One. – Long Island First Birthday & Cake Smash Photographer

I always felt a little bit of relief when my babies turned one.

Obviously, I was excited to celebrate them, but there was also this feeling of okay... we made it. We made it through that first year where everything feels so new, and every little thing somehow feels like a very big thing.

That first year is filled with so many things that feel enormous while you're living them.

The first night home. Feeding. Sleeping. Not sleeping. Wondering if they're eating enough. Wondering if they're sleeping too much. Every little fever. Every new sound. Every milestone you're waiting for and every milestone you're Googling at 2 a.m.

At the time, those things can feel like the biggest things in the world.

And then, somehow you get to their first birthday and realize that so many of the big things became little things.

You figured them out.

They figured them out.

You all kept going.

I think that's part of why I love first birthday sessions so much.

Yes, we're celebrating the baby. This tiny person suddenly has opinions and expressions and a whole personality that definitely wasn't there a year ago.

But I think there's a little bit of a celebration for the parents in there too.

You got them here.

This setup made me think about that even more because behind him are all these photographs from his first year.

All those different versions of this same little boy.

And now he's standing.

He's smiling.

He's ONE.

And then, naturally, we gave him cake.

Because after making it through the first year, everybody deserves some cake.

I know there are plenty of bigger milestones still ahead.

You look at this little person who somehow went from a newborn in your arms to the baby sitting in front of you, and for a second you get to look back at everything that felt so big along the way.

And realize you made it through.

Happy first birthday, little guy.

And maybe, quietly, happy first year to Mom and Dad too.

Planning a first birthday? Gina Marie Photography offers first birthday portraits and cake smash photography on Long Island. Sessions can include traditional birthday portraits followed by a cake smash.

One. – Long Island First Birthday & Cake Smash Photographer

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