5 Months Out

There are 5 months until Abbie's birthday, but no matter, I'm already thinking of her party. I'm just crazy/obsessive/a super planner like that.

Heck, I already have oodles of ideas for Hannah's 6th birthday party in December--a carnival circus theme! So, please oblige me while I share with you some ideas I'm mulling for Baby Girl's second birthday party, coming soon to a home or park near you.

I can't decide if I should do it in a Ladybug theme or a Cupcake theme. One of the reasons I'm thinking of using the Ladybug theme is that I have called Abbie "Love Bug" since birth. I don't know why. Probably the same reasons my parents called me "Pooh Bear." These things just happen.

So, I'm going to show you guys some of the things I've found that would be used during either party (warning: much link love coming up!) and then you tell me which ideas or which theme you think would be best.

Cupcake

I had wanted to use the cupcake theme for Abbie's First Birthday, but Birthday Express was sold out of most of the items I needed (invitations and plates). The plates and balloons shown below are items they sell.

Besides, can you imagine how adorable these would be? (Photo courtesy of Ree at Confessions of a Pioneer Woman who hosted Bakerella and some of her readers.)

Abbie already has a cupcake birthday shirt from Gymboree. I will add another post about clothing options for the Princess Birthday Girl in a little bit.

Ladybug

I think I could at least make cakes like these, perhaps better: http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/ladybug-cake.html#ladybug01

Martha Stewart featured Ladybug cookies on her show just before Valentine's Day. I recorded it on our DVR and think I could actually pull it off: http://www.coppergifts.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=3556&welcome=315

I found some really adorable bug-shaped cookie cutters to use as well. I may stock up on some and use them for summer time get-togethers: http://www.thecookiecuttershop.com/bugcookiecutters.shtml

If we go with Ladybug, I can't decide which Ladybug theme to use. Again, photos below are items from Birthday Express. The blue balloon and the blue & red plate are from the "Love Bug" line; the pink plate is from the "Ladybugs: Oh So Sweet" line.

As far as clothing, Gymboree has a new line out with ladybugs on it called Pretty Lady. Check it out by clicking here.

What do you guys think?

Planning and Reflecting

Forgive my previous post in which I wax poetic about my love for Sam's Club. Just a few nights ago, I created an online shopping list for "Click 'N' Pull" for Abbie's party. While her birthday is this Sunday, we are waiting until next Saturday to celebrate. Turns out late August is a busy time on our street, with 4 birthdays occuring in about a week or so.

So I'm blessed to be planning Abigail's first birthday party. About nine or ten months ago, I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to do this. I had faith and I hoped and prayed, but I can't see into the future, so nothing was certain. Nothing is ever certain, and that is one of many lessons I've definitely learned this past year.

As I've written here before, I've also been doing a lot of reflecting. I found a couple of websites that give a pretty good description of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (click here) and an excellent description of genomic imprinting (basically, the why/how Abbie "got" BWS)... (click here and read specifially the regulation part, which is what is "messed up" with BWS). For the past year, I've been trying to find a way to explain to people what genomic imprinting is and how if in those early, early days of development, if one "little" thing goes wrong, there is a domino effect and I think this definition helps me out with that.

I cannot wait to share photos from Abbie's actual big day and the party next weekend. Planned for the 6th is a cookout with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad and cake at one of our local parks.

I'm praying for beautiful weather, fitting for the celebration it will be.