jaxon's little man birthday party

I knew for a while when planning Jaxon's first birthday that I wanted a "little man" theme, mainly because that is what the majority of our family call him. I had been gathering stuff together for months and had all these cute ideas in my head. And then the Tuesday before his party I came down with the stomach bug that decided it wanted to stick around the entire week and into the weekend. 

So I'm not going to lie, the party was not at all what I had planned. There were so centerpieces on the tables. I didn't get around to making Jaxon a tablecloth like I did for Bryson's first birthday. I didn't have any balloons or things hanging from the ceilings. It was just the basics and that was all I could handle. So needless to say I gave myself A LOT of grace during that week. :)    

I wanted to have his party at my in-laws church just like we did for Bryson's first birthday. We have such a big immediate family that our little house can't accommodate everyone and they will let me decorate and set up the room however I want.

I ended up making all the food. And I totally forgot to take a picture of it. Ha! But we served Rotel roll-ups, chips and dips, baked beans, Asian coleslaw, Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders, and fruit kabobs.

I completely forgot to take a picture of the party favors. I did various bowties for the boys and hair bows for the girls.

At the desert table there were chocolate and strawberry cupcakes and Oreo truffle balls. That was a big hit with these two boys and the men.

I don't think Jaxon was too sure about that cake. I had told Clay that it's appearance was somewhat lacking, but that it was made with love. He thought it looked great, but I think he was just trying to make me feel better because I was almost in tears for thinking that I could even attempt at making his cake.

I ended up turning the cake upside down because he was eating more of it than the icing. He didn't get as messy as I thought he would and I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Isn't that one of the things most parents look forward too when their little one turns one?

My sweet little niece AK. She is probably one of the most daintiest little girls I know. Oh I could just eat her up!!

His love for opening his presents only lasted about a millisecond. He's not one to sit still, loves to be on the move constantly.

I was so happy that our family was able to share Jaxon's birthday with us. He is loved by some many people and we are truly grateful for y'all. We appreciate each and everyone of you that were there to celebrate his birthday!



All the printables came from Dimple Prints

Invitations from my sweet friend Sarah and the DIY cupcake stands are also on her blog

Jaxon's outfit from the extremely talented Ashley owner of SheShe Made

DIY Bowtie wreath via this pinterest link

DIY backdrop via Jessica over @ live the fancy life blog

Party favors for the boys from myLittleTrendsetters on etsy

Girls hair bows from polkadot posies

Cupcakes and smash cake made by me :)

there will be a day.....

this has been a very emotional week for me. a lot of it has carried over from last week. with the bombings in Boston to losing a patient that I loved dearly to issues that Clay and I have been faced with. it seems like every time I turn around someone is suffering. or I'm watching a family struggle to hold on to their loved one. there just seems like there is so much hurt in our world today.

and with all this going on I've found myself questioning what in the world I have done bringing my boys into this place. please don't get me wrong, I am SO blessed to have them in my life and to get the chance to be their mother, I wouldn't trade that for anything in this world. but I am scared for them. my hearts aches for the world that they will grow up in. there have been so many times here lately that I just want to keep my little family in a bubble and keep them away from all of this, but that's not the way life works. and it's definitely not how the Lord wants us to live.

if I've learned anything through these last several days it's to cling to the Lord and His truth and to not take one single second for granted. I've loved on my boys a lot more since I watched my patients mother loose her daughter. I can't for one minute imagine the hurt and heartache she must be going through. it's one of the more difficult parts of my job.

on my way into work last night I was listening to Pandora and Jeremy Camp's song There Will Be a Day came on and I just sobbed all the way through it. there is so much truth to the words in this song. I cling to the Lords' truth that "in this world you will have trouble. but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33. the Lord said this life would never be an easy one and that we would face trials and suffering of all kinds, but we can't sit around and worry our life away. that means the devil wins. and I'm determined not to let him steal my joy!

Jeremy Camp: There Will Be A Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have

But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab

The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth

That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings

That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears

No more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place

Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long

You feel you're walking on your own

But there has never been a step

Where you've walked out all alone

Troubled soul don't lose your heart

Cause joy and peace he brings

And the beauty that's in store

Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings

That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears

No more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place

Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I can't wait until that day where the very one

I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced

To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery

O, this is why, this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears

No more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place

Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

project 365 {week 14}

 

Bryson Sings Jesus Loves Me

This is probably one of the most precious things I've experienced as a mom of TWO! And being a "boy mom" I don't know how often something like this will come along. So glad I got it on video so I'll have it to look back on when their in the floor fighting with each other in 5 years. Ha!

Hope y'all had a great Thursday!!

Little Red Wagon

Last Sunday the weather was SO nice and Bryson had been itching to go outside, so when I got home from VBS meeting we decided to take the boys on their first wagon ride. I hate that our subdivision doesn't have a sidewalk and our road is so bumpy, but the boys didn't seem to mind.

I'm sure this will be the first of many wagon rides this spring and summer!

my project 365 {week 13}

jaxon's invitation

I know this post is WAY over due, but since I use this blog to document our little family I wanted to blog about this. Several weeks ago I had asked my friend Sarah if she would design an invitation for Jaxon's first birthday. She does incredible work and I couldn't imagine anyone else doing them!

On a whim I decided to try and take Jaxon's pictures for the invite. I had done Bryson's for his first birthday so I thought I might be able to pull off a least one good shot for J's. They are by no means perfect, but I thought they turned out so cute. I sent several options to Sarah and let her pick her favorite. She did some editing on the picture and I can't tell y'all how happy I was to see the final draft.

I can't thank Sarah enough for the AH-MAZ-ING job she did on Jaxon's invitations. Love you friend!!!

Hoping to post about the party sometime this week.

jaxon {12 months}

jaxon you turned 12 months on april 9th!

Oh my sweet angel! I can't believe you are a year old! You have changed so much in a year. You have come into your own and have the most precious personality.

you got THREE more teeth in right after you party. I was so surprised when I saw them because you never got upset or fussed while they were coming in.

you finally pulled up for the first time several weeks ago. I was in your room putting some clothes away and when I walked back in the living room you have pulled up on Bryson's chair to get one of your toys. Of course I immediately got my phone so I could take a picture and send it to your daddy and grandparents.

you are quite the little jabber box. you wake up talking and sing your self to sleep at night.

 

at night when I'm rocking you to sleep you will pull at your blanket until you find the spot you're looking for and you'll play with that corner of the blanket until you're finished with your bottle, then you rub it around your little mouth and start sucking on your thumb and that corner of the blanket. This is one my favorite things to watch you do. :)

you are completely out of your walker and are crawling non-stop. you are on the go the minute you wake up in the mornings. you even took a few steps at your PawPaw and Nana's house on Easter weekend.

you celebrated your first Easter. Of course I had you and your brother in matching clothes. Not to sure how much longer that will last, but I'm going to milk it for at least 15 more years. Ha!!!

you have such an outgoing little personality. You are always talking to people in the check out line, or at a restaurant. You have never met a stranger.

you can say da-da, bubba, Gigi, thank you, bye-bye, and hey there. I'm patiently waiting for you to say mama.

I know I say this a lot, but you love your big brother more than anyone I believe. You follow him around wherever he goes. You love for him to sit in the floor and talk to you or play with you. I really believe you look up to him and I know that one day he's going to teach you and show you so much. He's going to be the BEST big brother!

you love food, but if I had to pick your favorite it would be Cheerio's. The ladies at bible study and the nursery workers love to give them to you. They say you immediately stop crying when you see them getting them out of your bag.

you like getting to sit in your highchair in the mornings and eat your breakfast and watch cartoons with Bryson.

you have made our family complete jaxon! watching you grow over this past year has been such a joy. you are and always will be our sweet little angel! ~ i love you to the moon and back ~ mama!

Stats for this month

weight: 19pounds 10ounces 

height: 30inches

diapers: size 4

clothes: 12-18 months