Learning the Art of Attitude

From Drop Box

The Reel Baby is hysterical. A flip switched about a month ago and his little personality started to show. As he started to understand that he could communicate with us the attitude grew and grew. He learned that he could roll on the floor, stomp his feet and scream “Momma” when things didn’t go his way. He learned that he could ignore you if he was mad. He learned that “NO” meant to hurry up and run from Momma.

From Drop Box

Momma learned the art of “timeout” and a smack on the top of the hand.

From Drop Box

He’s awfully cute even when his attitude is far larger than his 20lb body. I am guessing we are in for it, if at the mere age of 1 he can already let us know what he thinks about our rules.

From Drop Box

A Bag Whore!

I am certified bag whore, I love a good bag and always have. I come by it rightly my mom and grandma and even great-grandma share my love. We used to spend hours in Europe (when the average person could still afford to visit it) checking out the markets for bags not the sights, it made the men in our lives crazy. So when I heard about the What’s in Your Bag Blog Hop, I had to join in.

I have a Petunia Pickle Bottom problem, no really I do. I actually have more than one. 

And guess what it is really full of stuff here is everything minus the wipes and Momma’s deodorant. Don’t judge I live in the South, its sweltering down here.

For me we have:

1. Sunglasses

2. Camera 

3. Hand Sanitizer 

4. Phone 

5. Snack 

6. Wallet- best way to keep a toddler from dumping it out on the ground. What more interested in the Money catcher feature. 

7. IPad- all else fails put on Elmo

8. Body Splash- I sweat sorry 

For the Babe we have:

1. Change of clothes

2. Baby Koozie, holds juice box so he doesn’t squeeze it EVERYWHERE

3. Snack Trap

4. Sunscreen

5. Bug Spray

6. Sippy cup of water

7. Books for entertainment

8. Paci for when he must be quiet 

9. Brush because he loves to give himself a tousled look

10. Extra Diaper 

11. Children’s Motrin (generic) 

12. Ice cream cone/Popsicle holder 

13. First Aid Kit

What’s in your bag??

Mom Fail

Let’s discuss the Reel Baby for a minute. First, he is not interested in being Momma’s baby boy. Second, he is fearless, which is probably why he walked at 9 months. Third, we may have a pyromaniac on our hands.

What does every parent do at their child’s first birthday party? Strip the babe down to their diaper, get out the camera, gather the guests and get ready to sing “Happy Birthday”, right? My child is spoiled lucky and had quite an audience to watch this momentous moment. And what does he do?

Stare down the flame with passion and go right for it. I grabbed his hands, batted them away as best I could. I was an utter failure because before the song was done he had put out the flame with his palm. Thankfully, it didn’t even leave a mark and I honestly don’t think he would have even cried but since all 20 guests screamed and the grandmothers lost their cool. Well, he sobbed and then promptly got over it when he realized that he got to eat the whole cake.

Mom leave me alone I am fine and your attempts at icing my hand just piss me off.

So when you think the worse thing to happen at the First Birthday is needing to hose off the chair and baby because they are covered in crumbs and icing; keep dreaming up scenarios. Kids keep you on your toes and watch out or you will feel like biggest mom failure around. Trust me. 

A baby phish fan?

One of the Atlanta suburbs was invaded by the iconic band PHISH this holiday weekend. PHISH is one of those bands that has a following, Grateful Dead style. People that love them, L.O.V.E. them and will follow them around all over the country to see their shows time and time again. It is a totally foreign concept to me. The thought of spending my entire summer traveling with a band and paying for tickets every night, not to mention the travel expenses, makes my frugal heart literally skip a few beats. But, when they come to my backyard for a few days, I will certainly get a baby-sitter and have a date night with my love.

I have been going to shows like this since High School. I love this type of music, however I tend to stand out. Most likely the pearl earrings that I typically wear, but I don’t care. The people watching is as much entertainment as the music and this time I saw this world in a new light.

As we walked in I saw 2 very pregnant women and one had even painted their belly with future phish fan. OK not going to judge I went to Dave and Kenny at the same outdoor venue literally weeks before baby boy entered the world. But as I walk through the crowd to get a drink I see kids everywhere, like babies in Ergos and toddlers running around. Most sporting tie dye and thankfully all of them had ear plugs in.

Personally, I am not taking baby boy to a concert like that anytime soon and maybe ever. To me half the enjoyment is the babysitter and some alone time with my hubby.

I am not judging parents that do it by any means and I commend all of them for thinking to put ear plugs in their little ears, something that if I am being honest would not have thought to do. But, really am I weird to look at those kids running around while their parents dance to the music and think oh hell no?

Oceans "One"derland

I must admit I was thinking of ideas for his First Birthday before he was even born. I love to do this stuff, I would still party plan for a living if the economy was better and it did not require me to work every weekend. So until I start working again, my family will reap the rewards.

All week I will be giving you insight into what I picked and where I found it so if you find yourself faced with a birthday party to plan you might get some inspiration. I found adorable fish table cloths at Target on clearance and based my entire party around it. That is my number one advice for events, find something that speaks to you and use that as the inspiration for everything.
 I wanted the invitation to have pictures and to have an orange and blue theme. I found a perfect fit at Peartree Greetings, not only are they adorable but they are also affordable.

I love the look of the Etsy, custom Birthday Banners but could not find exactly what I wanted so I decided to make my own. I bought some scrape booking card stock and painted it, then a few hours with Indesign and few Hobby Lobby wood animals later…  Voila a custom banner that I can use again if I want.

For the smash cake, I bought a fish mold cake pan but as I suspected it was way to thin to bake the cake evenly. The middle was liquid and the edges were burnt so I put my thinking cap on and decided to cut it out of a round and square cake. I made marshmallow fondant and dyed it orange. If I do say so myself if turned out pretty darn cute.

That’s all for now and please let me know if you have any specific questions and stay tuned there is all kind of fun stuff to learn this week!

Party time

This Momma is TIRED. It has been a whirlwind weekend of family, friends, and probably too much fun. We partied with family, EJ may or may not have decided to put the flame with his hand. Then Craig and I celebrated making through year 1 still in love and with a healthy, happy baby by taking a night to ourselves, hotel and all at the Phish show. I am tired; our house is a mess and we have exploded toys. 

It was totally worth it.

Stay tuned as soon as I get myself in together I will walk you through the entire party. But, for today a teaser will have to do. 

Thankful on Thursday

I am so very thankful for the last year of my life. I have been blessed with a man who loves me through good and bad… hormone ravaged and sane…. chubby and “college girl hot” and the honor being this little angel’s mother.

From Belly to One

Our Son’s First Year of Life

(sit back and enjoy and if you are coming to his party you may want to wait to watch it, the uncut 15 mins will be aired then) 

And yes Grandparents, you are getting your very own copy.


**I, also, would like to thank Alysha @ TheTarrPitt for giving me this fantastic idea.