Their Bun, Christina's Oven...

I'm going to start at the end of my photo shoot with Christina. We went to get coffee and a smoothie following our time together. The gentleman working the counter asked if we were sisters. Almost simultaneously, we chuckled and said "Yeah, I guess you could say that!" Christina and I met almost 15 years ago on bid night at the University of Northern Colorado. Within a few months, we were sisters in Alpha Phi, and 2 years later, roommates. Christina has a presence about her. Confident, well-spoken, flawlessly dressed, focused, beautiful. I have to admit, she was intimidating. But with all of that, I came to know that Christina was kind, genuine, and the kind of person you just want to know and be around. 

Through the years, as it often happens, we drifted apart. She is now married to a wonderful man that she started dating back in college, and has 2 beautiful boys ages 2 and 4. Facebook, with all of its flaws, did one amazing thing, it brought her beautiful smile back into my life. It was about 7 months ago that I learned she was pregnant, but this was a pregnancy like no other. Christina is a surrogate for a lovely couple from Arizona. Deb and Tom and their beautiful daughter Kelly are so excited that Christina is helping complete their family with the birth of their baby boy, Sean Patrick, coming up in just a few short weeks. 

As Christina and I have had the chance to talk again after many years, I learned that she first began to entertain the thought of surrogacy after her best friend, also an Alpha Phi, was facing challenges getting pregnant. As luck would have it, her best friend was able to get pregnant and now has beautiful twins! Even so, Christina just couldn't let the idea go of helping a family somewhere realize their dream of having a family. After all the paperwork and interviews were completed, Deb, Tom, and Kelly came into her life, and now she is about to give life to their baby boy. I cannot imagine a more selfless act. 

I never thought Christina could be more beautiful than I remembered her to be in college, but she is absolutely glowing. Pregnancy suits her well. Still as confident as ever, but somehow humbled by this experience, Christina is still the kind of person I want to know and be around. I asked Christina if she was scared or worried about being emotional when this experience was over. Her response? This experience will never be over. I get to be in Sean's life forever through pictures and stories. What I am doing is making a gift, one that I knew would be given away. 

Wow, just wow. 

These pictures were emotional and hard for me to edit. I hope they captured the essence of love and beauty that I felt while taking them. I found myself choked up because I am proud to know her, proud of what she is doing, and I am humbled to know that good people still exist, truly good people that do the right thing because it is right. To Christina, my love and prayers are with you at this exciting time in your life. To Deb, Tom, and Kelly, may Sean Patrick always bring a smile to your face. May his presence be the gift that you always desired. May your family love each other every moment of everyday.