The Tale of Forest Káel. Part 1.

This is my side of the most incredible story that I’ve been able to be a part of in a long time. Not just any baby was born; He’s very special. He’s my best friend’s baby, my brother’s son, my parents’ grand-baby and my little nephew. I felt every emotion known to man in 24 hours. This was miraculous, exciting, terrifying, fearful, painful, traumatic, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, incredible, fantastic, happy, selfless, sad…name it. I felt it. At times I felt like a fly on the wall waiting for a window to open so I could fly out.

I’ve been skeptical of pregnancy for quite some time, but after this, I may go up to pregnant ladies in Wal-Mart and start shaking their hands. I’m such a changed person. My heart is so tender and happy. I never want to see my best friend walk through this again. I’m scarred for life.  Jessica is my absolute hero and such an incredible woman to know. I’m so blessed and honored that we both found one another. I hope you enjoy her story.

Side note: Keep track of the times and dates that I post. Káel was born on August 29th at 3:33AM. You’ll be able to count the hours till he’s born.

Disclaimer: Jessica has seen and approved all the images in the next two blogs.

I received this text Friday afternoon while I was at work. My little heart leaped, and I was so excited about the next few days.  I got off work and ran a few errands. Jess told me that the contractions had been consistent since the night before, and she and Sam were watching the movie “Up” for her to try to get her mind off of the pain.

As soon as I got back from my errands, I drove the few blocks over to Jess’ house to see how she was. Jess’ mom and midwife, Damaris, were there.  Jess came out of her room and said, “Looks like we’ll have a baby in the middle of the night or tomorrow morning!”  We decided to go get some spicy Mexican food and make it the last dinner date before little man arrived. Jess began putting on her first batch of makeup saying, “I will be beautiful while I’m in labor!”

We put on Imogen Heap’s “Bad Body Double” song and danced around the living room. Every now and then, Jess would double over and breathe deeply as a contraction would come on and leave quickly.

After a fantastic time of eating Mexican food with Jessica, her mom and my husband, we drove back over to Jess’ house and watched the first half of the old-time “Parent Trap” movie. We were remembering being little girls and reciting the lines we had memorized from the movie. I got too tired and decided to leave around 12:30AM to go to bed. I hugged Sam and Jess goodnight and said, “CALL ME if anything happens.” Jess smiled and said, “Oh, girl, we totally will!”

I got home and went to bed.

Around 3:30AM, my phone starts singing to me. It’s Samuel on the other line: “Jess has been in intense labor since you left. We called the midwives and the doula. We’re filling up the birthing tub now. I’ll call you when we get it filled up.” I hanged up and thought, “There is no way I’m going to be able to get back to sleep!”

I got up, got dressed, and made some coffee. I knocked on the door where my parents were staying and asked my mom if she wanted to come with me. We both drove over to their place. Jessica was in such pain, and the tub was slowly being filled up with water.  It was exciting thinking about what was going to be happening soon. (It was almost like Christmas.)

They filled the birthing tub up with a hose that ran from the sink to the baby room.

Jessica was having contractions every five minutes. She would double over and swing her body side to side.  Samuel, my mom and I all cuddled on the couch, cheering Jess on and trying to keep her mind off of it all.

Sam and Jess’ fridge… waiting on the little man.

Jess’ finally got into the tub and began to labor and sleep in between contractions.

I fell asleep with my mom and brother on the couch. We woke up around 8AM. I ran home, took a shower and came back as fast as I could.

Samuel just woke up, and Jessica was putting round two of makeup on and making herself feel good!

Every five minutes or less… doubling over, groaning and breathing heavy.

We were all excited!

Around 10AM, one of Jess’ midwives, Jordan arrived. She felt like Jessica should go on a walk for a while.

I said to Jess, “After what I’ve seen so far, I may not have kids for about five years.” She smiled big and said, “Me neither!”

Jess’ dad, Ruben, arrives.

This is Jess’ mom, Rebecca.

We watched the “Galápagos” island documentary about eight times.

I was there…

Grandmas’ waiting…

I came in to see Samuel singing to Jess as she labored intensely. So incredible.

To the tub again…

So Jess’ dad, my dad and my husband all hanged out in the living room. They were the relief from the intensity of everything going on.

Round three of makeup!

We’re all ready for the little man!

My mom is to the right, and below her is Jordan, one of the midwives.

Time went on and on. Things began picking up heavy. I watched Jessica torture and yell, cry, groan, and roar. I felt so helpless and so frustrated. My heart was grieving for her.

Her doula, Molly, was keeping track of the stages of her labor.

Yes, Jess is tweeting…

Meanwhile… my mom is cooking for everyone…

…while we’re sober and crying with Jess.

The lady to the right is Jess’ other midwife, Damaris.

So this is the point that I had to put my camera down and just cry. My brother was singing a song to Jess, and she would sing aloud between contractions. So powerful and extremely beautiful. I lay on the side of the tub and wept.

The beautiful thing about home births is you can go anywhere in your house and labor. Jess chose her back porch at one point, yelling loudly and pounding her hand on the railing, swaying her hips back and forth.

The sky at that moment…

To be continued…..

Want part 2? Click here

waiting on baby Gatlyn… 41 weeks

We are all still waiting for my nephew to arrive. He’s taking his sweet time, and his mommy is getting tired of waiting. Jess has been blogging since the beginning of her pregnancy, http://bohobabybump.blogspot.com/ .

Soon and very soon we’ll all have a new family member.

Want more? I did some photos of Jess Pregnant at 24 weeks click here

A Carolina baby Shower! (Part 2)

So… my brother and sister-in-law’s baby is due in just a few weeks. Jessica looks great, she is an absolutely beautiful pregnant woman. And she works out like crazy. She just got dreads last week, and if you know anything about Jessica.. its perfect for her.

This photo was taken just last week… we got to see him all big and chubby. so cute.

We did a baby shower for Sam and Jess last month (blog here) in Dallas with Jessica’s family.But since we all live here in South Carolina, we wanted to do a pool party/baby shower for Sam and Jess with all their friends here in the area. We had the shower at our dear friends “The Webbs” home. And we had such a great time just hanging out..

Lilly Webb skyped in from Argentina.. we miss her so much!

Nothing like a good sword fight…

And we tie dyed a ton onsies and burp clothes. oh jess…

Baby Gatlyn should be coming soon…..

A Texan Baby shower and so much more

Brandon and I joined my brother and sister in-law for a weekend in Dallas this past week. Jessica (my sister in-love) is very pregnant and due in about 8 weeks. (You can see her maternity pictures here.) She is from Dallas and her family invited us to come celebrate her baby shower in the state she loves.

We had such a fantastic time while we were there. We got to go to antique stores, we walked around the Gaylord Hotel, went swimming, spent quality time with family and lounged around.

The beginning pictures below are of Jess’ baby shower. Jess’ mom, Rebecca hired http://www.iloveflipbooks.com/ to come. We had a blast, making 7 second videos and then watching them be printed out into little flip books. Of course Jess’ baby shower was decorated in mason jars filled with flowers and antique buttons. For her baby room she is doing a 1960′s forest theme. (I can’t wait to take pictures!) We decorated with owls and birds scattered here and there. And Whole foods catered sandwiches and cupcakes.

The 2nd part of the pictures is from our day at the Gaylord Hotel and hanging out at antique stores, being ridiculous together. I took a lot of pictures in mirrors that day. It was just the mood I was in.

And yes, everything is big in Texas.

The below pictures are of us doing the flip books. They brought props and signs for us to use.

Showing our flip books off.

Game time. Kinda like musical chairs…but not.

Jess’ friends gave her old antique bible story books, that she used to read when she was a kid.

yep, I bought that.

And that too.

Here is Jess’ parents, Ruben and Rebecca

Giant chess set at the Gaylord Hotel

Yes, this is a serious situation.

I love this.

Thank you again Ruben and Rebecca for everything! We love you guys!

Jessica Gatlyn Prego!

So, Jessica is my bestest friend and, to go along with that, she also married my brother in September. (See some of their wedding pictures – http://www.tirzahphotography.com/2009/09/samuel-and-jessica/ ) Now we are sisters!!! Jessica  and I spend just about every day together. I’m seriously over at her house every day, or she’s at mine. We eat a majority of meals together  and we share the deep places of our hearts with one another. It’s so good that my best friend is going to be my best friend FOREVER–she’s stuck!  haha….

Jessica and Samuel found out they were pregnant back in December, and it took us all by surprise. Brandon and I got to go see Jess’s 3D ultra sound a few weeks back. Pretty excited to find out that we are going to be an Aunt and an Uncle to a feisty little boy who looks just like my brother.

Now, I’m a little strange about maternity pictures. First of all, I have never been pregnant. Second of all, I feel like so many photographers make BEAUTIFUL pregnant ladies look horrible.  And… the bare-belly, half-naked maternity pictures often seem so tacky, and even cheesy.  I’m on a journey of trying to figure out how to take maternity pictures in a way that hasn’t been captured yet… where men who aren’t your husband feel comfortable looking through you’re photo album.  I definitely haven’t arrived in that journey of creativity, but two days ago, I took Jess to an old abandoned house and I shot pictures of her.  She is 24 weeks prego right now, and I’ll probably shoot more pictures of her when she gets closer to her due date in August.

I feel like so many photographers have seriously missed capturing the beauty of a mommy “with a baby in the oven.”  I like to look at it like this:

“I’m shooting a portrait session.

PS: She just so happens to be pregnant.”

Enjoy, and leave me some love!

These last two I think are my favorites…