Hello my almond butter loving friends. If you're new to HEAB, you may like to subscribe to my RSS feed or receive my posts via email. Thanks for reading!
I was 38 weeks pregnant and learned that I needed to be induced the following day. Needless to say, it was an emotional day…the beginning of our journey as parents began, and thus far, it’s been the most wonderful, hardest, amazing, challenging, joyful, and BEST time of my life. I highly recommend this whole parenthood thing.
Tomorrow we celebrate Summer’s first birthday. We’re throwing an Eric Carle themed party as Summer loves story time and has always had a thing for caterpillars. I’ve been working on the decorations every night this week and have had so much fun. During college, I did crafts all the time, and I’ve decided I need to get out the construction paper and hot glue gun more often. It’s like therapy for me.
I made this paint sample garland…
and used the leftover paint samples to decorate Summer’s gifts.
I made these clouds (so easy and took less than 10 minutes!)
I repainted some of my Love pumpkins to match the party’s color scheme…
A coloring station for the older kids…
Party favors…
Each kit contains a box of crayons and a blank paper bookmark tied with raffia ribbon.
My friend Jamina co-authored Herman’s Journey, a children’s book about a caterpillar, and gave us some Herman finger puppets for the party. Thanks ‘Mina!
My mom ordered this Eric Carle birthday banner from the Eric Carle Museum. Thanks Nonna (and thank you for all your help this week. Could not have done it without you!)
OK, now that all the decorations are up, I’ve got some serious cupcake baking to do.
Summer, I love you more than I ever thought possible.
Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!
{ 90 comments }
Yay! Heather, everything looks great, you really do have a knack for that stuff
Happy Birthday Summer! It’s been fun watching you grow this past year 
Sarah,
Yes, what an amazing year it has been. Thanks for keeping up with all the sweet moments as well as the crazy ones.
I love every single thing you are doing for that party. What a beautiful gift to give to your daughter. Happy Birthday from NYC – hope the party is a beautiful and amazingly memorable experience!
Thanks Kat – it was.
Oh, this made me tear up! This is so incredibly sweet. Motherhood is so hard to explain…the love is incredibly overwhelming (through the good and the bad). I love the caterpillar book! What a great idea for the party. The crafts all look amazing. What a lucky girl Summer is to have you. I know the party will be amazing and full of beautiful memories! Happy Birthday Summer!
Thanks Sarena, your boys are very fortunate as well. They have one amazing, caring, and loving mama. She makes a good friend too.
Heather Pie,
I love, love, love your decorations. You’re so creative and have such a special touch with all ideas!
Thanks C. Pie. We missed you yesterday!
Oh I’m so excited for you guys… getting through the first year is such a huge milestone (for babe and parents alike!) 2 weeks until Misty is there too
What an amazing party you have created… Misty loves the Very Hungry Caterpillar too, such a great book, I remember reading it when I was very young (it always makes me hungry though 
) LOVE the little finger puppets and book mark making favors… you are super mum… can’t wait to see photos from the party – enjoy enjoy enjoy and big smooches for the birthday girl 
The decorations look wonderful! Happy Birthday to Summer
oh heather how sweet.
happiest of birthdays to that little cutie pie!
Thanks Vanillasugar.
Happy birthday to Summer! I can’t believe she’s a year old already. It feels like its only been half that time.
Evan,
Thank you. Feels that way to me too – I can’t believe she is one!
wow, a year already! I remember when I was trying to guess how long that MUSTARD would last!!
you are awesome with the decor – I want to throw a party with you someday!!
Happiest of birthdays, Sweet Summer!
Kris,
Joint party for sure. I’ll decorate and you make the food. Deal?
Oh lovely! Happy Birthday Summer!
I can’t believe it’s been a year already though…time sure flies!
Wow, Heather. This is truly amazing! All the effort you put in…it’s adorable!!! She will love it!
Happy (early) Birthday, Summer!
Thank you Alex.
Everything looks wonderful! So much love in pictures. Happy birthday to Summer!
And happy GIVE birth day mama! 1st birthday’s are simply. the. best. (yet somehow, they still manage to get better and better.)
Thanks Alison.
Everything looks adorable! I used to LOVE Eric Carle books as a child, too. I hope Summer has a very happy first birthday
This post made me tear up to and the decorations are beautiful – my baby is nearly 9 months old and I’ve been reading your blog since I was pregnant, your recent recipes and blogs on weaning have been really helpful.
Happy birthday Summer!
Simone in the UK
Oh Simone, thank you so much. 9 months old – your little one will be turning 1 before you know it. It goes by way too fast, doesn’t it? Thanks for reading.
Ok, Heather, those party decorations are the cutest things ever! I guess it’s only fitting though, considering Summer is one of the cutest babies ever!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMMER!
Thanks Erika. She is pretty darn cute, no?
Heather you did a great job with the decorations! and Happy Birthday to Summer!! She has an amazing mom!!! HUGS TO YOU BOTH!
xoxo
happy birthday, summer!!
can’t believe it has been a year… what a wild ride, indeed!
Aww, Heather! I love it…you put so much thought into everything…so many details! I hope Summer enjoys her birthday celebration tomorrow! Can’t wait to see pics! Love you!
Om gosh! It all looks so good!!!! Happy birthday summer!!
So flippin’ cute! I love Eric Carle books
Happy birthday to Summer!
What an awesome Mom you are, Summer is so blessed! Eric Carle is just wonderful, what a great party theme. Have a wonderful time and HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMMER!
SO cute!!! I love your craftiness!
Happy Birthday to Summer!!
Wow! How time flies! I cannot believe that Summer is already one year old. It seems like just yesterday that I was counting down the days to her arrival! (I mean that in the least creepiest way possible.. haha. I’m just a faithful reader, and I’ve been since before I even had a blog of my own.)
Anyway, happy birthday Summer!
Brittany, me too. This past year has just flown by. Thanks for being so faithful to me…and Summer.
It’s been a year already?? Good grief!…
The house looks great!
Happy 1st Birthday Summer
Happy Birthday, Summer! And happy one year to you, Heather. Wow, seems like both a lifetime ago and just a blink of an eye ago that you and I were emailing about pregnancy and birth info, talking about nursing, and talking about all that jazz….and now…look, you’re having a bday party. Wow, time flies!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a staple for me when I was growing up and it’s a staple here in our house, too. As well as other Eric Carle books….we love them all. What a cute party idea!
This is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time – you are SO creative! We read that book almost every single day…I’m going to keep this in mind for May when Adrienne turns one (uhh, that’s a scary thought!) – Happy Birthday Summer!!
LOVE IT!!!!! I can’t wait to celebrate with you guys tomorrow
Always love your craftiness – sooooo good at it. HAPPY EARLY BDAY SUMMER! I’m ready to get my ‘pillar’ on….
a year ago today your life was even more blessed and enriched by this sweet little gem. Happy birthday precious summer.
What a cute theme! Love how colorful everything is!
Happy Birthday Summer!
You are like the Mrs. Crafty, Heather!! I’m seriously impressed!
While I’m always amazed at what you create–in the kitchen, with crafts, Summer herself–I am seriously impressed with the party decor! I see a lot of events and the stationery/decorative elements, and I have to say, you rock, woman!
Happy Birthday to your little angel, and thank you for sharing this post!
Hi Heather:
I’m reading all of this with tears in my eyes. If every child was brought up with the caring and nurturing Summer has received, it would be a better world. Great party! We went to one party once that I thought was novel. They decorated every room like a different country, the kids got passports and had theirs stamped as they passed thru every room. There were activities in every room to do. My friend once made an entire train set out of store bought pound cakes, another bought that Barbie skirt mold, got alot of use out of that also. So much fun. We had a zoo party once, the kids got a real charge out of the animals and of course the snake. Also we hired 2 ponies once and everyone got a ride. That was great.
Happy Birthday Summer ! I know you have enough to do Heather but you could be an event / party planner for children.
Anita, I should be a party planner? Um, I think you should! Love your friend’s Around The World party. I gotta remember that one, and the zoo party sounds like a blast as well. When I was younger, all we did was go to the skating rink. Oh how times have changed. Thanks so much for your kind words. Love, Heather
Thanks for everything. My screen name babriel is short for what the nurses called my son when he was born, they called him Baby Gabriel, I combined it to babriel.
Happy birthday, Summer! Lots of hugs from us on the West Coast.
I think you and Summer are just GLOWING( I adoooore that name BTW!). And a happy birthday to her:)
She is so freakin blessed to have you and CD as parents.
Xxx
Thanks Sarah. We love her name too.
How lovely!! Happy Birthday to Summer
Wow – you certainly went all out, and she won’t even remember this party!!
Meagan, we took lots of pics and captured all the memories.
Happy Happy Birthday to sweet little Summer who has an equally sweet and creative mom. Tomorrow will be the cutest party ever, I’m sure of it!
Thanks Ameena. The party was a lot of fun, but next year, I’m thinking we’ll just order pizza and stick a candle in an oatie. I’m exhausted…but so worth it!
Happy Happy Birthday to the cutest, smartest and most beautiful little girl – and Mum (and Dad CD!) – around
You are blessed and loved Heather because YOU love so much and show so much gratitude for what you have and have been given. That’s true beauty.
Happy Birthday sweet Summer! You did good Heather. Everything looks wonderful! Wish we were there!
Kim, wish you were too, but we’ll see you soon!
Aw, what a fantastic party, Heather! I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed seeing the pictures on Facebook and posts on here over the past year. You remain a glowing, blissful mama and your daughter is so beautiful. Happy 1st birthday, Summer!
Thanks so much Jenn. We’ll be in AZ in late December, and if you’re around would love to meet up for some pita action!
Hi Heather! Happy birthday to Summer! What an amazing journey for you. Very creative birthday party ideas! I hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow
)
Hi Ammera and thank you. We did have a wonderful day.
Happy birthday to Summer! And happy beautiful family to you, C, and Summer all together
Beautiful!
Happy birthday, Summer!!!!!!
awwwww….happy birthday sweet baby summer
Happy Birthday Summer! Wow! I can’t believe she is a year already!
Bless her! You are amazing parents, she is so lucky to have you both!!
xo
Happy Birthday to Summer!!!!
Happy Birthday this very minute sweet baby girl… You are so loved…
Awww…Happy Birthday to Summer!
(And Heather, your party preparations look wonderful.:-))
Oh Heather,
I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to hear of someone truly relishing, enjoying and embracing parenthood. Eric Carle is the perfect inspiration for Summer’s birthday party and you are all an inspiration to me! What a great day you’re going to have! The Eric Carle Museum is right over near where I go to college, although sadly to say, I haven’t made it over yet. Best of luck and looking forward to continuing my read of your blog and journey,
Hannah@mindrunningwild
Thanks so much Hannah, and please make a trip to the museum soon. I’d love to see it someday myself. Maybe Summer and I will take a road trip some day, and we can all go together!
Thank you for allowing us to share the wonderful development of Summer!
wow! indeed it has been a wonderful year and just to see how Summer has grown!
Happy Blessed Birthday to Beautiful, adorable little Summer!
Have a great party!
God bless you all abundantly!
Thanks so much Lena. I’ve so enjoyed sharing this journey with all of you.
oh my gosh! i am in awe of your craftiness! everything looks amazing. i can’t believe summer is one already.
Oh my god, I can’t believe she’s 1 already! It’s like it’s only been a few months! It’s been wonderful following her journey throughout her first year, so thank you for it
)
The party looks amazing, you’ve inspired me to something like that, one day
Happy birthday dear Summer!
Those decorations are cute. She is going to have a great birthday.
Heather– this is amazing! You are inspirational, as always! Happy birthday Summer!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMMER! Hope you’re day is filled with caterpillar love
You sweet little girl!
Heather, you are so amazing! The crafts are so creative and beautiful! A lucky girl, Summer is! Have a great day!
what a lucky girl summer is to have a beautiful, cool, artistic and absolutely wonderful mother
Thank you Emily.
Looks like Summer and I share the same birthday, but her party is going to be way cooler! Happy birthday, sweet Summer!!!
Janknitz,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY – hope you had a good day, even if there were no Eric Carle decorations involved.
Hey Heather,
I have been waiting to see what your theme would be and I love it! I am sure the day has been fantastic and now you are about ready to drop into bed and sleep like a log.
Happy Birthday beautiful wee girl, God bless you!
Love Lorne and Minu
Happy Birthday, sweet Summer! You and your parents are so lucky to have each other <3
Happy Birthday Summer!!!!
I cannot believe it has been a year! I remember reading your birth story in such awe and fascination! It has been fun following Summer’s first year!
Beautiful crafts Heather! You’re so handy with them! Love and birthday wishes to Summer xo
Happy Birthday!!!!
So beautiful, the decorations!
Happy Birthday to Summer. I can’t believe she’s already one!!
The decorations looks beautiful Heather – such a cute idea.
Happy Happy Birthday to your sweet little girl! Can’t believe she’s a year old already. You did a fantastic job with all the decorations and everything!
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 1 trackback }