By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer
RICHLAND -- Gabe Beliz knew he wanted his camera close during the birth of his son.
What Beliz didn't know was that the 88 photos he shot early Friday morning would be of the first child born in the Tri-Cities in 2010. Krue Koen Beliz was born at 4:08 a.m. Friday to Gabe and Bethany Beliz. He weighed 8 pounds, 41/2 ounces.
"I didn't know we were in a contest," Gabe said Friday as baby and mom rested in Kadlec's birth center.
The first baby born at Lourdes Medical Center arrived at 7:43 a.m. and the first born at Kennewick General Hospital arrived just after 9 a.m.
"This is a surprise," Gabe said.
Krue is the couple's first child, although Gabe, 33, has an 8-year-old daughter. Not only did Gabe shoot photos of the birth, but he and Bethany received a digital photo frame from Kadlec, along with a $50 gift card to Fred Meyer and a quilt from White Bluffs Center for Quilting and Fiber Arts.
"I've been looking to get one of these," Gabe said as he reached for the photo frame.
On second thought, the couple decided the photos of the birth may not be fit for family and friends.
"That will be our private collection," Gabe said. "Although I could crop."
Bethany, 25, joked that she was less than thrilled to have her husband shooting photos during the birth. "If I wasn't completely out of it, I probably would have thrown his camera out the window," she said.
The Kennewick couple hopes to take the baby home this weekend.
