first birthday celebration | a garden picnic for nash {part one}

a year ago today was nash’s due date… and now we are reminiscing about all of the joy and wonders and beauty he has brought us. i thought i was as connected as i could be one year ago…  however, it turns out there’s always room for growth and connection. our healthy, happy little boy makes us smile so much our cheeks hurt. he’s a heartbreaker with his tooth gap and tiny, soft curls. he is a daily reminder to celebrate the simple moments and to take every day slowly. 

nash loves sitting on a quilt and playing at the park; eating fruit, listening to music and throwing balls. when we visited my friend’s urban garden at the end of april, he intently watched the chickens cluck and peck all afternoon. it was then that i knew a garden picnic party- next to the chickens- was just what we should do to celebrate our nash charlie turning one. so this past saturday morning, we gathered with a couple of close friends and my husband’s family and we had an intimate picnic in the garden. i kept looking around: taking in the perfect weather, the way the shade trees swayed above, the rooster protecting his coop, and jovial kids running about and playing together.  

it was endearing. 

and was full of so much love for our son.

his birthday gathering was everything i had dreamt of for him

and more.

here are some garden picnic birthday party scenes |

we had the celebration at soulshine organics urban farm – right in the heart of uptown charlotte 

and owned by a friend. their hospitality was so wonderful and we are so grateful. they don’t usually host gatherings (at this time) but i asked and they were so generous and welcoming… 

ready to party!

the invitations were from minted

i adore how they print the addresses on the envelopes for you and the quality is always top notch

we had blueberry and cinnamon muffins with apricot jam, veggies, apples + peaches, three dips from trader joe’s (hummus, guacamole, garlic), chips, popcorn, olives, donuts, bubbly sparkling water, macaroons, cookies, and birthday cake (vanilla with strawberry filling and carrot) for our guests

every guest received a stem with a note from nash as a favor

‘thank you for watching me bloom + grow this year! with love, nash’

i love you, birthday boy

his linen romper + cardigan  | jamie kay . high top oxfords | piper finn

the dessert table

the blocks were from his nursery shelf, the flowers are all from trader joe’s (separate bouquets) and the cakes are from the target bakery (they are reasonable and always taste delicious)

nash’s cake – our baby bird

the nest was thrifted near my hometown for .25!

most of the decor was compiled of pieces we already owned but i have been thrifting for the past few months with a vision in mind

this is how he reacts every time it’s ‘meal time!’ 

those little brass ducks represent parks + nash 

big brother & little brother

i thrifted them recently for $4 and $2 

the kids had a great time i think

-which made me so happy-

i brought some toys, a ‘summer to-do’ board for each family, coloring books/crayons, a play guitar, a few jellycats, books and snacks (fruit snacks + veggie straws) for the kids area

a playlist of some of our favorite songs was playing

‘somewhere over the rainbow’  / his very favorite was included

here is the playlist | nash is one!

just so sweet

my cousin’s little girls are just so darling with him

a representation of what we have been doing over the past year

parks loves hard. oh, he loves him so…

i will be sharing a few more snapshots tomorrow

…

i hope you enjoyed a look into this special morning;

a morning i know i will always cherish.