Joe & Annie's Birth Story :: Lily

Alright, pretty much the MOST amazing thing that I get to photograph is a Birth Story. It is amazing in every sense of the word!! I get to be part of the birth of a baby and capture the sweetest first moments of an infant that otherwise might not have been captured, or would be captured but by a not so wonderful camera. And I don't blame dad's for missing moments...they should be totally distracted by the new life that has entered the room. So it's my job to capture the mother's tears as she holds her newborn baby, the baby being weighted, and first family pictures! It is the BEST thing I do!!! And, this week, I was part of a very special Birth Story, my niece! Lily entered the world on Monday...here are just some of the pictures from her arrival!


The hallway walk to the birth room...


Annie was so ready to have baby Lily! She was very excited to meet her 4th baby, she has 1 girl and 2 boys at home!!


I LOVE all the detail shots that I am able to get at a birth! Sooo many fun ones, put together a collage of a few of them!!! I love the middle left picture..."Goal of the Day: Have a Baby!"


Contractions are getting stronger:


The epidural button...this was Annie's first epidural and she was loving it!


Lily is about to enter the world!


Annie gets to hold Lily for the first time!


Not happy, but such a sweet picture!




Proud Papa, Joe, gets to get a closer look:


FAV of Lily...such a cutie! (I might be a little biased since she is my niece. LOL!)


Joe's dad, Abuelo, holding Lily for the first time.




Totally candid!!! Love this one! FAVORITE OF THE DAY!


Joe and Annie, congrats on your newest addition to the family!!!

Jacob is HERE!

I am often asked, "What is a birth story." And of course, there is a weird look that goes along with it. And I explain that it includes capturing the amazing moments before, during (no graphic pictures), and the most precious moments after birth. But I always encourage people to see the pictures, THEN they understand. It is the most incredible event that I can be part of...Becki's birth of Jacob was perfect! She had Jacob at St. Luke's and it was truly a blessing to see him born. Check out some pictures that tell Jacob's birth "story." And maybe you, too, will understand why I LOVE birth stories!!!

St. Luke's


Becki was smiling ear to ear before the scheduled C-Section. She was relaxed and joking as always. I seriously had sooo much fun...plus, the nurses and doctors were lighthearted and awesome, too. This always makes for a fun birth.


In the OR...it will be just moments until little Jacob is here!




He's HERE!!!


PERFECT baby!


Grandma videotaping all the sweet moments!


Love this detail shot of Jacob's foot prints:


Becki seeing Jacob for the first time! Love at first sight!


Back into Becki's room, she can recover with her friends and family around.


The nurse showing off his little footprints in his baby book.


Becki soothing the sweet, crying guy.


The whole gang!!! What an amazing support group for Becki on this very special day!


Coming next: Colleen and Kevin's wedding day!!!!

Baby Elliana

Tony and I met Dave Cerven at his wonderful studio in Maplewood just over 2 years ago. The first thing I notice was his height...Dave is 6"8', while I am 5'3", so there is quite a height difference. After I asked him if he played basketball, which he did, I came to find that he was an amazing guy...then I met his wonderful wife, Becky, and Tony and I felt such a connect with them! We all became great friends! I have worked for Dave and so has my husband. We have found both Dave and Becky to be incredible people to be around. When they called me to do their birth story, I was honored! It is such an honor as a photographer and their friend. Enjoy their sweet baby Elliana's birth! It was a great night at MoBap that she was born to proud parents Dave and Becky!

A wonderful night at MoBap for a birth!


Becky was doing puzzles before the "hard" part started...great way to wait for her little girl to arrive!








SHE'S HERE!!! Just seconds after she was born!


Fav of the day!!! I loved her little cry...too precious! Elliana Jane has entered the world...she is healthy and her lungs were certainly working well, too!




Mom and Dad are getting there first looks! THIS is why I love birth stories! Getting those amazing shots right after a baby is born is priceless! I love this shot because you can just imagine what they are thinking about...


The new family of 3.


Dave's parents happily hold their newest grandchild...loved the Grandpa shirt he wore, too!


Dave and Becky, congrats on your new, little bundle of joy! Little girls are amazing...enjoy every moment!

Sophie is HERE!

Katie and Bob are one of my favorite birth clients ever! I have been part of the birth of both their daughters and they have just completely welcomed me into their family! I have loved being part of their most special birth stories. Here are some of my favorites from Sophie's birth...

Sophie was born at the wonderful Missouri Baptist Hospital...




Katie was a trooper!! She delivered this baby without the help of her epidural...it didn't work. She did amazing! I was so proud of her!


Sophie arrived!!!


I love ear details of little babies...plus look at all that sweet hair. (Mom's of bald babies, ie me, love seeing babies with lots of hair.)




Daddy gets to see Sophie up close...


FAV. of the day...daddy getting to hold little Sophie's hand for the first time! This is one of the reasons that I LOVE doing birth stories, I get to photograph these amazing "firsts"!


Their reactions are just priceless! They are sooo in love with Sophie!






The whole gang! We made it one busy delivery/recovery room!


I even got to get into one picture...



Bob and Katie, thanks for letting me be part of Sophie's birth...I cannot wait for you to see all your images and DVD slide-show!