Molly's Birthday Party

We had a little  somewhat large birthday party for little miss this past Saturday. We had about 30 people come over to celebrate Molly's little life. The poor birthday girl wasn't completely up to par. She started coming down with a cold on Friday so we went to the doc just to make sure she didn't have something else and we needed to cancel the party. Unfortunately, not only did she have a pretty bad cold but a double ear infection. Poor baby. She gave us the green light on the party so we partied on.

Let me set the stage for you before I post all the pics. I won my first ever contest. I never win anything and I won a little party package from Sugar Bee Designs. I was sooo excited and love what she came up with! Here are the invites which started the "theme" if you will.

As you enter the house we had a wreath just for Molly and a party doormat. I reused the wreath from one of my baby showers, made by Jenna.

I guess the theme for the party was polka dots, chevron and bright colors, specifically pink and blue. Once you came inside I had quite a bit of matchy matchy stuff...but...I won a blog silent auction party package thingy from Sweet Birdies Nest. So weird that I won all these things. Luckily they both had different items in the party package so it all came together. Here I won a birthday banner, cupcake toppers, party favor stickers, and signs.

The Happy Birthday Molly banner

The party favors. Gumballs with a rolo so it is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow....get it. ;) That was a pinterest find.

We had a food table with all of Molly's favorite things: fruit salad, string cheese, goldfish, animal crackers, Lolli's (my MIL) famous banana muffins and butternut squash mac and cheese.

My mom made the delicious rainbow cupcakes with marshmallow frosting and my sister made the ridiculously beautiful cake. When it came time to eat cake we put Molly in her chair, sang happy birthday and waited for her to dig in. Well, it didn't really happen that way we intended..... She stuck her finger in the icing but wasn't interested in eating anything so we put a little bit on her lips and she did NOT like that. She gagged and then projectile vomited everywhere. It was soooo sad, kinda funny (Molly - once you can read this you will agree it was at least a little humerous) but overall it was sad because she just wasn't feeling good. Poor baby, so picked her up and took her straight to the bath then she decided she needed to go potty in the in the bath so we took her to bath number 2 then said good night. It was a long day for that little girl but I think she enojoyed some of it.

Backing up a little bit before cake, we opened presents. And man! This little girl is blessed. She got so much great and fun stuff.

 I got Molly's outfit on esty from Baby Ruth Designs. I got matching bloomers with a cupcake and her name as well as matching blue chevron pants. I am thinking this can be a dress that grows with her and she can eventually wear it as a shirt. It will be something she can wear to other birthday parties.

I also had a table with her monthly pictures so you could see how much she grew over the year and a time capsule where people could leave notes for her to read when she turns 18 - in 2030.....that seems like forever in the future but I know it will be here before I know it!

Here is another banner that I won on a blog silent auction from Wiggles and Giggles.

The goodie bags. The adults got the gumballs and the kids got little personalized goody buckets.

We also had pics in the bathroom. :) Gotta have Molly EVERYWHERE!

Overall, it was a good time. We had a great time getting to visit hang out with everyone and I think Molly enjoyed herself after her cake fiasco, after she got all that stuff out.

I can't believe my little goose is ONE!

We tried again the next day with a cupcake and there was some gagging so Molly is just not a fan quite yet.....I am sure she will soon be though. I mean, who can resist cake and cupcakes?!?

My Little One Year Old

So I typed this post last Sunday on her birthday....just a little late in posting.

Oh my goodness, Molly Grace you are a one year old. I can't believe how quickly this happened. It was a crazy weekend full of fun, family, friends, tears and throw up. Yeah, throw up but I will get to that in her birthday party post. So much has changed this year. At some points it has been hard, funny (you are quite the humerous little lady), easy, sleepless, fun, trying, exciting, sad, happy but most of all this has been the best year of my life. I couldn't imagine being in a different place, I suppose that is a good thing since I can't really go anywhere. Ha. But seriously Molly Grace, you are a pretty cool little kid and I love you very much!

•    You are still eating 4, 7oz bottles of formula a day but that will soon change because you will start getting whole milk.
•    You have officially dropped your morning nap. It happened about a week ago and it is just another sign that you are growing up.
•  This past month you have become a full time walker, still a little wobbly but definately walk everywhere. You did have your first really big fall where you ate the pavement and scratched up your nose but I am sure you will have more of those so I just have to be ready.
•     You had 2 ear infections this month which is not good....doc said that you are on watch for potentially getting tubes in your ears.
•     You reach for things all the time now and just a couple days ago started pointing with your finger.
•     You say uh-oh all the time and you use it in the right context like when you drop things.
•     You hold your hands up when you want to be picked up.
•    You are already musically talented by playing none other than you mouth. You buzz your lips and use your hands to go up and down (I am not sure how else to describe it so that will have to do).
•      If you have a favorite color I think it would be purple. You always pick out that color whether it is the purple ball in your ball pit or the purple bath square thing, you always choose purple.
•     You do a lot of things with your left hand so maybe you will be like mommy and be a lefty
•      Last month you were miss independent and this month you love to be held all the time. I will take it though because I know that one day soon enough you are going to be too big to hold.
•      Likes: fans, lights, lovie (of course), your bunny you got for Christmas, the dogs, feeding the dogs, bath time, putting things in something and then taking them out…..over and over again (specifically putting golf balls in your flower pot during your bath), being outside
•      Dislikes: getting your hands and mouth cleaned off after meals, when someone walks away from you when you want to be picked up

We went to the doc on Tuesday so here are your stats. She says you are a growing girl and doing great (except for the ear infection part).

Height - 30.5 inches (89.68%). You have grown 1.9 inches since your 9 month check up. 
Weight - 23lbs 9oz (85.43%). You have gained 2 lbs 6oz since your 9 month check up. 
Head circumference - 18.27 inches (84.95%). Your head grew .51 inches since your 9 month check up. 

My little goose. How time flies. Daddy and I were reminiscing earlier today about what was happening a year ago and I just couldn’t get over the fact that it has been a year since you came into this world and changed our lives forever. You are loved so much and by so many people, your mommy, daddy, uncles and aunts, grandparents, great grandparents, cousins, friends and we want nothing more than for all your hopes and dreams to come true. You will always have people praying for you and thinking about you. You melt my heart little girl and I can’t wait to see your smile every morning. 

One last time for outtakes since I won't be taking monthly pics anymore.....

Seriously....why do you put this sticker on my belly

 You want me to sit as still as a statue?!?

 Well, to get a smile....you are gonna have to work for that.

 Wait, what do you have over there?

 Yeah.....I need that

 If you won't give it to me I will just come get it. Forget this as still as a statue thing!

 Now let's read!

Done reading, you can have the book now mom.

Here's a fun thing......going through the trash!!!

 Anyone need a hanger?

 No?!? Ok, what about a peice of paper?

 Dad - I thought you might need this

 Maybe they won't tell me I can't eat this paper if I sit in the corner with my back to them.

Molly's Nursery Tour

Better late than never, right?!? For the nursery I knew I wanted something soft, gentle and serene. I had an idea in my head and my mom and sister helped me make it a reality. They are the crafty ones in the family. Here is my favorite room in the house!

As you enter this is the wreath that hangs on her door, made with love from my cousin Josie.

Peek-a-boo! Look who was inside.

Looking in through the doorway.

Her walls are a gray color.

The curtains were made by my mom. They have a pink underlay with a white eyelet fabric on top. The ties are pink with white polka dots.

The glider is from Target.

Home made curtains

I found the window at an antique mall in Houston and painted it white and added a little blue owl on the glass.

The bird cage and side table were both painted by my sister. This is what I wanted for my night light when I was up late with the wee one.

 Every girl needs a pair of pink sparkly TOMS.

My favorite. This tree was painted by non other than my sister. I wanted something soft and serene and I think she nailed it. The beanbag on the side is her book nook.

I bought her bedding from Carousel Designs and I am that first time mom that needed the crib skirt and the bumpers to have the complete look and now I know why they say it isn't necessary. I used it for about 3 months and then never again. But it is pretty and I still love it. It is gray and pink damask.

This pillow was given to Molly on the last day of VBS and the bunny is from Aunt Nenna.

Book nook and monthly picture photo op studio

I bought the changing table from a resale shop and Jenna and Reece painted it. It was originally wood color, then they painted it white and then added a teal overlay so they could sand sections to get the vintage look.

The pictures were made by my sister....do you see a pattern here.

This mirror was painted by Jenna and used at my baby shower. You can now see all the finger marks from Molly. This is where she has pretty intense conversations with herself.

This is the wall next to the changing table. 

Those were shoes that I wore as a little girl.

I bought that bird before I knew I was having a girl or boy. I just fell in love with it and had to have it.

The dress was made for my dad before my Grandmother knew she was having a boy.

Her step stool that holds her sound machine. This was a great find from my MIL.

I bought the light fixture online and my mom made the shade.

This is the wall that faces the crib - her closet, FULL of stuff.

You can see two little teal owls if you look closely, painted by Jenna.

Closer look

Look who's coming in to find mommy.

Well, looks like that is it. Time for me to go play. Here is one last picture that I love. This was taken when the photographer came over to take all the pics for Texas Children's.

Happy New Year!

2013 is gonna be a great year. 2012 was a wonderful year, a tough year but a good one. 2013 though....I can feel it in my bones, it's gonna be a good one.  There is already so much to look forward to in 2013 including: my nephew, William, is coming in March, so many of my friends are having babies (a special one in July, the 25th to be exact), my sister is getting MARRIED in Hawaii in November, and of course Molly turning 1 and everything else that pertains to her. :) It's gonna be a great year - it just is.

So, to close out a good year we were the lame people that stayed in, ate a good meal, drank some bubbly (yes in wine glasses because we don't own champagne glasses - it's ok, we are classy like that) and went to bed early, at least I did. It was nice. I value my sleep since we have an alarm clock that doesn't have a snooze button. I had a big family meal planned but I didn't anticipate it taking about 2 hours to make (granted this might not be a long time for some but for me it seemed like it took all day, expecially when you have a child pulling at your pant leg wanting you to push her around in her new car). It ended up just being Danny and I that enjoyed it but Molly will get to have some tomorrow and the next day and probably the next because the recipe made a ton. I recommend the dish, IF you have that kind of time. Maybe it will be a NYE tradition, who knows. Oh, dish was homemade baked sweet and sour chicken with fried rice. It was really tasty if I do say so myself.

Here is the recipe, from non other than Pinterest, who got it from Life as a Lofthouse blog :)

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

The chicken coating:

3-4 boneless chicken breasts

salt + pepper

1 cup cornstarch

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

The sweet and sour sauce:

3/4 cup sugar

4 tbs ketchup

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp garlic salt

       Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. Rinse your chicken breasts in water and then cut into cubes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs.  Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour and during the baking process you will need to turn the chicken every 15 minutes.  

Fried Rice                                                                                             

3 cups cooked white rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)

3 tbs sesame oil

1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)

1 small onion, chopped

2 tsp minced garlic

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/4 cup soy sauce

      On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.  Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated!  Yum!  

Oh and while we are closing out 2012 I forgot to show you our Christmas card. I have never sent them out until this year....probably because I had a good reason but anywho, here it is.