::catching up:: a birthday for my favorite 2 superheroes.

last saturday night, under a fog of jet lag, we hosted jackson and jonah's superhero birthday party. my two little men ushered in their fifth and first birthdays with ample sugar, chaos and gifts. jonah bear wasn't a fan of the cake which is just fine with this mama- I will hold off on the treats just as long as he'll allow me to. and if I could hold off on the rest of what comes with growing up I would do that too. 

these two come with so much joy- bringing us smiles, laughter and healthy doses of both humility and awe each day. 

sweet boys. when you read this some day, please know how thankful we are to have been chosen to be your parents. may you know that while we probably won't perfect this parenthood thing, we will certainly go to bed knowing that we tried with our whole selves every day. 

every. single. day. 

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." - Dr. Seuss

Yesterday was jackson's first birthday party. it was a seuss'ical good time. It was cold and snowy outside, but it was warm inside with a house full of love, all here for this little man who has forever changed our lives. Ironically identical to the feeling in the hospital this time last year. 

As I was gathering all things Dr. Seuss for his party, I started to realize just how genius that man was. Not only were his writings so entertaining for kids (and us big kids) all of all sizes, but the wisdom he poured out is timeless. Many things I pray and wish for Jackson and often wonder in what ways I will give these lessons to him... whether in words or in actions or sitting back and letting him learn on his own... well, all of these things Dr. Seuss summarizes up in his books perfectly.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." 

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." 

The MOST perfect cake. Not only what is the most adorable cake I have ever seen with the most stunning details, but to top it off it was the best-tasting gluten-free cake we have ever had. Thank you, Molly! Search "Molly Gaynor Cakes" on Facebook to see more of her creations.

Clearly, it was only fitting that Jackson eat his first piece of birthday cake off of this beautiful hand-painted plate made by Aedriel. Stunning! She is now selling this plate design on her Etsy shop here. The plan is to have such a plate made for each birthday so that he has a full set of the most amazing memory plates when he has a family of his own. 

The birthday party invite designed by another talented Etsy shop-owner- her shop is here. His shirt was also an Etsy-creation, that shop is here. What did people do before Etsy existed? 

My little man's monthly photos... 0-12 as seen here. 

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." 

  

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not." 

"Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope." 

 

 

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!" 

 

"In my world, everyone's a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies!" 

 

      

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!" 

 

 

"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains." 

"You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut." 

"There's no limit to how much you'll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go."