Sailor’s birth on Valentine’s Day was so completely lovely. Piper was induced at midnight and I received word to join the family the following morning. I walked into the hospital behind this enormous cloud of Valentine’s Day balloons.

Then, just before we entered there was a kissing booth with a sweet little puppy giving visitors kisses. The hospital really went all out and I so badly wanted to break out my camera and capture this and the balloons floating through the hallways, but HIPPA prevents me from photographing patients and visitors at random. So I watched with an aching soul as they floated out of view, lamenting the loss of such a beautiful detail shot.

Valentine-birth-sacred-heart-hospital-pensacola

So imagine my delight when, after arriving in Piper + Glenn’s room and settling in to document their birth, their family arrived bearing the very same balloons! I couldn’t believe my luck!

Better still was just how calm and love-filled this birth was. Sailor was to be their fifth baby and Glenn is a physician at the hospital. There was none of the apprehension that tends to maintain a quiet presence in the birth space, just overwhelming joy, celebration, and love.

Even Sailor came out reaching for her mama, ready to be loved on.

Although it looks like she may have been a little grumpy with Daddy for stealing Mommy’s attention away for a few moments.

Just kidding! =P

After a quick, smooth, and utterly peaceful birth, Sailor’s four big siblings flooded in to meet her. The littlest, Aralyn, took a minute to warm up to Sailor. She was not happy to see her mama holding another baby, but once Sailor was handed over to the kids, Aralyn was ready to marvel over her along with everyone else.