Duncan, OK | Baby LR

I left my house at 11:20am.

Baby Dunlap was born at 11:30am.

I kid you not.

But, let’s back up a little.

This babe would be Baby Girl Dunlap #3.

I first saw Baby Savannah on her 2nd day earth side. I met Baby Jensen on her actual Birth Day, and we wanted to do it all over again for Baby Sister.

((Pictured below: Madison + Baby Savvy and Baby Jenny on her Birth Day))

Mrs. Dunlap had an awards assembly planned for her 3rd graders on Monday, and induction scheduled for Tuesday, on the last week of school. We FaceTimed that Sunday before, and her plan was to make it through that awards assembly, then whatever happened after that happened. She had been having late night contractions for the last three nights that always tapered out by the next morning, so her body was definitely getting ready to labor and deliver. On the call, I told her in my experience the 3rd baby seems to be a wild card. Either the labor and delivery is much longer or much shorter than the first two babies. We talked about some possible scenarios and planned for me to be there until this baby’s Big Sisters made it to see her for the first time.

Early Tuesday morning, with her school kids all taken care of and her two girls with Grandma, Madison and Jacob were at the hospital. She was dilated to 3cm around 7:00am, and had her epidural by 9:04am. By 10:21am she was at 5cm, and they broke her water at 11:04am.

And this was when I thought I should go ahead and make my lunch and eat - truly thinking it would be at least another 3 hours before I would go and be there.

The microwave beeped at 11:16am.

I got the “she’s all the way dilated,” text at 11:17am.

I was in my car with my camera at 11:20am.

Now, at this point, I did have a little hustle in my step (and maybe in my wheels), but the pushing part of labor can last up to two hours, so I thought there was still a time cushion.

When I checked in with the front desk at the Duncan Regional Hospital Birth Center, the nurse said “Are you supposed to be in there for the delivery?” I said “Yes!”

That was a different response than I have ever gotten with the front desk. I thought it was odd, because it was said with such an inquisitive tone, but not at all a bad tone. But it was an unusual enough of a response for me to have an internal pause and ponder.

In retrospect, I do think that nurse was thinking “Yea, okay, there is no way you are getting in there in time for the delivery.”

I set my camera bag down on the couch, put the camera lens on the camera body, and got to my usual spot ready to shoot.

ONE singular contraction, and TWO pushes later the third Dunlap girl, Lynlee Ruth, was here!

It was 11:30am, and I still can’t believe I made it.

With the baby on her chest, Madison looked around at all of us in shock. She even asked us as she was processing it all, “Was…was that fast?” We all laughed, and I said, “Madison, that was only one contraction.”

Jacob was so proud of Madison, and so proud of his baby, absolutely grinning from ear to ear. When they found out this baby would be another girl, Madison said Jacob was pumped to be a full fledged girl dad. The look on his face said it all.

As the room started to clear out Madison kept saying, “Oh my goodness, I’m just obsessed with her. Jacob, come look at her face!…oh, now come look at her, I mean I know you’ve seen her but come look again…aw, did you see that, Jacob? Isn’t she so cute?”

((Pictured above: Savannah, Jensen, Lynlee))

Fun fact: nurse Jenny was also there when Jensen (who they call Jenny) was born. It was very special for her to be back for Lynlee.

Now we just had to wait for the Big Sisters to come. Jenny was napping, and I suggested we let her sleep till she woke up and give her a snack before the big sisters came to meet Lynlee. While we waited Madison’s mom went and got us all lunch, and Lynlee had an almost perfect latch right off the bat.

Having a baby is obviously a big deal, but when there are siblings involved, that first meeting between them almost feels just the *teeniest* bit more exciting. After a good nap and snack, it was finally time for all five Dunlaps to be in the same room.

Savvy came in like a pro and knew exactly what to do. Jenny came in and waved at us all like we were there for her (and we kind of were). Savvy thought Lynlee was just the cutest and said she loved her so much. Jenny kept pointing at Lynlee and saying, “Baby! Nose? Baby? Nose! Unlce, Baby!” (Madison’s brother was with the girls that morning, and Jenny wanted to make sure he saw the baby and her nose.) It was as precious as it sounds.

((Pictured above: Savvy holding Baby Jenny, Savvy holding Baby Lynlee))

While I was doing a few swaddle pictures of Lynlee, Savvy got a good look and Jenny added her little chick lovey to the bassinet. I don’t think this Baby Sister is ever going to be without attention and love.

A week later, I went out to the Dunlap house for a Newborn Session, and wouldn’t you know it, Lynlee fit right in.