This year, my daughter’s 4th birthday theme is Gabby’s Dollhouse. Parents would want to only make their kids happy, especially on their birthday. To be honest, we are not a party people. I don’t like the idea of preparing because I’ve seen it and experienced it, it’s exhausting. Having two kids won’t be a good idea for us. But this year, it made it easy. We found the perfect place and got ideas to make life easier.

Birthday Theme

Zoey’s 4th Birthday theme is Gabby’s Dollhouse. Gabby’s Dollhouse is an animated TV series on Netflix. In the series, Gabby, the main character, and her cat friends, called Gabby Cats go on adventures within her dollhouse.

I knew she would be delighted. Every year, I try to match the theme based on her liking. On her 1st birthday, I decided to do a simple decoration called Boho style, a creative aesthetic decoration. Her 2nd birthday was Peppa Pig which she is still crazy about. And her 3rd birthday was Mickey Mouse.

With all honesty, I am still in disbelief that I am a mommy now. HAHA, Having been able to prepare a party for my kids is, I guess, one of my greatest joys.

It’s Zoey’s Cat-tastic birthday party!

Venue

We are grateful for the venue we found, it’s called Hunga Indoor Playground Aruba. For the past three years, every Zoey’s birthday has been a rainy season. I was always hesitant to plan a party for her because I couldn’t find a better place, plus most of the kids were sick, including Zoey. Every year on her birthday week, she’s sick, no kidding.

So this year, I really prayed hard that she would really enjoy her day. And boom, thank God for this time. She finally had her time to enjoy her day with other kids and friends. I think it’s a good age because she can remember everything now.

And again, we found the most beautiful indoor playground for her party. My heart was really happy. We prayed for it. We were planning and thinking if this was worth it or practical. Before we went to the venue to reserve, I prayed. I asked the Lord for a sign (it’s my thing now – asking for signs). “Lord, if you want Zoey to have a party this time, let the place be available that day. If the day was booked already, I was ready to decide not to have a party, and we’d just go eat somewhere.

And ta-dah! It’s available. We rented and paid for the place the same day. And this venue for a kid’s party is highly recommended.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Grateful to my cousin, Chris for always being available to be our photographer. He also did our prenuptial photoshoot a few years ago. He’s the best! Thank you, Boy! 🙂

Zoey’s friends

We are very pleased to know that the kids enjoyed the party. 🙂 I am happy, as a mom to see her playing around with them. Life is supposed to be shared with others.

After singing happy birthday to her, I requested Zoey to pray. She did. It’s the sweetest, she prayed that the Lord would bless everyone. God bless her.

Our family photo

Here’s the family photo. Thank God! Finally. Life is busy and we don’t even have the time to take pictures of ourselves as a family. Here’s one! Thank God for the gift of love and family 🙂

Meet the parents. HEHE

We were tired here but still, God is good for giving us excitement and joy 🙂 Pizza time! 🙂

Vendors

Thank you for all the fantastic work. God bless your talents, gifts and business.

Gabby’s Dollhouse decoration by: Bee Creative by Melissa

Cake & cookies by: Emmy Loves Cake Boutique

Invitation, cake topper, and favor bags by yours truly Princess Leah Collections. I made the stickers and stuck them to the paper bags. I decided on three colors: Mint, which is for Zoey’s kindergarten class. Black and purple are for the party.

Mommy And Daughter

Mommy and daughter picture for the last. Thank God for this party, we all enjoyed it. 🙂 I named her Zoey, it means life. She was born on Halloween, but I know that Zoey will give LIFE wherever she goes. God bless her beautiful heart. Happy birthday to my first born 🙂

Thank you for reading this blog, as well.

Have a wonderful day. Blessings! 🙂

Let’s do a throwback Thursday! Today, I will be sharing some of Zoey’s cute pictures of her first birthday. I know it’s kind of late, she’s now three years old. I’ve been wanting to post my daughter’s journey and milestones, but you know? They just got stuck in my head and drafts. But I know it’s still not too late. So, let me start with Zoey’s first birthday photoshoot.

Though I have some posts about her in the past years such as Zoey’s Love Day, Feel it again. Be confident + the Beach, etc. Feel free to browse I have never blogged about her journey as she grows, and that is one thing I would love to do this year.

It’s so great to look back to these moments. She’s the cutest. I’m grateful to friends, Valerie and Khate for helping me with this photoshoot.

First Birthday Photoshoot

I thank God for her life. I pray that she will grow up knowing and loving Jesus in her life. My prayer is that the Lord will protect her at all times.

Camera Shy

Zoey doesn’t like the camera that much. She’s camera shy. There were times when she notice I am recording her, she changed her mood. It’s so amazing how she reacts. She smiles at us but when there was the camera, she started to hide it. I wonder why, I wonder what is in her beautiful little mind.

I will share some facts about Zoey one year life. She started singing before she even talk. I would sing her songs, a lot of songs when I put her to sleep. And she memorized them, I guess. So at her age, one-year-old at that time, she was already singing and in tune. Thank you, Jesus. One of her favorites is ‘Jesus loves me’.

She could say “AWA” means water in the Papiamento language. Her first word was PAPA, I think she meant Daddy. And when she was 8 months old, she finally called me “Mommy”. The sweetest word I’ve ever heard in my life from this little angel of ours.

I praise God for Zoey’s life. It’s not her birthday today, HAHA but I just wanted to appreciate the beauty of life. Grateful for this wonderful blessing, she’s one of the greatest!

First Birthday Theme

I just wanted it to be simple, we were supposed to invite family and friends, but it was a pandemic. We checked into a hotel and there were rules. We couldn’t invite others to the hotel. It was frustrating because at first, they said it was fine but then they decided no other people were in the room unless they are also checked in.

To make it short, we still try to have a good time despite the situation. We decorated the room with some garland and flowers, and a touch of Rose gold color.

Family picture

The parents are the happiest. I wonder what my baby is thinking here. HAHA

Next, I will share her 2nd and 3rd Birthday themes. Thank you for being here! 🙂

I was shocked when my three-year-old daughter told me, “Mommy, I’m not a good girl. I’m a bad girl” She was crying and kept repeating these words.

“Why would you say that, Zoey? Who told you that?” I asked.

“I’m a bad girl because I disturbed everybody” she answered.

We were in the car preparing to go home from church service. She just suddenly said these words and it truly breaks my heart as her mom. So I had to explain to her that she is not a bad girl. Reminding her that she is a very good girl. That God created her very beautiful, nice, sweet, and very smart and repeatedly told her she is a good girl.

Sunday Worship Service

During Sunday service, Zoey could be very active, walking around and just being a kid. She’s just three years old, and I know that she has to still learn a lot of things, one is behaving well when we go to church. Of course, with all honesty, when she’s being loud and walking around, giving everybody goldfish snacks including the pastor speaking, I kind of feel embarrassed. Not of her, but her innocent action.

We would tell her what not to do and behave. Zoey is allowed to be who she is, that is for sure. She could be difficult but that’s how she is and we love her as she is.

I reminded her that even mommy and daddy scold her at times, telling her what to do, the don’t do this and that doesn’t mean that she is a bad girl. “You are a very good girl, Zoey” and constantly telling her that.

I also reminded her what she did to me today after the service, she saw me crying while talking to some friends at church, came to me, and asked me with a concerned face “Mommy, why are you crying?” she gave me a hug and wiped my tears a few times. She’s the sweetest.

So I told her, “Zoey, you are a very nice kid. Mommy is sad that you feel that way, I don’t want you to feel that. Because it is not true, you are a good girl”

Before we sleep…

We went home and when I was putting her to sleep, I recalled our conversation and couldn’t get over it. So I told her again, “Zoey, know that mommy and daddy love you as you are. You are a good girl, okay?”

“Okay, mommy” she answered.

And she’s sleeping now while writing this blog. I’ve been preparing a different topic as a first post this year. But there’s an urge in me to share this one.

Dear Parents

We do have a big responsibility to make our children feel loved and accepted. It’s good to teach them manners but one of the important things they also have to learn is to love themselves and believe that God created them wonderfully.

We may scold them all the time because of the challenging attitude they have as they grow, but teaching them to speak positively about themselves is one of the priorities.

Honestly, I’m surprised that she feels this way at her age. But it’s also eye-opening for me as her mom. If I would like my daughter to talk positively about herself, I should be doing the same.

Speak Life

If you look down on yourself and have low self-esteem, it’s time to speak life. God reminded me to see myself the way HE sees me. He is our heavenly father who created us beautifully and wonderfully. The enemy will try to steal that from us from believing the opposite.

Whenever you feel it, rebuke it and speak God’s word upon your life. Because the TRUTH is… GOD is truly in love with us. He sees us as lovely, righteous, and holy.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

Hope you are having a great day, lovelies! Thank you for stopping by. ’till next time.