chrissy has been one of my closest friends since pretty much forever. we went to the same school and church all growing up, spent a lot of time playing video games and eating ice cream snicker bars in her basement, loved to put on makeup and take photos modeling together as "cover girls" (ha!), studied for just about every test together, worked on just about every project together, were bridesmaids in each other's weddings, married men who have quite a bromance going on, and even now as we live a long way away from each other, always manage to pick back up right where we left off.

chrissy is one of those women who just seems to know how to do it all. she is an amazing wife and mom and can somehow manage the ups and downs of raising three small kids with such grace and joy. whenever we are together, i just watch in utter amazement.

so when i was back in rockford this last week, i was more than happy to take photos of her youngest, cora, for her first birthday. cora is one of the sweetest babies i've been around (she must get it from her mom). she laughed, dug in to her cake, and didn't seem to mind at all when we gave her a little bath in the middle of the backyard.

bottom line: tripodi family, i just adore you. you've got a really good thing going on here.