Welcome to the world, Harper Ava

Jul 4

"You are the light..."

The day Harper came happened over a few days, and boy were they ever full of excitement, exhaustion, stress, a tad bit scary, but when we got to lay eyes on her, it was perfect. I wouldn't trade a minute, or have a different birth story to have her. We should have known that she would make a big deal when she arrived.

Since the day we found out we were expecting her, I just knew that I knew we were going to have her by week 38. Everyone thought I was nuts, that I was full of wishful thinking because my sister was getting married 6 days after her due date, but there was something deep inside me that knew she was going to arrive by week 38. And she did. Exactly.

I never imagined that I would have had a C Section- in fact, the thing I was most scared of in this whole process of having a child was the birth. It wasn't if I was going to be a good mom, it was the birth. I never did experience labor, as we had some scary things come up and the best way to save me and her was to get her out ASAP. But man, this was such an incredible experience. I was fully awake, and hearing her cry for the first time was the most amazing sound I had ever heard. C Sections are no joke- they are not the easy way out, they are very painful post surgery, and I never knew my body could be in such pain. Pain that was totally worth it.

The doctors and nurses were so amazing, and they allowed us to take some photos when they were pulling her out... well not some, just one... but you can never tell a photographer that they can only take just one. The photos we got were unreal- the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Falling in love with Andy was great- it was such a beautiful way of choosing love, and loving him everyday has been about continuing to pursue his heart... but meeting Harper Ava was the most intense and overwhelming love I have ever experienced. She was birthed out of love, and the love was beyond choosing for her- she was just born into our love.

She has completed us- sure, being a mom can be hard... but life with her way outweighs life before her. I love watching her grow, discover life around her, and see so much of ourselves in her. I love that when she smiles, she smiles like me, that she loves to look around at the world like her dad, and when she laughs, she really means it.

These photos are my favourite, and I hope you love them as much as I do. I am so looking forward to photographing more birth stories.