This is Gavin.
He came into this world 10 weeks early. All 3lbs 11oz. of him screamed like he was a term baby, which was a relief as every time there was a contraction it would squeeze his little body so much that his heart would slow to a stop and then pick up double speed once it was released.
We were scared and didn't know what to expect for him, but he bewildered us all.
Needing only a feeding tube and the occasional sniff of oxygen for desatting he was perfect.
Little, but perfect.
I remember the overwhelming feeling of the NICU...there were so many babies.
I distinctively remember one couple that had a little girl. She was born just over 1lb.
Some days were better than others for her. But it was the one day walking past the incubator and noticed that it laid empty where it once held a tiny little girl....
I cried for that family, going home with nothing and I still think of them often.
That was when I decided to become a newborn photographer.
It was that moment, being surrounded by so many little ones in the NICU that were covered in wires and tubes with nurses hovering over them constantly that we knew what could have been...
This is Gavin.
Today is his sixth birthday.
He was only 5 yesterday.
Where does the time go....
He's goofy, sassy and kind and makes us laugh everyday.
He keeps us on our toes and asks the most confounding questions like " Mommy, do Bigfoots poop?" and "where do dinosaurs come from?" or "Why do I dream?"
In turn I ask "What do you think?" Only to get the most interesting answers like " Yes, I think so or else their bellies would swell up and they would just roll down the hill!"
I could write a book.
But for some reason I don't think it will be quiet in our house for awhile ;)
~CrystalB