Mama | Because birth is beautiful

I've been meaning to share this birth video with you all for a while. Maybe it was the postpartum hormones talking, but I could barely keep it together when I first watched it.

And this photo is simply stunning. Babies are just lovely, aren't they? I'm so thankful for those who dedicate their lives to bringing them into the world.

P.S. I've started writing my birth story! Okay, now that I've said it, I have to finish it. I won't promise it will be done soon, but I am so very excited to share it with you. If you've written your birth story, please share a link. I would love to read it.

Baby #2 | Introducing...

Bruno Joseph Strecker

10 pounds, 1 ounce

&

Twenty-two inches

of perfection

My contractions woke me up at 3 a.m. yesterday, June 18th, and by 2:00 p.m. we were laboring at the birth center. When we arrived, I was already at 8 c.m. and 100% effaced (an exact answer to prayer!). Things progressed perfectly, and with the amazing support of Cody and my friend, Elisabeth, our sweet baby was born just over two hours later. Praise God for all of his provisions.

Mama | Two things on birth

Leigh at Marvelous Kiddo shared both of these links today and I wanted to pass them along. One is about the last days of pregnancy and the other is for a site called visualizing birth. The thing that I found via the last link, which really struck me and that I want to share (warning: for the daring!), is this video of a French woman giving birth. She is astoundingly calm and joyful, powering through as her baby crowns and as she continues to push the rest of her baby out. It is a graphic video, so don't watch it if that bothers you, but I found it really refreshing and astounding to see someone remain calm and allow her body to open up and birth her baby. We are so bombarded with images of women struggling and fighting in labor, screaming in pain and misery, and although it probably rarely looks the way this French woman makes it look, birth can be different, and I like that this video shows you that. I hope you find these links helpful as I did!