audrey’s first birthday {the party}

We hosted a birthday brunch for our baby girl this weekend. 

I went with blues, gray, white and lots of flowers – just like her nursery and apparently my favorite combination of colors right now.  Her invitations set the tone and it was fun to carry out the peony and striped papers into other parts of the decorations.

We had our family and a few friends for a nice little party to celebrate the big girl.

Straw flags with kids’ names {straws from Bake it Pretty}

 

Yummy brunch food: a few of my favorite pastries {granny horns, cranberry orange scones, Top Pot doughnuts}, lots of fresh fruit and a fancy egg dish made by Audrey’s adoring papa.

For the kids, I made simple favor bags filled with yogurt covered pretzels.

And the grown-ups received monogram note cards.

Audrey’s big brothers wanted to help out with decorations, so they made this sign which I just love.

It’s the birthday girl!

 

{notice No. 3 kindly helping his sister blow out the candle}

She wasn’t too sure what to do with this big pile of sugar, but after her biggest brother gave her a taste, she was hooked.

What a fun day for our special girl.

{Party hat and favor bag tutorials are coming this week … stay tuned!}

Posted by emily | 55 comments

my sweet girl

 

To my sweet Audrey-girl,

From the moment we knew you were joining our family, we adored you. When we met you for the first time we were overwhelmed with your gentle beauty, your petite features, your long fingers. Your demeanor is sweet and delicate, your smile melts us, your movements are graceful and your laugh is contagious.

Your great-Auntie Lorrie once told me that having a daughter is ‘magical’ and now I know she was absolutely right.  I love your brothers, but the connection I feel to you, my sweet girl, is different.  You have awoken a greater creativity in me, a softness and protectiveness that is new to me.

I have so many hopes and dreams for you, but my deepest prayer of all is that you will know how perfectly and wonderfully you have been made.  May you always know that you are adored by your mommy and daddy, by your big brothers, your grandmas & grandpas, aunties & uncles and all of your cousins and friends. But most of all, may you know that Your Heavenly Father was overjoyed when he created you and He is so pleased with his princess, Audrey Ryan.

You have changed our lives, baby girl. You have completed our family, added precious femininity to our household of boys and have forever blessed your mommy.

I love you sweet girl.

Love, Mommy

Posted by emily | 48 comments