Grady: 11 months + Our Family Photoshoot

Grady,

You seem so big to me now that you're officially walking. You are fearless and resilient - you trip but you get up and keep on going. You are confident and happy in your new independence. But you will still hold your mama's hand. Watching you push your trucks around and make noises is pretty much my favorite - you are boy through and through. I love your spunk and happy demeanor - you are the joy of my days.

xo,
Mama

We also had a family photoshoot last month with the oh-so-talented Amanda Farrell of A.M. Photography that I have yet to share. She took the most beautiful images to cherish this special stage in our life. She comes highly recommended by yours truly.

You are invited

I seriously can't believe I'm planning my baby's 1st birthday!

Yes, it's a party for Grady but I also feel like we're celebrating the fact that Josh and I survived our first year with a baby - so much life change and lessons learned. 

And of course, parties always start with an invitation. 

As a designer, invitations are my favorite - they set the tone for the event and get people excited.

I'm not generally the themed party kind, but we are using a red & white striped tent in our front yard

so naturally I went the carnival route.

Lots of stripes, primary colors, and animals wearing party hats are on the docket.

So if you need me in the next two weeks, I'll be crafting and learning how to bake a smash cake.

Are you planning a party soon? I'm constantly adding new invitations to my shop!

Don't see what you're looking for? Email me about a custom design. 

Grady: 10 months

Grady Boy,

Somehow you transformed into a little boy before my eyes. You're no longer my baby that likes to be held; you're my busy little boy who loves to play. But oh, how much joy you bring to this life. Your attempts to walk into my arms are enough to make my heart overflow. Your belly laughs and the slap of your hands as you crawl on the floor are such sweet sounds in our house. You know no stranger and give out those contagious smiles freely. I love every little bit of you.

The art of eating

Exploring foods and teaching Grady to feed himself has been quite the adventure.

There are days he loves everything I put on his tray, days he tries things and spits them right now, days he throws his entire dinner on the floor, and days he refuses to even put food in his mouth.

To document this stage of his life, I got out my camera and snapped some photos of him enjoying a PB&J - one of his faves.

He is fun and silly and picky. If he doesn't like the way something feels in his hands, he won't even try it. And if something has a weird texture, he usually spits it out. Imagine my face covered in cottage cheese. Yeah. 

So how do I keep him fed? Applesauce. Perfect hiding spot for rejected food.
I curse the day he catches on.

something simple to make for baby boy

As someone who enjoys creating things, I'm always looking for things to make for my baby boy to wear. But besides bowties, there aren't too many simple things for the average seamstress to make for a baby boy. 

Then I saw this incredibly adorable video by Cotton & Curls.

And I knew I needed to make a slouchy beanie for Grady.

I took the measurement advice from the tutorial and decided to work with a cheap pre-made adult beanie.

Once you figure out your measurements, just follow the shape of the hat and pin where you sew.

Be sure that you are pinning on the wrong side of the hat. (I forgot to take a picture but the right side of my hat is stripes).

Sew along the shape you created.

Trim off excess, flip right-side out and try it on your baby!

10 month olds don't made the best (read: stillest) models.

So let's just call these action shots.

I pretty much love this boy in anything, but a slouchy beanie is heart-melting material.

Go ahead and add this to your list of "simple things to make for baby boys".

Five Years

May 24, 2008

Five years ago today I said forever to this man.

We were 22 and filled with love and hope for our future.

Now we're 27 and still filled with love and hope for our future.

And I still look at him and think: I am the luckiest.

Happy 5 Year Anniversary, Joshua.

I love you oh so much.