I’ve been wondering how in the world I was going to put this into words, and I’ve spent my morning trying to do so. The labor and birthing process is incredibly sacred, and that time between a couple is one of the most intimate life experiences one can have. As such, it was an immense honor that my sister and her husband asked me to be a support and document the birth of their first child. I did, and am forever changed. Childbirth is nothing new to me–I was a childbirth educator and doula before a photographer–but none moved me so deeply as beholding my sister and her husband, their individual strengths and love for one another.

I saw my sister pushed to limits beyond what I’ve ever witnessed in a laboring woman. I saw a husband so empathetic, tears in his eyes, proudly proclaiming how blessed he is to have my precious sister for his wife.

The three of us were in a hospital together for four days, one of which was their 3rd wedding anniversary. We laughed, watched American Idol, HGTV, prayed, waited, were forced to make decisions, coached, cried, and grew more closely. I saw a beautiful piece of my brother-in-law through my sister’s eyes, and I think he saw me more through her’s. What an unexpected trial it was, with the most precious outcome possible–Lilah Jane McIntosh.

Weighing in at 8lbs. 12 ozs. the sweet girl entered this world (25 days past her due date) at 3:57am, on March 8th, 2013. She was instantly loved by overjoyed (but ridiculously tired) parents, and an aunt crying so hard she could hardly focus her camera.

Here’s a piece of the story through my eyes…and listen closely to the second song. During her pregnancy, Ashley and our brother Billy did a cover of “Forever Young.”

I’ve been working on getting a post together to share the experience of being with my sister and her husband, and the DAYS we spent at the hospital leading to my niece’s birth. It’s taken a while to process, and tomorrow I will share the photos. Talk about being oddly torn between being a sister, doula, and photographer. It was really such an experience, and an incredible honor to have been a part of it all.

Please visit back tomorrow and see what is surely going to be one of my most proud posts of 2013.