Rilien’s 1st Birthday and Naming Day

We’d love to share our beautiful little man’s first birthday and naming day with you. It was very much a family affair with some special friends too. We decked out our backyard with #1′s and planes in the trees.

Beautiful celebrant and friend Angela Miller created a wonderful naming ceremony to celebrate Rilien. Angela suggested we incorporate a wishing stone into the ceremony, and have Indrani be the first to write on it. This suggestion made Indrani feel important even though the day was about Rilien, and now he has the best reminder of his naming day that you could ever hope for.

Below is his invite showing how much he has changed in 11 months. Following that is a selection of our favourite images taken by Misha who shoots events for our Studio as needed.

 

 

 

Before the ceremony: The Wishing Stone with just the word Believe – it’s the word Israel & I hope for Rilien. To always believe – in himself, the universe, our love and anything else he chooses. His ceremony candle arranged by his Great Gram. And casts of his feet the day before his operation, made by Impressionable Kids.

I made the above cake from a picture I found on the web. I am a salad maker, not a cake maker, so Israel nearly fainted when I showed him a picture of what I was intending to make. To be totally honest, I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. And it was yummy too!

Rilien’s naming cake is decorated somewhat better courtesy of Rilien’s Nanny Sue. She is very talented, and she fielded my endless questions for the week leading up to the party.

My 2 favourite men!

I couldn’t resist including these two shots. I love the scale of Rilien’s little pudgy fingers next to Israel’s, and I just adore the way Indrani is holding daddy – her smile is so serene. Love, love, love!

 

Our Cheeky toothy 1 year old!

 

Indrani showing how her beautiful dress twirls.

SCORE!!!!

All this change in just one year! They make my heart melt. How they adore each other!

Another favourite man in my life – my dad. I know everyone says Rilien is like Israel & he certainly is, but when I look at this, I do see similarities to my dad.

Family & Friend affair – chilling in the back yard.

Beautiful Angela conducting Rilien’s naming ceremony. She is amazing – look her up for all you special events requiring a celebrant.

I am so in love with this shot of the two of them – the way Indrani is holding Rilien’s arm, the smile on her face and his obvious comfort of being with big sister.

Both too adorable for words! Well yes, I am biased.

 

 

Cheeky monkey – just look at him wearing his little man shoes now. He couldn’t wear shoes before his operation.

Big sister – always ready to lend a helping hand. She really is a great sister.

 

Indrani writing her Wishing word for Rilien on his wishing stone. She chose the word Love – so sweet.

And the shot below is just one of many of Indrani supervising how everyone was writing on the wishing stone.

 

The completed Wishing Stone – such beautiful wishes for our boy.

 

 

Above with Rilien’s guide parents – my sister Dorothy (far left), Jessie who worked with us for 5 years, and Mike our best man.

Below – this photo is so special. It includes all Rilien’s Grandparents (yep, you read right) and his Great Gram too.