Isla's 1st Birthday Photos

We have been working with Sarah McMillian of McChillin Photography in Charlotte since we first learned we were pregnant in 2011. She has documented our journey every step of the way. She took our pregnancy announcement photos, maternity photos, newborn photos and Isla's six month photos! She even took snapshots of our DIY nursery reveal for Isla.

Most recently, lil Miss Isla hit another big milestone... the big O-N-E and of course we used McChillin Photography once again to capture this beautiful time in our lives for Isla's one year photos.

I can not express how much I LOVE each and every one of these beautiful pictures. I cannot even pick a favorite. We are going to cherish these precious moments captured in these pictures forever!

To Sarah/McChillin Photography - thank you so much for your beautiful photography, friendship and and all the laughter and great times we've had over the past few years capturing lovely memories!

The Bradbury's heart you! xo

 

 

 

Isla's 'Come Watch Me Grow' DIY 1ST Birthday Party

My sweet girl turned one twenty days ago! I still can't believe she is one. The thought of saying 1yr, verses 7, 9 or 11 months is daunting. I just got used to not saying her age in weeks and now I'm moving away from months. They grow so fast... and thus the whole theme of her party was around growing! The invitations were filled with flowers and pictures of Isla and we carried the theme of those bright flowers throughout the party decor.

We used a lot of green, pink, orange and blue. The best thing about the party is nearly everything came from the Dollar Tree, and the things that didn't come from there came from Oriental Trading where I got a great deal on sale items. 

I ordered a pack of paper and made the banner out of ribbon left over from my baby shower. Once I had my triangles cut, I hot glued them to the ribbon and placed my letters in the middle. To finish them off, I used a cute scrap paper flower with a button glued to the center.

I also used the paper on the tables to give the decor a pop and also to catch any messes from food and drink spills. It made for a much easier clean-up.

I cut even smaller triangles and used them on the gift table to spread around like confetti and used the paper to make a custom sign made from stickers I also found at the dollar store. I paired the sign with some cute shoes of Isla's that matched the party theme.

Since the theme was around "growing" I used some left over flower cup cake holders and made some flower toppers using a green tooth pick, green foam paper and colored foam paper for the actual flower portion. For the flower, I traced Isla's hand print. I hot glued the flower/hand print and a green leaf to the tooth pick. I also used the foam paper to make a large number 1 for the top center piece. 

Since I knew Isla would not remember this day, I took lots of pictures and also made a Shutterfly photo book for guests to sign. I left the first two pages of the book blank with the words "Isla's First Birthday Wishes" and then asked all of our family members to sign their messages and birthday wishes for Isla. I'm looking forward to giving that to her some day, especially since her Great Great Grandma Saft came who is 103! So amazing and blessed to have so many generations under one roof.

I took Isla's picture in the same frame that we used in the photo booth at our wedding every month in the exact same outfit to show how much she is growing and changing month over month. It was astonishing to see the difference from 1 month to 11 months. I then displayed the pics in the frame using ribbon and clothes pins for the party. I love seeing all her expressions and smiling face month over month.

 

We used pictures to decorate a lot for this party. I lined the buffet table with my favorite prints and had my husband create a collage in the shape of a 1 on our dining room mirror. Nearly all the things I did were inexpensive ideas using things I already had at home.

 The other big DIY project I did for pennies was making a 1 out of card board and tissue paper. I used tissue paper I had left over from my own baby shower and a card board box. I broke the card board down using a razor and then cut it in the shape of a 1. I then took tissue paper and folded it back and forth making creases throughout, bound it tightly with a wire and hot glued it to the cardboard. Once it was secured on the card board, I separated the tissue paper and made it poof out. I loved the end result and we actually ended up using it as a photo prop for her 1 year pictures. 

I made several signs using pixlr, a free service online. One of my favorites is in her nursery now and it calls out all the cute nick names we have for her. 

My friend Kristen also made this amazing sign that has all of her favorite things and measurements at 1 year old. This is a definite keeper along with her profile pictures made from paper.

Overall it was a fun, inexpensive party and I think she had a blast! She especially loved her watermelon and cupcake!

Here are some additional pictures from the party!

Peace in Chaos

We have been caught up in the craziness of life lately. Busy busy bees in the Bradbury household. Busy in all aspects of life really from work to housework, yard work, party planning, vacating to just plan ole living!

I've also been taking a break from technology some this summer and using that time to dedicate to Isla. It's so important for me to document these days because they are passing by faster than I can store all of my memories, but I also just want to have simple days with my family where I'm enjoying everything and not worrying about videoing, photography or writing.

Isla is simply the best thing that ever happened to me, besides her daddy... She fills my heart with joy every day. It doesn't matter what kind of day I've been handed, one big grin from her flashing her 5 pearly whites and my heart melts.

That's right, I said 5... she recently got a new tooth on the bottom. She now has two on top and three on the bottom. She is becoming such a big girl and I find myself trying to hold on tight to every bit of baby that is left. This past year flew by so fast and I know this second year will too.

She has really started talking a lot recently... when she's in the mood that is... This week she is saying car, wow, bubble, baby, rarr (this one is really funny), boo and dog of course. She absolutely loves playing peek-a-boo and her favorite word is boo.

She's very loving at one year old. She wraps her arms around your legs and holds on tight giving sweet squeezes in the morning and afternoons. She lights up when she sees us at the end of the day, runs to me and gives me the biggest hug. She's stingy with her smooches, but if you can get one right on the lips its the sweetest thing ever.

Holding her in my arms, I realize what a great gift God has given us and what a great responsibility I have to be her guide in this big world.

Isla's ONE!

My baby girl turned one this week. My oh my how the time flies… whether you are ready for it or not and believe me…I am not ready for it. Every day she is growing, changing, developing, learning and becoming a beautiful, special little girl. Yes, little girl. Every day she is losing some of her baby traits and becoming more and more like a toddler. Oh how I relish these days with her and each and every day I’ve had with her this past year.

I came across this quote this week, and it couldn’t have found me at a more perfect time in our lives.

"You will never have this day with your children again. 

Tomorrow, they'll be a little older than they were today.
This day is a gift.
Breathe and notice.
Smell and touch them; study their faces and little feet and pay attention.
Relish the charms of the present.
Enjoy today, mama. It will be over before you know it."
- Jen Hatmaker

This is so true. Each day I see her changing and I try to stop the chaos all around me and just be in this moment… with her. Taking it all in. Enjoying her baby-isms, breathing in her baby smells (good and bad:) ) and being grateful for the precious gift He has given me.

She is such a light. Her personality is shining out more and more each day. She has become such a loving little thing. She loves to give hugs, to be held, to snuggle, to wrap her arms and legs around me at night while she sleeps and to pucker up for kisses. She also loves her dada more and more every day… and I can tell she is growing into a daddy’s girl.

She is so smart. She is signing more and more, learning to use her words and mimicking everything we do. What once started as a slow wobbly unsure walk is now a fast steady near run usually accompanied with a loud yell… as if she is saying, “look out world, here I come!”