I am of the opinion that every day we are walking on holy ground – but that some days it is just vastly more apparent.  The day Annabelle Jane was born was one of those days.  In the hours I spent witnessing this baby girl make her way into the world I couldn’t help but feel the magic of all that was happening.  Rachael (perhaps the most gorgeous laboring mother ever) and Michael (seriously the best birth coach I’ve ever seen) waited patiently for this baby girl they had so greatly longed for.  They were surrounded by love, bathed in hope and overcome with the sweet anticipation of meeting their little girl.  Rachael labored with an unexpected intensity at first.  Her baby almost 2 weeks overdue and in those weeks she had been haunted by labor pains that began and then ebbed away. She was ghosted by labor! So when her true labor began it was overwhelming and all consuming.  The drive to the hospital was filled with worry that she would have the baby then and there.  Blessedly, she made it to the hospital and was able to labor the way she wanted.  Births are wildly unpredictable, which is a part of why I love them so much.  I’ve never attended a birth and had it be anything like another beside that a baby gets born.  Rachael labored so serenely.  She did the hard work of labor, and then smiled joyfully when her contraction had passed.  She pushed mightily, but still was able to communicate her love and excitement when she rested.  She never once vocalized doubt in her ability to bring her baby into the world.  I feel so honored to have witnessed this event – this birth of beautiful Annabelle.  It was wildly apparent that I was on holy ground that day, in the presence of great love and unbreakable joy.  Rachael and Michael, thank you for letting me stand as your witness.  Congratulations on your girl.

You can view the birth video above by clicking the play button in the circle over the main image.  Please be advised there is footage of the actual birth.  It is less than 3 seconds of footage and it is magic.  I have watched this  video no less than 100 times and I weep every single time.  Expect tears.  Photos (minus any lady bits) are below.