One year ago I did the hardest thing I had ever done. I felt pain that I had never felt before. I pushed myself to where I had only hoped I could go. And at 4:51 in the afternoon it was all made worth it when this little man came into the world. I would do it over and over again if it meant getting the joy of living with this little chunk of love each day. Happy birthday, Declan. It brings me more joy, love and peace to be called your mother than you will ever know.

I took the type from his family party invitations and re-worded it for this party. I created a little pennant template with four to a page and printed them on card stock.

I used double sided tape to adhere the flag and cut the ends.

Green striped washi tape was added to the edges to help hold it together (and add some cuteness, of course).

And viola! Little flag invitations.

I displayed most of the weekly/monthly photos that I can have taken over the last year.

I made party hats using this fringe tutorial. I had grand plans of making 25 hats and everyone wearing them. I ran out of time, made 12 and only two were put on by guests. The rest served as very cute (if not very time consuming) centerpieces. I will keep them and maybe use them at party number two, the kids party! I also cut up streamers to be fringy, used streamers as table runners and cut some up for confetti.

(notice the mini cake stand. His cake sat on that, but I didn’t get a picture of it. Those little sticks were also going to become a mini banner, but time got away from me and it didn’t happen. So bummed!)

Looks who’s walking! I tied a few balloons to his highchair and set his crown there until he was ready for cake. I whipped the crown up in one night using felt I had on hand and I love how it turned out! I could have added a backing but again, I just didn’t have the time. Stupid full time job!)

I set up a little drink station including cups with cute striped paper straws. Of course only three cups were used. Looks like I will be drinking out of really cute straws for a little while!

We ordered Mexican food from a local spot and enjoyed cake afterwards. Following in suit with the cake banner and striped straws the cake didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to in my head. I wanted to make it from scratch for two reasons. One, because it was going to be Declan’s first real taste of sugar and I felt better knowing exactly what was going into him. And second was pride. I felt so bad when I bought him his first halloween costume rather than made it, and am having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that working full time means not having the time to devote to all of the crafty mom things I want to be able to do. So making him a cake from a box seemed to me like I was failing him. (I know, I know. Silly.) So I found this cake recipe, which my friend Jessie made for her son’s first birthday the week before and said it was great so I went for it. (Just gonna say it, I am not the best baker and Jessie is an amazing baker.) I completed the cakes feeling pretty good and then it was time for the frosting. Maybe my melted chocolate was too cool, maybe the sour cream wasn’t quite at room temperature. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. I called up my sister who was on her way to help set up and asked her to run to the store for some chocolate frosting. Which is the only part Declan ate anyways. So much for controlling what was going in him! Next year I will make a boxed cake. Or maybe buy a cake. I gave it a good try, right?

All in all it was a success! Now on to planning party two, the friends party!

If you follow the Pinterest board I created for Declan’s birthday you saw all of the Noah’s ark pins. I really wanted to go in that direction but just didn’t have the time. Instead I focused on the colors green, blue and yellow, party hats and crepe paper. Since Christmas was less than a month ago I let guests know that they didn’t need to bring a gift, but that if they did to bring a favorite book or movie.

I am very pleased with how they came out!

Happy Monday!