Planning a 1st birthday party!

So, I started planning mackenzies party in January! Her party wasn't until mid May and I was so glad I started when I did. I knew from Pinterest and Google I wanted to do a pink & gold theme! I also knew what style & in general what I wanted to have at her party. 

Here we go...

Started with her pink & gold ONE letters. Easy to buy from Micheals, Jo-Ann's - really any store that has the size letters you want! Painted it pink and used glue/gold glitter for the dots. 

We had photos done a couple weeks before her party so I had time to print them and frame them in basic white frames. We chose 3 different pictures and places them around the house! 

Here is her picture banner! I just printed each months photo and backed it with white card stock. Bought pretty pink paper clips and had yarn already! Super easy and fun for people to see her past year :) 

Over the last 6 months I worked on her photo book! I would start sooner and do it month by month with the next baby. Love that we will always have this. Many people looked at it throughout the party and I think it's good to have something "to-do" for people!! Since let's face it a 1 year olds party is just for us adults anyway!!

Her "happy 1st birthday" banner. Pink card stock (12x12) and you can get 6 letters out of one sheet of you do a 4x6 size. Then I just cut the bottom as a large triangle for some extra flare!! The letters are actually gold glitter stickers- how easy!!! I hole punched the sides and laces yarn through it. 

This is a must have. My absolute favorite thing!!! It's s time capsule with letters from people at her party. The letters on the left have a spot for your name, how you know mike & I, words of wisdom for Mackenzie and what she will be when she grows up. I couldn't wait to read them so I did asap (without mike -- so sorry!) and just cried through reading all of them! So many kind words and a blessing that Mackenzie will have these to read when she's 18.  I will put pictures from her birthday in there as well as some other things. 

Her chalk board ! Black foam cork board ($4) and metallic markers ($10). The markers I did have to go over a couple times on the black but it turned out pretty good. This I waited and put off until a week before her party.. It wasn't too hard but did take maybe 2-3 hours? Not bad though while watching tv at night or during a nap! 

We did sandwiches and dessert. Easy. I made the desserts but bought the sandwiches. First time piping cupcakes and it honestly was fun! I will do this again for sure and not buy them :) 

Drinks - people preferred the lemonade. 

Bought this for ease. Super cheap and cute for a smash cake. 

During her smash cake. Don't forget s picture of the 3 of you on this special day! I am glad we have a few :) I made her high chair tutu. This was the hardest thing but added some glam to her chair. Pink tulle wrapped around an elastic band. Both cheap just time consuming. 

Overall a great day and it was so special to us! I can't believe our baby is already one and growing up so much. Talking up a storm and really showing us her personality :) 

Thanks to my parents for hosting the party at their lake house. Great to have people inside & outside - playing bags and taking boat rides!! 

-Alisha 

Summer colds

Day 5 of a nasty cold..

I'll be the first to admit I am a baby (or worse than) when it comes to colds. I really dislike not being able to breathe through my nose. Then the side effects, dry/sore throat, hurting ears, congestion, Kleenex... 

So what can this cold mid pregnancy in the middle of July in the midst of a 14mo who is grumpy, not sleeping, teething (yay molars!), wonder week learning...teach me?! 

Since Sunday night I have pretty much been in pajamas. I sometimes have thrown on a bra. I've only showered to breathe in steam for 5 minutes. No laundry. No vacuuming. No real meals cooked. No out of the box fun activities. 

Days have been filled with hot water drinking, pill taking, veggie tale watching, tears, multiple boxes of Kleenex.. 

I have been asking the Lord to just get me through this day.. Just end this cold!!! Thinking His word says He is good, He is for us, He uses everything to teach us..so... Please heal both Mackenzie and I. 

She's also sick... Since like the end of June. But she seems to be more on the mend cough wise. After 2 doctor visits within a week her lungs and ears are fine so it's a waiting game! 

But, it could be worse. I could have a chronically ill child in the hospital or have no one to help me.[Mike and my sister/mom have been great!] 

We could live somewhere without Sudafed or not have health insurance {$2.71 prescription filled this morning}.  While this week is the worst one in a while.. I know there's a lesson. I know something will come from it. 

I've already been thinking I can't wait till we're both healthy so we can go DO things. Go to the park, go to the pool, go to play dates, cook good meals, clean the house, have ENERGY! I don't want to take not being sick for granted. I want to remember to use everyday for the Lords purpose and maybe these past days have taught me that I need to rely on Him more. I need to be thankful for what we do have and remember to treasure this time. 

Well, I'm off to take more meds and heat up some tea! Day 5 of illness is almost done and by the Lords grace we have made it through. As well as mike staying home in the morning and coming home by 4pm! Praise God for mikes job and the flexibility he has!!!

7.16.15

:) Alisha 

15 months

Let's recap this month for baby girl--

New words: fishy, bible, truck, shoe, veggies, die (it's outside lol!), poopoo, nine (on), ya, 

Accomplishments: 

~started full on walking everywhere July 8th! Barely crawling anymore. 

~top two molars came through July 9! This doesn't help a fussy baby..

~can go up and now down the stairs by herself (don't worry I'm always one or two steps behind especially when she's coming down!)

~can identify or say nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, belly, toes, elbow

~animal noises (monkey&lion)

Interests:

~stairs

~small spaces 

~walking walking walking 

~her walker

~veggies (goes to TV and says veggies...for veggie tales!)

~being outside on the deck 

This month has been one of the longest it feels like to me. Wonder week 64 is full of developmental leaps with new language skills! She started to get super cranky, sleep NEVER during the day (seriously like 45 minutes!!!), cling to mommy, tears over nothing..they say it starts at 61 weeks and ends by 64. She went for a solid 3 weeks ...

We dropped your bottle during a 2 day test of no milk. Doctors orders on the no milk. She was mad the first 2 nights but now she takes her sippy up with her and is fine :) nighttime is shorter now though so we read more books! She loves these little tiny board books, the bible, and the zoo book.

Now Mackenzie --

You unfortunately have started tantrums. Such as when you want to go up&down the stairs and I say 1 more and then we go away and you pitch a fit. Or wanting to go outside while it's raining..some things you want and just can't have :) 

We started time out after 1 reminder of "that's a no-no". It will be hard work but hopefully settles into a Routine and by this time next year you'll be a pro at listening. 

It's amazing how much every stage of raising a child has its ups and downs! 

At about 64.5 weeks you calmed down with the tantrums (possibly from the wonder week!!!), you are so much more happy again and eatin well :) 

Some pictures from this month -- 

Long grove festival 

Pet store visit! Loved ferrits. 

Sick again... This lasted forever because mommy got sick! 

Lambs farm trip-

Ivanhoe 4th of July party! 

July 4th parade --

Watching veggies in a box :) 

We tried the zoo.. It went OK! You were just getting your morals and sick :/

Daddy's annual meeting in Milwaukee --

For a couple days at the end of this month you would just stand in your crib and cry for 45 minutes and nothing calmed you other than me climbing in with you which I was so tired I needed to nap too! 

We did the spray park for the first time and you played in sand !! Took a minute or two but you liked it and played well (didn't try and eat it or get in your eyes/hair!)

Looking back this month has been filled with so much!!! Enjoying summer while we can and I'm not HUGE yet :) 22 weeks as of now and still feel fine !! This next month we don't have as much going on. We have a closing date set and are praying the buyers stay with out home and don't change their minds. We close late September and then will move into my parents for 2 months ! Baby and home due around the same time :) 

14 months

A little bit about Mackenzie this month:

*Size 18-24 month clothing

*Size 4 diapers

*7 teeth still, waiting on the bottom right to come through and join the others + no molars yet!

*only a bottle at night, all day you drink very well from your sippy cup!!

*Sleeping about 11 hours at night and 2/3 during the day (2 naps still, wake up around 6:30 so nap around 9:30 and then 1:30/2).

*You tried an orange this month and loved it! You still love bread and fruit.  You had honey animal cookies too.

New Skills

*helping to get herself dressed & undressed

*grabbing her shoes or ours when its time to go "bye bye"

*blowing on her food

*using a fork better - still throws some food on the ground but its not as bad

*She's taking multiple steps (the most so far is about 10)!!

Your favorite activity is to go bye bye,  you love to get out of the house and go go go!  You have some new toys you like - a baby doll, a pop up toy (you learned to twist the nob or pull to make it pop!), your bus you like still and of course books!  You still love to read :) 

Here are some photos from this month!!

Corn, now you love it!

Eating Oatmeal.. you liked it!

Morning Walks

Ice Cream for the first time with Dada :)

Playing with Grandpa

Making new silly faces for mama & dada after they were gone for a week in Cabo.  We missed you very much but are glad we spent time away with each other!

New hiding spots 

Fathers Day 2015

Playing with Nana

Love you little girl <3

13 months

Here what month 13 looked like! 

Playing at the park! 5.1.15

Cubbies!!! First hot dog :) 5.2.15

Getting used to the grass... This month she actually started crawling on it instead of being scared to touch it ;) 5.7.15

Loving the swing set. Swinging and slides are a hit! 5.14.15

Birthday party for a one year old!!!! 5.16.15 I had some fun crafting :) 

New bus toy and hanging out outside :) summer weather with baby shorts = love.  5.17.15

5.23.15 you announced to the world your gonna be a big sister come November!!! We think your excited ;) 

5.24.15 officially 13 months today and your first real corn on the cob experience!!! You love corn now :) 

You are now in size 4 diapers since you started to leak at night :) you are in all 12-24 month clothing. Mostly 18 month short sleeves and shirts. 

You are still willing to try new food and always want what we are eating. You had banana and peanut butter but only wanted the peanut butter ! 

Your new thing is identifying your belly, toes, head and sometime nose. 

You have successfully transitioned to a sippy cup all day long :) we thought it would be harder but actually after 2 days you pretty much got it. We started with lunch and then moved to breakfast and then snack. We still do a bottle at night because I can't let go ;) so you average 20oz a day if you drink it all and 16 if your  picky! 

Your still on two naps. A morning one around 9:39/10 and an afternoon one at 2:00. You go to bed at 7 still and sleep till 6:30. 

You say so many words. Baby, puppy, mama, dada, nana, teeth, bubble, pop (popping bubbles), hi, ha (for hot), wawa, baba, papa, pees (please), nahne(hungry), buh bye, belly!

Your so smart and happy! We love you and are just amazed and all our little interactions and how much you understand us :)