Party #1

Party planning is a skill all of it’s own.  One that I believe can be learned, and I have a lot to learn. 

I started looking at magazines (you remember these, right)-ones sent to me just for having a child.  I love how I ended up on all sorts of mailing lists.  Anyway, I got some ideas from there, talking to family and friends (I’ve been to their kids’ parties) and also online.  Believe it or not, I haven’t ventured into the world of Pinterest, which I hear would have been a great resource.  I will someday.  :-)

Even so, I came up with a vision of how I wanted things to look and a feel I wanted to create; comfortable and fun.  Asher loves balloons- seriously, they make him super happy.  So what better than a balloon theme??  With that set, I ventured out to look at party supplies.  Another world I was not well versed in.  I’ve hosted my share of wedding and baby showers, but it seems the sky’s the limit with non-baby or wedding parties.  I knew I didn’t want to go overboard (I realize that this idea is subjective) but also knew that I did want to give thought to details that would add to the vision- so to speak. 

Hobby Lobby became my best friend.  And B may say, our credit card’s worst nightmare- haha.  But seriously, they can have great prices and you’ve got to love the coupons!!  They also had the best selection of stuff that worked for me.

I looked at a lot of pre-packaged decoration kits.  A LOT!  In stores, on Etsy, etc.  Nothing really hit me, so I decided to make a couple of things.  I did limit it though; because here is a place you can go crazy and make things harder on yourself.  I made a birthday banner, his high chair banner, and the centerpieces. 

We turned the bar into the present table.  I wrapped 3 boxes with paper grocery bags and got the little cardboard 1 at- you guessed it- Hobby Lobby. I agree that this was probably unnecessary, yet my thought was to use these items later in a photo shoot with Asher. 

This adorable wooden 1 came from my sis-in-law.  I just think its super cute!!

And then there’s the food.  Whoa!  Another place one can go nuts!  We decided to get Chick-fil-A for the main meal and then I had a green salad, a fruit salad, “happy kid food” (cheese sticks, applesauce pouches, and Gogurt), and cupcakes. 

Oh the cupcakes.  I had your normal yellow cake cupcakes.  But I couldn’t stop there.  I found a super cute blog called Pinch of Yum.  She had this great recipe for carrot cupcakes, so I made those, too.  And don’t forget a smash cake for the 1^st Birthday Boy!  This was getting more labor intensive than I thought, but I was already in too deep. :-)

Asher had not had sugar before.  Not like candy, cake, frosting sugar at least.  So I researched a more “healthy” smash cake. I went with the one from a blog called Our Haven Hill.

It wasn’t bad actually.  More like a banana, apple dense muffin.  I tried the recipe a couple of time and slightly modified it.  We even had Ash try it before the big day.  He seemed to really like it, so it was a go!  By this stage in the game I should have gone on to make my own frosting, but no.  I decided to go with cream cheese frosting.  I know- completely negates the healthy smash cake. :-)  All turned out great and he seemed to really like it- who wouldn’t?!

As far as activities go I kept it super simple.  Asher was turning 1- let’s be realistic.  My amazing boss Cheryl has a mid-sized bounce house.  Yep.  She loaned it to us and we set it up in our playroom.  Thank the Lord it fit, as it was a scorching 100+ degrees that day.  Oh my poor June baby!!  The kids loved it!  We also had a crawl tube for the small ones.  It was great!!  Thanks to Auntie Jen and Uncle Ryan for the loan on that one!!  (It really is who you know!)

All in all it was great and I do think Asher had some first birthday fun.  I think I learned a little something about party planning, too.  Simplicity is going to be the key for me in the future.  Work smarter, not harder (to keep my sanity), and Asher will have some great birthday parties. :-)

We are so thankful for our family and small group who celebrated with us!!

He practiced walking to Gma.

And after the party was over, he unwinded with a little dancing.

Asher- 12 months old

On June 11th, Asher turned 12 months old!!

Here are some things Ash is up to:

Size 12 and 18-month clothes, size 4 diapers, and size 4 or 5 shoes (mainly due to a wide foot).

Favorite Toy: Probably still his push walker.  He goes everywhere with that thing.  Although he received some fun new toys for his birthday, so we’ll see.

He has gotten pretty clever at using his push walker forward and backward. He will push it forward until stopped by a piece of furniture, cabinet, or wall. Then he’ll go around the other side of it and push it back the other direction.  Smart boy!

Favorite Show:  Curious George.  Ok, now let me preface that I am not a fan of having my child watch much TV.  I don’t want him to get into the habit of staring blindly at it for hours, or let it be the only thing that entertains him.  With that said, any moms out there will probably identify with me when I say that sometimes an age appropriate show can be necessary for MY sanity.  With that said, he just giggles when he sees George.  (It’s also funny to note that his fist Halloween costume was of George, and daddy was the Man in the Yellow Hat. He had never seen the show at that time.) The shows within the show are broken down into like 10-15 minute segments, which are a perfect length for Ash. 

Asher loves balloons and bubbles! (That’s why I decided to do a balloon theme for his birthday. More to come on that.) He shakes his arms and legs in excitement when he sees a balloon.  He has even popped a couple small ones.  It didn’t even scare him!  He just went right on to the next task of attempting to eat the broken pieces. 

He likes water more and is hit and miss on loving his milk much anymore.

This kid still loves to be out and about. Restaurants, stores, you name it. If there are people and things to see, he's there!

Asher is a master at finding a fuzz or microscopic piece of anything on the floor and in the mouth it goes! I adventurously put my finger in his mouth multiple times a day to see what I'll find.

He used to not like to crawl on the tile- carpet only. Now anything goes. He usually just crawls somewhere in order to stand up. It won't be long until he is full on walking!
Here is our little jailbird.  Thank goodness for this gate!  The stairs are on the other side, and while he doesn't like it, at least he's safe!!

My mom and I spend the days we are with Asher following him as he leans against the walls, cabinets, and appliances to walk his way around every room in the house that he can.  I can’t even put him in his jumpy anymore- he cries.  He is a boy on the move!  All-day-long.

Asher has slimed down a bit since becoming more mobile. Don’t get me wrong, he is still in the 69^th percentile in weight, but we actually notice a visible difference in “roll reduction”. Haha!  This is good for the reason that he has about caught up to cousins Nolan and Toby in clothes size so the hand-me-downs are getting fewer and farther between. :-)

A few months ago we bought a Baby’s First Toothbrush – what a great investment! He chews on it much of the day and it’s supposed to clean off his little teeth while doing to.  We also use a brush we put on our finger and “brush,” I use this loosely, his teeth.  I found out that he will need to have his first dentist appointment soon after he turns one (what??) so I guess we’re on a good track with that.  Lord help the dentist, though, as he often bites down hard on our finger!

Asher has started to do this little closed mouth chuckle. I think it’s hilarious!  I haven’t been able to capture it on video yet.

I’ve noticed that when he’s tired he plays with his hair.  This is funny to me because I do the same thing.

Asher loves the way my mom sings the ABCs to him.  She does it silly by accentuating certain letters and he belly laughs at it.  It’s great.

Memaw started this thing where she says, “I give you Smoochie Moochies!!”  And then kisses him.  He gets such a kick out of it.  Now Brandon and I say it too.  I even call him “Smooch” half of the time.  Again, a nickname not suitable for when he realizes what we’re saying.

May 17- Haircut #2!! It went amazingly well! What a handsome little man.

June 5- Asher took his first steps!!  What a major accomplishment for our Smoochie Moo!
This video wasn't of his first steps, but it's the only ones we've caught on film. :-)

Cousin time!  I love it!

Time with friends after swimming lessons.

Here is how he's used the walker lately- lol!

Here is the last video I got of Ash in his jumpy.  As I mentioned- he won't let us put him in there anymore.

Big Guys Rule!

One "Wild and crazy guy"!

Fun with a little backyard photo shoot.

Thus ends my monthly Asher updates.  I cannot believe he’s one and I’ve done 12 months of updates!!  So many memories for Brandon and I. What an amazing year with our little blessing!

Don’t get too excited though- I’ll still be updating on special events and happenings in the Dahl world.  (Hopefully to the reading enjoyment of some of you. :-))