Birthdays and a Baby- from 1st to 40th!

A weekend full of people of all ages and how each of them celebrate another day of life certainly causes some reflection on the whole cycle.  On Saturday afternoon I followed the fun of a one year old...a child whom I've been photographing since the age of nine days, yes days, old (Happy Birthday Leah!).  She spent her birthday enjoying the new thrill of walking all the while still needing the assistance of her parents during the day.  Her drink was lemonade from a "grown up" party cup and her cake experience involved squashing the face of it with and open palm.  

Later that night and two counties north, someone else was preparing to have his friends over for a party too (Happy Birthday Morgan!).  Since he has a thirty nine year lead on Leah for birthdays, his went down in a different style all together.  Yes, there were party cups but they were full of adult tiki-inspired beverages and fluorescent floaters.  While the nautical cake wasn't turned into a sloshy mess, the significance of the "cake ceremony" is what made those in attendance gather together and sing the historical tune of cheer.  So it seems that blowing out candles and clapping is a universal smile-starter.  But who ever thought that it wasn't?

Sunday started a new day with someone whose life can still easily be counted in weeks, days even.  While she is still growing accustom to this world and what it's all about, one thing that she already has down is how to be cute (Cheers to you Victoria!)!  The energy that surrounds a baby is like no other.  That calmness paired with two happy parents guided the photo session and it went wonderfully (Here's to you, new parents Claudia and Michael!).  

After back-to-back birthday celebrations it seems that the common factor is the presence of parents.  One party was directed by the mother and father, the other was able to have them as special guests.  Without them where would we be, and who would we be?  Without mine I wouldn't have aspired to be the person, and Photographer, that I am (Mom and Dad- Mark and Eileen- you are amazing!  Thank you!).  

...Sentimental signoff...