Anna's First Birthday Party

When I first started planning Anna's first Birthday party rain never even crossed my mind. It wouldn't rain, it just couldn't. We were inviting well over 50 people plus the kids in the neighborhood so moving the party into our tiny apartment just wasn't a possibility. The party was planned for our front yard and rain was just not an option. Well, as soon as I was able to I checked the weather. Ten days out and there was a 40% chance of rain. And the chance increased as the big day drew closer with 70% chance of rain the day of. The back-up plan? Two tents borrowed from the office and my Dad's tent he brought from Ohio attached to our front and back doors. Well it worked, we moved 50 plus people into our home, and while it was packed we were thankful that the downpour held off until after the party because guests were able to stand under the tents and even under the trees without getting soaked.

With all that to say, the party was AMAZING! Anna did awesome, she looked adorable, we were so thankful our family and friends were there to help celebrate, and she destroyed her cake (not by eating it but by playing with it!). Speaking of cake, Travis' cousin, Angel made Anna's cake, my cake (because it was my birthday too!), and the cupcakes, and let me just say Angel is brilliant! Her cakes are absolutely beautiful and delicious, to die for! She made our reveal cake too and when planning for Anna's birthday she suggested making another ombre style cake. I thought it would be perfect, and I continued the ombre theme into the rest of the decorations and even into Anna's outfit!

I'm going to stop typing now because I know why you're really here--to see the pictures, so without further ado, I give you Anna's First Birthday Party:

Pink tutu and a pop of gold for this little Lady! Mama had to match little Lady so I went with a white dress, gold flats, and gold and pink jewelry.

Here's my attempt at moving my decorations indoors:

Besides digging into the cake, Anna's favorite part was the watermelon. I swear she had like 5 slices!

Anna loves her Great Grammy! And Great Grammy loves her little Anna!

Look at these cakes! Amazing and oh so cute!! ...  :)

Happy Birthday dear Anna!!

Honestly, she was not a fan of the taste. She tried a few bites but spit most of it out. When she realized it was more fun to squish in her fingers she went at it!

By the time I took this picture some of the chalk was starting to wear off. And you read that right, Anna likes Mumford and Sons. Yep, it's the only music that'll calm her down in a car ride. Those guys are heaven sent.

The one and only good shot we got as a family. The rain and trying to host and enjoy the party was too much to ask for to stop and take more than one decent photo. 

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Anna Jubilee! You are loved more than you'll ever know!

Decorations and Anna's outfit: DIY

Cakes: Angel Maxwell 

Some of the photos: my sister, Stefanie

A Vintage Baby Shower

Last Sunday the MAI women celebrated Heather and her baby girl with a beautiful Vintage Baby Shower. Kari and I hosted this fun afternoon, and besides the food, we did not have to buy one decoration! We actually had random stuff laying around our houses that when put together had the vintage feel. 

Beautiful, glowing Mama!

Gift table with a place to write special and encouraging notes to Heather

Food Table!!! Kari prepared a delicious spread with baked brie, spinach and cheese pastries, mini chocolate cupcakes, and strawberry whoopee pies...I brought the veggie tray, nuts, and punch lol

Beautiful roses from Kari's garden 

These looked so real!

Caitlin made Heather and baby Kiah a beautiful mobile for the nursery

Jaeda and Kalea enjoying the delicious food!

3 Mamas!

Jaeda and her Kiah "pillow"

Without the belly you wouldn't even know this lady's going have a baby!
She's gorgeous!

My gift for Heather was a travel case baby wipes cover and some baby wipes.
I can't wait to make one for my baby girl :)

Spending time planning and prepping for this wonderful day was well worth it! Heather is a beautiful woman and a great friend. I'm so excited that we get to share in the joy of being new mamas together and having our girls grow up together! 

This is my face thinking about my baby shower!

Ruffles and Bows (Gender Reveal Party)

Juice Drop is a GIRL!!! 

What a total shocker! We could've sworn (even though I don't swear lol) that we were having a boy! You even heard me say it so many times! So much for motherly instincts, haha!

Travis and I didn't care either way what we were having. A boy would've been a joy :) but now that we know we're having a girl, well, it just kinda knocks our socks off! What a blessing this little girl already is to Travis and me. We love her so much, and now that we know that she is a she, I feel the bond between us three tightening that much more.

We could have found out that we are having a girl at our ultrasound last Thursday but we decided to wait until our party on Saturday--and I'm so glad we did! It made finding out so special knowing our close friends and family were with us sharing in our joy. I already know that our baby girl is going to be loved so much by so many!

Our gender reveal party was quite the event. With over 30 people in our small living room the anticipation was making everyone giddy. Not everything went off without a hitch though--how could it when you have technology involved? Our guests were on pins and needles waiting for the cue to take a bite out of that cupcake and for us to cut into our cake, however, the Skype connection for Travis' mom was failing. We couldn't leave Grandma out of the big reveal! Finally, after a half hour, she was able to get it working and we were ready to go! But as Travis and I took that knife to the cake one of our friends who was Skyping in Uncle Troy and Aunt Carly (Travis' brother and sister-in-law), the connection was lost! It took a couple of seconds to get them back, and with my heart racing, we were all (including those Skyping in) finally ready to see what color was inside that cake!

Our lovely baker, Angel (Travis' cousin's wife) baked Travis and me a cake and everyone else had their own cupcake. Inside was pink filling to reveal that we're having a little girl! Guest picked a cupcake based on what they thought we were having. We had the ultrasound technician put the pictures that revealed she's a girl in a sealed envelope and we took the envelope to Angel, so we had no idea until we cut into that cake!

Almost time!!! 

 

Living room full of family and friends

Just had to get Jones Soda!

Juice Drop's name written out and ultrasound pictures for guests to see :)

Guests voted for either girl or boy.
Looks like everyone else thought Juice Drop was a boy too!

   

Little Jaxon, Abby, Angela, and baby Makai were all banking on blue

Travis trying to get a hold of his mom on Skype!

Time to pass out the cupcakes!

Jeremy just couldn't handle the excitement!
He bit in before it was time, haha!

Here...

We...

...Go!

It's PINK!!!

Oh, the joy I felt at that moment could not be contained! I kept envisioning blue inside that cake but when I saw pink I was elated, ecstatic, and brought to tears. By the way, you can actually see Uncle Troy's expression too!!

 Celebration all around!

Angela and Abby chose wrong while Heather got it right!
I was rooting for both with my pink shirt and blue vest :)

Baby girls for these two ladies :)

Ruffles and Bows...Here we come!