Giana's 1st Birthday Party: Take Two

The Set-up

The set-up for the special day was a lot of fun!  I am so glad it was a beautiful day. I had wanted most of the activities to be outside. We set up a small white tent where Giana opened her gifts and ate her birthday cake. For the kids, I planned some fun outdoor games. They decorated their own pumpkins, played Doughnuts on a String, and Pin the Pumpkin. I found these activities on this website: http://www.marthastewart.com.  

My sister is a wonderful artist. She drew a canvas of a farm theme, so people could write a birthday note on it. We set up the canvas by the doorway, so people would sign it right as they came in to the house.

 Food is a big part of any party, so I will be sharing the menu of the day. The party was from 11am-2pm, so I planned brunch-like and bite-sized food.

Menu:

Mini Quiches Mini Sausage in the Blankets

Mini Turkey Pinwheels

Mini Fruit on a Toothpick

Apples and Carmel Dip

Mini Cupcakes and Mini Birthday Cake for Giana

Mini Muffins: blueberry and corn

Cake Pop Pumpkin Patch

Ice cream Cake Pops

Lemonade, Apple Juice, and Water

Homemade Apple Cider 

 What I found to be extremely helpful in the set-up the party is to use what I had around the house. I used our tables, frames, mason jars from canning for cheap and easy decorations. Also, thrift stores are awesome. I found the vintage high chair at a thrift store for $25! I can always use the high chair as a photo prop or decoration. Enjoy the pics of the set up!

Next time I will be sharing about the big day! Thanks for reading. -AGM

Giana's First Birthday Party: Take One

Wow! Today is our precious Giana's first birthday. I can't believe our baby girl is one year old! I remember our pediatrician telling us that it will be amazing to see her develop over her first year of life. She is full of life and a joy to be around. We are so blessed to have her in our lives! Because of our upcoming move to Indianapolis, we had to move her party up a week, so we celebrated her special day a week earlier.Over the next week, I will be sharing blog posts about Giana's first birthday party. The blog posts will be about the preparation/planning for the event, the set-up for the day, the party itself, and fun candids of the day with family and friends.

The Planning

I had a blast planning her birthday party...I started planning it when Giana was 3 months old...Kinda ridiculous, I know. Her party was a Fall Vintage Theme. We had lace, burlap, pumpkins, mums, apple crates, hay bales...anything you can think of that's fall! For the tables, I used old picture frames and painted the frames white and light purple and sprayed the glass with Chalkboard Spray-paint. I thought they would be great to display the names of food being served at the party.

I also used old empty frames to display photos of Giana by using string and mini clothes hangers to hold Giana's pictures. I went to many thrift shops to buy lace table clothes and doilies. Also, I found great deals on burlap and made a cool banner that said Happy 1st Birthday Giana. Burlap is inexpensive and easy to work with, so you can go a long way with it. I didn't do all this work alone. I had my mom searching high and low for vintage lace and crates in RI. She also found adorable plates, and napkins to go with the fall vintage decor. My sister and mom made the day go smoothly and kept me sane...well kind of..;) My sister Ashley took fantastic pictures of the day. I will share those soon! My friend Tanya and I (and her adorable girls) had many late nights making banners out of burlap and doilies and decorating anything that popped into my mind. hahah! One very special request was made to my friend Tracy. Tracy writes beautiful poems. I asked her to write a poem for Giana's party invitations. Check it out!

Ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes,
Angel soft skin and perfect baby nose.
Squeals of delight and sweet baby sighs,
Long, pretty lashes and heavenly eyes.

It's hard to believe how quickly time goes,
Trying to hold on to each stage as she grows.
With laughter and love, and bundles of fun,
We celebrate with joy as Giana turns ONE!

Here are more pics of the planning:

Check out Part Two of the party in a couple of days! Thanks for reading! -AGM

Rest

Wow..It has been a long time since I have blogged. The last month has been quite a journey. Looking at past posts, it amazes me to see how God was preparing us for this storm. In the midst of all this, the Lord has been steadfast and always there. No matter what we go through, we can have the confidence that our amazing God will make all things work together for good. I'm encouraged to rest in Him and His promises. Right now, I am chooses to do that. Is it easier to dwell on the problems? for sure...But I am choosing to dwell on my Lord. 

Here is what I am choosing to think on today:  

He promises that all things will work together for good (Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose). 

He promises to be with us (Ex. 33:14 And He said, my presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest). He gives us peace (John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful). 

He has already overcome any trial or circumstance (John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace, In the world you may have tribulation but take heart; I have overcome the world).

I seem to always end with a Hillsong video...but this song has ministered to me in so many ways. I hope it does the same to you as well. I encourage you that in whatever circumstance you are in to dwell on the Lord. He alone can give you rest and peace.

With much love, 

AGM 

Cornerstone

 I was talking to my husband about the Colorado tragedy this morning. He said something that impassioned me to share and live out my faith. He said this tragedy lights the fire under me even more to reach people with the message of Christ that will change their lives. I couldn't agree more with my husband. When tragedy strikes, or problems come there is one thing that will guide me through and that is my faith. I find hope through my faith in Jesus Christ. I know that in the good and bad times of life I can find rest and peace in His grace. Do I understand the hurt and wrongs that we see everyday? Do I sometimes ask God why? Of course...but I know that my God is a God of grace, love and forgiveness. My faith in Him gives me a peace to get through each day.

What do I mean by faith in Jesus? So many times, we feel the need to have all the answers to all the questions about God....We will never have all the answers-He is unfathomable for our human mind to ever understand. My faith is built on what the Bible says. And the Bible shares what Jesus has done for us over 2000 years ago. He died and rose again from the dead for our wrongdoings. My belief in Christ's death and resurrection gives me hope and assurance of heaven when I leave this world. It sounds so simple doesn't it? Because of His grace and nothing that I have done, I can spend eternity with my Savior when I put my faith in Him. 

This song by Hillsong says it all. Check it out:

Cornerstone ( by Hillsong)

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

but wholly trust in Jesus' name

Christ alone, Cornerstone

Weak made strong, in the Savior's love

Through the storm

He is Lord, Lord of All

When darkness seems to hid His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In ever high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, Cornerstone

Weak made strong, in the Savior's love

Through the storm

He is Lord, Lord of All

Then He shall come with trumpets sound

Oh, may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

faultless, stand before the throne

-AGM

Fishy Face

Giana had her 9 month doctor's appointment this past friday.  She had no shots this time-phew! The pediatrician told Jared and me that at this age, Giana understands our language way more than we think she does. Obviously, her language is just babbles but she understands when we say: "Look! Daddy is home!" This week I had a couple of friends over for lunch. I have a little kiddie pool for Giana and her "little" friends to play in. While the kiddos were playing in the pool, my friend Noelle was doing a fishy face to Giana. It was hilarious when Giana tried to copy the fishy face back! Giana mimicking Noelle reminded me that Giana is watching Jared and me all the time. Children are like sponges-they soak in everything they see and hear. Sometimes I forget I have little eyes on me at all times. That fishy face was a reminder to me of how important it is for me to model a Christ-like character to my little munchkin. I love these verses that talk about teaching God's love to our children.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Thanks for reading!- AGM

Giana Grace at 9 months

Photos taken by:
Photos for Water www.photosforwater.blogspot.com All Rights Reserved

RI June Trip

It is always wonderful to visit Rhode Island. Bringing Giana makes it even more special. My friend Noelle and her little boy Zachary came along as well. It was Noelle's first time visiting Rhode Island. The trip was jam packed with sight seeing, shopping, swimming, and boating. It was an awesome trip! Being in the Midwest, one thing I will always miss is the beautiful ocean. It's crazy the things you once had taken for granted are the things you miss the most. We had a great time with friends and family. Of course, my sister took adorable pictures of Giana and Zachary.  Overall it was a wonderful memory. I am so thankful for dear friends and family!

 

AshLynn Photography

 Copyrighted: Ashley Pannullo at AshLynn Photography All Rights Reserved. 

Summer fun

Summer is going strong, especially with the weather being in the 90s! Jared and I love the summer. The beach is one of our favorites places to be during the summer months. It has been a little different now that Giana is with us. I don't lay out as much as I used to, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. She is starting to love the sand enough to eat it!
We took Giana to Frederick Meijer Gardens for the first time almost two weeks ago. It was a beautiful day. The gardens were gorgeous. The children's garden was amazing. The teacher in me loved the part of the garden that teaches the kids about their  five senses.
Enjoy the pictures of our first few week's of summer! (More to come of our trip to RI!)

-AGM