Last week, we had a cake smash session to commemorate my daughter, Genevieve’s, first birthday milestone. I channeled my inner housewife and made her tutu and the fabric banner in the background. I photograph a ton of cake smash sessions as a family photographer in the Iowa City area, so I wanted to make sure Genevieve’s was extra special. Her party is loosely following a “Daniel Tiger” theme, so I wanted to incorporate red, turquoise and yellow into the decor. Thanks to my husband for finally getting our deck finished, we had a great location for her session. I had Shanna at Sweetie Pie Pastries make a cake (because we all know mine would look like a hot mess from a boxed mix) and she did not disappoint! I’m in love with the naked cake trend, and she created a birthday version with funfetti that was so fun. We decided to have her add strawberries (Evie’s favorite food) just in case she wasn’t feeling the cake. She’s not huge into sweets and, of course, she avoided the cake but devoured the berries. Her second love is swimming , so she hopped right in the pool to wash off when she was finished. This little girl has a will of her own and is not afraid to show it!
Today is Genevieve’s actual birthday, with her party at Iowa City City Park yesterday. It is so hard to believe that a year has gone by. People always tell you that time speeds up when you have kids, and it is so true! Last week, as I was rocking her to sleep, I had to wipe away tears thinking there was only a few more days of her being a “baby,” when we switch from counting months to counting years. I make a living photographing babies and families, so I should be used to this, but it is so much more unbelievable when it’s your own baby. I am in awe of her growth and intelligence already, and I cannot imagine what the world has in store for her. We get stopped wherever we go, with the first comment being “Look at her big, blue eyes!” followed by, “She is just the happiest baby!” And she really is the happiest baby! Even when she gets hurt, she doesn’t cry for more than a minute. When her favorite kitty scratches her (because she might be a little overzealous with her kisses), she just goes right back to giggles and hugs. Evie has retaught me to find joy in the smallest things in life. She loves to dance, feel raindrops, bonk her head and watch her beloved Daniel Tiger. She will eat any fruit and veggie (especially strawberries!), wishes she could be naked every day and could swim for hours. She is turning into such a curious and adventurous little girl, and I’m so proud of her fearless curiosity! She is going to be quite the force to be reckoned with someday, which I’m sure will bring some parenting challenges, but will give her a fulfilling life. I sit reflecting on how blessed we have been this year with our little girl, and I can’t form the words to express how transformed our family is. Happy birthday, Genevieve! Here’s to many more years of joy and adventure!
She is so beautiful, and I know exactly how you feel!!