Sunday, September 23, 2012

Let's Celebrate!

I normally, do not post on the weekends, however, I am so excited to share photos from Amara's First Birthday Celebration! I find myself at a loss when trying to put into words just how much LOVE Amara was showered with. I actually felt like it was MY birthday because I got to open presents and when people come love on Amara, I got to partake because I held her most of the night .... ;) No, seriously though.....Gabe and I are extremely humbled by the way people love on us through our daughter! Our cup is overflowing!

  We were quite a drive for several families that attended, we had a mom who came sans kiddos and hubby ( youngest baby was sick with a cold), another family practically coming straight from the hospital, friends who did projects for me from their home to take some of the load off of my shoulders when it came to all the itty bitty details, one of our couple friends helped Gabe and me the entire day set up and hang decorations, then ran home to shower and bake brownies for our party only to come right back over, neighbors who offered up their entire swing set to all of the children who attended and we even had friends let us borrow equipment so that we could go the extra mile for our guests ( projector & camera equipment, props for our photo booth, etc.)....I could go on and on!!!

   I LOVE throwing parties soooooo much!!! I have dreamt of this day since I first held Amara in my arms. My husband was such a trooper too! He never complained and hardly ever questioned my ideas.....thank you baby! You were so instrumental in helping make this day so special for us to look back on! You totally cater to us ladies in the family, and I am so grateful!


All in all, it was a great night to celebrate with family and the people who have poured into Amara this year! I put Amara to bed last night while listening to all of our guests downstairs last night, and as I prayed over her, I was thanking God for every single person downstairs. As Gabe and I said our bedtime prayers last night, he asked that God just continue to bless and watch over the people that have done the same to our family! Thank you all so much...from the bottom of our humbled hearts!

The invitation....


We did an ombre peach watercolor envelope that was hand cut to a custom size to fit the chalkboard.

We printed a "birthday photo" I took of Amara out to use as the envelope liner.


I have to admit that I spared everyone, but my sister of the confetti. It just kept getting caught in the creases of the envelope and didn't really present itself like I had hoped when you open the invite. Since we had to send my sister her invite in a bubble mailer to Key West, FL, I decided to put ALLLLLLL the confetti that we had punched for every invite in her bubble mailer :) hehe! We were happy to find out that it spilled out all over her workspace.

   

My friend, Leah, hand wrote each individual invitation!! I thought they were so stunning, and they turned out to be more beautiful than I had imagined they would. 







All the little details....









Homemade Funfetti cake!










Fun gathering out in our yard at the end of the night to watch Amara's 1 year video.....







And some photo booth fun of course.....




















 Here is a link to Amara's 1 year video if you want a good laugh and a few tears ;)!
Amara's 1 year video



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Happy Birthday!!!

Dearest Amara,

   It is 1 am right now and daddy and I are both up working hard on the final details that mommy is obsessing over for your 1st Birthday Bash!! It has been one of the things I have looked forward to since the day you were born! Little did I know, it would come so very soon!

  I just want to take this time to tell you how much you changed my life. I actually don't even think that I can put it into words. You will probably never know, or even understand it. I am watching daddy edit a video that encapsulates so many amazing moments from your first year of life, and I can't even get through the intro without tears of joy streaming down my face! You went to bed pretty late tonight ( party girl), so I rocked you and gave you your bottle, and you fell right to sleep in my arms....snoring and all. You don't do that much anymore because you are getting to be a big girl now. It was the best part of my day! Everything about the sounds you make, the way you smell after a warm bath, you looking into my eyes when I feed you or just a little smirk from you can literally take any not so good day and make it a perfect day!

 I could go on and on about little things like that, but what I really want to say is just that I am so very proud to be your mom. I just adore you, and I love watching you grow and learn new things each and every day. You really are a "happy baby". I love when people stop me everywhere I go to tell me ( and you) how beautiful you are and how crazy your hair is! haha! All I can think to myself is " man, if they only got to spend one day with her....they would see how much of that beauty comes from deep within!" You remind me so much of daddy when it comes to the joy that you exude and your peaceful nature. Just when I think I can't love you more........

You are teaching me so much about life. They day that I had you, so many things that mommy cared about quit mattering to me. It was the best thing that happened to both daddy and me! We are forever grateful to God that we get to be your parents baby girl! Every night that I lay you down to sleep, I pray over you! I believe in prayer......God will do amazing things through you if you let Him. You won't remember your first birthday, but I will forever! You got to eat a little cake, you had an extra special dinner with daddy and I at Burger Up and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day! It felt like Fall!!

Today was your day, but even on our most trying days, mommy feels like it is HER birthday! You are the best gift that I could have ever hoped for! I can't wait to celebrate you this weekend. You are loved by SO many! Happy Birthday "boots". I love you sooooooo much!

Love You MORE,
Mommy




Now, onto the more regular format for my monthly posts......

It is crazy that is has been a year already, but at the same time....I have been with this baby EVERY SINGLE DAY this year, so it definitely doesn't seem like it has gone by THAT fast ;)

Some of the things Amara is doing/loving right now are pulling up/standing up on the floor, in shopping carts, in stroller and even in her highchair. She is hard to contain these days! Gotta love that energy though! She is trying to walk ( by holding on to things and scooching her way around on those tiny feet)
Wearing shoes :)
Playing tug of war with Sadie
Holding her own spoon ( not even close to feeding herself....more like throwing her food off of it)
Pulling things out of containers
Opening and closing cabinets
"Dancing"
Waving at everyone still ( even when no one is waving or even looking at her )








Other favs....

teeth!!



I know I look scary here, but I was looking in a mirror behind her trying to get her to smile.....