party decorations

With each nap time of Ryder's, I try to plug away at little details for his first birthday party. My family teases me and my party planning "time frame", but I know that it will be here before we know it...

So I made this tiny banner to decorate his high chair the day that he gets to eat cake!

I am really excited to make all the plans to celebrate our little mans first year of life!

(I know that he won't remember any of it, but it is still really fun to do. That's why we will be taking lots of pictures...)

making life a little easier...

Just geting some chores done with a little bit of help from Ryder...

We love our baby carrier. Anything that lets me tackle things on my list AND have hands free bonding time with Ryder, I'm in...

note: I look a little strung out because the little man has a runny nose and didn't sleep that great last night...

baby celebrations...

This weekend we celebrated the upcoming arrival of my cousin Melissa's baby, Olivia. Our mom's are sister's and we were born about 4 months apart. We have grown up, in so many ways like sisters. It is beautiful to have watched she and her husband Cory meet and fall in love and then get to stand up for them in their wedding, and then watch them grow into the incredible people that they are today that will very soon parent Olivia. It is so sweet to watch this new phase of their life unfold and get to share in it with them.

Melissa~

I can't wait to watch you become a mom... Olivia is incredibly blessed to have you and Cory as parents. All our love and prayers are with you as this new chapter of your life approaches...

Sesame Street

Here is a new favorite for Ryder. His arms get going like crazy with the beat.

....the best part is all the puppets dancing!

babies

I recently saw this movie and I loved it. It follows 4 babies, from four parts of the world, for their first year. I am sure that I loved it so much because my baby is in his first year, but I really think that any mom would enjoy it. I finished the movie with a sense of camaraderie that comes with motherhood. At the end of the day, we are all doing our best to love and care for our babies.

note: There is nudity in regards to different cultures as well as nursing, so that you are not surprised.

making party progress

I have been chipping away at Ryder's party. Today I made party favor tags with these paper punches.

I just love planning a party!

I can't believe that our little man is going to be one!

What a big kid we have

dusting off my needles...

I started knitting again today for some upcoming gifts. I haven't knitted since well before Ryder was born, so it was really fun dusting off the needles... I just love these kind of projects!