This is Levi’s birth story as captured by the lovely Amelia Hambrook, who also happens to be the mama behind our little potami’s newborn photos.
Note: Stick around till the 8 minute mark for a little peek into our first few days as a family of five. ♥
Epilogue
For those of you who read Levi’s birth story, you may be wondering a few things:
1. Were these images captured during the difficult “early labor” I described? Yes and no. Some of the footage was shot during a short break when my labor lightened up, while some of it was shot through some of the most difficult parts. Which parts are which? It’s hard to tell. My husband says I should learn to play poker with a face like mine. The contractions during much of my early early labor were incredibly uncomfortable – too uncomfortable to talk through – but I process pain internally so it’s not super obvious. Seriously, I was in transition with people sitting right next to me and no one realized it!
In other words, scene of me eating in the kitchen = Light labor
Scene of Katiepotamus and Daddypotamus comforting me during my four hour nap-a-thon = NOT light labor.
2. Was Levi taken away from me to be measured, weighed, etc. right after he was born? Definitely not! My birth team gave us plenty of time to snuggle skin-to-skin, but I asked Amelia to edit most of that part out to keep this video PG. They don’t call it skin-to-skin for nothing, you know!
3. Why is my face so splotchy in the video? Okay, you were probably not wondering that, but the answer is that I put on makeup at 4am without thinking about how it would look once I got in the birth tub.
4. Why is there a large section of the labor/birth missing? Because it didn’t look like I was progressing very quickly, it was suggested that Amelia head home, check in with her family, and rest up for what could be a long night. But as you know if you read his birth story, things didn’t go quite as expected.
Erin Raiford
Beautiful!!
Jessica Newman-McCracken
What a Beautiful Family!!!!! God Bless you!
Michelle Seiler
I’m mobile and I don’t see where to click for the video?
Shawna Lyn Morie-Pettus
This was simply beautiful.
Erika Nagy
No video 🙁
Elyse Levine Appi
Beautiful!
Virginia Kosinski
I can’t find the video either.
Lara Humanchorionicgonadotropin
<3
Stephanie Sikes
That is the most precious video ever. Your daughter wanting to jump in the pool as soon as he was born was so sweet. Big sisters are the best! Makes me super excited to greet #4 in June!
Vicki Jackson Likens
So sweet! Thanks for sharing!
Maggie Goodman Russell
we took a Baby break & am watching it with the 16 year old…she & I think its beautiful Mommypotamous
Tara Frye Himes
You’re daughter’s reaction is priceless
Angela Warner
Can you only view the video from a computer?
Morgan
Beautiful! Congratulations 🙂
Valerie Fieber
it was so beautiful! thanks for sharing : )
Kristine Winniford
This makes me so excited for my birth in May! I love birth (well, except for maybe 30 minutes of it). Congrats, again Potomi and good work to you Momma.
Amy Jo
No video 🙁
Madelon van der Hoek
That is gorgeous. What a beautiful keepsake.
Delicia Beaty
LOVE It!!! SO beautiful! Thanks for sharing and congrats!
Sarah Reddick
Maybe iPhone issue…not seeing video.
Larissa Prodigal Pieces
Thank you for sharing, Mommypotamus! <3
Wanda Colbert Brigman
So is Levi a 2013 baby or a 2014 baby? 🙂 Beautiful video and very well done. Congrats to all!!! Beautiful family!!!
Carrie Kirby
I don’t see it either- I don’t think you can view it from mobile device 🙁
Linda J. Davis
very touching, what great memories for all of you – lovely
Mindy W
Oh my goodness, Heather, that was SO beautiful! It literally brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing it with us! I’ve seen birth photography before, but never a birth video (well not one done so artistically, at least). I loved it. What a beautiful depiction of what labor really is/can be like and how our bodies are so fearfully and wonderfully made! How great is our God!?! Congrats on your littlest love and your beautiful family. You are blessed! PS I love that Micah had a huge scrape on his forehead…SO little boy! 😉
Deborah Currier-Hornyak
So made me cry. Absolutely beautiful. God bless you and your family. So many beautiful moments saved on film.. you are truly blessed.
Mindy 'Tharp' Worley
Love, love, love. And then love some more 🙂
Kim
Beautiful video and pictures! Thank you for sharing. Watching your video was very inspiring and comforting to my husband and I who are trying to conceive our first. Wishing you and your family all the best!!!!
Ruthie M DeGood Trobridge
I cried almost the entire time. So amazing! Thanks for sharing. ♥
Donna Horne Smith
No video…..
Leah
Very, very sweet! Thank you so much for sharing!! Definitely wouldn’t have (and didn’t even when I knew!) notice the blotchy face! It was so beautiful!
So the photos and video were by the same person? Are the stills taken out of the video or was it 2 cameras? I love them all 🙂
Marisa Grima Bain
so beautiful , i cried the whole time. makes me want another one….congrats. You have a beautiful family.
Kimberly Lomax
so beautiful. definitely cried 🙂
Mae Annette Burke
Lily says “Oh, that little girl helped her mama have a baby just like me!”
Charise
Just beautiful. Makes me so very jealous. That was the birth I wanted for my son. Instead we had a nightmare of an experience that has since caused me to really cringe at the sight of any doctor or hospital.
Gudrun B
Charise, i am so sorry you had a negative experience!
Annette Harvey Young
This made me want to have another baby at home. <3 Thanks for sharing!
Therese' Pureveen
Heather, Thank you for sharing that beautiful video with us! It was so special! Loved the music too!
Allison
Thank you and your family so much for sharing this special moment with all of us! With all of the horror stories that make their ways around, it is such a joy to see positive birth experiences shared in such a beautiful way.
Congratulations Potamus family!
Dionne Dukes Billstone
What a beautiful treasure!
Erica Gott
Makes me want to go back 24 years and do this. I hope my children, should they ever have kids, get to do it right.
Anna Savage-Powers
Perfect in every way!
Maria Teresa Penna Frazier
Thank you so much for sharing. Your family is precious. God Bless!
Susan Cook
Oh so precious! Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful family you have.
Nichole Grant
Wow.I think that might be the most beautiful video I’ve ever seen
Danielle Debates-Martinez
Precious, thanks for sharing!
Rachelann Barkley
Beautiful, strong and amazing. Well done mama
Carmenica Turc
Congratulations! Beautiful 🙂
Paula D Holland
Beautiful! I want another home birth!! Lol
Sukh Aman Kaur
AWWW! You make me want to have a home birth!
Denise Passero
What a precious video. Watching and listening to the music practically brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing.
Sarah Reddick
BEAUTIFUL!!! <3 Shelli Waldridge
LUWANDA ROLLAN
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Meghan Ellison
Precious! Thank you for sharing such an intimate moment 🙂 God Bless you and your family ♡
Leslie L. Sommers
So beautiful…just as it should be. Thanks for sharing!
Alaysa Escandor
such an inspiration!
Meg Bowen
Ugh so precious!!
Beth Li
beautiful!
Leslie L. Sommers
Direct video link for mobile viewers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYy2xvhRqC4
Katey Glasspoole
I am not even a mumma but I am sitting here in complete tears of joy! Well done done potamuses <3
Stephanie Hayden Arbino
That was beautiful!
Isabel Calero Calkins
Beautiful! Thank you!
Kinnie Jae Inman
oh, this brings back memories of our home births! So thankful we were able to birth at home, This is the real thing, beautifully and artistically done. Thank you for sharing!
Sue Schalk
That was so beautiful, thank you for sharing!
LuWanda Rollan
Thank you so much for sharing this video with us. Definitely the best video I have seen in a long time. I cried the whole way thru it.. Tears of joy for you getting to do this in your own environment in your own time with those dearest to you right there with you! Congratulations on a beautiful baby boy as well as a beautiful family!!!
Linda K McNamara
beautiful
Jenny Fitzmaurice
wow, this video is beautiful! It made me cry!
Rebecca Van Sickle Fetzek
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful & intimate portrait of a very special time for you & your family. I’m 30 wks pregnant & watched it with my 3 yr old who will be at the birth center with us come time. This just confirms our decision to have here there. She started squealing in delight at the same time your girl did. She was so excited for you! 🙂
Tara Marnell
Amazing, and simply beautiful. 🙂
Whitney Blake McCauley
So many tears! Beautiful <3
Bern Vipond
that was wonderful! thanks you for sharing….
Mary Kennedy
Thank you for sharing, absolutely beautiful! ♥
Katrina Carnagey
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful moment in your lives.
Anna Whitehead
So very sweet!!
Kelly Ring
I cried…so beautiful!!!
Erin Petrotta
Watching this at 37wks…. Tears! 😉 lovely.
Dawn Balzarano
I wish I could have done it this way, especially with my twins. Beautiful. 🙂
Joanna Damon Vanderkooi
What a blessing that you have that! And, what a miracle the Lord has given you and your family! <3
Melissa Dally Strickland
Thank you for sharing such an intimate family experience with the world! You are an inspiration for so many mommies and daddies. I laughed. I cried. And now…I want more babies 😉
Jen
That was so precious and beautiful! Memories to hold onto
Robin Steinfeld
I couldn’t link to your video any way at all….your photos& narrative are precious.
Rayesimone Lopez-Jones
Where is the film I only see pictures
Angela
Absolutely beautiful and inspirational. Thank you for sharing!
Gudrun B
absolutely amazing and beautiful!
no comparison to a hospital birth! (and i have worked with both)
thank you for sharing!!!!!!!
Grace Seeger
beautiful! Just beautiful. God’s Blessings to you all!
Jennifer Lawrence
So beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Marielle Medina
A truly eloquent presentation of such a beautiful moment. I don’t have any children but it moved me to tears. Congratulations! Thank you for sharing and God bless you and your family!
[email protected] Humbled Homemaker
Absolutely beautiful! Congrats!!!
Becky
Very beautiful! Thank-you for sharing. 🙂
Liz Lockwood
So beautiful!!
Laura
Beautiful pictures, video, baby, children, family. I had 4 all natural. My baby is 20 years. Your testimony of a healthy lifestyle is the alert and awake infant at birth. God Bless you all! Thank you for sharing.
Becky @ Rooted Blessings
He is so beautiful, Heather! Congratulations to you and Daniel! I just loved the video!
Tanisha Iven Legg
That was SO BEAUTIFUL!! What a beautiful family you all are. I can’t help but get emotional watching this. =)
Jill Redfern
Soooo beautiful. You are truly blessed!
Anna
Beautiful video. All the best to you and your family of five!
Teresa
Thank you for sharing. Beautiful family bonding. He will never doubt that he was loved and wanted.
Renee Rodriguez Kohley
Simply amazing <3
Christina
Thank you for sharing these positively stunning and perfect moments of your life. absolutely beautiful. 🙂
Margaret
I just broke down in tears watching this and I watched your previous one. Thanks for inspiring me to cook and make things at home and thanks for reminding me what a gift my children are. I have 4 kids I have given birth to all naturally. Thank you for sharing!
Kristi Cooke
Just beautiful! What a precious memory to cherish!
Hope
So beautiful. I love how each any every birth story I hear takes me back to those first sweet moments with my little girl. Thank you for sharing!
(And Karla Adolphe is one of our favorites!)
Brandy
Karla Adolphe is now one of my favourites too! (Had to search her out after hearing her on this video!) Her music was such a beautiful background to this beautiful story! Still teary…
Wife21mom24
That was beautiful. Now my 4 year old wants us to have a new baby for her to hold!
Margaret Sharp Martinez
This is beautiful. I cried watching this. Reminds me of all my kids’ births.
Pamela Panyutin
Gorgeous. Thank you for sharing and congratulations to your family!
Nicki
cried the whole. way. through. beyond precious heather! congratulations. what a blessing this sweet family of yours is!
Luiza Zlatovic
Congratulations, thanks for sharing it with us!
Kelli Loupe Deloach
OMG! That was so beautiful, I cried while I was at work. Nothing so sweet as when your little girl got so excited she had to get in the pool with you! So beautiful.
Bethany Reilly
Laura Hoffmann
Jo Freeland
That was beautiful…your labor seemed similar to mine, I walked around, used my bouncing ball and tried to stay busy to keep my mind off the pain. It was extremely painful, but I dont know if anyone could tell that from the way I handle it. I’m a quiet laborer to say the least. I loved the video and the pictures, they looked great and you are beautiful!
Karen Bennell-Davis
This is beautiful!
Elizibeth Culbertson
Absolutely beautiful 🙂
Jennifer Hitzeman Grubb
So beautiful.
Diana VP
Beautiful video! Wonderfully done Amelia! Congratulations Heather, and to the whole family. 🙂
Living Healthy With Chocolate
<3
Vikkie Housley Smith
what a beautiful little movie.. thanks for sharing 🙂 <3
Diana Van Pelt
Fabulously supportive husband, family and friend. Thank you so much for sharing this! (still tearing up) 🙂
Karen Davidson
Wow, that was so emotionally amazing…I kept crying! You have a beautiful family Mommypotamus, and thank you so much for sharing this with us all. You let us see some of your most intimate and loving moments, and now I really want to conceive this year and have an at home water birth as well.
Amber Barrett
This is so beautiful and made me cry like a baby!
Chris Mitchell
That was one of the most beautiful videos I’ve ever seen.
Susan Whelan
Congratulations! You gave a beautiful family.
Debi Mendenhall
Love it!!
Maggie Lynne Sorgen
Thank you! for sharing this exquisitely sweet video of your birthing of Levi and your whole amazing family!
Julie Jacobs Deitering
Thanks so much for sharing this! Pure Joy!
Brenda Cobb
Beautiful!
Kristen N' Jay-Jay
Congratulations on Levi! What a beautiful family you have 🙂
Michelle Gauthier Fitch
This is so beautiful and moving I had tears rolling down my face . <3
Erica Newton Penton
So beautiful!!!!
Jonathan Jesse Danson
Incredible! Makes me want to have another one! Thank you for sharing!
Lois Schultz
Just beautiful.
Shelly Southerland
He’s beautiful! Congratulations 🙂
Karen Viteri
Beautiful! A love story of a beautiful family! Couldn’t get through all of it without crying 🙂
Amanda Kaye
I see no video link just pictures and an article. 🙁
Janet Christine Fuller
That is a beautiful video and what a wonderful memory and keep sake. Congratulations to you all xoxo
Tess Sundermeyer Bertie
What a beautiful birth
Amanda Marie Fenske
He’s gorgeous!!! You look great…so strong. Ps- you have a beautiful home!
Michelle Beasley
So beautiful congratulations 🙂
Gina Campbell
awww…he was so super chill! loved it…the tears rolled down around minute 2
Kimlyn Powers
Love, love, LOVE, L.O.V.E. thanks for sharing
Julie
Wow, this was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!
Scott'n'Sarah Nicodemus
Melissa Rice Candelas here’s the super cool blog I was telling you about
Kimberly Smith
Karen Smith
lynn
this is…beautiful :’) !
Shalonne Werthessen Halstead
Beautiful! Made me blubber and wish for more babies 🙂
Danielle Hettinger Morales
I just gave birth last night so this made me totally weepy.
Amber McKenzie Poindexter
Amazing video!
Kathy Morgan
So beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Especially when your little girl was rubbing your back. Thanks so much for sharing
Karissa Michaelson Coble
So precious! Thank you for sharing.
Cori Bernall
Love this. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Myra
What a blessing! Thank you for sharing this with us. The beauty of it all brought tears to my eyes.
Stephanie Green
Oh my Goodness. This is beautiful. Congratulations!
Dee Sperko Mallett
Precious Love! Congratulations to all of you! <3
Tanya Vishnevsky
So beautiful!
Loriel
this is simply so beautiful.. I bawled my eyes out watching this. Thank you for letting us into your lives!
Vikki L. Hunter
Absolutely awesome… Thanks for sharing your family with us…..
Ashley Langley
What is the name of that song…so beautiful
Sloane
What a beautiful video! Seeing Katie comfort you during labor and later helping out with Baby Levi made me tear up majorly. What a sweet girl she is!
Bonita Stiggins
Absolutely Beautiful
Robin LaGrand
A beautiful family, God Bless.
Kristi Leary
Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.
Eliza Russell
Beautiful!
Michelle Kahclamat
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing this with us!!
Erin Hirschman Coulter
So so precious and beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Dan Moit
“I wanna get in!” That was a fantastic response.
Kristin Genev
Beautiful!
Stefani Kanz
Thank you for sharing your precious story. What a blessing. God has given you a beautiful family!
Mara Yeager
Absolutely beautiful!
Kristin Mize
Thank you for sharing your lovely family. What a beautiful memory.
Erika Kersey-Carrell
Beautiful! Such a precious family
Natasha Page
That is beautiful!!! What a fabulous loving family you have.
Mommypotamus
@Wanda – He was born on Nov 21st. It took a little time to edit the film to PG status 🙂
Amy Evers
Beautiful, thanks for sharing! I don’t think I could do a home birth with everyone around, I’d be too worried what my other child would be getting into, etc.
Pamela Thompson Buettner
Beautiful!
Mommypotamus
Facebook is not letting me tag right now but for those of you who are having trouble viewing the video it’s most likely due to a compatibility issue with your phone/mobile device. You might try accessing it directly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTJ1Dp3ZwtU
Isabelle Goyer
Thank You <3
Melia
Wow, so beautiful! Loved this video so much, I too was teary eyed. The song at the end was so perfect, loved it!
Kelly Kott
Amazing~
Dahlena
This is so incredibly sweet. Little Katie’s excitement brought tears to my eyes – she reminds me of my Anastasia. Big sisters are such a gift. =) Thank you for sharing this with us!
Jennifer Young Harvey
Thank you for sharing
Emily Guthmiller Pselos
AWESOME!! Thanks so much for sharing and congrats again! <3
Mommypotamus
Mae Burke Photography – <3
Laura Hall
So beautiful!
Shannon Boyce
Beautiful!
Naya Daily
so so beautiful and peaceful! Thanks for sharing!
Erin
What cherished memories! This is just beautiful!
Becky Lennex Kenyon
So beautiful!
Amber
Beautiful baby, beautiful story, beautiful family! What is the name of the song at the end of the YouTube video? I love it.
Gosia Gagliano
Beautiful!
Jennifer Crawford-Smith
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. I have 4 children and all born in a hospital, knowing what I know now I would choose a home/water birth in a heart beat!
Nicole Burnard Wright
Beautiful ♡
Amanda Colo
I just bawled! My little girl is due in a few weeks and this got me so emotional!
Kelly Ramos
Thank you for sharing such a personal and incredibly beautiful moment in your family. I could not get through it without tearing up <3
Françoise Twinkle Shewry
This is so stunning, thank you! X
Dahlia Carson Hoefert
This is so beautiful.. Baby fever is creeping up for our # 3 🙂
Cindy Lou Jatras
Beautiful! I cried. Thanks for sharing this beautiful glimpse into your life with us…
BillandTara Maxey
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing!! Tears are flowing. <3
Candyce Adele Kirsch
This is beautiful! I cried. I can’t wait to hold my little lady in 8 weeks
Crystal Knox
That was so beautifully put together
Tristan Service
Beautiful…just beautiful!! Annie you need to watch this!
Melissa Harlan
So beautiful…
Casey Empey
This is the most beautiful video ever – thanks for sharing!
Melissa
aww, so nice. great music too.
Kelly Schmidt
Beautiful.
Bre Lee
I love this, thank you for sharing.
Aislynn Batterberry
Loved this
Lisa Anne Baum
Your children are so sweet!
Tia Marie Chandler
Beautiful, I loved this. It was so nice to watch, as it mimicked my littlest girl’s birth sooo much ❤️
Julie Khoshnevissan
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Your daughters reaction after Levi was born made me burst into tears it was so beautiful. Makes me so excited for us to become a family of 4 in March!
Anita Wade Sharp
What a beautiful video! the music is just lovely, as is your family! Thanks for sharing!
Liz
Loved it! Loved it all… And I really enjoyed the fork in the table trip by your middle boy. So fun.
Calline Leal
Your so right Casey simply Beautiful…….
Amanda Kaye
Thank you for posting the YouTube version. Wow I’m speechless. How amazing! This is so special that you have this to watch years and years in the future. I love how your daughter just jumped right in the pool to get close to her baby brother, how very sweet.
Angie Prentice
Wonderful 🙂 thank you so much for sharing with us all, you have three beautiful children xx
Katie Hirunpugdi
What a wonderful family….I watched this with my daughter and couldn’t stop the happy tears! Does anyone know who sings that song in the birthing video?
Rachael Milne
Thank you so much for sharing! This was beautiful!!!!!! I just cried and cried. What a beautiful family God has Blessed you with❤️
Denise
Simply beautiful, precious, and a blessing. Thank you for sharing. Brought me to tears. 🙂
Montse Velasco
Oh, I cried! Hahaha Congratulations!
Crystal Di Domizio PrenatalCoach
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
Laura Neill
what a happy family
Lorraine Palmer
Thank you for sharing. That was so beautiful. What a sweet and precious family you have!
Diane Hartwell
Wonderful
Jessica Marmolejo
What a beautiful family and video! Thanks for sharing!
L. Michelle Smith
That was so awesome! Thanks so much for sharing and congratulations!
Michelle Halpin
Wow, my heart swells for you and your family. So beautiful, congrats
Jenifer Curlis
So sweet! Congrats!
Charlotte Bulman
Oh.my.life. Tears streaming down my face as I watch this. SO BEAUTIFUL. And my ovaries are pinging as I type!x
Renee Lemonier
Positively beautiful!!!
Ronit Sniter
So beautiful, thanks for sharing.
Mo Perillo
Beautiful! Your family is lovely!
Narelle Wales
So beautiful
Koreen Novak
beautiful..it’s so hard to believe that my 12 and 15 yr old boys were ever that little!!!…great job mama
Misty Wohler
So beautiful!
Carol Tillyer
What a beautiful video of welcoming the new member in your family. Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer McKeown
Absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing it today, just what I needed.
Jackie Vetter
Beautiful!
Trish Harper McAtee
I love this!!!!! So beautiful!!!!!
Karrie Ingram
What a wonderfully special story! Congratulations!
Cathy Strine
Hands down, this is the very most beautiful video ever made. I am an emotional mess and happy for it. Much Love.
jessica
What a beautiful video. It brought tears to my eyes. So so sweet!
Susan Bergeron-Polk
Beautiful!
Sheila
Beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing God bless your beautiful family.
Mary Neill Schuytema
I had a homebirth with my youngest. One of the best things about the experience for me is that my other child will never be afraid of the birthing experience, and these children won’t either. It’s a beautiful gift.
Melissa Cocola
Made me cry. Just beautiful 🙂
Gemma MacFarlane
Tears. Thank you for sharing.
Susie
Thank you♡ Thank you♡ This is the most stunningly beautiful and precious ♡LOVE-ing story I have seen in a looooooong time. Oh the synchronicity and serendipity…..
I have just 5 minutes ago written a post about welcoming ourselves and others as “an adored baby”…..how it is our job to welcome ourselves daily with that ♡LOVE-ing regard as well as those around us….and this shows up next on my page!!! :D…..
Besides the miracle of the birth I am touched and grateful for the story of all your family welcoming your little potami…..how you have prepared for and do that is as important as the birth…..what a wonderful familypotamus you are…..♡
Betzaida Gomez Norris
That was absolutely beautiful! Beautiful family!
Erin Curry- Nordgren
beautiful testimony to natural childbirth, thanks for sharing.
Jenny Lynn Shankster
Thank you to a new generation of young mothers like yourself who are courageously living life bodly, honestly and sometimes making yourselves vulnerable so we can all get glimpses of what is meant by life lived with dignity, honor and cherished by God. My heart was once again enlarged.
Paula Fontaine Rasco
Beautiful
Jennifer L Stanton
Beautiful thankyou
Jessica Garrison
Absolutely amazing! Breath taking
Rachel Haight
Heather, thank you so much for sharing your intimate family moments. Absolutely beautiful. <3
Jaci
So amazing, and beautiful.
Kyana Miner
thank was soooo sweet! thank you for sharing 🙂
Angela Coone
So touching! Thank u for sharing! What a beautiful family, your very blessed!
Christina
Thank you for sharing such intimate moments. Your daughter seems as protective as any mother! This video made me sigh with happiness. I wish you every joy with your family in 2014.
Emily
Still crying. Life is so incredible. <3
Kathryn
That was amazing!
Pamela Ann-Hyatt Hutchins
So awesome, thanks for sharing…..
Shani
Thank you for sharing this! It is simply beautiful! We watched together as a family as we are preparing for our fourth child, but first home birth.
Kiki
So wonderful! I love it!!!
Jackie St
Beautiful. I sent to my sister…she is 5 months pregnant. Tks for sharing. God bless you and your family.
Kelly Pritchard Lucas
Absolutely Beautiful!!
JoAnn Deason
so beautiful!
Samantha G
Simply amazing. A beautiful family.
Melodie
Congrats Heather, Levi is gorgeous. I haven’t been in blog land for a number of years now and didn’t even know you were pregnant but wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful family. It’s nice to see everyone so happy and healthy. Your old blog friend, Melodie 🙂
Heather
Hi Melodie, so good to “see” you around here again! I still pop by your page every once in awhile just to connect, but everyone’s always got such great answers to the questions you post I’m useless 🙂
Kelley
Thanks so much for sharing. I’m curious about the red welt-looking marks on Levi a few days after his birth and the redness on his arms and stomach. Was it a skin reaction or just his body adjusting to his surroundings?
Leah
What gorgeous photos. I love your video too. So utterly beautiful. Tears!
Christina Michelle
This is beautiful
Amanda Gormley
Loved it!
Jacklyn
Thank you so much for sharing. It is so very beautiful. This is the way I wish every child could be brought into the world.
Toni
Beautiful! I would love to do the water birth, Did it seem like it made a big difference? My 2 labors were pretty easy hospital births, one with pitocin due to water breaking and no contractions with one shot of nubane and for the second birth natural with all typical hospital stuff following. When midwives do home births does the baby have any of the blood or other typical hospital tests/procedures done? Who sings the songs in the video they are so pretty?
Heather
YES, the water made a huge difference for me! Yes, babies still have genetic testing if state law requires it. Other tests are done as well if the client wants them. I’m not sure about the song, though. So sorry!
marg blickenderfer
Thank you for sharing your family’s most precious moments with us! I love the photos so much, esp. the 3 children snuggling together…It was so wonderful to watch your young family, I don’t know where the time has gone with my own little ones. Time should linger just a bit when they are little…!
Barbara Hill
This is so beautiful, and the way it should be done, whenever possible! Thank you for sharing!
Sophy Mavridis Neocleous
Wow – what an amazing mummy and family – just gorgeous
Mary Porter
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Sandra Marie Sepulveda
Just precious!
Autumn Smith
Thought this was crazy the babies name is yours & your daughters 🙂 Levi Smith
Lan
Your family is incredibly gorgeous. Your children are beautiful. Levi looks so healthy and alert. This video warms and melts my heart on a cold day. I’ll never be able to have a birth like this but I’m sure your video and story will inspire lots of people. Happy New Year to you all!
Jen
Beautiful family. Those kids and mama can I just say you are stunning.
Deborah Pisano
Brings back memories,Thanx!
Kristin
I am not sure how any mom could get through this video with out shedding a tear! Birth is the most amazing miracle and it was so nice to watch your families love throughout! Thank you for sharing and congratulations!! Your children are beautiful!
Rina
Agreeed!! Ill just be a voice among hundreds to say: dear mama, this was such a beautiful birth!
Congrats to the photographer-videographer! Real artwork!
Thank u for sharing
Emily
This is absolutely precious. I’m 9 weeks pregnant, due in August, and this video makes me so excited for labor! I know it will be hard (this is my first, so of course I don’t know how hard…) but I will have a precious child to hold and feed and love after it’s over. Seeing your sweet boy stretching and sucking on his hand gave me chills. Children are such gifts!
Thank you so much for sharing!
B.b. Gunz
That was the best thing i’ve seen to start off my year 🙂 Beautiful birth, beautiful family, congrats
Brooke
Beautiful video! And you look ridiculously fabulous during labor & delivery. Congratulations!
Brooke
Beautiful video! And you look ridiculously fabulous during labor & delivery. Congratulations!
Willow Tree Wellness Clinic
Thank you for sharing your birth with us! I wish more soon to be mamas (esp first time mamas) saw more positive natural childbirth (and home birth) experiences! I hope it is ok for me to share this on my page – I have four patients who are moments to days away from delivering their first child!
Debra Harper Bowers
Julie Turner
That was so beautiful!!! I cried tears of joy and happiness!!! Thank you for sharing such an amazing and precious time with us!
Silvia Jansen
Wow…tears in my eyes, thank you! X
The MamaS
WOW! So beautiful and inspiring! Congrats! It’s videos like these that I enjoy watching with my 3.5 yr. DD to prepare her for her new sibling who will be joining us Earthside in June via home water birth. Thank you for sharing with us such a personal and emotional journey!
Jim BobandCindy Haggerton
Awesome vid!! I showed Harper and Ellie and they go: “Dad, we want a baby like that!!” and they both go: “Can we go see them!?!” Sooooo, I think a trip to Tennessee is in our future! Miss you guys and are so proud and happy for you as you add to your amazing family and continue down the path the Father is leading you. Love you.
Marsha Smith
If anyone would wonder or even notice that you had a blotchy face they should have their head examined! This is what childbirth should be like! Doctors have turned pregnancy into a disease because of malpractice insurance laws. And I bet your daughter will have some interesting stories to share when she goes to show & tell!
Heather Hopkins
beautiful!… *tears* 🙂
Elizabeth Ryan Duncan
Thank you for sharing. Beautiful new life!
Kristina Cindric Ebel
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I am pregnant with my fourth and was emotionally prepared to be done with childbirth when I found out I was pregnant. It has taken me some time to again embrace how beautiful natural birth is and this video really sealed how ready I am for it again. Thank you for sharing such a private moment with us to inspire!
Daniel Dessinger
That would be awesome, JB. Bring it.
Lorin Gaines
One of the most beautiful videos I’ve seen! I’ve been blessed to witness the births of several of my grandchildren, of which 2 were home births, and this video of your birth made me tear up and smile. I could feel the love, peace and joy surrounding you and your family. Congratulations!
Aisha Smith
Beautiful and inspirational! I got only a few pictures at my son’s birth, but video – what a precious way to remember those very first moments!
So so very beautiful!
If my phone had enough coverage to play the video all the way through without stopping to load every 10 seconds I’d have been crying!
Ashley Housley
How did I miss this- precious and beautiful! I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Mommypotamus
Jim BobandCindy Haggerton – Yay! We would love to see you guys!
Kristi Brubaker Miller
So beautiful! Your daughter will certainly grow up knowing that birth is a beautiful and natural event! I love that she wanted in 🙂 I love birth! I have not had homebirths but have had all natural births in a hospital. Been blessed to have great drs and nurses who have supported me in that! Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Aly Waterfall
<3 wow <3 Beautiful!
Wanda Vegel
Incredibly precious! Thanks for sharing this
Kelly Taylor
Watched this.this morning. So beautiful. Thank you for sharing x
Nikki O'Connor
So touching and beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
justin hamilton
i think the same. cute family and babi
Gwen Swanson
So beautiful. Thank you for sharing your life with us. You have quite a little helper there too. Maybe someday she’ll grow up to be a midwife.
Leah Johnson
AMAZING!
Marisa
So beautiful! Made me cry 🙂 Can’t wait to have my own some day, DV!
Chasa Fisher
My sons also a Levi:)
Chasa Fisher
This made me tear up so perfect!
Rainy Roth
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. You are blessed.
Deanna Brinkmeyer Eixman
So precious and such a blessing. Thank you for sharing!
Jenny von Hollen
Wow!! That’s a great video! So beautiful! I definitely felt my uterus flexing while you were in contraction mode! Lol powerful. Thank u for sharing. Makes me wanna wake my babies up and smooch them more than I already do, which is alot! Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!
Kimberley O.
Wow this is an incredibly beautiful video. Thank you so much for sharing. Your daughters reaction when the baby was born was so precious I couldn’t hold the tears back.
Loren
So beautiful! Congrats! Thank you for sharing.
Casa Jeanette
So precious! Loved the video. This is one I will definitely share with my girls. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you and your family.
Erin P.
Heather,
Did you listen to music in the background while laboring? What did you choose to have playing? We are planning to have our first baby in our living room in less than 3 wks and I’m trying to think about what I want to be listening to. The one song I do plan on is “Oceans” by Hillsong United!!!
Thanks, Erin
linda
ty for sharing your precious birth of your son Levi
I Am a birth keeper here living in New Hartford NY
The sheer beauty of welcoming a new soul w such careful loving attention brings up emotions of pecae joy gratitiude yearning longing
loving blessing from my heart to yours
April L
That was so beautiful- it makes me want another one – ha ha
you have a beautiful family
Rachel in Oklahoma
Aww, they change so soon! Mine was born the 11th of Nov.– they lose that “new-born” look so quickly. Makes me a little sad for you that your labors are so long and difficult (mine are fast and furious, no time to set up a pool!) Good job for hanging in there and seeing it through, mama! You have a BEAUTIFUL baby!! Thanks for sharing with us.
Susan v
Beautiful. Made me cry. Brought me back to my own sons birth. Totally emotional. God Bless you and your beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your joy!
Carol G.
I never was able to have children, but thought this was so beautiful that I shared it with a young friend who is expecting very soon. She was very moved by it. Thank you for sharing.
Kelly @ The Nourishing Home
Congratulations! What a beautiful blessing from God. Thank you for sharing his birth with us. Praying for you all for a New Year with continued health, love, joy and peace in Him. Blessings, Kelly
Laura
Absolutely beautiful…made me cry tears of joy for you and your family. You are teaching your children to not be afraid of the so very natural aspects of being a human being. Congratulations on doing such a wonderful thing so very well…we need more people like you in this world.
Jodie
So beautiful!
Welcome to the world Levi.
Stephanie
Simply lovely. What an amazing visual journey of family. Thank you for sharing!
Rachel Norman
Heather,
That was the most beautiful amazing thing I have seen! I cried, I loved it, especially when Katie jumped in the pool with you. Congratulations! You look exactly the same as junior high and high school… Well except for the boobs. : ). I a, so happy for you and your family!
Christa
this is my absolutely favorite video and post,,,,it was such a precious and beautiful experience to watch,,,I so wish my children’s birth had been so very calm and natural. I admire all you do and how you are such a amazing woman and blogger and mother. Thank you for sharing your most personal and intimate moments with us!
Maria
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing your birth and family with us. Your children are so blessed with such a wonderful momma and poppa and such wonderful family and friends. You are doing a beautiful job with them. If I had been more knowledgeable when my first child was born (over 17 years ago) I would have definitely gone with the water birth and midwife/doula. Congrats.
Alexandra @ Creative Simple Life
Beautiful film! Thanks so much for sharing.
Jeanmarie
I found this incredibly moving. Surely no little brother was more lovingly anticipated by his siblings than Levi. What a treasure this video will be to him and your whole family through the years.
Caren
How precious. <3 Beautiful video thank you for sharing and congratulations.
Natalie
ABSOLUTELY beautiful!!! Thank you sooo much for sharing!
Coryann
(long message) I just wanted to say that was so amazing and beautiful. Thats how I wanted my birth to go. I currently am in the military and have no options other than no epidual. My first birth was nothing like I had planned, I could not even have a birth plan. I currently am 15 weeks and plan t odo my best with at least all natural. But I have been getting so nervous because my husband and I are so busy and attched to work that we really have been unable to connect with this little one growing inside me. But watching your video has re affirmed what I wish I could have and has given me that “push” I needed to remeber to connect, do yoga, and the most I can do hypnobirthing. When my husband gets home I will have him watch the video as well and I know that will start us on the path to having the pregnancy we have dreamed about, or at least close as we can get. Thank you for sharing all that you do, it helps 🙂
~Coryann~
Megan Bailey
This was so beautiful and meaningful to me. I am entering my seventh month with my first pregnancy and trying to mentally prepare for a home water birth. While I am elated to have the choice and am feeling more confident every day that I can deliver my child without interventions, birth stories that this mean so so much to me.
Thank you!
Yeida
BEAUTIFUL!! Made me cry, too! You have a beautiful family 🙂
Kelley
That was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Kiki
I love this video! Levi is so precious!! I love that Katie and Micah are included and were able to be part of the special day. So sweet!
Joy
I feel the Lord when I look at your beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your life with us. The video made me want to cry. Just incredible.
Sarah
Dear Heather,
I was hoping for a similar scene. I had a due date of Christmas day this year but miscarried at 14+ weeks. It brought joy to my heart for the first time in a long while (involving the pregnancy/birth of others) watching this video. Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your little one reaching 2!!
hannah
Wow I love your daughters reaction!
The whole video is beautiful!
Sarah
This is BEAUTIFUL and made me cry happy tears! What a gift to have it all captured! So wonderful your babe had such a peaceful entry earthside. Thank you for sharing <3