They say it's your birthday...

I've been very lax on the blogging front in recent months. It moved down the priority list but now I'm back. With a post about Eloise's FIRST birthday! So much fun to plan. People say, oh it's their first birthday... they won't remember it. Maybe not, but we will. And it was a wonderful day surrounded by all of our family and she loved every minute of it. She also pointed and wanted to touch all the decorations so it was worth it. After all only celebrate your first birthday once. Her are some pictures of her "Sophie the Giraffe" themed party! Eat your heart out, Martha.

Happy Birthday poster

One year banner

Banner close up

Drink table

Sophie and the Eiffel Tower

Straws with flags. Ooh la la

Birthday headband

Cupcakes

Cupcake topper

Smash cake

Cake pops with flags

 Crepe paper pomander

Cousins! (And bday outfit #3)

On her actually birthday in her custom onesie

Merci for coming to my party!

Treat bags

Personalized birthday facts

Birthday water bottles

Party details:
Eloise loves her Sophie so I thought it would be fun to create a party around Sophie--who is french. We used her toy and the Eiffel Tower my parents actually brought her back from Paris. I couldn't find an cute Sophie decorations so I had everything custom made! I loved putting it all together. It was a big Etsy effort and everyone I worked with was amazing!

It all started with Ashlee of Scriptiva Paper Studio. I just happened to email her with my Sophie idea and she took it from there! The poster, invitations and sticker design were from her. Now her designs are for sale in her shop!  I had the poster printed at Costco and the stickers at Vistaprint.

I used the stickers, card stock and lollipop sticks (from Mariapalito)

The water bottle labels and the favor tags came from Chickabug.

Other shops: I ordered Eloise's custom headband from Little Lady Accessories.

The straw flags and "One" paper punches came from The Homespun Hostess.
The straws came from HeyYoYo .

For her actual birthday and to wear while she ate her cake--I ordered a heat-transfer paper personalized birthday design from Get the Party Started that I just ironed onto a white onesie.

We were a family, my darling, right from the start...

Many things have changed since we've had our little girl.. all for the better. Eloise is approaching three months and I feel like we've hit our stride. She cries, we know how to react. She smiles like she knows us. Our hearts melt. I feel like I can give so much love, more than I ever thought possible. I talk to other women who have children and I feel like I've been let into their club! And most things baby/child related make me weep on the spot. Case in point, the Wilco (my favorite band!) song, My Darling. Of course, hearing this before Eloise made me cry... now it has new meaning. It's just a perfect, modern lullaby. See the lyrics below and  video following for an old but excellent performance. Lovely! 

Three peas in a pod

Go back to sleep now
My darling
And I'll keep all the bad dreams away
Breathe now, think sweet things
And I'll think of all the right words to say


Because we made you
My darling
With the love in each of our hearts
We were a family, my darling 
Right from the start

Grow up now

My darling

Please don't you grow up too fast

And be sure, darling

To make all the good times last

Because we made you

My darling 

With the love in each of our hearts

We were a family, my darling 

Right from the start

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink...

I am a new mom! What a whirlwind! If I had to pick a theme song right now... it would be this one, by the Beatles.




Soon enough I know she'll be sleeping just fine through the night.. and I'll look back at these early weeks with nostalgia! (I hope.) Sometimes I can't believe we have our own baby. We love her more than even we expected! In the meantime, I need to invest in some serious undereye concealer and eye cream!

my sweet Eloise Hope! 

She makes being tired worth it!