Birdhouse Birthday

 Since the girls nursery is a birdhouse theme, I decided to use that for the theme of their first combined birthday party.  I'm hoping I can get away with combining their parties for a long time.  It took some effort to prepare for the party, but I kept reminding myself that I just had to do it once a year!  It was fun to see it all come together and Anna loved talking about her party as we prepared for it.

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I tried to have bird themed food so I served these birdfeeders on a stick (peanut butter, mini chocolate chips and nuts on a preztel rod), deviled eggs, chicken minis and fruit.

I made this birdhouse cake for Anna.

And nest cupcakes for my baby bird.  A big thanks to my friend Lori for showing me how to make them!

Can you tell she loved them?

Peep Smores for favors.

I found some adorable bird clothespins at World Market and used them for Haven's 12 month banner

And a banner of cute sister pics.

One day I might learn how to sew, but in the meantime I ordered these birdhouse print skirts off etsy.

I set up a craft table to make fruit loop bird feeders and paint wood feeders and was so excited that the kids really got into the crafts.

They turned out so cute!

And several of the kids were proud of their work.

Of course, the bounce house was a hit.

  

 

We were so thankful for the friends and family who were able to come and celebrate with us.

 

 

This was Haven's gift from Gigi and she makes a beeline to it whenever we go in the backyard.

My sweet, pregnant sister-in-laws.  Courtney (left) is due June 7th and Sandy on August 21st (my birthday :).

I was determined to get a family picture and since none were very good, I decided to post the one that I looked best in. :)

Daddy with his baby girl.

After it was over, I was so happy and relieved that the party went as well as it did!

Our Little Light

Little Light by Matt Hammitt

Look at all the angels watching you

They're singing songs that we have never heard

And their voices ring like bells over the mountains

Oh, if only we could hear their words

God is near, little girl

God is near, little girl

Your eyes are brilliant, deep sky blue

Their quiet wisdom is an evening song

And the angels must be breathless at your beauty

Like the world catches its breath before the dawn

God is near, little one

God is near, little one

Jesus bends to hear you breathe

And His tender hands are holding you tonight

And His heart is ravished when you look, when you look at Him

And oh, the endless mercy in His eyes

God is here, little light

God is here, little light

Oh, God is here, little light

God is here little light

I sat in a puddle of tears last night as I put this together.  

My heart ached in such a good way as I watched Haven grow from a tiny infant into a joyful, toddling girl. 

The lyrics express me feelings so perfectly.

If there is one thing I desire for my daughter, it is for her to know that her God is near.  

Always.

My little girl, my little one, my little light, your life is a precious gift and we celebrate that today!

ONE!

Baby girl is one!

 

She is talking more and starting to say the basics, like her version of mama, dada, baby and dog. 

However, there is one word she says far more than any other.  

She walks around the house saying it ALL.THE.TIME.  

And she says it with the cutest lisp.  

The answer to everything, question or not, is YES! 

It it the cutest thing.  

I wonder if this is a sign that she will be a super-compliant  child. :)

  

 She had a great birthday morning that started out with her first taste of milk.  

Based on the following reaction, I think she may be a little harder to wean.

 

 She loved her birthday pancakes.

 And her new lion cub.

 Then it was time to rest up to go swimming!

Three!

  This is the last picture of Anna as a two year old.  Yes, she is still in a crib but I think that will be changing very soon.  As I put her to bed on May 5th, we talked about how the next day she was going to be three.  When she woke up, she kept saying "I turned three while I was sleeping!".

  

After she woke up, w got ready for church and ate "balloon" pancakes that daddy made.

 And then she opened a couple presents.  She was excited to get a little train set since that what she loves to play with at her boy cousin's and friend's houses.

 We went to church and her little class sang Happy Birthday to her.  After lunch, Gigi stopped by to give Anna her easel and some new pjs which she loved.

  

 After naps, we headed to lifegroup and celebrated Anna again!  I love this picture because Anna is surrounded by people outside of our immediate families who love her.  Camille is holding the cake and Lauren is holding Haven for me and I was just sitting back taking in the moment with such joy.

 Maybe the most special part of they day was before bedtime when daddy told Anna the story of her birth.  At first, I was a little disheartened because she kept whining to read a book and was sqirming around.  After the first few sentences, she realized this was a special story just about HER and she laid still as daddy rubbed her hair and we remembered that life-changing day.  She wanted to hear it again and again.

It was the perfect way to celebrate this little life that God has entrusted to us.  My precious first-born daughter, the one who made me a mom, I love you so much.

Just One Girl

  A few days before her birthday, Anna and I had a special day with just the two of us or as she likes to say just one girl.  I tried to say yes to most of her requests since I feel like so much of the time the answer is no.  That meant she got to do things like: 

Ride in Haven's carseat which she frequently asks to do, but since Haven is always with us she can't.

  

Drink chocolate milk with lunch.  (These chocolate milks are usually reserved for her special treat after being good after our weekly trip to the grocery store.)

 Eat her pink cupcake eventhough she hardly touched the rest of her lunch.

 She got to choose where to go and on the way to the IMAX movie, changed her mind and decided on the zoo.

 We usually walk past the bird exhibit and just look in through the windows.  This time, she asked if we could go in and feed them.  Since it was her day and the bird food was only $1, we did it!

 During this trip to the zoo, I noticed it was a little different...she is growing up.  She preferred to walk and hold my hand instead of riding in the stroller.  (Thank goodness she still wants to hold my hand!)  She did some of the children's activities like the one in this picture and instead of just spinning it around, she actually matched all the parts together to make a picture.  These are just little things, but I thought to myself, she really is growing up so fast and I don't want to miss any of it!