Party Time: Sock Monkeys!

I started thinking about Jack's 1st birthday party back in February when I (finally) mailed out his birth announcements:

I loved the Sock Monkey shots that our photographer took & I loved the red chevron on our announcements-- I knew that I wanted to use a similar theme for Jack's birthday. Sock Monkeys, chevron and pennant style banners are some of my favorite things these days:

I started collecting things, re-purposing things from Liam's party & other parties I've thrown & deciding on food & decorations a few months ago, but I didn't really have a chance to focus on the party until after Liam's birthday. I was really happy with how everything came together!

Here are some pics from the party:

Sweet baby Jack, you were absolutely the best surprise of my life.

Every day you bring me such joy-- you have the most easy-going personality, the cutest smile and the silliest giggle. I love touching your strawberry blonde curls & nuzzling your perfect little nose. You are the apple of your big brother's eye, a built-in best friend.

I love you more than you could ever imagine. Happy first year!

************************

Party Info:

• Invites, Food Labels, Banner: Me 
• Burlap Wreaths with Bunting: Me
• Crocheted Mini Sock Monkeys: Sleepy Hollow Crochet (Etsy) 
• Paper Mache O-N-E letters (spray-painted), Tissue for Pom-Poms, Chevron Fabric & Candy Jars: Hobby Lobby 
•  Mini Radio Flyer Wagons, Vintage Coke Crate, Banana Runts, Banana Split Taffy, Push Pop Containers, Stand & Clear Candy Scoops: Ebay 
• 16x20 enlargements of my photos: Staples  
• Toy Wagon, Red Suitcases: Amazon 
• Cake Stand & Cake Topper: Me 
• Boys' Shirts & Jack's Party Hat: Me  
• Smash Cake: Publix 
• Sock Monkey Plates, napkins and cups: Birthday Express  

 

Wordless Wednesday: Fast Forward

One year ago today:

(The morning after we came home from the hospital-- still one of my favorite pics.)

I'm so in love with the little boy he's growing into:

(Jack's first birthday party on Sunday.)

Birthday Party pics coming up next!

My Little Monkey

I'm way behind on blogging-- I have Pumpkin Patch Train Ride pics to post, along with Trunk or Treat & Halloween pics, but it may or may not get done this week because the countdown is on to...

Jack's 1st Birthday!!

The party is in less than a week & I'm up to my elbows in projects-- I had big plans for a post to show off some of my ideas, but instead, there will just have to be a post after the party. No time!

Among the million things that have been going on during the past two weeks, we had our fall family photo shoot Saturday with Lauren from Peppermint Photography. I am so thankful that we worked with her this year-- she was incredibly patient with our incredibly difficult boys.

You know those days when you just *need* the kids to take a nap? And then they don't? 

Yeah, that. 

I'm pretty sure they cried 90% of the session-- that, or Liam was running away. Such is the life with two little ones! Lauren was great, and bless her heart, thinks that she was able to get some good shots. (She also reassured me of her Photoshop skills-- wink.)

As we were finishing up, I mentioned to Lauren that I had planned to try to take some pics of Jack with his sock monkey hat to display at his party after our session, but that he was so tired, I probably should skip it & try another day. We decided to give it a shot, though, and I'm so glad we did.

We set him up and started snapping away & wouldn't you know it, that little flirt just started posing!! I wasn't going to post these before his party, but I'm so proud of them, I just had to!

These are my shots-- you can see an awesome one that Lauren took, here.

I can't believe this little guy will be ONE in less than a week!!

** Special thanks to Elizabeth for letting us borrow Grayson's adorable sock monkey hat!!**