First Birthday

At the end of your first year as a parent there is a party.  You call it a First Birthday but to be honest, it’s a celebration of survival.  Gigi, who was born mid June 2012 in the pacific northwest, couldn't tell you what birthday she celebrated two weeks ago nor will she remember the guests and refreshments.  No, this party was for us; Parents, a little worn from a year of fractured sleep and learning how to manage the development of a little person.  

The day of Gigi's party, while I was setting up, I personally marked the occasion by accidentally cutting my finger so bad I had to run out of my apartment and have a doctor fix it for me.  At the time it was a great inconvenience and quite painful (Vicodin helped) but I realized that at the end of a life changing year that paused my career, brought me a daughter and overall turned my world upside down, maybe the only way to truly mark the day was with blood.

Throwing parties is one of my life loves; I revel in hosting people.  Gigi's popularity brought 40+ people to our apartment despite it being Father's Day.  The ceilings were dressed in 300 pink balloons (three different shades to create an ombre), tables set with desserts and candy, all washed down flutes with rose champagne.  It was a perfect afternoon.  We were also very lucky that a friend, Victor Jeffreys II, came by with his camera.  Victor has a talent for capturing life as it is happening and not in that usual fashion of posed portraits and u-shaped group shots.  These photos are amazing; showing an unadulterated snapshot of life that afternoon.  A big thanks to Victor and y’all who came out to celebrate my little lady's First Birthday.  Enjoy the photos!