DIY Personalized Birthday Book

I was browsing for 1st birthday ideas for Connor when I came across this adorable book called Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal. I thought it was so cute, but I wanted to make my own that I could personalize and design just for Connor.

Each birthday for years 1 through 6 has a little interview with questions to answer (or ask the older kids) about their birthday.

Ages 3 through 6 have a little Exclusive Interview Page with questions about what the child likes and thinks about. They'll be really fun to read as they get older and look back!

There's also a section to place a photo from each birthday.

The last page is some questions to ponder for the 6 year old who has just completed their birthday book.

The back side has his birth date printed on it.

I'm so excited to fill this out for Connor's 1st birthday this year and then we can look back at it as he gets older!

Connor's Sock Monkey 1st Birthday Party

My little guy just turned 1 year old! I'm a total dork and have been planning his party since he was about 5 months old. And if you know me well, you know I love sock monkeys, so I couldn't help but pick that for his party theme!

My favorite photo from the special day...
Here's the invitation I designed.
I also printed out matching address labels and envelopes to mail them.
Front door sign
Party hats
I printed out the designs and then spray-glued them onto pre-made party hats. I made little yarn puffs for the top and cut the top of the hat down slightly so they would fit.
The front hall
I set up a little table with a cute birthday poem and a collage of the monthly calendar photos



Centerpieces filled with candy made from baby food jars. I attached 3 balloons to each one and put them around the house and on tables.
Sock monkey monthly banner
This is hard to see in the photo, but I took a picture of him each month with his sock monkey and then put them all together for the banner.

Examples of months 3-5
A little sign asking guests to fill in some pages for Connor's baby book
The kitchen
I made this HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner and hung streamers on the windows
Sock monkey toothpicks
I decided not to make cupcakes, so I put these in some of the food.
The spread!

Chocolate-dipped pretzels (tutorial to come)

The cake (the one thing NOT made by me!)

And just for fun, here's Connor clapping after everyone sang "Happy Birthday"

And him trying out his first piece of cake!

It was such a perfect day and it was so nice to have so many friends and family over to celebrate our little guy turning 1!

Skinny cake batter dip

I planned on making some fancy ice cream sandwich recipe for dessert one night, but the Hubby wasn't into waiting for them to freeze. So for a super quick (complete in just a commercial break!) dessert, I made this instead! So, so good and very addicting!

Ingredients:

• 1 box Funfetti cake mix

• 2 cups fat-free plain yogurt

• 1 cup fat free Cool Whip

• Animal crackers or graham crackers

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, plain yogurt and Cool Whip.

Cover with plastic wrap or foil and allow to chill.

Serve with animal crackers or graham crackers.

Pig out!