First Birthday Bash!

Hayden's First Birthday landed on a weekday, so we had to work that day, but when we arrived, Joshua (and his mommy and daddy) had gotten Hayden a gift, so the boys tore into it. Elmo phone and puffs!

Just chillin on his actual birth day.

To celebrate, we went out to eat that night, at Cracker Barrel.

Hayden got a free birthday bowl of ice cream, of which he LOVED, mommy and daddy got some of it too ;)

Hayden all excited for his party day!!!! Even though he has no idea anything was happening :)

I decided to do Brown and Teal dots for the birthday theme. Here is the banner I made.

In all the confusion I forgot to take pics of the decorations/favors, so these were actually pics of people, but I had to zoom way in to show them. They all had a collage of Hayden at various months of age leading up to 1. The sticks had whoppers and teal colored rock candy and were given as favors. They were also used as my table decorations. The matte in front of this one was signed be everyone to frame a pic of Hayden at 1 year of age.

Ha! Please excuse Billy's hand full of half eaten pizza :)

This hung above the door where H was sitting. You may have noticed a similar one elsewhere ;);)

And The Cake....once again just want to mention, I did not take the cake decorating class, so I took the easy way out....Fondant.... I didn't have to use a single tip :) I was trying to make it stress free as possible. Thank you Cake Boss for all the great ideas :)

I even checkered the inside! I thiught it turned out good and tasted even better.

We have a very small house, which is fine, for now, so there was no way all these people would fit (comfortably) in there, and in January you can't really do anything outside, so we had the party at Pizza Inn, the party room is free, and they had the biggest one. Everyone showed up, I was shocked at all the RSVP's I got and then they actually came, i'm sure it won't ever happen agian, and the free pizza probably sealed the deal.

H got lots of GREAT gifts, our friends and family are WAY too generous, but we appreciate it. Since Christmas and H's birthday are so close together, I have stashed away some of the gifts to pull out throughout the year and make them last till next Christmas, it'll be like a new toy every two months or so :) I also have some never before seen suprises to bring on our vacation in July.

Ha! This was a see n say from the Cates, which I regifted to H for Valentine's Day! I know I know, but he didn't know the difference, I'm sure it won't be that easy from now on :)

Gotta love the Busy Ball Popper, which I'm saving for vacation.... I am bad, no, just thrifty :)

Love our monogramed pillow from Cousin Ashlyn :)

who also gave us this adorable piggy bank.

H had no idea what to think about the candle, so I enjoyed blowing it out :)

And he dug in, he had a practice run when he took his one year portraits, so he knew what to do.

yummy cake mom!!! and it's teal!

We took our pic at the end of the party....big mistake...... Birthday boy was tired and grouchy, so this is the best we could do. Mommy and Daddy love you so much Hayden, we can't believe you are one, and how fast the time has flown, you are a precious, wonderful baby, and we can't wait to watch you grow.

Our First Christmas with our Little Man

Hayden's first Christmas was so special to us. Of course we enjoyed giving him gifts, and watching him open them, but just to have him and know we were celebrating the birth of Jesus, was just so exciting. Our family of three. It took Hyaden a little while to get the hang of opening gifts, but once he did there was no stoppping him.

He loves his piggy, he now sleeps with it.

He had such a fun time, and it was just a joy to see this little smile over and over.

He loved all his toys, but our main goal was.....Anything with Balls. That was Hayden's first word, which I might just post the video of the 3rd or so time he said it, but he loves balls. At first, daddy had gone and picked out all his gifts, so I got a little upset, so then we returned two and chose some gifts together, daddy picked this one becasue it speaks in English and Spanish, wich we would like for Hayden to learn. However I have dropped the ball a little, I usually only use Hola, adois, no mas, and that's about it, I will try to do better.

Mommy was ssssooooo excited to get her big cricut, the expression. I actually got it on Black Friday while we were in Mena, but Tim made me wait and open it for Christmas. After selling my smaller one, and making a $10 profit, that brought the price of this one to $180- woohoo now I call that a good deal! And it has been humming ever since, seems like there is always a baby or birthday gift to be made, Thanks Robin for all the ideas ;))

and we were excited to get our wii fit.

Tim's Only suprise was a sports coat. He has been wanting one for a long time, Kohls had one for sale, then my mom gave me $20 kohls cash, and I had a 15% off card- Gotta love Kohls!!! It was gonna be perfect, I had bought one and stored it at mom and dad's, had marc try it on and it was too small, so went back and got a bigger one, and stored it at mom and dad's, got from there wrapped it and placed it under the tree, this was gonna be great. I wasn't sure it would fit or was the one he wanted, so I wisely kept the recipt, but accidently left it on the couch with a small pile of other papers, that Tim always makes me go through, well just so happened he decided to go through it asking me aobut two or three other recipts and if I needed them, I would say no, and trash them. Then I see him holding a Kohls recipt and by the time I can YELL NO!!! It was too late and I burst into tears! And exclaim why did you do that, poor Tim as apolagetically as he could said he was sorry and he didn't know, which I knew, but still felt the need to blame him. It's your only suprise I said while still sobbing away. To wich he awnsered I still don't know what it looks like, basically is was a huge kill joy, but he liked it anyway. I asked him later what his first thought was when he read the recipt and he said it was... Alright, I wonder what it looks like. So at least that part was still a suprise. And yes, he loved it, it was the exact kind he wanted, but I am still wondering why I even bother.

and it fit perfectly....Thanks Marc :)!!

The next morning santa came and this is what he left Hayden. Ball pit, ride on toy, and Little People constuction set.

Tim sat him down at the end of the hallway so he would have enough time to run in and get his expression when he first saw the toys, he began to cry and was mad, then slowly made his way down the hall. He wasn't quite waling yet, so he would crawl then stop and sit. This is where he finally noticed Hey, there are some new toys in there!

And he made his way toward the goods.

Unfortunately in my search for the perfect stocking(and pherhaps a little procrastination) Hayden's stocking did not arrive until the day after Christmas, of course, so the next day I took some pics of him with it. He didn't really know what to do with it or what it was for.

and NO, I couldn't get him to look at the camera and he was pulling on it and was going to tear it, so I had to get onto him and then THIS is what I got

Pouty Lip.

And so concludes Hayden's First Christmas('s). Next up will be the ever anticipated First Birthday party post, and I have narrowed it down to a wopping 27 pics. :) Soon I will be all the way caught up to Easter.....maybe :)