cody. And their kiddos.

When their youngest when born – Missy and I were just starting our friendship. I had planned on photographing his birth but he came early and I wasn’t in town.

I could have made it. I could have rearranged my schedule. But – I didn’t. And they’ve never let me live it down!

Missy and I have grown so very close over the past seven years – and when they found out that Grace would be here – the big joke was that I would miss it.

Missy & Johna are my dearest friends. Missy was due December 30th and Johna’s adoption ceremony was December 21st. I couldn’t possibly miss either. Johna was there when my boys were born. My two dearest friends were laboring and I HAD to be there for them. I told Missy that she could go into labor anytime – Christmas Eve – Christmas morning – just NOT on the 21st!!

Thankfully – she didn’t!! WHEW!!

And I was able to be there for Johna’s “birth” and make it to Missy’s!

She was induced on December 26th and I came up after my morning session!

Missy labors loooooooooooong. I got there at 11 am. And we waited. And waited. And waited.

And played some UNO to pass the time.

And face-timed with Aiden.

I LOVE THAT PICTURE!!! Women are AMAZING!

We help create life. We carry that life. We bring that life into this world. And we nourish is. But man oh man – or woman oh woman – does it HURT!!

Missy’s mom and I thought that we might have a baby by 8 pm. Surely she’ll have a December 26th birthday …

BABY *R* – NEWBORN

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,expecting,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,love,newborns,portraits — admin at 11:55 am on Friday, June 9, 2017

When I met with Janelle – she told me about her little guy at home – and he reminded me so much of my Fitzy! I couldn’t wait to meet him!

That little baby leg on her momma’s hip. The small things.

OH MY HEART!

SUCH A SWEET LITTLE GUY!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

And that last one – with his little foot out-of-focus!

LOOK AT THOSE SMILES!

OH MY HEART! I JUST ADORE THOSE ONES!

Janelle & Patrick – THANK YOU AGAIN for being so AWESOME!

WELCOMING BABY *R*

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,expecting,family,just because,lifestyle,love,newborns,newsworthy — admin at 10:56 am on Thursday, June 8, 2017

I met Janelle after she saw Aszur’s birth photos! She was the first birth client that I hadn’t already known!

We had been texting back and forth and she let me know that she was being induced on Monday April 24th! We kept in touch all day Monday and my in-laws took the boys Monday night just in case something happened in the night or early in the morning! I went to bed around 10:30 and had my phone RIGHT NEXT TO ME! At 2 AM I woke up in a panic and checked my phone – I had a missed text at 11 PM and another at 1 AM – the one at 1 AM was certainly urgent. I texted her back and her husband said – the baby will be here in 5 minutes! It would take me 40 minutes to get there – so I knew I was missing it – but I went anyway!

I felt ABSOLUTELY AWFUL! I said – you should have called me!

But – again.

There was a baby already born and she was beautiful.

So I took the pictures!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THAT LAST SHOT!

OH MY HEART!!

Janelle & Patrick – thank you SO MUCH for being awesome and understanding and just AMAZING!

Thank you SO MUCH for asking me to witness this intimate moment in your lives!

WELCOMING BABY *R*

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,expecting,family,just because,lifestyle,love,newborns,newsworthy — admin at 11:17 am on Wednesday, May 24, 2017

My friend Ericka – she’s a ROCKSTAR of a momma! She asked if I would photograph the birth of her second sweet baby – OF COURSE!

We had this crazy idea that she wouldn’t make it to her due date – April 4th. On April 3rd – she came over for dinner with her older daughter. We ate and laughed and watched that little baby move around. And then. She said – I think maybe I’m leaking? Maybe. I’m just not sure!

It’s absolutely crazy to me that each birth can be so different and we can forget exactly what happens each time!

So – she texted me around 10 that night and said – she was going to the hospital. And OH! Her water was breaking – so be on baby watch!

I took my phone to bed with me and went to sleep. And waited.

Around 4 AM I got a text saying that she was progressing! So – I figured I would go over and HOPE for a baby before morning when Jared had to go to work! I ate breakfast in quiet. Got a shower real quick without checking on kiddos. And left my driveway at 4:30 – getting a text from her saying she was 5 cm. I made it to Wellsboro – about 20 minutes away – and parked at the ER – got my bags – and went to the desk. Where she told me that I had to go back OUT to the car and drive AROUND the building and go in the back entrance and ask to be let in. ARGH! SERIOUSLY!

So – I got in the room – at 4:51 and that sweet baby was born at 4:49 – YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

I was so sad. And mad. And then sad again.

BUT – a baby was already born and she was beautiful!

So I took some pictures!

THAT LITTLE FACE! I can’t even deal with her!

AND – she was born on her due date!

Little *R* – you are loved. You are wanted. You were prayed for. You will do wonderful things.

Ericka – YOU are strong. YOU are beautiful. YOU are brave. I LOVE you dear friend!

BABY *K*

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,family,just because,kiddos,my family,newborns,portraits — admin at 11:23 am on Wednesday, May 17, 2017

I already posted her newborn session – OOPS! But I did go see here really quick when she was JUST born!

My cousin Vanessa was born when I was 15. She was the cutest – roundest – sweetest baby! She had curly blonde hair and the biggest smile!

And now – 20 of the fastest years later – she’s a momma! Her baby girl – *K* – is a redhead! And hopefully inherited her momma’s curls!

Thankfully her first birth was a quick and smooth process for Vanessa!

Jake & Vanessa – she is SO BEAUTIFUL! I am so happy for you both!

WELCOMING BABY *M*

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,expecting,family,friends,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,newborns — admin at 11:32 am on Thursday, May 11, 2017

The first birth I photographed was of Aszur’s third baby – *J* – Fitzy was only 6 weeks old and everything was so fresh and new and emotional!

Her fourth birth – their first girl – was going to be a little different than her first three experiences! A home birth!

I asked Aszur if she would answer a few questions for this blog post!

This is your 4th birth but your 1st home birth, correct? What made you choose to take this route?

This was my 4th pregnancy. After our 3rd baby was born, a string of events led us to a more natural way of living. So, for almost 6 years we have been eating clean, haven’t used a microwave or even seen a doctor. So the thought of being able to go through my pregnancy and delivery without going to the doctors or hospital really appealed to me. Especially since I wanted to do a water birth and the hospitals won’t allow that to happen. We had also just spent 2 years building our home so a home birth was really exciting!!

2. How was this experience different from each of your previous births?

The home birth was more then I could have hoped for. It got pretty intense during the 15 min of pushing. I was able to work with my midwife and had zero tearing and felt the best I ever felt compared to my other deliveries.

3. Why did you choose to have your birth photographed?

I knew I had to have this birth photographed by a professional because that’s the only way you know you will get the shots! I wanted to be able to look back on this day forever and have beautiful photos that tell our story. Thank you Danielle, again, for doing such an amazing job!!

Aszur & Dave built their dream home last year – COMPLETE WITH FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS IN THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM – I say this because I was DREAMING about the light – the GORGEOUS light that would come through those windows while this baby was being born!

Aszur had texted me Friday morning letting me know that it was starting – but she labors LONG! So I took the boys to my parents and waited. I had a session Saturday afternoon – and she texted me asking if I could come up after that was over – hoping that it would happen soon!

Do you see that light – those BEAUTIFUL windows!

And the light – fading fast! I knelt down and said – I’m going to have words with this little girl! THESE WINDOWS! And she’s going to come in the middle of the night! HOW DARE SHE!

Such an AMAZING support system!

She was NOT happy about more hot water being added!

Aszur was struggling with keeping that washcloth on her head – so I ran upstairs and found a hair band – PERFECT!

Birth is so amazing! I’ve photographed a handful and done it twice – and yet it still amazes me that it can happen!

This is about the time that Aszur started to say – I can’t do it. Can you see her? I can’t.

When a woman starts saying that – you know it’s time!

When I sent the preview to Aszur – she specifically asked for some of the INTENSE pictures to be included!

And just like that – SHE’S HERE!

OH SWEET BABY GIRL!

Her cord was a little short – so she just hung out with momma – making for some GORGEOUS pictures!

OH MY WORD!

The boys woke up to meet their little sister!

If you’re a little squeamish – you might wanna scroll past the next photo! I think the placenta is AMAZING!

When a baby starts developing – we GROW an organ that sustains LIFE! AMAZING!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!

OH MY!!

Aszur & Dave – thank you SO MUCH for allowing me to capture this AMAZING moment in your lives!

I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!

 

BABY ON THE WAY

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,expecting,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,love,parties — admin at 3:03 pm on Monday, January 30, 2017

Aszur and I met – oh my word – before I was pregnant with Fitzy – so I think in 2009!? Is that right Aszur? That seems way too long!

She had her third child 6 weeks after I had my first – and she let me photograph that experience! My first one!

She was starting out with photography and we clicked and became fast friends!

They built their dream home. The five of them. Aszur and the boys. And while I remember her saying that she was pretty sure they were a 3 kiddo family – she always just had this longing in her eyes. In her heart. She’s a great momma. An inspiring wife. And so they took a chance. And asked God if they were done. Or not. They were not. And MUCH to her surprise – a girl!

GORGEOUS!!!!!

That little guy! What a ham!

OH MY HEART! I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

Aszur – you are such a beautiful soul! I am so thankful that we met!

And while we don’ see each other on a regular basis – it doesn’t matter. There is still love and friendship when we do!

You won’t want to miss her HOME birth! That will be featured in a few weeks!

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