for our last day of baby week we are talking newborn pictures. what are the essential newborn pictures every mom wants to have but can’t think about on the day of the baby’s birth? here is the run down. get’n wordy today folks.

most moms would say, “the day my child was born was the best day of my life”.

not all moms but many. i realize for some that day is filled with sadness or sorrow as complications arise or hopes are not met so i want to acknowledge that first.

i would like to add  the day AFTER baby’s birth as  one of the “best days of my life”.  the morning AFTER my children are born is so special to me.

i love the feeling of waking up and thinking, “wait, where is that little critter? i need to seem them NOW”.  and “did that really happen? is there a whole new person in my life that i love completely?”  when the nurse brings them into my room,  i examine them all over again. babies change so much after the trauma of the first day (reason #3 for taking pictures the day AFTER baby is born) and i love to see how their cheeks are a little creamier. their clean skin has that smell only babies have that cannot be bottled.

mercilessly i take them out of their blanket cocoon to look at their rolls (or chicken legs in ruby and ello’s case).

the temptation is just too great to not see a naked baby. i have to. i nussle under their chin. i look at their hair in the natural sunlight to see it’s color and predict what it will be.

i am never right.

i practice saying their name to be sure it fits.

and as my sister is constantly making fun of me for, i smell their breath. its the best. i squeeze my flat nose right in between their cubby lips and breathe in their smell. their scent. am i gross? anybody else do this?

i savor this time. me and my new baby, alone in my room. everyone else is gone and will be back soon. its just baby and me. its this moment when i think. where have you been? we have only just met yet i feel like i was missing you, exactly you.  this time is so precious to me . i have to capture it. have to remember it. have to look back and try and breathe it all in again.

they are my most favorite pictures of the whole experience.

baby ello

i get baby dressed. i take a few shots without a hat on just so i document their  hair and head roundness and circumference.

then i always put the hat back on.

the reason you ask? their head seems fine to you but when you look back at those pictures you are going to see how odd and misshapen their dome is. just use a hat, trust me. you won’t regret it.

i like the regular hat the hospital gives you but i also like the texture of a chunky knit hat against their smooth skin as well.

baby ello

check out these hats by american apparel

my nephew baby b

you have to get the toes. all wrinkled and perfect.

 baby ello

cyn kain photography

the hospital band, the name on the basinet,

when you let the family back in the room  get a good picture from above for perspective.

for these shots i stood on the hospital bed, made sure i had a really good grip on the camera and shot straight down. the perspective of them alone in their crib or with siblings leaning over is always something that happens naturally and lends an idea of how tiny the new baby is.

my nephew b again with two of his siblings

ruby looking over baby ello

look here for some great photos by photographer becky kimball

and more of shoulders, knees and toes by tara whitney here.

 baby ruby. black and white is great for newborns to reduce the redness and splotchiness of their skin.

deer romper / pack of 5 onesies / off white onesie / little hip squeaks blanket/ button hat

neon top by noe and zoe thanks ashley  / knit diaper cover / wave blanket / pom pom hat

for more baby style ideas check out my pinterest board here.