Baby Boy Birthday Gifts

My little man's first birthday is less than a month away and I can hardly believe it! Sorry about all those monthly updates I totally intended to do, buddy #secondkidproblems. It's the thought that counts, right?! Same goes for birthday gifts, but I've tried to take some of the searching part out of it for you! I've gathered intel from top notch sources (moms), scoured the web and tossed in some personal experience to bring you the ultimate baby boy gift guide. 

A few we have + love!

Soft Car Set - These have been a huge hit with both of my kids! They are soft for baby but still fun for big kids and there are removable + washable covers. 

Push Car - This was probably Axton's favorite Christmas gift. He loves being pushed around in it and even holds onto the steering wheel like he knows what he's doing!

Activity Cube - Fallon received one of these mom favorites for her first Christmas and handed it down to little brother. Definitely worth the investment!

Tegu Blocks - These are great for kids of multiple ages for solo play or together. I like that t the magnetics help to encourage independent play since little ones can make shapes by themselves. 

Wooden Stacking Train - Gotta love toys that are durable, cute and super fun to play with plus serve an educational purpose (or several!).

Touch + Feel Books - My kids are both extremely touchy feely and love the sensory aspect of these sweet little books.

Smart Stages Tablet - If your kiddo has a real tablet this may not be the best gift but if not, it's a great little interactive learning toy that can grow with them.

Alphabet Magnets - These are a great size for little hands to practice fine motor skills and perfect to play with while mom needs to occupy kids in the kitchen. 

Cuddle + Kind Dolls - We have several of these cuddle buddies for both kids and they always make great gifts! Snuggly and sweet and an amazing mission!

Gift Guide: For Baby Boys

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Go Pod - We took this collapsable baby seat on our beach vacation a couple months ago and it's the perfect baby gear item for traveling! It folds down and comes with a bag just like a camping chair, easy to clean and great for pre-walkers.

Fruit Feeders - Ax man will have a set of these waiting for him Christmas morning! They have great reviews and sound like a winner with the fruit + teething combo.

Push Car - I have seen so many kids on walks with these little cars and thought it would be the perfect big gift for our outdoor loving boy.

Mittens - We have cold winters here in Northern Kentucky but mittens are tough to keep on wild baby hands. These have magnetic closures so they stay on and are super warm!

Shape Toy - Nearly all of Axton's toys have been passed down from big sis so he should get a few of his own, right? I love the colors on this one and the fact that it's meant for playing and chewing.

Trapper Hat - A cute, cozy hat is always a good gift idea for babies who live where it gets cold. They usually still have to be on the go and keeping their little heads warm is a must. 

Furry Booties - Parents everywhere rave about this brand and how well they stay on baby feet. I think they will keep our little man's toes nice and toasty all winter long!

This wooden walker with interactive features will also make it's way into Santa's bag for the chubby cheeked baby boy who lives here. He's going to have to learn to keep up with big sis! Cozy boots that pair with all the stylish outfits keep little feet warm and keep handsome boys up to stud status. Loving this neutral growth chart that would look so cute in any nursery and is a must have for growing babies. A soft, cuddly rattle is always a great baby gift and this raccoon rattle could be a long time friend. This truck touch and feel book could fill the "something to read" category or just be a nice addition to a growing little library. We had these reusable food pouches when Fallon was a baby and used them all the time! Fill them with purees, applesauce or smoothies and save on buying them at the store. We love this soft hooded towel that is big enough to go right into toddlerhood!

It's A Boy: Axton's Birth Story

The end of my pregnancy was like some kind of science experiment. Everything pointed to the arrival of my baby before my due date, most likely well before. But I continued to defy the odds. All the way up until 40 weeks + 3 days.

Let's go back a few weeks. Prodromal labor, just like I had with Fallon, reared it's annoying head at 37 weeks. Every night from 11PM - 4/5AM the contractions came every 5 minutes, lasting for 1+ minute . Different than Braxton Hicks but they never increased in intensity or duration. Running on very little sleep, super pregnant and caring for a wild toddler didn't agree with me. By 38 weeks I was just praying for the contractions to get stronger or the patience to wait. My very last appointment was at 39 weeks + 6 days. I was dilated to almost 4cm, effaced and baby's head was engaged. My membranes were stripped to help things along and I dilated to 5cm on the table. I was told I had a bulging bag of water between the baby's head and the uterine wall and it was likely to pop at any time. YAY!!! I walked out of the office relieved and excited and thinking baby might share a birthday with daddy. But 1 day over my due date and I. WAS. DONE.  Scheduled eviction, ahem, induction here we come. Except there was a scheduling error and I was bumped 3 days forward. Cue the explosion of frustration.

Friday, April 6th, I got dressed, put makeup on, fixed my hair and went with Chris to his eye doctor appointment just to get out of the house and walk around. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. We put Fallon to bed that evening and started catching up on our missed TV shows. Chris fell asleep on the couch and I lay there next to him with searing rib pain just waiting for the worthless contractions. 11:30PM the first one came. Except this one wasn't like the others I'd been having. This one felt different. Different enough for me to notice. The second one came and I started to to wonder if maybe this really is different and not wishful thinking. And then suddenly they were coming in a pattern. I woke Chris up, we called my doctor and my mom to come stay with Fallon. The contractions increased in intensity and became closer together so quickly I could feel my husband starting to panic. We were in the car ready to fly to the hospital when my mom arrived.

That car ride was the longest of my life. Chris tried to carry me through the hospital but I was in too much pain. I waddled down the hallway into the elevator and fell to my knees at the Labor & Delivery check in desk. It was 1:20AM. No one was in a hurry to get me in a room and check me but when that finally happened the nurse declared me 8cm and rushed me down to a delivery room. There was a flurry of questions that Chris was mostly answering for me, the room being set up and me claiming I felt the need to push. I was not prepared for a natural birth. The pain was so overwhelming it scared me. I feared I would throw up, pass out or possibly both. They told me to just breathe, my doctor was on the way. But the third time I said it like I meant business and they got a resident ready as my doctor still hadn't arrived. Anesthesia showed up at the door for my epidural right as my water broke all over the bed. I flipped to my back from side and started pushing of my own accord. I couldn't hear anyone, just saw their mouths moving. I pushed once and felt the "ring of fire". The crowing of the head feels EXACTLY like a circle of fire. A wildfire. I pushed again and finally heard someone say Just one more push and your baby will be here! And that's exactly what happened. I came out of my trance as my baby boy was held up for me to see.

Axton James arrived at 1:47AM April 7th, 2018. 27 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. He weighed 8lbs 14oz and was 21.5 inches long. He was placed on my chest to snuggle inside my gown, just like I had dreamed would happen. But it certainly didn't go exactly the way I had hoped. There wasn't time for sarcasm or pictures or to attempt to prepare myself for a natural delivery at all. But my baby came out pink and breathing. No one came to save him, to take him away from me. I held him against me and comforted him in his first moments on the outside. No complications, no flurry of people shouting things out that I did not understand. The room was calm and quiet. Just a mama and her fresh new baby with daddy watching over. 

The Down Low on Diaper Need

When I was pregnant with Fallon I received so many boxes of diapers that I had a stash for nearly the first 9 months of her life. I was very grateful for the generosity shown by my family and friends then but I have an even stronger appreciation now. I recently learned that one-in-three families struggle to provide diapers for their baby. Insert the emoji with the eyes popping out over this alarming statistic. As a mama of (almost) 2 this is absolutely heartbreaking and I am compelled to help educate people about this issue. 

We have been using Huggies® diapers for Fallon for quite awhile and I am proud to support a brand that is using such a huge platform to spread awareness to the topic of diaper need. Can you imagine not having access to or means to provide diapers for your baby? Parents across the U.S. are faced with choosing between food and diapers and this startling information has driven me to share how we can all help to make a change. If you buy diapers and wipes, you can easily join the Huggies® No Baby Unhugged program in partnership with Walgreens and make a positive impact. From now through April 29, any purchase of Huggies® diapers at Walgreens or Walgreens.com triggers a donation of a day’s worth of diapers to a family in need. A WHOLE DAY! Together these companies have created a power couple and will donate 1.5 million diapers and 250,000 wipes nationwide to the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). A wonderful idea you can get behind, right?

I grew up as the big sister and then babysat countless neighborhood kids through my tweens and teens.I already had a lot of experience changing diapers by the time I had a baby, but my husband, not so much. Chris had never changed a diaper in his life and I will never forget the first time he did. It was about 3AM on our first night home with Fallon and I decided that was as good as any to show him the ropes. He fumbled through it by the flashlight on his phone, so careful with her as if she would break when he held her legs. I showed him how to tell the front from the back of the diaper and how to use the tabs to secure it around our baby's tiny waist. 20 months later he could do it in total darkness with his eyes closed but we still chuckle about that first time. Probably many of you have sweet, funny stories like this. But what if you didn't? What if every time you thought about diapers you wondered if you'd be able to afford the next pack or if you'd have access to them at all? I think so often we find ourselves thinking that our small contribution does not make an impact. But if every one of us who had that thought went ahead and joined in anyway, that would be a massive push in the right direction.

You can purchase your favorite Huggies® diapers here to support the Huggies® No Baby Unhugged program or simply make a donation to the National Diaper Bank Network. 

Girl vs. Boy

It's driven a lot of people crazy that we've chosen not to find out the sex of our babies before birth. I'm all about a good surprise and Chris is just kind of old school when it comes to this. We agreed from the very beginning with Fallon and then did contemplate finding out at the anatomy scan with this baby. But it was short lived and I think we really knew all along we would go for the surprise again. So while I do tend to gravitate towards gender neutral things naturally like grey, white, black, green, tan, I am all for fun prints that are more boy/girl specific. I've picked out some items that I would probably have purchased already if I knew that I was carrying a he or a she. And most likely when this little he or she arrives a few of these gifts will be on the way, because #howflippingcute. Last chance to make your guess!

GIRL 

Floral Sleeper / Solly Wrap / Book / Booties / Hat / Hooded Towel / Rattle / Burp Cloths

BOY 

Gray Sleeper / Solly Wrap / Book / Booties / Hat / Hooded Towel / Rattle / Burp Cloths

Hospital Bag Check List: Round 2

When I packed my hospital bag for Fallon's arrival I was pretty sure it looked like I was moving in. And I was totally fine with that. I've always been an over packer and I'd rather just have all my own stuff and wayyyyy too much of it than the alternative. It turns out, I never really got to find out if my bag held too much, too little or just enough. Many of you know that I actually only stayed at the hospital where I gave birth for about 6 hours postpartum. Fallon was transported a few hours after she was born to the nearby Children's hospital and my doctor discharged me early to be with her. I thankfully had no complications from giving birth and I guess she figured there was no better place to send me off to than another hospital. 

The thing is, once I walked out those birth hospital doors, I was no longer a patient. The NICU was a room in and of itself with a chair next to the giant pod with 10,000 things on it that was my baby's "bed". The bathroom, used by the entire floor, was at the other end of the hallway. If one was available you could sleep in a separate room on the special care floor with a bed my husband could barely fit into and a chair shoved up against it. Most of our stay was such a blur of shock, adrenaline and surreality that I can't even tell you what I used from my bag. 

So this time, I went back and read this post from first pregnancy to remember what I had even packed. As a mama with one birth under her belt and some breastfeeding experience,  I definitely have product preferences now. But really the list is almost the same. The biggest difference is time of year so I plan to wear leggings, joggers, a nursing bra/bralette or tank under a comfy cardi/nursing friendly top and a robe with....the fox slippers! I'll bring a gender neutral sleeper + hat, pacifier and cute swaddles for baby in my Fawn bag. But I'm hoping someone can bring a going home outfit depending on whether we have a little boy or a little girl. Hint, hint people. Gotta have my own blanket, pillow and towel + toiletries, makeup and oils! I linked everything on my list below including snacks, my trusty tumbler, nursing pillow and ya know, all the other not so fun stuff. 

Baby #2 Mom Guilt: Part I

This is such a difficult topic for me to write about. I've gone back and forth for a long time now wondering if I should even share my experience, afraid I'll inadvertently offend someone or be judged for my feelings. But after a lot of thought I've decided that now is the time to put it all out there. And maybe anyone else who has found herself in this situation can take comfort in knowing that she isn't alone. 

When I found out I was pregnant with Fallon there was nothing but positive emotions. I was so excited, overjoyed, just completely thrilled to know that I was going to have a baby. Although she was a bit of a surprise, it was simply because it happened sooner than expected. We were as ready as any couple can be to start a family. Chris and I had discussed having another child, if possible, close in age to our first. But after Fallon was born my feelings started to change. She wasn't a sleep all the time kind of baby. We struggled with breastfeeding in the beginning then she ended up ditching the bottle when everything clicked in that department. So we were attached 24/7 whether I needed a break or not. She cried so much we worried it wasn't normal, though we could never find a reason for it other than her fiery personality. I had postpartum anxiety that peaked when Fallon was about 9 months old and I had a fleeting moment when I thought maybe she would be an only child. As she neared the one year milestone though I realized I definitely wanted to give her a sibling, just maybe in a few years. But there was another plan for us. 

My doctor said it was normal for a woman's body to remain infertile through the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. This was true for me until Fallon was about 11 months old. I wrote down that date because I had an annual checkup scheduled the following month and ladies, we all know that's the famous question. But so many people told me things don't always go back to the way they were before so I wasn't entirely sure it even counted. None the less, there are things you do when you want to have a baby and things you do when you don't. We were in the latter camp. Fallon turned one in early July and we had the best time celebrating our baby girl. My anxiety was waning significantly and life was starting to feel less overwhelming and more fun. A few weeks later Fallon and I were strolling the aisles of Target and she knocked something off a shelf. As I reached down to pick it up I had a moment like something you see in a movie. Cue the music and/or slow motion, one of those things that lets you know this scene is something of huge significance. It was a pregnancy test. 

I held it in my hand as I was looking to see that date in June I had written down. And a little tingle down the back of my spine urged me to buy that test. But all the way home I felt a horribly unwelcome sense of dread. I was afraid it was going to be positive. And that feeling was immediately followed by guilt. So much guilt. Here I am, a young healthy woman with the means to carry and support another new life, hoping for the opposite. How dare I feel this way when I personally know people who would probably give a kidney to see a positive pregnancy test? And how awful of a mother am I for having all these negative feelings about another baby when there was nothing but happiness over his or her sibling? What a terrible way to begin a pregnancy. I was so internally conflicted I didn't even want to take the test. And I didn't breath a word to anyone. That afternoon I couldn't take it anymore and took one of the 2 tests in the box. And it came up negative. 

I stood there waiting for the relief to wash over me, followed by the guilt for that feeling. It never came. Instead, I shocked myself by simply feeling.....dissapointed. Huh?! That's right, I was actually kind of sad. I had been in our first floor bathroom as Fallon was in the living room. I was in such a state of confusion I tossed the test into the metal garbage can, that should have a bag in it but never does. I went through the next few hours in a fog, running on autopilot. Another trip to the bathroom caused me to pick the test back up to throw away in the kitchen garbage can where my toddler wouldn't get to it (ew). And when it hit the light my eyes went wide. There was a second line. I swore I could see it, albeit faint, I saw it. It was far past the recommended time frame to read a result but there was a line. I didn't sleep that night. First thing in the morning I took the other test and watched it like a hawk. Sure enough, that second line came up. And all those familiar feelings that hit me when I learned I was growing my first baby came flooding back immediately. It was the most insane emotional roller coaster in less than 24 hours. 

28 Weeks: Hello Third Trimester

I remember when I was pregnant with Fallon at this point and some people kindly corrected me when I proudly said I was in my third trimester. When I shared this with my OB she laughed and said of course you are in your third trimester, who am I to argue?! But really, some charts do say 28 weeks, some say 29. It depends who you ask but I'm going with 28 weeks and that's that. 

I go back to the doctor next week to see how much my belly has grown and how much weight I've gained but I am feeling pretty large these days. Mostly due to the fact that my lungs are so smushed I'm constantly feeling out of breath, and I don't just mean a little winded, I mean like I'm running an all day marathon. On the up side I am usually able to sleep like the dead when I crash at night until Fallon wakes me before the sun comes up. The pins + needles feeding in my hands and arms has begun again, just like last time, but heartburn is nearly nonexistent! I am a kind of exhausted I've never known at the end of each day but thankfully back pain is minimal and other symptoms are just kind of annoying noise in the background of everything else going on. 

This baby is quite active throughout the day but remains so much gentler than my toddler ever was. Looking back on pictures of my first pregnancy I am pretty much carrying the same way size wise but my belly is a bit rounder this time. I still don't have any feelings on the sex myself but the general consensus from others is girl this time around. It was boy last time for reference and clearly I have a daughter. We've yet to buy anything on my second baby must have list, even though it's fairly short, and the nursery hasn't been touched. Second kid problems. We still have 3 months, right?! I'll probably be saying the same thing in March but we will be down to 3 weeks. Shrugs. 

I definitely have not kept up with a work out routine like I was able to do with Fallon, but carrying + chasing Fallon and going up and down the steps approximately 3 million times a day has kept my energy levels from completely tanking. I do wear some off my maternity shirts but being home this time I'm mostly in leggings and tunic tops or sweatshirts and quite honestly pjs all day far too often. The last time I wore jeans I just did the ol' rubber band trick but we may be beyond that now. I'll have to check and report back. Since we've reached the final stretch of pregnancy number 2 I'd like to do updates every 2 weeks through the end so hold me accountable!

The Bed Time Routine

Even just a few months ago I never would have believed I'd be writing this post. Although Fallon has been an A+ nighttime sleeper basically since birth, getting her to sleep at night was not always so easy. In fact, many nights it took so long I was ready for bed myself by the end of it all. But consistency was key and FINALLY all our efforts to maintain a routine paid off. I can honestly say that at least 95% of the time we take the same steps before bed time within the same general timeframe and Fallon goes right to sleep without so much as a fuss. She wakes us up at the crack of dawn but I can still count on one hand the number of times Chris or I have had to go to her room after she's gone to bed in the last year. We may be failing in all other parenting aspects but at least we've got this going for us! So many people have asked for our nightly routine specifics and honestly I haven't shared because it's nothing fancy and maybe even a little boring. But there must be some kind of magic to it for us so we go.....

6PM - Bath Time

As soon as Fallon was old enough to get sink baths we started doing them every single night around the same time. I can't say for sure that it helped to serve as a base for understanding a nighttime routine but it certainly didn't hurt. We now just do baths every other night unless it's necessary and sometimes baths happen in the morning for a variety of reasons. But mostly we stick to bath time after dinner.

6:30PM - Calm Down

Lotion, jammies and oils immediately follow bath time or we start the routine now if it's not a bath night. We've been using essential oils consistently for over 6 months with Fallon and I think they've made huge improvements. She has a rollerball of Lavender + Cedarwood for the bottoms of her feet and one with Peace & Calming to go behind her ears for all the winding down for bed time vibes. 

7:00PM - Relax

By this time Fallon has to either sit with me or Chris to read books or watch a movie/TV show. No more playing, just quiet chill time. Sometimes she does protest or even scream if she was doing something she thought was really fun. But generally we do not waiver and she will comply fairly easily. 

7:30PM - Bed Time

A drop of Lavender or Gentle Baby on her lovey or stuffed buddy of choice and upstairs we go. We make it a point to tell her it's time to go Night Night and I'm still shocked when she shakes her head yes as she rubs her tired little eyes. Occasionally she will even get up and walk to the steps. In her room we turn on her diffuser, which has already been filled with water and a sleepy time blend. My go to for her is Lavender + Gentle Baby but we will add Frankinsence if it's been a really rough day or switch to RC + Lemon if she has the sniffles or some congestion. We rock for a minute or 2 in the rocker even though it's completely unnecessary at this point, just a nice way to end the night with her. Then in her crib she goes, we cover her up + give her a kiss and quietly leave the room. I cannot tell you how many times I've come downstairs, looked at the monitor and she's already asleep! 

These are steps we've fallen into with trial and error and learning how our child responds. Essential oils obviously now play a large part in our nightly routine and I am happy to share more if there is interest. But if that's not your thing they can certainly be left out! We are still novice parents over here but when you discover something that seems to work well continuously, it's nice to share.

Sweet Dreams!

20 Weeks

Well all of a sudden I am halfway through this pregnancy with a handful of bump photos and no updates in weeks. Sorry second kid! Life has been so busy with a toddler, all the holiday fun and projects out of the wazoo around our house. But now that I have somewhat of a baby bump to show, here's how we've been doing on the pregnancy front. 

Beanie / Boots / Cardigan / Socks

This beginning of this pregnancy was much harder than my first. Of course keeping up a toddler tornado all day is exhausting in and of itself but generally I just was more tired and definitely more nauseous this go round. It's still difficult to find something to eat that isn't a 0 on the nutrition scale but sounds good, although so far no outright aversions this time. I craved all things blueberry with Fallon and this time it's Cinnamon! I've been making a strong effort to go for healthy options that thankfully this spice lends itself too....but Cinnamon Toast Crunch still gets me more often than I'd care to admit. And those dang Peppermint Mochas are probably making up the majority of my bump. I do go for the skinny version with almond milk so I justify them several times a week. Right?!

I felt Baby #2 about the same time I had felt Fallon but I was sure of it this time. Once you know what those little movements are you immediately recognize them again. We can fell baby #2 from the outside now and he/she wiggles and kicks so much when big sissy is up against my belly. Fallon has started to understand, in her 16 month old way, that there is a baby in mama's belly. If you ask her and she's of a mind to comply, she will lift my shirt and point and give it a little kiss. I mean c'mon, you're dead inside if you don't find that heart melting. Fallon had an anterior placenta (toward the front instead of the more common position of in the back) but she was so emphatic with her movements I felt all the same. I have a feeling this baby's is in back, which we will get to see in about a week and a half, because although his/her movements are much more gentle than big sis's I feel them prominently. Baby #2 is most active in the evening hours, when mama is trying to fall asleep! But over the last couple weeks he/she has definitely started wiggling more throughout the day. 

We are still solid in our decision to leave the sex a surprise until birth so don't expect a gender reveal after the anatomy scan. I was so unsure of which way to go this time but when my doctor asked at my first OB appointment I answered no we would't find out without hesitation and surprised myself. So I knew that was the right choice and Chris was sold on keeping it old school all along. Bring on all the grey + white again! And speaking of grey + white, we are excited to get started on the new nursery after the holidays. I have some ideas and inspiration I will be sharing here, it seems so much less stressful this time around for some reason. I guess maybe because I know a little bit more about what to expect with a newborn. 

Other than those pesky pregnancy aches and pains, little annoyances like heartburn and food losing it's appeal, I am feeling pretty dang good. I'm in that second trimester honeymoon phase with a little bump that all baby (okay and maybe some peppermint mochas) instead of bloat and isn't in the way yet, have some energy back and no longer wake up feeling hung over without the fun night before. I'm not really nervous about having another baby yet or stressed about navigating life as a mom of 2 under 2 (for a little while) and just really feeling excited and grateful to be carrying another child. 

I promise not to wait so long for the next update! Love you baby 2, even if I sometimes forget you're in there until you say hi with your feet. 

Fallon's First Birthday

It's been an amazing year of firsts with our little Fally girl and her first birthday party was no exception. When she's sweet she's the sweetest and I couldn't think of a better theme for our summer babe than one with sweet treats. We had ice cream and popsicles everywhere and it turned out incredibly cute if I do say so myself. 

I worked with Jennifer at Ady & Owen to create custom invitations that fit our theme perfectly. She even designed coordinating goodie bag tags for us on an easily printable template. We filled them with ice cream cone pens, mini popsicles paper pads, fun straws and good old marshmallow candy cones. Creativity runs in the family because her sister Heather made our sweet treats and O N E wooly ball garlands. 

Michaels is where we found most of the themed decor including the sprinkle snack cups, ice cream cone cupcake holders and ceramic cone vases. Our dear florist friend supplied the most vibrant carnations we used around the house and to make the "ice cream" for the vases topped with a painted styrofoam ball. The ice cream cake toppers were also DIY projects, just painted floral styrofoam pieced together with toothpicks. 

A few of you detail orientated people noticed that Fallon's party romper was an exact match to the print on the table cloth. We actually layered a white sheet with a few yards of turquoise fabric and then topped it with the ice cream print fabric found on Amazon! The table was set for a meal of mac 'n cheese baked into cupcake tins + fruit skewers for individual servings and hot dogs on the grill. Snack cups for the kiddos with a mix of animal crackers dipped in colored chocolate and sprinkles, pretzel sticks and Goldfish crackers were kept at the ready to venture off with them around the party. We later brought out the cupcakes baked into pointed cones and decorated to look like ice cream, popsicles and ice cream pops. They started melting quickly but the kids could have cared less, ice cream covered in Magic Shell with sprinkles on a stick is good even when it's running down your face. 

We set up an inflatable pool with a slide, Fallon's other 2 baby pools and her new water table, a gift from my parents, in our backyard. The kids were having so much fun we didn't want to make them come inside to watch Fallon open all her gifts. So we went nontraditional and skipped that part. Of course when Fallon is old enough to understand and to be excited to open presents we will certainly let her! 

Overall the party was a huge success and turned out exactly the way I had hoped. It was a beautiful, sunny summer day spent with family and friends to celebrate a whole year with our little girl. She stayed up well past her bedtime on a sugar high and crashed next to daddy. Now that's the sign of a great party! I am so thankful to my hubby and everyone who helped to make this vision for Fallon's first birthday shindig come together. I'm pretty sure it was the best day of her life!