It never fails that when I walk into a home and spy that itty-bitty bundle of sweet innocence, I am overwhelmed all over again of how small people start out. At only 5 days old, Hawke was all squish in the best possible way ever. He had just gotten back from his first doctor’s visit so he was sleeping soundly in his car seat. I unbuckled him and just held him for a little. Because sometimes it’s best to just stop and enjoy the moment.

Newborns always have their own schedule and I do my best to just go with things when photographing them. He didn’t like being moved around and really hated when I tried to undress him. There were several diaper-changing pit stops, a few nursing must-haves, and some pacifier comforting. Just as I was almost finished with his photos, he fell asleep laying right there on my legs as I sat on the floor. So I took that moment to grab him in his peaceful sleep.

This beautiful green pom-pom hat is from my dear friend, Kris. She’s amazing, folks. Amazing.

And because one should never forget those itty-bitty toes and ears and fingers and mouth…

Welcome, beautiful boy. You are just as Martin Fraquhar Tupper once said: “A babe in the house is well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.”