{ a woodland party..}

we f.i.n.a.l.l.y got to celebrate (the way that i know how) our little greer's birthday! if you know me, you know that i love to party. i love to throw parties. i always have! and when it comes to throwing a party for my girls, well.... it's nothing done on a small scale. ;) we had grandparents out of town, and my husband, over a two week span, which was the reason for celebrating so late. i guess the one-year-old doesn't care. but we were for sure not going to let a FIRST birthday go by without a party. i was trying to think of something fall-ish we could do without actually doing a fall theme. 

so a little woodland party it was!

 the invite

truth be told, i still didn't really know what the theme of the party was when i made these.

 i was kind of on the "woodland" track, with gold accents, but not quite there. i probably would have done something different had i known. ohhhhh well.

the party

i had soooo many plans to set up the party early so that i could take pictures while it was still light outside. i'm not a photographer by annnny means, but i know that lighting is KEY to good pictures. well, that didn't happen. i'm so disappointed in the pictures- they just aren't that great of quality... due to zero lighting that we were working with. it just doesn't do it justice. but any picture is better than none at all. but a huge thank you goes out to my mom for all her help. (and to her friend Linda who let us borrow all the awesome woodland stuff!) okay, enough talk. on to the party....

those little acorns were so time consuming to make, but i thought they were way too cute.

definitely one of my favorite pinterest finds. 

{made with a mini vanilla wafer, hershey kiss, and mini butterscotch chip}

and these darling acorns my mom made!

{made with donut holes, frosting, sprinkles & a pretzel stick}

this DARLING cake, along with the greer's 'smash' cake that you will see below,

was done by my sweet and long-time family friend, Jessie Buckner-Edwards. 

(you can find her on instagram @jbuckneredwards, she does amazing work!)

we had a sit-down dinner since it was just for our family.

greer was HILARIOUS opening her presents.

 i thought she'd be into the wrapping paper, and that was it. but this girl was stoked that these presents were all for her! she really couldn't contain her excitement! those little feet of hers were circling so fast.

.....and then she saw me bring the cake out.

we sang happy birthday to her and she was just staring at it like "wait, are you gonna give that to me?"

and she broke off a few little pieces of the frosting, and then all of a sudden she grabbed the whole thing with both hands and just dug her face in! it was waaaaay too funny to watch. she really hasn't had any sugar up until this point so i could just picture her thinking that she better take advantage while she had the chance.

and thanks to all of our party guests for coming and spoiling our little girl!

{not pictured: any of my siblings. what the heck, guys?}

happy birthday, 

my sweet and precious little greer.

{cornbelly's}

for greer's birthday we decided to finally cross off cornbelly's off our 'have-to' list. we loved going with our cousins, and rowan had a blast. and i think the birthday girl had a good time as well!

hours and hours of fun! we love that place.

i thought i told you no more pictures? -greer

{ my birthday girl...}

my beautiful baby greer,

today is your first birthday. and i know i say it with every one of your journals, but where has the time gone? this year has been the fastest of my life, by far! i swear it was just yesterday that you made your very swift arrival into this world, and i was holding you for the very first time! i remember when they put you on my chest, you immediately calmed down and you were so peaceful. kind of like, "ya i'm here, and i'm happy about it." and truly, that is how your personality has been; so calm and so content. i was re-reading your birth story this morning, of course crying, just remembering that very special day. and here we are, one year later! 

i think birthday's are so special. and i think as a mom, it makes me reflect on your last year and that's part of the reason why i'm so emotional about your first birthday.... because you have been the most incredible baby. there is such a sweet & calm spirit about you. of course i notice it, as your mom, but everyone comments on what a content baby you are. you have made the last year so easy on me baby love! you have been such a light in my life and i feel heaven so near when i hold you. you have made me feel so needed and loved, and a momma needs that once and awhile ;)

although i know you love me and your daddy alot, i really don't think there is anyone that can take the place of your big sister, rowan. you idolize her so much, and and she is the best big sister to you. i love the relationship you have together, already. and i can't wait for it to blossom and grow! i hope you always stay the best of friends.

i love the way you love to be chased around our home. i love the way you get SO excited when i open the door to your room in the mornings. i love all your nonsense words. i love when you pat my back. i love when you learn something new. i love the way you get startled and run away when you hear daddy unlock the door when he comes home from work. i love when you lay on my shoulder for 10 seconds (i'll take what i can get) before i put you down to sleep. i love your chubby little legs, and your huge gushy bum. i love your sweet smile, and your infectious little giggle. i love all your thick crazy hair. i love your big blue eyes and your big cherry lips. truly, i love everything about you.

your daddy and i talk about how blessed we are with such a sweet and perfect second baby. when dad calls me during lunch while he's at work, he will always ask about you and say "how's greer, still as perfect as can be?" and my answer is always "yep, she sure is!" we thank Heavenly Father everyday for you sweet girl. thank you for completing our family in a way we never thought possible.

happy birthday my little lovie.

no words can ever describe how much we love and cherish you!

love momma.

(daddy & rowan too).

{ first birthday pictures }

i took some pictures of rowan for her first birthday in my kitchen, on the floor.
don't get me wrong, i am glad i have them. but when greer's birthday started approaching, i knew that i wanted to have someone else take them. ideas, ideas. well, flower crowns are big right now, and i love them. so i decided that's what we were gonna do. and as i was trying to research pictures and such, idea's just started circulating my head of "maybe rowan could jump in a few of them... maybe i could jump in a few of them... maybe we could have a mini "mommy and me" session with my girls" and just then, my friends Brooke & Michelle, whom i loved and adored up at utah state, said they were starting out a photography business, at a killer deal. so i started talking to brooke about my ideas and she totally went with them. we took them a little over a week ago. the whole thing was kind of stressful (family pictures always are), rowan was being a little bit of a pill, she wouldn't smile, she was so whiiiiiiny, and we were losing light so fast, and it turned cold so fast, the girls were freaking out. so truly, i didn't know if any of them would turn out. well.....

i just got them back this weekend, and i couldn't help but cry looking at them.
call me emotional. i was feeling a little under-the-weather, i've been a single-mom alot more than usual this month, my calling was stressing me out, and my baby MY BABY, is turning one.... but i just bawled. these pictures couldn't mean more to me. brooke & michelle captured my girls so perfectly. i just love their sweet and precious little faces in these pictures. and i love being a mom. i love being their mom.

and my little greer, oh i can't even explain how emotional i am about her.

thank you brooke and michelle for your amazing talents and abilities! here is her website, GO CHECK THEM OUT! i'll try and narrow it down to my favorites. but brace yourselves.

happy first birthday to my little lovie!