This birth was so near and dear to my heart that I don’t think there was any way that I wasn’t going to capture it. Monique and Brian are two of my closest friends and although they live 7 hours from me (read as: I drove 7 hours to wittness this birth) I made the drive to see them welcome their sweet girl into the world.
So heres the story.
Little Zoey was to be induced Monday October 5th, so I jumped in my car and drove 7 hours to get there in time. Once I finally arrived We realized that the hospital had no beds available and the process of induction had become a waiting game. We did everything we could to try to get Z out. Bouncing on her birthing ball, eating pineapple popsicles, and finally we decided to go out and have some delicious Thai food. Side note, I had never had thai before that moment, so this was even MORE exciting. Pad thai is my jam now. After that we decided to go on a huge binging spree and bought everything pumpkin spice and pineapple from the grocery store hoping to get things moving. We watched halloweentown which coincidentally I was right near the exact town earlier this year when I visited Kelsey in Oregon!
Around 2 am we got the call to go in and then came a whole lot of waiting. While we were waiting, I captured everything that usually becomes forgotten and distant memories, along with everyones thoughts and wishes for sweet baby Zoey. It is very important that I note at this point that October 6th was my best friend Moniques birthday. We were pretty certain that they would share birthdays. We waited all day and we waited all night for progression, only to find out that we were pretty sure that night would NOT be the night. It is important to note that at one point I asked Monique to type out “We’re having a baby!!” to her husband Brian for a photo. I’m not sure if it was an accident, or if Monique wanted to time brians responsetime, but she hit SEND. We immediately realized that Brian would think that the baby was coming… We were right. He came RUNNING worried he was missing it. But hey, it made for a GREAT story.
Finally on October 7th, sweet little mama decided to make her grand enterance. All 8 pounds 13.5 ounces of her. Now, I won’t lie to you and tell you that I held it together, because that wouldn’t be true in the least. I cried like a big baby. My best friend who was there with me when both of my sweet babes came into the world, had just welcomed her own babe into the world and I was there to capture it. Being there as not only a photographer but also a best friend was one of the most incredible experiences that I have ever felt in my life. I cried while shooting them, I cried while editing them, and I still cry while viewing them.
Another side note, I left my laptop in Navarre, at their house. Thank GOODNESS Brian was able to make it to the post office with a new baby and everything an overnight it to me! (That’s why it took a bit longer to share everything! All of my memories were on my laptop!)
Welcome to the wolfpack Zoey Elizabeth. Harper and Becket cannot wait to meet you.
