Happy Birthday Knox (One Day Late!)

Knox had an amazing first birthday!  We had a fantastic birthday party with wonderful family and friends, though we missed Grammy & Grandaddy, who weren't able to make it.  The party was puppy dog themed from the invites to the decorations and the cake.  

I made Knox a sign for outside in the shape of a dog bone that read, "Happy 1st Birthday Knox" completed with a bunch of balloons.  The center piece was a dog bowl full of tennis balls and smaller signs that read "Knox" and "1".  All food was served out of dog bowls (new and never used, obviously).  I made party hats out of felt for the adults and doggy ears out of felt for the kiddos.  Food included veggie pizza, kiwi & pear salad with banana smoothie dip, sausage balls to resemble dog food, bread sticks tied to resemble dog bones and pineapple cream cheese dip with crackers.  We had one large cake flanked by four smaller cakes to resemble a puppy paw.  Knox didn't dig into the cake as much as I thought he would, but I still think he enjoyed the sugar.  :)  Opening presents was more like playing with presents as Mommy opened them.  Everyone was so generous and Knox loves all of his gifts.  The party came to end with handing out favors in the form of "doggy bags" full of dog bone shaped cookies, cups with puppy paws and names, and small containers of Play-doh for the kids.  Check out a few pics of the festivities below.

I can't believe it's been a year since our crazy hospital visit that resulted in the birth of our amazing baby boy.  Well, he's actually classified as a toddler now.  I can't believe that either.  He has been such a wonderful blessing in our lives--he has made me a better person and watching him grow everyday is truly a gift.

While I'm talking about birth and a child, I want to stop a second to share this website with you, which I found on a sorority sister's blog.  The Compassionate Friends is asking people who know someone who has lost a child at any age for any reason to light a candle on December 14th at 7:00pm (your local time) in remembrance of that child.  I'll be lighting one for Katherine Nix Bowling--I love you, Jayma.  As we remember your sweet angel Katherine, we'll be looking forward to the bright life and future of Baby Bowling you now carry with you.

The centerpiece

The puppy print cake

Knox wearing the doggy ears

The grown-up kids in the hats I made

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!