Baby Paxton | A Birth Story {St. Louis Birth Photography}

Mom was scheduled for a c-section; her second. My first.  There was no hours of laboring, just waiting and prepping.  (Hmmm,I think 9 months of pregnancy is a major labor of love, so really that's a lot of hours of laboring).

Donned in OR attire, It was time to start.

I believe there were 15 people in the room, not including baby Paxton.  Only three of us (mom, dad, me) were not medical professionals.  This was my view.  I thought I would be on the other side of the curtain but I got to watch the amazing-ness of a baby being born

I was too stunned with all the amazing-ness to note if this was before or after they called time of birth.  He still has one foot in.

First peek for mom and dad... First pose for the camera... another peek for mom and then off to the baby nurses for care.

Hello dad...nice to meet you.

 Another peek for mom from across the room.

 I got to sneak off with dad while they weighed him.  Mom was stuck behind on the table.

 Together as a family..

Getting swaddled up tight for the trip back to the recovery room.  (FYI: most babies are not this cute so soon after being born)

 Oh sweet baby feet!

A few quiet moments back in recovery

This is just a fraction of his birth story.  So many incredible moments in such a short time.  I couldn't possibly fit them all here!  Congratulations to mom and dad on their beautiful baby boy!  It was such a honor to be allowed to capture these for you.

Introducing Thomas...9 days new | St. Louis Newborn Photographer

Newborns are a beautiful thing.  Watching new parents with their first born is almost as beautiful.  This little guy had his parents beaming, and rightfully so.  Congratulations to the new mom and dad; you have a handsome little man.

baby, baby, baby...

baby inside. baby outside.

center of their world baby.

oh baby sweetness.

Naomi Rose | St. Louis Newborn Photographer

Catching a newborn smile in their sleep makes my heart go pitter-patter.  What is going on in that tiny little head?  Naomi at 10 days new... such a beautiful baby girl

A candid moment with grandma.

Naomi Rose | slideshow birth story | {St. Louis Birth Photography}

Its 12 hours summed up in less than 5 minutes.  Its the story of the day Natalie and Caleb brought their little girl, Naomi, in to the world and in to their family.  Its worth watching.

Naomi Rose | a birth story | from Elizabeth Hall on Vimeo.

Naomi Rose | a birth story | {St. Louis Birth Photography}

I was blessed with the opportunity to be able to document Natalie and Caleb's labor and delivery experience.  It was a long day with every emotion present: excitement, boredom, worry, anticipation, elation, fear, exhaustion, awe, and pure amazement and joy as they brought their little girl Naomi into the world. As I uploaded the photos at home and started processing them I went from smiles to tears as I relived the entire amazing experience again.  Below is their story in pictures...it is not all the "gory details", it is about the emotion, the moments, all the little details the mom misses as all she can concentrate on is getting through that next contraction, next push.   [The slideshow is to follow here]

Natalie and Caleb had the support of their moms and some wonderful nurses.

I remember being 8 months pregnant and knowing I wanted my husband to take some pictures of our oldest before, during, and after arrival.  When the time came it was more important that my husband was holding my hand than holding a camera.  I swore I'd never forget but everything happened so fast and life doesn't have a rewind button.  I remember it was the hardest and most exciting thing I'd ever been through.

With baby #2 I was so excited for delivery day; it had been two years since my first experience with the miracle of birth.  The video camera came along and captured some of the experience but again the need for my husbands full attention outweighed the need to document the moment.


I know there are many that feel we are in an age of 'over-sharing' where social media has run rampant and very little is sacred anymore.  Birth photography isn't always for sharing, its for the parents to remember, to relive that amazing time in their life that can be such a blur.  I wish I had something other than my memory to remind me of the moments my children were brought in to the world.  Thank you Natalie for being willing to share these intimate moments so that other moms (or moms to be) realize they do have the option of both holding their partners hand and documenting the day.

Any Day Now... {St. Louis Maternity Photography}

She is just a week away from her due date.  This photo session was delayed (err, overdue, ahem) but thankfully her little girl decided to stay inside long enough for us to get some pictures.  Even at 41 weeks she is a beautiful momma.  I know she's anxious to meet her daughter but I'm glad we had a chance to capture this time.  
Any day now... you'll have that little girl in your arms.  And I'll be a Great Aunt - which is a rather redundant title, I think :)   I know the wait is hard but its definitely worth it.

Jack | 6 Months and Growing

I swear it was just last month I was taking pictures of Jack newly born; it is so hard to believe he is six months old already.  But there he is sitting up, all smiles, determined to eat his entire fist  :)   Six months is a fun age.  It seems like they learn something new every minute

 

I'm not the only one who thinks he's adorable... his mom and dad were obviously head over heels for him.

Lots of smiles and laughs with these three...such a happy family.

Thanks for letting me photograph this milestone.  Your family rocks!  Jack is such a cutie...goodness they grow so fast, my [not so] little ones got extra cuddles when I got home.  ;)

Baby Girl Harper | St. Louis Newborn Photographer

At just six days old and just over six pounds this little girl is giving me baby fever big time.  Such a sweet little baby (she's also my niece, I might be a little biased, but I'm certain she is beautiful).

I am the baby whisperer :)  Put any baby in my arms (well except my own) and I will bore it to sleep.  Until I set them down... sigh.  It took a little work - if you call cuddling a baby work - to get her in to a deep sleep but once there she was putty in my hands.

Those tiny little baby feet!  She looks a lot like her brothers when they were babies in this one...

 
Hello squishy baby lips....

I definitely have baby fever.  My husband does not.  So if you know of any soon to be born babies that need photos done please send them my way.  I need a baby fix :)



E

Another beautiful baby boy

Just over a week old and all the best newborn qualities:  sweet, fresh, and completely kissable.  I really have to restrain myself to NOT kiss these little babies.  But they are so sweet when they sleep and look at this guys lips, totally kissable!  For the record, I did not kiss him, I left that to his mama.  I didn't even sniff him, well maybe I smelled the top of his head once. or twice.  Thanks to mama C for letting me photograph your precious little one.  I hope he's letting you get lots of sleep and give him a kiss for me ;)