Ethan: One Year – Northern VA Family Photographer

“the baby years are short, kind of like five minutes… it doesn’t seem like it, but he will go on to kindergarten then read the harry potter series then join the ‘ninja club’ in middle school then play high school soccer and rent his first tux for prom and run over a fence in his truck. you will hit your knees and thank God that you got to parent this kid, that he was yours. my gosh…what a gift.”
– jen hatmakerNorthern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold01I’m still not quite sure how it all happened so fast, but last month this handsome little man celebrated his very first birthday. clearly he’s been ignoring everyone’s desperate pleas for him to just stay little, because he showed up to his first birthday session waving, talking, and ready to take off chasing the horses. I get to hear Ethan stories and updates a couple times a week from Dan who has been my personal trainer for a couple years now, but it’s way more fun to see him in person than to see him in photos on Dan’s phone :) Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold03he is going to be walking in no time!Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold04Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold06Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold07we did the session at the barn where my mom keeps her two horses and Ethan was SO fascinated by them! As soon as mom walked up with Charlie he got so excited and wanted to walk right over to him. Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold14I really think at this point he would have wrapped his arms around Charlie’s nose in a big hug if he could have…Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold16but as soon as Ethan reached out for Charlie, Charlie (who will lick you upside the face if you get close enough..) decided to snuggle in close… Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold17and ended up bonking Ethan on the head which knocked him off his feet… (can you see the look of feeling betrayed on Ethan’s face?) Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold19… which didn’t go over so well ;) after that I think Ethan so badly wanted to be close to the horses, but kept having flash backs of a big horsey nose knocking him over, so he decided to maintain his distance for the rest of the session :)Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold20I sent this photo to Dan explaining, “I feel like Ethan’s looking at you saying, ‘wait, you want me to do WHAT?! you’re crazy…’ it’s a look i’ve dished out to you many times, so i know it well :)” he said he can’t figure out WHY people keep giving him that look, but as one of his (ahem) favorite clients at the gym for the past few years I can come up with a couple ideas as to why ;) Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold25Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold26Dan and Heather said this was one of the very first times Ethan has stood up for a while without holding onto anything… go Ethan go!  Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold33Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold36Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold37Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold39Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold41Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold42i love love love this next handful of images of Heather with Ethan..Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold44one of my favorites from their session! being a mama looks SO beautiful on you Heather!Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold47Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold49Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold54Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold58Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold59Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold60and up walked another horse and the struggle began again.. he so badly wanted to go over and see him, but you can see that look in his face that says he’s thinking twice about it… Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold66but he decided to go anyway! it was so cute how excited he would get watching them and walking over to say hi, and then as soon as he got close enough to touch them he decided he needed someone to hold him after all. can’t say i blame him, those horses are BIG!Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold70Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold86Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold88Northern_VA_Family_Portraits_Merold93happy first birthday, little friend! :) Untitled-1you can go back and see Ethan’s newborn portraits, four month portraits, and eight month portraits as well! Happy Wednesday! :)

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  1. Heather says:

    Jessie I cannot begin to thank you! I love, love, love all of these!!! Thank you for sharing <3

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