of course, I can’t update my blog and not also update what our little charlie jane looks like at 7 weeks. Yesterday I was at the studio for a photoshoot and I couldn’t bare to not also get some of little miss charlie. after 7 weeks, she’s been growing into her skin and those feet!
Pregnancy is such a sacred and beautiful time, I can’t imagine not having had a collection of images from this time in my own life. It is such a privilege and honor to be able to document these incredible moments for my friends too. Mallory & Greg are expecting their first child on June 25th and getting these beautiful images for them was so very special. It thrills me that of all the modeling shoots that Mallory has done, even with Gap Maternity, these are the ones she will get to keep for herself. It would have been a tragedy not to get some beautiful images to keep! Kevin and I cannot wait to finally meet little Wyatt. We are so lucky to have them as our friends and neighbors. We wish you both nothing but the best!!
So my huge news this week is I am no longer pregnant!!!! I can’t tell you how happy that makes me just in itself 
We finally had our baby on Friday, May 1st. I was on the fence for a really long time whether or not I would want my hubby, Kevin, to deliver her or not. Kevin is a family practice doc up here and he delivers babies all the time, but I was convinced for a long time I wanted him to leave his doctor hat at home and put on his hubby/daddy hat. I changed my mind at the last minute and wanted him to catch her when she was born, so I was ready for that now, but I was of course wanting to document something as special as that, so I of course brought my camera in tow with me and was ready to capture this moment from my perspective, something I thought would be amazing to see.
I was admitted on Thursday night for an induction. During the night Kimberly, our fabulous nurse, would check me and I wasn’t making too much progress, so we knew that we’d have to have the pitocin in the morning. Getting some sleep that night was great. I think I woke up maybe 3 times for checks and managed to sleep. Kevin on the other hand was sleeping on one of those chairs that fold out into bed, let’s just say he was much more exhausted than I was the next morning. I got my pitocin started around 7am, and then those nasty contractions really started kicking almost immediately, I was only 2cm dilated at that point. Around 8:30 Dr. Kobalter asked if ‘I wanted the…’ and I interrupted “epidural, um yes please.” So phone call was made, and the anesthesiologist was on his way. He came about 9am and gave me the kool aid for my back. Let me just tell you, I think I could possibly be a walking poster child in support of epidurals. I felt no pain from the waist down, it was a gift. The contractions were definitely getting the labor going and I had no idea it was even happening. I got to enjoy my Delivering Charlie playlist on my ipod, talking to my bff Paula, and my hubby, all while getting this labor going. Joyous. 11am they checked me and I was 6cm, at noon they checked me and I was 10cm. It was the fastest dilation ever. When my nurse walked in she said I think we’re ready. I was like, “we are? that’s it, I need to push?” they rolled in the cart with all the tools on it, and I was a little shocked. I felt like I was next on stage for a broadway show and didn’t know my lines. Literally. The huge light came out of the ceiling, they dimmed all the other lights in the room, and with a flick of the switch and the spotlight shining in the least glamourous of areas I was about to do my thing, but I didn’t know how to do it yet. A little bizarre, particularly when you don’t know what “pushing” really means and especially so when you can’t feel anything from the waist down. I made grunting faces, but thought that’s all I was doing, was making grunting faces. I started laughing. How’s this? make a grunt face… I would laugh and Kevin would say, “perfect, she’s coming down, that was perfect honey.” I couldn’t believe it. I was just kidding, but my grunting faces were actually helping me to push, who knew. I would laugh and she was still coming. I grabbed my camera had my fisheye ready to go and I would get off a couple of shots. Dr. Kobalter was cracking up, couldn’t believe I was taking my own pictures. We started talking about cameras while I was in active labor. He’s a canon user but I may have switched him to the other side. Anyway, I started making more grunting faces and her head started to come out. I got my camera ready I would push, then take a shot, push then take a shot. Kevin asked me to stop pushing because she had the cord wrapped around her neck once, so he unwrapped it and I pushed again and she came out in a whirlwind. I pushed maybe 12 times and she was out. My active labor started at 12:40 and she was born at 12:58. It was such an incredible experience I can’t imagine it being more beautiful or more perfect in every way. She was 6lbs 15oz and was 19″ long, blonde hair, blue eyes and with a combination of the ugliest feet you’ll ever see in your life, Kevin’s eagle tallons, and my long monkey toes, she can do both if you can believe that. She never had a chance to inherit any beauty in her feet, but she makes up for it everywhere else. I love her to pieces, she’s now become my little nugget.
Here’s what it looked like from my perspective.
I love being behind the camera. I live for it, but when it comes to me as the subject being photographed, I’d almost rather go to the dentist for a root canal. Almost….
Having someone take these for me was hard, I am really pretty shy, and it was most important for me to just be myself and comfortable, which is particularly difficult when you are the heaviest version of yourself you’ve ever been. Erin, my assistant photographer took these for me here in Tahoe yesterday. I had fun editing these, Erin, thank you so much, I love them! The last time Kevin and I had any real pictures taken of us was at our wedding almost 8 years ago! We were way overdue. I loved doing these with Kevin. I wanted us to celebrate every aspect of our baby together, from the maternity pictures to the baby shower.
Noah and Heather, you produced one beautiful little girl! She has grown so much just since we first met her in the hospital! She was sooooo good to photograph, such a good nature, but not surprising considering who her amazing parents are. we love you guys. thank you for letting me get some shots of her while she’s still a little punkin’!
I hope the two of you had a safe and amazing trip back to the Netherlands. I am thrilled be doing your wedding and seeing everyone again this year We are going to have so much fun with your wedding pictures. Thanks for taking the time to come up and play in the snow with me. I hope you guys have a wonderful time in your new home, even though I’m sure everyone is going to miss you both like crazy, your wedding will be that much more special seeing everyone again after such a long time being away. hugs to you both!
christa
It was sooooo great to meet you guys. Your wedding is going to be so warm and beautiful, like you the two of you just are as people. I loved working with you guys. Thanks for putting up with our wacky weather we were having, it made for beautiful dramatic skies for sure.
