Duncan, OK | C-SECTION | Baby S

This was not the first time I’ve had opportunity to meet the Cassie and JJ in the prep room for a caesarean birth. In the very last days of 2017, I was there to take pictures and tell the story of Palmer.

Now in 2024, after heartache and waiting, I was going to do the same with Palmer’s little sister.

Cassie and her doctor had discussed and set the c-section date.  We knew exactly when this Birth Day would unfold. I remember really distinctly seeing Cassie at church the Sunday before and thinking to myself “she looks amazing, and so ready to have this baby!” When we were texting and finalizing plans on Wednesday, April 3, I asked her what the plan would be if her water should break or she should start having regular contractions, is the plan still a c-seciton, and she said yes. I just had this birth-photographer-gut feeling that see may not actual make it to the planned date.

It was that very next Sunday, that I had a missed call from her while I was getting ready for church. “Whatcha dooooin’?” I asked when I called her back. Sure enough, her water had broken early that morning and she was at the Birth Center and they were prepping the OR for the birth of her rainbow baby!

They were still doing some vital checks and getting things ready when I got there. JJ had been at the racetrack in Ardmore when she called and told him that Baby was coming TODAY! I won’t disclose how quickly he made it from Ardmore to the Birth Center, but let’s just say, it was in record time.

And thank goodness he was there, because the grippy socks provided by the hospital were not cutting it for Cassie. So he kindly put on her socks she had brought from home.

Nurse Rhonda came in and took Cassie back, then at 10:41am JJ and I went to the OR as well.

Then 6 minutes later, Dr. Tovar was holding Baby Scout to the side of the curtain so they could see their newest little girl!

That dimple was the first thing I think we all noticed! JJ held her teeny tiny hand as the nurses gave her lots of love. Then it was Mommas turn for skin-to-skin. All that was left now was Baby Scout to meet her Big Sister Palmer.

The way Palmer was sitting - so patiently waiting on the couch for us as Cassie was rolled back into the room - I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Her Momma says she was born to be a Big Sister, and I think you can see that all over her face in these pictures.

Because the timing was unexpected, I didn’t stay too long that Sunday morning. Instead, I came back the next day after everyone had some time to rest and unwind to get just a few more portraits.

I didn’t realize until I got home and was editing what the tattoo said on Cassie arm. It seems really fitting to end Baby Scout’s story with this.

“joy comes in the morning”