She was totally overwhelmed. After a long nap, walking into a backyard full of people will do that to you…especially if you’re only a year old. Seems like just a few months ago we were at the Cathedral for Leah’s Baptism, and suddenly, poof! 1st birthday!

What a fun day this was! Leah’s theme was Eric Carle’s “The Hungry Caterpillar,” and Rowena, Leah’s mom, went through great lengths to keep the theme throughout. All the little details, from the caterpillar-shaped balloons, to the cups and party hats, to the incredible cake! They didn’t miss a beat.

To entertain the guests, a bird-trainer came by with four of his parrots to do tricks and such. Super entertaining!

It was a warm day in Ladera Ranch, but the birthday girl could care less. She was smiles all afternoon, walking every which way, greeting playmates and just being the best at one that she could be.

I’ve known my friend, Joy, since we were in elementary school. She’s three years older than me and I distinctly remember going to her graduation when I was a 5th grader, and crying because she (and a few other friends I had in her class) were leaving. I really was sad. Having been an only child at that age, I loved having friends who were older than me, and think of them as big brothers and sisters. Joy was someone I considered a big sister.

Even though she had gone on to high school, she wrote me as often as she could (the internet wasn’t…there yet), in some of the prettiest handwriting, and on the cutest stationeryI’d ever seen. Every so often, she’d call to check up on me, despite her busy high school life. I really did miss her. She’d always comfort me, saying that we’d see each other more…when I graduated from elementary. Yup, we went to the same high school – Immaculate Heart, and I got to see her everyday for a year…until she graduated again.

The phonecalls and letters had ceased, but we found each other again and I’m so happy we did. She’s got a beautiful family now (husband, Melvin and daughters Kailyn and Sophie), and I felt priveleged when she asked me to shoot Sophie’s 1st birthday.

The theme was Sophie’s Sweet Shoppe, and you’ll see why a few more scrolls down. The party was held on the CBS Studio Lot in Studio City and no details were left out. From the invitations that matched the goodie bags (designed by another IHHS alum and my talented friend, Melanie Lantin), to the bright colors of the place settings and balloons, to the CANDY BAR that had every kind of sweet treat you could ask for – Sophie’s Sweet Shoppe was heaven for all the kids. And just to appease the parents from the afternoon spent consuming all the candy, the party favors were, you guessed it, toothbrushes of course!

I know this post is months late but I couldn’t resist posting it. It was so much fun to cover for me and Andrew!

Thanks Canoza family and happy, happy birthday, sweet Sophie!

Amma Lissa – that’s what my friend, Adriana, thought my name was when I met her…27 years ago in kindergarten. She also thought I was Japanese and that eating with a spoon and fork was the weirdest thing she’d ever seen. I think it’s safe to say I was the first Filipino friend she’d ever had, and being that I came to the United States shortly before I started school, I can safely say she was the first Mexican friend I’d ever had. Actually, she was one of my first friends EVER.

We attended the same elementary school for 9 years, kept in touch throughout high school (and this was before the internet was anything at all), and after that, we have the occasional dinner or coffee date. It’s funny how no matter how much time apart has passed or passes between us, we seem to be the same two people we were when we met,  just a little older.

Now she’s a mom, married to such a wonderful guy and has one of the most well-behaved babies I’ve ever encountered. Maximo is such a sweet and happy little boy. His smile is a staple for every minute he’s awake and oh, how he is loved. There is a certain look that parents have when they look at their child. I’ve seen it in the faces of all my friends who have been blessed with kids. And Adriana and Gonzalo, they look at Maximo and I can see, not just how proud they are to have such a good baby, but how fortunate they feel that they get to be his parents.

His baptism day was a happy one – a private ceremony at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in L.A. and a lunch reception at Barragan’s on Sunset.

Thank you, Adriana, for all these years of friendship and for trusting me to capture this special day!