Baby Jameson Richard Buck

When thinking about my time in the Akron-Canton area, I think about how blessed I have been to build so many great friendships. This area has been so kind to my career, given me lifelong friends, and broadened my network and opportunities.

Like so many of my friends, Emily and her husband, Kyle, have been working on growing their family. She has been so supportive and trusting of me to let me share my hobbies with her during some of her recent life-changing events. From making her oldest son’s 3^rd birthday cake to capturing her second pregnancy, I have gotten to share these moments with her. Even more recently, I was invited to the hospital to snap a few pictures of her youngest son’s arrival.

Emily and I work closely with each other, so we often update each other on a weekly, if not daily, basis. When first learning about her second pregnancy, she had informed us that her due date was June 28, 2018 (just after our busiest time at work!). Somewhere along the way, the doctor had changed the date to July 2. Like most excited mothers, Emily did not accept this change, especially when the Ohio weather crept up past 90 degrees. Even through the heat, this determined mother got her morning walks in just to try to prove the doctor wrong.

I bet you can guess what happened next.

On July 2, my alarm starts sounding at 6:50am. I hit snooze just before a quick glance at a text from Emily. I quickly sit up in bed and read a text stamped at 5:55am, “won’t be working from home today!” with the image of her sweet baby boy wrapped safely in her arms. After much excitement, my first fleeting thought had been – what time? After all, I had just been texting her the night before around 10pm. I text back an excited ‘Congratulations!’ followed by, “what time did you go??”

She then explains how it all transpired that early Monday morning. She woke around 3am and then quickly notified her mom who came directly to the house to stay with Alex, their 3-year old, and by 3:40am they were off to Aultman. No more than 60 minutes at the hospital, not to mention NO epidural (WAY TO GO, EM!), baby Jameson Richard Buck came into this world! After another round of excitement and congratulations, I reply, “So… that means the due date of 7/2 was right on?” Emily, luckily in good spirits, jokingly replied, “yes… but don’t tell the doctors!”

The best part about going to the hospital to take pictures was Emily’s dad. From critiquing the way Emily and her mom were handling baby Jamie, to harassing his daughter for her dinner choices (what baby doesn’t like Swenson’s onion rings?!), to gasping at the sight of changing Jamie at the “edge” of the bed, he sure did make his opinions known. I don’t want to give the wrong impression, Emily’s dad was only (half) kidding, just like my own dad would! It was evident that Emily and Kyle have a great, loving support system. After her parents left, I laughed with her about her dad’s humor and she exclaimed, “he doesn’t even like babies!” Later, I found out he’s not one to volunteer for diaper duty.

Jameson (Jamie) Richard Buck - Richard being Emily's dad 

Born July 2, 2018 at 4:52am

Healthy 7-pounds 5-ounces, 19 1/2 inches

I was excited to take pictures of the growing family and even got to steal a few snuggles with the 7-pound baby boy. I am very much looking forward to seeing Alex with his new baby brother next week. More pictures to come!