Carson's First Birthday

I have been planning this party for weeks and am super excited to tell you all about it.

It was perfect. It was special. It was fun. It was everything I wanted it to be for our one-year-old.

It's official. Our baby is now a toddler. For some reason, saying it helps me cope with the matter.

Although Carson won't remember his 1st birthday, Brian and I feel extremely blessed and thankful that so many of our family and friends shared this special day with us.

As I revealed when I posted the invitation, the party was football themed. I envisioned a tailgate party. A casual, laid-back, fun gathering.

I'm not sure how fun watching my one-year-old stuff his face with cake was, but let's be honest...this day was all about him.

A baller party for my one-year-old.

I gave it my absolute best to turn the inside of our house into a football frenzy. I incorporated football-inspired food, drinks, decor and other little touches, and this is what I came up with.

Lucky for me, I scored big by borrowing several football serving dishes and plates from a friend.

Appetizers served included savory meatballs, artichoke dip, mini pigs in a blanket, tortilla roll-ups, chex mix, deviled football eggs and summer sausage/cheese/crackers. Chive sprigs were used to make the laces on the eggs (thank you Pinterest!).

Drinks included beer, cherry limeade, Bloody Mary's and bottled water. I busted out the mason jars, of course, and they made the perfect glass for the Bloodys.

The cupcakes were homemade and oh-my-delicious (thanks to my cousin who gives Betty Crocker some serious competition). White and chocolate cake with butter cream frosting.

I may or may not have spent almost an entire day baking and frosting these damn things. I may or may not have forgotten the oil in the first batch I made. I may or may not have knocked over the cupcake stand on the day of party ruining several cupcakes.

Despite my challenges, the cupcakes were definitely not a failure. They were decadent. So mysteriously decadent that I've already had two people ask me what the secret to the recipe was.

DETAILS: Frosting made possible by a grass tip and disposable frosting bags (made by Wilton). Plastic football toppers purchased from Amazon. Custom diy paper pennant flags (glued to toothpicks) topped the mini cupcakes. Framed photo of Carson holding an "I'm ONE" sign (made with chalk board spray paint and scrap wood) accompanied the table.

Other football touches were scattered throughout the party and mostly made of paper and craft supplies.

  DETAILS: Welcome sign greeted guests at front door. Paper rolled inside mason jars for utensils. Plush footballs, paper confetti and personal touches for centerpiece on food table

I designed two personalized banners: one for the fireplace that read "Carson is One," and another that included all of of his monthly photos.

 DETAILS: Top banner is paper cut out and attached to twine. Bottom banner was hung using twine and clothespins.

I can't seem to throw a party without a favor, so I made these cute little hot cocoa cones, and attached football-inspired tags. The best part? I have a few leftover that I'm going to gift to Carson's teachers for Christmas.

 DETAILS: Cone bags and twist ties purchased here. Tutorial (and idea) found here.

The infamous smash cake. I didn't want to make my own, and I didn't want to spend a fortune.

So, I purchased this 5-inch bad boy at Price Chopper for $5 and used my own cake embellishments.

 DETAILS: Pennant banner was made using skewer sticks, paper twine and super glue. For the candle, I printed the one on cardstock (in the "varsity" font as all other details), and then hot glued it to the basic "1" candle you can pick up anywhere. 

Remember the hat I made for him to wear? Yeah...he wasn't having it, so the hat wasn't invited to the party. 

Here's how Carson and his smash cake met and how their relationship ended up.

Before I was a Mom

Apparently, all I can think about is the fact that my son is turning one soon.

It's true, it has consumed my thoughts for weeks now. Along with Thanksgiving, the arrival of a new niece and Big Boy's transition to a new room at school.

Life is busy and chaotic, and worthy of thanks.

I can't help but think back to the day before Thanksgiving last year. Before I was a mom.

It was the night that this almost-one-year-old I speak of decided to send me into labor....make his debut on Thanksgiving...and forever change our lives.

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

 

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn’t want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn’t know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you to my mother-in-law for sending this to me. It touched me is so many ways.

Happy {short week} Monday!

Only five measly days until our big boy turns one!!

Not to mention Thanksgiving, which is also taking place at our house. Oh, and my brother and sister-in-law might be having a baby in the midst of all this craziness (her due date is Carson's birthday:).

I'm just a teensy bit stressed, and a ball of emotion all at the the same time, but we we'll get through it. A-one-year-old and a new niece all in one week. Makes me smile and cry simultaneously.

Carson had his first haircut this weekend and I swear, he instantly grew up. Why does cutting their hair change them so much?

His haircut was at 8:15am on Saturday morning, which happened to be just 4 hours after my head hit the pillow. Confused? Yeah, I was too.

This momma had a girls night on Friday that went into the wee hours of the night. We had a blast, but I definitely paid for it during family pictures at 2:30 Saturday.

Yep, call me crazy. I went out the night before family pictures. And stayed out until 4:00 am.

Anyway, big week ahead! Here's some instagrams from last week.

Follow me at kutterchaos
TOP | ordered the biggest drink on the menu for our anniversary | cheers | sportin' chucks

MIDDLE | fall | mmm sketti | hey there, sweet cheeks

BOTTOM | schmedium #getsomenewksugear | he's put up with me for 4 years | upside down fun

Here's a video of our silly boy in the bath tub the other night. Funny thing is, he loves this video just as much as I do!

So much that we took it with us on the iPad and played it for him at family pictures. I guess hearing his own giggles makes him smile:). It's hilarious.

Warning: The video shows body parts that probably shouldn't be posted on blogs. But it's ok when it's a baby, right? He's going to kill me someday. 

Happy {short week} Monday!

 

I'm on Cruise Control.

I'm in full planning mode for big boy's party. It's going to be baller.

Can you tell that I'm staring to come to terms with him turning one?

Not really, but I'm trying. I'd be lying if I said I haven't looked at his newborn pics one zillion times this past week and tip toed in his room a few extra times at night to check on him.

My baby (who is not a baby anymore) is turning one. In just a little over a week.

That's a really hard thing for a mommy to deal with. {Sigh}.

But...I can't wait to see all the details I have planned come together for his special day. He won't remember it, but nothing but the best for our sweet boy.

Without giving too much away, I thought I would share a few things I've been working on.

Theme
Deciding on a theme for a boy is tough. In my opinion. When you're throwing a party for a girl, slap pink on...I don't know...everything, and it just works.

I didn't want a simple theme centered around the number "1", but I also didn't want to use a children's book theme or anything too detailed. I wanted something in between.

A simple football theme seemed just perfect so that's what I went with. 

Invitation
Invites went out a few weeks ago and I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

I designed these myself and printed on cardstock paper. I especially liked the cheesy super cool wording to match the theme.

 
I again used the label wraps for envelope addressing. Doesn't it look so packaged?  I'm such a sucker for having everything tie together.

Party Hat For the Birthday Boy
The party stores didn't have anything that matched a football theme (when it came to a hat), so I decided to make my own.

There are a ton of tutorials on Pinterest, but I simply started from a friend's daughter's party hat and went to work.

First, I measured the old hat and set up a digital template. I saved it here, if anyone is interested in making one.

1. Cut out the hat along the dotted line. Note: If a colored hat is preferred, use it to trace onto a piece of scrapbook or construction paper.

2. Form the cone shape by pulling the edges together and adhering. This can be a little tricky. Be patient and have the form ready before picking up the glue gun.

3. Using a glue gun, glue the seam together. Be careful and don't worry about it looking perfect. The seam will be in the back!

4. Using hot glue, embellish the bottom and top with raffia confetti paper, ribbon, beads, feather boa, etc.

5. If using confetti paper like I did, grab a bunch of paper and stick to the hot glue without burning yourself.

6. Pull down excess paper and trim off.

7. Embellish with other fun items, but make sure you do something to the top to finish the look. Glitter, paper dots, beads, a number 1, etc.

8. Glue an elastic string to the inside of the hat. My string was about 10 inches. (Not pictured)

Ta da! A custom made, themed party hat!

More details to come on Big Boy's baller party:). 

Friday Love

I love Friday.

I love weekends. 

I love fall in Kansas City.

I love 75 degree days in the fall.

I love not thinking about work for two whole days.

I love Wildcat Saturdays.

I love lazy Sundays.

And I love date nights.

What are you loving today?

Confession time. 

This is our first date night since Carson was born. Sad? Absolutely. Pathetic? Totally.

It's quite embarrassing, really.

Now, please know that we've had babysitters before and plenty of time away from C in the past 11 months (we're not that sheltered). But, it's always been for weddings, birthday parties, game days and social events.

Trust me, if our parents lived in town, we would have been on more dates by now. But they don't, so we have to make due with our situation.

So tonight, we're going to dinner and a movie. I'm absolutely pumped.  It's not every day you get to go to dinner and a movie with your husband. Ha.

What are you doing this weekend?

I missed last week's Friday Phone Dump post, so you get double this week.

Follow me at kutterchoas

TOP | willie hat | diy canvas art | super kutter

MIDDLE | somebody has a birthday coming up | too cool | candy dump

BOTTOM | you're my hero dad | peek-a-boo

TOP | big boy's first wedding | {showing him a cookie} | {teasing him with the cookie}

MIDDLE | gangsta C | stop growing please | bestie is getting married

BOTTOM | addicted | mmm...paper | the crap my husband does

Four.

Four years ago today, I married my better half.

The one who keeps me grounded. The one who makes me laugh. But, mostly the one who was crazy enough to marry me.

It was a crisp, fall day in November, and I was ready.

Ready to embrace everything that day meant. 

I was ready to say I do.

I was ready to be a wife.

I was ready to give up being selfish.

I was ready to share.

I was ready to compromise.

I was ready to grow old together.

I was ready to become one.

I was ready. 

I'll never forget that day...when I walked down the aisle towards my groom, seeing him for the first time that day.

It was such a special, sacred moment I will cherish forever.

As I neared closer, walking towards him, I realized his eyes were filled with tears. We locked stares as everything around us faded out. Nothing else mattered.

That one moment represented so much emotion and confirmation for me.

Because at that moment, I knew he was ready too.

It's been four years since that day. Consumed by good days, bad days, challenging days and blissful days.

We were both ready for the experience, the memories, the unforgettable moments, the storms, the roller coasters. Ready for all that comes with marriage.

But I wasn't ready for today. Or yesterday. Or the past 11 months. Not ready at all.

I wasn't ready for the shock of creating a human being together. 

I'm still amazed we created him.

I wasn't ready for the first time Carson looked into my eyes.

What is this feeling? I've never felt this before.

I wasn't ready for the feeling of being a mom.

Nor to cry at every little thing, even commercials.

I wasn't ready to share parenthood.

It's brought us closer than ever.

I wasn't ready for this unexplainable feeling of having a son together. 

The greatest gift.

On that day four years ago, I knew we would start a family someday, but I wasn't ready for all this.

This, being the most honest, humbling, self sacrificing emotions I have ever felt.

I wasn't ready because it's something I couldn't be ready for. It's something I had to experience, embrace and endure with my husband before I truly understood it.

And because of him, and that precious child we created together, I now get it. And it's the best feeling in the world.

Happy Anniversary, Brian.

Pressure

I've been feeling a lot of pressure these days.

It's like I'm running through a hailstorm, desperately trying to find somewhere to step inside, but every door I try is locked. So I continue to get nailed. All I have to do is find the one door that will let me inside, and I can't.

It's been occurring for several weeks now. This pressure I speak of.

I have knots in my back, and I've never had back problems before. I'm not sleeping very well. My mind is constantly racing. Ambien hasn't even worked (yes, I resort to drugs when I can't sleep for weeks at a time, don't judge).

Brian has asked, "Are you stressed? Are you having anxiety?"

Yes, we're busy and life is chaotic. But, that isn't slowing down anytime soon. And yes, I'm a planner and tend to be an over-analyzing perfectionist, but not able to handle pressure? No, that's not me.

Ok, I am an over-analyzing perfectionist. Couldn't be closer to it if I tried.

But today, after reading a friend's blog (about pulling the plug on her blog), I had an epiphany. Yes, a bring-you-back-to-high-school-reading-lesson epiphany.

No, I'm not pulling the plug on my blog (sorry friends, you're stuck with me).

I'm simply feeling pressured.

Pressure to blog. 

With pictures in every post, of course.

Pressure to not have to resort to frozen meals for dinner.

Because frozen pizza doesn't win you the mommy of the year award.

Pressure to have a spic and span home.

Because people will judge me if I hire a cleaning lady.

Pressure to get my pre-pregnancy stomach back.

 C'mon, it's been almost a year, what is taking so long?

Pressure to dress my kid cute for school.

 He cannot wear sweat pants everyday, can he?

Pressure to capture the perfect picture of my kid.

Then, post it to Instagram, Facebook and my blog.

Pressure to make his first Halloween memorable.

Because he's totally going to remember it.

Pressure to make a big deal out of every milestone.

And be sure to document them...pictures included.

Pressure to be the one who starts our family traditions.

If I don't, who will? 

Pressure to not feed my kid ice cream before he turns one.

Apparently, it's not ok to feed your kid sweets before one. 

Pressure to plan the perfect 1st Birthday.

Complete with color-coordinated and themed everything.

Pressure to finish C's baby book before said birthday.

I have all these pictures, and no book to show for it? 

Pressure to please everyone else.

And keep a smile on my face.

Pressure to keep up with all the other craftastic, artsy, involved moms.

What is this a competition?

Pressure to not scream and fall apart when I really want to.

For the love, quit your whining Krista.

Now, I know some of these sound extremely silly.

Especially since we have the east coast in shambles after Sandy. Including one of my dear friends who lives in Hoboken and just went six days without power.

But it's seriously a problem for me. I am pressuring myself about things that shouldn't even warrant pressure.

Who cares if we eat a frozen pizza for dinner or Carson's birthday plates don't perfectly match. Why am I causing all this anxiety and worry? Why do I care so much?

I come from a family with worry genes. I worry too much, and feel off kilter if one little thing isn't perfect. It's not ideal, nor who I want to be, I wish I could let go and not care...but it's the way I am.

I don't know...

how an anal, detail-oriented, obsessive planner (I have no idea who that might be) will learn to come to terms with not making everything perfect.

But I do know...

that something needs to change. I need to relax. Let things fall into place. Redirect my energy and focus on things that really matter. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I'm not the perfect blogger. I'm not the perfect wife. And I'm definitely not the perfect mother. But I do the best I can.

Lucky for me, I married one of the good ones. He's patient and laid back, and continually tries his damnedest to get me to relax. And puts up with my moodiness and antics when PMSing goes into overtime.

And that sweet, precious kid of mine? He doesn't give a damn about what he wears to school, how many pictures his baby book will contain, or if his birthday cake will be homemade or store bought.

If you're feeling pressured, mom or not, join me and just let go. Even if it's just for a day.

I must say, writing this really did help. Thank you for listening. Now go vote.