Charlie's 1st Birthday Party (and finally getting it right)

There are things you learn when you get a chance to do them a second (or third or fourth time). For me, sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error but once I figure it out, I'm set. That's how I felt with Charlie's first birthday. When Henry turned one we threw a HUGE party. Our house was bursting at the seams with people, I spent way too much on fancy cupcakes, and felt like I had used all of my energy actually planning the party, rather than enjoying my sweet boy turning one and all the love surrounding us. I told myself after that year we'd never do that again! But then his second birthday came and although I reminded myself to tone it down I went crazy with decorating and still found myself stressing out over details that let's be honest, don't matter whatsoever in the scheme of things. For Henry's third birthday I finally wised up. We had his party at a local gymnastics gym, I made homemade cupcakes, and the favors were small bags stuffed with little snacks and a small car Henry picked out himself. Easy. And so, so enjoyable.

So as Charlie's birthday got closer I promised myself I would keep it small and simple. This time we were only inviting the people that were actively in his life, not all of our friends just because they're our friends and we're having a party. Our guest list was small, and I was excited about that- it felt nice knowing there would just be family and a handful of friends helping to celebrate our Charlie. When I started to plan the decorations I felt very strongly that I didn't need to spend any money to have a great party and as it turns out, I didn't, outside of a few dollars for a big "1" balloon. This was helped by working with Tiny Prints on the invitations, but homemade invites would have been a great option too. Other than that I borrowed a garland from my sister (I'll share sources below the photos), used pictures I already had to make the photo "1", and ripped Charlie's birthday month page from our calendar to serve as the table backdrop. I typed up the "Time Capsule" sheet on our computer and printed it at home (leave your email below and I'm happy to send you the PDF), and used washi tape to hang it along with a large photo on the wall. As far as favors I wanted to avoid giving things that would end up being thrown out, so I bought some $3.50 plants at Trader Joe's and wrapped them in paper and my friend Jana made the "1" balloons that matched the invites. The kids (and adults!) LOVED them, and it was fun giving a favor that would last.

The day was SO great. I felt 100% stress free and really felt like I could enjoy the entire party, both the simple prep and spending time with people, and my focus was on what mattered- the birthday boy! I definitely appreciate a beautiful, elaborate party, and admire parents who can orchestrate them, but moving forward this little family is going to continue to keep it simple. I of course forgot to take photos for most of the party, but I do have a few to share. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes on the previous posts too, we appreciate it so much!

Happy 1st birthday, sweet Charlie!

Sources:

Stendig Calendar page- calendar via Crate and Barrel

Succulents- Trader Joe's

"1" balloons for succulents- from my friend Jana's Etsy shop

Time capsule- leave your email in the comments and I'm happy to send you a PDF

Birthday invitations- c/o Tiny Prints

"1" cake topper- I made this from heavy glitter card stock and glued a toothpick to the back

Tassel garland- borrowed from my sister, she bought it from Studio Mucci

"C" crown used as a birthday crown- Little Blue Olive

Large "1" balloon via Amazon

My dress via Anthropologie

Happy 1st Birthday, Charlie!

Charlie babe, you are truly the sunshine in our days. This past year has been both the sweetest and the fastest year of my life, and I can't even imagine what goodness this next one will bring.

Happy, happy birthday to you, Charlie!

And now, some cake smash photos! We had so much fun with this...but I think Charlie had the most fun! Between the smashing and the eating and the throwing, he was in heaven.
 

Cake Smash Photos: Lauren Ristow

Romper: Little Hip Squeaks

Crown: Little Blue Olive

Quilt: LWPH sews

Charlie's First Year Video

What a year it's been! I'll be back tomorrow on his actual birthday with some special photos, but I wanted to share this video I made of Charlie's first year that I'll be showing our family and friends at his birthday party tomorrow. Be sure to click the "HD" version when watching too. And on a related note, it's pretty fun to watch the video I made for Henry's first birthday and see their similarities.

Thank you all so much for being such a fun part of the past 12 months. Happy almost-birthday, Charlie babe!

   

The Little Season.

I was sitting on the living room floor yesterday, surrounded by two loads of laundry, folding and stacking, folding and stacking. I thought about the little socks I was matching and the little shorts I was folding, and the little sweaters I was putting on little hangers. Little. And that's the season of our life right now, little things for little people.

And the other day I was at Costco a grandmotherly woman approached me and said, "Honey, your family is beautiful. Hold onto these days- they go so fast, and in my experience, these are the ones you'll miss the most." Oh. So there I was, crying in the middle of an aisle full of oversized stuffed bears and socks in packs of 50, trying to hold it together while I watched a white-haired woman shuffle away, turning around once to give me a wink, in a very fairy godmother (of perspective) kind of way.

We finished shopping, I maneuvered that big cart up to the checkout, fished my Costco card out of the bottomless pit that is my bag, and paid for our diapers and raspberries (Costco priorities in our world). I pushed that big cart out into the even bigger parking lot, Henry saying "Faster! Faster!" Charlie laughing with his mouth open so wide, the sun shining down, glinting off the corners of that almost too-shiny cart, and I thought of the advice that woman had just given me.

Over the past four years I feel like I've learned so much about myself and about life. Never figuring it out of course, but sometimes, on the luckiest of days, it feels like I've flipped over a puzzle piece I didn't even know was overturned, and found its place among the rest of the pieces that now make sense. All the rest are strewn about, but that piece, that one lone piece, it has a place.

I felt that way when I was pushing that cart through that hot parking lot, noticing the way Charlie's blonde wispy hair would lift with every breeze, and Henry's brown eyes would crinkle up whenever he would turn to his brother and smile. It was no more than a 45 second push to the car but between that woman's advice and taking a moment to appreciate every little bit of every little thing in that little bitty moment, a puzzle piece flipped itself over and slid right in.

And then yesterday while doing laundry I had so many thoughts about this season we are in. The season of tiny things and laughing children and a house that never seems to be truly quiet. This is the season of growing our family. Of little babies sprouting into bigger people, teaching them everything we know, learning from everything they are. One day when Hank and I have done this job and our children are grown up, the lady from Costco is exactly right, I'm sure these are the days we will miss the most. The little season of little things.

So I kept folding, thoughts going around and around. Feeling sad. Happy. Bittersweet really, as I always say when talking about time passing and children growing. One foot in the excitement of tomorrow, the second trailing behind just a bit, lingering for a moment in the afterglow of everywhere we've been.

So whatever you are, be a good one, okay? Whatever season you're in, be there and be so present. One baby is almost four, one baby is almost one, and you'll never, ever be here again. Telling this to myself amidst the tiny socks and little shorts and small, small sweaters, willing myself to remember it all and take it all in, with every fold and stack, fold and stack.

When Your Husband Says...

When your husband says "Hey, do you want to take some photos of you and the boys on our walk tonight?" It's always a yes! And it's not like we don't take photos often- it's just something we've always done- but taking real photos with my real camera just makes me SO happy. I just love having a million little moments tucked away in a safe place- happy, smiling candids snapped between the "real" photos, awkward poses and silly grins. I love it all. And I'm sure that's why I enjoy blogging so much too. Outside of the obvious- the preserving stories and happenings from our day to day life, the writing, the creating...the photos are what make it that much more special. I've been trying to get back in the groove of using my regular camera, and so far, so good...and I'm so grateful to have these pictures of the boys and me. Thank you Hank!

Here are some photos from our walk tonight-

And here are links to our outfits too-

My dress // ankle boots (these are similar- the ones I have on are the Ecote Festival boot from Urban Outfitters, no longer sold) // Henry's tee // shorts // sandals

A Week in San Diego, Part Two

I'm glad I decided to break this trip into two posts- I had way too many photos! Looking back through them has made me miss the beach so much. For those of you who are lucky enough to live by the ocean, I can't even imagine how nice it must be to wake up and just BE there, every single day!

Have you ever been to San Diego? Like I mentioned in yesterday's post, we've been quite a few times but it was always either for Comic Con or while Hank was on tour. Henry and I visited La Jolla with Sarah a couple years ago and had the best time (it's so beautiful there), but as a family this was the first "real" San Diego beach vacation.

Do you have a favorite beach in California? I think we'd love to explore the northern part of the state next- I've seen so many photos at my friend Sarah's blog and Instagram of all the beautiful beaches and forests, and it's very high on our to-go/must-see list.

For now though, here's the second half of our trip photos, taken with both my "regular" camera and my iPhone! Enjoy. xoxo