{Little He or Little She: Our Gender Reveal Party}

The long awaited Gender Reveal Party post is here!

Only like two months late ...

Hallelujah! 

Let's just go ahead and begin with what ya'll really want to see...the video! 

So here she is...enjoy!

Okay so now for all of the juicy details! 

I really didn't want to find out in front of everyone at the party. I know myself, and my emotions, and knew that I would need some time to totally soak it all in. 

I also didn't want to find out at the ultrasound room because it just felt strange to be to find out in a doctors office...very clinical. 

Little did we know that the ultrasound place we went to was literally like a spa! It was amazing! I walked into the room and asked the guy if he was about to give me a massage...that's how amazing and luxurious this place was. 

Wendel and I went to the ultrasound place the Friday before our shower. We were going to open it up that night, but we were going to see a play with Wendel's whole family and were afraid we'd let it slip. The next  morning we were doing breakfast with Santa with my family, so we decided we'd wait until after breakfast to open that sucker up!

I'll admit it...it was HARD not to open that envelope. 

So hard!  

But we did...and boy was it shocking...hehe boy...

EVERYONE was telling us that it was going to be a girl. 

Some very prophetic people from our church were telling us girl. 

Both of our families started with a girl. 

I'm SUCH a girly girl. 

Alex NEEDS to father a girl. 

But low and behold...God gave us a boy...so a boy we will have. 

I'll be honest...I cried for about an hour and then crashed for a few hours. 

I wasn't sad...I wasn't disappointed...I wasn't mad. 

I just had to re-envision what our life was going to look like. 

I TRULY thought we were in for lots of princesses and bows. 

I really thought we were in for a life of only girls...I never saw myself parenting a boy.

I KNOW girls. I can do girls. Girls don't scare me. 

Boys flippin' terrify me...well not really...but we're just so used to girls in our family.

But you know what...I'll figure it out! 

We'll figure it out...together!

So there's a little story that goes along with the picture above...it has to do with the blue note. 

Alex's mom is a bit of a "pre-see-er"

Is that a thing? 

Alex would call her from Samford {during college} and ask her where his shoes were, and she would know, from Cincinnati, where his shoes were. 

Freaky. 

So one day she told us, "I know what your baby is...I wrote it on a piece of paper, dated it, and sealed it in an envelope"

Well...we opened it right after we opened our envelope and sure enough...she was right! 

Nutso! 

Now he's...it was a 50/50 chance, but with her history, we took it as a sign.

Here was the invitation we sent out to our 42 guests...yes...42. We have a lot of people in our life!

Too cute, right?

We obviously went with a gingerbread boy/girl theme and stuck with reds and greens. 

We did soup, sandwiches, and a hot cocoa bar. 

I printed off the hot chocolate bar printables from here and here! 

I did some of the old wives tales...I was split right down the middle! 

If you're curious, here they are: 

Is the baby's heart rate above or below 140: Above

Are you craving sweet or salty: Salty

Have you been happy or moody: Happy

Is your skin soft or dry: Soft

Have you been having head aches: Yes

Are you carrying high or low: Low

Have you been graceful or clumsy: Clumsy

Do you sleep on your right or left: Left

Are you having blemishes or beauty: Blemishes

Did you have morning sickness: No

I got this cute little gingerbread boy and girl craft set from Michael's for the kiddos to play with since we were having quite a few kids at the party. I think he adults played with these more than the children.

We also let everyone guess the baby's name. The girl's name started with an 'L' and the boys name started with an 'A' and people made guesses. They were pretty hilarious. 

We got Apocolips, Abraham, Lucy, Lily...and someone actually got it right!

As you probably saw from the video, this is how we actually let people know! 

I found inexpensive white bracelet boxes off of amazon, and wrapped all of them up in cute red and green Christmas paper. 

ONE of them had a little note that said "It's A Boy" and the rest were empty. 

Everyone got a little present, and one by one they opened them. 

I was worried either the first person would have it or it would take like two hours to find out.

Wendel's dad ended up having it {which was NOT planned...we didn't know which one it was either} so that was pretty perfect! 

It was a labor of love wrapping all of those suckers...but we did it...and I'm so happy with how it all turned out! 

And there you have it folks...the exciting gender reveal party! 

Woo hoo! 

{A Big Time Apology}

Hello Fabulous Readers! 

I owe ya'll a big, huge, mega apology! 

I did do some blogging...but not my normal two/three posts a week like I had come accustom! 

I did get a few things blogged!

I dropped the news we're pregnant, shared how we found out, gave you a few updates, shared crazy hormone stories, spilled the beans that it's a boy, gave you a peek into our holiday fun, talked about our 2014 house to-do list, and then dropped off the face of the earth! 

Sorry about that!

The truth is...the first trimester exhaustion decided to hit me in the second trimester! 

No bueno people.

So tired...all the time!

Thankfully, I'm officially in my third trimester, and ready to get this blog updated! 

We have been working HARD on the house, doing little and big projects and marking things off our to-do list one project at a time! 

Some we're DIYing, and some we're hiring out, but we're getting stuff done!

It's been pretty exciting, and it just continues to get more exciting! 

I'm working on a second trimester dumpdate with lots of pictures {here's the first trimester update} but for now, I thought I'd share some bump pictures I've taken throughout the second trimester. 

We started taking real bump pictures weekly {we only missed a week or two, so I give that a big thumbs up in my book} so I'll be sharing that soon, but for now, here are some that I've taken in the past few months! 

I'll try to be much better friends...I promise! 

But you know...I've promised before...life happens sometimes.

Oooooooo....and I have a gender reveal party post ready {oops...two months late} and I'll be publishing it soon! I made a video and that thing has been such a pain! But it's coming!

Woo hoo...let's get updated Wendel Land! 

Enjoy watching my bump and cheeks get bigger and bigger!

20 Weeks 

22 Weeks

24 Weeks

25 Weeks

26 Weeks

27 Weeks

28 Weeks

{Our 2014 To Do List: How Did We Do?}

Mmmmm...another list! I love lists...so so so much! 

I love the act of making a list, marking things off a list, adding things to said list even if I just did it so I can immediately mark it off.

Yup..I'm a list person. 

The past few years I've done a house to-do list, and pretty much every single year we fail miserably. Like if we were in high school we wouldn't have graduated.  Typically we get a nice failing grade of 50%...but hey...50% is better than 0%!

Right? No? Still sad?

Anyhoo...

You can check out how we did on our 2012 and 2013 house to-do list and giggle as our outcome was pretty much spot on in the good old year of 2014...oops!

So let's see how we did in 2014! 

1. Update The Staircase Railing {Fail}

So this turned out to be a bigger project that I expected...so I'm thinking we're going to hire this out. Every time we go to look at it again, it becomes more daunting and I start to get the sweats. And that's just no bueno people. And you'll be so happy {I'm sure you would have lost sleep tonight} that a contractor actually came by today to check this out. So hopefully the quote is for like $100 and we're in business soon! Hey...a girl can dream! 

2. Spruce Up The Sun Room {Check!}

We did this! Woo hoo! This is probably the biggest change to our house this year, and we LURVE it!  But ya'll...it was SO MUCH WORK! Man...but so worth it! So so so very worth it! Can't wait to hang with the little man in here this summer! I envision reading,  ninja fighting, wrestling, game playing, mess making, and all that jazz. A newborn can do all of those things right out of the womb...right?

3. Install Built Ins Around Fireplace {Check!}

Amazing! Did this too! This turned out to be a bit more of a pain in the toocus that we thought, and we'd like to add some more to the other side. Now that I'm thinking about it...I'd like to add quite a bit to this...dang...maybe this isn't a check. Oh well...I'm calling this a win anyways!

Side note, this picture shows me that I owe you some updated basement photos! And that I need to add some color...pronto. I'm thinking a bright piece of artwork on the fireplace? Who knows...something...because this picture is boring! Especially compared to our "on color crack" sunroom!

4. Add Wood Detail In Basement Bathroom {Nope}

Yeah it didn't happen...but it WILL happen...sooner than later Mr. Wendel! 

5. Organize Upstairs Closets {Nada}

I already have a call in to the closet lady to start this process. We've been saving our extra money to do this, so I'm GIDDY excited to get this done! What can I say...organization gives me butterflies. Big, fat, your high school crush just winked at your in the hallway butterflies. Don't judge! Perfectly organized closets are the way to my heart! That and Auntie Anne's pretzels.

Okay...yet another side note! I ALWAYS thought that Auntie Anne's was Annie Annes...like always! We walked passed there the other day {yes....I said passed...I did not partake...this time!} and I about had a heart attack when I figured it out!

It reminded me of the time in elementary school when my dad brought me outside, walked me to our street sign, to show me that, in fact, our street name was Hartweg...not "Heartwag" which is how I had been spelling it for YEARS! What can I say...I'm not a speller! My husband, family, and assistants are laughing at how much of an understatement that is! 

6. Add "Popping" Detail To The Bedroom {Thumbs Down}

Oh brother do I have BIG, HUGE, MEGA plans of the master bedroom. Ya'll...I'm so excited! And I think Wendel is even on board! Let's just say, Lelia's not buying clothes for the next year because all of our extra monies are going to home renovations! Oh yeah...and that thing we call a baby. Also...it's a joke to think that I wouldn't buy any clothes for a year...oops!  Anyhoo...details to come!

7. Fix The Upstairs Bathroom Ceiling {Fail}

G...if you're reading this...you better get ready because Wendel is calling soon for some weekend help on this one! I can't wait for this makeover, because it shouldn't be too terribly expensive, but will make SUCH a huge difference! I'll have more details when I share our 2015 To-Do list soon! Another list for us to fail...hehe...I'm a glutton for punishment. 

8. Do Something Fun With The Entry {Thumbs Up!}

Woo hoo! Another thing we did and this is my second favorite update...right after the sunroom! And I loved that it costed $0 and only took a few days! Amazing! 

9. Organize The Garage {Yup!}

We got this one done super early in the year! And we loved it so much, we built one for the other side of the garage! Now everything is in the garage and our attic is empty which makes getting things so much easier! 

10. Build A Pergola {Nope}

Half way through the year I was thinking...maybe we don't need a pergola. But now...I'm thinking I still want one...hehe...me and my always changing mind. We'll see how many outside projects we actually get done before the little man arrives. 

And there you have it...our 2014 list! 

So that would be 40%...not bueno ya'll! 

But I'm hoping we get a few of these knocked out now just this year...but in the next few months! 

Baby is a-comin' and mama's got to get stuff done! 

{Christmas /New Years 2014}

Happy 2015 Friends! 

I'm excited to be back and ready for some blogging action! 

I've got quite a few posts ready to go, and we're about to start the process of changing the guest room into the Little Man's room...plus about a million other projects on docket! 

So with all of that being said, lots to share! 

But before we go there...I wanted to do some reminiscing and documenting of our Christmas fun this year!  

It's funny because every year I feel like we didn't do a lot of Christmasing, but then I do this Christmas post and realize...dang...we did a LOT! 

Here's what Christmas looked like for us in 2012/2012 and 2013

And here's what New Years looked like is 2012 and 2013! 

And here's what we accomplished this Christmas! 

We went to see Elf the musical with Wendel's parents, and I'll admit...it was dorky. But it was a fun festive evening out with some of my favorite people! 

 Then, of course, we had our Christmasy gender reveal party! Woo hoo! 

We went to an ugly sweater/white elephant party and it was just good, stomach hurts from laughing fun. 

We were able to sneak in time to go and see Awaited with my mom. It's always a favorite of the Christmas season. 

Then fast forward a few weeks when Wendel finally finished his masters {woo hoo Wendel} and we got to do all of our normal Christmasing adventures! We headed to The Union Terminal to check out the amazing train display.

Then we braved the cold and did The Festival of Lights! 

My mother-in-law, mom, and I met a bunch of sweet ladies for a ladies lunch at The Golden Lamb in Indiana. It's always a fun and festive afternoon with some wonderful women!

Christmas Eve, I woke up, turned on the lights, and it was magical! We are so incredibly blessed! 

We had our 20 week doctors appointment {20 weeks...what?} and then we went on a little lunch date to Brio. It was so incredibly awesome! We talked about making it a tradition...we'll see how that goes next year :) 

We passed out treats to our neighbors. Notice the no coats...it was like 50 degrees! Insane! 

Christmas Eve with my family...I feel like I look almost dead here. Sleepiness has hit me hard in the second trimester!

Wendel let me open ONE present on Christmas Eve. This was a little bathtub tray for me to put my drink or book or something. I've been having LOTS of "tubby time" especially while Wendel was finishing his masters so Wendel got me all kinds of fun bathtub things! 

We also decorated a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve...we were DETERMINED to have the most magical day ever! 

Christmas morning we headed to Wendel's parents after opening up presents together at our house. We opened presents...ate breakfast...open presents. It was like a four hour afair and I kind of love it that way! 

Christmas evening, we always go to Alex's great-aunt's house for dinner. The view is always a favorite! 

I told you every year! Also...Wendel's hair in that first picture. Hilarious! 

New Years was pretty magical this year! In years past, we've gone to The Opryland, and gone to Florida, but this year we drove to The West Baden Hotel in Indiana and spent a fancy evening dining, dancing, and laughing with Wendel's parents. 

When we got to the hotel, we did a bit of exploring...which involved taking a little train...pretty much the highlight of the whole thing for my father-in-law. 

Then we got all fancified, and ready for the evening! 

I hate that this picture is so blurry...oh well :) 

It was a pretty incredible way to end the year! 

One thing I know for sure: next years will look MUCH different!

And I'm so excited!