WINSTON | A Birth Story

Can I just say I love my job? I still can’t get over the fact that people invite me in to the most beautiful, precious, intimate moments of their lives to capture them.  To be able to give images to people that they can cherish for the rest of their lives just baffles me. It leaves me speechless.  So when Vanessa asked if I would be willing and able to photograph the birth of her third child, it was a whole-hearted yes from me.  I love births.  I love giving birth. I love photographing births.  It is seriously one of the most mysteriously beautiful things on this earth.

So Vanessa was due early March.  I had been waiting for a call to come at any time saying she was in labor.  The Lord truly covered Vanessa in grace day after day as she waited, longing to have that baby boy.  Three weeks and five days after her due date, it was time.  Vanessa had chosen to do a home birth, so this was my first home birth experience.  I didn’t know a whole lot about home births (I’m very much a give-me-all-the-drugs baby deliverer), so I was in awe with what I witnessed.  I got the call at 11:00 that contractions were getting stronger and it was time to come.  I showed up to their home at midnight, Vanessa laboring with Tim by her side, her mom and sister waiting patiently in another room, and her midwives preparing for the birth in another.  Everyone was so calm and relaxed. It honestly was such a peaceful setting.  After laboring for just over 3 hours, Vanessa pushed a couple times and was able to pull her baby out by herself.  It was beautiful. Tears were flowing (perhaps from me too – guess we’ll never know because I’m not on camera :)).  The whole thing seemed to happen so fast, and all those weeks of waiting were over. He was here, he was healthy, he was chunky, and he was perfect.  All 10lbs 1oz of baby Winston were now in Vanessa & Tim’s arms.  All the while big brother and sister slept peacefully in their beds.

Vanessa & Tim invited me back the next morning so that I could photograph Bennett & Violet meeting their baby brother for the first time.  If you thought the birth was beautiful, you should see the reaction of the siblings.  I don’t know if I’ve ever seen siblings so in love, so receptive, to a new baby that fast.  I mean, it’s normal for siblings to love the new baby, but it usually takes a warming-up period. Not for these two.  Violet just looked so proud, so in love, so ready to take her brother on new adventures.  Bennett was already talking about what Winston’s favorite dinosaur would be, proving he already had so much to teach him.  It was precious and every mother’s dream.

Congratulations to the Collins family on this new precious gift.  May God grant you peace and grace as you raise this little boy!