Baby Elizabeth's Birth Story

For our birth clients we create a birth story slideshow celebrating the journey from pregnancy to new baby.  I love making these and sharing them with the family as it is a very personal keepsake that they will treasure.   I am excited to be able to share this one with you.   (Don't worry it is "Family Friendly") click the image to play the show.

Megan, Ziggy, Madeline & Elizabeth thank you for allowing me to document the journey and I look forward to staying in touch as the girls grow.  

Enjoy!

Welcome Baby Elizabeth

Friday morning I (finally) got the call from Zig that Megan was indeed in labor and that they would be ready for me to join them sometime soon, so I headed to meet them at North Fulton Medical Center to document the labor and VBAC arrival of their baby girl.

I arrived around 11:15 am, just after they got settled in their room, and Megan was doing great, she labored well and arrived at the hospital at 7cm!  She was doing great with the surges and Zig was a fantastic support (and counter pressure provider) along with my friend Kate who was their Doula and Hypno Birthing instructor. 

After a while things started to get more intense, and she moved to sitting on the birth ball, working the baby down and still doing fantastic!

Then around 2:30 things got really intense and Megan started pushing!  At 3:05pm baby Elizabeth made her appearance!  

Mom's first look at her new daughter (who has a head full of brown hair).  It was love at first sight for all of us, she is just adorable!

When Megan was finally ready, it was time for Elizabeth's first Bath, Daddy did a great job assisting the nurses in cleaning up his little girl.  Then it was time for those important statistics...  8# 12.2 oz and 21" long!  (and this was supposed to be a SMALL baby) 

Since Megan and family live 2 hours away from Atlanta, and big sister Madeline was not at the birth, I stopped in to visit them yesterday at the hospital.

Madeline received a present of her own, a baby doll named Mackenzie ("Baby Kenzie") that she can mother just like mommy.  She eats 'Special Milk' just like baby Elizabeth and even has a hot pink car seat for the trip home from the hospital.

I just love the hats for the girls, Megan learned to knit just to make these (I think she may have to make a couple for my prop box :) as I know I will get asked about them!)

Congratulations to Megan, Ziggy and Madeline and welcome Elizabeth.  Enjoy the preview, I am excited to finish up your slideshow and to do a few more pictures, since we did not get to do some of the ones we wanted to yesterday.  I hope the ride home was easier than the last trip north :) and that the girls are settling in well.

EDITED:  Here's the link to the slideshow! 

Happy Father's Day!

For Elaine & Matt it was an eventful and quite memorable Father's Day! I am so honored that I was able to be there.  I got home about 2:30am and just had to post a preview as there are a LOT of people wanting to see the pictures! So here are a few highlights to hold everyone over...

I got the call around 7:30pm that they were at the hospital and Elaine was at about 5cm.  No rush, but get your gear ready.  Around 10pm we decided I would head towards the hospital and wait for her to want me to start photographing the birth.  I made downtown and was exiting the highway when Nichole calls to say get here as fast as you can!  I arrived at the hospital at 10:50pm and Elaine was starting to push.  Dr. Tate did a wonderful job working with her and talking her through pushing. This was a VBA2C for her and the first time she had pushed a baby out so in many ways this was a first birth situation.

Dr. Tate talking to Elaine and reassuring her that she could push the baby out, it would just take some time.

Pushing...  Pushing... Pushing...  for what I am sure Elaine thought was hours and hours.  But at 11:53pm on Father's Day, Sunday, June 15th she successfully VBAC'd and baby Bridget Mary arrived!

Elaine was overjoyed and on 'cloud 9' as they put her on her chest!

As Elaine & Matt got acquainted with their daughter, Dr. Tate went and made a quick post on the ICAN message board and some of the members who were up reading posts were quick to congratulate her.  He brought her a printout for her to see.

So here she is...

Bridget Mary

June 15, 2008   11:53pm

8 pounds, 7oz    20" Long

Elaine & Matt, get some rest and I will be in touch once you get home and we'll finish up the story as Liam & Clare get to meet their little sister.  I hope you enjoyed the preview, I'm off to bed now as I am finally getting sleepy.  

Congratulations!!!

>^..^<

~Cat~

~ Aria's Birth Story ~

Aria arrived just about 2 weeks ago and I spent some time with the new family last week and got to see her all dolled up.  I even got to meet Nekesha's mother who was visiting.

Aria is darling with lots of curly hair.  She is just as beautiful as her mother and I can't wait to see her personality develop.   Here are a few favorites from the session...

With Nekesha's mom

I love this image of Grandma holding Aria's hand while in Mom's arms

In Daddy's Hands

Just for fun, I played with some texturing to give this image a artistic look

As promised...  here is Aria's Birth Story Slideshow.  Enjoy! (click on the image below to start the show)

Nekesha & Antonio, enjoy your little one, I look forward to seeing you again soon.

>^..^<

~Cat~

~ Welcome Baby Aria! ~

I got the call from Nekesha's midwife at 12:45am on Thursday morning, that she was in labor and to head her way.  So after gathering up my gear I arrived at Nekesha's around 1:30am and found her laboring on the couch and doing well.  

Soon after, she got in the tub to labor in the water, Antonio was great support as the contractions increased in their intensity.  He also turned the lights down and lit candles so she could labor in a peaceful environment with music that was relaxing and beautiful.  The love between these two was very evident as he helped her through the contractions.

Charlotte the midwife looks on and gives advice as the contractions get stronger and she feels like it's time to push.

After trying to push in the tub for a while, and it not working as well as Charlotte liked, Nekesha used the birthing stool and pushing was easier

And at 4:29am on Thursday, May 29th, Aria arrived and Antonio helped her into mom's arms

I love this look on  Nekesha's face as she holds her daughter for the first time, the pain forgotten and the anticipation is finally over!

The new parents are in awe of this beautiful baby girl. 

Antonio makes sure to record her first moments and first feeding!

My view of her first feeding... I love the fingers!

Daddy getting to hold Aria for the first time.  Timid at first, but got the hang of it quickly.

Nekesha is jut beaming as she watches the two of them get to know each other.

After a bit, Aria gets her first check up and we find that she is 8 pounds 12 ounces, with very little moulding of her pretty head, 21" long and pretty perfect.  She was so alert for the exam and looked all around.  

I love the little fingers curled around moms...  


Before I left I caught Antonio and Aria snuggling together in the candle light.

As usual it was an honor to be part of such a momentous event and witness the birth of this little one.  I am always in awe of how the process works.  

I can't wait to see her next week as we finish the birth story images and meet Nekesha's mother who was to arrive later to meet her grand-daughter.

Nekesha & Antonio, thanks so much for asking me to photograph the birth for you, I hope you enjoy this preview of the images, there are many more in the gallery.  See you soon!

>^..^<

~Cat~