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.

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 | 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.

Jack {5 days new} St. Louis Newborn Photographer

I know Jack.  Well, maybe not like his parents know him but I did get to spend quite some time with him this week.

Jack is adorable and a pretty mellow little guy.  Hardly a cry out of him the whole time.  He wanted nothing to do with being posed or wearing any cute little hats.  He's very manly like that.

Jack has some very cool, laid back parents.  He also has his own body guard... who watched over him protectively.  With all that its no wonder he seemed to be very content in his new home.

Here's a sneak peek at Jack in his new 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 ;)
 

Welcome beautiful baby boy!

He is just 5 days old and what a bundle of joy! He is wide awake and charming me with his tiny expressions. This is baby number three for mom and I can't wait to get back and get pictures of him with his siblings and to take more photos of this precious little guy.