While most were counting down the days to Christmas, this mom and dad were counting down the minutes to meet their son in the Family Birthing Center of Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, New York. A few days after her due date, mom and dad were getting anxious to meet this little man.

Finally, a Sunday afternoon phone call from dad had my heart race as I answered while grabbing a granola bar and my camera bag to rush out the door. A false alarm, only word that this poor tired, and frustrated mom was returning home after being told it wasn’t time. And the waiting continued.

We’ve gotten so used to the thought of that date being the end to all of the waiting, and the end of the overflowing anticipation of finally holding that little person in your arms. When that day comes and goes, it’s hard to not rage with emotion from every spectrum.

A few more days passed, and with a little help, this mom started laboring beautifully on the longest night of the year.  A few messages between dad and I throughout the evening, and then the phone call came. It was time! And quickly – faster than we all expected – this mom and dad welcomed their baby boy a few days before Christmas. …so fast actually, that doctor and dad almost missed it!

Thanks to the amazing birth team of her own mother, and this little boy’s dad, mom took it all in stride and brought her baby boy into this world effortlessly.

Incredible congratulations to this family, and a huge thank you to the nurses and staff at the Family Birthing Center of Columbia Memorial Hospital.