I’m a little late sharing this — about two weeks behind — and I feel like a terrible aunt for the delay. In my defense, the day after Jackson’s party my computer picked up a nasty virus while I was working on the photos. I managed to get a few snapshots uploaded to Facebook for my sister and the rest of the family, but I never finished a proper blog post until now.
Over the past year I’ve had such a wonderful time photographing this little guy. Watching a baby change from newborn to twelve months is incredible, and capturing those moments has been a real joy. For his first birthday, my sister hosted a Winnie-the-Pooh themed celebration at the local civic center. Family and close friends gathered for the party, and everything was adorable — from the decorations to the cake. Jackson clearly loved the attention and all the activity, and we all had a great time celebrating him.
But first, a look back at the past year and how much he’s grown.
The morning of the party started with a classic kid breakfast: a burger. He also had his regular breathing treatment — something we jokingly refer to as his “bong.” That’s just family humor, and the treatment helps keep him comfortable. After his treatment, Jackson was all smiles and settled in, ready for the festivities.
Once he was cheerful, we moved on to the party activities and the photo opportunities. He happily posed, explored, and soaked up attention from family members who were eager to celebrate his milestone. There were lots of candid moments and plenty of smiles — the kind that make photographing him a pure pleasure.
Food was a highlight. I couldn’t resist snapping photos of the colorful fruit plate he eagerly devoured — a perfect healthy bite in the middle of all the treats. Watching him sample a variety of foods and react to new tastes was a fun part of the day and made for great candid photos.
Then came the moment we’d all been waiting for: cake. He dove right in, hands first, and the inevitably messy but delightful photos followed. There’s something priceless about the way toddlers experience their first cake — full curiosity, a bit of confusion, and lots of pure delight.
Mmmmmmm… messy, sticky, and absolutely worth it. The final tally: cake 0, Jackson 1. He came away victorious and covered in frosting.
One unexpected highlight was bath time: a quick sink bath that he absolutely adored. He splashed and played while we cleaned up the frosting, and those little moments of contentment were some of the sweetest of the day. After the bath, he relaxed with a bit of ice cream, which finished the day off and helped lull him into a deep, satisfied sleep.
Finally, a small scoop of ice cream helped to cap off a very full day. He fell asleep content and tired — a sure sign that the party was a success. It was an unforgettable first birthday filled with laughter, messy fun, and plenty of family love. I’m glad I could be there to photograph so many of those moments, and I’m happy to finally share them here.