I am photographing my trip to Los Angeles and the surrounding areas as I await the birth of my niece. Today’s post includes a trip to Descanso Gardens in San Fernando Valley and Alyson and Tafadzwa’s first night at the hospital. These are some of my favorite images.

Alyson Phillips Mabika reacts after deciding to induce labor later in the evening on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

A coy fish swims in one of the ponds at Descanso Gardens in San Fernando Valley on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

A woman walks through the oak forest at Descanso Gardens in San Fernando Valley on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

The sun shines through trees in the oak forest at Descanso Gardens in San Fernando Valley on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Needles on a prickly pear cactus gleam in the sun at Descanso Gardens in San Fernando Valley on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Smoke comes off one of the hills surrounding Descanso Gardens in San Fernando Valley on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Daddy-to-be Tafadzwa Mabika crosses the street as he leaves Sony Pictures Entertainment Studios on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

An employee at the In N Out in North Hollywood prepares trays for customer orders on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Alyson Phillips Mabika lays in bed as her husband Tafadzwa prepares last minute items to take with them to the hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Tafadzwa Mabika walks down the hallway with his wife Alyson Phillips Mabika as they leave their apartment for the hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Alyson Phillips Mabika, Kelly Rudisill and Tafadzwa Mabika make their way down to the car as they leave for the hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Tafadzwa Mabika pulls an overnight bag out of his car after arriving at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Alyson Phillips Mabika takes the elevator up to the labor and delivery ward at Verdugo Hills Hospital in San Fernando Valley on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Alyson Phillips Mabika gets settled in her delivery room at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Stephanie Townsley straps a baby heart monitor and contraction monitor onto Alyson Phillips Mabika's stomach on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

A monitor keeps an eye on Alyson Phillips Mabika and her daughter Thea in the Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Alyson Phillips Mabika and her husband Tafadzwa sign admittance paperwork for Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

The filled out birth certificate for Theadora Tinashe Mabika sits completed next mother Alyson Phillips Mabika at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Kelly Rudisill runs Alyson Phillips Mabika's feet as she lays in her bed at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Alyson Phillips Mabika plays Old Maid with Kelly Rudisill in her delivery room at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.