Charlotte's Big 0-1!

You know when you see those signs that say "12 Months No Interest!" or "12 Month Tarot Card Reading," or, if you're really lucky in your nearest Mexican souvenir shop, "12 Month Mayan Calendar"?

Well, all "12 months" makes me think of lately is Charlotte, because she's officially one year old! She hit the big 0-1 on October 21st, and we had a little party on the 22nd to celebrate.

On her real birthday I couldn't resist buying her a mini cupcake to celebrate. She liked it, but she loved that candle even more.

I designed this little invitation for her party. It's a timeline of her first year, highlighting such things as  "First Word (Ellis)" and "First Auburn National Championship."

We were so fortunate to have special friends and most of our family here to celebrate with us.

Charlotte, my mom and dad

 I have such talented friends who helped make Charlotte's party so special. Laura Self Burton of Uprising Cakes blew us all away with her to-die-for almond cake, perfected with flowers on top, a dusting of fine gold glitter, and shell pink ruffles all the way around. Charlotte even got her very own baby smash cake! (Keep scrolling for more photos of her beautiful cakes.)

Charlotte, me, Laura

Laura Rowe has documented Charlotte's first year in photos every three months, and she brought it full circle by shooting the party. Below you can see some of her incredible talent. You can also see what a fun time we had! I made tissue paper pompoms and some fabric bunting banners to hang, and used some pale pink carnations, billy balls, and some kid of little green berry (not sure what it's called) in glass bottles and apothecary jars. For favors we had beautiful (and delicious) cookies by my cousin-in-law, Elizabeth, of swEEt thang cookies and more. I also put out some candy necklaces, rings, and watches (for the gentlemen) to get us spiffed up. 

Happy Birthday, Charlotte Bethea! Your first year has been our sweetest year.

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Play Poll: Pick Your Party Kitchen

Let's talk a little about kitchen aesthetics. Some people prefer white country kitchens with painted floors, some like clean, open floorplans and vaulted ceilings, other people love natural cabinets and dark granite countertops and industrial barstools. 

Well, Charlotte told me she likes white and she likes pink. She loves a good clean, Swedish country look, but she is a little girl who likes people to know she's a girl, too! So she's pretty torn about which look to go for in her new kitchen. She'll be unveiling the new look on Christmas Day, but before then, she needs your imput! Which kitchen design should she choose?

KidKraft White Prairie Kitchen

KidKraft Home Cookin' Kitchen

While we're featuring great new kitchen looks, let's not forget about appliances. Here are a few sleek new products that would look great in any kitchen. 

Don't forget about cute linens. Don this checked apron and you'll be whipping up a batch of cookies in no time flat!

I'd like to leave you with this image of such a breathtaking wedding cake. Maybe once Charlotte gets her dream kitchen, she'll have more time to devote to creating beauties like this! Don't forget to cast your vote for Charlotte's kitchen!

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Charlotte's Baptism

Yesterday, Luke and I had the privilege of having Charlotte baptized at Briarwood. Luke read the blessing we wrote for her, and then Pastor Harry Reeder sprinkled her little head with water as he baptized her. We recognize God's work of salvation in our lives and Charlotte's need of it, too, and we look to God to grant her grace as we enter into this covenant with him. 

Charlotte wore my little dress and a lace bonnet.

Here is the blessing Luke read to Charlotte:

Charlotte Bethea, truly the Lord blessed us with you as a “good and perfect gift, sent from above.” You have been born into a family that has a heritage of faith extending deep into past generations; this makes it all the more fitting that today we should recognize and respond to God’s covenant love for you. Our prayer is that you would quickly grow to “taste and see that the Lord is good,” knowing that in Christ you “might have life, and have it abundantly.”

Afterwards, we had a small lunch with family and friends at our house to celebrate. I had a lot of fun designing the invitations for the baptism and lunch, and I am so pleased with how they turned out! They were loosely inspired by the late Tasha Tudor, one of my favorite children's book illustrators.

We had pink punch, ham sandwiches, crudites with dill dip, spinach salad, and Laura's to-die-for tri-colore orzo. And as an extra sweet finish to a sweet day, Dreamcakes mini cupcakes sat on my grandmother's pretty silver stand for dessert! 

I used extra-large antique hydrangea blossoms, pink carnations, and lots and lots of tinted glass. I loved the sweet, airy look that it gave.

I hate that our camera died before we got photos of everyone who came, but we still managed a few more:

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