First Birthday Photo Shoot

I'm a SO excited to reveal Adam's Easter and First Birthday photoshoot pictures! Because these two events happened a week apart, Katie Cooper Photography was able to give me both at the same time!

Tips for getting the most out of your photoshoot:

• Choose a photographer who has the style you're looking for
• Schedule it with nap time in mind
• Have bright or noisy toys available
• Keep all props close to switch out quickly
• Offer treats, like a blueberry or puff
• Let the child lead
• Just roll with it and have fun

We were able to start shooting almost as soon as breakfast was over. Adam was well rested, full, and ready to look good. While he ate breakfast, the photographer and I were setting up the backyard with props. She was also choosing the best angles and areas for lighting. 

The photographer brought a train whistle as well as a singing card to get Adam's attention. I also had ready his Mario stuffed toy and Kirby, our dog, to keep his attention.

All the props I wanted to use were within arms reach. The props included:

• Picnic blanket
• Red wagon
• Letters with his name
• Birthday hat
• Smash cake
• Rusty (we were going to get some family photos in)
• Bubble gun with bubbles

This photo shoot is a little different from those in the past (or future) because a smash cake was involved. Because of that, I cleaned our bathtub beforehand so that the photographer could continue shooting as we got Adam clean.

I got somewhat frustrated throughout the photo shoot because I felt like Adam wasn't smiling and he is typically a very smiley baby. I wanted his personality captured and I felt like that included smiling. It turns out, she was able to capture all of his little personality, even without his smiling much. All of the non-smiling pictures are so cute that it doesn't even matter. She was able to capture the moments he DID smile, so I was concerned for nothing.

Let me know if you have any other tips for photographing a toddler or if any of these tips helped you out!

Adam's Muppet Party

We celebrated Adam's first birthday with a Muppet Party!

Most of the decorations and food I did myself! If you are looking to do a not-so-expensive Muppet party, check out how I did mine below! All photo credit goes to Katie Cooper Photography - whose specialty is color, which is exactly what we wanted for this party!

We started with a Kermit invitation. I ordered 6"x6" blue envelopes off of Amazon. I cut two of the same size green circles (5" each) out of construction paper. I cut out half circles of red a little smaller than the green and a light pink semi-circle smaller than the red for the tongue. Small half circle white construction paper was cut and "Kermit" eyes drawn on. I used double-sided tape to put all the pieces together. Then I printed out a 4" circle with the invitation information a slid it under Kermit's mouth. All were mailed out about a month before the party.

I ordered an Animal shirt from a friend who makes vinyl shirts. I already had one from years ago and I went up to the Disney Store and bought one for Rusty. We all wore our Animal shirts for the party!

 

A party isn't complete without a banner and I had high hopes for this party's banner! I was able to complete it about a month before the party as I tried to get everything I could get done early finished so I would have less to do the week of it. I referenced a picture of all the Muppets and picked a letter for each. Again, I used construction paper for the letters, double-sided tape to put them together, and a piece of yard to hang it up.

Now for the posters - which I could do early also. I made one for the entry way that used the Muppets' theme song to welcome everyone as well as ask them to sign papers that I would be able to put in Adam's scrapbook later.

The next one was set in a corner to invited everyone to take a "selfie" with the iPad. I made Muppet-themed props to use for the selfies also. Again, out of construction paper, but also, skewer sticks to hold them up.

The lasts poster I made was all about Adam. I put his stats on there so our guests could see what he liked and disliked as well as all of his accomplishments in the past year. I left a couple of spots blank until a day or two before the party such has his weight and how many teeth he had.

As a little touch of fun, I put a picture of Miss Piggy on the Ladies' Bathroom door and Kermit on the Men's Bathroom door.

I ordered a dozen bright, primary colored balloons from Party America to scatter throughout the room in places that looked a little blank. (And then my sister tied them on Adam when the party was over.)

Here's all the food we had. The invitation called for light finger foods and we had the party in the afternoon, so no one expected a full meal.

If I could do it again, I would put streamers along the entire table, not just around the ends, but I ran out of time.

 Camilla (Gonzo's chicken) - Deviled Eggs

Statler and Waldorf (the two old men who make fun of and commentate during the show) - Waldorf chicken salad

Rainbow Connection - mixed fruit bowl

Gonzo - Garbonzo bean salad

Kermit - green sherbet punch

Swedish Chef - meatballs (these were actually BBQ meatballs because I don't like Swedish ones)

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew - a mix of melon slices

Miss Piggy - pigs in a blanket

 Animal - Pringles sticks as drumsticks

Beaker - veggies (I cut these the night before, but should've waited because they ended up getting too dry and curling, so they no longer looked like Beaker's hair as they intended)

Fozzie - Chicken salad wrapped in cresants (Wocka Wocka because that's what he always says)

The smash cake and cupcakes I was able to do a couple of days before. However, I suggest putting the eyes on the cupcakes closer to the party because they bled a bit. The smash cake was Animal with green, blue, and purple on the inside.

In lieu of toys or other gift bags, I decided on Muppet Mix, which was basically trail mix that the party goers could make themselves. I had popcorn and other toppings. Attendants were encouraged to fill their bags for later. (I bought too much though and am still eating the leftover popcorn).

We had the party at our neighborhood's club house to hold more people and to have the playground right outside for the children to play! We had a fantastic time with friends and family! Hopefully, my success and follies will help any of you thinking about doing a Muppet party!

Splish Splash!

Three cheers to Grammy and Grandpa for watching Adam so Rusty and I could see the new Avengers on Friday night with friends! It was an awesome movie! I'm afraid that Marvel/Disney won't be able to keep beating their last movie and we'll see a downfall soon.

Saturday, I had to deliver another Minnie cake. Rusty went to the Kennesaw Beer Fest along with a lot of his college friends (as well as my brother). Some came from pretty far away, so it was really cool getting to see everyone in a non-wedding environment. A lot of them had never met Adam, so before the Fest, they came to our house to meet him. We were just going to have everyone come back and order pizza for dinner, but they decided to go to Copeland's instead and it was well worth it. Crab ravioli is the bomb! About half of them came back to our house for fun and video games (and to visit more with Adam).

Sunday was NGBC's Homecoming - this is one of my favorite days of the year! We got to see a lot of NGBC members that we haven't seen in a while and all of my family (except Katie). We ate lots of yummy food and even more yummy desserts.

With all of Adam's birthday presents and the wonderful, hot weather outside, I was able to create a mini-water park for him! I set up his kiddie pool and the water table (although I left out the sprinkler). I put on Adam's bathing suit and we spent a couple of afternoons outside! I read a book, while Adam had a blast in the water!

While Adam was still wet one day, he tried chasing the dog and it gave me one of the most precious videos of the two of them ever!

Thursday, we drove to Nana's school because they were having farm animals visit. Adam loved the goats and hair chickens... but not so much the sheep.

I'm pretty pumped because this afternoon I walked the length of a 5k while pushing Adam in the stroller! I'm hoping to keep it up and do it a couple more times before the week is over. I've got to lose some weight! I've been eating healthier with Adam, but definitely need more exercise and less desserts.

Next, I've got to get into party mode. We are having Julie's UGA graduation party at our house this Sunday, plus Mother's Day. We've got a lot to do, especially because Rusty will be in Athens both days to attend the actual graduation. Party mode - ON!