Party Fit for a Princess – Part One of Two

Over the last few weeks, we have celebrated Abbie’s Birthday with two birthday parties. It was not my intention to do this. I just wanted one big party with family & friends during our trip to Nebraska over Thanksgiving. But we have met so many wonderful people here that have watched Abbie grown up over the past year that it just wouldn’t be right to leave them out of the festivities.

 

The first party was held on November 14th, two days before Abbie’s birthday. We had it at our house and were lucky to have a Sous Chef cook all of the food for the party. We had to pay for all of the food but he prepared it all for free. Okay, so what if he is my brother-in-law. Having him taking there to prepare all of the food, took so much stress off of my hands. And the food was great!!

Menu

Shredded Pork Sandwiches

Homemade Potato Chips

Cold Spinach Dip

Coleslaw

Lemonade

Chocolate Cupcakes

Strawberry Cupcakes

And if having a Sous Chef wasn’t good enough, he brought my nephew with him. A fifteen year old who can get bored very easily. So I had him help me with the decorations. Homemade decorations that were made with love. Decorations that included cutting letters out with a razor blade. Decorations that included using spray glue that in turn would be over sprayed on my dining room table. Decorations that involved folding, cutting and fluffing tissue paper to make awesome pom poms. Decorations that involved positioning the birthday banner just right over the fireplace. Decorations that involved drinking three to four glasses of wine and not getting to bed until 3 am the day of the party. As much of a pain in the ass these decorations were, I would do it all over again next year. Although I probably won’t wait until the night before to get them completed.

Another thing I probably wouldn’t do is waiting until the day of the party to clean my house. When one goes to bed at 3 am, one doesn’t wake up as early as she would like to get everything cleaned and in order for the party. Abbie’s sitter was a lifesaver and watched Abbie for me at 10 am and just brought her down to the party. I was cleaning my house right up until the party started and I still didn’t get everything cleaned that I wanted to. I hopped in the shower at 12:55 and hurried to make myself look half way presentable for our guests.

The party was a huge success. I had our friends set up their laptop in our living room so the guests could watch Abigail Paige Vogt – A Year in Review. Then we dined on all of the scrumptious food prepared by my culinary skilled brother in law, opened a bunch of wonderful and noisy gifts and concluded the party by singing Happy Birthday to the Guest of Honor and enjoyed some cupcakes. It was a great day celebrating the first year of life of a special little girl with a superb group of family & friends. That evening, Abbie was on cloud nine playing with all of her new toys and I was pretty pooped and ready to pass out. I was so happy that I would be getting a two week break before having to do this all over again.

To Be Continued…

A year of tears, laughs, milestones & memories...

Dear Abbie,

It’s so hard to put into words what I’m feeling today. I think back to a year ago and how my life changed forever the moment I heard your tiny little cry. You were a long time in the making. Daddy & I went back and forth on whether or not we wanted to have a baby. I just couldn’t see living a life alone without a child. You have blessed both me and your daddy in so many ways. Yes it was hard at first. The late night feedings, the adjustment to being a full time working mother. It was really tough. And at times I thought to myself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ Motherhood is probably THE MOST challenging job I have ever had. There are days when I have my A game and some days I just want to throw in the towel. But then you crack me one of those smiles. The kind that melts my heart and gives me the reason to carry on.

The other night when I laid you to sleep, I thought back to when you were a newborn and you were so tiny and helpless in my arms. I would bundle you up in your blanket and rock you to sleep. Now you have outgrown my arms and your legs are no longer confined to a blanket but instead sprawled out on my lap. It hurts me to know that you aren’t a baby anymore but becoming Momma’s big girl. I hope you will let me rock you until your feet hit the ground like your Grandma Raine did for me when I was younger.

This morning your daddy went in late into work so we were both able to wake you up on your birthday. Your daddy picked you up and you laid your little head on his shoulder and didn’t move. I just wanted to cry. You are definitely Daddy’s little girl. You have changed your daddy into a completely different man. He has never been one that liked babies. He was completely fine with living a life without children. And then you came along and he did a complete 180. His face lights up when he sees you. It just tugs at my heartstrings when I listen to you giggle as your daddy gives you a bath. He does everything in his power to protect you. You definitely have your daddy wrapped around that tiny little finger, Abbie. Keep up the good work.

It’s been quite the year for us. So many tears. So many laughs. So many milestones. So many memories. I wish I could put life on hold to soak it all in. But I have a lifetime to spend with you and make many more memories. I love you Abbie and hope your 2nd, 10th, and 60th year of life will be as joyful as this past year has been.

                                                                  All my love,

                                                                  Mommy

Happy Birthday My Sweet Little Girl!!



Photo taken by Stephanie Phillips



Abbie & I’s favorite lullaby.

The same lullaby that her Grandma sung to me.



You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping

 I dreamed I held you in my arms

But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken

So I hung my head and I cried.



You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

For the audio version, click here.



Video of the Week

Today marks the beginning of Abbie's Birthday week!!  I hope to have lots of posts for you this week.  We start with a very special video I have been working on for hours on end for the last week.  It is the largest Abbie & Mommy Production I have ever worked on.


Ladies & Gentlemen....I present to you...

Abigail Paige Vogt - A Year in Review

Abigail Paige Vogt - A Year in Review from Megan Vogt on Vimeo.