August’s First Birthday Party

My little guy is one today, and we had a celebration for him over the weekend.






I made a buttermilk cake for August, and Eleanor helped. She was fascinated by the addition of food coloring! First we made the cake red, then added a little blue to show her how to make purple. I made a buttercream frosting for it too and tried to dye it red. It turned out neon pink and looked terrible! So I ran off to the store for some cream, and made chocolate whipped cream frosting instead. I used the neon frosting to write on top of the cake so it wasn’t a complete loss.





We had a bit of fun with one of August’s gifts.

The lion from great-grandmama was a big hit, along with a few other things.




It was such a good day.


Eleanor is annoyed by August sometimes, but it’s clear they love each other too.


Happy first birthday, little guy.

Comments

77 responses to “August’s First Birthday Party”

  1. pigeon pie Avatar

    Such lovely photos and such a delicious looking cake!

  2. Peppercorn Paprikash Avatar
    Peppercorn Paprikash

    Oh sweet mother that last picture is heartbreaking in its…whatever it’s called. Just utterly beautiful.
    And judge me if you will but I want your daughter’s dress for myself.
    As well, the blog design is lovely (this is the first time I’m seeing it, since I usually read your posts in google reader). Bravo!!

  3. Rachel @ A Cupcake for Moose Avatar

    What a great party and delightful photos! I love the one of your little August giving his lion kisses. What a beautiful family you have!

  4. Meg @ This Weekend Life Avatar

    Happy birthday to a fellow Aquarian! I love that you got a colour lesson in during cake making time, and that everyone looks so dapper.

    Congratulations!

  5. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Oh, the last picture of them together is just so sweet. Looks like a great party. My little guy is turning one this Saturday. Happy Birthday, August!

  6. Melissa Avatar

    Love the color of the cake – so fun!

  7. spark Avatar

    Must agree that last photo is a gem! What absolutely gorgeous children you have. I love that they are so clearly brother and sister. My girl is 1 tomorrow too!

  8. Allison Avatar
    Allison

    Such a sweet party! LOVE the last photo. The love between siblings is amazing. But I absolutely adore Eleanor’s dress. I need it for my little girl….where did you get it???

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      It’s from Gwen Stefani’s line for Target.

  9. Callie Grayson Avatar

    Sweet!
    Happy birthday to you little one
    Xx
    Callie

  10. Emily Avatar

    What a cute party. I love first birthdays and that first cake! My third little one is one in a couple of weeks time. Can’t wait.
    And I love love love the last photo. Sibling love is amazing x

  11. kelly Avatar

    Love that last photo. Very lovely indeed.

  12. Melvel Avatar
    Melvel

    I want August’s Breton shirt!

  13. melanie Avatar

    is he one already? wow! love the pictures!

  14. Michael Avatar

    What a beautiful party. You’re photography is stunning. I mean stunning!

    Thanks for taking the time to put this all together! I can’t imagine how long it took. It’s GREATLY appreciated. Just beautiful.

    And, i don’t think i’ve mentioned this before, but I adore the name August.

    Happy Birthday little guy!

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      (I spent all day yesterday, editing photos!)

  15. Kate Avatar

    Happy Birthday August! What adorable children you have. Nice to see a shot of Murray in there too! How’s he handling having two little ones chasing him around all the time?

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      He’s great, and very patient. Eleanor is gentle and sweet with him, but August still needs to learn how to treat him nicely. No pulling on ears, little guy!

  16. emily/thesearethedays Avatar

    August’s stripes are fantastic. I’m doomed to purchase only stripes for my little guy, I’m afraid. I love that you call him Gus. Such a nice name!

  17. Alice Avatar
    Alice

    I can’t believe he’s one already! It looks like it was a great birthday; there is nothing like your mom making a cake for you. Love the last photo – it captures such a sweet moment.

  18. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Was the cake good? Would you mind sharing the recipe?

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      I’m going to share the recipe in a guest post I’m doing for another blog, so I’ll be sure to share once it’s up!

  19. christine // darling studio Avatar

    Oh my gosh, that last photo of them! So sweet. And your cake writing is quite impressive. xo

  20. Monica Avatar

    Happy Birthday August!! Looks like a fun party. That last photo is precious.

  21. Danielle Avatar
    Danielle

    I love the posts you do with lots of photos! These are great and told the story well. Looks like August had a great 1st birthday!

  22. NicoleD Avatar

    So sweet! Lovely photos and nice handwriting on the cake!

  23. Riley Avatar

    august sure looks like his daddy!! i’m glad you guys had such a great time!

  24. Marianne Avatar

    One already!! Time flies.. Congratulations!!!

  25. Angel Avatar

    So sweet. Happy Birthday to him! :)

  26. Donaville Avatar

    that last photo, so darling! wishing your littlest one the happiest of birthdays :)

  27. Cecilia Avatar

    this is too sweet! i love all the little details. happy birthday, august!

  28. Sadhbh Avatar

    Happy Birthday August. Looks like a great party! Your family is adorable. I love when siblings show their affection for each other. My twins (22 months) have just started to be randomly overly-affectionate with each other. They could be busy playing away on opposite sides of the room when suddenly one will just come over and grab the other – hugging so hard that they wrestle each other to the ground. It’s unbearably cute.

    Great post Nicole!

  29. K Avatar

    Aww, how sweet! They’re both so stinkin’ adorable I can’t even stand it!
    Happy birthday, August!

  30. Little Gray Pixel Avatar

    I love the way the cake turned out! I’m regretting not baking my own cake for my daughter’s first birthday. The cupcakes we ordered were OK, but they weren’t as good as my mom’s recipe for Chocolate Chocolate Cake.

  31. Christina W. Avatar
    Christina W.

    Oh my goodness, the pics where he’s loving on his new lion friend are just precious. Eleanor’s dress and the cake are adorable, too! I hope I didn’t skip over it in the comments somewhere, but where did you find the cute tassel pillow? I can’t tell if it’s a pillow case on a bed pillow or just a kinda large throw pillow, but either way it had me at the tassels.

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      The pillow is by Proud Mary. I love the tassels too.

  32. Emily Avatar

    Happy Birthday, August! Looks like he had a wonderful 1st. My birthday is the 8th, too! :)

  33. Lilly Avatar
    Lilly

    Do you have a photography book you can recommend? Was the class you took online for very basic photography or you needed to have some knowledge?

  34. jbhat Avatar
    jbhat

    Gus! Love the nickname. Happy 1st birthday, kiddo, and congratulations to his mommy, dad and big sister on this wonderful milestone.

    jbhat

  35. Miss B. Avatar

    I am having heart palpitations how did one year pass so fast? WOW! He’s one! Happy Birthday August!!!

  36. Annie Avatar
    Annie

    You have two of the most beautiful children!

  37. Kelley Avatar

    Oh, that last photo is amazing.

  38. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    Happy Birthday Little Love! It has been so wonderful watching August’s first year and Eleanor this year also. My how they have grown so beautifully! There is no denying they are siblings xox. Darling photos of a most precious Milestone!
    Tina

  39. Sasha Avatar
    Sasha

    You have the most adorable family! Looks like fun was had by all. Happy Birthday August!

  40. Joy_UK Avatar
    Joy_UK

    One thing is certain: you and Brandon know how to make beautiful and adorable children! hehehe

    Party looks amazing, everything is just so authentic and different.
    Love it all!

  41. Daniela Avatar

    your kids are adorable Nicole and i love the party decoration.

  42. Daniela Avatar

    oh, i also love they way you dress your kids:)

  43. Melissa Avatar

    Happy Birthday, August! What a fun affair, it’s getting me really excited to get started on Felix’s birthday party. I’m absolutely in love with August’s little striped sweater. Where did you find it?

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      It was from baby Gap, but I picked it up last year on clearance (and held on to it until it fit).

  44. Rebecca @ beautiful square feet Avatar

    Aw, happy birthday August! You all look like you had a lovely time. The pictures of August and Eleanor are so cute! Also, wanted to thank you as we picked up some Olivia books from the library yesterday on your recommendation, and Torin loves them!

  45. Caroline Avatar

    So sweet! Your little dudes are super cute together.
    And August has really great facial expressions.

  46. Melissa Avatar

    that last picture….love it!!! so,so,so precious! Happy birthday August!

  47. Kristín Avatar

    Congratulations! Such a sweet party :) my little guy is turning 1 on Valentine’s day.

  48. Sarah van Loon Avatar

    I can’t believe it’s been a year already! Look how he’s grown! Wow. Congratulations on making it through the first year of having 2 kids, Nicole! Your party looked absolutely terrific and filled with love. :)

  49. Carrie Hogan Avatar
    Carrie Hogan

    Where on earth did you find Elenors dress? IT is LOVELY! Happy Birthday August.

  50. Carrie Hogan Avatar
    Carrie Hogan

    Got my answer!

  51. Allison Avatar

    Happy happy birthday August!!!!

  52. I Heart Motherhood Avatar

    i’ve only really just found your blog, but what a beautiful post, the photos are gorgeous.

  53. belinda Avatar

    ohh bless him. happy birthday little man! eek – that means miss immy will be turning one soon. in a month exactly, actually. she looks too small though!!!! glad you all had a great day! x

  54. Kara Avatar
    Kara

    The last picture of the two of them is so sweet.

  55. kate Avatar
    kate

    Adorable kids! And great photos!

  56. kate Avatar
    kate

    I just wanted to add how much I like the new site- easy to navigate. The house tour is great!

  57. Jody Avatar
    Jody

    Happy birthday to August! Love the pictures!

  58. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com Avatar

    Happy Birthday August :)

    You all are a very beautiful family…

  59. Jaden Avatar
    Jaden

    Adorable! Also Eleanor’s dress is soooooo cute!! Where did you get that? Or did you make it…?!

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      It’s from the Gwen Stefani line for Target.

  60. Helen Carrillo Avatar

    Happy Birthday August! <3 very sweet picts

  61. Helen K-B Avatar
    Helen K-B

    Too cute! What a beautiful family.
    Happy Birthday to the little man! x

  62. Jennifer Avatar

    So darling! Happy Birthday little man!

  63. Starlet Avatar

    Nicole! That last photo is priceless. Did you take all these beautiful shots yourself?

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      Most of them, but that last photo was snapped by my sister. It needed a lot of editing, but I’m so glad to have the shot.

  64. Jill Browning Avatar

    That last picture is so sweet. And his cake was really cute too! :)

    1. Jill Browning Avatar

      And I really like how my name looks in this awesome font. It makes me feel fancy. ;)

  65. Nicole RJ Avatar
    Nicole RJ

    Such sweet photos! And love the hearts everywhere! My little lady had her first b-day party a couple of weeks ago and I was loving all the heart shaped treats available courtesy of Valentine’s!

  66. Silvi Avatar
    Silvi

    Dear Nicole,

    I absolutely love your decorations.
    Would you mind posting a “how to” for the garlands?

    Thanks a lot!

    xoxo
    Sil

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      Oh, they were easy! Just fishing line and tape. I’ll post another photo of them on Valentine’s Day.

  67. […] Bookmark or Share 0 comments It is a coincidence that I decorated with hearts for August’s first birthday party last week. (I associate Eleanor with elephants, and August with hearts. Because I’m odd.) […]