A First Birthday Party!

Yesterday we had one of the very best days I can remember. We celebrated Ever's first year with a birthday party at home. The boys have nicknamed her "bunny" and we've all been calling her that for the last year. Thus, it only seemed fitting she should have a bunny themed birthday party (and halloween costume if you recall). Cheryl made the outstanding cake and rifle paper inspired cupcakes. She handmade those little animals on the cake. I mean, can you even believe those are edible?! Abby made the delicious homemade carrot cake cupcakes (we had to have carrot cake, of course!) and the pumpkin pie. Marisa, who couldn't even make it to the party, still managed to whip up the adorable sign hanging above the cake table. And I made all the garland out of fresh eucalyptus. Man, my house has smelled amazing the last few days. I'm leaving it hanging through the holidays, so it's totally dual purpose. I also have to give a special shout out to Abby who helped me make Ever's handmade birthday hat. And by helped me I mean basically did the whole thing while I just assisted her. I loved everything about this little party, and I'm thrilled we could celebrate our little lady with the people who love her the most. Below are just a few (ha!) pics from the party if you'd like to take a peek...

xoxo

To Ever on Your Birthday

Sweet Ever,

I am writing this in the early hours of your first birthday. You are sleeping snugly beside me like you have done nearly every night of your life so far. I remember when your brothers were born how I felt like they were always supposed to be here. Meeting them was like meeting an old friend. Like they were an inevitable part of our lives that were always meant to be. But you, sweet girl, feel like best and brightest surprise of my life. Even a year later, I can hardly believe you are here. That you are really mine.

In one short year you have managed to develop a mega personality. You are silly, sweet, and a little bit ornery. You know what you want and you do not like the word no. (But who does, right?) You are a walking machine who cannot be stopped. You started saying mama this week and frankly it's making my life right now. You are almost always happy, as long as you are getting the attention you require. You're my most social baby yet. You want to be right in on the action, no matter what's going on. You are happy to leap right into the pile of wrestling brothers on the living room floor with a shriek and a giggle. And they are happy to have you join. To know you is to adore you. Even your big brothers are not immune to your charms.

When I walk in the door from work you light up and come dashing over to greet me with a squeal of delight and your signature smile with the tiny scrunched up nose. Little hands reaching up, clasping and unclasping until I pick you up and tuck you into place right there under my chin. Your little arms wrapped tightly around my neck and your head resting on my shoulder. 

You were born on a Thursday in the early morning, but your dad and I had been up for over twenty four hours by the time you arrived. We spent that day holding you, loving you and introducing you to all your excited family members. When the day was done and night had finally arrived you would have thought I would have been exhausted. I'd been up for nearly two days, not to mention labored and delivered a baby in that time as well. But after the lights were out and daddy was fast asleep on the hospital room couch I lay there wide awake just soaking you in. I was too excited to sleep. Too amazed to feel tired or anything but complete euphoria. The hospital doesn't approve of co-sleeping with your newborn in your hospital bed, understandably. So all night long as the nurses would peek in the room to check in on us they'd see us snuggled up tight in bed and I'd hear an "um, excuse me..." as they noticed your empty plastic bassinet. I'd just look over, smile and assure them, "don't worry, I'm awake". I will never forget our first night together. Just you and I, quietly passing the hours away in our tiny hospital bed.

Thank you for this last year. Thank you for being here, and for making all my dreams come true.

Happy birthday, Ever Iris

I love you.

Ever's One Year Photoshoot

These are the photos of a baby who genuinely did not want any part of this. A baby who kept taking off headband after headband faster than we could replace them and didn't want put down for a minute. Yet, you really can't even tell. Thus the magic that is Katie Ardner, baby whisperer.  

Also Ever is wearing a vintage italian capelet in the first few photos, because that's necessary.

Thank you, Katie!

Books!

I realize it looks like I've plowed through a ton of books recently, which, I guess I have...but these were all, for the most part, short and sweet. And there are some really good ones in this group too, so get ready to fire up that library card.

First up, The Quiet American! I'd read the paperback version before but when I realized I had access to the audio version I couldn't resist revisiting it one more time. This one is an oldie but a goodie. One of those anti-war novels that everyone should read at some point. It's dripping with symbolism and heavy in ideas and ideals. You can't go wrong here.

Someone, somewhere recommended this book to me and I wish I remembered who to thank because as soon as I started this book I became totally engrossed in it. A memoir of sorts about the author's experiences while expecting a baby with down's syndrome. It's part inspirational, part terrifying, funny, honest, touching, all that good stuff.  I'd highly recommend this one

So I listened to this one on Audible as well because I'd read Joanna's post on her favorite audiobooks and this one was on the top of her list. It's super short, like under four hours, but it still lost me time and again. I must have re-started it three times before I finally sat with it and focused hard enough to understand what was going on. In the end, it was interesting with some really beautiful writing, but the pace and format just weren't for me. 

 

I can't say I loved or agreed with everything in Roxane Gay's collection of essays that make up Bad Feminist, but I definitely enjoyed reading them. Until I didn't. Because sometimes this book is filled with so much negativity that it becomes too hard to enjoy. And that's okay. That type of writing and reading has it's place and is necessary. Sometimes reading is for pleasure, and sometimes you just have to read the hard stuff too. This book is both. 

 

Now this one is pleasure reading all the way. I LOVED THIS BOOK. Dystopian YA gold, folks. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Even after I finished I just kept revisiting scenes in my mind and thinking about what happens next. If you're a gamer, fan boy or 80's pop culture nerd then this book is definitely for you. If you're none of those things, this book is still probably for you. It's just so good. Read it now.

So how about I've never read any Rainbow Rowell books until now? After hearing so many good things about her, I had to pick up her first novel to see what all the fuss was about. I gotta say, it was pretty much pure fun, fluff reading and I totally enjoyed it. Nothing about this book is that particularly believable. Not the plot, certainly not the ending and especially not the character of the perfectly honorable/handsome/smart/sensitive male lead. But hey, that's the fun of fluff reading, right? I'm ready for the next one.

What are you guys reading? I'm trying my hand at another Mary Roach book. I loved Gulp and can't wait to see what she does with this one!

Trick Or Treat!

I figured you guys hadn't seen nearly enough photos of kids in halloween costumes this year. Just doing my part, folks, just doing my part.