Liam's Big One! [a party]

I promised I'd get this party blogged.. it only took a week longer than expected ;)

I wanted to keep the decor to a minimum. I wanted a Balloon themed party. So, it was definitely lightly themed. :) But we had lots of people and lots of fun and love for our little bug. Couldn't be happier with our day!

So, this cake was a splurge, but it was exactly what I imagined for his special day! Thank you, Frost It Cafe!

And I made his DARLING smash cake :) I am quite proud of it! 

BBQ for all! So delicious. A HUGE thank you to Dickey's Bar-B-Q for our meats and Liam's Granna (My MOM!) for providing the sides! 

Even the gift packaging seemed to match. :) He was a happy, blessed boy!

My love bug's monthly Tonka pictures!

side note: How has it been a year?? :'(

Prepping for cake!

OH that face!! Love it!!

{Here was Cohen's smash cake experience!} {{Nearly 3 years ago!}}

I just can't. Thank you Lord, for these healthy, precious boys you've given us!

The hit gift of the party.. Uncle Josh gave Liam a ride-on pirate ship. All the kiddos played with it and were pretty much mesmerized by it. :)

That bum! He walked all over his party, so sweet!

Party guests! Squeezed in every nook and cranny!

McKensley and Liam! Our sweet friends.

So happy everyone could come!

Sara and Aimee! Love these friends of mine!

My mom and two of her three sisters. And cousin Alysse :) (missed her parents!)

Denise and Ellie! Cohen and Ellie have been friends since the womb! :)

My big guy! 

Why am I in here again, Mom????

Timidly poking at his cake..

Are you sure, Daddy?

Thank you, Amber, for cutting that cake! Couldn't have done it without you!

Kids, kids, everywhere! 

Thanks for the smile, Natty! :)

Miss Leslie!! 

Our sweet babysitter, Miss Jessica! Glad she could make it!

Only picture I got of Uncle Josh. Sorry brother!  

Opening some very fun presents!

The Little People Nativity! I've always wanted this! (for the boys, I mean.......) :)

Sweet buddy, Eli!

Blowing up balloons from the goody bags.

Coco loves balloons!

Granna and the birthday boy! 

Look at that hat! Adorable!

We had such a wonderful day with all of our friends and family! So thankful and appreciative to everyone who came out!

Liam, your first year has been an exciting whirlwind! You are so fun, so sweet. I think you are a Mama's boy, but you sure love your Dada! (as evidenced by you saying Dada way before and way more often than Mama!) Your bubba makes you laugh all the time and cares so deeply for you! You sure did complete our family and we can't imagine a day without you. Watching you grow and develop is such a blessing. And we pray you keep on growing and changing. We pray for your health and happiness. We pray you will come to know the Lord at a very early age, and that Jesus will be the center of your life. Thank you for a beautiful year! 

Liam ~ One Year Old

ONE YEAR OLD!!!

This little stinker bug! 

I can't get over the cutest baby boy ever. We basically can't have any more kids, because none stand a chance with his cuteness. ;)

This is his concerned face. 

On his actual birthday, he was walking a lot more. Long stretches, 5, 6 feet! He loves it and is so, so proud of himself when he does it. He also started clapping on his actual birthday. It's adorable. 

I know you're tired of hearing about it, but WE MADE IT to 1 YEAR OF BREASTFEEDING!!! Was it easy?? NO. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I got so much extra bonding time with just me and my little boy, we rarely had to buy formula, he got all the added nutrients that come with extended breastfeeding.. I'm just pleased as pudding to have made it. I know this is the beginning of the end, though. I've been only pumping once or twice at work. He still nurses several times a day when I'm home. And then he'll eat the one time at night. But, I'm pumping SO much less milk. And it takes him about 5 minutes to nurse, both sides. :) So, I know we're running low. And I'm ok with it. My goal was one year and we made it. I'm a little sad at times, knowing it's coming to an end, and knowing he's most likely our last baby. But it was a good run. 

He's saying Da-da, intentionally to Hector now. :) He will sometimes say Mama, not often at all. And he says Nananana when he's hungry. Call me crazy, but that's what he means. 

He loves to play with brother. He will lightly wrestle with Cohen and Daddy every night. He follows Cohen everywhere. Tries to take his toys. :) I'm sure it's only a matter of time before this is not so cute anymore.

Same 4 teeth. Likes to playfully bite... :-/ again, probably not so cute later. 

Still does his award-winning pout when he gets told "no". It's pretty funny/sad/cute. 

Oh, my joyful baby!!

Coco had to have a picture too! He made sure to point out that those were his letters, after all. :)

CAN I JUST FLASH BACK TO COHEN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY???

The similarities! The differences! It's astounding to me! 

I'm sure I'll do this again, when I blog Liam's birthday party tomorrow. :)

A year with Liam, in the books! My boys are my prides and joys. I'm so thankful to have these digital memories of them. 

Happy First Birthday, Liam! 

Cohen at 3 years

Our big guy turned 3 years old yesterday. It's amazing to me that he's a little boy now. He's not even a toddler. He's a kid. I know we've had three years to adjust to the idea, but... he's just so grown, all of a sudden.

(resting in the recently-dug-out Bumbo seat for brother)

He's really a good boy. Sure we have our moments, when it's just him, me and baby here during the day. Tensions can run high. But that's mostly my fault. 

He loves his little brother. He will offer his paci back, if it falls out and Liam cries. He lays with him under the play gym, showing him how the toys rattle or play music, etc. He kisses him goodnight every night. If he walks into the living room and doesn't see him, he'll always ask, "Where's brudder?" :)

Cohen still loves his cars. And he has a ridiculous collection of them, too. We're gonna go a while without buying any. Promise.  But, he's branched out. He likes Nerf guns and monster trucks now, too. (big boy toys...)

He loves to play outside. Anything outside, he's there.

He's 90% potty trained! Still working on the nighttime. This is a huge victory, since we have a new one in diapers! (we haven't been for his 3 year checkup yet).

This year he wanted Chuck E. Cheese... and we're trying to move, so I didn't want to clean our small apartment. So we did it!

We did our own party at Chuck E. Cheese. And I must say, it's the way to go!

Their party was annoying.

Mama-made cake. :) It was rainbow inside!

Two of our five claimed tables. I did a light "Cars" theme.

Playing games with Pop! So glad they could come!

Uncle Josh and Cortney came!! Baby brother finally woke up, in time for pizza!

Birthday boy!

Miss Leslie and Daddy, with Colton! (Colton shares Cohen's birthday, but he's 1!)

Sweet pumpkin, getting Granna time!

All the daddies, with their boys! (Minus Cohen who was playing!)

Cory and Brooks, Tyler and Baker, Patrick and Colton, Hector and Liam

Josh and Cortney playing a racing game with Coco.

Pop was trying to "win tickets for Cohen"... yea.. :)

Maggie riding that weird bicycle ride... the kids love it for some reason.

Ugh.. Guess I didn't take a picture of the inside. :( It was beautiful and delicious. :)

A big thanks to Granna and Pop, Josh and Cortney, Leslie, Jackie, Patrick and Colton, Sallie, Tyler, Maggie, and Baker, Cory, Ashley and Brooks for coming out to celebrate our big 3 year old! He loves you all so much! (So do we!)

We are so, so lucky to be your parents, Cohen. You make us smile and laugh every day. We can't wait to watch you as you continue to grow and mature. It's amazing to watch. We pray the Lord watches over you and blesses and guides you. You are precious. You made us parents. We're so thankful for you. Happy birthday, Coconut!