2nd Birthday: Sesame Street

Somehow ButterBean is 2 years old! He is growing up so fast and each day more of his personality emerges. He is one of the funniest people I know!
His love of all things Elmo/Abby/Sesame Street prompted the theme for his 2nd birthday party: Sesame Street! I had so much fun planning this party!

Decorations were easy because it seems that every party store has a section dedicated to Sesame Street. Any bold primary colors work for this party! I picked up some plates, napkins, balloons, and table cloth at Party City. Michaels provided some cute little cardboard cutouts in the scrapbooking section. We had the party at Gatsby's work since our house would not accomodate the amount of people we expected to come. 

The food was the most fun to make. I made the same turkey sandwiches that I made for his first birthday (big success both times). We also had Abby Magic Fairy wands -- fruit on bamboo skewers

Burt & Ernie veggie sticks with Ranch dressing

Big Bird popcorn puffs (ButterBean gags on  the hulls of popcorn, so we had to get the puffy kind)

Goldfish crackers in honor of Elmo's goldfish, Dorothy. I considered getting ButterBean a real goldfish for his birthday, but I decided I didn't want to take care of one!

Elmo and Big Bird crackers and Sesame Street juice boxes were picked up at Babies R Us on a diaper run, but you can find those lots of places. 

For dessert we had Cookie Monster Cookies and Elmo cupcakes. 

The kids played Oscar's Trash Toss, which was just throwing crumpled news paper into my tiny compost bucket that looks like a mini trash can. Running up and down the hallway was another favorite!

 ButterBean got more presents that we know what to do with! It's time for a toy purge in this house!

I had a great time with this party and most importantly, I think ButterBean did too!

After the party ButterBean insisted I put a tie on him!

party favors!!

Little Rockstar

ButterBean got a whole lot of presents for his birthday: books, puzzles, balls, Elmo, cars, etc...One of the gifts we gave him was a drum filled with noise makers. I know, I know, what was I thinking giving a noisy child noise makers? If he's going to be making noise, it might as well be productive. Maybe he'll be a musical genius someday! Or a rock star?

Perfecting his rockstar look

Guess Whooo Turned One?

I have a one year old. He is looking at me right now waving an animal cracker. He is one. He has been for 5 days now.

On Sunday we had his party with all of our family. It was a "hoot"! HA! No really, it was owl-themed. I personally love owls and think they are beautiful animals...and so does ButterBean. Ok, so maybe I forced the love of owls on him. His favorite book really is "Goodnight Owl", though. We read it every night and he opens the flaps. He has even begun to "Whoooo" with the owl, which sounds more like "MMhhhh"

Anywhooo, I'll share some fun from our "Look whooo is turning one party"

First, of course, we sent out the invites:

Then it was PARTY TIME!

Decorations:

"We will 'owl'ways love you!"

And we had plenty of food:

Pulled turkey sandwiches, veggies, 

Pita chips with "hoooo"mus

Bird food (chex mix)

Bird branches (pretzel rods)

His 2 favorite foods: bananas and graham crackers

"Hoot"Beer 

and my favorite: the cupcakes!

all the little owl cupcakes in their pretzel nest

looking so wise!

ButterBean didn't eat much of his cupcake, but it was a good effort

As most babies do, ButterBean enjoyed playing with tissue paper and ribbons rather than the presents he received.

Hoot Hoot

He was such a cute birthday boy! The day went by really fast, I forgot to put out some of the food, and didn't take as many pictures as I should have. Oh well! We had fun!

saying bye bye to his guests

1/2 Birthday

About a week ago, ButterBean turned 6 months old. It's hard to believe how fast a half of a year has gone by and how much he has grown in that amount of time. Today he had his 6 month check up (boooo for three shots!!!) and he's still above average but slowing down in the height department. At 28" he is 89th percentile instead of the 95th, which he was at 4 months. He was so cute at his check up and kept opening his mouth wide so they could give him his oral rotavirus vaccine. He cried worse than ever though for his shots - it didn't help that this nurse took an e t e r n i t y between each of the 3 shots. He has revived though and is currently rolling around the living room, jabbering up a storm.

My big blue eyed boy

Last week, because I love baking and because I'll find just about any excuse to make a cake, we celebrated ButterBeans half birthday with my family. The cake looked a little lumpy-bumpy, but still tasted good.

Note the diagonal candle representing the "half". He's not 12, he's a "half". Gatsby gave me much grief about this :)

 ButterBean was not allowed to have any of his own cake - cruel mother that I am! He still had a great time though!

The hubby, Gatsby, is already nervous for what I have in store for his first birthday if I'm already making cakes for his half birthday. Don't worry dear, I'll try to contain myself!  It's a good thing we aren't bursting at the seams with money or I could go overboard! I love planning parties.