When I signed up for the Walt Disney World College Program internship, I never could have fathomed how many amazing people would be placed in my life. I was able to meet Nick (Hallpants’ dad), and my best friend Casi. One girl at work I always wanted to become better friends with but never got the chance was Jessica. She seemed to be one of the “cool” kids at work, and this status was cemented when she transferred out of attractions to become “best friends” with Mary Poppins.

I loved when this happened because it was the first time I was ever really friends with a character. I begged for shifts at Dumbo during the day because I knew my Poppins rode carousel, and if I could time it just right, I could sneak a wave when I was doing Dumbo Long Walk. (I never said I was a cool kid, ok?!)

As the years passed, we both moved on, met our fellas, and got married. Thanks to Facebook we kept in touch, and though we didn’t photograph her wedding, Jessica kept tabs on our photography as we grew the past six years. I was so excited when she wrote asking us to photograph her little boy Henry’s first birthday session! :)

Jessica and her husband Brad are wonderfully sentimental people. When it came time to decide where we should photograph their session, she was torn between Port Orleans (where she and Brad stayed when only they knew Jessica was pregnant), and downtown Windermere (when Henry was a newborn and Jessica needed to get out of the house, she’d drive him to Windermere where they’d sit on the library rocking chairs and read books, or walk around the park!) She ultimately decided Windermere was the right place, and I’m so glad she did! :)

I was worried Henry would take a while to warm up to us, but once we got him in a swing, we had him! :)

Love this family! :)

Cake smash time!! Even the cake had special meaning- Jessica and Brad did a “gender reveal” when they were pregnant, where in front of family members (I think on Skype!) they cut into the cake to see if it was pink or blue. Jessica put the cake into the freezer and saved it until Henry was one for his cake smash- So perfect! <3

Jessica, thank you for letting us spend time with your sweet family! Looking forward to seeing you again soon. :)