Adelyn is 2: party people

This is the one & only picture that got taken in the “photo booth”, darn wind! And Avery was so tired at this point and the party had barely started! I had to get a family picture before I let Adelyn go to town on her ice cream sundae!

This is from later on in the party, but I just couldn’t resist! I love this little girl with all my heart! Can’t believe she’s already 2! She had the best time at her ice cream party and a week later is still talking about it! In fact, every time we pull in the garage she says “ice cream party!”. Oh honey, I only wish we could have an ice cream party every time we come home!

The kiddos checking out their table! Hayden & Lily didn’t quite get the place cards on their chairs though! Ha!

Adelyn had been talking about her ice cream party for a week, I was so excited when I could finally say it was time for her ice cream party! Adelyn’s shirt is from SheSheMade (who else…Ashley’s our favorite!) and her bow is from the etsy shop, andjane. I actually got her bow last year there as well. She does awesome work and they are SO adorable!

Lily enjoying her ice cream sundae!

I don’t think Hayden liked his…ha! This kid’s faces just crack me up! There’s no doubt that these three littles had their share of sugar that day!

And the big kids enjoyed their ice cream sundaes as well!

Aunt Wendi and her boy, Matt! Do you see how Wendi so nicely had her left hand on her knee? She’s practicing for when she has some bling on that left hand to show off! Ha! (Sorry Wendi, I couldn’t resist!)

Grandma Cindy & Grandma Duane – Oh and I forgot to get a picture of the tables in the details post. This was another FANTASTIC pinterest idea. I used just a regular roll of plastic table cloth and then used a fun coordinating wrapping paper as a table runner! The coolest thing about it was that I found the wrapping paper in the dollar section at Target!

Uncle Preston and Grandpa ‘teve (in Adelyn’s words!) Oh and btw, that is a classic face for my Dad, just ask anyone in my family!

Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Jim, and Great Grandma DeWall

There’s no doubt that Adelyn’s cousins have any personality…just look at those faces!

So I know I mentioned we just did immediate family for Adelyn’s party and that’s just how Mark & Kathy feel, like family! These are 2 very special people in our life and we’re so thankful for them and how much they love our sweet kiddos!

These 2 pictures just make me smile! Auntie M & Uncle P are the best!

4 generations!

Uncle Geoff has a remote for his camera so we got a group shot of my whole family before everyone left! Love my family! (I guess we are missing Grampo)

My 3 amazing sisters and our kids! Getting a good picture with 3 toddlers and a baby isn’t easy!

Aunt Stef wanted one with the kids…Hayden wasn’t even interested…Lily wasn’t sure about sharing her Mama…and Avery just hung out the whole time! Ha!

Just in case you missed it, here are the other party posts:

Party Details

Party On

Adelyn is 2: party details

Adelyn’s 2nd birthday party was an ice cream theme! I picked a few themes back in March and asked which one she wanted and her reply was “eye keem”! I was excited because ice cream is pretty much a food group in this house!

While on maternity leave I got to work planning her party. I made a simple ice cream cone invite. We simplified a bit this year compared to her 1st birthday party by having an afternoon party and only inviting family. I printed out a template of an ice cream cone I found online and just tailored it to my linking. I then used a scallop die cut and cut it in half for the ice cream on top.

We chose the weekend after her birthday to have her party. I wanted to have it the same weekend that we dedicated Avery at church so my sister’s from Omaha didn’t have to make 2 trips. It worked out great because we celebrated her birthday on Friday the 21st and then celebrated and talked about her upcoming ice cream for the whole next week!

We were borrowed a Frosty machine from our good friend’s, Mark & Kathy, who run the Wendys here in town. Kyle got it all set up (electrical stuff that I don’t understand!) and about an hour before her party realized that he had a 4 phase cord and the machine was 3 phase (whatever that means!) so it wouldn’t work. Mark didn’t disappoint though, he had the store do up about 25 medium frostys and went and picked them up just in time for her party. Crisis avoided!

I made the welcome sign for the door and the orange tissue ball. Thankfully my good friend, Sara, had just had her daughter’s 1st birthday party the weekend before we were able to share some décor and serving dishes! The pink tissue balls were from her. Thanks again Sara! (we need to plan our girls’ parties together every year!)

My inspiration for the serving table came from one of the very first “pins” I saw on Pinterest when I began planning her party. I loved the giant 2 and the fabric banners! Ok, who am I kidding, the entire set up is adorable! I chose a few fun fabrics in her party colors and made the 2 banners. The orange frames are from Avery’s nursery and I borrowed the pink frame from Sara. I made the “Happy Birthday” banner and all the topping labels. The table skirts are from a wedding I decorated a few years back (worked perfect to hide all of Daddy’s tools!).

Topping choices includes brownie bites, M&Ms, ice cream cone shaped marshmallows, crushed Oreos, cherries, nuts, sprinkles, peanut butter cups, chocolate syrup, caramel topping, and chocolate chip cookies (made by Kyle’s Mom). We also had the cutest frosted sugar cookies in the shape of an ice cream cone (I wasn’t very good about getting pictures before the party started, so I don’t have a close up!).

I made the “Keep Calm” sign and just had it printed as a 5X7 picture at Target, another Pinterest idea! My SIL, Laura, made the ice cream cone image at the top of the sign. I also used that on the topping labels and the welcome sign! Thanks Auntie Laura!

To the left of the main serving area is where we were going to have the frosty machine, but we had plan B instead and it worked out just fine! The pink & yellow napkin wreath is borrowed from my friend, Kim, from work (her daughter's party was pink & yellow last year).

Each person had their choice of sundae, cone, or float! Since we didn’t get to use the machine no one had a cone, but the sundaes & floats were both a hit! Auntie Laura also made the “sweeter each year” sign. Where’d I get the idea? Pinterest, of course! I made the labels for the bowls & the sign using the ice cream image, once again, that Laura made.

The week before her party I realized I hadn’t ordered her a cake yet. I decided just to get a small one since we already had so many sweets with the ice cream sundae bar, but this way she could still blow out her candles at the party! Larita’s (an awesome bakery here in town) never disappoints, they also made the ice cream cone cookies! We ended up eating Adelyn’s birthday cake the following day with some friends!

I brought up Adelyn’s table & chairs from the playroom. I thought it would be fun for her, Hayden, and Lily to have their little kiddie table! I simply wrapped the top with yellow & pink wrapping paper and then used ribbon & my cricut to make some place cards for each of their chairs! The favors were Mickey Mouse sidewalk chalk ($0.50 at Walgreens!) and one of those ice cream cones with the foam top that you push the bottom the top flies off (no clue what they’re called!). Everyone loved the ice cream cone favors!

Lastly I wanted to do a photo booth like I did last year, but didn’t plan for the wind! So the streams were just pretty…blowing in the wind! I used the left over fabric as a backdrop for her gift table. And that sad yellow 2 was my attempt from the pin I mentioned earlier. Let me just say, cutting styrofoam isn’t easy! Ha!

Just in case you missed it, here are the other party posts:

Party People

Party On

Kicking and Screaming

Thursday May 30th was my first day back to work. To say I wasn’t excited about the transition is a complete understatement. The day before I was pretty pouty and sad, but then decided I have to go back to work I need to be positive. So I gave myself a pep talk and surprisingly Thursday went really well. There were minimal tears (by Mommy!) and I got through the day ok. BUT….then came Friday and I was a complete mess. By the next week I was still pretty sad each morning thinking about leaving my babies. I think it was fully sinking in that this is for real! Thankfully I like my job, have a wonderful group of people to work with, and our office is busy so my days go fast.

As of today I’ve been back to work for 3 weeks now and, honestly, I still hate leaving them (and still cry sometimes)! Pretty sure it will get easier, but you never want to leave your kids! I still don’t feel like we’ve settled into a routine yet, but we’ll get there, that I know! I just wanted to post this so I remember this time in our family and how the transition went (and to show that the point of me blogging is show our life…real life.).

Avery: 3 Months

Dear Avery,

June 7th you turned 3 months! We’ve had some adjustments this month, but you are adapting pretty well. You have grown so much this month and time continues to fly by much too fast!

 

The biggest change is that you started going to daycare this month because Mommy had to return to work on Thursday May 29^th. Pretty sure it was harder on Mommy than you! It took a few days for you to get used to napping in a new place & taking a bottle, but I think you are used to the new routine. Mommy thought for sure she had it figured out since she’d already done it once with big sister, but going back to work this time has been even harder. I’ll figure it out eventually!

At daycare you take a 4oz bottle of pumped breast milk every 2 ½ - 3 hours. And at home on the weekends/evenings you nurse every 3+ hours. You really have turned into a good eater! You burp right away too and another positive is that you are spitting up less & less.

Monday May 27^th was your first night that you slept 10 hours! Ever since then you’ve been consistently sleeping from 7:30pm-5/5:30am! You just knew Mommy was going back to work and needed her rest! Thank you sweet boy! We still have kept the same bedtime routine of bath, bottle {Mommy nurses you too, just to make sure you are full!}, snuggle, swaddle, white noise machine, and then bedtime.

You are cooing, giggling, smiling, etc so much these days! We can just look at you, talk or sing to you and you give us that big sweet smile!

Your nap schedule is COMPLETELY different now that you are at daycare. You aren’t a long napper at daycare, hopefully we can get that changed, therefore you haven’t been napping that well on the weekends either. We’ll get it figured out though!

This month you have enjoyed your swing, bouncy seat (we use this a lot…supper time, bath time, etc!), and your play mat. We also have had you sitting in your bumbo seat this month. You really enjoying sitting more upright and being part of the action! Since Mommy is back at work our walks have been limited, but with summer hours we try to squeeze in a trip to the park after work/daycare most days. You LOVE your stroller and being outside so much. You are always so relaxed and content when we’re at the park.

Just like your second month you still play with that tongue! Its so funny to watch you play with it, stick it out, & wiggle it all around! And you still aren’t a fan of tummy time, but we try to do a little each day, hoping soon you won’t hate it so much!

You also have become quite fond of your fists this month. Quite often we will find you with them in your mouth chewing or sucking on them! You won’t take a paci, but you sure do like your fists!

You had your first trip out of state this month. Before Mommy went back to work you, Adelyn, & Mommy took a road trip to Aunt Stef’s house for a few days. You were a great traveler! Bed time at Aunt Stef’s was a challenge since you and big sister go to bed at the same time, but we managed and overall had a good time with everyone. You also had your first trip to the Omaha zoo!

Mommy & Daddy had their first time away from both you and big sister this month. Grandma Cindy watched you two. You were stubborn and wouldn’t take a bottle (this was before Mommy went back to work), but Great Grandma Donna happened to stop over and she got you to take it!

You are still wearing size 1 diapers. We are finishing the last box of size 1 diapers and then will move to size 2 soon. You are also still wearing size 0-3 clothes, some things are getting too short. Your 3-6 mo clothes are all hung up in your closet ready to go (but I’m in no hurry for you to grow little boy!).

My handsome, sweet boy, this month brought lots of big changes, but we will settle into a new routine. Its so fun watching you grow and change! Your Daddy, big sister, and Mommy all love you very much!

Love, Mommy

*THREE MONTH STATS*
weight 14.8lbs
length didn’t measure
eating 100% breastfeeding
clothes 0-3 months
diapers size 1