I'm an Irish woman.

"I used to be a feminist. Now I'm just proud to be a woman." ~ Sister Sarah Elisabeth, (Orthodox nun running the Martha & Mary House in California for crisis pregnancies and adoption)

What a wonderful week!

Last Tuesday, I had planned to collaborate with a long-time friend on some photos that I've been putting together in my mind for months now. But Tuesday morning I got the text that the birth I had been hired to photograph was in full swing! So I rescheduled with my friend and rushed to the house.

It was such an honor to photograph the birth of Violet Love, a beautiful little girl who was greeted by her parents and her ten siblings! It was the most amazing thing to see this big family welcoming Baby #11 - everyone was helping, encouraging, waiting for the moment of her arrival. I feel blessed to have been able to document the experience for them. What a wonderful Valentine's Day!

SO - yesterday, we went back to shooting these photos for the upcoming gallery at Max Crema's. The photos turned out so fantastically, I can't wait to share them! Here is a sneak peak, but if you'd like to see more of my work, please come to the gallery opening on March

3rd, from 10 am to 1 pm!

Wonder Child

Jacob is getting chubbier as the days go by.  He's still so tiny but he has puffy little cheeks... and dimples!  The girls adore him.


This photo was taken at one of my favorite moments from Georgia's labor.  Alyssa is such a bizarre child - she's this clumsy little tank but she's always got this out-of-this-world look on her face like she's thinking about things we can't even comprehend.  When Georgia was having a contraction, Alyssa walked right up to the side of the pool and put her hand on Georgia's head to comfort her.  Afterwards, she walked to Matt and patted him on the arm with this amazing little encouraging smile on her face.  Then she turned around and walked, naked as the day she was born, out the door and down the hallway.  Incredible.

"I have a competition in me"

Free minutes!  Huzzah!


I don't know how I've gotten through the past few weeks.  Every day it feels like there's more to do than I can possibly fit into 24 hours, but every day I've managed to get it all done.  I've had a lot of help from my Love - thank you, dear!


So, the woman in this photo is awesome.  She's a natural home birth advocate (and three-time-success story!) and she's getting ready for #4!


It's really exciting for me to speak to women who understand my enthusiasm for natural home birth.  I've been meeting more and more of them as this idea is molded into a functioning business.  Things are coming along fantastically!


I can barely contain my excitement for Georgia's baby to come.  This will be my first of many things - the first birth I've seen (other than my own, I guess, and the beginning of my brother's some 18 1/2 years ago!), the first water birth I've seen, the first birth I'm photographing...  I'm relieved to be starting with someone I know well and am comfortable with.  Things could get a bit more challenging from here on out!


On another note, I have a confession to make.  And if you've seen There Will Be Blood, you know the reference.  I have a competition in me.  I want no one else to succeed.  It's not entirely true - I like seeing people work hard and do well.  But I will be good at what I do.  I will excel at what I do.  And I welcome a little competition to become the best.  It makes winning more fun.  =)