Luau Party!

As Alex's birthday approached, I tried to come up with a theme for his party.  He's not really into anything specific right now, so I tentatively planned to just do bright colors.  Then I had an interesting idea...  A lot of people (especially those with December birthdays) have told me to make sure not to combine his birthday & Christmas.  Not that I planned on doing that anyway, but I know what they're saying.  So I thought to myself - what's the opposite of Christmas/winter/cold?  Then I had it - a luau!!  I bought Photoshop Elements earlier this year & decided to try my hand at making an invitation.

Definitely the work of an amateur, but I liked how it turned out.  (I took out our personal info for any crazy internet stalkers - ha).  And with a little help from Oriental Trading for decorations, we were set!

I hung up a monthly photo banner on our fireplace (got the idea from a fellow creative blogger).  Everyone really liked it. 

We also put pictures of Alex's first year on our TV (as seen in the background of this picture).

Here are a few more pictures from the big party.

Showing off his Hawaiian shirt

Starting to dig into the cake

I don't think he's enjoying it at all...

He looks concerned that we're going to take it away - ha!

He learned how to do "1" with his finger!

Aunt Amanda (my sister) got him a slide - he wasn't excited about it or anything...

There was a little drama with his cake (that's a post for another time) but all in all, it was a great party.  He loved all the commotion & didn't mind being surrounded by almost thirty people.  I hope every future birthday is as enjoyable!!

Throwback Thursday

Yet another peek at my pregnancy days from last year...

November 5^th

Michael paid to have my car windows tinted for my birthday – yay!  I loved my tinted windows on my Altima.  I think this will make the Pilot look a little cooler & less mom-like.  J  Plus, it will protect the little guy from the sun’s rays & hopefully we won’t have to put up those window shade things.

November 7^th – 35 weeks

Had my other baby shower today!  It was mostly my mom’s friends & family.  My grandma & aunt Janice came in town.  Michael came with me so he could play golf with my dad.  I hung out at my parents' house with my mom, grandma & Janice.  My mom covered a lampshade I bought in the striped fabric we used for the bedding.  I brought it so we could do it together, but then I pretty much just let her do it all.  How thoughtful of me – ha.  I’m lucky to have such a giving mother – I hope I can be as great as her with my kids!  The lamp turned out super cute.  Amanda got into town & we headed to the shower.  The hostesses did a great job & we got a ton of stuff.  Hurray!  Then we went back to the house, ordered pizza & celebrated my birthday a day early.  It was a long day, but fun!

November 8^th

Took the day off work (it may be one of the last days I ever have just to myself!!)  I slept in & didn’t feel very good when I woke up.  I was light-headed & kind of dizzy.  I tried to organize the baby’s room for awhile but I started to feel worse.  I was nauseous & just wanted to lay down.  I had a massage appointment & I didn’t want to cancel it, so I showered & headed that way.  By the time I got there, I really felt awful.  I took a Tylenol before I left home & I don’t know if it was that or the massage but I felt much better afterward.  The massage was wonderful – I wished I had booked a 90 minute one instead of 60 minutes!  I felt ok to eat & stopped at Panera.  Then I went & got a manicure & pedicure.  I still felt a little crappy but the pampering was nice.  I went home & basically laid around the rest of the day.  I was feeling really bad again by the time Michael came home from work.  We had plans to go to dinner.  I didn’t really want to go out since I felt bad but I didn’t want to miss my birthday dinner either!  I took another Tylenol & we went to Charlestons.  I felt better by the time the food arrived.  I went to bed early in hopes I would feel better tomorrow.

November 9^th

Felt as bad or worse than I did on Monday.  Definitely felt like a stomach bug.  I never threw up but got VERY close.  Yuck.  I hate being sick.  I got up to get ready for work & had my clothes & makeup on when I finally decided to stay home.  I felt worse the more I moved around & just didn’t think I’d make it through the day.  I was annoyed to use another PTO day but oh well.  I slept a lot & went to bed early.

November 10^th

Felt a little better & went to work.  I went home a little early & took it easy.

November 11^th

Had another doctor’s appointment.  I have to start going weekly after this one.  Everything looks good – not much to report!

Being sick on your birthday is no fun!  Actually, being sick on any day is no fun but especially not on your birthday.  Blah.

My thoughts on the tinted windows: I highly recommend this to everyone.  Get your windows tinted to the legal limit.  It makes your car look sleeker, keeps it cooler in the summer, shields your baby from the sun & hides backseat activities from people walking by.  Get your mind out of the gutter, people!  I was referring to the times I nursed Alex in the backseat.  J It's really hard to see into the backseat unless you basically put your face up to the glass.  I always kept myself covered just in case but I felt pretty comfortable back there.

Ok, time to head to a Christmas party.  I still have every intention to post soon on Alex's big party - hopefully this weekend!  Happy Thursday!

One Year Old!

Oh my, my little baby is not really a baby anymore - he's ONE YEAR OLD.  I don't even have the words for the love & amazement I have for this little guy.  Michael & I have been so blessed with a healthy, happy boy. 

We had some "one year" pictures taken of Alex.  Here are some of my faves!

His birthday party is later today.  I'm going to TRY to not be such a slacker & actually get a post with pictures up sooner rather than later.  Fingers crossed!

Eleven Months

This post is late but since it's still a few days before the big ONE YEAR date, I'll just pretend it's ok.  Ha!

Yes, Alex is eleven months old!  He got to experience his first Thanksgiving this year - two yummy turkey meals in one day!  Unfortunately, Michael didn't get to enjoy either meal since he was sick all day (poor guy).  Alex ate anything I put in front of him - turkey, potatoes, stuffing, a taste of pumpkin pie.  He was one happy baby with a full stomach!

He continues to grow & amaze us with the littlest things.  The cliche that kids are sponges is true - he soaks up everything around him.  He'll surprise me over & over again by showing me he actually understands what I'm saying.  The other day he pulled off his socks when he was playing.  I saw them & said, why did you take off your socks?  He looked at me, went over & picked up his socks.  The boy hasn't even been wearing socks that long!  (When it was warmer outside, I usually just dressed him in a onesie).  Now I can tell him, let's put on your socks, and he will bring them to me.  He also will bring me a book if I ask him.  I don't know why this is such a phenomenon to me.  Maybe because he's not talking yet, I assume he doesn't understand words either?  I love seeing the development right before my eyes, though!

I taught him to clap recently.  I sang patty cake (well, I don't know if that's the correct term since it's not really a song...)  I recited patty cake...  That sounds odd, too.  ANYWAY, I was doing patty cake for him & took his hands & clapped them together.  Then I said patty cake again & he clapped his hands himself.  One try, people!  I'm telling you, it's Genius School for this boy.  Now any time we say patty cake (not the whole thing - just "patty cake"), he'll clap his hands.  I love it!

Here are some of his monthly pictures.  Yes, the boy needed a haircut.  We took care of that shortly after these pictures were taken.  For those of you counting, that's his third haircut (second "professional" haircut).  The boy is set in the hair department!

I'll leave you with the most adorable picture I think I've ever seen.  Michael's parents babysat Alex while Michael & I went to the OSU vs OU game (BEST GAME EVER!!) and they were able to catch Alex on camera doing "TOUCHDOWN"!  A month or so ago, I noticed Alex would lift his arms up in the air.  It reminded me of a ref signaling "touchdown", so I started saying it whenever he lifted his arms.  Then he started doing it after I said "touchdown".  It's so cute!  But this picture is the best because he's A) in his OSU PJs, B) watching the OSU game, and C) so happy to be watching OSU beat OU (ha!)  I don't care which team you cheer for, you have to admit this picture is adorable!

Love that little boy so much!!

Yes, yes, I'm a slacker.  I haven't posted in weeks.  We've been busy, but really I've just been enjoying my family & I haven't wanted to sit down at the computer when I'm home.  Some people might call that laziness but I prefer to think of it as a zest for life.  J

Anyway, here's another look back at my pregnancy days...  I can't believe it's almost been a year since Alex was born!  It feels like it's been forever since I was pregnant (but in a good way). 

October 29^th

We had our costume contest at work today.  I wore my costume (doll legs & arms coming out of my belly) & won 2^nd place in the contest!!  I hung a little Halloween bag from one of the arms & told people the baby really wanted to trick-o-treat.  Michael & I rode to work together & while he was driving, the nugget moved, which moved the doll arm!  I yelled – he’s moving the arm!  Michael looked over & then the nugget moved the doll leg.  Michael said – I bet you didn’t plan on that.  Nope – so weird!  We went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show with Bryan.  After we watched Glee earlier that week (the show was Rocky Horror themed), we got the bug & decided to buy tickets.  I wore my costume & people seemed to get a kick out of it.  When we were going in, a security lady checked my purse & then asked if I had anything in there.  I thought she was talking about the Halloween bag the doll arm was holding & told her no.  Then she pointed to my stomach & asked if I had anything in there.  I didn’t even know how to respond.  I sputtered a little & Michael said – the REAL baby.  She still looked confused but let us go on.  We totally cracked up.  The show was good but not the best we’ve seen.  It was fun, though.  

October 30^th

Today was my Halloween themed baby shower!!  Michael went to play golf with his dad & my dad.  I walked the dog & then got ready for the shower (while watching pieces of the OSU vs. Kansas State game).  My mom picked me up & we went to the shower.  I wore my costume & it was a big hit.  Everyone made comments about how little I was & how I didn’t look pregnant except for my belly.  The hostesses did an amazing job!  The decorations were awesome, the food was delicious & even the game was fun (we played Catch Phrase with baby related words).  They had spiked punch (labeled Trick) & regular punch (labeled Treat) in cauldrons.  So cute!  I found out that the spiked punch had champagne – boo!  I miss champagne…  Who am I kidding?  I miss champagne, wine, beer – pretty much everything!  It was a good turnout & a lot of people dressed up.  The guests decorated onesies for the nugget – they turned out really cute.  We got a ton of stuff – now we just have to figure out where to put it all!  I may be a little biased but it was the best baby shower I’ve ever been to!  It went by really fast, though.  Michael & the dads came toward the end to say hi to everyone.  Michael & I went to eat with my parents & then just took it easy the rest of the night.  The girls sent the cake home with me & I ate way too much of it.  I finally made Michael throw it away on Monday to keep me from eating any more!

October 31^st – 34 weeks

Halloween!  I spent most of the day starting to organize all the stuff from the shower & washed all the baby clothes, blankets, etc.  I worked my butt off but the room was still a mess.  Oh well, one thing at a time.  I hung up all the clothes & the closet is almost full!  Between the stuff people bought & hand me downs from friends, this baby is pretty much set!  We had a lot of kids come by to trick or treat.  We even ran out of candy at the end.  I didn’t wear my costume because I was worried I’d freak out the younger kids.  Amanda came over to watch Dexter.  Michael made chili & we had Frito chili pie.  Yum. 

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so it was very fitting that I had a Halloween themed baby shower.  So.much.fun.  Here are some pics of my costume & the festivities.

Some may think it's a little morbid, but I thought it was hilarious!

 Cute diaper cake

  

"Ant" Amanda, Witchy Grandma-to-be & me

Awesome hostesses!

 

RIP Your Life dirt cake - ha!

And because I'm a slacker & never got around to writing a Halloween post this year, here's a picture of our little pumpkin.  Better late than never!  Sorry the quality isn't great...  My phone doesn't take very good pictures & the camera battery was dead.  Doh!

He wasn't a big fan of the costume in the house but forgot all about it when we went trick or treating because there was so much to look at.  Fun! 

Happy Thursday!