I have to admit I’m a little bit emotional blogging about this birth. What an incredible honor to have been invited to photograph this birth! It was such a quick and beautiful event.  Peace. The room was filled with peace. As much as I try to approach a birth experience from a purely professional and objective point of view, it’s difficult at times to not get wrapped up in the emotions of it all.  I teared up quite a few times that evening. So much love. So much support. To be honest, I had to keep reminding myself that mom was indeed actually in labor…she was so lucid and smiling almost the entire time…there were times I doubted that she could possibly be giving birth ;-). And her eldest daughter? The way she cared for her mama during the labor process and the way she looked at her new baby sister for the first time…wow!

I’ve posted the full birth slideshow below, but first, a few notes:

- A confession – I know I was on call for this birth, but I was totally caught off guard on this one. I had a newborn session that morning, worked all afternoon, put the kids to bed, and had settled in for a nice evening with the hubs when my phone rang:

Notice, this call was only 51 sec. long. For whatever reason, I had just assumed I was going to be woken up in the middle of the night with THE call. I have to admit that I panicked when mom told me she was already 7 cm.  I wanted to be there SO badly to capture this incredible event and I was soooooo scared I wasn’t going to make it there in time. But I did. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. 

- Here’s a pic of her eldest daughter on the phone while mom was in labor. She was talking to her grandmother (mom’s mom). Baby girl said this (and I kid you not): "Mom’s a little busy right now." I hope mom heard this quote.

- She made this whole labor thing look ridiculously easy. How beautiful is this mom-to-be? Wow!

- Notice how the shape of her belly changes as baby girl gets further down the birth canal:

- And the attentiveness of her children. (I see a future midwife in her older daughter, I swear).

- It always amazes me how mom can fall *completely* asleep in the middle of labor, as in completely unaware of anything except yourself and the baby still inside. It is quite a beautiful thing and it usually happens right before pushing. I know it’s nature’s way. I know I did this myself with each of my kids. But it just still impresses me after all of that work and build up, mom’s body knows exactly what to do and when to rest and gear up for the task ahead. The whole process makes so much sense, it’s insane.

- How quickly baby girl is actually born. I swear, it was only a few pushes and she was here!

- How mom looks holding her baby for the first time. That’s the part that really gets me:

- How cool it is that all of that post partum stuff takes place right there in front of her new family. At no time is baby whisked away from mama’s sight. That, to me, is one of the most wonderful things about a birth at home…you’re never apart from your new baby. You’re always present and aware of everything that is happening after your baby is born, which for a new mom, is an immensely important thing.

- Whenever a baby is born, I like to try to give mom at least a few minutes of privacy with her new baby without my shutter clicking in the background. So once I’m sure I’ve gotten all of the important stuff, I’ll steal away for a couple of minutes to let mom and dad look at their new baby alone. This is always my favorite time because I get to share the good news with my husband. Somehow, he’s always just as excited as I am when he hears that a new baby has been welcomed into the world:

- The slideshow features original music by the *very* talented husband of a photographer friend of mine. Photogs…you should check out his music for sale. PT4P v3 members actually get one of these songs as part of v3 and a special offer.

Now for the slideshow. Mama…thank you again for inviting me to capture this event for you and for letting me pass along this birth story with the blog readers. It gives me so much joy to share the magic of a homebirth and the power of birth photography! If you are in the Austin area and would like to see more information on birth photography or want your birth photographed, please contact me as soon as possible. FYI: I do not have any more birth sessions available for 2009 and 2010 is already booking up.

 (Can’t view this or want to view larger? Click HERE. You may want to let the video buffer all the way through before watching).

Photographing a c-section birth is such a vastly different experience for me. Without the jitters of wondering how mom’s labor will go (or when), I can relax a little bit and take the time to really observe the relationships and everyone’s reactions to what’s going on. I can also get pics of the things mom isn’t able to see while she’s recovering. Wow, V!  How exciting (and scary) it must have been to know that you were going to go into that room with one child and come out as a mother of two, with a brand new baby. Just like that! From my perspective, it was so very peaceful, so quick, so miraculous. I was honored to have been part of that beautiful day and to document this for him and his family–especially the part where the brothers meet for the first time.  It always cracks me up how the siblings just aren’t too sure what to make of this new, wrinkly toy! (Oh yes! A special thanks to Lyndsay for inspiring the door shots ;-).

 (Link not working? Try this.)

If you are in the Austin area and would like to have your birth experience photographed, please contact me as soon as you can as I can only cover a limited number of births at a time.

While packing up for tomorrow’s session, I came across this hat. I thought I’d pretend it was cold here today.

Updates and random ramblings:

1. There are only 6–count them–6 holiday session openings left.

2. I have two birth photography session openings left for 2009–one for October and one for early December.

3. For those of you that have contacted me about mini sessions or getting together during our Washington, D.C. and Richomond, VA trip, I’m pretty sure I’ve got a plan worked out.  I will be sending information out in a week or so to let you know what’s going on.

4. We spent yesterday at the Snake Farm and the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.  Snake Farm–hot and a little scary being in a room full of the world’s most venomous snakes. Wildlife Ranch–amazing…an absolute blast, but be sure to watch out for rogue ostriches.

5. This morning, we realized that yesterday would have been Virgil’s first day back at work.  I like homeschool. ;-)

6. We’ve also realized that we’ve been very busy homeschooling all summer long.  I’m working on a blog to chronicle our journey.  I tried to get it posted this week, but by the 7th interruption (Amry needed a new diaper, Logan was stuck on a puzzle piece, Tristan wanted a new brush to use in Photoshop), it was a futile task. Maybe we’ll have it up by the end of the year.

7. Falling asleep at keyboa…

…that this little one is simply precious.

P.S. If you’ve written to me about getting together in DC/Virginia in Dec. and I haven’t gotten back to you yet, I will.  To be honest, I’m just overwhelmed with the response.  Wow, I had no idea!  I truly hope to be able to figure some way out to meet up with everyone.

With all this little guy (and his family) had going on near his birth (right smack dab in the middle of their move to a new house) and his twice (or was it three times?) delayed newborn session, he was just as easy-going as he could be!

His big brother was a champ, too! Can you believe that beautiful, perfect little curl?

A beautiful family all around. Congratulations to you on the new addition and the new house! 

I had the privilege of watching this little guy make his entrance into this world.

I got to work with him again when he was about 6 months old:

…and despite this, we did manage some wonderful images this weekend in honor of his 2nd Birthday!  Happy Birthday, Mr. JV! 

P.S. – Guess what I learned today, Mom & Dad? The reason I couldn’t attend Jack’s birthday party was because I was photographing one of his classmates (and his new baby brother – whose birth I also photographed…craziness).  Recognize him?

 Small world!!!!

Contact me for full details or to sign up now!

AND, there’s still some stuff left for sale here (added some things, too).  If it’s more than you wanted to spend, please make an offer.  I really want to clean my house out ;-).

It’s been quite a journey with this family. It started here. We ended up here.  And now we’re here. J and R, it’s been an honor to follow you through your journey into parenthood.  I look forward to seeing baby A grow and change over the years. Thank you so much!

I had mentioned his birth was timely.  Here’s the story…

I was sure mama would go early. She was sure she would be late. Almost two weeks after her due date had come and gone, she was finally scheduled for an induction.  I was determined to make it to this birth no matter what.  Mama was determined to have a natural and intervention-free childbirth no matter what. I have never seen someone with such a strong vision and ability to make a birth go exactly as she wanted it to go. In fact, the day of the “induction,” she had evidently already gone into labor all on her own and there turned out to be no induction necessary.

So that morning, I was running around getting ready for a surprise party I was hosting but certain I wouldn’t be able to attend.  I stayed in contact with mom and dad on the phone, checking on progress, anxiously awaiting the final call.  While I was out running errands for the party, I got to make a short visit (North Austin Medical Center–great facility, btw!!) and snapped a few pics before things kicked into high gear.  It was lovely to be able to chat and share a little bit of that anticipation, joy, and excitement before the real hard work of labor had set in.  Amazingly enough, I even got to attend the party I’d been working on.

Early that evening, I called dad again. This time I could tell by the sounds in the background that it was indeed time to witness a miracle. His mommy and daddy told me I could let you witness it, too ;-)

A few things to note before you watch:

1. It was dark.  Very, very, very dark.  In fact, it was darkest birth I’ve ever photographed.  I wouldn’t dream of using a flash around a laboring mother or a tender newborn, so I was dependent upon a single light in the room..the light on the baby warmer several feet away from the laboring couple.  To be honest, I can’t believe I was able to capture what I did (thank goodness for the Mark II and my 50 1.2).  But you know what? I love it!  The birth itself was so very intimate…I was merely peeking in…and the dim, raw nature of the images reflects the mood in the room that day perfectly.

2. The song is “Knocked Up” from Kings of Leon.  I first heard it here (btw, I absolutely ADORE Alicia’s work!) a while back and was humming it all the way into town the day of his birth.  It seemed only fitting to use it in this video.

3. Her doctor was phenomenal.  I’ve never seen a doctor so patient an so in tune with a laboring woman.  Really remarkable.

4. There are three distinct times when mama sees her baby. Watch for the difference when mom simply sees her baby and when she truly sees him.  It makes me tear up every time.

5. Dad was a rock. He has the scars to prove it.

6. Mama was a “birthing goddess.”

Okay…now you can see…

(Link not working? View in full size.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you again to August’s mommy and daddy for inviting me to be a part of this incredible day.  Your family is simply beautiful!

[If you are expecting and would like to have your birth professionally photographed, please visit this page for more information.  I only have a few birth session openings left for this year. Photographers seeking information on birth photography are welcome to join in the open discussion on the PT4P members' only message board.]