12 Month Photos | Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
-Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Cute as a button | Lillian's first birthday party!

Last Saturday we celebrated Lillian's first birthday. That seems impossible to me, but the calendar tells me it's true. Lately it seems to mock me with how fast it demands that it's pages be turned.

I decided to go with a "cute as a button" theme, cuz she is, and as a result I finally had to learn to sew a button.

::Applause::

Thank you.

There's really nothing to it. Go figure. I even did some hand embroidery. Lookout Martha.

So, as expected, a post to share all of the glorious, button filled,  party deets with you!
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Buttons, buttons, buttons...

The embroidery hoops are going to find a long term home in Lillian's bedroom. I followed this tutorial to make the tassel garland, this tutorial for the yarn wrapped letter,  and this tutorial to make the roses for my burlap wreath. My sister made the amazing cakes and the cookies basic Betty Crocker peanut butter cookies that I altered with a coke bottle lid and a wooden skewer.

I made Lillian's button crown in leu of a traditional party hat for her to wear while she ate cake, but I completely forgot to put it on her! I was so bummed! Oh well, the girls are still having fun playing with it and I managed to snag a few photos of her wearing it later.

I didn't really plan any games out this time, but we did make some button crafts.

Lillian, destroyer of cake.

The party fell on my nephew's actual birthday so he had a special cake as well. I guess he was inspired to get a little messy!

We had a very full house, bulging at the seems with friends and family who came out to help us celebrate our baby girl! As usual, once the party got into full swing I didn't get a chance to pick up my camera much, but I can assure you there was lots of life, laughter, and love. We are so grateful.

My how a year flies by.

Easter 2013

Last Easter, we were a family of three, anxiously awaiting the one who would make us a family of four.

This Easter, I picked out matching dresses, filled two baskets, and watched as sisters made their first Easter memories together. Happy heart.

A few photos from our holiday celebrations:

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" - Luke 24: 5,6

On the road to Spring.

Call me crazy, but in my book, this in not what the week before Easter is supposed to look like!

I've already switched gears. I shifted into Spring mode and I'm slamming on the accelerator. I'm ready for birds, flowers, and green grass! Old Man Winter thought he'd throw me a curve in the road and force me to put on the breaks, but he underestimated this mamma's love of seasonal shifts.

No breaks here. Hold on tight kids! We're taking the curve...full speed...

You give me snow, I'll give you an Easter-snow-bunny. (Which may or may not have ended up looking more like a cat.)

You say fine, how 'bout a blizzard, I'll say fine, how 'bout an adorable Easter headband.

You tell me we can't leave the house because you're gonna throw another winter flu bug at me and not send a plow to clear the street, I'll tell you I'm gonna throw Easter eggs at you and... Ok wait, this just got a little violent... the point is, Old Man Winter, I win. Dying Easter eggs seals the deal and pushes me around the corner, headed full-steam towards Spring, snow or no snow.