I will write her birth story. Any one expecting a lengthy multiple part story like I did for our beautiful boy's birth story and again for our beautiful girl will possibly be disappointed. Because this littlest lady of ours didn't hang around making her entrance.
But there is a version of the story that I want to share...
I said to Rich when we first got pregnant with our little Flump, that I really wanted to commit to memory every second of this pregnancy. I know all to well how hazy the memories can get with time, and while I remember how I felt at the birth of my babies, the intensity of those emotions feel as fresh as if it was yesterday, but the details grow a little blurred as the years pass by.
I talked about wanting a birth photographer, or at least teaching Rich to use my camera properly so that he could capture some more photos in the hospital. In all honesty though, he isn't the biggest fan of taking photos, but over the past year he has grown more confident using my camera to video. So I had simply said to him to capture bits and pieces of what happened as and when it seemed like a good moment; not with any particular intentions of making a little video out of it, but just so that we had it for the future. No pressure, just whatever he fancied doing. I didn't want him to be detached from the moment, but at the same time I know that at the previous two births he felt a bit lost at times and didn't know what to do with himself and I thought capturing it might give him a sense of purpose.
When I uploaded what was on the camera I cried.
Because he more than did me proud.
As he worried about whether he'd got it all in focus enough for me, I just felt speechless at the snapshots of time that he had caught that I didn't know about. The moments and emotions that are captured so that I won't ever forget them. Simple shots of me and my baby girl. And some of the earliest daddy and daughter moments that I grabbed too. All the details of how rapidly our beautiful little newborn changed in the hours from when she was very first born to the time we took her home. Those precious moments when she met her older siblings (and her fluffy siblings too).
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to thank him enough for the memories, or for the beautiful family we've made together.
Such a beautiful video, those first moments in the hospital are so precious. How wonderful to have this to look back on, congratulations. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank-you... I am unspeakably glad that we will have this to look back on in years to come. Such a precious time. x
DeleteWhat a privilege to see your special moment. What an incredible memory to have and to show the children in the future. Rich filmed Ollie's birth and I am so thankful I have that captured forever. Beautiful xx
ReplyDeleteI just feel so incredibly thankful too, as you say, that Rich captured this forever for us. I just know I'm going to love watching it back over the years. x
DeleteAh this made me get a little teary. So beautiful and Rich did such a good job. I love all the parts in the hospital especially when she is a few minutes old, but I do also really love when the cats are staring at her. They are probably thinking 'Oh My God, not another one!' So beautiful that you will have this to look at in years to come. I wish I had videoed more of the girls first days- I have a million photos but there is something about video that is truly special. x
ReplyDeleteYes, I love those first moments too... and the fact that she changes so much just during this video which only covers about 12 hours of her life. Our cats always seem interested and a bit bemused by new babies... I think they are kind of used to it now. x
DeleteSobbing over here! How amazing that Rich did this, I've been thinking about asking Tom to do something similar but I don't want to put too much pressure on him (he's already stressed thinking the baby will come so fast he'll have to deliver her himself ;)) those clips of her so fresh and new are just amazing! I can't wait to hear about her arrival, am I thinking she was early too? I lost track of time! You've made me even more excited about giving birth, I think I started to properly cry when I saw you cry in the video. It's such an indescribable moment isn't it. x
ReplyDeleteI was really relaxed about it with Rich and said to video if and when he wanted, but that I wanted him to not feel under pressure. When we got home he said he was really sorry he didn't get any footage of the actual birth... but I said that was because he was really present in that moment, and that was more important. I was so emotional at this birth, I cried a lot, as did Rich... something we didn't do with the previous too. I'm so excited to start writing it all down. x
DeleteI may have accidentally just shed a little tear at that video - it's adorable! So precious to have those first moments captured - they really are the one's you forget.
ReplyDeleteI think you forget so much from those initial moments... like how puffy and gunky they are, and how you feel like you're in this bubble. I'm so glad we have it recorded for the future. x
DeleteOh Lucy, this video made me sob! It's absolutely beautiful and it reminded me of those precious few hours after my daughter was born.
ReplyDeleteI bet it already seems a bit of a blur? But now you have this wonderful video to look back on and treasure forever.
Jenna at Tinyfootsteps xx
Awww, sorry I made you cry. It definitely becomes a blur so quickly. There were moments Rich captured that I had already entirely forgotten when I uploaded the footage. x
DeleteI've already commented on the video, but just had to say how beautiful it was again! I'm so glad I captured both my babies coming into the world on camera. You'll treasure that video forever xx
ReplyDeleteI already treasure it so much. I'm so glad I asked Rich to video this time. We have barely anything from immediately after the others were born, and it becomes hazy so quickly. x
DeleteThis is when videos become so special, when they can capture moments like this. Things that you can never repeat and things that can easily become a blur.
ReplyDeleteYes there is definitely something about video that captures a moment more than a photo can. I'm so glad we have these precious moments on film. x
DeleteHe did an amazing job!! He should be so proud. What a wonderful video for you all to have xx
ReplyDeleteHe really did. I'm so pleased, can never really thank him enough. x
DeleteThat is so beautiful!! Congratulations again xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Kara. x
DeleteOh what a beautiful video and such a great idea for giving Rich something to focus on. I always disappear into myself in labour so I wish I'd thought of something similar for H, though I also have a thing about the dark... Hence why all our photos are very badly lit!!
ReplyDeleteYes, there is very little for them to actually do. He was very involved during the pushing and was talking me through it all (hence why there is no video of that bit) but the rest of the time I think he just felt a bit lost with the previous two. He definitely appreciated having 'a job'. x
DeleteAwww this is gorgeous!! Made me all teary! Well done both of you. Another beautiful little girl x
ReplyDeleteThanks lovely. I still can't get through the video without tears... I had serious issues trying to edit it together. x
DeleteOh Lucy, this is so amazing. I saw you talking on twitter a while ago about wanting a birth photographer and I just thought it was such a wonderful idea. This had me in tears, especially the part where you start to cry. I have loved following your vlogs and the journey and it's been wonderful to watch this little bump become such a beautiful baby. Rich has done such an amazing job and it's captured perfectly. So happy for you all xx
ReplyDeleteI wanted a birth photographer last time around too, but it was never something that Rich and I could get totally comfortable with. It seemed weird to have a stranger at such a personal moment. So I am unspeakably glad that Rich agreed to play videographer in the end, I know this will mean a lot to us to look back at over the years. x
DeleteAbsolutely loved this. I thought I wrote a comment on here before, may have on twitter? can't remember! I love capturing these moments and am so thankful I have in my three births. photography and film are truly magical and i can't wait to do it again, especially as its probably our last. (I keep saying probably as it feels so final!) BG2 is so gorgeous. lovely film. Well done to your Mr. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalie. It's so special to capture things on film I think... because it really truly captures a moment in time. I'm so thankful that we have this video to look back at. x
DeleteThis is beautiful, I just cried my eyes out xx
ReplyDeleteAww, thank-you... and sorry about the tears. x
Deleteoh my, so beautifully captured. Congratulations on the new arrival
ReplyDeleteThank-you. I'm so glad that we have it captured at all, but he certainly did a good job of getting a sense of how it all was. I owe the Mr... big time. x
DeleteI'm not crying .... ok yes may have shed a tear. Perfect way to capture your beautiful new arrival. Congratulations x
ReplyDeleteThank-you. A few people mentioned that it should come with a 'bring tissues' warning... I still can't watch it through without crying. x
DeleteWhat a gorgeous video Lucy, made me well up a little! You're so lucky to have these moments captured, and Rich did you proud with his filming. I agree that giving your bloke a practical thing to do during labour is probably a very good idea, it does keep them focused! Congrats again on the safe arrival of your little girl x
ReplyDeleteHe really did do me proud, and I think he definitely appreciated having 'a job' to do when it's so easy for the daddies to feel a bit like a spare part. x
DeleteI'm totally sobbing too, that is such a lovely video with irreplaceable moments captured forever. The soundtrack is just perfect as well x
ReplyDeleteThank-you. I think its the fact that the moments are so irreplaceable that makes this video so special to me. We'll never have those moments again and they were so special, and I'm beyond happy to have them recorded. x
DeleteI watched this in bed the other morning and LOVED IT! Matt, who knows I'm broody right now, was very worried ;) Doing some filming is such a great idea and if we ever have anymore I would love to watch it back on film afterwards. Such a special moment that you don't really remember properly yourself xx
ReplyDeleteI already feel like some of it is a bit hazy, which makes me even happier that we have it recorded. It's just going to be so lovely to look back on this in the future. x
DeleteAww this is so beautiful. Many congratulations
ReplyDeleteThank-you so much. x
DeleteOH my god Lucy this just made me cry my eyes out what a beautiful way to document her amazing arrival! So fast too. You look amazing and the kids look so happy to greet her home. So beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea, this is my favourite of your videos yet!
ReplyDeleteBloke here - made my cry too.
ReplyDeleteOur "boys" are 30+ years old now, but their individual arrivals are still absolutely locked in my heart forever.
I won't say I think of their births everyday, but I do think of their arrival often.