Addler and Paxton // The Twins Turn One!

DISCLAIMER: Dozens of unbelievably cute pictures fill this blog post!

Today is a VERY special day! My twin nieces turn one! I still can't believe it has been one year. I can clearly remember receiving the phone call and rushing down to Brookwood Hospital and waiting what felt like forever. Addler and Paxton were born premature (just like my twin sister and I were all those years ago) so of course there was a sense of worry. We finally got the news that they were both healthy babies and I could not be more thankful! 

They spent some time in the NICU and had dozens of visitors. They stole my heart the moment I first saw them. 

The past year has been one of the best years of my life as I have watched the two of them grow and watch our family grow closer and closer. 

It is safe to say they are very spoiled by their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends! But who couldn't spoil such sweet babies. 

There have been many firsts. First Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first day at the pool and even first tooth. I am looking forward to the many more firsts to come!

My brother and sister-in-law are two of the best parents I have ever met. They are always so generous, loving, and patient. I am so proud of the parents they have become. Addler and Paxton are beyond blessed to have you as their Daddy and Mommy. 

Addler and Paxton have grow from tiny little babies into precious one year-olds with endless amounts of energy! 

(The adorable new born pictures were taken by Sambo Photography!)

This past weekend we celebrated their birthday with a big frilly pink party! There was pink everywhere! I was honored that Kristin trusted me to help her plan and of course I was in ultimate party mode once we got going!

They took birthday pictures at LB Studios which turned out absolutely adorable! 

The colors for the party were pink and gold, so off we went to find anything and everything that fell into the realm of those colors! We found crowns, balloons, vases, and Kristin even had banners made with their names on it!

How awesome is this cut-out one!

Yes, we managed to stuff 60 balloons in the van! 

The day was breezy and luckily not too hot. We served hot dogs, dip, and tons of pink sweets! Kudos to Kirstin and Liz for making the rice krispies and chocolate covered pretzels! They turned out amazing!

Addler and Paxton each had a "smash" cake and of course there was a BEAUTIFUL ombre pink cake for the guests to enjoy. Paxton dove right into the cake while Addler was much more apprehensive!

Kristin found this awesome wooden number one that was perfect for the backdrop for guest pictures! We even used the giraffes from their nursery as props! (More fun pictures of the giraffes to come!)

Addler was not too happy about turning one!

Although Addler was not feeling her best, they sure did have a great time in the bouncy castle and the ball pit! The ball pit was probably the most genius idea of the whole party. We could not keep the kids (and the dog) out of it!

Winnie joined in on the fun! She was in heaven!

Of course the girls received a plethora of presents! How could we NOT spoil them??

As the day wound down, Pops took the kids on wagon rides!

And the boys had a little too much fun with the giraffes on the way home. Poor things!

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful and loving family. I love being an aunt to all my nieces and nephew. I love being a daughter to the best parents imaginable. I am lucky to have two brothers, a twin sister, and two fun-loving sister-in-laws!

I love you and Happy Birthday, Addler and Paxton. 

Kathy's Song // The Only Truth I Know is You

Music pretty much runs my life. It can change my mood in an instance. Songs can make me sad to the point of wanting to cry. And songs can make me so happy that nothing can bring me down.

Growing up, my dad always had great music playing. We would listen to The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, and of course Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. I honestly believe being introduced to such great music at such a young age made me appreciate it even more. 

I have always loved Simon and Garfunkel. My sister and I even have their Greatest Hits album framed in our living room. Gaining their famed in the 60's, their music seemed utterly typical. But as it turned out, they are far from the average folkies. 

Recently I was reintroduced to the pair by a friend of mine. As we sat in his living room, we listened to their hit, Kathy's Song. If you have never listened to it, I urge you to look it up immediately. It is quite possibly the most real and beautiful love song ever written-- in any language, in any era. Listening to it makes your heart ache with a sense of longing for that love they sing about. 

The song encompasses a love so strong that it is haunting. It was written about Paul Simon's first love and how the fame and distance ultimately broke up the couple. The song immortalizes their love.

Of course I am not a professional music critic and I am sure there are dozens of possible meanings for this song, but I choose to see the love in the song instead of the heartbreak. Each word, each note is as pure and simple as the raindrops that begin and end the song. 

"I hear the drizzle of the rain

Like a memory it falls

Soft and warm continuing

Tapping on my roof and walls.

And from the shelter of my mind

Through the window of my eyes

I gaze beyond the rain-drenched streets

To England where my heart lies.

My mind's distracted and diffused

My thoughts are many miles away

They lie with you when you're asleep

And kiss you when you start your day.

And a song I was writing is left undone

I don't know why I spend my time

Writing songs I can't believe

With words that tear and strain to rhyme."

If you love their version, you will be blown away by Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz. She makes the song her own and puts her spin on the classic favorite. 

Until next time, 

- H

Noel's Baby Shower // Welcoming Baby Landon

This weekend was very special! I helped plan and decorate a baby shower for one of my best friends. Noel has been a friend of mine for the past eleven years, so I was very excited to help with this special day!

I could find some very embarrassing high school pictures but opted for a decent one!

Noel is such a special friend of mine and we have been through so many things in life together. Numerous memories and thousands of laughs. When I found out she was getting married last year I was thrilled. Her husband, Wally, is the perfect man for her and I could not be more happy for them as they get ready to welcome little Landon into the world. Landon will be so lucky to have such wonderful and loving parents and a big brother, Rowan!

The baby shower was so much fun to decorate. It was hosted at Noel's grandmother's house; a house that I had pretty much grew up in as well. Both Noel and her sister Lauren are pretty much my sisters rather than best friends. I am very lucky to have great girls in my life. 

The party planners!

We started decorating the night before. Me, Lauren, and our friend Amber started blowing up the balloons, decorating the walls, and making chocolate covered treats. We relived memories from over the past decade and anticipating the new ones to come! The next day we picked back up with the decorating and everything came together so nicely. Mostly because Noel was on Pinterest picking out the perfect ideas! 

We had a great turnout of friends and family! I know Noel and Wally were so happy to have family from both sides comes! A huge thank you to Noel's mom and Nana for hosting the shower and to Wally's sweet parents for helping out SO much! The shower would not have been such a success without the help of friends of course too! Friends and neighbors cooked and brought great food!

Take a moment and just look at how GORGEOUS the cake turned out! Edgar's bakery did such an amazing job!

We played games (and yes, the boys participated)! The diaper game was the most fun! We melted chocolate and put it in diapers and everyone had to smell the brown goo in the diapers and guess which candy bar was which! 

The next game was guessing the size of Noel's baby bump! 

The party turned out great and I am so happy Noel allowed me to help plan! 

I love you guys and I am so excited to meet baby Landon soon! This is going to be such an amazing journey for your two!