Showing posts with label birthdays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthdays. Show all posts


A little less than two weeks ago our Declan made his arrival in the afternoon. After spending about 3 hours in the hospital he arrived and is perfect. It was a peaceful, non-medicated delivery where the only additions to the room were the nurses and doctor. We are so grateful that all of our wishes were honored and supported, which made this birth story more intimate and calm, a direct juxtaposition to Baby Love's delivery. We are working on his birth story, but wanted to give a few details and pictures!
Declan Donovan
7lbs 2 oz
20 Inches
Proud Parents 2 Hours After Arrival
Long Limbs and So Active!

Part Of Our Support Team and Close Friends, Jessica and Caitlin
(It was Caitlin's 30th Birthday and we promised her a special gift!)
Baby Love Meeting "Duckie" As He Has Come To Be Called
So Cozy With His Hands Next To His Face
A Heart To Heart With Dad
My Heart Has Been Stolen Away

Going Home As A Family Of Four
There are truly so many people that we want and need to thank for their help and love to our family, but know it would start to sound like an Oscar acceptance speech. Suffice it to say that this delivery and recovery truly took our small village of support people, all of whom we are incredibly grateful for.
Brothers. Let The Next Big Adventure Begin....
The rhymes were fun,
But when it was done,
Our brain it was empty,
No more rhymes aplenty.
A few of our favorites here we will share,
Although none of them are very rare!

Our dear friend Katie is a leap year baby and as such it is always tricky deciding when to celebrate her. We made wonderful plans for this year but at the last minute, 48 hours before, the weather changed everything! The icy conditions and tempestuous nature of the storm made us nervous to drive to our retreat for the weekend. So at the last minute we pulled it together and adapted, adapted, adapted! I must say that in the end the result was fabulous and we were able to show our sweet friend just how much she means to us!


The theme was beach retreat. I designed the invitations and created all of the rhymes that followed on her clues. I punched holes at the top and threaded Ace Jute Twine 147 through the two holes, tying tightly and then glued a shell at the bottom of the clues. 
<Please don't use without permission!>


We arrived with a breakfast tray of her favorite things and another clue. 

"While the snow may have changed our plans,

And we are sad to not be able to run to the sands..."



She had a massage by an incredible masseuse and was picked up by one of our friends while two of us waited for a table at a wonderful local restaurant that is always PACKED for brunch!


"We hope the massage soothed your soul,
And your appetite is the size of a troll....."
Bringing a little of the beach to the restaurant.
The place mat was the same paper design I made for the invitations, edged with creative scissors.
Impromptu cone made from the same paper.
The flowers were wrapped with  paper towels that had been wet and wrapped in plastic.
Above: The Birthday Girl and Shannon, some of the delicious Brunch items, Caitlin and I. 
Afterwards we returned to her apartment where we had everything laid out for her make up to be done professionally while sipping on wine and nibbling on chocolate.

"After a day of fun and surprises,
That fortunately never required disguises,
We desire to help you primp for what lies ahead
For at 6 O’clock he will arrive it is said
No more can we say about what’s in store,
For to secrecy we have been swore (n),
And rhyme we can’t anymore.<wink>"
To end the evening she was picked up by her boyfriend and we made our adieus. 
Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Katie, You Are Dearly Loved!