I think that one of the biggest things in life that triggers the most emotions and memories is bringing a new baby into the world.
For the parents it is certainly a life changing experience filled with so many emotions; excitement, hope and maybe even a little fear because after all you want the absolute best for your new son or daughter. You want to be able to teach and protect him or her and or course want to provide a life for him or her that is even better than yours.
For the grand parents the pure joy of seeing your baby have a baby must truly be one of the most amazing experiences. You have given your child all of your love, your knowledge, your experience and now you get to see all that really put to the test. Not to mention how wonderful it must be to see parts of all of your family members in that new little addition. We only hope that one day we are lucky enough to see our children's children!
As a sibling becoming a new aunt or uncle, we know from experience that this part is really cool! You get to decide if you want to be that "cool" uncle or that slightly wacky aunt. You get to be the one to spoil your niece or nephew, bring them on day trips or be the one taking one too many photos when they go to their first prom. Most of all you get to show them this world while telling stories of what it was like growing up with their mom and dad.
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When we heard that our good friends Carlos & Sara were having a baby, we were more than excited. Carlos casually called me up one day on his way home from work and told me that they were thinking of having us come up for a photo session. I thought that it was so great that he and Sara wanted a couples session of the two of them, maybe with their two dogs in a few. He said although that would be great he was thinking of having us come up instead for a baby session. It took me a minute to realize what he was saying but when I finally caught on, I completely lost my mind! :)
Carlos and I have been close friends since the beginning of middle school, a little more than 18 years ago now. We lived really close and shared many of the same interests. We have been through the ups and downs of high school together including learning to drive, working the same jobs and of course the drama that is dating. We also partied at each others dorms during college, saw each other get married, and just recently attended our 10 year high school reunion. We have been through just about everything.
I have also always been close to his family, to his sister Suzanne (who I went to college with and who is getting married this year!!) and his brother Tony (who recently became a police officer) and his parents who are two of the warmest, welcoming and wonderful people in the world. There was always a warm plate of food at the table and a place to sleep if it got too late. Growing up, their house was really a second home to me and all of them were family to me. In fact every one of them made the trip all the way to New Jersey when Kathleen and I got married.
To make this story even more interesting, I actually met Sara way back in elementary school, I remember that we were in the same third grade class and I sat right behind her at one point. Sara didn't go to the same high school as us and we all lost touch with her but somehow Sara and Carlos re-met by chance during college. I would have never guessed that these two would find each other but clearly they couldn't have found a more perfect match.
On this past Friday Kathleen and I had the honor of meeting their new baby: Stella Grace. They had just arrived home from the hospital the day before and Stella was barely 3 days old when we met her. I couldn't wait to hold her! After getting to know her a little bit it was time for her very first photo session. This was especially emotional as I was trying to take it all in. It is so surreal and amazing when someone close to you has a baby. It is truly my pleasure to introduce to all of you; ten fingers, ten toes and one happy healthy little girl; Stella Grace!!
