The Big ONE!

Isaiah turned ONE this weekend so Mommy put on her crafting cap and got busy. I had so much fun planning this party but by the end I was "crafted out". I got my inspiration from an outfit I purchased off of ETSY for Isaih's one year photo shoot. It had primary color polka dots and a star. Then a friend sent me a link to someone's blog where I found even more inspiration. Top that with Pinterest and my good friend The Hip Hostess and the wheels were turning! I love it when a good party comes together. Our friend, Mike, told my mom I had "a great lesson plan for this party". hahahahahaha (good thing I had lots of friends working collaboratively with me) Here are some pics of the decorations! ENJOY!
I made a birthday timeline across the mantle from newborn to 12 months. Looking at these made me realize how fast this year went by. It was a bitter sweet feeling. LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY!



I decided to go with primary color cupcakes instead of birthday cake this round. Isaiah enjoyed his cupcake much more than the smash cake we used last weekend for his photo shoot. The cupcakes and icing were homemade (thanks to help from GranDebbie) as were the fun "1" cupcake toppers (thanks to help from Steph)!





Paper lanterns were hung from the ceiling of our screened in patio to really set the stage outside. (thanks to Cappy and GranDebbie for helping me figure out how to get these up)




Two kid sized tables (thanks to Joni and TBA church) were decorated with colorful party hats (I bought plain party hats in an assortment of colors, thanks to Steph and her criquette for helping make the stars and 1's)!


We served hot dogs, hamburgers (thanks to OS&D from Knight Transportation), chips, dip and SNO CONES (thanks to a coupon I found for a FREE sno cone rental)!


We had a bounce house for entertainment. I thought Isaiah and few of the other young kids would have to have their own time in the house, but we threw them right in with the older kids and they had a blast! Party Planing Tip: bounce house rentals are often cheaper on Sundays!



A candy bar was set up with baggies and ribbons so guests could fill a bag and tie it off to take home. I think some of the adults enjoyed the candy bar more than the kids. I bought the candy from Oriental Trader (CHEAP) and bought some at CVS with coupons (CHEAP)!




The kids were all sent home with a "thank you" bag which I did NOT fill with candy and sugar (since we had plenty of that at the party, hahahaha). I found pinwheels, bouncy balls, notepads, pencils and glo sticks at Oriental Trader and the Dollar Spot at Target (love that spot)!

All in all it was a GREAT party! I am already looking forward to planning many more in the future! I even did it on a budget! Woohoo! Most importantly though, Isaiah was surrounded by friends and family that love him. Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate (pics of that to come later) and to these special people for their help:
Steph: thanks for donating your time, talents and criquette to help me get crafty
Ashley (the Hip Hostess): thanks for lending an ear, advice and for just being you. That alone is inspiration enough!
Joni @ TBA church: thank you for always saying YES! The tables and chairs are greatly appreciated. YOU ARE THE BEST!
Meg and Cheri: thank you for donating some extra cupcake towers
Mary: thanks for sending me your great links to blogs for more inspiration
Cappy and GranDebbie: thank you for traveling 800 miles to help me prepare for this special day, for loving Isaiah with your whole heart, for setting up, grilling out, cleaning up and being the best mom and dad this little girl could ask for!
Michael: thank you for all your hard labor on the day of the party and for the $$$! Most of all thank you for our son! I couldn't have done it without you!

Worry, worry, worry!

Sometimes I hear those words running through my head. I worry about what I will do tomorrow, what I did today, what I said or didn't say, what I will wear, what my son will wear, what we will eat for dinner, what do people think about me, am I a good wife, a good mom, a good friend. I could really go on and on and on. Sometimes I even hear the song lyrics running through my head : "worry, worry, worry, worry, worry. Worry just won't seem to leave my mind alone". UGH....what is it with all this worry? Even as I do it, I know better.
Last week I was worrying about clothes for Isaiah. No reason really. I was just thinking that he was growing mighty fast and the season (or what season we have in FL) was beginning to change and he really needed some clothes. Most everything he has is summery and sized 6-12 months. I knew he was going to need some 18 month clothes SOON! How are we going to pay for this? WORRY WORRY WORRY!
I am so rotten. We were so blessed and so well taken care for an entire year. I can honestly say I haven't purchased Isaiah more than a handful of outfits since he was born thanks to the amazing people in our lives. But, the devil jumped in and I became a worry wart. THREE TIMES last week God gently spoke to me and THREE TIMES he let me hear this Bible verse. Matthew 6: "25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
I MEAN REALLY!!! Hello Jenny....are you listening? I know this verse is so much deeper and has so much more meaning than literally just clothes, but it was really what He wanted me to hear. I should have known better! What a petty and absurd thing to worry about.
After some quiet whispers from God that I apparently ignored He sent a loud knock to my door. LITERALLY! The mailman came knocking on my door with a GIANT box. Bet you can't guess what was in the box! hahaha....more clothes than I could have dreamt for. No they weren't brand new. Hand me downs actually. But all in good shape and all just what Isaiah needs to get by (and SO much more).
We are supposed to live life showing Christ's love to others. To be the hands and feet to others in this dark and broken world. To love as Christ loved, forgive as God has forgiven and disciple to the nations. That is exactly what Ashley did for me. She rounded up Cole's old clothes, packaged them up and sent them my way so that I had one less thing to worry about. It didn't cost her anything (except maybe a shipping fee) but it was priceless to me. God knows the desires of your heart, he listens and loves like no one else.
Thanks, God, for whacking me upside the head and letting me see you work in a real and tangible way.
this weeks goal: DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE SMALL STUFF
prayer: LORD, THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME AND ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF ME. HELP ME TO BE A BETTER DAUGHTER TO YOU AND SHARE YOUR LIGHT IN THIS WORLD. THANK YOU FOR PURSUING ME WHOLE HEARTEDLY AND ALWAYS SPEAKING THE TRUTH TO ME.
song: "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns

Play Date with Dad!

Mike was out of town for four days last week attending the men's Tres Dias walk. Isaiah really missed him at night and so did I! We are so happy for him to be home. Today after MOPS, Isaiah and I picked up some cheeseburgers and went to get DaDa for a play date at Barnett Park. It was a gorgeous afternoon and we had a blast. Isaiah explored the playground, ran through the water fountains and chomped on some leaves. hahahaha! What a great adventure and memory for this Tuesday afternoon. I love my family!

Sneak Peek!

The big birthday is coming up soon! I am getting so excited. Invites are being sent out this week, the moonbounce has been ordered and I had a coupon for a FREE snow cone machine rental! WOOHOO! Here are some bits, pieces and snippits you can look forward to......





Thanks to my groupie sista girl, Steph, for helping with the cupcake toppers and hat decor!

Eleven Months!

I can't believe my little guy turned 11 months this weekend. It seems like just yesterday he was born (however the foggy memories of colic seem like years ago....THANK GOODNESS!) Isaiah has been such a blessing in our lives and he has taught us so much about ourselves and our own parents! I will have a big sappy first birthday blog post in the next month, but for now I just wanted to do a little time travel!
NEWBORN


ONE MONTH


TWO MONTHS


THREE MONTHS


FOUR MONTHS


FIVE MONTHS


SIX MONTHS


SEVEN MONTHS


EIGHT MONTHS


NINE MONTHS


TEN MONTHS


ELEVEN MONTHS