Noah Lane . July 6, 2011 . 8 pounds 3 ounces
The last time I saw Erin and Chris, I didn't expect to see them again until our newborn shoot after the arrival of their baby boy, but as she was approaching his due date, I managed to talk Erin into allowing me the honor of documenting his birth- with the caveat that I was going to be leaving town on a camping trip for four days and that I probably would not actually be available when the time came! With very limited phone service on the coast, Erin and I kept in touch as best we could. When I didn't hear from her or Chris for the last day and a half of my vacation, I headed home figuring the little guy had already arrived. So imagine my delight the morning after my return when I woke to a text message saying Erin's water had broken and they would let me know when they were heading to the Birth Center!
I was called to join Erin and Chris just before 3:00pm. When I arrived I found Erin dilated to six centimeters and laboring hard in a warm pool of water with contractions coming one after the other and barely a moment to rest in between. I was immediately reminded of my own extremely painful, "fast & furious" birth experience with Asher and could not help but wonder if Erin actually wanted me to be there- and was fully prepared for her to tell me and my camera to get the heck out! Thankfully she didn't seem to mind my presence and I was there to capture little Noah's entrance into the world at 3:56pm... a healthy, mellow baby boy whose only cry in the three and a half hours I was there came when midwife Kim Bauer forced one from him! I happily stayed for a few hours after his birth so I could document Noah's introduction to big sister Kajsa - who was anxious to count some toes and share the birthday cake she'd made with grandma and auntie earlier in the day : ) Please enjoy some of the images I captured on the day of of Noah's big arrival...
