One Year, 2.5 Weeks

I took Amanda to get her one year pictures today. Charlie was teasing and giving me a hard time because her birthday was over two weeks ago, knowing full well that if he was in charge of it there would be no one year pictures, but he's right. With the first two kids I was there on their birthday, or the day after. I never would have waiting this long. Here's the problem. I was going to get them taken right around her birthday, but then I remembered I would have to bring the older kids and it would turn into a circus and I would be very unhappy by the end of it. Every once in awhile I want to do something with Amanda that is just for Amanda, and doesn't involve the other two trying to upstage her. She doesn't get that very often, so this time I wanted to make sure they weren't present.

It started out a little shaky. To start, the photographer was the same woman who asked me if I was pregnant when I came in for Father's Day pictures. So, I was a little agitated when I found out I would be spending the photo shoot with her. As for Amanda, unfortunately the studio is at the mall and they don't open until 10:00 a.m., so it was getting close to her nap time. All she wanted to do was sit in my lap. Then I had to take her snack away so we could take the pictures. She was not happy.

She finally warmed up with some bells and blocks and by the time we brought out the cake she was in a pretty good mood. Cake, you ask? Why would there be cake at a photo shoot? Well, I got this idea from a friend. For each of the kids on their first birthday I brought them and a cake to the photo studio. I sat the cake in front of my almost naked baby, of course they were wearing a modesty diaper, and let them go to town. I have fabulous pictures of the kids covered in frosting with the biggest smiles you have ever seen on their faces. It is a ton of fun to do and everybody loves the pictures. So by the time we finished the cake pictures she was one happy baby. Who wouldn't be, it was pretty good cake. I brought home the extra for the older kids. It's a little messed up, but they won't care.

I'm glad that I was able to suck it up and use that photographer, because she really was awesome. I had asked someone who was the best for kids that age, which is why I got her, and the person was spot on. She did a fantastic job. The pictures turned out great and it was impossible to choose. I will post some tomorrow, but I have to scan them first and since I have become so computer illiterate in my old age I will need Charlie to help me with it tomorrow. Suffice it to say if today was any reflection on how our next year will be, it's going to be sweet!