So apparently it's June.

So apparently it's June. Welcome, June! May flew by in a flurry of travels and birthdays and Christenings. Christenings, you say? Ah yes, so it turns out, I have one more obligatory post from May. So apparently Christenings are much more difficult to schedule than I'd initially realized. Thus the date we wound up with that could accommodate our party of 16 was the weekend after Eliza's birthday. I admit, we were barely recovered in time for round 2. My house was not quite there, that's for sure. But it was such a fun weekend! The entire Miller clan flew down for the festivities, and had their own little family birthday party for E. I'm not sure why, except for space was tight and I only had my portrait lens with me, but I got very few good pictures of this day.

The Millers decorated the house they rented for the weekend with the banners from Eliza's party.

The name banner I made (which I didn't get a single picture of at the party) was hung outside.

Auntie Katie

More delicious sugar from Hey Cupcake! - I'm afraid she is starting to think this is a thing we do on Saturdays.

Her first Madame Alexander doll - a little baby Alexander - from her great aunt and uncle.

They have been big pals ever since.

And this is the wagon that Cita and Daddy Jack gave Eliza for her birthday. She has been loving wagon rides up and down our street. This will be such a fun thing to have as she grows. Thank you to Cita, Daddy Jack, Katie, Emily and Will for flying down and celebrating year one with us!

The next morning, Eliza was baptized at our church. She waved to all the people, chattered happily, and was a pretty perfect baby all service long. I wasn't TOO surprised, but you never know with a baby. As much of a social butterfly as she is, she is also pretty strong-willed and I wasn't sure how she'd like being in the long gown and unable to move for an hour and a half. We could not have asked for much more from her!

 

With her godmother, Braden

Once again, being the sole event photographer and mama at our family functions comes with some drawbacks. I'm really starting to regret not having more pictures from our big days - I struggle balancing being in the moment with wanting to get the shot. This particular day we were in such a rush to get brunch going that I really did not get many at all. But let me tell you, this is one celebrated baby!

I was wise (and correct) in assuming it would be a rush once we got into the luncheon my grandmother had planned, so even though I knew they were waiting on us, we had Katie snap this family picture outside:

Loved this - my grandmother made a name card for Eliza's high chair

This is me slipping E. into something a little more comfortable to eat (thanks, Melissa and Allison for this dress!). Thank you, Braden, for hijacking my camera and making me be in a few! 

It was such a special day to have all of our family here together, celebrating our daughter's first year and her baptism. We are so very blessed by our families, and never more so than when they are together. It was a wonderful way to officially close out year one - a year we will not soon forget!