Today's story? My adorbz nieceling Sophie's first birthday party! In this case I'm doing it a bit in reverse since I've already scrapped several layouts of this (here, here, here, and here), but, hey, it all gets done in the end, right?
When I arrived at my parents' house for the party on a Sunday morning in July, Miss Thang had just gotten up from her nap and was looking all cute in her party dress.
Then of course she had to have a visit with my Dad...
And with Beth's Dad, too.
Mom was busy getting everything ready. For once I was not the main party planner! It was kinda nice just to sit back and shoot photos (especially since I'd just come back from CHA, where I took more than 1800!).
A bunch of my cousins and their kids (whom I haven't seen in a looooong time) were there. Naomi is my cousin Felicia's little girl, and I literally hadn't seen her since she was just a month or two old!
Jordan and Naomi- Jordan is Chris's (another cousin, Felicia's brother) daughter.
Beth tried putting a birthday tiara on Sophie...
...but little bugs was having none of it and tossed it on the floor!
In the end, though, it did make a rather nice toy to chew on...
Jake with his parents. These people are hard to catch photos of since they tend to hide from the camera!
Shelli (Chris's wife) with Naomi.
Beth's sister Jennifer with her son, Isaiah.
Sophie had just started making fish faces right before her birthday.
She wasn't quite sure what to do with the cake...
...so she very slowly picked at it...
...one...
...crumb... (her expression here kills me!)
...at...
...a...
...time.
Mike thought he'd be funny and give Sophie "real" milk for her birthday.
The birthday cake the rest of us ate.
And I shot this just because I felt like it. I think it's so cool that Sophie is playing with some our old toys!
Chris and Shelli with one of their boys, either Haydn or Christian (they're identical twins).
Everyone settled in to watch Sophie open her gifts, one of which was a brand new wagon! She wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first...
...but then she seemed to dig it.
My aunt Linda and uncle Mike, who just retired from the Army reserves.
Sweet cousins!
Felicia and Naomi.
And then it was time to rip into the presents for realz. Sophie was quite into tearing the paper.
Then J took over helping her open packages (which led to hilarity later on).
That's Lissa in the background, with Ryan- they've been friends with Beth and J since college.
Isaiah was enthralled with Sophie's new talking Cookie Monster toy.
He did this over and over to make it talk!
And this next pair of photos? It's exactly what it looks like. My brother is truly Father of the Year, eh? (Note Ryan taking photos from behind. :) )
Hmmmm, so is the tape or the paper more interesting?
Apparently neither, since Sophie actually got up and walked out halfway through unwrapping! Dad had to bring her back in. :)
What she did with this big box of stuff from my parents was hilarious!
Dig in...
...and pick something up and throw is behind. Apparently she does this with clean laundry, too.
My brother was rushing to keep up with her!
Fish face!
Before we all left, I took some portraits of Ryan, Lissa, Jon, Beth, and Sophie- such a fun group!
