In the last 11+ years of photographing newborns, many of them have stolen a piece of my heart.  This little guy is extra special.

A few months back, his mom messaged me on Instagram with a request.  Would I consider photographing his birth?  She explained that due to medical needs for one of their kids and covid concerns, dad would be staying at home so she really wanted the birth captured for all of them.  Of course I said YES!  How could I not.  I have done births before and I know the time commitment to be on call for weeks, 24 hours a day. 

I was so worried I would miss the birth.  This was her fourth baby and we both knew he would come fast.  The week before I even had a photog on standby (shout out to my girl Alicia!!).  We all stayed in constant contact for probably a week straight.  The time was close!  The day finally arrived and I was in the middle of a cake smash.  I told her to keep that baby in for an hour.  Thankfully my studio is just around the corner from St B and I arrived shortly after she was dropped off.  Again, my girl Alicia was there just in case because she is an incredible human.

Mom and I hung out, laughed, and tracked contractions.  It was all pretty chill...until she requested to have her water broken.  She warned me that once this happened, it would be fast.  SHE DID NOT LIE!!!!  From the time the water broke to deliver was 15 minutes.  ONE PUSH!!!!  The poor doctor on call hurt his arm running into the room and still missed the birth. 

Somehow in the chaos, I managed to set up my phone to do video, hold her hand, and photograph the whole delivery.  It was INCREDIBLE!  We joke now that I saw a demon exit her body from the language and yelling.  She did it fast and furious. 

The downside to a fast delivery is that natural squeezing to get the fluids out of babies lungs did not happen.  He was born in distress.  He was grey and not crying like he should.  In a blink of an eye he went from moms chest, to the warming table, to the NICU.  Mom was still high risk for blood loss so I became E's "human".  I saw moms face and knew I had to stay with him...text her what what happening...send her photos from the NICU.  All the while her husband was at home full of panic I am sure.

E spent the next hour or so in the NICU.  The chatter was he would be admitted, need xrays, possibly CPAP.  It was SCARY!!!!   Watching the nurses and doctor rush around caring for him was like something out of a TV show (I love my medical dramas).  Thankfully all he needed was to have the fluids sucked out of his lungs and his health turned for the better almost instantly.  He pinked up and started sucking his fists.  Little man was hungry!!!

Mom and baby where reunited just over an hour after birth and he is a healthy, happy boy.  The nurses kept calling me auntie so that is my role now and forever.  E is part of my crazy family.

So now here we are at his newborn session and he was a champ.  Mom and I got to hang out again under less stressful conditions.  I got to meet the whole family in fact and they are all the cutest humans. 

E, I will never forget the crazy day you where born.  I may not be an Aunt by blood, but you are stuck with me now.