number one! • the juarez family celebrates daniel’s first birthday

little ones, we are family

How special that first birthday is with your first baby! I was so honored to help Mandy & Derek celebrate Daniel’s first year with our portrait session. It was extra special, because Mandy is a close friend of my childhood “cousin,” Tricia, whose mom is my mom’s best friend. I love sharing this friendship, & we all have sons who are the same age. I had a great time clicking away while Daniel got snuggled by mommy & daddy—& even more fun was watching him dig into a birthday cupcake…at first tentatively, & then getting it, & then with gusto! Happy First Birthday, Daniel!! And congratulations to Mandy & Derek for surviving that first year & raising such a sweet little boy!

c3 • the cuevas kids • palos verdes estates, ca

little ones, we are family

The Cuevas family is always in motion! Mama Erin is a dynamo–mother of three, entrepreneur, producer, & wife to wonderful husband & partner in all their creative plans, Frank. I am so impressed by how this family makes moving & opening new businesses look like so much fun & adventure. They’ve crossed the country & started new ventures & nested new homes all in the time I’ve known them, & they inspire me to break out of the routine & be bold! But I have to say, it’s nice to have them back here where we can resume our playdates & face time. We love seeing their three beautiful kids—Sienna, Jack, & introducing new addition, baby sister Carolina…

k3 • the kuykendall kids • palos verdes estates, ca

little ones, we are family

I love how life finds special ways to bring you together with great people! Max’s best friend Giovanni (in Las Vegas) connected us with his cousin, Salvatrice, who just happens to live ten minutes from us (here in Southern California). And as it would happen, we love her husband Brent & their three adorable children! Salvatrice & Brent are both educators, so I immediately felt a kinship with them—& now even more so since we both had three kids in quick succession in the last few years. We know that they know how chaotic it can be—but the Kuykendalls seem to have it all dialed in pretty nicely! One night, they had us over for dinner, & I watched with amazement at their well-oiled machine of an after-dinner routine; they not only know how to have fun, but they also know how to clean it up with the efficiency of an assembly line. I attribute it to their both having been math teachers—figure out the formula & do it! Max & I marvel at how well they manage two careers & three kids. Their littlest Giuliana, turns one this year, & she is toddling around after big bro Rocco & big sis Daniella. It’s been so fun to share the parenting journey with these wonderful friends!

loco.motive • the perrault family • lomita, ca

fashion, little ones, we are family

Sh*t, this family has style. Excuse my French, but I’m kind of in awe of them, because they really do make parenthood look hip & cool. Anjalé & Kevin’s handsome, soulful boys are almost exactly the same age as our girls; Keaton is two days older than Zoë, & Mason is ten days older than Zara, so our kids have known each other all their lives. (Amazingly, Anjalé & I had the same due dates with both pregnancies.) Anj & Kev are both artists, & their aesthetic shows in how they dress, how they plan, how they live. And they make it look quite effortless—which is what style is really about, right? But the truth is they are some of the hardest working people I know, constantly creating, constantly making art, gatherings, exploration, & connection happen within their community. Their energy inspires me, & I really felt excited to see what we would create together for their portrait session. It was sooooo much fun, & I can’t wait to collaborate again with them! {Find out more about Anjalé’s school of art KidsArt Redondo Beach, & about her illustration work & Free the Mom mommy blog! That gal is prolific!}