Birthday Planning Update... 45 days to go!

Like I said before, I've had been pushing full speed ahead on Baylor's 2nd birthday party planning. I finally found what I wanted to make Baylor's invitation since I couldn't find anything premade I liked, that I wanted to buy. So I found what I needed at Hobby Lobby and got busy... The theme this year is "Little Boys and Their Toys"... Baylor loves cars and trucks, really anything with wheels. The invitation border I found has alittle of everything on it from trucks, to spaceships, to trains and boats but the truck and dump truck will be used the most when creating his decorations for the pavilion. I found some solid color paper in orange, blue and green to print the actual invitation on and then found some matching stickers to go with it. I used the brown border with the trucks and all and put the solid color invitation on top. I was happy with the results..

The stickers are not as shiny as they look, even though they are metallic. I think the flash put an extra shine to them....

The invitation is hard to read but it says (I even made up the wording myself):

"Boy time really flew...

Baylor's already turning 2!"

Drive, fly or ride on over to celebrate

Sunday, December 12th at 2 P.M.

North Park in Denham Springs

30372 Eden Church Road

See reverse for directions

I have the directions printed to the park on the back and in case of cold or rainy weather, it also states the party will be moved to our house and I listed our address with my cell phone number too. The next batch of invites will be on green card stock with different trucks, trains and dump truck stickers as well. Now I have to start on his decorations and work on making (yes, I said making) his shirt because of course I can't find exactly what I want. I'm a perfectionist, so sue me.

Baylor got mail... yea!

When we got home yesterday afternoon, we made our daily trip to the mailbox. Baylor loves to check the mail; I really think he just likes opening and closing the mailbox, taking out the mail and putting it back in.

In our mail yesterday Mommy had a treat (my Alabama shirt I ordered to wear for Halloween to go with Baylor's theme) and Baylor also had a Halloween card from Nana and Pop!

So we hurried in side so we could open it...

The card was cute, with a little green monster on the front. Nana and Pop were wishing him a Happy Halloween and told him to be safe and to stay with Mom and Dad while he trick or treated. He really liked the colors on the card and even opened it up to take a look....

Then he threw it down on the floor and said "What, no money?"....

J/K Nana and Pop... he actually said, "I got mail.... Yyyyeeeeeaaaaa"!

Thanks for thinking of him... he loves you (and his card) very much!

Halloween Traditions Part 2

Like I stated in my previous post, I am making it a tradition to make something for Baylor for his Halloween outfit every year. Last year I made his octopus costume and this year since we bought his "Big Al" elephant costume I decided to make his bag. I searched for how to make "football shaped" bags and couldn't find what I was looking for. I was to scared to wing it so I started brainstorming some more. I decided to search out some black and white houndstooth fabric (like Bear Bryant's hat) and yet again Hobby Lobby had exactly what I was looking for... almost. I found felt houndstooth instead but I figured it would pretty much turn out the same. I bought 3 pieces of the black and white houndstooth , one piece of crimson and one brown colored felt piece. I then got some white gross grain ribbon to accent the letters. I started by cutting out "BAMA" from the crimson felt and attached it to the front of the first houndstooth piece. I then cut out the football and tired to sew the football stitching on it but that didn't work. I ended up using the white ribbon on the football too! I topped off the football with an "A". I cut stripes from the extra houndstooth piece, folded them in long ways and sewed them onto the bag. The I just sewed the bag together. It's not perfect but I think it's a nice little accessory for my boy's "Big Al" costume. Plus, it's made with love, by his mommy!

I thought....

On Monday, I thought I would get alot done:
I thought I would clean the house...
I thought I would cut the back yard....
I thought I would do alot of laundry....
I thought I would get some sewing done....
I thought I would get alot accomplished....
Then I thought I would sit around on the couch, watch a movie and be lazy with Baylor.....

So I did!

That was the best thought I had all day! I'll just try again on Friday!

Busy Birthday Planning

So we are getting ready to celebrate my little man's 2nd birthday, coming up on December 8th. This year we have decided to have his party here in Louisiana, the weekend after his birthday since his Daddy has to work. We will have it Sunday, the 12th at 2 P.M. I have been planning this party for months already. I looked feverishly for car and truck invitations since this themed party seemed to fit my boy perfectly since he loves any kind of toy with wheels, especially cars and trucks. I could not find what I wanted, so several weeks ago I set out to find what I wanted to make his invitations. Should have known the place I frequent the most, Hobby Lobby, would have exactly what I was looking for. I already have the template cut out for the invitations, now I just have to print them! I got cute little stickers to go with them which I will stick onto the invitation and which will also be used on his cups for decorations. Now that I have made the invitations, I now have to make the decorations since there is nothing out there that matches. I plan on doing solid colored plates, cups and napkins in brown, blue, orange and green, adhering the matching car/truck stickers to the cups. I have also started to work on a banner to hang up for Baylor. (Pictures later on the decorations/invitations). Scott and I talked about having it at the house but when I saw the anxiety build up in his voice and eyes and then he mentioned the park, I jumped on it. December in Louisiana is pretty warm anyways; I remember last year for Baylor's 1st in Mobile, it was 80 something degrees outside. So Baylor and I headed to Northpark to get the info and reservations. It's free, thank goodness, the reservation is just incase someone else decides they want to overtake the pavilion we want to use for the day. It's right next to all of the swings and playgrounds, which is great for the kids and myself, so I can keep an eye on my monkey.

There are actually 3 sets of playgrounds in this area, but this one is directly across from the pavilion we reserved.

After we checked out the facilities, and mom checked out the pavilion which has no plug ins by the way (darn), and I thought long and hard about how to do the decorations, we went to have some fun running around to every play ground, leaving mom every chance he got:

Going down the slides:

and swinging in the swings:

Yesterday, Baylor and I sat down to make a list of everything we will need for his park birthday and started his Bday guest list, with his approval of course:

I hope I actually have a head start on the game but I still feel like there is so much more to do... better get busy!

Crazy Caterpillar Critter

Yesterday, when I was taking out the trash, I noticed this prickly looking critter making it's way through the garage. Anything I cannot identify immediately is termed "critter".

See his red bands underneath all the black?
Of course as I stooped to take it's picture, it got defensive and curled up into a ball. I was worried this was one of those "stinging" caterpillars that I 've witnessed first hand sting my god daughter at the zoo a couple of years ago, causing severe pain and crying.... you would have thought someone cut her finger off, not that she got stung by a caterpillar. Of course I explained it to my Dad whom also thought it was a stinging caterpillar by the description. But then I googled "black caterpillar" and actually found out this is a Giant Leopard Moth, Hypercompe scribonia (formerly Ecpantheria scribonia), a non-poisonous species that are okay to handle because they are not toxic. Well at the time, I did not know this so I scooped him up with a piece of paper and took him far away from my house (and no I did not kill him). Well several hours later I walked outside to what I believe was the same caterpillar... for some reason, he took a liking to my beautiful yard.

He can stay, as long as he doesn't eat my flowers.

Halloween Traditions

We have started a new tradition with Baylor... visiting the Pumpkin Patch in Baton Rouge. This started last year when I drove past the patch on the way home from work one day. I thought it would be a great photo opportunity to get some cute shots of Baylor under the beautiful trees with all of the huge and baby sized pumpkins! Last year and this year, before we leave, I let Baylor pick him out a baby pumpkin. Usually, these are the first ones he goes for seeing that they are perfect for hurling across the lot like a baseball. Last year was his 1st Halloween so we bought 1 pumpkin, this year was his 2nd so we bought 2 pumpkins. He had so much fun running around and touching all the pumpkins this year, unlike last year when he was just beginning to pull up on his own. This is one tradition we've started but it seems I have also started another.... last year, I made Baylor's costume for Halloween. I really enjoy making stuff for Baylor, it makes the occasion that more special to me and everyone else. This year we already have a costume for him but I am making his trick or treat bag to match but more on that later :) So hopefully every year I will be able to continue both traditions: the visit to the pumpkin patch and making his Halloween outfit or an item to match.

Baylor October 2010

Baylor and Mommy October 2010

Baylor October 2009

Baylor and Mommy October 2009

I love you...

i love it when you smile. i love that you love to dance. i love that you still let me rock you for a few minutes each night before bed. i love how you snuggle with me in the mornings. i love how you light up when your daddy walks in from work. i love that you are adventurous. i love that you enjoy playing outside and being a typical boy. i love how you throw your arms back like you are taking flight when you run. i love how you take my hand and make me rub your belly while i rock you. i love how you blow me kisses when i tell you bye. i love that you don't judge me and love me unconditionally. i love the way you run and the way you laugh. i love your beautiful blue eyes. i love the way you hug me so tight. i love how intelligent you are. i love your little smirk, that's how i know your up to something. i love how you enjoy the water, whether it's the pool or the bathtub. i love how you love to help me sweep, mop or vacuum. i love that you are my little boy. i love your warm, sweet heart towards others. i love how you enjoy your goldfish and chocolate milk. i love it when you want me to chase you. i love your funny faces. i love it when you laugh so hard you get the hiccups. i love watching you try and mooch off of your daddy's dinner, after you've already eaten. i love it when you bring me a book and want me to read it with you. i love you baylor, every inch of you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, with all of my heart.

love,

mommy