This blog post is one of many firsts — my first birth photography “session”, my first overly (personal) emotional photography event, and last but not least, the birth of my very FIRST niece! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you already got some behind the scenes of my niece’s birth about a month ago. Miss Lucy Jennings Graham entered this world on October 31 (yes, Halloween!)Β @ 1:59 p.m. I should also preface these photos by telling you that they did NOT know the gender of the baby ahead of time. They wanted it to be a complete surprise and it absolutely was. I’ve never cried like that and had to take photos at the same time. Thank goodness for autofocus in times like this!
The story begins on the evening of October 30 when around 9:00 p.m. when Lindsey (my older sister) and Mike (brother-in-law) arrived at the hospital. Lindsey started having contractions around 4:00 p.m. She was already 4cm dilated so we thought this was going to go pretty quick! Ha…22 hours later…Lucy decides to join us π π
Full discretion: This is a lengthy and longer-than-normal post and also includes some very raw images of birth. All images are in black & white, however π Special shout out to my sister, Lindsey, for allowing me to post all of these raw and real images of her very first birth experience. This is REAL life photography and I could not be more proud of the images and emotions captured. Enjoy π
Mike is a HUGE Cubs fan. Lifelong. The Cubs won game 5 on October 30 and it made for an even better 24 hours for Mike (and even more later when the Cubs won the World Series!)
My mom and I were at the hospital from that evening (October 30) until Lucy was born the next afternoon. It was a long night/day but I can positively say neither of us would have been anywhere else.Β 
It was clear she wasn’t coming anytime soon at this point, so they were told to get as much rest as possible.Β 
This is what my mom and I had to sleep on in the waiting room. The hospital would not give us pillows or blankets…! We now know for next time to pack our own πΒ 
The furniture was also unbelievably uncomfortable (even in the birth room for the dad)… :-\
Such a warm Halloween day!
Good morning, Lindsey! It’s baby day!
For anyone who knows my sister, Chapstick is life. Mike had a handful of them in his pockets and all over so he was prepared. LOL
12:24 p.m. — it’s time to start pushing!Β 
Quick break from pushing a baby out to…put on Chapstick… π
HERE COME’S BABY WITH LOTS OF HAIR!
IT’S A…………
GIRL!!!!!!!!!!Β 
Hello, Lucy!!! We are so happy you are finally here!!! π π π π
This is our mom, and Nana to Lucy, meeting her for the first time πΒ 
Lucy grabbed onto Mike’s finger right away.Β 
Mike’s dad, Jerry, meeting his 4th grandchild πΒ 
My dad meeting his first grandchild…such an emotional thing to witness.Β 
8 lb.s 3 oz of healthy baby!
Our younger sister, Ayri arrives to meet Lucy!Β 
“Just call me Aunt Ayri.” π
Our other sister, Olivia, is a freshman at Ole Miss and couldn’t make it up for the birth but THANK GOODNESS for Facetime! She got to meet Lucy in person 3 weeks later over Thanksgiving π Other photo is of me holding sweet Lucy Jennings (we share a middle name) π I just love her so much.Β 
Nana and Lucy.Β 
One of the nurses made capes for all the babies born on Halloween as their first costume. Since they didn’t know the sex of the baby, they had a yellow and pink batman cape ready π
My dad, Tim, insists on being called “T-Pops”…we are all really hoping Lucy just shortens it to “Pops” LOLΒ 
My stepmom, Alison, aka “Mimsy” to Lucy πΒ 
Off to post-delivery!
Mike ringing the bell that rings throughout the entire hospital to “announce” when a baby is born π
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LUCY GRAHAM!! Thank you for making me a #AuntieMalmo ! Lindsey – you are a rockstar and I am so proud of you and the strength you showed. I still get chills and tears as I look through these photos reliving the day. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am so grateful! God is so, so good! π
Love,
Auntie Malmo
