Ernie's First Birthday!

We had a small birthday celebration for Ernie Boy a few weeks back.  It was a splash themed party.  So much fun!  These cute invites were designed by Auntie Britta with Snail Mail Designs.  Doesn't she do great work?  I highly recommend them for any occasion you may have :).   

I still am coming to grips with the reality that Earnest is one. It seems like just yesterday we were driving him carefully home from the hospital and welcoming him into our life.  What joy this child has brought his parents!

 This was Ernie helping with the decor before the festivities began :).  

 Auntie Britta also made this amazing watermelon shark.  It was awesome.

 Mom made these delicious blueberry cheesecake cupcakes and Auntie Teenie made all of the sails.  I love how they turned out!

 I hung month by month photos of Ernie to show how our boy has grown oh so much.

 Here's the Birthday Boy looking so sweet.

 His favorite place is on papa's shoulders.

 Meet Little Miss Lainey.  We may have to arrange a marriage in 25 years :).

 He didn't quite know what to think about opening gifts.  He was very interested in some of the packaging.

 This was another gift from Auntie Britta at Snail Mail Designs.  It is a beautiful print of Psalm 63, the Psalm that inspired Earnest's name.  We pray these words would be truth for him!

 Auntie Beth handmade this seasonal book!  There are so many fun activities for tiny hands...buttoning on flowers, putting velcro apples in a basket, dressing a felt boy for the winter weather, just to name a few.  What crafty people we have in our family!

 Time for cake.

 He dipped one little finger into his cupcake and licked it.  He then clapped to show his approval.  That trend continued on for awhile.  Our boy doesn't really like to get messy!

 So, daddy had to show him how it was done!

A special thank you to our family for making this day so special.  Thank you for all of the hands that prepared the delicious food, decorated with beautiful details, and made Earnest's first birthday a big splash!

*Thank you Auntie Teenie for taking the majority of these photos!

a birthday gift

My handsome husband's birthday was a few weeks back.  To celebrate his 27th year Earnest decided to give his papa something special.  Josh got to feed Ernie his first solid food!  I'm not sure who enjoyed the experience more :).  

Here's a glimpse of the exciting occasion:

Earnest was very eager to eat whatever was on the spoon.  However, when the liquidy stuff (it was mostly milk with just a sprinkle of rice cereal) finally entered his mouth he wasn't quite sure what to think!

After a few more spoonfuls though; he really liked it!

 The whole event came to a climactic end as Ernie reached for the rice cereal and dumped the rest of the bowl all over the table.  And that was that.