First off, I cannot believe it’s November! I also cannot believe I’m getting ready to blog my first sessions since coming back from maternity leave. As I was sitting down to write about the amazing families I’ve had the pleasure of photographing recently, I realized that I haven’t blogged an update about my new little girl! I suppose I can blame it on getting used to my new role as mom to two. What a wild ride it has been.

My labor and delivery were very fast! With Drew, my contractions started 24 hours before I went to the hospital and gradually started to get stronger, as expected…and it was a full 12 hours at the hospital before he was finally born! It was loooong and sloooow. BUT, I had an epidural to keep me happy :)

This time around was different. My early contractions were very irregular and were not getting any stronger or closer….until BAM, it was extremely sudden when I just knew that the real thing was happening. So I rolled out of bed, went downstairs and did what any laboring mom would do – I proceeded to clean the house. Lol! Mostly, I was trying to keep my mind off of timing each contraction…but also, I was grossed out by the dust bunnies under my dining table :)  About an hour later I decided to wake my lovely snoring husband from his beauty sleep (although I’ll admit that I stood in the doorway for a while watching in pure jealousy how he could sleep so well while I was doubling over from the contractions) and called my mom to come over to watch Drew. My hubs later told me that he *knew* I meant business because I didn’t bother changing out of my pj’s or even putting on my eyebrows! Hahha! Hey, I didn’t think anything was wrong with my uber classy Dos Equis shirt! At least I wasn’t wearing my usual favorite jammies that night: My hubby’s No Ma’am or Buttweiser shirt (they fit so comfortably over my HUGE belly). Come to think of it, I must have been quite a sight…Big preggo lady wearing a beer shirt that looked more like  a baby tee :)

So we arrived at the hospital and I was 5cm at that point. The pain was moderate, but I thought “I can do this, what epidural – no thanks”. Ha. Little did I know that this was just a taste of the pain…little did I know. After an hour or so, I felt a trickle down my leg and thought, GREAT, I peed myself…but no, it was my water that broke – and that’s when I got excited! I waited about 30 minutes before I told hubs that I wanted to walk around to get the labor going, I told him I wanted “harder contractions” and was ready to rock and roll. He said I was crazy, and yes, what a fool I was, a fool I tell you. Suffice it to say, I got what I wanted, and within 10 minutes of walking – literally – the pain intensified 1000% (is that even possible?) Because I had an epi with Drew, I never felt contractions during transition. I know everyone has a different threshold for pain…but man, I must be a wimp because I was in bad shape – the pain was insane. The contractions felt like my pelvic bone was being broken in half. I would preface every contraction with “Ohhh noooo, another one”. I didn’t have a doula & hubs didn’t have any “coach training”, but at the very least I had photographed enough unmedicated births to know what not to do – scream or tense up. So I moaned, groaned and breathed deep. I sounded like an injured pig. I grasped onto my husband, swaying from side to side. I really couldn’t bear it anymore – which is when I grabbed him by the head, looked at him dead in the eyes and said “get me drugs, NOW” –  he called the nurse…and they said my angel (the anesthesiologist) was on the way. Little did I know that they lied to me to keep me sane. It was way too late for an epi, but they told me I would get one because if they had told me the truth, I’d probably go crazy (smart move by the nurses). Aaaanyway (at this point I was only at the hospital for 2.5 hours) they checked me, doctors and nurses flooded the room and they said I was almost ready to push. ALMOST?! Really, because I wanted to push NOW. The urge to push was so severe, I was on my side clenching and straining in order to prevent myself from pushing. What a sight. At least I was in a gown and not that Dos Equis shirt. Hahhaa! All the while I was alternating between moaning “Where’s my epidural”, “This is so wrong, so unnatural” and looking hubs, again, dead in the eyes saying “Help me, I’m dying, DYING”- LOL! Poor guy. I saw his eyes full of tears because he felt so sorry for me.  Then I heard the nurse say “Honey, no epidural, it’s go time”. Wha? What? OMG I thought, I’m SOL. Then something came over me, it’s like angels above were on my shoulders, because I got it together, realizing that no one could help me – that I had to get my sweet girl out and into my arms by myself, no one could save me from the pain. So I put on my game face, and pushed – I pushed like a deadlifter getting his weights up and over his head – with brute force, but controlled and steady. I didn’t scrunch up my face or squeal. I stayed quiet, relaxed my face and breathed deep with each push…and before you know it, she was out, and in my arms :) The best feeling of my life. My girl in my arms…and feeling like I had just taken the biggest ___ of my life. Ahhh, relief and joy! And it all happened in 3 hours!

It’s pretty funny in retrospect now that it’s been over a month – but man, what an experience, what pain! All worth it of course…I felt great afterwards. No drugs to recover from and I was totally present to take in and savor the fleeting moments of holding my precious newborn for the first time.  I’ll be the first to admit that it has been tough with 2 kids though – TOUGH. So challenging in fact that I had to start Drew in preschool part-time earlier than I had planned. It was just too hard keeping him busy and happy at home 5 days a week with a newborn. Between two kids, breastfeeding on demand, soccer and karate classes, cleaning the house, making meals & proofing sessions, it’s a wonder that I haven’t totally lost my marbles. But at the end of the day, when my babes are fast asleep…I reflect on my blessings and realize that I am so, so lucky – to have two beautiful, healthy children and an amazing partner. And when I wake up in the morning to hear my son say “Good morning Emi, I love you” in the sweetest, softest voice, my heart melts, and I remember that THIS is what life is all about…it’s more than a little chaotic, but it’s beautiful…and I wouldn’t have it any other way :)

Sometimes, the very best place to have a photo session is at home. There’s something so wonderfully cozy about sessions at home :)

…was made – yet again, by this lovely family! I always love our photo sessions. Not only because mom is always so well prepared with snazzy coordinating outfits….and that they are all very easy on the eyes – but more because they are just so playful, energetic and natural in front of the camera. And, they are so very into each other, which shows through in the images :) It’s been a joy photographing this little man for the past 2 years (since he was less than 2 weeks old), and getting to watch him grow into such a handsome, sweet little boy :) A few favorites that will be sure to make you smile, too!

With eyes wide open, curious, contemplative and pensive, this sweet 3 week newborn baby boy takes in his new world…Of course, mommy and daddy are taking him in – his sweet newborn loveliness and appreciating the wonder and beauty of their new baby. There’s nothing more magical than witnessing new parents ooh and aah at their newest creation – it’s amazing :)

…he’s still as cute as ever! But now he’s moved on from fist pumping to riverdancing :) What a sweet, sweet, beautiful little boy with equally sweet, awesome parents! I adore this bunch! They are so much fun, totally natural in front of the camera, and clearly smitten with their little boy…And who can blame them, he’s got the cutest little face that totally lights up when he smiles. And would you just look at that smile?!  With his 4 little baby teeth in perfect view! Soooo adorable! Things I really enjoyed during our session: his adorable smile, those baby teeth, his chubby diaper butt, his newly cut bangs, his cute little nose, his riverdancing in teeny baby shoes, his mommy’s beautiful laugh (and the way she crinkles her nose)…and how baby boy laughs so hard when daddy blows air in his face :)

…she’s got the prettiest blue eyes, is so delicate and feminine, and has the sweetest big brother :)

…lighthearted and playful! That’s how sessions should always be :) This sweet family completely and totally loved being together, and it was clear throughout the entire session. Giggles, laughter, hugs & kisses all around!

definitely didn’t fall far from the tree! Clearly, these kids are beautiful, just like their parents. A year ago when I did baby brother’s newborn session, I was already looking forward to seeing him again because I just knew what a gorgeous boy he would be. If he was anything like his sister, he’d amaze me more than once with those gorgeous blue eyes and adorable smile! I wish I could find the old blog posts of big sister’s 7 month and 1 year photo sessions – as she was such a perfect, beautiful little model! And just as I predicted, little brother is following in the footsteps of his sister and is now a gorgeous, gorgeous one year old! I must say that these kids were such a breeze to photograph! Lucky lucky, yes I am :) I have so many favorites – so hang on, this post will be a looong one.

…photographing this beautiful little girl and her equally gorgeous mommy any time, ANY time. They have such a warm, loving connection…a special mother-daughter bond that is so clear to see. Baby girl just loves her mommy, and mommy is definitely smitten, too! The icing on the cake is how gorgeous they both are – wow, what a sight for sore eyes!  There were a few times during our photo session when I had to stop for a minute because I was literally overwhelmed by how gorgeous they both were, how contagious their connection was, and how perfectly the sunset light set the scene for their genuine, loving interactions. I also loved how daddy was so amazing at making his little girl giggle. As he told funny jokes, she was laughing sooo hard – which was the cutest thing because she has such an amazing laugh :) It’s been a real joy photographing this sweet girl over the past 3 years. I can hardly believe that when I first met her, she was only a few weeks old…and now she’s a lovely toddler! My how time flies!