Thursday, October 31, 2013

Walt Michael : A Birth Story : Birmingham, AL

This is a really special post for me to write and share, so get ready for some amazing photographs and a little sappy writing and a lot of both!

One of my dearest friends found out last February that she and her husband would soon be parents! An absolutely amazing, indescribable feeling. She called me a week or so later and wanted to meet for lunch, we meet at Urban Cookhouse in Homewood for a little daytime girl talk and some good food! Unknown to me she had been to the dr earlier that morning for her first "baby" appointment. We laughed and talked about how amazing it would be to be parents and what the next year of her life would be like. I was completely blown away that she would ask me to shoot her maternity story, birth story, and the babies precious milestones throughout his life! What an amazing honor. You see, Carmen is a photographer too, and for her to ask and trust me with such important parts of her life and her child's is truly a blessing and job I don't take lightly!
I remember how completely excited and amazed I was for her and the story God was letting her live.

We continued to talk, create, and plan all these shoots for the next year and I have been so taken back by her creativity and the love she has for photography and her sweet family. 
You can see her Maternity session here!

The last few weeks of her pregnancy I was on edge. I live about 45 minutes from the her home and the hospital, as well as have a full time job. I was so worried I was going to miss the birth of her precious son. One night about five weeks before her due date I got late night text the began with " OMG, you will not believe...." I immediately panicked sat straight up in bed and tried to focus on my phone screen to read the rest... was I too late, she had him early and there wasn't enough time for me to get there, oh no. Much to my relief it was only a John Mayer emergency (we share a love for all things John Mayer), there was a new video out and I needed to see it asap! 
As excited as I was, I told her NO more texts in the middle of night unless they were about the baby!!!!

Several weeks later at about 4am on October 31st ( one year ago today) I got THE text. "I'm having contractions, not 5 minutes apart yet, haven't woken Kent...stay tuned" OMG. I was too excited to sleep and worried about 280 traffic (if you live in Bham, you understand this) so I told my husband I was going to work early to be closer to the Hospital and I started getting ready. Not an hr later I got another text saying they were on their way to hospital the contractions where stronger. I jumped in my car and headed into town! I wanted in the waiting room for maybe an hr while she got settled in and paperwork out of the way and Kent, Carmen's husband, came out and found me! 
The rest of the day is a bit of a blur, I remember someone bringing Kent and I food...which we had a hard time eating but managed to choke down in between UN-medicaded contractions! And at some point I realized my camera battery was running low and in my rush to leave home had forgotten back-up batteries...luckily my office is close and I have amazing friends, one of which grabbed a battery and brought it to me! =)

Let me just say, Carmen is a rockstar!!  She birthed ALL day, UN-medicaded, and seriously tired. Around 8pm (I think!) her beautiful baby boy was born and we all found out his name...Walter Finnegan (they had kept it a secret the whole pregnancy). It was truly an unbelievable day. I can not believe that I got to experience such an amazing part of their lives with them. Seeing a baby born is by far the most incredible thing I have ever seen, I don't know how you can see such an event and the joy of new parents and not see Christ as truth and love!

Carmen, (I know you will read this) I am honored to be called your friend and to have you in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me in your life and the life of your son. And I will forever be grateful to you for capturing the birth of my own son (and all the moments before, after, and yet to come)! (I'll be posting my own birth story, shot by Carmen, soon!)

Happy 1st Birthday Walty! You are so loved! 
-K

I hope you enjoy some of my favorite images from Walt's "Birth"day Story!







1 comment:

CBM Photo said...

What a wonderful birthday surprise! You've given us such an amazing gift with these photos. I'll never be able to thank you enough. I love you, K!