Baby's First Birthday Pictures

Ellena marked her first birthday last April, but in June we took our baby's first birthday pictures because the weather was finally warm enough to capture what I had envisioned. 

When we announced we'd be having a baby girl we went to Lake Barcis in Italy and posed on a dock there, so I was hoping to include similar elements in her first birthday pictures, with the idea to sort of recreate this photograph every year until she turns 18 (or for as long as she'll willingly cooperate ha, ha, ha!)

We took her to this gorgeous park we discovered aptly called Newport News Park,  located in Newport News, Virginia. It's a huge park with many things to do, and it happened to have a little bridge which was the perfect setting  for this shot. If you're ever in the Hampton Roads area of southern Virginia, do check out this park, for a nice day out.

I know I've said this before, but I still smile, when I use the phrase, "my daughter", in a sentence. It's so surreal, sometimes, because I really thought I was done having babies and I was so happy to be a "boy mom". My boys are such a joy, and they keep me on my toes, and have showed me sides to myself I don't think I would've discovered if I'd only had girls. However having a daughter after two boys is something of a wonder. We're all in love with her and totally captivated by her. 

I took photos of Ellena wearing a bow, and one of the birthday hats I made. You can read about her birthday hat in my post titled, How to Make a First Birthday Party Hat

I found the dress she wore in a consignment shop, here is a similar dress. I'm pretty sure it's a ballet dress. Under she wore a pair of ruffle bloomers and gold sandals. We accessorized her outfit with a pink bow and a giant balloon.