Khloe's Birthday Circus Decor

I know everyone is dying to see the birthday pictures! I think the easiest way to blog about Khloe's OVER THE TOP #1 birthday party is to do a few posts instead of one massive blog. I know most of you are most interested in the decor, so that's what we'll do first. 

Step right up! Welcome to Khloe's Birthday Circus!

Invites!

The birthday girl!

Circus Sweets!

 

The personalized birthday banner

 

The "Big Top" Cake was the centerpiece of the sweets table.

Can you believe my AMAZING mother-in-law made this?!

You are awesome Teresa!!

To the left of the cake: Gumballs, animal crackers, ring pops, fruity pebble treats, pixie sticks, lollipops, and cupcakes.

 

To the right of the cake: Chocolate and sprinkle covered pretzels, stacked gumdrops, gummy bears, cotton candy, gumballs, and cupcakes.

My sister thought I was CRAZY when I asked her to color coordinate the skittles.

Totally worth it, right!?!

Cupcakes are always cuter with personalized toppers!

Popcorn, of course!

We served corn dogs (not pictured because I completely forgot they were still in the oven. Luckily John David remembered before they burnt! HA), chips & mexican cheese dip, and drinks. You know I had to put a little personalized label on the water bottles ; )

The smash cake

Khloe's little friends table

I made this balloon wreath :)

The kiddos place settings

The ball pit

Prizes and face painting table :)

Gift table

Bounce house

The pinata

 

Circus photo op :)

Special thanks to our amazing friends and family who helped make Khloe's first birthday a HUGE success! She had so much fun and got waaaaay too many toys! Thank you for helping me spoil her!

John David told me that I set the bar super high and he didn't know WHAT we would do for her second birthday. :) What can I say? I don't really do "small." Is it really a bad thing?! ; )

Happy 12 Months Khloe!

(Khloe's birthday is actually tomorrow, but since her BIG bday celebration is tomorrow, I'm posting one day early :)

Dear Khloe Brooke,

One year ago at 9:33 p.m., you were taken from my belly and placed in my arms. At 5 pounds and four ounces, you were the tiniest, most adorable, John David-looking, sweeeeeeeeeeeetest baby I have ever laid eyes on. Friday, October 1, 2010 my heart quadrupled in size when you made me the proudest new Mommy in this whole world!

Every day you learn and you do, and your Momma doesn’t miss a minute! You are one year old today and your Mommy & Daddy are absolutely stunned by how much you have grown and have become such a “big girl!”

The basics:

- Weight: about 20lbs

- Size: 4 diapers, 6-9 shirts, 9 month pants, some 12 month outfits. 4W shoes.

- Teeth: 6 total. Top two side teeth just broke through a few days ago.  

- Food: She had her first sips of cow’s milk on 9/18. I’m introducing it slowly, but excited to wean her from the $20 a week formula!!! She’s eating more and more table foods, but I’m still taking it slow on how much we give her. A few of her new fav foods this month are yogurt, granola bars, and bread.

A few fun things she’s learned in the past few months:

-Points to nose, foot and mouth

-Marches in place

-Makes high pitch shrills when asked “what does Bella say?” (umph umph!)
-Climbs on top of EVERYTHING

-Sits on her Dora couch and reads books constantly

-Dances non-stop

-Carries her baby around and kisses (licks!) her face

-Does sign language for “eat”

-Started playing in her room by herself

-Runs to the bathroom {super excited} when it’s bath time

-Regularly calls Daddy on her phone (hand) throughout the day, especially if she gets mad at me!
-Loves playing with Bella (Deh-Deh, as she calls her). I’ve caught her a few times trying to give her kisses.. eewww!

-Blows kisses

-Plays peek-a-boo
-Gives "high fives"
-Tries to put shoes on her feet

John David and I are absolutely smitten by this little girl. We’ve been spending a lot of “floor time” this month. We sit...she performs. The more we laugh, the harder she works for it. We can’t get enough of it.

I can’t believe it’s been one year. Honestly. It seems like it was just yesterday she made her dramatic entrance into our world. I can’t imagine where my life would be without her.

Happy Twelve months my precious Khloe Brooke. You make life so much more fun and worth-while. I hope you never forget how much your Mommy & Daddy love you! I can’t wait to see how much you grow and learn in the next year. Have no fear, Momma will be there.. camera in hand, blogging about it! ; )

Love always, Mommy

P.S. The CIRCUS is in town!! Khloe’s First Bday pictures coming soon to a city near you! Get your tickets now! ; )

Happy 11 Months Khloe!

We’re less than 1 month away from my baby turning ONE. I can’t take it!!!!

 (attempting to take her headband off and I am attempting to distract her from doing so.. ahh)

Weighs about 20 lbs. Wearing size 4 diapers and 6-9 and some 12 month clothes. Officially wears a 4W shoe.

She has completely mastered walking, and now thinks she can just take off running. She can turn in a complete circle AND walk backwards. She’s learned how to climb up on the couch all by herself.. she doesn’t quite understand that she can’t go off the edge without a boo-boo yet. As soon as I finish these “11 month” pics, the bumper is coming out of her bed. She is WAAAAY too close to being able to flip out of it, so sadly it has to go. : (

John David and I started reading to Khloe when I was pregnant and have continued to do so since then. I love that books are the first toys she reaches for right now. She walks around with them and sits down and flips through the pages while mumbling to herself.

This month she's really started to take an interest in baby dolls. Aunt Ruth bought her a baby doll a couple weeks ago and she has carried that baby around every where she goes. She gives the baby kisses (which means she all but licks the whole baby's face). SUPER cuteness!!

Still napping three times a day, but I feel like we are close to dropping the third. Her bed time is still around 7 and she gets up around 8-8:30.

She has FOUR teeth and two more on the top are just before breaking through. She LOVES finger foods (finally), especially puffs. One more month until whole milk, and let me tell you- I can NOT wait. We go through about $20 a WEEK of formula right now….One more month! : )

The past few weeks she has really started babbling more and more words. It seems like the only time the house is quiet is when she’s napping! A few words she’s saying: Mama, Daddy, Bye Bye, Bella (which sounds like Dey Dey), THIS, and Dance (which also sounds more like Deh Deh)

She LOVES music of any kind. The minute she hears music, she smiles and begins bobbing up and down. She’s recently started stamping her right foot really hard while dancing. The more you laugh at her the harder she dances. We really can’t get enough of it.

She gives BIG wet kisses, points for things she wants, and full on waves for “bye bye.” Things that she knows she’s not supposed to have she says “Da?” and brings it to me. Ha!

Her big ONE YEAR birthday invitations just went out today. It’s going to be October 1^st at 2:00 pm at my Grandparents’ church Family Life Center. We hope to see you all there!!

Happy Eleven Months baby girl. Please stop growing so fast.

Love, Mommy

"The Big 2-5" Bday!

A day that's "all about Heather." That's just the perfect day, if you ask me! :)

Twenty five feels old. My teen years are LONG gone and I'm not getting any younger! My baby cousins are now the "cool" kids that wear the cool clothes and know the cool sayings and laugh at me when I attempt to be "cool". Wasn't it just yesterday I was THAT kid?? Nope. That was YEARS ago, Heather. I like to tell myself that I'm still cool though. :)

Regardless, it was a great day. The hubby always makes me a grilled cheese sandwich on my bday, but this year I was craving a McDonald's hotcakes and sausage breakfast - not to mention, we were running way low on groceries anyway! After breakfast we decided to check out the Farmer's Market Downtown Mobile. We were so disappointed when we got there and realized it was closed. We didn't have any plans for the day, but the Hubs was off ALL day, so we wanted to make the most of it. On a whim, we decided to drive to New Orleans and spend the day window shopping and relaxing in the French Quarter. :)

We started off with lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company. It {the chicken} was very yummy. Jd said the shrimp was good. I wouldn't know, because shrimp is another item on my do-not-eat list. LOL!

 The {old} Bday girl. :) 

Khloe wanted in on the onion ring tower action. Look at her licking her lips!!

The birthday girl & K Bug in front of the St. Louis Cathedral. 

I heart this picture!

Apparently, August 13th just so happened to be the Red Dress Run in NOLA. I have never seen so many men in dresses. It was.....disturbing.

 Yep. That's a guy. In red lingerie. It was not pretty.

Guy riding a bike... in a red dress.

It seems like every time we are in New Orleans they are having a parade! Actually, I don't think I've been when they haven't had one. Craziness!

I was a little sad that I had already eaten, because this hot dog stand looked yummy.. and it reminded me of the hot dog stands in New York City.

The thing about New Orleans that I love/hate is that you just never know what you are going to run into. I enjoy NOLA during the day, but am not a fan of the night life. It's just not my style. Again, I'm obviously not "cool!" ;)

There are a ton of people that dress up and encourage you to take their picture (for money, of course!) They get a little agitated when you don't drop a few coins in their buckets.  This kid painted himself in all silver and sat on the corner hoping for a few bucks here and there for people to take pics with him. He couldn't have been more than 14 years old. It was 100 degrees outside and I absolutely do not know how he didn't melt!

I'm not EXACTLY sure what he is. I think a statue? There's another form of this guy who dances like a robot. We try to avoid him when we are there because he is very verbal about someone taking his picture and not paying. Ruuude!

 

And then there's this car:

 

This is a for-real car, that someone actually drives around. It looked like a homeless person lived in it because it was crammed to the top with junk. The only open space was the driver's seat. Weird.

After a couple hours of strolling through the sidewalks and boutiques, we finally made it to the French Market.(John David was convinced he knew exactly where it was, but he was wrong.. and his wife was RIGHT.. he still won't admit it).

John David brought me here a couple years ago for Valentine's Day and I bought a really cute yellow purse. They have a little bit of everything. I really wanted to buy some of the yummy looking fruit, but didn't want to tote it around the city for the rest of the day.

After a long, fun filled day, Jd snapped a pic of me and Koko on the steps of the entrance to the Cathedral. I love the vintage look of those wrought iron gates!

Khloe, of course, wanted to get down and walk around. Little monkey!

Spending the day with my hubs and baby girl was the absolute best birthday present. Family days are few and far between with John David's crazy busy schedule. We always have the best time when we are able to spend quality family time! I love that husband and baby girl!!

All of the cards, texts, and FB comments wishing me a Happy Bday made me feel very special and very loved on my August 13th National Holiday {wink!}. Thank you to everyone who made me feel like the center of attention! You know I soaked it up! ; )-

And did I mention I got a new camera? Because I did. And I ADORE it. Still learning all the functions and how to work it. Thank you to my amazing familia for making the number one item on my "wish list" come true!! ;) I require no Christmas gift this year. My camera was enough of a gift for the next 5 Bdays and Christmases!! ; )

Happy 2-5 Bday to me! Now, back to the world revolving around Miss Khloe. Her bday is coming up and I can't WAIT!! :)

Guilty pleasures!

I added a new label to the bloggity blog a couple months ago called “Confessions!” (Catch up on those here). This week I thought it would be fun to share a few of my guilty pleasures. You know.. the little things that make life just a little bit more fun.

Wikipedia says a guilty pleasure is “something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. The "guilt" involved is sometimes simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes.” 

These are just a few of the little things that make my heart flutter! {try not to judge me TOO hard!} :)  

1. Candy. I'm not talking about chocolate. I'm talking about hard, sour and tart candy. Skittles, Sweet Tarts, Gummy Bears, Starburst, lemon drops.. I could sit and eat candy, literally, all day long. You can find random candy pieces floating around the bottom of my purse pretty much all the time. It’s bad for my teeth, it’s wasted calories, but I LOVE it.

2. Reality TV. I’m talking about the super juicy ones, like ALL of the Real Housewives, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Teen Mom, and I even admit that there may be some "fist pumping" going on around these parts!!     Ummmmm… STOP judging me!

3. Popcorn at the movies. But wait, I'm not talking about just a large buttery popcorn, I'm talking about the large, buttered halfway AND on top, and then smothered with the white cheddar popcorn seasoning!! I DIE!!!

4. Scaring people. Like hitting the bathroom door super hard while Jd is showering, or standing beside the door and waiting for someone to walk in and scream in their face. I don’t know why, but I just LOVE it!!

5. Vacations. Going out of town with my hubs, eating out every night, doing fun things that cost too much money…all because it’s VACATION.  No work and all play. Making memories that last a life time. I absolutely heart vacation!!!!

 Wax Museum, New York City 2008

6. Shopping. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Goodwill, The Dollar Tree, Walmart or the Mall. Shopping is a drug to me that makes everything feel better! :)

7. Facebook. There is no better way to catch up on gossip, look at embarrassing pictures of friends, ex-friends, or better yet ex-boyfriends. Do not even TRY to deny it. You KNOW you do it too.

8. Jammies and a ponytail. Unless I have errands to run, or know someone is coming over, you will most likely find me in mismatched pajamas and my hair pulled back into a pony tail and then piled on top of my head in no sort of cute fashion. My poor hubby. Some days I do attempt to run a brush through my hair before he gets home. {SOME days..}
   
   
   
   
   
9. Pampering. It would be so much easier if I didn't enjoy getting my nails done. Or paying (an arm and a leg) for a day at the spa. Or having my eye brows waxed instead of taking time out of my oh-so-busy day to tweeze them. What can I say?!? I'm a girly girl and I thouroughly enjoy some pampering.
   
   
10.  Watching Khloe cry. Does this make me a bad mom? LOL! Sometimes she's just SO stinkin' adorable when she puckers that lip! The words "NO NO" have recently began to hurt her feelings and just as she begins to pucker I can't help but almost laugh.
    

Tell me, tell me! What is a few of your guilty pleasures? Think about it. Write it down. Laugh at yourself (and then let me laugh at you too!) ; )

Love you guys!

My Life List

 

A few days ago, I was surfing online and came across someones bucket list. It quickly inspired me to make my own list of goals, dreams and life experiences that I want to do in my lifetime. I don't know about you, but sometimes life can get SO boring. Why not have dreams? Make a plan? Decide that life doesn't ALWAYS have to be so monotonous! {Besides, you know I'm a "make a list" junkie!!!}

I decided to start with 100, in no specific order and some have been crossed through as accomplishments. In my world the best lists show proof that you've been productive {which is like a drug to me}. Surprisingly,  I learned a little bit about myself during this challenge! You should try it!

So, this is a peep into what I hope my life to entail: 

1. Grow a vegetable garden
2. Open my own furniture consignment store
3. Take sewing classes
4. Snow Ski
5. Sell my handmade gifts
6. Become a mommy
7. Swim with dolphins
8. Learn to sew
9. Parasail
10. Go on a foreign missions trip to bless children
11. Design my own craft room
12. Reupholster furniture
13. Take photography classes
14. Renew with my vows with my hubby in Hawaii on our 10 year anniversary
15. Coordinate a wedding
16. Make a baby boy
17. Zipline across the jungles of Costa Rica
18. Go sailing
19. Make a Thanksgiving turkey {by myself}
20. Go to a Mommy & Me yoga class with Khloe
21. Adopt a baby from a foreign country
22. Ride an elephant in India
23. Learn to speak another language
24. Build {from scratch} a piece of furniture 
25. Have my own yard sale
26. Be the "class mom" that does fun arts & crafts in my kids classrooms
27. Experience Disney World with our kids
28. Have a breast reduction
29. Learn to whistle
30. Learn to tango
31. Take a Safari in South Africa
32. Wear a large hat at the Kentucky Derby
33. Buy my Grandparents a new house
34. Own a beach home
35. Begin/Finish Khloe’s baby book
36. Host an annual event
37. Watch the sun set and rise on an exotic beach
38. Go skinny dipping
39. Experience a Broadway show in the theaters of NYC
40. Go to a Rascal Flatts concert
41. Have Christmas in another country
42. Give to charity
43. Get to know my neighbors
44. Go whale watching
45. Take a painting class
46. Workout at least twice a week
47. Go to a ballet
48. Create a memory list each year
49. Take a Cruise vacation
50. Find the positive in everything that has disappointed me
51. Throw someone a surprise party
52. Visit all 50 states
53. Ride in a limo
54. Register to be a donor
55. Hire someone to pay my monthly bills
56. Experience a normal pregnancy
57. Leave a huge tip to a deserving waitress
58. See the Pyramids at sunset
59. Have a blog
60. Pick a goal each month and achieve it
61. Learn to clean the pool to help out my hubby
62. Surprise someone with a new car
63. Hire a babysitter once a week and start back weekly date nights with the hubs
64. Install a TV above a big Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom
65. Stay in my pjs for a whole day
66. Take a cooking class
67. Learn to make cakes like my mother-in-love
68. Make a difference
69. Have family pictures taken on the beach
70. Go to Pier One and Hobby Lobby with an unlimited budget!
71. Buy a monogramming sewing machine (and monogram everything in my house!!!!)
72. Have Bella professionally groomed once a month
73. Replace all the furniture in my house with exactly what I want
74. Be a financial blessing to our family
75. Ride a camel in the desert
76. Take Khloe on a daily walk
77. Buy a really expensive straightener
78. Have two Christmas trees. 1) Traditional with the kiddos yearly ornaments 2) White / Super Chic Girly!
79. Have a picnic in Central Park (New York)
80. Make a memory quilt from tshirts
81. Get Lasik eye surgery
82. Go tubin’ down a river
83. Restore an old house
84. Marry for love
85. While in the drive thru, pay for the person's meal who is behind me.
86. Ride in a taxi
87. Throw a monthly dinner party
88. Feature a friend refinishing furniture on my blog
89. Set up all of Santa Claus’ toys for our kiddos on Christmas Eve!
90. Have a big family!
91. Host a themed party 
92. Laugh until you pee yourself
93. Make it through John David's four years of medical school
94. Make it through John David's five years of residency
95. Cheer for my kids from the stands as they play a team sport
96. Experience complete fulfillment
97. Watch Khloe walk down the aisle to someone she loves as much as I love her Daddy
98. Transfer to Gmail 100%
99. Overcome a fear
100. Be a healthy eater

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  -Mark Twain

 Cozumel snorkeling 6 weeks pregnant / The baby moon :) 

I would love to hear a few things on your list!

Happy 10 months Khloe!

• I think she weighs about 20 pounds (checkup is scheduled for the 15th)
  
• Wearing size 3 diapers and 6-9 and 9 month clothes.
  
• Two bottom teeth and I can feel at least one on top trying to break through. Have I mentioned how horrible teething is? Poor baby (and mommy!)
  
• Upgraded to the non-silicone spout on sippy cups. I can’t believe how easy the transition from bottle to cup was!
  
• Walking more and more! She knows she can get where she wants faster by crawling, but I am noticing she prefers to walk a little more every day.

 (it's harder and harder to get her to SIT while taking these monthly pics!!) 

• She is into everrrrrrything! She discovered how to open and close cabinet doors last week while at my Gmas. Oh joy!!
  
• Did I mention she is CLIMBING? On anything and everything she can get her foot on. I really have to keep an eye on her to keep the number of “flip overs” to a minimum!
  
• Babbles non stop but she will NOT say Momma! Every time I ask her to say it she says Dada! Couple of new words this month: Toooodee (for Tooty!) and Gi (for Gigi). 

 (look at how thick her hair is getting!! I LOVE it!)

• Napping at least twice a day and still sleeps all night.
  
• LOVES music! She bounces and claps her hands as says DANCE "deeh, deeh deeh" as soon as she hears music! So cute!
  
• She has finally warmed up to the idea of letting strangers hold her. I was amazed at Tooty’s wedding how she let girls pass her around before the ceremony started.

Let the party planning begin! Khloe’s 1^st birthday is less than two months away! {tear} And yes, it’s true; I’ve been planning for this party since she was 4 months old! Would you expect any less from me?? :)-

Save the date! Khloe’s First Birthday Celebration October 1^st in Olive Branch, MS.  Time and location TBA.