The Mother Hood

You know you hear people say things to you when you pregnant, or before you even think about having kids, about how motherhood is not for the meek of heart. That it's the hardest most rewarding job you will ever have. That time will seem to slip through your fingers far faster than you can absorb and soak up every last memory and moment with your children......ok, I admit the last one is totally me and how I feel daily with my 2 boys. Motherhood is amazing, and hard, and incredible, and trying, and rewarding. It's the most squishy love, all buttons pushed, baby belly laughing, sweet snuggle, worn out, messy, and perfectly imperfect experience of your life. That was a mouth full, my apologies, but really, how do you cram motherhood into any less words? I have the honor and privilege of being a labor and delivery nurse, childbirth educator, and photographer. As a labor and delivery nurse I help moms through one of the toughest, most life changing and incredible experiences God has blessed us with. I am there to hold a hand, to wipe a brow, to hold a leg, to breath, and to welcome fresh new life into this world. As a childbirth educator I bring every ounce of experience and knowledge I have gained over the last 10 years as a nurse, and past 8 years as a mom, to my mom and dads to be. My goal is always to take away some of the fear of the unknown by empowering them with knowledge and a tool box equipped with what they need to find there way through the labor experience. As a photographer I capture moments for my clients. All of those fleeting moments that always seem to pass to soon, I get to freeze them, encapsulate them in a love that takes the viewer straight back to that very moment that memory was captured. Over all I'd say I'm pretty darn lucky. Well, never have I had an oppertunity to combine all three of my passions into one, that is until sweet baby Lennon came along. Her mom and dad were in my childbirth class, and as their birth photographer I was also their for the delivery. What are the chances!? I stood by in silent awe with my camera capturing all of those sweet and challenging moments leading to parenthood. I also held a leg, helped with position change, counted, breathed, and cheered on this mom to be. Until sitting down to write this, I hadn't realized that I was able to pull all three of my roles into this one experience! I decided to write this blog and share these images in honor of Mothers Day coming up. These to me are the real images of labor. Of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. So to all of the mothers out there, take a bow, hug your kids tightly, rub that belly fondly, call your mom, and have a Happy Mother Day next week!

Humbly grateful,

Liz