This day had a few firsts for me. It was my family’s first time in New Mexico. We went to visit my husband’s sister and her family, right as she was due to give birth to a baby girl. It was the first time I have photographed a birth. It was also the first time I have been to a home birth (or a water birth). It was a pretty eye-opening experience. My niece was born in the middle of the night, while my boys, my husband, and my sister-in-law’s other two children were all sleeping in the next room. I thought for sure the activity of labor would wake them up, but they all slept right through the birth. Her birth was an amazing, quiet, peaceful experience, and we all fell instantly in love with her. I will treasure the memories and these photographs all my life.

5:05AM. Birth time.

I love how there are five hands on her in this photo.

One minute old. Still purple, still squinting against the dim light, still tethered to her mama by the umbilical cord.

Getting her weight.

Welcome to the world, sweet baby girl. I love you, dear.