Note: I know Annie is almost 14 months old. Yes... it did take me almost two months to write this post. But we did move a couple of weeks ago, so maybe that's a good excuse?
Am I the only mom out there that started off saying “We’re really going to keep this first birthday party nice and simple”? 30 handmade birthday invitations, 12 pounds of BBQ pork, 12 cupcakes + a cake, 2 canvas paintings, 1 “custom” doormat, 1 birthday crown, 60 chocolate-covered bananas, and 6 balloons later, I’m not sure how “simple” it really was. But it was fun and I did it on a small budget, so that should count for something!
I’m glad we went with just a cupcake for Annie instead of an entire “smash cake.” She ate the entire cupcake without taking a breath, so if there had been more to devour, she might have ended up in a sugar coma on the floor. 
Here’s Annie with her first of many birthday crowns. She left this on for about 2.5 seconds. 
Family picture! HUGE thanks to our friend Emily Lavender for taking so many great pictures of Annie on her birthday! She's a great photographer and if you're in Nashville, visit her blog and book a session with her. I can't wait to post Annie's 1-year-old pictures that she took recently! 
Our VERY talented friend Denette made Annie’s matching birthday cake and cupcakes for the party. (Please visit her blog and if you’re in the Nashville-area, order a cake from her!) 
The monkey-themed front door.
Annie’s custom melbelle birthday canvas. I’m sure once she heads to college, she’ll be sure to take this with her to hang up on her birthday every year!
