Little Miss Meredith is one... My baby isn't a baby anymore. "/

A couple of weeks ago I was texting with my girlfriends who are both fabulous cake decorators, and was lamenting that they both live in Alaska and couldn't be here to make a cake for Meredith. I'd decided I wanted to do a smash cake photo session with Meredith, and I wanted something that would look pretty in the pictures. They both told me I could easily put a pretty cake together and not to worry. Sent me recipes and honestly made me feel like I would be able to pull this off.

This stupid cake was damn near the end of me! I thought I'd get all creative with some decorators tips and do some simple flowers...maybe have a little purple and pink. It came out pretty hideous. In fact it was so bad that I scraped all of the icing off and started over... Then I redid it thinking maybe the pink flowers were what was throwing it off....no...it still looked like crap with just the purple, and I was super bummed about it. But, it was 11:00pm, and I was exhausted, so I went to bed and told Josh I might just go buy a cake in the morning. I literally lost sleep over it. I laid there thinking of ways I could fix the cake. I had an epiphany around 2:00am while I was feeding Meredith who had decided it was her birthday and she was going to be up! So, in the morning, I scraped all of the icing off AGAIN! And voila!

Not too bad....Just think of all this poor little cake had been through.  It went from being white, to white and pink and purple, to white and purple, to just purple.  Good grief.  Talk about an identity crisis... — Not too bad....Just think of all this poor little cake had been through. It went from being white, to white and pink and purple, to white and purple, to just purple. Good grief. Talk about an identity crisis...

Weeks ago I started buying all of the stuff I'd need for this photo session. Got a backdrop holder, some seamless paper, stuff to make the bunting, stuff to make the tutu. I was really making so much more of this than I needed to, and it was stressing me out. I kept thinking it was all going to flop. I even bought a little lighting kit that I didn't end up using once I realized that enough light was coming through our living room windows.

In the past week I'd really started to doubt my choice of a white background...I'd seen a lot of adorable photos of little girls with bold purple backgrounds and got all jealous, but I think I'm pretty happy with the white. :)

It took her a while, but she finally got hands on with it.

She never really sank her gums in (she's yet to get her first tooth), but she had a good time playing in it.  :) — She never really sank her gums in (she's yet to get her first tooth), but she had a good time playing in it. :)

Sarah Faye got her these bloomers ages ago.  I'm so glad they still fit! — Sarah Faye got her these bloomers ages ago. I'm so glad they still fit!

I'm so stoked with how awesome the pics turned out! :)

I thought I'd pay it forward and show a little of the behind the scenes stuff. I've been doing a lot of googling this week, and really appreciated when people would offer up tips.

I bought a Polaroid backdrop stand that was only about $80. The seamless paper was around $30 I think, and I got the 53" wide one. I made the bunting from card stock and ribbon. I hot glued it together. I actually ended up pulling the paper out about 10 feet and taping it to the floor, but I didn't get a pic of that.

I used a Nikon D7000 with my 35mm f/1.8 lens. I also used my cheapo SB400 speedlight. I should stop slamming it. It's a pretty nifty little flash. :)

Anna sat for me while Meredith was napping and let me get adjusted to the setup.  Notice the edges.  I cropped nearly every pic of Meredith.  I thought the 53" paper would be enough, and I guess it was, but I missed a few shots becaus… — Anna sat for me while Meredith was napping and let me get adjusted to the setup. Notice the edges. I cropped nearly every pic of Meredith. I thought the 53" paper would be enough, and I guess it was, but I missed a few shots because she was moving around so much that I couldn't get the shots because the background wasn't wide enough. (side note...check out the bob! Her new 'do is awesome!)

It wouldn't have be possible without my baby-wrangler, Rachael.  Poor Rachael, I know this had to have exhausted her.  It was like a very intense 15-minute workout.  :)  And my Mom was on-hand to keep our sons corralled. — It wouldn't have be possible without my baby-wrangler, Rachael. Poor Rachael, I know this had to have exhausted her. It was like a very intense 15-minute workout. :) And my Mom was on-hand to keep our sons corralled.

And that's about it for the smash cake. Other than that I tried to get some photos of Meredith throughout the day, but she ended up taking a 3-hour nap.

On Wallace's first birthday I got a pic of him right after he woke up, still in his crib...

Yeah...Meredith is not a morning person...  ;) — Yeah...Meredith is not a morning person... ;)

hum....how can I drive my sister crazy?  Oh I know!  I'll pull all of her precious stickers off her wall.... — hum....how can I drive my sister crazy? Oh I know! I'll pull all of her precious stickers off her wall....

Hommie put all of the wasted icing to good use.  :) — Hommie put all of the wasted icing to good use. :)

And that's about it. :) Can't believe she's already a year old! Meredith was the biggest surprise of my life, and she's been the most tremendous blessing! And now...I'm exhausted and going to bed! :) Peace out.