we were waiting for you // family

Note: I included this in my photo-blog because it’s a style of photography I hope to do again. Intimate, real, honest. Also, if there is anyone willing to have their baby’s birth photographed, let me know. 

I was waiting by the phone, checking my messages for any updates. I knew Darla had been wheeled in for the c-section and that we were just… standing still. It seemed like we had all been holding our breath and waiting for this moment. He was going to be born. He was finally becoming “real” – an actual baby we could hold and hug and kiss and love.

Finally, I got the text. “Ok. He’s here.”

I grabbed my camera and booted it to the hospital.

He was so worth the wait, this lovely nephew of mine.

TK was the typical proud dad – calling and texting all our family members to let them know that his son, Conner Phillip Campbell, had arrived.  Colton, while thrilled, was more into his cartoons.

It didn’t take him long to realize that he was a big brother though. He had waited patiently for this for a long, long time. He was so quiet and patient when holding Conner, and when he would hear him cry, he was right there because “baby needed him.”

Love.

We had to move to the nursery to get baby’s body temp up. Darla was still in recovery so we all walked over there, oohing and awwwing over every little sigh, cry and movement Conner made. TK looked… happy. Tired, excited, happy. Complete. Like a new dad. He couldn’t stop talking. he rambled on about relationships, his new skidoo, how Colton was handling this, the Ninja Turtles. It was a weird conversation. And all the while, he was touching Conner’s face and holding him tight. He kept checking the clock, waiting for Darla to be released from Recovery. We shared parenting advice and I don’t think he really heard anything I said, but that’s just fine. He was so completely in love with his newly expanded family.

It’s always cute to see a big, scary guy turn to mush.

Finally, Darla was wheeled back into the room. Colton was so happy to see her. He was scared of the baby being “born out of Mom’s bum.” (Sidenote: someone needs to have a talk with that kid.) Darla was out of it – she was smiling, happy and high as a kite. Morphine, baby.

But TK came right away with Conner and she held him and all was quiet and they looked at each other and then Colton snuck in there and… they were a family.

Welcome, Conner. We love you so very much.