PHILLIES WIN!!!!

The Phillies finally won the World Series. Gideon was too tired to stay up and watch the game, not like he would remember it at 5 days old. I was only 3 years old when the Phillies won the their first Championship in 1980. There were so many times this year when I wanted to give up hope on the Phillies. It seemed like every time I wore a Phillies shirt they would loose. I noticed the trend and stopped wearing my shirts and they started winning. During the playoffs things were different. The only losses they had were when I didn't wear a Phillies shirt, except for game 2 of the World Series where the umps blew two key calls. The past couple of years have been great to be a Phillies fan. They have been so close and made things interesting. I hope they can keep it up for a few more years and maybe even pick up another Championship. Here is shot with our Canon SD750 of Gideon and I watching the World Series.

Gideon Randall Cerveny - the arrival

Yesterday, 10/24/2008, at 9:42am I became a father. Gideon was born weighing 9lb 1oz and was 22.25 inches long.


The Blessing - a background
It is crazy how much can happen in a year. Last year on the 24th of October I packed up the Honda Element with my dad and drove from MD across the country to move to CA and take a leap of faith. On that same day Victoria was working with the movers to get our house packed so she could soon follow, by plane, a few days later with my mom. Victoria and I would have never guessed that we would have a child 1 year later. Starting a family was something we had hoped and dreamed about for several years but had no luck. We figured we would move to CA and get settled and then look into adoption one day. The exact day we felt settled in CA God started knitting Gideon together so he could be our child.


I am pretty sure this is the way things had to happen. If we had been blessed with a child back in MD I don't think I could have taken this leap to follow the dreams God has for me and my family. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. That is a verse that Victoria and I have recited to each other so many times over the past year and half as we made our leap. It was our hope and comfort and remains to this day.


Gideon's birth
On Thursday, 10/23/2008, we had what was our last pre-baby midwife appointment. Victoria was already 4 days past her due date and had to make an appointment with the back-up OB for the following Monday to check on Gideon's health. Our Midwife, Mary Lou O'Brien, examined Victoria during her appointment and laughed saying you should be in labor right now. After we left, Mary Lou called her assistant, Elena Vogel, and warned her to be ready for a middle of the night call. After the appointment we headed over to Costco and then home to relax for the rest of the night. Later that night we went for walk around our apartment complex and then headed off to bed.


Around 3:30am Friday 10/24/2008 morning Victoria woke me up jumping out of bed saying her water broke. About 10 minutes later she started contractions. They started at 3-5 minutes apart and got increasingly more intense. After about 30 minutes I called Mary Lou and she headed on over along with her assistant. I also called our friend Lory who hosted our baby shower so she could be present at the birth. By 5:30am everyone was there that needed to be. The labor and delivery went smooth and was at home as planned. During labor I had a hard time holding back the tears as I read Psalm 139, and Lory read other passages, to help Victoria relax. I am so proud of Victoria and how she was determined to labor and deliver completely drug free and naturally and she accomplished that. It is crazy to think that 6 hours after Victoria woke me, we had Gideon.


Here are some images that I took when I had a chance. Make sure you read the end of this post for one last important paragraph.


Moments after Gideon's birth I grabbed my Canon 5D with 24mm 1.4L attached from the nightstand and captured this. You can see in the right part of the frame the blanket just about to cover Gideon up to keep him warm.

Lory took this with my 5D while I spent some time with Victoria and Gideon. It is our first family picture.

Victoria did such an amazing job. I am so proud of her!

Mary Lou giving Gideon his first check-up.

Gideon getting weighed.

Gideon is so cute.

I love these next two.

A little Dom Perignon to celebrate.

What I am thankful for
There are so many people that made this home birth experience so wonderful. Here is a short list.

1. Sherry Rumsey of Birthing Baby for encouraging us to give birth at home. It is something that Victoria always wanted to do but I know Sherry helped make it happen. Sherry is a midwife-in-training, doula, and was our Bradley Method class instructor. We highly recommend Sherry and her services.
2. Mary Lou O'Brien for being so amazing and wonderful as our midwife. We highly recommend Mary Lou and her 20 years of experience. I know we will be using her again.
3. Elena Vogel assisted Mary Lou with the birth. She was the first one to arrive that morning. Victoria and I are so thankful for her and all her knowledge and help.
4. Lory Ishii for everything she did to help. Lory made the most wonderful breakfast. I wish I would have gotten some pictures but I was a little preoccupied with spending time with Gideon and Victoria. Lory also ran out to pick up a few things once Mary Lou and Elena left. Lory even came back later that night to bring us dinner. We are also thankful for Lory's husband George and how he allowed his wife to come and serve us. George and Lory also prayed for us when we woke them at 4:00 in the morning. We are so thankful.
5. Everyone that called and sent messages on email and Facebook congratulating us. We are so thankful for all the blessings. We are also thankful for everyone offering to help in any way they can.


Life is beautiful and I think times like a birth or marriage bring out some of the best in human nature. We are thankful and full of joy!

Sienna Bella Ruth Sullivan

Last week I photographed Aaron and Corrie Sullivan's 2.5 week old little girl. If you remember from one of my previous posts, Corrie was due 4 weeks before my wife, Victoria. Corrie's mom made the trip from Ireland to lend a hand to Aaron and Corrie during Sienna's first few weeks. I had such a great time and can't wait for my little boy to come so he can meet Sienna. Corrie is an awesome designer, make sure you check out her Etsy store.

Check out this awesome mobile Corrie made for Sienna.

Jeremy & Heidi - 09/27/08

On the last Saturday on September I had a blast photographing Heidi and Jeremy's wedding in Newport Beach, CA. They ceremony took place at the Community Church of Corona del Mar and the reception was aboard the Ambassador yacht of Pacific Avalon Yacht Charters. The thick fog in Newport beach couldn't stop these two from enjoying this special day. Here are some of my favorites from the day.


Heidi getting ready.

Heidi and her girls with their hair all made up.

Heidi and Jeremy

The girls.

The ceremony

Heidi's dad handing off his daughter.

Just Married!

The ring bearer and flower girl.

Some portraits in front of the church with the lovely green door.

A few portraits from the reception.

I love this reaction from them during the toast.

Some dancing.

Some Details.