Back in late April of 2022, we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our little “wonderball” baby. One of my favorite parts of not finding out the gender was the look of shock we got every time someone asked, “What are you having?” and we’d say, “We don’t know.” Most people replied with, “Really!? I could never do that!” And truthfully, part of me would’ve loved to know, but life has so few real surprises these days. Since we conceived via IUI, that initial surprise was already taken from us. So this felt like one way to bring back a little mystery. I’ll admit, I was convinced we were having a boy, so when Seth introduced me to our sweet baby GIRL, I was completely floored. (Though in true Seth fashion, he initially said “You were right! It’s a boy!” and the nurses were like, uhhhm, check again Dad!😂) But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Like most firstborns, Nolan had zero intention of coming early, or even on time for that matter. At my 40 week checkup, I still had no signs of labor and because of high blood pressure (thanks to being very pregnant and a very long walk before the appointment), the doctor told us to head home, grab our bags, and go straight to labor and delivery. Overachievers that we are, Seth and I went home, packed the bags… and cleaned the house top to bottom. Honestly, you’d think we weren’t prepared at all. By the time we finished, it hit us: the next time we walked through that door, we’d be a family of three.
Once admitted, the induction process began. It was long, slow, and exhausting. Every few hours the midwife checked me, and every time the progress was minimal. When the contractions became too much, I opted for an epidural, which unfortunately only worked on one side. After 25 hours of labor and very little change, the decision was made: it was time for a C-section. At 2:30am, everything moved quickly. At 3:12am, our sweet girl, Nolan Paige, entered the world.
Those first hours were a blur. I essentially passed out after surgery, and when I finally came to in the recovery room, Seth placed our baby girl in my arms. My first words to her were, “You surprised me!” And what a wonderful surprise she was. Before we even left the hospital, I ordered bows and headbands on Amazon because, well, I was officially a girl mom.
Recovery after laboring for 25 hours and then having a C-section was tough. But Seth stepped into his role as “dada” with so much love and strength, taking care of Nolan and me while I healed. Watching him care for both of us filled me with even more gratitude for the incredible partner I married. Those early days were exhausting, emotional, and beautiful all at once—a whirlwind that we wouldn’t trade for anything.
Nolan’s birth story is such a big part of who we are, and we’re so grateful to share a piece of it here. Photography has always been about connection for us, and becoming parents deepened our love for capturing life’s milestones even more. Whether we’re photographing a wedding, a maternity session, or a growing family, we know just how important these moments are—because we’ve lived them, too.
xo,
Veronica
Southern City Photography
