Landry's 2 year old photo shoot

I got a crazy idea to try something for a photo shoot for Landry. You know anything that involves a 2 year old, balloons and a creek might be a total torture fest. But I'm a gluten for punishment so I did it anyway.

We needed a way for the balloons to stay put in the creek so we tied them to sticks which we were proud of ourselves for coming up with that idea. Well too bad we didn't think about how they'd constantly be floating around and we would have to keep chasing them down the creek. Pair that with a little toddler who hated the water and it's a miracle that I was able to catch anything of this girl.

Either way, all the trouble, frustration and hilarity of it all was worth it. I absolutely adore these photos of her. I hope my kids don't remember all the craziness involved in these shoots but just appreciate what I did to remember their childhood.

 

And here are so UNEDITED outtakes that show what was really happening behind the scenes.

 Oh the things I put them through for a good pic.

Our berry sweet girl turned 2!

It's hard to believe that my baby girl is 2. There's something really monumental about turning 2. Up until this point, I had no problem calling her baby. Don't get me wrong, I will still continue to call her my baby and she always will be BUT don't judge me when I'm still calling her that at 8, 12, or even 20.

This baby girl, the one who I didn't think I would ever make it through with my pregnancy, is now full of life, so stinking adorable and everything I prayed for in a daughter. She's changed so much in two years. I'll never forget the HORRIBLE record-breaking summer that I was pregnant with her. I still have to whisper about it because just talking about it makes my ankles puffier and my toes turn into little Vienna sausages. Stretch marks, muffin top, cankles and all, she was 100% worth it.

I found this little outfit for Landry before she even turned one on mega clearance for $10 at Gymboree . It was a 2T and so it was decided before she even turned 1, that her 2nd birthday would be a strawberry party. That is the most I have EVER been ahead of the game and it was by accident. And then, as luck would have it, I found loads of strawberry stuff on clearance at the end of the summer last year in the Target dollar spot. The strawberry tablecloth was $2. I found strawberry notepads, coasters, sticky notes all for 30 cents! SCORE!

I made the little strawberry banner for her using my Cricut. That thing has paid for itself tenfold. And I made the birthday hat out of paper and a ton of ribbon. I've gotten pretty handy at making those after making them for several photo shoots.

Hello adorable $10 outfit.

All the fun tags for the goodie bags and the sandwich headers cards were made by Justin, of course. I tell him it's time to open up an Etsy shop with all the artwork we've done for our kids parties over the years.

 

And most importantly, another amazing creation by Amanda with the strawberry cake. 

Not only was beautiful but tasted amazing too. This is Landry's yummy face.

I found these cute strawberry glasses for the girls' goodie bags at Party City. 

After eating cake, we opened up presents and this little girl got a lot of babies and has been playing with them ever since.

She wanted to open all her gifts immediately.

My baby girl loves hard and it was so precious seeing her hug everyone because she was so excited to see all her friends and family. She was missing them over the summer.

 

I'm so grateful for the help that everyone gave to get this party ready and especially that they came out in this horrible heat to celebrate our sweet girl. 

 

  

And we've made a video of each of our kids' first year. We watch it on their birthday as a tradition for our family and just reminisce about how little they were. They absolutely love it. Poor third child...it took almost to her second birthday to get her first year done but it's done, that's all that counts, right?

Happy Birthday Landry Kate.You have completed our family and I'm so so grateful to all the joy and love you've brought to our family. We love you so much.

Look who just turned ONE!

Well, I couldn't help but take some pictures of my beloved birthday girl for her one year old photo shoot. I've had a couple of practice rounds taking some one year old pics so I was excited to get some of my sweet Landry Kate.

All was going pretty well with the photo shoot. Sister was bringing out the oober cuteness factor.

 

And then our first mishap happened. Just as I put her in the basket, I had really cute balloons attached but they flew away before I even snapped a picture. 

 

No big deal, she's so adorable she didn't even need balloons to make her picture cute.

 

 

She was clapping to "If you're happy and you know it" like it was nobody's business.

And we even snuck in a picture of all three looking at the camera at once! Key word: "at once" It's a miracle!

But then things turned south pretty quickly. We decided to give the cupcake smash a second try thinking that it was maybe just a fluke that she didn't like it at her birthday. She gave it another whirl but seriously, this girl doesn't like cupcakes but she sure can tear up a bowl of ice cream.

 

Shortly after these pictures were taken  fussing and fit throwing began and bright pink icing was E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. 

Our white high chair looks someone with bright pink lipstick just made out with it. Oh well. It made for some sweet pictures. 

All in all minus the balloons flying away and the forced feeding of sugar we did to our child, the first photo shoot was a success!

Happy 1st birthday to Landry!

Yes, you read that right. My baby girl, you know that one that I was pregnant with for ETERNITY in the blazing summer heat, she's one today. As in 12 months. Sorry I'm saying that more to convince myself than anything. Denial sums it up.

Seriously. It seems like it took forever for Nolan to turn one. I'm guessing it was the new parent thing. But Landry's first year of life has been the fastest of my entire life, hands down.

For the first time out of all my kids, I finally did what I said I was going to do and we had a family party. My best friend, Angi and my sister's best friend, Sheri, came too but they're pretty much considered family. And what kind of party do you throw for a bright and happy sweet baby girl? Well, a rainbow party, of course!

Before you go thinking that I'm so creative, stop. Really, it's all stolen ideas off Pinterest. Seriously, I love that thing. It takes all he brain power out of putting together a party.

 

I did make the rainbow subway art. Yes, I did something without completely relying on my graphic artist husband. Can you believe it? Even our food was rainbow themed...rainbow goldfish, fruity pebble treats, twizzler and marshmallow party favors, and a rainbow fruit tray.

 

I had these little rainbow leg warmers long before I knew I was going to do a rainbow party, so double rainbow score on that! 

 

I made the ribbon high chair decoration just from my stash because if you don't know me very well, then you must not know that I have a SLIGHT ribbon obsession that was only brought to "out of control" level once Landry came in the picture. It's all her fault ;)

 

As for the hat, I saw one on Etsy and since I'm the cheapest person on the planet, I attempted to make it because I refused to pay $20 for a party hat made out of paper. 

This is the point in the party where I thought we might need to have her DNA checked because she was a little Miss Priss about her smash cake. I like to live vicariously through my children at their first birthdays because I secretly wish that it was acceptable to eat my cupcake as an adult like most babies do.

 

A teacher at my school made both cakes for me and I think she needs to quit her day job. Seriously, it was this bright and so so good. I found myself sitting with the leftover cake eating it with a fork without cutting a piece. Don't judge.  

 

After we gave her a bath with rainbow colors floating all in the tub, it was time for presents!  Sister was spoiled with the cutest clothes and games that she can't stop playing with. My baby has a good excited.

 

She was even showing off her newly acquired walking skills. My one and only child actually taking steps at their first birthday! SLOW down, Landry!

 

We had so much fun at our family party and Landry hasn't quite yet learned that you can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.  It cracked me up that she was too Miss Priss for her messy cake but not so much for nose picking.

 

A HUGE thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law for cutting out water labels and streamers and helping so so much. Having a baby with a birthday during the first week of school made a really stressed mama, but it was a blast and made for some wonderful memories.

Happy Derby Day

Ok, so maybe it wasn't exactly the Derby when we took Campbell for his 4th birthday to Lone Star Park. But in the eyes of my 4 year old, he completely thought it was THE real Kentucky Derby.

I have never seen Campbell more excited in my life. He took every second of it in watching every move of the horses and jockeys.

Campbell's lifelong dream is to be a jockey. I haven't broken it to him that his daddy is 6'4" and his chances are slim. So we were excited to finally get a picture of him with a real jockey except Campbell held on to me like he was Santa Claus or the Easter bunny. I felt tall for once in my life.

We made a bet on #4 on Campbell's 4th birthday. Good thing it was a $2 bet because he came in dead last.

Nolan was a good sport and enjoyed it but he seemed more enamored by playing with his sweet Landry Kate. "I love her to the last star." -- Nolan Case McDonald, age 6. I think the feeling is mutual, Nolan.

We like to teach gambling young.

What a fun memory. I think this is one that Campbell will never forget. He's still talking about it and wanting to go back.