Party On: Soaring through the Second Year

2011: Another year, another fun time planning the birthday party for my special little guy and celebrating his second year of life.

For Banks' second birthday, the theme was easy to choose: airplanes! Not only was it to be the theme of his big boy room, it was also something he looooved at the time. Even better, there was a private airport near our home that housed an awesome public playground overlooking the runway where planes took off round the clock: the perfect place to throw down and celebrate our little buddy. 

So, off we went...

Birthday invitation by etsy seller Lollipop Prints

Favor bags made by Momma

The Loot: Homemade playdough, lollipops, bubbles, airplane crayons (by etsy seller Red Elm Designs), stickers

Drink station and favor table

Food table, with bunting made by Momma (using cheap thank you cards!)

Cupcakes made by Momma, cupcake toppers made by etsy seller Konfection Kreations

Airplane cake made by Momma

Sugar Cookie airplanes and 2's made by Momma

Festive PB&J's

Table centerpieces

The birthday boy, wearing a customized shirt by etsy seller Izzy B Tees

The proud parents with our boy

Pure joy over balloons

 
Watching the planes take off

Family photo op, with little sister in the womb

Second birthday = smashing success! 

Now, it's time for Birthday Party #3 for our big guy, since his third birthday is fast approaching!

Here's a sneak preview of what's to come:

It's safe to say that my little buddy loves sports more than just about anything on the planet (besides his Momma, of course!). So, it was a no-brainer: we had to do a sports-themed party! Although we are expecting a much smaller turnout this year since we are newly relocated with few toddler friends in the area to speak of just yet, I am still planning to make it a very special day for our big boy. Party details coming after the big day arrives! :)

P.S. Speaking of birthdays, a very happy early birthday to my newest nephew, Bennett, who is scheduled to arrive tomorrow!

 

Hello Fort Mill

Well, it's official. 

We are South Carolinians again! 

On Friday, September 7th, we sold our Atlanta home in the morning and bought our Fort Mill Home in the afternoon. To say that day, that week, that month was exhausting, exhilarating, exciting would be a complete understatement. 

 

 So long, Atlanta

Hello, Fort Mill!

Regardless. We are here. We are home. 

So, without further ado, a complete picture overload of our new home, the place we intend to be until our littles graduate high school. 

But wait, wait, wait. 

Let me first say that there is still a LOT left to be done. As in, many, many boxes still need unpacking. None of the walls are adorned. We still need to buy new furniture and re-finish old furniture. We also need new rugs, new bathmats, new shower curtains, new trashcans, new, well...quite a few things. My daughter's room and bathroom need re-painting. And on. And on. And on. 

But you know what? When my oh-my-Lawd-everything-needs-to-be-perfect-right-here-right-now brain is able to shut off for 0.5 seconds, I am able to remind myself that this is the fun of it. We get to make this place ours. And that will take time. So, we are slowly deciding exactly how to shape this home to make it feel like, well, home. 

Okay, okay. Now without further ado, our new home via a pictorial tour. 

First, the main floor:

 Hard to see in this pic, but there are flower boxes below several of the windows. Note to self: Need to learn to keep plants alive...

The front door and dining room, right off the entry way

 This room is still an unpacked mess...

Between the dining room and the main den is the staircase with built-in baby gates. Be still my heart!

The main den area

Another view of the main den area. Currently looking for pins on how to "style" built-in bookshelves...

Between the main den and the secondary den is the kitchen

 

I guess I should really learn how to cook...

View from the secondary den

The second den: Like the furniture? Obviously, still quite a bit to be done with some new purchases needed... :)

 

 The master bedroom...again, quite barren at this point. And yes, we'll be tossing the college-esque duvet and selecting a more adult option :)

Another view...baby-on-the-move not included (and that door leads to the...)

 

Master bath!

 Y'all? Our previous master bath could have fit in that tub. Needless to say, we're excited for the space

 I won't even discuss the love I feel over this closet...my side

The hub's side

 

 

In addition to the laundry/mud room-complete with adorable cubbies for the kiddos (which I forget to take a picture of and am too lazy to do so now)-there is also a 1/2 bath on the first floor.

 Now, let's travel upstairs: The second floor:

Banks' room

Can't wait to get his wall decor up!

Raleigh's room: One of two rooms that needs repainting (no, we will not be keeping the green/yellow walls nor tree decal)

Lucky girl: Raleigh's attached bathroom (i.e., the second of two rooms that needs repainting...no thank you Pepto-Bismol pink and mermaid/seashell decals)

The (so far) neglected guest room

A (partial) view of the second guest room/man cave-again, quite a bit to do here

The hub's home office, located right off the man cave

The guest bath

And finally, the room I have dreamed of for my babies, the playroom! I cannot WAIT to re-decorate this space!

My OCPD brain is screaming to organize, organize, organize the toy closet off the playroom

The bathroom attached to the playroom

 And now, we'll head outside...
 

 The screened in porch

 Part of the backyard (i.e., what Banks' dreams are made of)

The outdoor fireplace, where the hub and I will share many a glass (or two...or three) of wine over the next 20 years...

 And there you have it. Home sweet home.

And trust me. I am truly feeling blessed beyond words that this is our little corner of the world.

Farewell Atlanta

Our house is packed.

One-third of our belongings are in a storage unit in Fort Mill waiting for us. 

The rest of our things are now packed in a large Penske truck in our driveway.

I have worked my last day as a pediatric neuropsychologist in Georgia. 

I have jumped into stay-at-home-momma-hood with both feet, enjoying every tiring second so far.

A beautiful new home awaits us in South Carolina.

And yet.

Surprisingly, I am somewhat sad to leave our Atlanta home, this part of our life, behind. 

It's not that we're not ready. Oh trust me. We are ready. 

We have been living on top of each other, the four of us, in our 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home, with the unfinished basement and lack of playroom. There have been toys in every nook and cranny of this home. Our extended family has had to sleep on couches, on floors, or in hotel rooms when coming to visit us since our daughter was born in January. Without a doubt, we need more space. Without a doubt, we want to be closer to more of our family.

And yet.

I am, still, somewhat sad to leave this house.

It's because this is where my hub and I have spent the majority of our married life. It's because this is where my life as a momma began. It's because this is where I dreamed big dreams for both of my babies when they were still kicking, rolling, punching inside my tummy. It's because this is where I walked around the neighborhood with my hub trying to naturally induce my labor. It's because this is the place we brought both of our babies days after they were born. It's because this is the place where we watched both of our children smile, giggle, sit up, crawl, pull-up, and stand for the first time (and we can tell you exactly where in this home those moments first occurred). It's because this is where I have beautiful memories of laying in the grass with my girl while watching my boys play football/golf/baseball/soccer in the yard. It's because this is where I have spent time cloud watching and story telling with my son while taking in the smells of Spring outside. It's because this is where my daughter and I started our ritual of daily momma/daughter secrets. It's because this place has been home.

And yet. 

We have a new home now, in a new neighborhood, in a new state. 

Scared? Yes. Excited? Yes. Overwhelmed? Yes. Ready? Yes.

Because as long as we are together, we are home. 

On to the next chapter. 

Farewell Atlanta...