Avalon : Just Because Session

I have a confession to make. There was a point in my life when I didn't want children. I'm a realist, to some extent, so when I would think about children, I didn't envision precious little pudgy toes, or cute baby noises. I pictured a bratty, know-it-all 16-year-old with a sarcastic attitude who slammed doors in my face. When I would see kids in restaurants, screaming at the top of their lungs next to seemingly worn out parents, I would silently vow to myself, Nope. Never going to happen. I wanted no part of the mommy lifestyle, and much to my own mother's dismay, I wrote off the child-bearing idea all together.

I divulge all of this to tell you, I stand a changed woman.  Nowadays, you can find me squealing over miniature pink sundresses in Target, and making ridiculous faces at random babies in the mall. You could say that I've done a complete 180. I don't think babies are in my immediate future, but let's just say that I'm embracing the idea of it happening somewhere down the road.  This altered perspective has to do (in large part) to the fact that I'm married to a man who I can see myself journeying through parenthood with. It also has to do with babies like Avalon. 

Denise and Thomas are friends of ours from Journey, and they have a beautiful daughter named Avalon. Denise approached me awhile ago about taking photos of Avalon, because her first birthday was coming up. After finally getting our crazy schedules lined up, we set a date to meet at Gilbert Park in Mt. Dora. There couldn't have been a more perfect location for a baby shoot. Gilbert Park holds an entire play area filled with colorful slides, swings, monkey bars, and stairs; a kid's dream world. As soon as Avalon got out of her stroller, she was off - literally. Ben and I got our workout for the day chasing her all around the park (and into places that grown ups really weren't meant to climb in). Hands down, she is one of the happiest, most easygoing children I have ever met. She would fall down, we would hold our breath waiting for a cry, and she would totally surprise us by getting right back up with a huge smile on her face. Just check it out for yourself. :) :

This "number one" was caught by pure luck. 

Crawling across the bars...

Who doesn't love swinging?!

Hangin' with mommy and daddy.

She could be a Gerber baby. Beautiful.

If Denise and Thomas weren't my friends, I would probably kidnap their child. Ok, I'm not that creepy, but she is just so adorable.

Like I said, all smiles. :)