Merry Christmas!

Our first studio visit!

We took the girls to the studio today. Funny with clients I try to get creative and do different things, but with our kids I'm just happy if I get them both in a shot and... lol. Here's a few that I wanted to get for our holiday cards. Wanted to wait for our baby girl to get here to add her to the cards so we're a little late this year!

Our beautiful home waterbirth... a not so short story.

Ahhh... life is grand with a newborn in the house. We all just can't seem to stop smiling, and are giddy over our new little lady. She's quite the little person and definitely has her own personality already. We just can't stop staring at her... she consumes every moment of our day lately.

A little about her birth... many have asked how it happened and for me to tell the story, so I thought I'd share.

I had been having contractions for several weeks that were annoying, but not doing much of anything as far as giving me real labor. Finally on Saturday morning, labor came. It started at about 9:45, by 10:30 I was in the tub in our bathroom breathing through each contraction. Things really started progressing and John called our midwife and doula at 11:00. They both arrived at 11:30 and things really started getting going by then. We had already called our friend Margie to come and photograph the birth and she arrived at the same time as our midwife and doula. I swear it was like once they all got there my body just let go and did what it needed to do. I spent the first two hours in our bathtub, and John got to work on filling up the inflatable tub that we had rented for the birth. It was bigger than our regular bathtub so I was able to get fully immersed in the water and get comfy. I swear those tubs saved me... without the water I don't know how I would have coped.

My midwife Kelli and doula Maggie both coached me through the contractions once they arrived. Kelli checked me and I was 5-6 centimeters, which I was relieved that I had FINALLY made progress! She told me not to be surprised if I transitioned quickly as she could tell that I was going fast. I had to laugh and ask her "is this my warning that it will happen, or you telling me that it will"... I got her little smile and a uh huh...lol. I got into the inflatable tub and once in there dilated to complete in a matter of a few contractions. Kelli and Maggie both told me to listen to my body and if I felt like pushing to just do what came natural to me. I tried a few pushes and didn't like it... I was trying to find a position to get comfortable and tolerate the pressure I was feeling. It was really hard to find a place and way to sit that worked for me, so Maggie ended up kneeling behind me and I wrapped my arms around her back to support me. John and Kelli each held a leg while I pushed and that seemed to be the way that worked for me.

I remember being hot and heavy into labor and questioning whether I was really ready to give birth at home, but reminded myself that I made this choice for a reason and knew I'd get through it, even if I had to mentally just check out to get there. I felt like I was in a trance, just barely on the edge of being aware of what was going on around me. I knew who was there, heard them talking, but didn't really pay much attention to what was happening. I was so focused on just trying to relax and stay in control of myself. I'm actually quite proud and surprised that I did so well in staying in the place I needed to be... staying calm, collected, and just letting all the tension go away.

At first when I started pushing I didn't think I was doing anything, so it took me a little while to figure out where to push, once I figured it out it was only a few pushes and she was out. I remember the feeling of the burning as she was crowning, and also remember the lovely curse words that flew out of my mouth. YIKES! As soon as she was born I remember instantly feeling HUGE relief, like all of a sudden I went from the most intense pain I have ever felt, to complete and total peace with a slippery newborn on my chest at 1:23 P.M. It was the most surreal feeling I have ever felt in my life. To then sit back and take it all in was even more surreal. To watch John cry, and try so hard not to lose it completely, to watch the way he was looking at me with such pride and love, made me fall in love with him all over again. To see the look on Shaylee's face when she saw her baby sister for the first time... all of that was beyond anything I had imagined. To get out of the tub and into my own shower, and then into my own bed was such a cool thing. To have gotten through labor without any IV's, medications, tubes, needles, etc was the icing on the cake. To get up and take our little girl outside in the beautiful Florida afternoon sun on the day she was born... so freakin cool!

We had the experience of our dreams, one I will remember for the rest of my life. It was everything we wanted and more. Our birth team was beyond amazing, they came in and supported us with everything we wanted, made sure we were taken care of, left us feeling completely honored to have had them there. Each person that was here took part in making Camdyn's birthday a beautiful one. It was by far better than I imagined that birth could be. I knew it would be empowering, beautiful and a joyous day, but I had no idea just how special it would be and how much it would bond John, Shaylee, Camdyn, and I as a now bigger family. I still sit in awe thinking about Saturday and what it meant to us. I look at our new little girl and just can't believe how she made her entrance into this world in such a peaceful and loving way.

A huge thank you to those that were here, you know who you are... you all made our day so beautiful. We love and cherish each one of you for being here for us at this most special time! Our friend Margie captured our day with the most amazing photos I think I have ever seen. Here is the link to the slideshow she put together of Camdyn's birth. These photos are such a treasure to us, and we are so glad that we have them to remember that day. Click HERE to watch!

Also, here's a few photos of miss Camdyn. Just some snapshots, we're headed to the studio on Friday to do her official newborn shoot, but for now here's a few more. Thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes on the blog, in email, and the phone calls. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends in our lives!

She's HERE! We proudly welcome...

Camdyn Jewels Nielsen

Born 12/15/2007 at 1:23 pm

8 pounds, 2 ounces, 21 inches long

Waterbirth at home with 3 hours of labor

Such an amazing and beautiful experience!

I'll post more details later, but wanted to let you all know she's here and everyone is doing well! Shaylee is a wonderful big sister and we are so thrilled to have had our birth our way and for everything to turn out so wonderful. A special thank you to our midwife Kelli Johnson, Doula Maggie McCarthy, and friend and photographer Margie Schultz for capturing the photos I have attached. What a crazy hectic day and wonderful day!

Taking her sweet time!

Well Saturday was our due date and it came and went with no baby yet... she's apparently pretty stubborn and has her own date in mind. We went to our midwife last night and things are progressing, just not as quickly as we had hoped they would. I'm trying to be patient and realize that things will be harder once she arrives, but it's a hard thing to sit here and wonder when she'll come! Julie had to go back to Utah yesterday, so that makes me sad to know that she won't be here to witness the birth, but she'll be back in 7 weeks for our convention here in Orlando and get her baby snuggles then. So say a prayer for us that our baby girl comes soon and arrives happy, healthy, and safely in our arms! We'll continue to update and keep you all posted!

Here's two quick photos of Shaylee to tide you over... probably one of her last photos as a only child. She's so excited to meet her baby sister. She keeps talking to the belly and last night told the baby to "send the signal" so she can be born. She's been so patient, and I know these last days are just as hard for her as they are for us. By far the moment I am looking forward to the most if the first time Shaylee holds her sister. I think I will just lose it and turn into a pile of mush...lol.

Julie and I did a family shoot yesterday!

So I know I said my last shoot was a while ago... thank goodness for Julie coming to town so we could squeeze this family in. May of you may recognize CJ and her family. They came to me for maternity and newborn photos and we did their big group family portraits yesterday. A huge thank you to Julie for working your magic during this session. I always love working with you and watching you do your thing! Here's a slideshow from the session.

One more day...

One more day till Julie gets here. I pick her up at 4 p.m. tomorrow and I'm so glad that she'll be here for the birth of our baby girl. We finally finished getting the baby's room ready today. She won't be sleeping in there, but we got all of her clothes and everything in the closet organized so that it's all done when she gets here. It's so weird to see little clothes hanging in the closet again. And to see some of our favorites from when Shaylee was a newborn is pretty wild as well. Can't believe Shaylee was ever that small.

Anyway, one more day... Julie was only here six weeks ago and it seems like forever! She's running crazy trying to tie up all of her loose ends in Salt Lake City so that she can be here for a week and take some much needed time OFF! The fact that she is packing up, leaving David and her 5 kiddos and coming to help us still blows my mind. I am so lucky that I have the best friends in the world to help take care of Shaylee, John and I. Tamu will be around also, and Lesa will have Shaylee during labor. I swear I don't know what I'd do without those 3 women in my life!

Here's two photos, the first of Lesa, me and Tamu. The second with Julie and I. Can't wait to get photos of our new little girl with my favorite girls in the world!