Hi blog followers! I am happy to report that our little Max has finally arrived! I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting photos and little a update on how our bundle is doing. Thanks for your patience as I settle in to Mommyhood.
Max was born at 1:20 am on Monday (2/16/09) morning. He was 8lbs, 3 oz and 19 inches long. He is perfect and healthy and divine. For those who are interested, my labor was very quick and smooth. I was taking a bath when my water broke at 7pm on Sunday night (leave it to me to find the tidiest and most efficient way to go into labor!) and, within 25 minutes, I was having contractions every 2 minutes and was 8 centimeters dilated (again, I’m terribly efficient.) After that, everything was very smooth and exactly as we wanted it. Our wonderful nurse, Pam, and my amazing husband, Doug, saw to it that I was comfy and happy and I had the most enjoyable labor a girl could ask for.
Max, right after he was born
On a more practical note, I am on maternity leave through the first of April, but will be checking emails and voicemails and trying to fit consultations in here and there. I appreciate everyone’s patience as we make this transition. I will reward you with my very best photography efforts this coming season and lots and lots of photos of our new little boy 
delightfully,
Chenin
Oh! He is just precious! Welcome Baby Max!
Love and Sleep, Kelly
Congrats to you, Doug & Murray! Max is just perfect and I bet he smells so yummy (newborn baby smell is *the* best).
He is absolutely beautiful. Congrats to you both!
He’s so adorable! Congratulations Chenin and Doug!
Congrats to you, Doug & Murray! Max is just perfect and I bet he smells so yummy (newborn baby smell is *the* best).
Chenin, I’ve been following your blog for a little while and love your work and the Totally Rad Actions! Congratulations!! Max is beautiful and these pictures are precious!
he’s perfection.
thanks for sharing him all with us on your blog 
a huge congrats!
Wow! Congratulations, Chenin! I’m just thrilled for all three of you. He’s gorgeous!
Congratulations!! He is absolutely beautiful!!!
I love the little lip pout in his first picture – priceless! You’re in for a lifetime of joy with that little boy!
Congratulations!
Congrats! He is super adorable.
Ohhh my gosh, that first shot is so insanly cute!!!! Congratulations on your new bunddle of luv’in guys!
Congratulations!!!!! Max it’s so cute! I am so excited to know that you have finally deliver him..
He is very welcome in mother earth!!!
I am so happy that Daddy and Mommy are happy and well! please give a kiss to little Murray he is getting old!
hugs,
Gloria
maxfield banks boutwell – what a FANTASTIC name. he is absolutely scrumptious, and the photos are perfection
.
Ohhh my gosh, that first shot is so insanly cute!!!! Congratulations on your new bunddle of luv’in guys!
I had almost tears in my eyes when I read these lines! Max is so unbelievable cute and I wish you 3 a great time and much of unforgettable moments. You really deserve it!
Yay! He is so precious. Congrats Chenin! I am so happy to hear that your labor went so well. I wish you as much sleep as possible and that the transition into mommying goes as smoothly as the delivery!
Huge congratulations! Welcome to the world Max.
Enjoy every minute x
Oh, he is so perfect and cute! Amazing pictures! I LOVE LOVE his name.
Oh, he is so perfect and cute! Amazing pictures! I LOVE LOVE his name. Boys are so much fun. Hope you guys are getting sleep.
Congrats! He is beautiful and I’m so happy the whole experience was wonderful. It shall continue…. Childen truly are little blessings
Congrats! He is beautiful and I’m so happy the whole experience was wonderful. It shall continue…. Children truly are little blessings
Chenin and Doug – Max is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing these pictures with us!!
SOOOO happy for you two!!!
Congrats! He is adorable, we have a little 6 month guy also. They are a total blessing. xox to Max
Chenin & Doug – Congrats!!!! Max is absolutely adorable. Yes, it definitely takes 2 to raise a little bundle of joy (as Jay and I can recently attest to first hand). Enjoy your time off…they grow so fast!
Absolutely precious! Congratulations, you guys! Can’t wait to see more photos of you both with the little guy.
congratulations!!! I hope my labor is as smooth as yours
Max is gorgeous! Best wishes to your new family!
He is sooo sweet. Congratulations!
I love to hear when labor goes well! It makes a big difference on how long it takes to recover. I can’t wait to see new pictures in the future.
Congrats you two! I think you’re both amazing and your new son is soooo stinkin’ cute!
oh my! he is truly delightful! he is a handsome little fellow
you and doug look so happy and max is one lucky little dude!
He’s a delight! Congratulations and best of luck. Looking forward to more photos and sweet chubby baby goodness in the future.
Big congrats guys and welcome to the world of parenthood! I am sure he will bring lots of love and joy to you both…take care Vanessa
Oh, Chenin, your little Max is nothing short of perfection. I am so incredibly happy for you and Doug and I wish you a happy and healthy maternity leave!
xoxo
Congratulations Chenin and Doug! He is by far, “Totally Rad”! Much Love to you all.
Many congratulations yet again. Little boys are the best.
So beautiful! and definitely, little boys *are* the best!
He is absolutely perfect! I am so happy for you both. Isn’t it amazing how you grow an entire new heart filled with unimaginable love??? Oh, the adventures you have to come! Enjoy every minute! xo
He’s a cutie. Congratulations! Also he has the best birthday. That’s also my birthday.
Chenin and Doug, your little Max is beautiful!!! Congratulations!
Congrats on that labor. Sounds perfect. LUCKY YOU! I am just finishing up my first year with my business AND baby and having a supporting, sweet, loving, and TIRELESS husband is a must! I’m glad mine is also so incredible. Way to go Doug. Take it easy. My advice to every new mom is to nap once a day with that baby until you feel better. They are only little babies once, so enjoy it. I took a nap everyday for MONTHS. Still do on my “days off.” Every stage is temporary with babies/kids.
It really is just adorablly perfect! Congrats to you and Doug, I am so happy for the 2…or, um, 3 of you!!!
Oh my goodness -he is SO cute and I am so thrilled for both of you! Max is the most AMAZING addition to your family! I wish you both all the best as you settle in to parenthood – enjoy every minute – they grow so fast! Congratulations!!!
Congratulations, Doug and Chenin. He’s absolutely beautiful!
Congrats Chenin! Hope you and Doug are getting enough sleep. Great Shots as usual:)
Chenin, Congrats! He is beautiful and I am so happy for you and Doug. I wish nothing but the best for the three of you and can not wait to see what is in store for you all.
Congratulations…….he is beautiful!
Congratulations…….he is beautiful!
CONGRATS TO THE 4 OF YOU! (Doggie Murray is included) What a wonderful idea to include Murray in the gifts…how sweet and thoughtful. He deserves it!!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos and stories with the world and your faithful blog followers. You are def my fav photographers. So down to earth… Just wondering….did you birth at home???? Best with everything. Please continue to share….i love reading happy news.
CONGRATS! Wow he is so adorable. We wish you all the best. Enjoy him while he is so tiny, they grow fast. We look forward to watching him grow.
What a beautiful baby and what gorgeous photos! You really are blessed, enjoy your newborn, they grow up fast!
chenin, he is absolutely perfect! i am sooo happy for you and doug; congratulations on this precious blessing! hope to get together soon, once things get a bit calmed down. lots and lots of love to your newly extended family!! xoxo
GUys, huge congrats on this new chapter of your life. What a blessing!
Congrats! So exciting! So glad to hear that everything went well with the delivery- he is so cute! Can’t wait to see how well he’ll be documented having two photographer for parents! : )
Wow! He is perfect in every way. What a cutie
Congrats to you both on the best thing ever – Parenthood. Cannot wait to see more of your little guy as he gets older, I am sure you will have the most awesome pictures to document his life! Congrats again and best wishes!
He is beautiful!! Congratulations!!
Precious Chenin! Congratulations!!
He is absolutely perfect!! Congratulations.
Congratulations to you both…Max looks beautiful!!! Welcome to the new world of parenthood…its’ pretty darn amazing…Paul, NIcki, Kate …
Congratulations, Max is so adorable! So glad you had a smooth delivery.
Murray is adorable – what kind of dog is he?
He’s beautiful! Congrats!
Congrats Chenin & Doug and welcome to the wonderful world of parenting!!! Max is adorable! Enjoy every precious moment with him because they grow SO fast. I just had my 5th baby on Feb. 7th.
chenin…congrats to you and doug and little max is adorable…such a wonderful blessing…take care..xoxo
you were doing something MUCH more substantial than hanging out at WPPI this year…. Congrats!!
Congrats! He’s precious! Isn’t it amazing how much you can love someone who, right now, can give nothing back in return?! What a blessing!
AWWW Chenin and Doug!!! Congrats on the little guy he is perfect!! I love the first pictures so much!!! I love what you wrote about how much realized how indispensable Doug is after your baby! I truly felt the same way with my husband when my daughter was born! You really do fall in love again with your husband all over again and much more!!! Lots of Blessing to your new family!!! Enjoy and saturate yourself with every second of that baby, because one day you wake up and they are toddlers!!!
Congrats from Dallas Girl!!!
Congrats to you both. He is beautiful!!!
I just cried! Wow I am so happy right now. ahhhh its so wonderful!
it’s crazy how i’m so happy for you and i don’t even know you…your son is an absolute doll! congrats! your work is very inspirational to me!!
Congratulations to the both of you! He’s precious
)
He’s so gorgeous!! Congratulations. Enjoy him while he’s young, they grow so fast. Mine is now 2 1/2 and I feel like he was just that small
Hugs!
CONGRATS!!!
He is just TOO CUTE!!!!
ohhh what a sweet little babe. these pictures are amazing…..CONGRATS!!! your newest little blessing is absolutely beautiful! looking forward to seeing more photos of your new little subject
ohhh what a sweet little babe. these pictures are amazing…..CONGRATS!!! your newest little blessing is absolutely beautiful! looking forward to seeing more photos of your new little subject
Congrats! He is soooo cute!
Congrats Chenin & Doug
he is just adorable!!!!!! Hope you have a wonderful time with maternity leave 
xoxo
Congratulations! He is absolutely precious!
Congratulations of your new little bundle of love! !
He is perfect! I had to laugh about your water breaking in the tub and how convenient that was. With my first pregnancy my water broke while I was using the bathroom…how’s that for convenient! Be good to yourself. There is a reason they say it takes 6 weeks to get on your feet again and even then it isn’t until the baby is 12-15 weeks do you find any shred of a schedule appearing. Double high fives for amazing husbands. Very happy for you guys, children only enrich this business and make you appreciate everything all over again.
What a beautiful beautiful baby. Congratulations to all of you including Murray!
Congrats you guys! Glad everything is going along so swimmingly.
little MAX!!! Heavens to Betsy if he isn’t the cutest darn thing! Congrats to you both!
Little MAX!! heavens to betsy is he ever Cute!! congrats to you both~
wwowowow congrats!!!
Wow, he is a gorgeous little creature. Congratulations so much guys, all the best for the new addition to the family! And is it just me – or is that horizontal photo of Max, fourth down just THE SPITTING IMAGE of Doug?!
oh, i think i’m a little late on congratulating you! but i still will!!!!
as you have found out, there IS nothing else EVER that can bring more joy, peace, meaning and love to your lives. the very best to all of you;) gina
oh Chenin! He’s absolutely perfect! the day after shot of him is my fave. we are expecting our first little one and i was happy to hear about all the ease and joy of your pregnancy. p.s. i met you at your studio for finao a while back and my husband and I walked right past you at the spectrum about a week ago. I should have not been a shy retard and just said hello. so until the next time i brush past you, “hello” and “congratulations!”
Congratulations you two! He is so precious. You might discover a new passion for baby photography by having a handy model. I know I did.
Congratualtions! Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. I hope you are getting some sleep.
Congrats you guys! The Max is too beautiful. Enjoy every moment!
Congrats you guys! The Max is too beautiful. Enjoy every moment!
Congrats you guys! The Max is too beautiful. Enjoy every moment!
Congrats you guys! The Max is too beautiful. Enjoy every moment!
Ok Thats a lot of congrats… Sorry about that… My patience for computers are not what they should be:)
The greatest blessing a woman could have is to be a mother!!! Congratulations!
so sweet to hear your words about your guys’ projects- congratulations to you guys!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! he is SOOO freaking precious! that first one makes me want to cry, seriously. I hope you’re enjoying your new time as a family!
Hi Guys! Long time no see. I am so happy for you both. Congratulations on your new adventure. Parenthood is awesome, you are going to love it. Congrats again!
Totally adorable – congratulations. I’m a new grandma of a 2 month old little boy, Soren and he has captivated my heart. You are right – you are blessed with this precious little boy. Enjoy every minute, before you know it he will drive a away in a sports car with a girl!!!
Chenin and Doug: All the pictures are breathtakingly beautiful!! Thank you for sharing – Kelly, Gary, Chris
Your birth story sickens me!
…I hope mine will be as ‘easy’ as yours! Congrats and what great work you have! You’ve found yourself a fan! 
Hi Chenin, I stumbled upon your blog from Carrie’s. Thank you for sharing the joy of your birth!!! More people need to share (and hear) good birth stories and your’s sounds so wonderful!!!! Congratulations on your beautiful birth and your beautiful baby!
congrats on your new beautiful boy! And wow he has perfect timing– he got here well before the real wedding season began! LOL
Congrats!!
Congratulations. My wife and I are due in two weeks.
brilliant! Congratulations!
Congratulations! Aly and I are super excited for you guys and would love to meet young Max soon!
Lots of love,
Peter and Aly Lago
Congrats Chenin & Doug! Max is beautiful! I’m so glad to hear that Murray liked him as well… I wish you and your family all the best!
Congratulations to you and your beautiful family!! I wish you great love and much happiness on this important “project”!! Family first.
Congrats
BEAUTIFUL! And … where on earth did you get that DaMask backdrop (chari????). I’m trying to find THAT EXACT material with little success.
so cute, so lovely.
I love that first photo….made me stop and look at the rest of the blog! Well done.