Happy 1st Birthday Little Monkey!!!!

I absolutely cannot believe my baby is ONE!!! This has been the BEST year of my life and we daily thank the Lord for His GOOD and PERFECT gift to us! He was worth every tear, every shot, every doctors visit, and every minute of the 2 1/2 years we waited!

We had his "little" family party (35+ people) 2 weekends ago so these are all from then. I'm so bummed I didn't take pics of the food because I took the opportunity to experiment on some recipes I've been developing for AMacs and was going to blog about it on our website..anyways, for you "foodies" who care...my dad smoked some BBQ (chicken, boston butt, ribs etc), then for the sides we did Blue Cheese Slaw, Barefoot Contessa's Baked Beans that you soak the beans all night and then cook in the oven for 6 hours...delish!, Smoked Gouda Mac N Cheese, Pimento Cheese BLT's on Crostini for apps, Homemade Potato Chips with Parmesan and spices and of course Cupcakes for dessert! Needless to say, I had the most fun making and planning the food and cake....but I surprisingly got into some "crafts" and made his sign and a few other little things...I enjoy it but I remembered why I don't do it very often..because I'm a perfectionist when it comes to that stuff and it takes me much longer to "perfect" than food!!!!

Andy's mom made his adorable little shirt

All we do at Ashley Mac's is write, pipe dots, monograms and some other simple designs so I had fun doing a kids Bday cake for a change...although it reminded me how thankful and spoiled I am to have a bakery because Andy's mom just watched him the morning of his party so I could go up and bake and decorate at the kitchen since all the decorating supplies are there- sure makes it easy!

More pics coming soon from his "on the actual day party" with his little friends....which was much more low key than this one but very fun!

Weekend Eats!

ahhh......I'm so behind on blog posts!!!! Can barely keep up with Ashley Mac's which is actually a necessity since it's my job.....pics of Ryder coming soon...until then check out the Ashley Mac's blog...

http://www.ashleymacs.com/blog/post/weekend-eats

Baby/Kid Friendly Recipes

More baby/kid friendly recipes on the Ashley Mac's blog!

http://www.ashleymacs.com/blog/post/ryders-favorite-foods

Ryder's Rotten.....

Ryder just enjoyed his third trip to the beach...and he hasn't even hit the big ONE yet! We are so thankful to have a free place to go- so I am sure to take full advantage of it!(: We absolutely LOVE the beach and thankfully, I think we have already turned Ryder into a beach bum as well!

My parents, Scott, and my future sister-in-law (woo hoo!) got to join us too..it was such a treat!

Nap time! Which thanks to my parents meant "beach time" for me!!! I mean, let's face it, is there any other way to go to the beach when you have kids except with the grandparents?!!!

Time to wash all that sand off!!!

I would like to say this is his first taste of ice cream...but I'm pretty sure that was months ago..he's definitely his mother's child! I think he has my taste buds too...because he seemed to enjoy this homemade ice cream from the peach park more than "store bought" ice cream...

Opa (my dad) is no doubt Ryder's favorite...yes, even more favorite than me!..he cries every time he has to leave him. Per the picture below you can probably see why...he plays with him for hours...and takes him around to show him EVERYTHING!! "Ryder here's the shell, do you see the shell? where did the shell come from? Ryder here's the ocean, look at this oil in the ocean, it's not supposed to be here...Ryder oh look here's the sea gulls...look there's a plane..." you get the idea...he's quite entertaining! Dad, I love you and I love the way you love Ryder!(:

Check out those massive 2 front teeth...there so big for such a little guy...ha!

Out to one of our many yummy dinners! thanks Mom and Dad!

Below...once again, with...surprise...OPA! I mean, what kid doesn't want to be carried around in a shopping bag! I was just waiting for the bottom to bust open!

HAPPY 21st Birthday to Christy!!!! We had fun celebrating out our favorite place, Villagio..amazing food!

He LOVED the water hose...and pitched his first temper-tantrum when I took it away from him!

A "Yummy" GIVE-AWAY!

I love when people do blog give-away's....so, we decided to do one on our Ashley Mac's blog...if you live in Bham check it out....you can win a dozen free cookies (of our NEW Chocolate Chip)!

http://www.ashleymacs.com/blog/post/name-our-new-chocolate-chip-cookie-and-win-big

Summer Time!

I could watch him eat corn on the cob for hours...hilarious!

Slip in slide at my aunts with all his little cousins!

"Bathing Suits are over-rated"

Isaac and Ryder fighting..I mean playing with the beach ball....

My little buddies..