The Hilt Family

These are the Hilts. Our family’s dearest and closest friends. Ben and I met through work several years ago, quickly became work best friends turned real best friends. We’ve been there through both of our marriages, buying a home (5 minutes down the road from each other), a pandemic, personal health concerns, and now we get to raise babies together. It’s really quite a special friendship being there for each other through all the highs and lows of our adulthood. And let me tell you, watching these friends go through their journey to adoption… it was a long road, with an unexpected pause, and an even more unexpected ending. A close childhood friend of theirs ended up being the ones to make their dreams of fatherhood possible, and it has been such a sweet journey to witness.

It was such a privilege to capture their love as a family of three. These two have wanted to be dads for such a long time, and after a time of thinking that may never be possible, it feels like pure magic that the stars aligned to make their dreams a reality. As a person who grew up in a family that I was adopted into, it is so incredibly personal and touching to see the outpouring of tender love and care they have for this baby. Sweet Owen is so lucky to have two of the most caring adoptive parents, willing, ready, and able to care for his every need, and ensuring he is brought up in a home where he knows that he is loved and safe.

These images capture only a small glimpse into the bond they share as a family, that will only continue to grow over time. The sweet kisses on the forehead, the support from Meme (grandma), the finger grabs, the cuddles, tickling his toes… these are the moments that are the foundation to a healthy loving family. I don’t know if you realize it, but you are deserving of witnessing your own every day beauty. Here is yours, my dear friends.