Hayes Price - Month 1

Wow....so obviously I'm terrible at keeping an on going blog about my son going!  Geesh!  Hayes' first month was full of learning for momma and daddy!

Due to Hayes weakened immune system we were told to keep in home for at least a month with not too many visitors.  How in the world were we supposed to do that when this little guy had so many family and friends that wanted to see him!

I was so glad that both my mom and dad were able to be close when we brought Hayes home.

Hayes had his first doctors visit just two days after we got home.  Dr. McDowell told us that we had a very healthy little boy and was so happy that he was an ounce over his birth weight!  Not bad for a little guy what went for 24 hours without eating.

First thing out of the gate, one week later, was the 4th of July!  Kyle's parents and sister came up for the day.  Kyle's Aunt and Uncle even stopped by.

Momma and Hayes began taking daily walks.  It was great to get outside and get some fresh air.

Hayes reminds me everyday that he is so much like his daddy!

Hayes was a pretty easy baby.  He stayed on an 3 hour eating schedule and was pretty happy.  His only down fall was that he was a very noisy sleeper.  So at 2 weeks old we moved him into his own room and boy am I glad we did!  He started sleeping a little longer during the night and I got a little more sleep.  It was a win win situation.

Here are a few of Hayes' one month photos.

Welcome Hayes Price!

So I might be a little late getting around to doing this......ok ok.....maybe 3 months late!  But it's ok, I've been given a permanent hall pass to be late at everything I do from here on out.......I'm a mom!

On Friday June 22nd, Kyle and I welcomed our little fighting miracle.  

Hayes Price Whitfield

My mom had been down staying with me during the day and we had just came home from town when I walked in the door and my water broke.  It was 2:30 pm and I quickly decided that I could hide the fact that my water had broke from my mom until Kyle got home from work.  I quickly called Kyle and told him to get home.  Well I was wrong about being able to hide being in labor from my mom.  You are probably wondering why I wanted to hide it from my mom.....well if you know my mom you'll agree with me.......I knew she'd begin running around the house like a chicken with her head cut off.  And guess what she did when she found out......she ran around the house like a chicken with her head cut off.  

We ended up meeting Kyle in Talala and Kyle and I made it back to the hospital around 4:30pm.  When we arrived I was already dilated to 6cm.  I was admitted into my delivery room and at 9:10pm our little guy was born, 8lbs 5oz and 21.5 inches long.What an amazing experience!

When Hayes was born he wasn't breathing and his white blood cell count was high.  They quickly took him to the Special Care Nursery and Kyle followed.  I was able to see him on my way from my delivery room to my main room.  Let me tell you that it was the worst feeling in the world not getting to hold my little guy and seeing him hooked up to machines.  Kyle and I finally got to hold him and feed him the next morning at 9am.  During that day they were weaning him off of oxygen and things were looking up, except for the fact that he wasn't eating very well.  That evening while my mom was holding him for the first time, he D-stated.  They asked us to leave while they inserted a feeding tube and told us to go back to the room to get some rest.

About an hour later Hayes' nurse came in my room and told us that he was fighting an infection and that he needed to go to the NICU.

Seeing Hayes in the NICU was both heart breaking and it put my heart at peace as well.  He had a nurse on every limb of his body.  He couldn't have been in better hands.  The next day, Sunday, I was released from the hospital.  Kyle and I were fortunate enough to get a visitors room in the hospital and we were only 5 mins away from him at most.   

This is the first morning after Hayes was put in the NICU.  He was resting soundly after given medication to fight off the infection.

I cry every time I see this photo.  

Talk about a little fighter!   By Monday evening he was responding so good to the medication that he was taken off of oxygen. And we began trying to feed him by bottle too!  At his 1am feeding on Tuesday morning we began fighting to get 10ml down him and by 4am on Wednesday morning we were feeding him 60ml!  

I even got to try breast feeding him on Tuesday evening and he latched on with out any problems!  While I was feeding him at his 7am feeding on Wednesday morning his Dr. Siddiki came in and asked me if I'd like to take my little boy home today.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  We were told he would probably be in the NICU for 14 days.  Yes. YES!  I want to take my little boy home with me today!

Going home on Wednesday, June 27th!

I may not look the best, but I couldn't have felt better!  

Here are a few of his newborn photos.

Family Session: The Peterson Family

Oh the Peterson's!  It seems like only yesterday I was taking their wedding photos!  Yet again, it's crazy how time flies by.  Of course it doesn't seem like too long ago, Annie was this little girl that followed me everywhere.  Now look at you Annie, all grown up, married, and a mother.

Being back home has it's advantages for sure.  First and foremost is getting to see my family.  And a close second is simply being able to be back on the farm/feedlot.  I am looking forward to taking Hayes back to Iowa often as he grows up.  Speaking of the farm, what better place to hold a photo session?

Little Dakota wasn't in the best of moods that night, but with those lips..........who needs a smile!

Such an adorable family!

Is it me and my newly jacked up hormones, but isn't it the sweetest thing to see a mother and child bonding?

Like I said, Dakota wasn't in the best of moods that night, but I couldn't resist showing this photo.  Thank you Annie, Craig, and lil' Dakota.

Until next time,

MW

18 Month Session: Bryson

I love it when I get to photograph a child from newborn on up.  Bryson is one of those clients that I've photographed since he was born......well actually since he was a month a old, due to a little snow storm in January and then another........it was a rough winter for Oklahoma that year.  Now I can't believe it but he is 18 months old!  It's crazy how time flies when your having fun......or maybe it flies when your busy getting a business going, preparing for a new baby, discovering the joys of being a new parent, and dealing with a certain unnamed "Cowboy."

Taking photos of little boys just being little boys is simply priceless!

Such a gorgeous family!  Isn't Bryson's facial expression awesome?!?!

Love this!

  I'll catch up with you guys later, I've got some exploring to do!

After shooting some family photos around the pond we moved inside to the studio.  I'm not a Texas Longhorns fan......but when you incorporate a cutie patootie, I've got no problem taking photos of them!

I always say that the simplest setup makes the cuties photos.

Bryson also had some BIG news to share...........

Until next time,

MW

9 Month Session: Braden

While back in Iowa for a visit I fit in a few sessions.....ok ok......more like 8!  Whew!  So much for a vacation, but I can't complain.  Especially when I abosolutly love what I do and had a great babysitter lined up.....Thanks Mom!

One of the sessions I had scheduled was with the Hinzmanns.  Elizabeth and I were the best of friends growing up.  I can't believe that we are both married with kids now!  Does that officially qualify us as being old hens?  That's something to ponder about.

Speaking of old hens.....the old chicken house at her mom and dad's place was the perfect place to take some family photos.

Braden is nine months old and full of energy!

There is not much posing when you are working with a nine month old.  But who likes posed photos anyways?

Who says this is supposed to be on my head?  I prefer it as a chew toy.

Braden was ready for a nap by the end of the session and was a little fussy.  But doesn't he make the cutest fussy face?!?!

Adorable!

Wasn't a fan of sitting in the grass either.....oh well.....Momma will calm him down.........

And when Momma picked him up and walked away to calm him down.....this is the gorgeous moment I captured.  Awwww.

Until next time,

MW