You Are My Sunshine! Anna's First Birthday party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my goodness, the celebration has arrived!  I cannot believe Anna Baby is ONE YEAR OLD!  The days have passed in the blink of an eye.  I knew they would.  I held on tight to every single second of every single day with my Anna Baby.  I revel in the teeny tininess of herself.  I don't want her to get bigger.  I want her to stay teeny tiny forever......I want them all too, but it can't happen.

 And so there is something so terribly bittersweet about a first birthday.  It's hard to put into words, but part of me feels like it's the day to say "good-bye" to the baby and rejoice in the health and growth of a budding toddler.  But I want the baby days forever and I pray so hard that I will never forget Anna's life as a baby.  I pray that all the moments I treasured over the past 365 days will meet my mind like an old friend.  That every challenge and every joyful laugh will come flooding back to me as if it was yesterday.  I hope that I can always BE IN THE MOMENT with my kids and look back completely satisfied that we PLAYED HARD during their childhood. 

Anna, you and me baby girl.  We did play hard.  Oh how you have brought me SO MUCH JOY in just one year.  I look at you in complete wonder of those big blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair.  God made you perfect Anna Baby.  Simply Divine and perfect.  You are the delight of my heart and a ray of sunshine!




Anna Baby is indeed our little sunshine. 




So, it was only fitting to host a FIRST BIRTHDAY full of SUNSHINE and HAPPINESS!  As I said, I love first birthdays.  I think they are the most special.  For each of my kids, I have tried to put a personal touch on their first birthday parties.  For William, the theme was airplanes and he had his own little airplane outfit to wear.  For Adeline, I chose pink and tangerine which were my wedding colors. I used my ribbon wedding cake table cloth on her table.  And so for Anna Baby, I chose to make a quilt which led to a doll which led to a hat and a bib.  I was basically sewing for about a month straight after the kids went to bed!  I wanted to give her something tangible to keep just has I had done for her siblings. 



A friend of mine made a similar quilt and told me it was easy.  So I bought the supplies and watched a Youtube video to learn how to make the blanket.  Once I was done, I took it to a quilt shop and asked them to back it and trim the raw edges.  I worked too hard on the quilt top to risk messing it up in the final few steps.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out.  I couldn't be more pleased.  The nice lady who finished it for me even embroidered "You are my sunshine.  Happy First Birthday Anna Baby" on the back of the blanket.  I hope Anna will treasure her quilt forever and enjoy seeing the colors that celebrated her first birthday!





Anna Baby loves dolls.  She is always carrying a doll around the house.  Dada dances her dolly in front of her, and Anna laughs and reaches out to kiss the baby.  It's precious to watch.  When I say, "Where is your baby?"  Anna immediately walks around the house to find her.  She carries her babies and hugs them tight.  So, I made a doll for Anna's birthday table.  I have made a few smaller versions of the doll for Adeline.  But for the table, I wanted to make a bigger doll.  They are really, really fun to make and so I chose to coordinate her birthday doll with the tablecloth.  Again, I hope she'll love seeing her baby doll when she's older.  I kinda made up the skirt without a pattern (it was all in my head) so she isn't perfect.  She's made with lots of love and that's what counts!




Then I thought I should probably make her a bib and a crown with my leftover fabric scraps.  Thankfully, those two items were quick and easy.  I didn't have a pattern, but I think they turned out cute!

The party was on Saturday, September 21st.  I decided on a morning party with donuts, fruit and muffins.  We pulled all the outdoor toys onto the driveway for the kids to use and I had our babysitter come over and face paint.  The day was BEAUTIFUL.  The weather was PERFECT!  I think everyone had a really nice time too.  Anna's great grandparents came to the party and oh, that was extra special!  Bebe and Pops came to celebrate and helped us set up.  William made a sign for the front door that said, "Please come to the driveway" and he drew some festive pictures of kids playing on toys. 

Anna's two little friends - Maggie and Claire also came to the party.  Maggie and Claire have older siblings at HH and the three girls were all born within weeks of each other.  I think it will be fun to look back at this picture when they are in high school!

We invited several friends with older kids Adeline's age and so those children really had fun on the outdoor toys.  I didn't take many pictures once people arrived.  I was too busy watching Anna's smile and visiting with friends. 

We sang Happy Birthday to Anna and gave her a small piece of cake.  She was NOT interested.  In fact, she hated it!  But what's a first birthday without a cake!!??  You were a good sport Anna Baby!








The party lasted about 1.5 hours and then everyone was off to the races!  William and Dan left for a soccer game and I put Anna down for a nap.  Adeline was just thrilled that we threw a party.  She hated for it to end and it killed her to watch all her buddies leave.....she had such a great time!



Anna Baby!  YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, MY ONLY SUNSHINE!  YOU MAKE ME HAPPY WHEN THE SKYS ARE GRAY!  YOU NEVER KNOW DEAR, HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU!"

Your birthday party was as special as you, my sweet girl!  We love you to piece and our family is so very thankful that God gave you to us!  My love for you is like nothing I have ever known.


HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO MY ANNA BABY!

We all scream for ice cream! Blue Bell Tour

Right before school started, our good friend Jack and his creative mom, Michelle, invited us to join a group for a tour of Blue Bell Creameries.  They have an ice cream plant in Broken Arrow, OK.  My girl screams for ice cream, so I knew she'd love the tour, not to mention the friends who would be joining us!  So Adeline strapped on her macaroni necklace and pastel polka dot shoes and off we went to eat ice cream.

Michelle gathered a large group of 2 year olds and their mommas for the big event.  Our tour started at 10am and ended around 10:30.  The kids really liked looking through the windows that overlook the assembly line and packaging department.  The ice cream was churning in sealed barrels, so the kids couldn't see that part.  But what toddler isn't fascinated with assembly lines and machinery?  I tell ya, these kiddos stood at the window for a solid 10 minutes just gushing over the action.

At the end of the tour, the kids received a free scoop of ice cream.  Adeline moaned with delight as she gobbled up her scoop of purple rainbow perfection.....it was everywhere! 

Thanks Michelle for the tour!  We sure had a great time.

 

 

Jaguar Soccer 1st Grade

 

William and the Jaguars are back at it again!  Time for Fall soccer.  William's team moved up a bracket this fall which meant new uniforms and a real ref.  Couch Terry now stands on the sidelines instead of on the field with the boys.  It's really incredible to watch them play.  The team has been together for 2 years and this is the year the boys really understand the game, know the rules and anticipate the opponents move.  Everything seems to "click" now not to mention the boys all look SO much bigger this season!  First Grade will do that to a kid I guess!

We picked up two new team members - William Paul and Merrick.  Both are Holland Hall friends and with the new bracket came the need for 2 more players.  Team Jaguars is off to a fantastic start!

Tiny Dancer

 

 Adeline started ballet at That's Dancing.  She's in the 2.5-young 3s ballet class on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-10:15am.  Her class is only offered once a week, and I was so relieved to know that her MDO school schedule didn't conflict with the only class she could take there.  That's Dancing is close to the house and the morning class is PERFECT for us because Anna's awake for the adventure and William's at school. 

As ballet season neared, I started talking to Adeline about dancing.  She already knew the concept of "dancing" and she loves to watch ballerina's dance and see all the glittery costumes.  I wasn't at all nervous that she'd not take the class.  Adeline really enjoys being with kids and every time there's a gathering for a kids' activity, she is game to try.  The only hesitation I have ever seen is right before an activity starts and she sometimes thinks I am leaving her.  But, I always reassure her and tell her that I am just right outside the doors watching through the windows.  And off she runs!

Now, I was a little worried she would not want to wear the ballet uniform.  Adeline has a thing about costumes.  She is either all in or won't touch them at all.  She wore her Halloween costume last year for about 10 seconds before bawling her eyes out and screaming "TAKE IT OFF!"  She sometimes puts a hat on and walks around the room, but she never asks me to help her put on a full costume.  Now, I know a ballet outfit isn't a "costume" but I could obviously see how a toddler would think it was one.  So, I spent a few days showing her the outfit and we watched some ballerinas in their dance wear.  So game day, she was ready and willing!  I was so glad!

We got to her dance class and she was about to bust out of the car.  "Can I go now? Can I go now?" She was SO SO SO EXCITED.  It was truly thrilling to be caught up in her enthusiasm.  We got inside and she bounced right in to her classroom and met her 2 teachers.  As I predicted, Adeline got very nervous and ran towards me trying to be really brave and not cry.  I told her I would be right outside watching and I showed her how she could look up at the window and see my face.  After a couple other tiny dancers arrived, she was ready to go back inside. 

The class is so cute and such fun to watch.  The girls walk on their toes in a circle, they leap over beanbags, they twirl and play with ribbon wands, etc.  Adeline asks me if she can stay and do it again after every class.  So I know without a doubt, my girl is LOVING her dance class.

My heart goes to Mother's Day Out

This year both my girls go to Mother's Day Out.  It is Adeline's second year of "school" and Anna's first year.  Even though Anna is not quite one year old, I knew I wanted to send her to MDO.  Even though she's so small and such a baby, I was confident in my decision for several reasons.  First, we go to church at the MDO location.  Second, her MDO room is the same room as her Sunday school room and summer camp room (teacher too).  And third, I was totally sold on the idea when I learned I could match up the days my girls both attend.  In turn, I would get 8 hours of solitude a week.  It's a win-win situation for all the Barron girls.

And so on Wednesday, August 27th, I packed up my little ladies for their first day of school.  Adeline was incredibly anxious and thrilled about going to school.  She asked me day after day, "Adeline go to school today?  I want to go pllllllleeeeeeeeeassseeee!"  The girl loves it.  She is well taken care of, she is loved by her teachers and she comes home singing and talking about all the new things she is learning.  This year, Adeline goes 3 days a week from 9-2:30.  She takes her lunch and a napmat. 

My Anna baby was also ready to try Mother's Day Out even if she had no idea what was going on.  She attends 2 days a week.  For all the reasons I listed above, I was not at all weepy or concerned about Anna's first day.  I knew she would have fun walking around and playing with all the toys in the church nursery.  I knew she would like watching other kids and engage in the energy of music, stroller rides and a new routine. 

The morning of school, Adeline woke up energized and ready to go!  She got dressed in record time and took great pride in looking at herself in the mirror all dressed up.  I even heard her say, "oh, I look adorable!  I have my bows, they look nice."  I mean, where does she get this stuff?  I cracked up under my breath and watched her study her reflection.  She even told me she needed her tennis shoes so she could run fast.  And, she made sure to check her bag about 10 times to make sure "school pahee was in there for naptime!"  Adeline had so much loot to take on the first day that she looked like she was moving into a hotel!

Anna Baby had one simple little bag full of her school supplies and lunch.  I took one of Adeline's baby dresses and had a friend applique an apple on it for Anna Baby's first day of school.  I wanted her to have something special of her own and as always, I do love a good theme.  I LOVE "firsts" of anything.  To me they are a treasured memory of my kids' childhood, so even the first day of mother's day out deserves a cute outfit and celebration. 

When we got to school, Adeline was about to jump out of her skin.  She was SO delighted to be there!  First we dropped off Anna.  She was skeptical of the whole situation, but I quickly handed her over to the teacher and placed her bag in her cubby.  Since the teacher knows her from church, I didn't have a lot of explaining to do.

 

First day 2013 (2.5 years old)

First Day 2012 (17 months old)

 



Then it was Adeline's turn.  She waved to her old teachers in the two year old room and they were happy to see her.   She marched down the hallway like she owned the place, and she found her cubby. We put all her stuff away and then she realized she was about to enter a new room with a new teacher.  Her smile faded and she hugged my neck.  She whispered in my ear, "Mama, hold you. hold you, Mama."  So I scooped up my sweet baby girl and gave her a big hug.  I reminded her how much fun school is and how Mama and Adeline are very brave.  I told her I would be right back and together we walked into the classroom.  She beamed from ear to ear when she saw the bubble machine going and a doll stroller set up in the pretend area.  She was back to her fired up, school lovin' self.  Ms. Linda is her teacher and Adeline said hello without any hesitation.  Ms. Linda has a Masters degree in early childhood education.  She talks as slow as molasses and with a gentle whisper.   Adeline liked her right off.

And that was it.  The drop off lasted a couple minutes and I was out the door in no time.  The sweet taste of freedom for this mama.  I will admit that my mind was spinning on overload just thinking about all the things on my wish list - facials, haircuts, silence, a walk without a stroller, time in my house alone, maybe some needlepoint and a mindless magazine......who knows.  8 hours a week are mine for the making!  I will miss my girls during the day, but I need the downtime and I am thankful that I can leave them in a wonderful environment with people who care about them.