Butterfly Birthday

Butterflies......


Delicate
Colorful
Fluttering
Soft
Beautiful
Grow into something even more gorgeous

And this is our little Abby Grace

From before she was born, I made her nursery around a white butterfly mobile.  I cut out each one, used a tiny needle to thread an invisible thread through each one and meticulously worked to make it just perfect.  It hangs over her crib even today. 

1 year.  April 12, 2012 to April 12, 2013.  365 days of Abby Grace.  525,600 minutes of sheer pink joy!

We had our family birthday party and smashcake #1 on Friday.  We aka Ben opened up Abby's gifts. 

We played and then went to breakfast.  Panara Bread for bagels!!

We did a few errands then to lunch at Zaxby's with D.  We gathered in the big back booth and enjoyed a fun chicken finger lunch.  It is so fun to watch Abby eat french fries. 

Back to our house for naps then smashcake fun!  Abby wasn't so sure at first.  She just couldn't stop wiping the icing on Ben.  After she got going, it was like she realized that she could actually eat this sticky mess her D made for her!

What a fun Friday!!



Saturday was PARTY time!

I decorated the house with banners and butterflies.

The house was transformed into Abby's Butterfly Garden.

 Garland hung and fluttered in the wind.  Tissue pompoms were up.  Her 11 mth banner was draped across the window. 

 

Got up early to go pick up her cake from Melinda Storey's house.  This unbelievable cake was even  more beautiful I thought it could be. 

I make her cupcake paper "1" to sit on the mantle.  Her "Fancy Nancy" book was sat on the console table, along with one of her newborn pictures

My mom came over with her menu items and I began making the rest.  Marshmellow pops were created.  Her beautiful candy sat in the center position of the table.  Various pink candies surrounded it. 

  

Menu:
Chicken salad butterfly sandwiches
fruit and dip
chips and dip
chocolate and caramel dip
m&ms
animal crackers
rock candy
sweet tart suckers
marshmellow pops
cake

Abby was in her special butterfly outfit!  tutu and wings included.  Ben got a new shirt too.  Monogrammed pink polo and seersucker shorts.

Our guests arrived and be snacked and laughed and had the best time playing with the kiddos.  It was so nice to be sharing our fun day

We gathered around Abby as she looked at her smashcake #2.  After practicing the day before you would have thought she would know what to do.....not so much!!  We sang and she slowly began eating the cake.  Our little girl was so dainty with each bite.

We played outside and inside.  We watched as the kids let the balloons fly.  Bubbles floated around the backyard.  We had such a wonderful day with our friends.

Our friends left with some fun m&m butterflies and butterfly cookies.

There was a moment on April 12, 2012 that I felt love at first sight for the 2nd time. 

There isn't enough blog space to describe how much we love our Abby Grace.  She is a true blessing and we are so very thankful that we get to be her mommy and daddy.  1 year of Abby Grace....unbelievably wonderful.  As we enter 2nd year.....wow, it just gets better and better!!!!