“Our sweet baby Isla has been a sweet gift to us from the beginning. As a young mom, it is so easy to get caught up in the trivial things. We look around and start to think we should be able to have a baby, be in perfect shape, cook a homemade, healthy meal every night, have a clean house and no laundry to do, a successful career, and smart kids who never watch TV. It sounds silly when you write it all down like that, but it is the realities of the pressure we put on ourselves. As a young mom, Isla has helped me see a little more color in the world, and has encouraged me to live a more intentional life full of love for others, and with less emphasis on the trivial.

As Isla's first birthday approached, I tossed around a few extravagant ideas to celebrate - a trip to the beach or zoo was a couple hours away, and although would be memorable, likely not truly enjoyable for her. I decided I would take her and her brother on a little local adventure to some wooded trails. I brought a couple things to do her first birthday photos, and then just walked around and played with them both. We went back home for naps, and then drove through Chik-Fil-A for dinner and went right back to the park for a sunset picnic. It was one of the most low-key and memorable days I've had with my babies- watching them learn, laugh, explore, play, and interact with just nature. It was beautiful and sweet. I am so thankful I kept it low-key. When I see the pictures from the shoot, I know I captured the wonder and beauty of this genuine, perfect, fleeting stage of life.

Later on we did a little birthday party for her to celebrate with those who encouraged and loved us as we survived her first year of life. A dear friend of mine had a baby girl turning one around a similar time, and we decided to collaborate and share decorations to eliminate stress from the process. It was such a nice idea. and made organizing the party that much more fun! I decided to be easy on myself and just buy the food instead of doing homemade items- other than the smash cake and punch (as I made both of those). It made the day of the party easy and enjoyable. I was able to be very present and thankful for my sweet and colorful Isla.

Isla's first birthday was on October 1, so it was also her Golden Birthday! It was fun to include golden touches here and there for her baby cake smash. My favorite was the rose gold moccasins from ThreadLynn - They are stunning and I just cherish the memories those sweet shoes will hold, from her first birthday to her first steps.” Check out this adorable first birthday cake smash!