A series of warm toned lifestyle photos showing a baby sitting on a white bed with brown textured blankets and decorative elements.
A smiling baby wearing a cream lace dress sits on a textured cream blanket with a delicate floral headband.

 

As a mom of four kids—all born in November (yes, really!)—birthdays can feel like a whirlwind. But this past year, something felt different. My youngest daughter, Evelina, was turning one, and I just didn’t feel up to planning a big birthday party.


Maybe it’s because all my close friends have teenagers now, and I’m the one who started over with an infant. Or maybe it’s because I wanted to celebrate her first year in a way that felt a little quieter, more intentional, and deeply personal.

 

Small child wearing a navy blue dress and matching bow headband in a softly lit indoor setting.
Baby wearing a pink dress and floral headband smiles at camera against beige background.
Portrait of a toddler wearing a delicate cream floral headband and white sweater against a dark background.

Instead of balloons and cake for a crowd, I chose something else: photographs.

I hired two photographer friends—two incredibly talented women who helped me freeze time in the most meaningful ways.

Jennifer wilcox


based right here in Puyallup, WA, captured Evelina’s official first year portraits. We even recreated similar images I had done years ago with my daughter Meme. That connection between my girls—those mirrored milestones—mean the world to me. Evelina also had a sweet cake smash session, wearing the most beautiful dress crocheted by my mom’s cousin. Every stitch of that dress held family history, and now, those memories are preserved forever.

Five sequential photos show a baby in peach-colored lace dress sitting and playing on a small distressed white wooden chair.
A baby in a cream sweater crawls across a wooden surface in a series of progressive motion shots against a dark background.
Smiling baby wearing white knit sweater and headband sits in wooden bowl on dark wooden surface.
A toddler wearing a sparkly beige dress sits on a distressed white wooden chair against a brown backdrop.
A baby wearing a delicate beige lace dress sits on a brown backdrop with baby's breath flowers as decoration.
Small child in peach lace dress sits in antique white wooden chair against neutral brown backdrop.
A small child wearing a delicate lace headband and cream colored sweater poses against a dark background.
Baby in lace dress sits on wooden box surrounded by delicate floral arrangements against copper backdrop.
Baby wearing white headband and onesie crawls toward a gingerbread cookie on cream-colored backdrop.
A baby in a white onesie reaches out to touch a small plush toy bear on a cream-colored background.
Baby in cream sweater with floral headband lies on cream background in sequential crawling motion progression.
A small child in a champagne lace dress sits on a brown backdrop surrounded by delicate white flowers.
Baby in a knit sweater sits smiling in a woven basket against a neutral beige background.
Sweet baby girl in peach lace dress poses during professional studio portrait session against beige backdrop.
A sweet baby wearing a pink headband smiles while sitting for a series of adorable portrait photos.
A small child wearing a beige sweater sits in a woven basket against a neutral background, wearing a delicate floral headband.
A small child in a lace dress kneels on a brown backdrop surrounded by delicate white floral arrangements.
Baby in pink lace dress sits on beige backdrop with peach-colored flowers and greenery for milestone photo session.
A series of photos showing a giggling baby wearing a delicate cream lace dress against a neutral beige background.
Small child in lace dress stands against brown background holding white vintage chair.
Baby in pink romper plays with flour and cake ingredients during messy cake smash photo session on brown backdrop.
A baby in beige backdrop lies among white flowers while playing with cake in a first birthday cake smash photo session.
Baby wearing neutral colors sits next to floral decorations and small white cake during photo session in tan studio.
Baby wearing lace dress and delicate headband takes a big bite of cake during cake smash photo session.
Baby in white lace outfit dives face-first into cake during first birthday photoshoot with floral decorations.
Sweet baby in lace dress sits among delicate white flowers during professional photoshoot with brown backdrop.
Baby in white top sits among teddy bears on rustic wooden floor.
Baby wearing navy blue ruffle romper sits on vintage wooden crate surrounded by teddy bears in rustic setting.

MeMe's 1st year picture with Jennifer Wilcox

Evelina's 1st year picture with Jennifer Wilcox

Later, I brought in Tami Brundage

for a more relaxed, styled session with Evelina. This time, I made sure to step in front of the camera too—a rare move for me. Like most moms, I’m always the one behind the scenes. But this time, I wanted Evelina to have photos of us together. I’m so grateful I did.

A baby in a lace dress smiles while standing against a white railing in bright natural light.
Four sequential photos show a baby sitting at a wooden chair wearing a white dress against a brick background.
A small child sits in a vintage wooden high chair wearing a cream-colored dress with lace details.
A heartwarming scene of parental bonding with a small child on a cozy white bed decorated with soft blankets.
Baby wearing a delicate floral crown and lace dress smiles while laying on white bedding.
A cheerful baby in a lace dress sits on hardwood flooring against a white brick wall backdrop.
Baby sitting on cream-colored shag rug during professional portrait session against white brick wall background.
A happy baby in a cream dress leans and plays on a wooden chair in soft natural light.
Baby wearing brown knit sweater and floral crown sits on patterned rug in minimalist indoor setting.
A set of lifestyle photos showing an infant playing with a wooden toy ukulele in various candid moments.
A series of connected images showing a baby crawling along a white brick wall wearing a delicate lace romper.
A joyful baby wearing a white dress sits in a wooden high chair against a light backdrop.
Parent in red sweater lovingly holding and interacting with a baby wearing delicate lace dress.
A happy child sits in a wooden rocking chair at a wooden table with a brick wall background.

Looking back, I have no regrets about skipping the party. What I have instead are timeless images that tell the story of her first year—the love, the laughter, the bond we share.

And that’s a celebration that will never fade.