Mamma Monday: A ONEderful Birthday!

Hey gals! Cheers to a new week and hopefully you're still energized and keeping up with your goals for the New Year.

I wanted to share with you Vivian Louise's 1st Birthday celebration.  While it's a bit of a personal show and tell, I feel it's important because you, as a reader, stuck it out while I posted sporadically once she was born.  And she makes me, me so it's also a celebration of my first year of motherhood.

 Good Morning Baby Girl

Her birthday party was held at our home, and since we recently moved it was a great opportunity to host our friends that hadn't yet seen it. I highly recommend having your baby's first birthday party at home because it's the place she was nurtured and cared for during the first year. It's also cozy for your guests and extremely convenient for scheduling around naps.  You want to schedule it right after your baby wakes up so that they are nice and happy!

INVITATIONS
You gals know I'm obsessed with the mail (I even got this beauty for Christmas). Checking the mail is one of my favorite activities to do in the afternoon with baby girl - Santa even brought her this play kit! That being said I ordered and mailed her invitations.
The design was PERFECT.  Her color is lavender and I felt they were classic and delicate, just like her.

Invitations & Thank You Notes

THEME

Vivian Louise LOVES the very hungry caterpillar.  She received several toys and books at my baby showers and has since has collected lots of caterpillars.  So I incorporated it in the cupcakes, treat bags and used her favorite stuffed caterpillar for display and pail to hold utensils. I used her color, lavender for the remainder of items: balloons, plates, napkins and flowers.

DECORATIONS
First, I'm NOT a Pinterest Mamma. No crafts. I believe that clean and simple is beautiful.
I used classic lavender balloons and fresh flowers, along with her newborn photo, her favorite caterpillar and milestone blocks on the console table.  I framed the invitation to display on our entry way table. Her treat bags and cupcakes added to the hungry caterpillar theme.

I also created a hanging display of her monthly pictures so that guest could see just how's she's grown.

FOOD
Since her party was at 1:00 pm I chose light snacks. I served cucumber tea sandwiches, pretzels, goldfish, animal cookies, a hummus and veggie platter and my favorite punch (because it's delicious and light so no staining if spilled).
I also used my vintage linens with a touch of lace and pink embroidery on the table.

CAKE
I wanted her cake to be simple so I chose a white cake with white icing and lettering in lavender.
I must share that when I picked it up I was a bit disappointed that the baker took initiative and added lavender dots on the side.  Even though I expressed more than once that I wanted it simple, no extras. Oh well it was still beautiful.

My sister makes all the birthday cakes in our family. She even made Vivian Louise's dedication cake.
She made a hungry caterpillar using cupcakes! It was so perfect and fun.

PS I made the kids eat their cupcakes outside on our covered patio. No way am I going to have dirty hands with green icing in our home!

FAVORS
I ordered these adorable hungry caterpillar treat bags and filled them each with 2 oranges and an apple for the kids to take home.  The Mammas giggled because they know I'm very nutritious (not sure if the kids actually liked them)

I thought I would cry and be super sad that my baby was 1, but I didn't.  I was completely overjoyed at the wonderful and precious gift that God has blessed us with.  I truly celebrated her!!!
Our hears are full of gratitude to our family and friends who gifted her fun toys and shared love and encouragement to us.

*I want to raise Vivian Louise to have a grateful heart. I plan to teach her how to write thank you notes. I also make sure to send pictures of her playing with toys or wearing outfits to those who have generously given to her.

My Top | Her Dress

Dress Your Birthday Parties Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Baby's First Christmas

Gals, Christmas is only 15 days away! I can't even tell you how special this year is now that baby Vivian Louise is here. Christmas used to be my least favored holiday (I'm an Easter gal all the way) but now I'm loving the magic and joy of it all.  Dressing her up in her Christmas dress, adding her stocking to our mantle and especially being Mrs. Claus!

Shopping for her is always fun and something I can't avoid no matter where I am but putting presents under the tree for her is extra sweet.  I always imagined Mr and I going shopping together to pick out her toys but let's be real he's at the hospital over 200 hours a month and while we could take her with us (she won't remember) it's no fun dragging her here & there in the hustle and bustle.  So, 90% of her presents were ordered online and have conveniently arrived on our doorstep.

So I thought I'd share what Santa Claus will be bringing her for her first Christmas.  I only have a baby girl so most are girlie but if you have a baby girl of your own or shopping for a niece or friend these are great gifts.
Also great for a 1st birthday ... She's turning 1 just 3 days after Christmas!!!

Radio Flyer Walker Wagon - I love this because it will help her when she starts to walk and she can push her toys around and even use it when outside. It's a classic!  Her Grandma is getting her this wagon.

Swing - Vivian LOVES to swing at the park! We have a humongous magnolia tree in our front yard that is perfect to hang a swing from.

Chair - While I do NOT allow her things to overtake our home (her toys are in her room or in a basket that stores in a closet; even her cage folds up to store away) I'm ok with a chair of her very own that's easy for her. I chose the regular size that she can grow into.

Teepee - I can't wait to crawl into her teepee and read stories and play with her! I like the size of this one because it won't overtake her room.

Doctor Kit - since her Daddy practices medicine it couldn't be more perfect.  I like this one because it's felt and soft for her.

Noah's ark - same company as her doctor kit.  I love the classic fabric products.  They are easy for her to play with.  She also has this fabric bible.

Silver Hair Brush & Comb - I believe heirloom pieces are important.  This is definitely more for me than her but she will appreciate it when she's older.  They also allow for up to 18 characters for engraving so I was able to put her full name.

Mailbox - We love checking the mail!  I've passed my obsession with snail mail onto her.  She sees me write notes almost daily.  I even asked Santa for a this copper mailbox for our new home.

Blocks - A classic toy and great for learning!

Peek-a-Boo Bunny - this cutie is so fun! Vivian loves to play peek-a-boo. It comes in an elephant too.


Her birthday is just 3 days after Christmas, we are gifting her these:

Baby Doll & Outfit - I wanted a doll small enough for her and soft.  I also loved the traditional outfit so that it looks like her :). This doll was my second choice.

Baby Doll Pram - I love this one because it's classic and just like her stroller.

I have no doubt that on Christmas Day & her birthday that she's going to have more fun with the wrapping paper and boxes but over the next year she will grow and play with all of these things.

Of all the gifts we give her, our time and love are the most important! That's really all she could ever need :)

Dress Your Baby's First Christmas Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise