our beautiful niece chloe invited me in to capture the arrival of her baby girl…what an emotional joyous experience…staying silent and out of the way was difficult - at times i craved to pick chloe up and carry her away from the pain and anguish…this brave young lady endured a long and distressing 24 hour labour…filled with moments of tears, worry and laughter…and i will never be more honoured to witness such strength and love…i arrived just before 9pm…
contractions were strong and 2 minutes apart…as they had been for many many hours…chloes mum and dad - deb and darren - applied love and encouragement through the warmth and tenderness of their hands…chloes lovable rogues of older brothers - josh and ben - were kicked out into the night for eating chloes pringles and inappropriate behaviour on the ward 
there were certainly some moments of despair…chloe was just so tired…
but these moments soon passed as talk of the baby lifted spirits…
doctors visited and quietly mentioned the time was close…
from deep within, chloe gently groaned with new found courage and began to deliver her baby…
she was blissfully perfect…
and this…
i left this loving family with the delicious new addition, and sobbed all the way home…mum, grandparents, uncles and isabelle grace are healthy and oh so happy…
A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.
- Martin Fraquhar Tupper
