the apple of our eye turned 1...

I can't believe my baby is one!!!  How many times do you hear mommies say that?  It's true, I told Bryan last week that I wanted time to stand still.  Both of our boys are at such a fun age and I don't want them get one bit older!!!

Enjoy our celebration of sweet, sweet BENNETT....

March 1, 2011~Happy 1st Birthday

Both sides of our family came in for the weekend.  We all went to dinner Friday night at a yummy, local Mexican restaurant.  The party was Saturday at 11:00 and then we all headed to big brother's first t-ball game.  Busy, but fun weekend!! 



Birthday boy who wanted to walk and not take pictures with his mommy!!



Part of the crew...

And the rest of us...

Bennett boy and his Poppa

My talented friend, Rebecca, once again did not disappoint with this invitation. 
I ordered the hat from Etsy and it was the inspiration for the entire party(much thanks to my sister for finding it)!!

Love the color scheme of his party!!

~Fun 1st Birthday Celebration~

I love to plan parties of all kinds.  Details and such just get my juices flowing and really inspires me.  I love, in all of my spare time(HAHA), browsing party planning sites and searching for the perfect decorations, paper, napkins, etc.  I want the guests to feel like I put some thought into the celebration and to create a festive environment!!

Table full of goodies

Smash cake & cupcakes with toppers I made.

How cute are they?  My sister-in-law, Linsey, can do anything on the computer.  I told her what I wanted and she designed them.  They were super easy to make.  I emailed the file to Office Max & had them print on white cardstock, cut them out, cut out a slightly bigger circle on colored card stock, mounted them together with the foam scrapbooking stickers that make things 3-D, and taped the lollipop sticks to the back.

Smash cake...not what I had in mind, but Bennett didn't seem bothered.

Linsey is redoing the b-day cupcakes at 10:00pm Friday night before the party.  There was a slight miscommunication with the lady who made them and I was really disappointed.  So, L came to the rescue.  I wanted the cupcakes to have green, red, & turquoise liners, which they did, and to be iced with the same gingham patterns.  She iced them white??

I bought an apple cookie cutter and made chicken salad, tuna salad, pb & j, & chocolate hazlenut sandwiches.

Also served, sausage balls, spinach dip, fruit & "apple dip"(recipe at bottom of post), cream cheese olives, and love dip from our local grocery store deli.
I had babies breath in a tall vase, red & green gumballs in one apothecary jar, red & green apples in another jar, & the invite as my centerpiece.  My sister had seen a picture in one of the Pottery Barn catalogs where they only used babies breath in the floral centerpiece.  I thought it was really cute and cheap!!   Thanks for the idea T.

Love how this turned out...Linsey helped me with this too.

Our sweet baby and his adorable hat!!

Adorable & REALLY YUMMY iced apple sugar cookies were the party favors.  I have a lady who makes the most amazing cookies and they were a hit!!  I had a red basket full of cookies for the kiddos, and apple scented hand sanitizer  from Bath & Body for the guests to grab as they were leaving.  Thanks for the basket and hand sanitizer idea  J!!

Adorable door hanger sign that Linsey designed for me.  I decided to hang above the party table.  Super easy to create...Office Max printed it for me and I backed it to gingham scrapbook paper, red cardstock, and a green foam sheet.

Close-up of the centerpiece..love the red gingham ribbon!!

My sweet family

Big birthday boy

My friends and their precious babies:
Katie & Carter, Rebecca & Ella(pregnant with Adeline), Crystal & Cassidy

Mom, Evie, Nella, & Greg having a bite to eat

Linsey, Davy, & Corbin

Bryan, Brooks, MeMe, & Pop'O

Bennett with his birthday gift(that Uncle Davy put together right before the party)...what's the saying, "It takes a village to raise one child!!".  He loved it and so did all of the other kiddos.

Evie taking it for a spin...I love this precious girl so much!!

"Mommy, what are you holding?"

He is just a big bundle of cuteness.

"OOHHH, I like this!!"  That is about the extent of his damage, he lost interest quickly.

Stripped down to open gifts with the help of big brother.

All dressed and ready to head out the door for Brooks' first t-ball game.  Somehow E's pink bow managed to get into his hair...there is no pink in my home, & a girl can dream, right??  Maybe one day...

Cutie pie all dressed & ready to play.


~Apple Dip~
3/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C powdered sugar
1 8oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 C Heath toffee bits
1/2 C pineapple juice(slowly add this until you get a good consistency~may not use it all)
~I served with sliced apples, strawberries, & grapes~
ENJOY!!

Bennett William's Birth

March 1, 2010

12:51 p.m.

7lbs. 12oz.

21 1/2 inches

~beautiful baby boy~

A few weeks before Bennett's birth, we took Brooks to Build A Bear.  He picked out a monkey for himself and a puppy for his brother.  It was our first trip to Build A Bear and he loved it!! 

Searching for the perfect animals and attire

Meet Jake the monkey & Jack the puppy.  Of course, he wanted them to play sports.  Jake has an Astros uniform and Jack is a Dallas Cowboy!!

Fun day with my Brooksie bear...

~~~~~~~

Skip to the night before Bennett's big day.  My mom came in to keep Brooks while we were at the hospital.  Bryan usually does bathtime with Brooks.  Then, I go up to read books, say prayers, and lay down for a few minutes.  I remember turning out the lamp that night and laying in his bed with tears streaming down my face.  I was so excited about our new addition, but sad to close the chapter on our family of three.  Doesn't every mom go through those same emotions?

Last picture as a family of three & sweet Jax!!



I made these treat bags to give to hospital visitors & friends who brought meals.



I had these monogrammed sugar cookies made for the nurses & they were a BIG hit.  I had a c-section and the nurses took such good care of me.

Bryan & I had to arrive at the hospital at 10:00 that morning.  My c-section was scheduled for 12:00.  They were running a little behind because there were so many c-sections that day. 

*I had an emergency c-section with Brooks because my labor basically stopped, had to have Pitocin, and his heart rate immediately dropped dangerously low.  I will never forget the nurses saying Dr. Korten(my OB in Seattle) was on her way/running from her office in the building next to the hospital.  I can still picture her running through the door.  I was sobbing, and asked her if my baby was going to die.  She took my hand, got right up in my face and told me everything was going to be just fine but we needed to get him out quickly.  It was such a scary feeling.*

I told Bryan that it felt weird to be walking back to the operating room this time for sweet Bennett's birth.  When we walked through the doors, John Mayer was playing on the radio and the nurses said, "Hey Mrs. Boyer, how are you feeling, ready to get this show on the road?!?"  HA!!  I climbed up on the table and 30 minutes later had a new baby boy. 

About to meet our Bennett...I loved that we had his name picked out and my OB and nurses immediately started calling him Bennett and welcoming him to the world.  A sweet memory!!

Our new little "bb"...proud daddy!!



I love this picture...first time to hold him.  He was so calm.  I talked to him and gave him lots of kisses!!  Looking at this picture makes me want to do it all over again tomorrow.



One last picture before I had to go to recovery.  I was hoping to take a little nap, but the lady next to me talked on her cell the entire time!!  I was so irritated.  Bryan went back and forth checking on Bennett & I.

Big brother was our very first visitor.  Love his rally cap...

This picture brings tears to my eyes each time I look at it.  Just perfection!!  Look at Bennett's foot prints on Bryan's scrubs.

I think he needed a moment to take it all in.  He climbed up in our window and was quiet for a bit.  This picture makes me a little sad.

Nothing sweeter than a newborn baby!!

Aunt T took Brooks to pick out flowers and a balloon for us.  I love that he chose Dora for me!!

My family minus dad.  He was able to join us a week later.  Brooks loved his Big Brother gift...a Dallas Cowboys football!!

Bryan's family

3 generations of Boyer's