Our little star is turning one...

This weekend my niece turns one year old. She is the squishiest, softest, sweetest, most adorable thing...pretty much ever. This past Saturday, we all gathered to celebrate the first year of her life and children and adults alike had a great time. The party was held at this awesome little place called My Gym in Eastlake; it's basically a gym for children, with lots of cool toys and activities (ie trampolines, a ball pit, rock-climbing wall, games, gymnastics, and more)! I heard a few adults wishing out loud that they had a gym like that for adults! lol

Anyway, I'm so excited to watch my niece grow. She has already changed so much and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for her! She is just a little ball of light - making her name so very fitting.

Ok, so let's get to the fun! I, of course, took a ton of pictures but I'll just share ahem...a few here.

My brother made this amazing dragon cover for the swing. He's a regular Martha Martin Stewart! lol

Two cakes - one strawberry lemon made my brother (which was very yum). And the other, passion fruit mousse, courtesy of a family favorite, Hans & Harry's. We use them a bunch - even used them for our wedding! This is the sun from Ni Hao Kai-lan (party's theme)...

Thomas and Cynthia, congrats on surviving the first year! I know it is a bittersweet time as your baby grows into toddlerhood, but I promise there is so much more fun around the corner (especially now that she is mobile!). I love all three of you so much!

30 by 31

I was recently perusing the blog of one of my favorite local photographers, Susan. In it, she included a list of things she wanted to do before she reached her next birthday. Reading her list, it inspired me to complete a list of my own. And since I'm turning 30 (whoa!) this coming Sunday, I feel like Susan's post came at the perfect time.

So here it is - my list of 30 things to do before I turn 31...

01. Spend lots of quality time with my husband and daughter
02. Run/walk for a cause (5k maybe)
03. Commit to and complete my 365 project
04. Be more consistent with my blog (hoping that #3 will help this tremendously)
05. Get some of my photos printed on large format
06. Get better at forgiving AND forgetting
07. Get my next tattoo (it’s been almost ten years since the last)
08. Make a new friend
09. Pay off my student loan
10. Finish at least the first Harry Potter book (I got the series as a gift…last year)
11. Attend more girls’ nights
12. Learn to swim
13. Get into a yoga class
14. Start hiking
15. Get my daughter into her own room
16. Paint a picture
17. Clean out and organize our bedroom closet
18. Buy some real knives. I’m talking chef quality.
19. Go to at least two live shows.
20. Start using a cell phone again
21. Consolidate email addresses
22. Get braces
23. Get a professional massage
24. Start working out again
25. Create my own set of holiday card templates
26. Buy a vintage twin lens reflex camera
27. Visit the salton sea
28. Check out three or more museums (preferably ones I haven’t been to yet)
29. Leave on a jet plane…somewhere
30. Random act of kindness for a perfect stranger

So there's my list. I will update this post as I go, crossing things off as they get completed. Hopefully I will be able to get these done. And hey, anyone who wants to help me, let me know. In fact, if you decide to draw up your own list, please share it. I love stuff like this!

Scadoosh!

Last Saturday, our friends and family came out to help us celebrate Beans turning two. The theme for the birthday party was Kung Fu Panda and it came together pretty nicely, if I do say so myself. Everyone appeared to enjoy themselves - most importantly, the birthday girl had a blast! She was worn out by the time the last guests said their farewells and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the bed.

Thank you to everyone who came out to help us celebrate, and all who sent their love and birthday wishes. We are so blessed not just by her presence in our lives, but also by the love she is shown by all of you. A million times, thank you.

Invitation, courtesy of Photo Flair Designs

Yummy peaches-and-cream cake, courtesy of Crumbs of Paris

My cup runneth over...

I can hardly believe it, but my Beans is two-years old today. I will have much more to post this weekend since her party is on Saturday, but I couldn't let the day go by without saying something. Everyday I don't think my heart could feel anymore full, but then she smiles at me. *sigh* She is, by far, the greatest gift that God has ever given to us. We are so thankful to have you in our lives.

Happy 2nd birthday my sweet girl. Mommy and daddy love you so much.

2006

2008

So now I'll leave you all with one of my all-time favorite quotes...

"I was not alive. I existed. I imagine that I drew breath and exhaled...but I don't have any particularly fond memories of it. I mean, I don't think I took a real breath until my daughter was born."
- Johnny Depp

Sneak Peek for J and Family!

First, I have to say Happy 1st Birthday J! It has been so fun watching you grow up and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you.

Second, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing J's first birthday party this past Saturday. All of the kids enjoyed meeting and getting their faces painted by the clown, jumping in the bouncehouse, chowing down on pizza and the Elmo cupcake cake (so yummy)! I also have to say that of all the first birthday parties I've been to (including my own daughter's), little J was the most appreciative kid I've seen! He smiled at every single gift. Especially shocking since mom had to wake him up to open his gifts.

Thank you J and family...I had such great time! And without further ado...some teasers from the big day...

Oh - this was also the day that J received his very first haircut. There were a lot of emotions - everything from excitement to hilarity to a bit of, well, fear! lol Check out mom's face!