First birthday happenings.

Our little nugget turned one last Wednesday, February 20th at 12:04pm. HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY COOPER!

[caption id="attachment_1090" align="alignleft" width="490"] Happy birthday Coop![/caption]

The week leading up to his birthday I was very reflective and a bit emotional. Where did this past year go? How quickly he has grown and changed. But then, the actual BIRTH-day came, and it was just like any other. It kind of reminded me of my wedding weekend - a hot emotional mess up until the day of the wedding, and then...just a really happy day.

We had his party this past Saturday, and after being up 3 times during the middle of the night cutting a tooth - I was worried Coop might be a crank. He hung in OKAY, but wasn't his normal, jovial, flirt-with-every-gal-in-the-house self.

As I've mentioned on the blog before this was a DIY party (by a non-crafty girl who quit girl scouts because she HATED crafts, mind you) but I was really happy with how it turned out. I went with a turquoise and red color scheme and the hubs made some apps that I found on Pinterest.

Here's a peek into the party:

[caption id="attachment_1079" align="aligncenter" width="490"] The birthday boy's chair and smash cake.
Birthday Hat, Etsy, Little Stitchin Lu[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1081" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Birthday banner.
Cake: Mulberries, Denver
Paper and letters from Hobby Lobby.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1080" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Sips.
Turquoise tray: Target, clearance.
Red straws: Etsy, The Mechanical Koi[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1083" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Food table.
Framed pictures of birth announcement and first birthday party invitation.
Red and Turquoise Chinese Lanterns: Amazon, M.V. Trading Company
Turquoise candlesticks and votives: Hobby Lobby.[/caption]

The appetizers we served were a big hit. For those of you throwing a party and looking for some good apps, here's what we did:

Bourbon Meatballs

Spinach Artichoke Bites

Taco Cupcakes

Brie Apple Pecan Crescent Puffs

I wanted to give fun party favors to the kids but not spend a lot of money. Voila! While at Target I found these little noisemakers on the "Under $1" shelf. From our music class experience I knew the kids would love shaking them and it was a fun little toy to hand out.

[caption id="attachment_1078" align="aligncenter" width="490"] "Thanks for shakin' by" party favors for the kiddos.
Morocco's: Target, $1 each.
Brown tags: Hobby Lobby[/caption]

Jeff and I have lived in Denver for just over two years, and feel so lucky for the new friends we have made and continue to make. More recently, friends "with kids." They really have made making Denver feel like home for this Texan.

[caption id="attachment_1096" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Two of my most favorite people. Welcoming baby boy Henning in May![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1088" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Some of the boys with their boys. And beers.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1087" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Coop and his sweet friend Thomas.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1118" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Coop with "auntie" Kara[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1098" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Franny and Coop![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1101" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Moms and babes![/caption]

Cooper was not sure about the cake at first, however once you get this kid some utensils, all is well with the world!

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Don't feel too sorry for him, he can turn on the tears like a switch. #dramatic[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_1092" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Claps for cake! And daddy.[/caption]

At long last, we got some smiles after the sugar!





[caption id="attachment_1093" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Thomas, Morrison and Cooper.[/caption]

It was such a fun afternoon. We had both of our parents at the party, and Cooper doesn't know it yet, but he is so lucky to have the four of them in his life. What an incredible foundation for Jeff and I to base our own family on. I am daily amazed at the joy that Cooper has brought to our lives this past year. I cannot imagine life without him in it and feel so blessed.

[caption id="attachment_1106" align="aligncenter" width="490"] While tearing open his present he got a quick phone call he had to take...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1104" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Riding my new toy![/caption]

Cooper you are sweet, independent, funny, charming and busy. You like to act like you are talking on the phone and throw your food on the ground. Thank you for bringing light into this house.

xox

Lauren

WW: Solitude.

"We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart... and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together....I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude."  -Helen Hayes

How do you feel about being alone? I haven't really thought about it much until the other weekend I spent Friday-Monday with no other humans in my house. Just the one. My eyes were opened to how ah-mazing it is to be alone. I haven't realized just how much I missed it.

"Finding solitude in the concrete jungle is powerful and peaceful." -Mike Dolan,

During my stint in New York City I realized how powerful being alone was. I loved the feeling of getting lost in the crowd. You won't understand if you've just visited, but it was invigorating, peaceful and empowering. Walking around the city was where I did my best thinking. I even went to dinner by myself one time, on purpose, and can I tell you...it is still one of my favorite moments. I felt so in touch with myself in that city, very aware of my emotions and of how each experience I had made a big impact on my life. That city does that to you.

"The great omission in American life is solitude; not loneliness, for this is an alienation that thrives most in the midst of crowds, but that zone of time and space, free from the outside pressures, which is the incubator of the spirit".  ~Marya Manne

Life now, though...not much time for solitude. Ever. Being a stay-at-home mom doesn't give you any alone time, I don't go to work and get a break from Coop. He's like, always there y'all, even when I take a shower I have ten little fingers pressed against the glass giggling at me.

This past weekend, however, I had the whole weekend to myself. The. whole. weekend. My husband was shocked I didn't fill up my evenings with friends, but can I tell you, I just wanted to be alone.

"Only in quiet waters do thing mirror themselves undistorted.  Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world."  ~Hans Margolius

Some times friends will ask if I get bored being at home with Cooper, or wonder what do I do all day. You don't stop moving. Even when he's napping for 2-3 hours a day, that's just enough time to clean up his toys in the TV room, wash his bottles and/or straighten up the kitchen, and do a load of laundry. And than he's up again and there will soon be another mess for me to clean up.

I love my job. And, it is a job. I wouldn't trade it for the world. However, this past weekend I realized the importance of being alone every now and then. It truly is good for the soul.

 "Be still and know that I am in God." -Psalm 46:10

Here's to taking more time for some solitude.

xo
Lauren

Love.

Happy heart day folks! Ah, Valentines Day. A whole day created SOLELY for expressing love to that special someone.



Like this quote?

Y'all will never guess what I found today...a One Tree Hill quote page on Tumblr! Now, I don't know what "Tumblr" is and you may not know what One Tree Hill is, however, all you need to know is that it was a CW show that held my heart for almost a decade. It's the longest relationship I've been in, y'all.

I remember dreading this day in college when I was single, or telling a significant other "it's no big deal, just a Hallmark holiday...really!" I can promise you this, gentleman, it is ALWAYS a big deal. The meaning of "Valentine's Day" has changed over the years for me, that's for sure.

My brother, Bryan Patrick Kennedy, was born on Valentine's Day. He's the greatest y'all. And cute too, right? Sorry he's taken:



More recently, Valentines Day 2012 was Cooper's due date. He was late. And I will NEVER forget it. He kinda makes up for it now with cuteness. Only kinda.



And finally, this is a day where my husband knows he must plan a fabulous date and give me flowers. May sound simple, but a night out these days takes planning and, namely...a babysitter. Hallmark-holiday or not- a day reserved just to show a little bit of love?  Bring it. We all need it.

I hope everyone had a happy day. Love is so much more than a significant other, in my opinion it's all about true relationships - father-daughter, girlfriends, siblings - all just as special in their own right. I hope love filled your day.

xox

 “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” -Robert Heinlein

 

WW: If you can't get out of it.

I recently read something that I shared here on the blog that has changed. my. life.

"If you can't get out of it, get into it."

Oh so many things came to my mind: washing bottles, working out is by self-forcable-choice or I would put it in this category, waking up early with the baby... okay ESPECIALLY this last one. For you it may be that nerve-wracking work pitch, long hours working on an upcoming project, or just having to go to work in general. Coop has been an early riser since birth and has kinda started waking up even earlier lately; like in the 5s. Y'all I'm nasty in the mornings. It takes me a while to be a fully functioning human being even after coffee- the bold kind. Thus, this is the FIRST thing I decided to "get into" after I read this quote.

If I continued down the path of literally dreading waking up in the morning, I would be grumpy, not a good mom to Cooper, probably not nice to my dogs, resenting my husband, etc. Sound like a fun person to be around? I'm annoying myself at this point. Here was my simple action plan: when that baby wakes up early, instead of cursing the husband, the universe, our dog Hudson and all that is good and wonderful...change that first thought in the morning.

"Be careful of your words, for they become your thoughts.

Be careful of your thoughts, for they become your actions.

Be careful of your actions, for they become your character.

Be careful of your character, for it becomes your destiny."

-Ghandi

Thoughts are a powerful thing, y'all. A negative thought can, seriously, shape your day. Days become weeks, weeks months, you get my gist . If we continue to allow negative thoughts to enter our head, no matter how trivial or how small - well you read the quote above, we're forming actions, building character which all in turn shapes our future. It's the attitude we choose to have that shapes our thoughts. Mind over matter. Fake it 'til you make it. And for goodness sake if you can't get out of it, don't make yourself miserable every day, get into it! Take pride in cleaning those baby bottles! Can I get an Amen?!

My mornings are much better these days. When I wake up now I think of the first time I'm going to see that little boy's face that morning, and am instantly reminded of how lucky we are to have him. See how that works?



Now give me a cup of coffee.

Lauren

 

 

February of firsts.

This is a big month.

First, and most importantly, it's Cooper's birth month. As far as I'm concerned this is THE most anticipated birthday he will ever have. For him though, I assume this will likely be turning 16 or 21 which both, ironically, will be the least anticipated for his mom.

[caption id="attachment_946" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Look who's one![/caption]

Figuring out what I wanted to do for his birthday party took me FOREVER. I decided not go with a kid theme because Cooper's not yet into that yellow square sponge looking guy or any other type of animation; really he's just all about his mom and dad which is PERFECT because, lets be honest, it's a party for me and Jeff anyways. Because...we made it! We learned how to raise a human this year, and we continue to learn every day. What a year.

I decided to build the party around a color scheme, red and turquoise. I also decided it was going to be a happy hour with friends and family, and I wanted to do a lot of the decor myself so, this has now turned largely into a DIY party project. Here's a sneak peak of some of my purchases that will hopefully become something fabulous (all under $65 I might add):



Wish me luck.

In other news, this blog also had a birthday...it turned ONE last month! South Pearl Living started as a hobby and was encouraged by my husband. Someone asked me what it was about last weekend and I said a little bit baby a little bit feel good, a lot random. I still don't know what I'm doing half the time, but it has been a fun outlet and I hope you enjoy reading!

In honor of one year, here's a look back at this past year's most read posts (I starred the most read post of the year):

Mondays Miracle

The Road Traveled

Friendships Make Life a Lot More Fun

Perspective ***

Society of Braggarts

Do Good Anyway

Happy week y'all.

Lauren