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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Preparing (really early) for a First Birthday!

I have customized and ordered the invitations for Wyatt's first birthday celebration. I know I still have just under three months left, but this is the one thing in my life I don't want to procrastinate on.


It's been really tough trying to decide exactly what we wanted to do for Wyatt's birthday. I've been worried that I am going to put all this effort into planning a nice day to remember Wyatt, only for nobody to show up. I'm willing to take that risk however, because I can't just let this special day pass by forgotten like I feel his life has been so far (Not by my bloggy friends but by most of our IRL friends and family). I want to celebrate the day my son lived and claimed his place here on earth for two minutes and then his eternal place in heaven. I want to rejoice that my son has spent an entire year in the presence of our Lord in heaven.

To celebrate, Joseph and I (after a lot of disagreeing and tears) decided to do a memorial walk for Wyatt where we would walk one mile in honor of his first birthday in heaven. Why are we walking? It will symbolize the steps we are taking for him that he should have been here to take. Because we hold him in our hearts, he will be taking those steps with each and every one of us that walks for him in love.

The walk will then be followed by the reading of a poem I plan on writing to Wyatt and a balloon release.

Of course food will be served afterwards. After all, this IS a birthday party of sorts!

I really wanted to make Wyatt a cake and sing "happy birthday in heaven", but my husband isn't entirely comfortable doing that with everyone. We will be doing this portion of Wyatt's birthday in the privacy of our own home. I have an adorable little cake idea but you'll have to wait until his birthday post to see it. I will let you know however that the design I'm doing involves an elephant of course!

Again, I know it's still a few months away, but I want to invite anyone who would like to that is around the area to join us. If not physically, in thought. You are all invited! I'd also like to ask you to consider sending me pictures of a balloon you might release for Wyatt on June 1st or even just a picture of his name written somewhere. Anything to keep the day from passing without his life being remembered. I remember Wyatt everyday... his birthday is a day I hope I'll get to see that others haven't forgotten what a special boy he is to them as well. (Again, I'm referring more to IRL people than my bloggy friends... your support is cherished and I know your always here!)

Now that you know what I have planned, can I get some ideas from you? What are some other things I can do to make his birthday special? I've thought about shirts, buttons, custom water bottle labels...but I haven't decided on any of those things yet. We are naming a star after Wyatt in the hercules constellation where my husband already has one named after him in honor of his first father's day! I thought it would be neat for their stars to be close to one another. Other than tat, I'm at a loss. Any ideas are welcomed!

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16 comments:

Franchesca said...

First of all, I LOVE the invitation, how adorable! I am so glad you'll are doing a walk for Wyatt with other people. My hubby wasn't too thrilled about celebrating Jenna's would be birthday with anybody but the two of us, which I guess is ok. I really wanted a celebration, but anyway, we decided to do a dove release. Another idea might be a butterfly release. You know the people that did the dove release for us at the gravesite service actually do it in Tennessee too. I thought it was bizarre, in Texas and in Tennessee.. but anyway if you want the info just let me know.

xx

The Suburban Princess said...

I think that this is a wonderful way to celebrate your son, Wyatt! The invitations are so sweet.

I have been reading your blog for awhile now (I found you on Ashley's blog - Nolan's Story) and I think your family is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story.

The Suburban Princess said...

Oh, and I almost forgot! I think t-shirts are a great idea! I am a sucker for them. We have one in rememberance of a dear friend that we lost a year ago in Afghanistan and we are having a life celebration for him in the next few weeks.

Ashley D said...

You just inspired me! Now I want to do the SAME thing. I love your wording. You may just find a copycat (with your approval) doing some of the same things in June.

The Suburban Princess said...

I love your "good kind of full" comment! I am going to have to start using that!

Rikki said...

aww that invitation is so so cute. I cant wait to see the cake. I really wanted to make a really nice cake for my boys birthday but it didnt work out so i had to buy one.
The walk is a really great idea i wish i had of started planning earlier then i did.

Nati @ I will praise Him said...

I absolutely love the idea of having a celebration for Wyatt. The invitation is SO adorable!

Maybe you could have some of those rubber braceletts made. You know the ones usually used for fundraisers? It could have something like "Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven, Wyatt" or something like that on it.

Jill said...

I love, love, love the invitation. I think what you are planning is wonderful. It sounds like it will be a special day full of love and honoring Wyatt.

crystal theresa said...

the invitation is beautiful! and i think the memorial walk is a great idea. we are celebrating Calvin's 1st birthday this weekend, and we're also doing a balloon release. we are sending up one blue balloon for him (for 1 year) and everyone else will release yellow balloons. i'm also going to have scrapbook material so people can write him messages, which we can put in a baby scrapbook i bought for him.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

The invitation is lovely. I think the walk is a perfect idea. Also having a star named after Wyatt is a beautiful idea. I will be there in thought.

Anonymous said...

Those invitations are darling! I would surely come if I didn't live so far away.I hope lots of people come to honor Wyatt.Is there a zoo there? Here, people can sponsor animals at the zoo. I have no idea what that costs, but wouldn't it be neat if an elephant was sponsored by friends of Wyatt?
Blessings, Sarita sboyette@tx.rr.com

Holly said...

I love his invitation! I kinda wish I would've sent out invitations instead of doing the online thing but oh well!!

We are doing the star thing too!!

Holly said...

You've inspired me to send out an invitation. Even though it's kinda getting late for it, it would be nice to have it anyway. Thanks!!

Mary said...

I love everything about your plans. The invitation is very Wyatt. The walk is

I like the shirt idea too. Hopefully you can get a good deal. I got my shirts at the Micheal's craft store for $4.

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful idea. I love the invitations. I am at a loss for ideas, I'm trying to come up with some of my own for Shealyn's birthday.
hugs

Jill said...

I have came across your page from another mommies blog. I have been searching forever, for an idea for my sweet daughter's First Birthday, who is in Heaven. Her birthday is April 27th, only days away. I absolutely love the invitation, I cried when I came across it, but I thought the walk in the honor of the steps that should have been taken is beautiful. I was thinkinig or wondering if maybe I can "borrow" that idea too. Im running out of time. I am not sure where or what exactly else I am going to do but I definitely want to celebrate my Naomi's special day.

Congrats on your pregnancy! & your 2 little kids are just simply adorable, and baby Wyatt is beautiful. May God Bless you & your family.