As I approach my one year old’s birthday, I can’t help but brainstorm the ways we could celebrate this milestone.

There is the traditional birthday party where you invite friends over to open presents and snack continuously for a few hours.  There is the family only celebration where we gather for a simple song sung and meal shared.  There are the life experience or adventure shared options.  OR, the make a keepsake birthday party.  Or, there is the option to do something kind for someone else.  This first birthday might be the start of many years of birthday traditions so it is important to kick this off right!

Many of my clients do the Baby’s first year photo package and end their 4 photo sessions with a smash cake photo shoot.  I take a variety of family shots and then we get down to business for some sweet indulgence photos.  For some children, this is their first sweet treat and they go nuts.  Others take awhile to understand what they are eating and cautiously sample bit by bit.  It is a fun and simple way to start the birthday cake tradition, AND, I get to be there to document it.

We know our one year olds will not remember this day, but we will AND that matters. So, own it and go all in.  Make your kid feel special.  The days are long but the years are short.  Before we know it they won’t want us at their birthday parties anymore 🙁