Watson's First Birthday Party

May 1, 2017

Watson’s First Birthday Party

We are home from the most amazing trip to Harbour Island and it just occurred to me that I haven’t even shared pictures from Watson’s first birthday party. So, let’s get to that before I overload you with fruity drinks, turquoise water, and pink sand beaches. We had the party the day before Easter, which was perfect because it was Peter Rabbit themed. I love love bunnies (had four as a little girl—Marshmallow, Flopsy, Hershey, and Cuddles) and wanted to take full advantage of being able to choose Watson’s birthday theme while I still can. I know I’ll be throwing Batman parties before long. Sigh.

It really was the best day. To be honest with you, I was pretty sad leading up to it. We had postponed the party once because my mom was in the hospital recovering from surgery way longer than expected and I, of course, just had to have her there. So I pushed it back two weeks, much to my mother’s dismay. (She has a very gentle spirit and just didn’t want to complicate things.) Then the week of the
party, she had some more issues in the hospital and ended up having to stay for quite a bit longer. So she wasn’t able to come to the party after all. Knowing this was going to be the case a few days before, I was tempted just to cancel the whole thing. She helped me pick out decorations and dream up the theme ideas and I just didn’t want to put it all together while she was alone in the hospital. And this was obviously my first time hosting my child’s birthday party and so I wanted the woman who put hundreds of hours of work into planning all of my little parties over the years to be there. And so she could see her only grandson eat cake for the first time. Ah, ANYWAY! I decided to put my pity party aside and we pushed on. And thanks to Facetime, she got to see a big part of it and we got to see her, too! But again, let me say… it really was the best day. Watson was as happy as a clam and I loved being able to have so many of our sweet friends and family by our side to celebrate our BIG one year old bunny. I mean, baby.

I bought two of these watering cans to hold flowers. But note, the cans must just be for looks because they leak water just a tiny bit! I had to put a solo cup of water in the bottom to keep the flowers wet.

Making “floral” arrangements using kale and cabbage leaves has to be the cutest and cheapest thing ever.

All of the food names had to do with Peter Rabbit storybook characters. I wrote them on these little chalkboard sticks from Hobby Lobby. Stuck the pointy end into a little ball-shaped piece of styrofoam (from any craft store) and reinforced it to the mini pots with hot glue. Covered the styrofoam with pieces of cabbage.

The cake and cupcakes were made by a local Charleston baker. She’s just starting up her business right now, but she was recommended to me and I’m so glad we used her because the cake and cupcakes may have been the best I have ever ever had. Her name is Bailey and she gave me permission to share her number for local orders: 479-502-1713. I ordered the cake topper from Etsy.

Please don’t be impressed by these cutie pinwheels. I bought them (and pretty much all the food, if I’m honest) from the pre-made section at Costco. I was up until 5am the two nights before the party whitewashing our hardwood floors with Brandon… Momma ain’t got time for cooking.

These plates. So adorable. Napkins, too.

These water bottle labels were the best thing!

More on this “one” banner later…

The ball pit was something fun for the little ones to do and its been a hit in our house, although I’m kind of ready to see it out of our living room. I bought the baby pool here and these plastic balls to fill it.

Filled these carrot goody bags with Chicago Mix popcorn. I made the labels on photoshop & printed them out on cardstock. Don’t judge the sloppy cutting. Brandon and I assembled these at 5:30am in bed the night before after finishing the floors! Or, morning of, I guess.

Those cute chicken wire frames were a Homegoods find.

My dress is by J. Crew and I should mention that it’s 40% off right now, so run and get it! It’s so comfortable and is one of the best white dresses I’ve ever owned because you don’t need a slip underneath. Comes in navy, too.

Below is my dad with my brother and his fiancée. Watson is in a strawberry coma.

Neighbors & friends!

The high chair was a $30 craigslist score. We painted it with Valspar Chalk Spray Paint and then finished it with another spray to seal it—this all-natural, non-toxic shellac by Zinsser. Spray paint is the way to go.

The high chair banner? I found so many cute ones on Etsy, but just didn’t want to blow $40 on one. So I bought this banner kit from Michaels, a hot glue gun, and various ribbons and fabric. I hand sewed the center pendant to the twine and sewed the “1,” which I cut out of fabric, to the burlap. The banner kit had enough twine in it to make two banners. Go up about 15 pictures and you’ll see what I’m talking about. For that one, I was too lazy to sew and just hot glued the letters to the burlap and glued the burlap to the twine. Worked just fine! So I would say that I spent $15 tops (including the price of the glue gun) on two really great banners that took about 30 minutes to put together. That’s less time than I spent browsing 200 pages of high chair banners on Etsy, you know.

Enter, a change of outfit for this babe. Luckily I had this Beaufort Bonnet Company Branham Bubble hanging in the closet ready to go.

Something I forgot to picture… we had a Peter Rabbit book out so that friends and family could flip to a page and sign a birthday message to Watson. A great keepsake! It was an amazing day celebrating our funny, sweet, determined baby boy. I can’t believe a full year has passed since we brought him home from the hospital and I was learning to be a momma for the very first time. And he keeps us learning. And humble. And so very proud. He has been our biggest blessing.