Remember when I told you that I had been asked to photograph a birth?
And I was so very excited about it?
Well, Melissa had her baby last Saturday.
AND I MISSED IT.
I know.
I know.
Here’s how it went down:
5:55am – Josh texts me, says Melissa is in labor. I squeal with excitement, and can’t believe my good luck. A Saturday! Brett is home to watch Everett! This is perfect! I wait patiently for more news.
11:00am – Josh texts again. They are at the hospital, and she’s 4cm dilated. Doctor estimates 10 more hours of labor. We agree that I will come to the hospital at 6cm. Brett and I cancel our dinner plans. I wait patiently.
3:00pm – Josh texts: “We’re 10cm! Sorry for the late notice, much faster than we thought.” !!!!! I grab my sweatshirt, camera bag, cookies for the ride, and scurry out the door. I speed the whole way there.
3:22pm – I pull into the hospital parking garage, find the first open spot, go down the elevator, and semi-jog into the hospital lobby desperately searching for a sign that says Labor and Delivery. Cannot find one. Nobody at the front desk. Run into gift shop, ask clerk where the babies are born. She looks at a map inside the cabinet and tells me to take the South Elevator. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ELEVATORS. I run down the ramp, through the hall, and squeeze onto an elevator as the doors close.
3:29pm – I step off of the elevator onto the third floor, and check in with the nurse at the sign-in desk. While she’s checking my ID, I get the last text from Josh: “baby born!”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I was seven minutes too late.
I totally missed it.
Sweet Olivia was born at 3:23pm, and I got to their room at 3:30pm. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT REALLY HAPPENED? She went from 4cm to 10cm in four hours, and pushed for 15 minutes. NO DRUGS. Amazing.
Even though I missed the actual birth (dangit!!), I hung out for almost two hours afterwards and got to witness Olivia’s first feeding and first bath. It was miraculous and wonderful and may or may not have given me a teensy case of baby fever. Here are some of my favorite not-too-personal photos from that day:
p.s. See pictures from Melissa and Josh’s maternity shoot here.
p.s.s. Want to sponsor Where My Heart Resides? I finally signed up for Passion Fruit Ads, hurrah! Click here for more info, and use promo code “newsponsor” for $5 off 
I truly can’t believe this happened! This was her first? Crazy!! You got some amazing photos anyway – what a special time to get to capture!
Also – I’m glad to hear you say you had a teensy bit of baby fever.. The hospital seems like the scary part, and if it made you want another baby, then I guess it’s not ALL bad after all
These are amazing pictures, Ashlee. We need to live next door, I would hire you for everything!
Even though you weren’t there for the birth (which, wow! that was fast!), you captured beautiful moments nonetheless. Which really shouldn’t be a shock because I am in love with all of your photos.
Good work and congrats to the new parents! Olivia is beautiful.
Kiki´s last [type] ..janugram.
Love these photos even if you weren’t there during the birth! Man hope my labor goes that quickly!
Anne´s last [type] ..26 Weeks: Truths
These are so so sweet!
Jackie´s last [type] ..my Valentine’s Day line
What a beautiful baby girl! I love these photos, Ashlee. Precious moments not to be missed.
Natalie´s last [type] ..printed
Simply beautiful Ashlee! Totally giving me baby fever.
beautiful moments and yes births do come very fast
Julie@my5monkeys´s last [type] ..The Madman’s daughter
Oh no, sorry you missed it!
The first birth I photographed was a complete accident. My cousin was in the hospital so I ran over after getting off my plane and said hi. I was only there for about an hour. Her doctor came in, said the baby wouldn’t be here until the next day and to page her at her family BBQ if anything changed. About half an hour later my cousin screamed “Baby’s coming!” One of nurses cooed that the baby should be there by tomorrow and my cousin said “NO, BABY IS COMING! NOW!” Seven minutes later, she was holding her baby. Seven freaking minutes.
So that’s the magic number, I guess?
Sarabell´s last [type] ..Sock Monkey’N Around Antiques
Sorry again that you missed the big moment friend, but the pics you took after look great. I’m sure Melissa and Josh are so grateful to have them.
Oh what a shame, but well these pictures are divine!
Awww even being 7 minutes late, these pictures are priceless! They will treasure them forever. I am SO having a photographer at our next birth…I literally had none from when Ethan was born. Maybe you can make a Tahoe call??
natasha {schue love}´s last [type] ..Prosciutto + Fig Jam Pizza
Oh, Ashlee, that is such a bummer that it went so fast that you missed it!!!
My labor/delivery went the same as hers — FAST (4.5 hours) and no drugs. Luckily, my photographer made it (we called her on our way to the hospital and asked her to come), and still to this day she says it was the most amazing thing she has ever been a part of. I hope you get another chance to photograph a birth!
Kelsey Williams´s last [type] ..Completing Baby Step #3: Six-Month Emergency Fund
Ashlee, I wish you were a little closer to Guatemala– I’d hire you as our birth photographer : ) A friend sent me this link of the top birth photographers today and I loved it! — *warning a few are pretty graphic (ya know just slime and goo) but I have a feeling moms can handle it.
enjoy:
http://birthphotographers.com/voting-is-open-2012-international-association-of-professional-birth-photographers-image-of-the-year-competition/
Michelle´s last [type] ..Back Home
Those pictures are really pretty, even though you didn’t make in time for the actual birth. I love the one that they are taking his foot print! So adorable!
Ana´s last [type] ..Lately…
I totally LOVE this post! I want you to know that this ALMOST happen to me. And the only reason why it didn’t, is because “the mama” literally held the baby in while waiting for me to get there….like literally!!! I know, too much info!!! But, I know how you feel =) You’re photos turned out great and they of course are priceless.
Heather´s last [type] ..Sam, Desiree + Baby E