Pearls and Pink Lemonade!

Briella's first birthday is coming up in September so I have been planning, planning and planning for it! I LOVE hosting parties especially birthday parties for my babies! This year I decided to go with more a color theme of yellow and pink... with pearls as accents!!
Originally it was a pinwheels and pearls theme but that seemed kind of overboard to have pinwheels EVERYWHERE! I have always loved babies in pearls so I knew that I wanted pearls for sure... My other favorite thing is bottled lemonade... just look on my fridge I keep every lemon, pink, raspberry and limeade glass bottle! Something about it reminds me of an old fashioned look so after adding the yellow and light pink the "Pearls and Pink Lemonade" theme was born.... turns out other's have used a "Pink Lemonade" theme too so I was able to get a few fun ideas from them and just add pearls haha!

I was taking some pictures of her to go on her birthday invite that I designed!!
Here they are!

Love this one!

I am having a lot of fun thinking of ideas that go with the theme. I already have a TON of things on the list!!! I can't wait to celebrate my baby (big) girl!!! 

My best friend is...

MOVING!

:(

She is moving tomorrow.
Which mans Briella's best friend is also moving :(

And Gracelyn's best buddy is leaving too :(

Who just so happens to be Briella's future hubby ;)

and though we are so excited for them to start this new journey... we are sad.. :(

and they are a little sad too :(

We have had some great times and I am SO thankful God placed her into my life and so close to me!

But I am so deeply going to miss my little Piper! :(

And my butterfly kissing Parker! :(

Thank goodness she is only a phone call away... and we can skype A WHOLE LOT!

I love you Jessica... and you will be missed more than you know!!!

10 months!

Briella Rain,
 You are ten months old. I still can't believe it. Each month that comes and goes seems faster and faster. I am loving every moment with you! You are learning a lot and unfortunately not all good things ha! You are very smart and have learned that if your sister screams at you for taking something.... well... you will scream RIGHT.BACK! Awesome! I am trying to teach you "gentle" and "nice" and I hope you start to grasp those terms soon otherwise you and G just might have a meltdown soon. You LOVE your sister. She can make you smile, giggle and your favorite thing to do with her is wrestle... a lot of rolling on top of each other but you both love it and it is still harmless :) G takes such good care of you. Protects you from anything and everything. If you are crawling in the direction of something unsafe she will stop you or remove the dangerous object :) If she laughs you laugh and it becomes this huge laughing game. You two play well together and I love it!

You are a big girl! You weigh over 23 pounds which has put you in the same size diapers as your sister ha! Thankfully she only uses them at night so we have plenty to share with you! You wear 18m and some 18-24m clothes. Your hair is growing longer which has made piggy tails or "puny tails" more fun... especially since you can't keep headbands on your precious little head anymore :(

You have two adorable teeth but they are sharp... you use them when you are excited and you bury your head into my shoulder and bite OUGH I know you are doing it out of curiosity but we are working on it before it continues. Your SMILE is simply the best!! Those bright blue eyes and huge smile just melts me every time! You are definitely a mama's girl and I LOVE it! You prefer me to hold your or soothe you and though you LOVE it when Daddy gets home, G quickly takes over and you come right back to me... I don't mind it one little bit :)

We are trying to get a good sleep schedule for you! You wake up around 7:30 and are all smiles once we open the door. If I walk away for one quick second to do anything before picking you up you FREAK OUT! MAJOR meltdown! As soon as I scoop you up in my arms you are fine once again! After breakfast of applesauce, pancakes and your favorite "ba ba" bottle you play with us until your morning nap. I have finally figured out that you need to sleep 3-3.5 hrs after you wake up! Such a small window and if we miss it or are not at home you and your sister won't nap together :( You love your pink doggie that Aunt Melody gave you and it is always always in your mouth! You bite the doggies snout or the ear and then stand up with it still in your mouth! I LOVE it! Unfortunately you don't sleep very well without your "Leap frog twighlight dog" it has a little star that glows and it sings or plays enviornmental noises for 10 or 20 minutes. You used to sleep with it against your face but now you snuggle with your pink doggie!

You are one BUSY little girl! You FLY when you see something you want... within seconds you have crawled to where you want to be! You are also a climber! Just the other day you climbed up the back of the couch to the top then proceeded to climb to the stairs through the side of the banister! AHHH It didn't stop there. Once you were standing on top of the couch and holding onto the banister you let go and free fell to the bottom of the couch ( I was right there) you scare me little one you have no fear... which led to your tumble down the stairs.. thankfully on your tummy like a penguin... God was definitely protecting you especially that day!

You have stood on your own here and there and walk well while holding our hands but no desire to walk your own. I am SO okay with that. LOVINg all the itty bitties in our life but have NO BABY FEVER at all... this time with G I had it and we started planning for baby #2 around her first bday... not this time! You are MY baby girl and I still see you as my itty bitty little 6 pounder... I can't wait to see what this next month with bring!

I love you so much baby girl! You make me smile every day and my heart is so filled with joy because of how much you love me! I prayed for a mama's girl and God give me my heart's desire. You are such a precious blessing and I can't imagine my life without you my dear Briella Rain :)

Our FUN filled JAM packed week!

Sunday: It started out with some snuggles with Baby E!

G just LOVES her baby cousin!

B is definitely interested in her but not sure what to do haha

PRECIOUS!

Monday: Running errands with the girls!

Tuesday: My Mom watched the girls with the boys she nannies for while I went over to my older sis' house and helped her clean and decorate! She is busy growing my newest niece or nephew and that little stinker has sure made her sick! 

Wednesday: A good friend came over and dropped off some adorable flip flops she made for the girls! B is still learning to stand in hers but G LOVES them and wears them sometimes to bed ;)

G wears them with her jammies too!

Then two other dear friends came over (or course right in the middle of me re arranging G's room) and it was so nice to visit and let the kiddos play!

That afternoon we had another visit from my sisters, Mom and of course Baby E! More snuggles with Auntie M!

Thursday: That evening David's Mom threw him a surprise party for the big 3-0! He was completely shocked and very much enjoyed the evening with family!! As always his Mom prepared a beautiful spread of delish mexican food and topped it off with rum cake and boston cream pie!

I am so in love with my "big kid" and can't wait to see how the Lord is going to bless this year for him!

Friday: My best friend came over and we let the kiddos play while chatting over ramen noodles, our favorite girlfriend snack to enjoy together :)

Love those two little teeth!!!

That evening was D's poker party guy's night so I took the girls and went to hang out with my Mom and sister and more E!! I know I know... I just can't get enough! Her sister in law and hubby were over with their adorable daughter... so B and her cousin in law B had some fun together!!

Saturday: We went to a birthday party for our neighbor's daughter at Pump It up! Both girls loved all the squishy bouncy things and I do have to admit D and I both had a lot of fun ourselves ;)

She loved the tall slide and went down it a few times with Mommy and Daddy!

 
Click on it to see her itty bitty toofies!!

 What are sisters for ;)

 After that party we went straight over to his parent's house to celebrate his Dad and my birthday! More family time, swimming fun and the most amazing meal.. his mom's signature lasagna!!! Of course it wouldn't be a birthday without my favorite pistachio watergate cake!!! To make things even better this year his sister and her hubby made me a mocha cheesecake... the BEST tasting cheesecake I have EVER tried!! 

What are uncles for!!

truly truly... the BEST cheesecake EVER!

That evening I had the pleasure of watching E for my sister and her hubby's first date night since her birth... D watched the girls and studied at home so I went and spent the evening with my itty bitty!!!

We had one fun filled jam packed week and looking back though it was a wee bit crazy... makes me realize JUST how blessed we truly are!!!!

A picture to make you smile :)