Happy 1st Birthday, Grady!

Happy Birthday, Grady! Today you turn ONE!

Last Christmas, my mother handmade these adorable sock monkeys for my sons, Hunter & Logan. Once Grady was born, I wanted to take pictures of Grady each month, marking his growth by a comparison. (My creative cousin did this with her son Chace and a stuffed monkey.)  So, I thought these sock monkeys would be perfect to snuggle up next to each month!

Then, this Christmas Grady got his own personlized sock monkey, thanks mom!

I saw this adorable sock monkey hat from littledarlynns

and I couldn't resist getting it for him!

I also bought this super cute, personalized onesie from the sock monkey shop. I love it!

The party decorations were ordered from chickabug & stylish celebrations.

As you can see I love anything etsy! I'm hoping to have my own "shop" someday, but that's another post.... ;o)

This sign may be a little too honest in reflecting my approach to this party... that's what my husband felt I did in this lavish party! I couldn't help myself, I love parties, especially 1st birthday parties!

I saw this theme at my favorite party inspiration blog and I knew it was so perfect for Grady's first birthday (to go with the sock monkey monthly photoshoots) I just had to recreate it! So, I have to give credit where credit is due. If you ever want to know where I get all my ideas, it's usually there!

(And, if Jared thought I went "banana's" he ain't seen nothin' yet! That blog has some of the most extravagant parties I've ever seen!)

 

Chunky Monkey Smoothies

{chocolate milk, peanut butter, bananas & vanilla cinnamon ice cream with a touch of honey}

The cupcakes were chocolate fudge with cream cheese frosting or cherry chip with chocolate fudge frosting. {Homemade}

For an activity I had the kids make sock monkey puppets and then put on a puppet show.

(We were lucky enough to have received a puppet show theater as a Christmas gift-

perfect timing!)

Here is Addy & Kadey entertaining us with their puppets in our new puppet theater.

(Hunter & Logan are in there somewhere, too.)

It was so cute!

 Grady's sock monkey puppet, even though he didn't really have the dexterity to use it. :o) 

 I love this picture, he was mesmerized by the puppets, he just had to figure out where all the magic happened and took a peek behind the curtain.

 Let them eat cake!

At first Grady wasn't sure what to think of having his own {monkey cake}.

It didn't take him long to get into it... literally!

Why is it so much cuter on their birthday's, when they make a royal mess of their highchair? He had icing everywhere, especially in his hair.

No birthday is complete until you're so sticky there's nothing left to do but, take a bath.

Logan has been asking for a cupcake for 2 days, and a piece of candy, and chocolate, and a brownie, and pudding... and.... he was happy he finally got the green light!

Grady,

You are so adorable and sweet! We thank God for you, you are a special gift from heaven and our family wasn't complete until you came along! We love you so much and wish we could make time stand still to keep you little enough to {hold in our arms}. We know that someday soon you will be a big teenager that will want to hang out with your friends, more than at home with us. So, we will treasure these moments with you as you fall asleep on our chest and exhale your sweet breath against our necks.  Yummy!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy