A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

This has been THE fastest year of my life! I cannot believe that one year ago, I was 31 weeks pregnant, thinking I had 2 months left to go, only to develop preeclampsia and have an emergency c/s!

This year has been just amazing. He is truly the light of my eyes. I knew what it was to love before, yes; but I didn't know THIS kind of love. The kind that takes over your heart and mind and body in a way that no other love ever has. He's a beautiful boy in so many ways. So happy, so sweet, so fun, so inquisitive, so funny... so much more than I ever hoped for. I feel SO LUCKY to be his mother, that he is MY son. I feel SO LUCKY that he is happy and HEALTHY, when things could have really been bad. I say all the time, but what did I do right in life to deserve him? And I thank God every day for giving me this beautiful gift.

Now on to some pics! We had a Yo Gabba Gabba themed 1st birthday party. I had a TON of ideas and got to a lot of them, but there were a few things I didn't get to do or use. Still, I think it went pretty well.

Dessert table - I made all the chocolate covered goodies. The cake was made by Dawn, the cake lady that has been mentioned quite a few times on here (thanks Tine73 for her info!). The cake was DEEEEEEEELICIOUS and people really liked the look of it too.


Brobee (green) layer was vanilla cake with raspberry filling. Plex (yellow) layer was chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling. Muno (red) layer was vanilla cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. YUM YUM YUM.

The "base" of the cake was two medium size priority mail (post office) boxes side by side, wrapped in wrapping paper


Chocolate covered: pretzels, marshmallows, oreo truffles, and cake balls. YUM! It was my first time making the cake balls (I went with butter golden cake mixed with vanilla frosting) and they were a HUGE HUGE hit! And as always, people loved the oreo truffles.


Wrapped utensils


Birthday banner. A HUGE thanks to DmarieK for making the scalloped squares and circles in different colors for me! THANK YOU!!! I used those to make the birthday banner, printed and cut out the letters, strung together, added bows and voila! Took me a long time (um, everything took me so much longer than I thought it would! lol), but it looked cute I think.


Games & Entertainment!

I bought the ALEX TOYS Parachute on Amazon that comes with 16 balls. This was a really big hit with the kids (so much so, that I had to take it away after a while, lol! The older kids started to go nuts with it, haha). The little ones (and some of the big ones!) loved going under the parachute as we lifted it up and down, too cute. And they all loved bouncing the balls on the 'chute (and making them fly all over the place too )


I made a "Pin the Eye on Muno" game (same idea as pin the tail on the donkey). I hand cut the Muno shape out of posterboard paper and glued it onto a foam board. Used felt sticky letters to write the name of the game on top, cut out "eyes" and voila! I was really happy with how it came out and the kids loved playing it.




We gave all the kids (and ourselves, lol) DJ Lance Glasses instead of party hats. haha


Here are our very own Maria (Blissful) - wearing the DJ Lance glasses - and her beautiful Lexi too



I also wanted a YGG pinata, but I could only find the boombox online. I saw a Brobee Pinata someone had made online and decided I could make my own. Well, I did it, but it took FOREVER! I cannot even tell you guys how many HOURS I spent on this. My mom came over on the morning of the party to help me finish putting the "fur" on him! But, it WORKED, the kids loved it, and I'm so proud of it. In fact, I wouldn't let them throw it away so now it's at my house






We also brought a few of DS' ride on toys to the party place and the kids played with those.


And as a special guest of honor, DJ Lance showed up!
(This is one daddy that LOVES his DS to get dressed up like this!)





DS' outfit!
I made Muno shirts for DS, DH, and me Bought red shirts for all of us, cut out the eyes and mouth/teeth out of sticky felt, stuck on and sewed on the pieces. On DS' shirt, I ironed on his name and a big #1 on the back too.




And he wore the YGG vans high tops that I got him!


I had a birthday crown made for him by Tara (Love N Hope Designs on Facebook). I showed her a picture I had found online and she made the changes I wanted and it came out so cute!!! Thank you Tara!!!


Each of the crown "tips" has a different YGG character face!




I also made him a Plex shirt that he changed into at the end of the party since he got cake and chocolate all over his Muno shirt :)



Some of our special guests! Blissful and DD Lexi, and Maybeamommy and DS Loey




They even made a love connection!


Loey!


DS' first time having chocolate




I also made goody bags for the kids, but don't have a pic right now. I will try to upload and post later.

Thanks for looking! Sorry for the overload of pics

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Gorgeous! I love them! Happy Birthday!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

He is such a blessing!!! God bless Henry!! Happy birthday beautiful boy!!!! xoxoxo

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

What an amazing birthday!!!!!!!!!

He's a gorgeous, fabulous child and you are a wonderful mommy!!! Congratulations on an incredible year!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

wow..what a party!! Looks like everyone had a great time! The treats/cake look delish and your DS is soooo cute!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

You did a fantastic job!!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Happy 1st Birthday! I love the theme and everything you did. Great job!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Wow!! You did a great job!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

god Bless Henry !

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

you made me want to cry. We love Henry.

Happy Birthday gorgeous boy!!!!!

and girl that pinata is KICK ***!!! holy moly. awesome job!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Umm totally bookmarking this to steal all of your ideas because I was thinking I'd do Yo Gabba Gabba for DD's bday. LOVE the cake!

Happy 1st birthday!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY!!!!!!!


Awesome party! Everything looks great!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Happy Birthday Henry! What a great looking party!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Great pics!! Nice job on the pinata, very impressive! And your DH dressed up as DJ Lance cracked me up!

Looks like everything was wonderful and that people had a great time. Happy 1st Bday Henry!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

EVERYTHING LOOKS AWESOME!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

WOWOWOwow everything looked amazing!!! Looked like a really fun party and I love all the details and that you did so much yourself, that pinata was awesome! I love his ygg high tops too!

You are making me want to plan DD's 2nd bday now, even though it's 5 months away!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Wow everything looked great. We are doing the same cake for DS birthday. Loved they way yours came out. Did you do it yourself?

Such a happy & handsome 1 year old boy!!!

ETA: The more I look at your pics the more I realize I had the same ideas. I bought DS a pair of Brobee vans and a Brobee tee to wear that day and DH made a similar game with Muno lol. I guess Yo Gabba Moms think alike.

Message edited 3/11/2011 1:59:38 PM.

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

That looked like an awesome party!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

OMG! That came out great!!! Looks like so much fun and he's sooo cute!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Looks amazing!!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Great pictures! Your son is adorable!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

aww happy birthday!!! what an amazing party!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Happy Birthday Henry!!!!

and great job mama!!!!

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

What a handsome birthday boy! And I'm really impressed with all the stuff you made! Looks like it was a fantastic party.

Re: A year ago, a 3lb 6oz preemie... Now, a 22lb ONE YEAR OLD! With OVERLOAD of Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party pics!

Happy birthday Henry! Everything looks amazing!