“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.” – Ashley Montagu

I received a frantic call at around 12 in the evening, but I did not need to answer to know that a special boy was being born that evening. As soon as I saw the caller ID, I knew we were ready to roll, instantly my calm birth photography mode took over my sleep muffled brain. By the next morning the lives of my friends will be changed forever ….

On my way from Pretoria to the Wilgeheuwel Life hospital in Krugersdorp, I was thinking of all the surprises that comes with the territory of having a baby. There was a few I could think of and I few I knew would surprise Rickus and Tharien on their new journey. I made a mental note to do some reasarch on the most common themes to the ways that kids revolutionize our lives. Have a look at the top 10 I found and let me know how acurate they are.

Surprise #1: Your relationship with your partner will change
Surprise #2: You’ll have no idea where the time goes
Surprise #3: You may look different
Surprise #4: You’ll join an exclusive worldwide club
Surprise #5: You’ll be stronger than you ever imagined
Surprise #6: You’ll make “mistakes” you never anticipated
Surprise #7: Your friendships will change
Surprise #8: There’ll be times when you hate parenting
Surprise #9: You’ll be overwhelmed by love (and other emotions)
Surprise #10: You’ll have to let go sooner than you think

Luan saw to a couple of his own surprises that evening and being part of the incredible journey called birth photography, I got to witness and capture a few.

He started his strike of surprises by his birth, born at 36 weeks, which was a few weeks earlier than his scheduled C-section date. I think his dad knew he would love him, but I saw how the overwhelming love for this little boy took his him by surprise. His big brother was a little surprised by his first pictures, but that was soon forgotten as he got involved in a betting game with his grandfather over the size of his brother. The surprise and wonder of the miracle of Luan are almost tangible in the images below. The love for this boy striking, evidently beautiful, unmistakable moments of utter happiness! 

No matter how much you prepare for it, the birth of your baby and parenting will blow your mind.

Your kids will challenge you, bring you to tears, crack you up, and make you forget what you urgently had to do. They’ll shatter the life you knew into a million pieces. Then they’ll put it back together, like a stained-glass window, into something infinitely more complicated and beautiful.

Riki-Riks en Lallie, you are special friends! Enjoy every single surprise your little boy brings into your life, and by the looks of his beginning you’re in for the ride of your life!

xXx
Sam

Luan’s Birth slide show