 The first time I chat with upcoming birth clients, one question each asks is some form of, "When do you come to the hospital?", "When should I call you?", "How do I know when to call you?" My answer is always the same - my goal is to be with you by the time you're at 6cm or before you enter the transition phase of birth. Transition is the final phase of the first stage of labor. During this stage mama progresses from 7cm to 10cm - usually in 30 minutes to 2 hours time. Often during this phase, she starts to feel the pressure of baby's head coming down, sometimes accompanied by the urge to push.    I ask that my clients call or text me as soon as they "think" labor may be starting. This doesn't mean always I'll head to the hospital. This just gives me a heads up that today may be the day. For some clients that call may be a false alarm, but for other clients, like Alison, that call may come as she's getting in the car being rushed to the hospital by her husband. Sometimes labor goes slowly. And sometimes labor goes FAST. Alison warned me when she booked that her two previous labors had been very short, so I was on red-alert leading up to her due-date. I knew that she would have a 30-40 minute drive from her home to Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, AL and that it would take me 45-50 minutes to get there myself. When Alison called me around 7:30 that morning to tell me she was headed to the hospital, I asked how she was feeling and if she thought I should go ahead and head her way or if she'd rather I wait until she got checked in. She said I should hurry. And thank goodness she did!  I was changed and out my front door in under 5-minutes. Zipping across Baldwin county, Alabama, I arrived at the hospital 45-minutes later (thank goodness for valets) - only 10ish minutes after Alison and Sean's arrival at the ER. By the time I got to their room, Alison was already in transition even though just over an hour before she'd been going about her morning like normal. Baby was coming and he was coming now. Four minutes after I arrived in the deliver room, Alison's obstetrician arrived from his office next door to check her only to tell her it was time to have her baby. Four minutes later, their baby boy was born!  Every labor is different. Every birth is different. Every baby is different. But I will do everything in my power (and break some speeding laws) to get to you in time when at all possible!      Another question my birth photography clients always ask is how long I stay after the birth. The short answer is 1 - 2 hours. The longer answer is: I stay to document golden hour as you bond with your baby, I stay to capture baby's first weight and length and footprints, I stay to capture baby's first latch (if you decide to breastfeed), I stay and quietly click away capturing all of the special moments and details while the Oxytocin courses through your body as you breathe in your new baby!       And sometimes, when I feel it's the right thing to do, I stay a bit longer.  Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography offers Birth Photography in northwest Florida and south Alabama that is timeless and unforgettable. Maternity, birth, and newborn photography sessions should be booked early in the second trimester to ensure availability at the time of delivery. Amanda offers a high-end, full service experience including a pre-session consultation, exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories! Pensacola Birth Photographer | Pensacola Photographer | Northwest Florida Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography | Fairhope Birth Photography | Fairhope Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography
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This year's Global Big Latch on with Belly to Cradle, LLC was such a fun event! Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola kindly gave us use of the Greenhut Auditorium for the event and it was amazing to have all of that space to meet local breastfeeding moms and area businesses.          This event also featured local businesses (listed below) geared towards families, moms, babies, and/or breastfeeding. Businesses also donated raffle prizes for this Non-Profit event with proceeds going to benefit one of Sacred Heart Hospital Children's Hospital underfunded mother-baby projects.        Just before the Big Latch On itself, this year's speaker - Kelly Rowland, local mom, business coach, and host of The Balanced Podcast shared about her NICU experience with her twins, life as a mom, and the upcoming release of her new book! Then, the highlight of the event: at 10:30 am (CST), moms from all of the globe latched on and nursed their babies together!       After the Latch On, we wrapped up the morning by drawing raffle prizes donated by some amazing local businesses. Throughout the event, yours truly was set up in the atrium offering free breastfeeding portraits to any and all attendees. Below is just a sampling...                         A finally, a list of all of the amazing local vendors who helped make this event what it was!
MOMS Club of Pensacola-SW-FL MOMS Club of Pensacola-NE, FL MOMS Club of Pace/Milton Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition Emerald Coast Alliance for Breastfeeding Support Community Health Northwest Florida Natalie Zepp Photography The Strength Group Lauren Maschner, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant Advanced Dental Concepts Margeaux Gibson, Heart-Centered Holistic Therapy for Women Pensacola Kids Dentistry Treehouse Therapies, LLC Over The Moon Prenatal Massage Simply Royal Princess Parties Additional raffle items contributed by: Emily Ehlinger/Renu - A Skin Studio Angela Jarvis/ Mydetoxhealth Solly Baby Plant Therapy Emily Ley Countertop Mom Bodies Physical Therapy Nested Bean, Inc Doula MK  A short 90 minute drive east down I-10 from Pensacola, will take you to the small town of Ponce de Leon, FL, Once you get off the interstate at exit 96, you're no more than a 10 minute drive from one of the three (3) stunning, crystal-clear springs!    On a hot day in late July, I packed the kids into the car and we headed to one of those springs - Ponce de Leon Springs State Park. Although not literally the 'fountain of youth,' Juan Ponce de Leon hoped to find when he landed in Florida in 1513, the spring bearing his name has been a refreshing detour for many visitors over the years. ... European settlers and the Indians before them used Ponce de Leon Springs as a source of drinking water and recreation. The harvesting of timber and turpentine were the major industries in and around the area. The majestic long-leaf pines were ideal for building homes, businesses and the railroad that traversed the panhandle of Florida.  The water temperature of Ponce de Leon Spring remains a breathtaking 68° year round. The main spring is a convergence of two underground water flows, and produces 14 million gallons of water daily. Along with the spring, the park also has 2 nature trails, several pavilions, plenty of picnic tables, and even a few grills for visitor's use.  Our youngest has zero interest in leaping into the water, so he spends most of his time splashing in the spring run - where it's more shallow and a tad warmer.    The park and spring are open year-round. Some winter visitors even refer to the water as warm when compared to cooler outside temperatures. So, if you're looking to get out of town and explore the gulf coast, give one of Ponce de Leon, FL's springs a try.       When someone you've known for over 20 years asks you to take her maternity portraits, the stakes are pretty high. Back before husbands and responsibilities, heck back before we even had drivers licenses, Jessica and I used to take weekly horseback riding lessons together. We were "those girls." The girls who pretty much ate, slept, and breathed horses. (Oh the pictures I could share. But I won't.) What I will share is just a few Jessica's stunning maternity photographs from her Pensacola Beach Maternity session.  With storms immediately to the north, south, and west of us, we lucked out with a light breeze, lower humidity, and just the right number of clouds to give us a perfect, soft light. And (as you can see in a few of the pictures below), the clouds provided a beautiful landscape for our background as well.      Thanks to my handy-dandy pop-up changing-tent, clients can have as many outfit changes as they'd like during their session no matter the location. Jessica had requested 2 of my Chicaboo maternity gowns, and I brought along a 3rd "just in case." She ended up wearing, and loving all 3 gowns!      If you're looking for a Maternity photographer who captures not only the beauty of your pregnant body but also the connect between you and your significant other, Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography is your northwest Florida or south Alabama photographer! I capture your growing family’s connections, emotions, and moments in a fun, natural way. Located in Pensacola and also offering family, newborn, and birth photography, service areas include but are not limited to Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Pace, Milton, and Cantonment in Florida and Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, and Daphne in south Alabama.
Amanda offers a full service experience including exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories! Pensacola Photographer | Pensacola Family Photographer | Northwest Florida Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photographer | Gulf Shores Newborn Photographer | Pensacola Maternity Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photography | Gulf Shores Maternity Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography | Orange Beach Family Photographer  The F family enjoyed a slightly stormy week on the shores of Orange Beach, AL this past June. But, as a mother of 3 myself, I know that overcast skies are great for helping to keep little ones from burning as easily.    On the evening of their Gulf Shores Family portrait session, there were multiple storms off the coast as well as storms north of us, but we lucked out with just cloudy skies!      Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography offers Family Photography in northwest Florida that captures your family’s connections, emotions, and moments in a fun, natural way. Located in Pensacola and also offering maternity, newborn, and birth photography, service areas include but are not limited to Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Pace, Milton, and Cantonment in Florida and Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, and Daphne in south Alabama. Family portrait sessions tend to book up to one month in advance, while maternity, birth, and newborn sessions should be booked early in the second trimester to ensure availability at the time of delivery. Amanda offers a full service experience including a pre-session consultation, exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories!
Pensacola Photographer | Pensacola Family Photographer | Northwest Florida Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photographer| Gulf Shores Newborn Photographer |Pensacola Maternity Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photography | Gulf Shores Maternity Photographer| Pensacola Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography| Orange Beach Family Photographer  It was clear as soon as I walked into mom, Kelly's, delivery room that things were going to be moving more quickly than anyone expected. After being on bed-rest for weeks, Kelly had been excited to reach 37 weeks. Her 2 previous children had both arrived by 36 weeks. After 37 weeks she no longer needed to be on bed-rest as baby could just come when she wanted. And surprise, surprise, Willow hung out until 40-weeks!     Kelly and her birth team decided to induce on her due date. Her doula, Lindsey with Belly to Cradle, LLC, called me a little after 1pm to let me know that they'd just broken mom's water and suggest I get ready and start making my way to the hospital. Something told me I shouldn't wait long, so I grabbed my lunch and headed out. Just over 30 minutes after I made it to the hospital, Willow made her earth-side debut!     I'll never forget Kelly's shout, "she's here! You're finally here!"   I was honored to be a part of the Christenson-Martin family's day, just as I am honored to have a small role in any family's birth-day!          Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography offers Birth Photography in northwest Florida that is timeless and unforgettable. Located in Pensacola and also offering maternity, family, and newborn photography, service areas include but are not limited to Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Pace, Milton, Cantonment, and Crestview in Florida and Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, and Daphne in Alabama. Maternity, birth, and newborn photography sessions should be booked early in the second trimester to ensure availability at the time of delivery. Amanda offers a high-end, full service experience including a pre-session consultation, exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories!
Pensacola Photographer | Pensacola Family Photographer | Northwest Florida Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photographer| Gulf Shores Newborn Photographer |Pensacola Maternity Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photography | Gulf Shores Maternity Photographer| Pensacola Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography| Orange Beach Family Photographer  The Navarro family and I spent a lovely evening at the Gulf Islands National Seashore capturing some updated family portraits! Ben wasn't sure about me in the very beginning but he quickly warmed up to me once we let him splash in the water a bit.     I love when clients can just do their thing while I capture the moments! This is what it's all about.  Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography offers Family Photography in northwest Florida that captures your family’s connections, emotions, and moments in a fun, natural way. Located in Pensacola and also offering maternity, newborn, and birth photography, service areas include but are not limited to Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Pace, Milton, and Cantonment in Florida and Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, and Daphne in south Alabama. Family portrait sessions tend to book up to one month in advance, while maternity, birth, and newborn sessions should be booked early in the second trimester to ensure availability at the time of delivery. Amanda offers a full service experience including a pre-session consultation, exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories!
Pensacola Photographer | Pensacola Family Photographer | Northwest Florida Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photographer| Gulf Shores Newborn Photographer |Pensacola Maternity Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photography | Gulf Shores Maternity Photographer| Pensacola Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography| Orange Beach Family Photographer  Have you checked out The Park at OWA in Foley, AL yet? You really should!    Just a little over 10 miles north of the sugar sand beaches of Gulf Shores, AL and Orange Beach, AL you'll find OWA located on the Beach Express in Foley. Downtown OWA is located just outside of The Park at OWA's gates, so there's no admission charge to enjoy the 7 (and growing) restaurants, various shops, arcade, etc. Looking for more thrills than just a yummy meal? Through the gates of The Park at OWA you'll find 21 family-friendly rides, a selection of traditional Midway games, plus an interactive splash pad.  The Midway games area At the beginning of summer, our family decided to spring for season passes for the kiddos. This grants us a year's worth of Park access, discounts on single-day passes (if we want to bring a friend or family member), early-access to new rides and events, priority access to special events, as well as discounts in the Park. MY favorite part is that non-riders are FREE! This means, my husband and I can take the kids and let them ride as long as their hearts desire, and it doesn't cost a cent for he and I to be in the park with them; we just can't ride the rides (which this fraidy-cat is totally fine with.   We headed over to The Park at OWA yesterday after an early dinner, because as season-pass holders, the kids were able to ride the newest ride, Mystic Mansion, the day before it officially opens to the public (today). "Mystic Mansion features four-person ride cars, interactive game-play, and family-friendly (maybe a little spoooooky!) characters. As you travel through the Mansion, riders are prompted to “blast” the intruding ghouls with a ghost-blaster, and compete for this highest score." All three of our kids, ages 14, 12, and 5, enjoyed the ride and blasting some ghosts! Our 5-year-old said it was a little scary, but he soldiered on and shot every ghost he saw.    My husband and I tend to "divide and conquer" when we take our kids to places like this. With a 7 and 9 year gap between kiddos, they're not exactly interested in the same amusement park experience so we split up and one of us takes our youngest and the other goes with the older 2. Luckily, OWA really does have something for everyone! Our 5-year-old who is NOT a fan of heights or speed is very happy enjoying the Kid Rides, and his big sisters still get to have some heart-pounding thrills. And sometimes, as 2 of the pictures above show, his sisters take one for the team and ride along with him.  If you look REALLY closely, you can see my girls in the middle row. ;) OWA is open from 11 am - 9 pm (weather permitting) which provides a great opportunity for evening family-fun that avoids the mid-day heat! We got to the park around 6:45 yesterday evening and the kids were able to ride every ride with time to spare before the park closed.    Another fun reason to go in the evenings is to see Downtown OWA light up the night with GLOWA. 100% FREE, 6 nights a week (weather permitting) from 8 pm - 9 pm, DJs create a block party bash behind the fountain in Downtown. There are hit songs, fun lights, a colored fountain show, and last night there were even acrobatic dancers! I'll leave you with a few more pictures from yesterday's visit and an assurance that you should go - you won't regret it! The crowds are non-existent, the lines are short, and the thrills are great.       All photographs are © 2019 Finding Beauty in the Ordinaty Photography
Contact Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography at findingbeautyphoto@gmail.com for print or licensing information.  This lovely couple drove over from southern Mississippi for their Perdido Key Florida Maternity photography session! The empty Pensacola white sandy beaches and beautiful gulf coast sunset did not disappoint.    I love when clients want to wear multiple gowns or outfits in their sessions - it makes for such a nice, diverse gallery for them! To aid clients in quick, on-location, outfit changes, I recently invested in a pop-up changing tent. So, don't hesitate to pick an additional outfit.     If you're looking for a Maternity photographer who captures not only the beauty of your pregnant body but also the connect between you and your significant other, Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography is your northwest Florida or south Alabama photographer! I capture your growing family’s connections, emotions, and moments in a fun, natural way. Located in Pensacola and also offering family, newborn, and birth photography, service areas include but are not limited to Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Pace, Milton, and Cantonment in Florida and Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, and Daphne in south Alabama.
Amanda offers a full service experience including exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories! Pensacola Photographer | Pensacola Family Photographer | Northwest Florida Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photographer| Gulf Shores Newborn Photographer |Pensacola Maternity Photographer | Pensacola Newborn Photography | Gulf Shores Maternity Photographer| Pensacola Birth Photographer | Pensacola Birth Photography| Orange Beach Family Photographer If you're looking for a family getaway this summer that's an easy drive and has tons of fun things to do, Huntsville, AL is the place to go! Having grown up just 30 minutes west of Huntsville, it also holds a special place in my heart with both a link to childhood memories and home to much of my extended family.  Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville, AL The high-tech city of Huntsville, which sprawls at the foot of a mountain in North Alabama, is equally at home in the 19th century or the 21st. Huntsville's tourist attractions reflect the heritage of Alabama's first English-speaking city, the strife of the American Civil War and the accomplishments of America's rocket scientists. My kiddos are true Floridians, born and raised so our favorite things to do when we head back "home" to north Alabama each summer is to explore the great outdoors! These kids are used to beaches, trees that are brown by the end of summer, and flat, flat land. The lush green foliage covered foothill mountains along with their cave systems and hiking trails are a literal breath of fresh air to us. This past summer, I decided it was time to check another item off of my personal bucket list, so we headed about 30 minutes east of Huntsville to Cathedral Caverns State Park. Originally called Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns was opened to the public by Jacob Gurley in the 1950's. The cave was renamed because of its cathedral-like appearance. Purchased by the state in 1987, it was opened as a State Park in the summer of 2000. The first feature most people notice about Cathedral Caverns is its massive entrance. The huge opening measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet high, a possible world record for commercial caves. The grand entrance is only the beginning. Inside the cavern are some of the most beautiful formations Mother Nature has ever created including “Goliath”- one of the largest stalagmites in the world measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference.     Inside the cavern are some of the most beautiful formations Mother Nature has ever created including “Goliath”- one of the largest stalagmites in the world measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference. Cathedral Caverns features many amazing sites: a "frozen" waterfall, a large stalagmite forest and a most improbable stone formation - a stalagmite that is 27 feet tall and 3 inches wide!  One of the many great things about this tour was the year-round 60° temperature of the cave (which felt amazing on a hot July day). This 60-90 minute tour took us on a 1.5 mile round-trip walk to the end of the paved walkway and back. The paved walkway also means this cave is even wheelchair accessible!
If a trip to north Alabama or south Tennessee are in your plans, I highly recommend a visit to the caverns! My crew included myself, my 13 year-old, 11 year-old, and 4 year-old, and this was an easy adventure for all 4 of us that we ALL greatly enjoyed! |
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Family Photography, Newborn Photography, Maternity photography, Fresh 48 photography, Senior Portrait Photography, and Milestone Photography in Pensacola, FL, Cantonment, FL, Perdido Key, FL, Pace, FL, Gulf Breeze, FL, Navarre, FL, and Pensacola Beach, Florida and Orange Beach, AL, Gulf Shores, AL, Foley, AL,, Fairhope, AL, Daphne, AL and Spanish Fort, Alabama..
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