Pancake and Pajama Party: Aynslee turns ONE

We celebrated Aynslee's first birthday on Saturday, April 5th. The theme was Pancakes and Pajamas. Pinterest and ETSY became my best-friends and it couldn't have turned out any better. Thanks to all whom came. You all spoiled Aynslee rotten and we are so blessed by each and everyone of you!!!!

I absolutely adore her invites. I was able to custom make them and they turned out just as planned. Her lovely invite made by: Paper Clever, can be found HERE.

Decorations: I had planned a baby shower for my friend Angela a couple weeks ago and carried her color theme into Aynslee's party so that I was able to re-use some of the decor!!!

These mason jars were either spray painted a light pink or purple, and then there were some I just wrapped with ribbon. I then just placed a tulle ball, flowers, or cereal into the jars to finish them off. 

My pretty little mason jar with the tulle ball! Sooo easy to make :) Directions HERE. 

Next up was her cute little birthday banner. With the help of Tiffany Trotter and her wonderful Cricut®, it came together wonderfully!

Photo taken by Tina Cash Photography, Cake stand: Hobby Lobby 

The next DIY project was to make her a lovely "All about me" chalk board. I had thought about ordering a print on etsy but decided to just free handed one. It's not perfect but it was free and Aynslee will know her Mama did it all by herself ;) 

Photo by Tina Cash Photography

I made this birthday wreath for our front door. Directions found HERE..I just used this to get started then added and kinda did my own thing :)

My favorite thing about the whole party was of course the food!!!! 

Menu: Pancakes, sausage, fruit kabobs, yogurt with granola, waffles and chicken (Chick-Fil-A), OJ, and milk. 

Cute milk jugs for the kiddos can be purchased HERE. 

Then her cute little smash cake was a pancake smash cake and we had Krispy Kreame donuts for the guests.... LOVE!!!!

Party favors: Little cereal boxes with a fun spoon, wrapped with ribbon and a thank you note!! Super easy and way fun for the kiddos! 

Birthday outfits: 

1. Smash cake: Tutu from Mommy's little Sunshine, Crown from Jameson Monroe from HERE.

2. Pajamas: GAP star pjs, custom designed by little stinks boutique (can find them on FB), moccasins from HERE, and hair bow from our fav, Our Brown Eyed Girls (find them on facebook). 

Photo by Tina Cash Photography

Aynslee Lou-

This year was by far the best and most rewarding year. Your smile lights up a room and your laughter is contagious. Your Daddy and I feel so blessed that the Lord chose us to be your Mama and Dada. We can't wait to watch you learn and grown. Remember how much we love you. Can't wait to watch you grown and mature into a beautiful young lady. We love you!!! xoxoxoxoxo HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY

Aynslee Lou- 12 months old

Age: 12months 

Height: 29 1/4inches

Weight: 18lbs 8oz

Milestones: She definitely has the whole walking thing down (3.26.14). She even has going up stairs mastered and "slidding" off of the couch. 

*She is able to say: Mama, Dada, hi, bye, on, Nana, nigh-night, more, ball, and huh. 

*She is able to sign: more, all done, bye-bye, wave hi, and eat. 

*Animal sounds that she knows are: doggy, cow, monkey, and for her Daddy she will do a wolf howl! Sooo cute!!! 

Sleep: Goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes around 7-730am. Naps are usually 9-11a (usually first nap is two hours after she wakes up) and 230-430p. It's been awhile now since she has cried when we put her in her crib for nap or bed time. She LOVES her bed and "nigh-nigh" time :) (I swear by baby-wise :) ) 

Best Moment: Celebrating her first birthday with a Pancake and Pajama party on 4.5.13. So thankful for all the wonderful family and friends that we have in our life!!! 

Worst Moment: She has five teeth now. Working on getting two more bottom teeth at this moment...poor thing! Thank goodness she tolerates pain like her Mommy and not like her Daddy ;))

Eating: She still nurses at 9am, 5pm and before bedtime.  Got rid of her 1pm feed. She eats three meals and two snacks. She LOVES to eat!!! Having trouble with her drinking cows milk but thinking we have a winner with Hildebrand Milk (local milk from Junction City, Ks). I think it has a bit more sweetness to it like the good ol' boob...keeping our fingers crossed she continues to not spit it out or act like she is gagging! Will continue to wean with the hopes that we will 

Extras: She went to My Gym for the first time and loved it. She has been swimming now three times and loves going under the water!!!

Aynslee Lou- 11 months old

Age: 11 months

Height: 28 1/2 inches

Weight: 18lbs

Milestones: 2.25.14 Little miss walked all by herself! She continues to do so. She refuses to stand back up on her own once she falls but she does try and walk wherever she goes! She now signs "eat." She also is starting to "talk" more than ever. She now brings you her blankie when she is sleepy and repeats "nigh nigh" over and over again.

Sleep: Goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes around 7-730am. Naps are usually 9-11a (usually first nap is two hours after she wakes up) and 230-430p. It's been awhile now since she has cried when we put her in her crib for nap or bed time. She usually is crawling out of our arms to get into her bed..

Best Moment: Watching her develop her own sassy little personality. She loves people and especially kids. She is a joy and her smile is contagious!!! 

Worst Moment: she is officially get her third top tooth. Hasn't complained too much but can tell it bothers her at times 

Eating: She still nurses at 9am, 1pm, 5pm and before bedtime.  She LOVES to eat!!! Some of her favs are blueberries, quinoa, spinach, ham, nutrigrain bars, oatmeal, and yogurt!!! 

Extras: She gets so excited when she sees other kids. She loves going to the nursery at church and loves walking through target and seeing all the other kiddos. She is becoming very playful and starting to understand "no." Can't wait to see what this next month brings!! 

Aynslee Lou- 10 months old

Age: 10 months

Height: 28 inches- 40th percentile

Weight: 17lbs 8oz- 20th percentile

Milestones: She will sign "all done"--> only with her left hand at this time though- 2/4/14. Claps with open hands- 2/5/14. Stands for extendend periods of time 2/6/14, no steps without holding onto her walker or someone's hands! 

Sleep: Goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes anywhere from 630a-830a. Naps are usually 9-11a (usually first nap is two hours after she wakes up) and 230-430p. She will find her blanket and dolly when she is ready for nigh night and will basically whine till she is in her crib. Bittersweet..but so thankful she loves her crib!! 

Best Moment: First KS snow!!! She loves to be outside and threw a major fit when we came back in!!! She loves standing all by herself and is obsessed with phones!!

Worst Moment: she officially has four teeth. Two on top and two on bottom. She is always drooling and lately has had nasty nose boogers and lots of lovely poops!! 

Eating: She still nurses at 9am, 1pm, 5pm and before bedtime.  She LOVES to eat!!! She doesn't have any dis-likes. She doesn't prefer to touch cold foods (peaches/mandrin oranges) but will eat them off a spoon. She started eating oatmeal andnutrigrain bars. She has had strawberry and blueberry flavors (nutrigrain bars, yogurt, oatmeal, and puffs). No allergies so far. Will introduce the whole fruit after she is one!  

Extras: She is so happy and so much fun! We are so blessed by her!! I'm starting to plan her first birthday party..and boy is it BITTERSWEET!! The theme will be a pancake and pajama party!!! It's been super fun planning and can't wait to see it all come together!! Stay tuned! 

First snow in KS!!!

Such a big girl!!!

She LOVES her blankie that Nana made for her!! 

Aynslee Lou- 9 months old

Age: 9 months

Height: 27 3/4 inches- measured at 9month apt. 50%

Weight: 16lbs 14oz- weighed at her 9month apt. 25%

Milestones: She says "Mama"- 12/12/13. Plays "peek-a-boo"- 12/30/13. Blows Kisses- 1/1/14. Signs "more"- 1/3/14. ❤

Sleep: Goes to bed between 7-8pm and takes two naps. They have been up and down due to traveling but she usually sleeps 1-2hrs. Usually 9-11a and 3-430ish. She loves her crib and we are so thankful!

Best Moment: She celebrated her first Christmas with all the ones she loves! We even got to spend the week before Christmas in MN! It was a sweet last minute treat. We are blessed with such wonderful family both near and far.

Worst Moment: Teething. Most would have no clue that she was teething besides her massive amounts of drool...but she definitely has her moments of pain and it breaks this Mama's heart! She also got a double ear infection 1/3/14. She got put on amoxicillin and started to feel better 48hrs later. She ran a temp as high as 103. So thankful the antibiotic worked and she is feeling better!!

Eating: She still nurses at 9am, 1pm, 5pm and 8pm. We are trying to get into a routine of putting her in her high-chair for all three meals. It's so hard because Dom and I hardly ever sit and eat meals at a table let alone together. But at least two-three meals a week we try and eat together...oh-the life of weird working hours for Mama and Dada!

Extras: We brought in the New Year snuggled in bed together while Daddy was working. I wouldn't have traded her snuggles for anything. She is our light and we feel so blessed!!!