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Dear Vera-

This is the story of your very beginning- the day that you came into the world. Your parents had been anxiously awaiting your arrival and couldn’t wait to introduce you to your big sister Maggie and  your new big brother Gus, who joined the family just weeks before you. Your parents were not only excited to see your face for the first time, but also eager to finally find out if you were a girl or a boy. (I love this kind of surprise!)

On the morning of July 7th, just one day after your expected due date, your mom woke with the intention of heading to work. However, her body had different plans. Around 6:30 am she realized that her water had broken and she told your daddy that instead of heading to work they would soon be heading to the hospital to meet you.

Their bags were packed and ready to go and after laboring at home for several hours they left the pups behind to head to Baptist South Hospital. When they arrived, they spent some time awaiting their room with the view overlooking the main entrance. Once settled in 327, they got comfortable with their specially selected 60’s Oldies Pandora station playing in the background. This became the perfect soundtrack to your birth story. I was almost comical and dumbfounding how perfectly timed each song was throughout the day and night and it should be noted that there were many songs including the word “Baby” during that time period.

I arrived around 4:35 pm to begin capturing the visual story to share with you- the story that shows your parents working hard yet sweetly and peacefully together through each phase of labor, all with the end result – meeting you – in their hearts and minds.

At 8:45 pm your mom was at 9 cm and only had a sliver of cervix left. “Baby I love You” by the Ronettes started to play, and though I couldn’t use it in your slideshow (silly licensing rules) the lyrics were perfection: “Baby, I love yoooou. Baby, I need yoooou. Come on, Baaaaaby”.

An hour later at 9:45 your mom was at 10 cm and the cervix was gone. Pandora decide this song was appropriate: “It’s the time…What’s your name? Who’s your daddy?” It was then time to push you into the world.

The intense contractions slowed down a little giving your mom a bit of rest between each surge of pushing and Pandora chose this selection for those periods of rest: “You can’t hurry love. You just have to wait. … Love don’t come easy. How much more can I take?” Which was followed by “This Magic Moment” by the Drifters. We couldn’t help but laugh that yet again Pandora was speaking our minds and reading the moment.

Then the magic moment actually came and you were born into the word at exactly 10:52 pm on July 7, 2016. 7/7/16. Wait for it though…

Upon your newborn exam we learned that you weighed a perfect 7 lbs. 7 oz. on 7/7. You can’t make this stuff up. And your APGAR score (or richter scale, as your grandma called it HA! -it was after 1 am when she received the call) was a rocking 9/9.

One of the recurring songs throughout your Birth Day was Stand by Me, which was so perfect, because there was a lot of standing, walking, sitting side by side for your mama and daddy. They made the perfect team and I was so moved watching them together and even more so after hearing a little more of their story- especially that of the last year. I am sure there will come a time for you to hear more about all of that. Theirs is a true story of love and redemption and you are a product of that. And this day was “the best day of their lives.”

Sweet Vera- I leave you with one last song and a little preview of your newborn session. It has been an absolute joy and honor being an observer to the very beginning of your story. I hope one day you will enjoy it and see how much love brought you into the world. And as the soundtrack I selected for your video ends: I wish you “a lifetime of happiness. A joy from up above. Until then…I wish you love!”

xo – Ingrid

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