What was I saying? Oh yeah!
Kingston is O N E!!
I've loved every stage he has gone through. I think that when he started walking I knew we were coming up to the toddler stage.
His growth really hit me yesterday when we were swimming. I didnt cry, but I saw him in a different light then I have before. He's coming into his own personality. His little quirks at this age are just to die for.
It is hard to realize that I am no longer his life-line. I've spent the last year and nine months nurturing, growing, teaching, guiding, comforting and feeding this little baby human. My body, my schedule, my sleep, my nutrition, my everything has been for him. And now that he's gaining his independence it is hard on my heart to realize he will only grow more independent from me every year of his life.
But that's a good thing! And it's exciting! And challenging! He will make me work harder and smarter for the rest of my life. He will give me new purpose and see things in a new light all the time. He will humble me and guide me down this path of motherhood. I am so honored and blessed to be this boy's mama. He has surpassed all my dreams I've had my whole life of what my child would be like.
And I'm so happy we got to celebrate his FIRST BIRTHDAY in the way we did.
Don't get me wrong, the weeks leading up to it,and even the morning of, was far far from dreamy and perfect. Kingston's croup was terrible and terribly exhausting. Uncomfortable family stuff is always lurking around the corner and jumps out right when you don't need it. The pressures of living a life we feel called to, while being told it's not right, weighs down on us all the time. And all this of course has to come to a head between Blake and I on the morning of K's party, when we were exhausted, drained and maybe didn't have our expectations met.
But Kingston doesn't care about stupid crap. He sees the good in everything and everyone. He points out the beauty in the little things. He makes poor adult behavior just look embarrassing. He knows what's right. Just to love and be loved. And that is what that boy did at this birthday party.
There's something about celebrating a new baby's first year that just brings the people we love together. We might not see them again till the next birthday or we might see them every day until then... Either way we are so so blessed for the family and friends we have. Each person invited ((and many more)) to celebrate with us, whether they made it to the party or not, has a deep and special place in our hearts as we go through new parenting. Kingston's arrival has healed a lot of wounds and has deepened many friendships. Honoring his first rotation around the Sun was so much fun.
I tried my best to put together a bug themed birthday party for my little boy. He has been interested in the book Hello Bugs since he was a few weeks old. The simple pictures and words always captivated him. Though he's moved on to much more exciting pictures and stories he is still picked up this book and takes his time with the pictures. When Kingston was just two months old we got photos taken of him in his Hungry Caterpillar outfit and he nailed that shoot ((see post Here Comes the Sun.)) Bugs are colorful, fun, everywhere, and totally a boy thing to love. He picks up spiders and says "hi" to flies and follows ants across the sidewalk. This boy loves to play in the dirt and is curious about living things all around him.
I made little bugs out of egg cartons (I didn't eat the eggs, don't panic!) and toilet paper rolls. I'd rather make my own things then buy plastic ones and also we're trying to stay on a budget. But it's much more fun for me to sit down and be creative with decorations and to put my love into them. They might not ever turn out looking the best, but I don't care... they were made for Kingston.
I also made some bug hats for the kids to put on and run around and be silly. They had large eye balls and bouncy antennas and were so cute on all the little faces.
My party favors were bags of organic soil with packets of organic seeds. No one took the green beans home so we've planted ours in Kingston's new garden box that was built by his cousins and aunt and uncle for his birthday present. I'm hoping he doesn't rip them all out but for now he is "gentle" and "nice" and likes to look at them and water them.
I put out a few snacks of "healthy bug food" of veggies and then we had some La Casa appetizers for those who aren't just plant eaters.
My awesome, one-of-a-kind friend Kelsie made Kingston a melon cake with delicious vegan frosting and beautiful berries with a banana center!! It was so good looking and tasted amazing. She also put out fruit cups with the frosting inside. The kids loved them and they weren't too wired from having too much sweets.
The decorations were put up by Blake's mom and Kelsie. They did such an awesome job making the covered patio look festive.
I made piñatas out of paper machet (took me back to my homeschooled days.) I made a sun and an earth and put vegan candy inside. The younger kids were so cute smashing them and going after the candy. Kingston tried but he's a lover and not a hitter (yet.)
Kingston was gifted some pretty awesome presents. We needed new toys badly and he got a lot of them. He got a lot of books too! One of the hit presents with everyone was a homemade activity center (if you'd like one made I'll give you their info!) One of his biggest presents was a new, big boy car seat!
Thank you, everyone, for all your well wishes and love for our Kingston. He is so spoiled with those who care for him and are watching him grow. The chaos surrounding his party reminds me that life doesn't stop, even when you want it to, that the harder you try to make everything perfect the less so it will be, that just when you feel like giving up there is someone there to help pick you up, and that kids don't give a damn about adults' stupid pity parties. And that's a good thing! We need to remember to be more care-free and fun like the next generation! Thank goodness for them.
