I’ve been trying again and again to put words to last Saturday night, but nothing seems to fit.  To be a part of a baby entering this world for the very first time was an honor, a joy, and something I will NEVER forget.  Whatever your beliefs may be, a baby being born is one of the most miraculous things!  And never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be able to experience the birth of a baby until it was my own.

One of my friends in Texas has been doing birth photography for a little while now and as I saw her pictures of these mammas and daddies and their brand new babies, I was moved in a way that I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to express.  Not fully knowing their stories, there was a huge disconnect in how I should have related to her photos, but that wasn’t the case at all.  I felt like I was there, in the room, and witnessing a miracle.

Jim and Julia are those kinds of friends that I start to lose track of how long I’ve known them.  I know it’s been since I’ve lived in Greenville and since they were a part of my community group (a couple of different times!), but in a way, they’ve just always been there.  One thing our church has been teaching for a while is about living in community and doing life on life which just means that when we’re together, we’re real with each other.  Besides, I wear my heart on my sleeve so if something’s going on… there’s a 110% chance that you’ll know.  And it’s been so wonderful to have these two and their family be in on so much of that.  Their children are precious, but they’re still kids and these two were always honest about how wonderful and difficult it is to raise children sometimes.  And the word that comes to mind is that these two love their kids fiercely.  They’re SO intentional with their love that it makes me want to sit down and take notes.

So, there’s even more behind this birth story than you might see on the surface.  And to be a part of them welcoming their 5th child into the world only made this experience that much sweeter.

PS – Julia… you are a ROCK STAR!

I got the first text at 7:38pm that they were headed to the hospital… and then a call at 8:52pm saying they were in a room and that this was the real deal!
At 10:00pm I walked in the front door and headed upstairs…

They decided to go all natural and do a water birth (hence the pool in the room!).

I love their love.

We walked many laps in the hallways as the contractions came and went.

Since there were going to be several people there, Julia wore her bathing suit with a skirt bottom.  She’s so clever!
Oh, and those dots on the ceiling?  It was a “star” machine that put green stars on the ceiling.  Ben… my birthday’s coming up… :-)

The strength in their marriage can be seen in Jimmy holding her hand…

Barely a minute after I took a picture of the time, their baby was here.
They weren’t finding out the gender since they already have two of each, so to hear, “It’s a girl!” only put more tears in my eyes.

Some of the first words baby Brielle heard from her mamma were, “You are so beautiful” and “I love you.”

Perfection.

In case you didn’t already know, Julia is one of the cutest and most precious women in the world!

Isn’t she beautiful???

Oh my heavens… daddies and their baby girls melt my heart every time.

Grandparents were just as thrilled :-)

Thank you guys SO MUCH for allowing me to be a part of Brielle’s arrival.  Words will never be able to express what it means to have captured her first hour in this world for you!

For more information on Birth Photography Packages, feel free to visit the website: http://births.sabrinafields.com/