Welcome to the World, Karsyn Allan Hitson!

“Water has broken and she’s dilated 7cm…” is the first thing I saw as my phone went off at 6:55 a.m…a text from your daddy. I was so excited to meet you, I brushed my teeth and I was on the road by seven. See we were holding our breath that you would arrive a little early since I would be out of town on your due date. I didn’t want to miss your arrival, and I know it was so very important to your mommy and daddy that I be there to capture the little moments of your arrival. Your mamma’s blood pressure was a little higher than it should be, and because you were healthy and ready, your doctor decided to give you a little nudge and have you enter this world a week early. A win for all of us!!

As I gently knocked on the door to room 10, your daddy answered and whispered hello. Your mamma was trying to get some sleep because they had both been up all night long awaiting your arrival. Daddy paced a bit, kept in contact with family members on the east coast, and softly touched your mamma’s hand as she slept. He was nervous and tired, and so ready to meet you. As he told me the events of the day before, your mamma laid in the bed holding you close in her belly. You had waited hours in the waiting room, then snuggled up listening to Doctor Phil as your “cool nurse” sat close by, and then your mamma watched the Royal Wedding at 4 a.m. as she breathed through each contraction.

Not long after I arrived, your nurse Tanya, came in and checked you out! She was excited that your position had changed quickly and that you had a full head of hair. She was a ton of fun, really knew her stuff, and educated all of us on what to expect in the coming hours. You were ready to make your debut, but your doctor was in surgery at another hospital, so your mamma relaxed in bed as your daddy joked around with her. I have a feeling you are going to have your daddy’s sense of humor. I sat close by, clicking the shutter of my camera as he made your mamma giggle. “Just remember, no matter how much pain you’re in, it isn’t as bad as a man with a cold…” he said through a sniffly nose… “Wow, this bed is not comfortable,” he smiled as he pressed down on the hospital bed cushion. “I’m ready to do this thing… Well, I’m ready for you to do this thing and I’ll be here… holding whatever extremity you need me to.” Seeing your mamma look into your daddy’s eyes as she smiled and laughed was such a beautiful sight. You are a lucky little man, you have two parents who love each other-and you unconditionally.

As the jokes subsided, your daddy sat on the couch for less than a minute and was out like a light, snoring and talking in his sleep (sorry dad, had to share!) He only got about 15 minutes of shut-eye before Tanya came back in and started prepping for you to come! Your doctor was on her way and we were all so ready to meet you. After a few pushing lessons as your daddy held your mamma’s left foot and rubbed her head, the doctor came in, suited up, and guided your mamma through your delivery. After about five pushes you came right on out at 9:56 a.m. on May 19, 2018. You weighed just five pounds ten ounces, and you were just so tiny. You immediately curled up on your mamma’s chest and snuggled in. Within minutes after being weighed and cleaned up, you started searching for food. We were all astonished at how beautiful your mamma was, how easy she made it look, and how great of an eater you were from the very beginning! Let’s just say you are all rockstars and we were so very proud of you.

We joked that your daddy was more nervous and anxious for your arrival than your mamma was, he wanted you here so badly and also didn’t want to do anything that could possibly put you in any danger. “I am going to drive out of here at 5 miles an hour with the flashers on all the way home!” he said. When I asked if he would like to hold you, his heart immediately said yes and then his brain expressed a questioning no. You were so tiny and he knew you were safe in your mamma’s arms as he sat right next to you. But after a little help and direction in regards to maneuvering you in his arms, he didn’t want to let you go. He sat with you tight against his chest in the seat next to your mamma’s bed and he just looked at you. As he took his finger away from your tiny grasp you started to cry and he felt more love at that moment than any moment before.

Your mamma, on the other hand, was a natural. You entered her heart the day she found out she was pregnant and her arms the moment you arrived. She looked at you and spoke to you as you opened your eyes and looked deep into hers. Your connection is beautiful and I can’t wait to capture that love again at your newborn session. See you again soon, sweet boy. Welcome to the world. Congratulations Levi and Taylor! This is only the beginning to such an amazing love story.