Friday Favorites - Highlights of My Week

Happy Friday! I'm so thankful that the weekend is right around the bend. Looking forward to some rest and time outside with my boys in the beautiful weather that is headed our way. Here are my favorites from the past week:

1. My husband's employer featured him on their company's blog! You can read the post here. We're really proud of him and the hard work that he puts in to do his best and be a light in the workplace.

2. We received Emmett's 12 month pictures from our favorite photographer, Elizabeth, from Sweet Life Studios. Elizabeth is so talented and sweet and easy to work with. She was our wedding photographer but since then has also done our maternity, newborn and little man's one year old photos. We are so thankful for her and blessed by her talent. You can check out her work here and stay tuned for more of Emmett's most recent photos to be displayed soon on our blog.

3. In honor of my favorite season quickly approaching, I've been enjoying peanut butter M&M's in fall colors and a Yankee Candle, Apple Spice Potpourri, that I found at Homegoods for a steal. There is something about the smell of a candle burning that makes things all better, even on the worst of days!

4. We had another great playgroup this week! I am quickly coming to love and look forward to my Thursday mornings when a few of us mamas gather together and let our babies play, eat and fuss, all under one roof.

5. On Tuesday evenings, we normally have dinner with my mom, either at her house or ours, since my dad travels so much for work. Well, this week he was in town, so we enjoyed his company for dinner along with free entertainment by a silly little boy named Emmett.

6. This week is the last week of my online Bible study. While that's not exactly something I like, I am thankful for the past 6 weeks and what I've learned from the study and the tools that I've gathered and tucked away for the future. It's feels good to have accomplished something, to be in the final stages, to near the end and close the chapter, and to move on and look forward to what's next.

7. On Wednesday, I had a doctor's appointment, so my mom came over and stayed with Emmett while I was gone. When I came home, we headed out for lunch and shopping. We are on the hunt for a lamp to go on my new piece of furniture. I know exactly what I want; now the challenge is to find it. We thought we found it when we stopped at Homegoods, but I happen to glance down and see a large crack across the base. We hit several stores before and after Emmett's afternoon nap, but had no success. The best part about this? Spending the day with my mom, and having a little man who was easy and willing to go along for the ride. He loves to be out and about and I love how "portable" he is becoming as he gets older.

8. I think I've finally got a better planning system underway for our meals. I've been looking for a way to get better at this for a while now. Sometimes, I'm really good at having a plan for our meals, and feeling prepared to cook, but lately, it's more of an "off the cuff" approach, and if you know me, you know I don't like to work like that. I need a plan. I came across a tutorial for a meal planning binder that makes sense and seems easy enough to put together. It also has free printables! So, this week I've started to organize my recipes on Pinterest and gather the supplies I need for the binder. Here's to making a meal plan work and to no more dinner anxiety! It's back to using coupons, being organized and staying on a budget that doesn't make me sweat. You can find the tutorial and printables here.

One: A Blue + Red Polka Dot Balloon Party

For Emmett's first birthday, we invited a small group of family and friends to celebrate this milestone with us. So thankful that we have one year under our belts and so proud of our little man. It's so hard to believe that he's one! We kept it pretty simple with a blue and red balloon and bunting theme. (Emmett is a huge fan of balloons, so it was a perfect fit.) I'm so glad that I spent time well in advance thinking of a theme and planning it out. It came together fairly easily and there was not a whole lot of stress involved, which was my goal from the start. We had help from family and friends which made things even easier and it sure was a day to celebrate! Not just that we've made it through the first year, but that Emmett was healed from his sickness that he came down with the week before, forcing us to reschedule his party. Thank you to all whole celebrated with us and those who have supported, loved and prayed us through this tough year!

The Invitation:

Carrying the Theme Outside:

The Decoration - Buntings and Balloons; A Wall of Monthly Photos from Newborn to 12 Months:

The Dessert: Smash Cake for Emmett and Cupcakes for the Rest:

Blowing Out the Candle:

Getting (not so) Messy with the Cake:

A Birthday Blessings Journal:

Opening Gifts:

Playing with Our Youngest Guest, Ava:

Cousins Playing Ball:

On Emmett's actual birthday, July 31st, Matt took the morning off from work. We had breakfast and played at our neighborhood playground.

For lunch, Nana took us out to lunch to celebrate at the Cheesecake Factory. Cousin Della and Auntie Erin also came along for the fun!

Party Supplies: Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Party City and Michaels

Invitation, Banners, Cupcake Toppers and Cake Bunting: Designed by Stacy; Printed by Carolina Reprographics

Picture Frames and Photo Ledges (already owned): Ikea

Celebrating One

Our little man turned one today. ONE. It's true what they say. They grow up so fast. Even though the days have been long, in hindsight, the time has flown by. We have come so far and today we celebrate our sweet little boy and all of the joy that he gives us. I couldn't imagine life without him. Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with this child, for the trials that you have brought me through, for the growth you have done in me, for the miracles I've seen and the prayers that have been answered, and for allowing me to be Emmett's mama. What a blessing it has been to catch a tiny glimpse of the way that you love me through this thing called Motherhood.

Emmett, you are such a joy to me. I love you more than you know and am proud to be your mama. You have grown so much, come so far in the last year. You are funny, silly and your laugh is infectious. You are strong, independent and determined. Your wonder for the world around you never ceases to amaze me and always makes me smile. Your kisses are sweet and your hugs melt my heart. I've grown so much since becoming your mama, and have experienced the overflowing grace of God in so many new ways because of you. I love you forever.

Always,

Your Mama

A Three-Ring Shower

My sister-in-laws threw me a super baby shower at the beginning of June.
They had lots of creative ideas up their sleeves including:

-A Framed Fingerprint Tree "Guest Book"
-Writing messages on diapers for those 3 a.m. changings
-A banner to hang in the (future) baby's room with personal notes from guests
-Homemade chocolate lollipop favors

The weather was perfect. The turn out was awesome. We sure did have a great time celebrating together! This baby is already spoiled and very well loved!

Thank you Holly and Erin, and all who helped make this day memorable and special for me.

Snips and Snails...

and puppy dog tails, that's what BOYS are made of!

Yes, it's true. We're having a boy! Last week we had our third appointment with our "big" ultrasound to find out how baby is progressing and to see if we'd be having a boy or a girl. To say I was nervous and excited all wrapped up in one was a huge understatement. We're happy to say that our baby is growing just as he should be, right on track for an end of July due date. He weighs in at about 8 ounces now and his heartbeat was a steady 144 bpm. The doctor is pleased with his progress and mine, so we're thankful that all is going well so far.

We kept the gender a secret for two days until we had a small gathering of family and our small group friends over for a gender reveal party on Friday night. Celebrating with lots of delicious food and red velvet cupcakes, we kept people in suspense all evening. We asked our guests to wear pink or blue to show what they thought we'd be having. Team Blue consisted of three people while Team Pink held the most votes with 12! Weren't they surprised?! After we had finished dinner, we passed out cupcakes that were filled with blue vanilla pudding. On the count of three, we had everyone take a bite to reveal that we'd be welcoming a little boy into the family this summer.

We are very excited about our little guy and things becoming more "real" now that we know who has been taking up residency inside of me for the last 18 weeks! We are really looking forward to being able to plan and prepare for a boy, dreaming of what his nursery will look like and what his personality will be. We are also looking forward to making a decision on what his name will be.

We love you sweet boy!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14

Brogan: 9 Months

A couple of weeks ago, I got together with my friend Tricia to take some photos of her little guy, Brogan. You might recognize them from a shoot we did last fall. Can you believe how adorable he is? While we had our fair share of frustration with trying to keep the attention of a nine month old and get him to do what we wanted him to do, I'm pretty pleased with the photos. After all, they really showcase his little personality at this stage in life and what could be more perfect? Check out his many facial expressions below. Such a character!

Oh, and you better believe that a boy's best friend has to get in on the action too.

We certainly couldn't leave Wilson out!

The Scott Family: NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC

 Meet the Scott Family. Matthew, Tricia, their adorable son, Brogan and friendly pup, Wilson. Friends from the YMCA, we've spent many seasons playing soccer and flag football together, and spent some time being neighbors here in the condos. In November, we ventured out to the art museum for photos and had a great time together. They were troopers in the slightly windy, border-line chilly weather. Again, I'm thankful for my husband who came alongside for ideas and helping me grab the attention of a baby and dog at the same time. I have much respect for those professionals out there who do this all the time!

Matt and Trish, thanks for the opportunity to photograph your beautiful family!

We had a great time!

Katherine + Jarod: E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest, NC

Meet Katherine and Jarod. High school sweethearts and good friends from our church and small group. Katherine asked me to take their pictures this year and to say that we had a good time would be an understatement. I am so thankful to have had the chance to get more experience behind the camera, but more thankful to spend an afternoon with these guys. They are so easy-going and fun to be around, not to mention super cute! I'm also thankful for my husband who came along and contributed ideas, muscles and the comic relief to bring out the more natural smiles! And Jarod was a trooper the whole afternoon, smiling even though feeling a bit under the weather.

 Thanks, Katherine and Jarod, for your patience and fun! We had a great time!