Well, I guess I will welcome myself to the world of photo blogs!
Since we're here, I will share a secret with you. I am hooked on birth photography. Like seriously HOOKED. It is the most amazing thing I have ever been asked to capture with my camera and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity. I want to help normalize birth again. Seeing images that are tastefully captured and beautifully documented will help grow the "mom centered birth" movement. The "Birth Without Fear" movement. It's time to showcase how truly beautiful and amazing this time in a family's life is and it's something to be talked about and celebrated, not tucked away in the closet. Being present for someone's first breath is magical and I want to share that magic with the world!
If you're wondering why I am so hooked on it, well, it's because I'm a mom. I have 2 amazing sons and I decided (as a photographer) that I wanted their births documented. Figuring I would be a little busy at the time, I wanted to be able to look back on the experience and actually see what took place (and I am SO glad I did, as I don't remember much... it's all a blur). The end result was amazing. They are my most treasured photos and I will be forever grateful to my former classmate, fellow photographer and dear friend Nadine Huberdeau of Allure Photographers for waking at all hours of the night to come watch me birth my babies.
This is the first time I have shared any of the images from the births of my boys. I'm not sure why I hid them away for myself... I guess I was nervous to put myself out there in such a vulnerable way. But then it occurred to me that if I am asking you to open up and share your births with me, then it's only fair that I share mine with you.
Keenan John, my oldest, joined us on November 1st 2012 at 5:03am, weighing in at 8lbs 8.5oz after 26 hours of labor (9 of which we were at the birth center) and almost 3 hours of pushing. He gave us a good scare at the end when he got stuck on his way out, but my midwives were amazing. They called paramedics, and had me move around (a lot) and he was born safely 5 minutes after paramedics arrived, so we never ended up needing their assistance, thank goodness.
My little Keenan, born November 1st, 2012 at 5:03am, weighing in at 8lbs 8.5oz
Quinn Alfred, my youngest, made his grand entrance much faster than his brother. On September 13th, 2014 I was photographing my nieces birthday party and I was pretty sure I was in early labor. We arrived at the birth center just after 3am on September 14th and he joined us at 5:30am, weighing a whopping 9lbs 14oz! Pushed for over 2 hours again though, with this stubborn boy who remained posterior until the bitter end! When he did finally decide to turn, he was out in 3 pushes.
My (not so) little Quinn, born September 14th, 2014 at 5:30am, weighing a whopping 9lbs 14oz!
After seeing the photos from my own births, I knew that I had to provide this keepsake to other families. It just had to happen. They are the photos of a life time! AND how cool will it be down the road, if my sons become fathers, to be able to show them the story of the day they were born. The day they made me a mom (or mom again) and how much they have been loved from the very beginning!
Love to you all, and thank you for sharing my journey with me!
