Gender Reveal Party

A what?  It's a party that reveals the gender of pregnant mommy's impending arrival (I got the idea a few years ago from my friend, Jen). We're pretty sure this is going to be our last baby, so I wanted to do something fun and different, plus we had showers with the other two, so this is a celebration for #3! Or that's my reasoning... I don't think Daniel cared one way or the other. He would've been fine calling/texting, but was supportive of my party-throwing desire.

So you wanna know what I did, right? First, I looked on the internet (the gender party idea is growing)-- I saw several different takes-- a 'waddle it be' theme, a 'what will it bee?' theme, neutral colors,  non-traditional colors. But I'm more of a traditional girl so I chose pink & blue for my colors then went to Hobby Lobby for inspiration. I perused the paper first and decided on baby feet for my theme. I grabbed a bunch of paper then went to the party favor section. I didn't see a use for mini rattles or mini baby bottles, so I grabbed some mini pink & blue clothes pins...something I can find a use for those after the party. I also bought B & G letters to incorporate somehow and ribbon with pink and blue feet.

First, I made a banner

I decided to do this banner a little different than other ones I've made. I started with a different shape and instead of punching holes and stringing the banner, I used the feet ribbon and clothes pins to hang it. I really think this turned out cute.

At Party City I found some mints with blue & pink feet on the package, perfect! I also bought streamers, balloons and a package of blue paper lanterns there. So I didn't spend much on decorations by incorporating these with materials I already own. I  made  pinwheels out of the same paper, a sign with our top names for guests to pick their favorite and painted the letters blue and pink. I knew from the beginning I wanted to use the dining room table for the focal point and would used the pinwheels to hang as the backdrop and the name pick would sit on the table. I was not, however, entirely sure how to incorporate the letters. One day close to the party, the kids finished a can of wagon wheels and it dawned on me I fill it up with something (I had already saved another can). Then I decided I would wrap them with paper, fill 'em with mints, glue a stick on the letters and a nice, inexpensive centerpiece came to life! 

I used poster board to make a sign for guests to make

their guess. I found the stickers at HL for $1

Now to the focal point! You know how much I love streamers but I was tired of hanging them in the same places. I really wanted a nice backdrop for the focal table but I knew this could get expensive quick. I have plenty of fabric, but not enough of one piece to cover the whole area behind the table and buying a couple yards can be inexpensive or it can add up quickly. I think you know where I'm going with this. Streamers as a backdrop! Turns out, of course, I wasn't the first person to think of this. Internet! It always proves I'm not half as creative as I think I am, oh well.

No pictures of me hanging the backdrop, but this is Daniel hanging the lanterns. The blue ones were purchased from Party City, as mentioned, and the pink ones I already owned from Maggie's birthday party. Then we added the pinwheels and wah-la!

Love it! I draped some of my fabric over a box to give dimension to the table and used paper as a table runner for extra blue. I had two pink tablecloths from Maggie's birthday and one blue one from something else, so I used the pink here and in the living room with the banner. On party day, balloons and cupcakes came in which really completed the table- I was quite happy with the focal point!

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves (at least I hope they did) and we got lots of name votes, even a few that weren't on the list! We had more votes for girl than boy and then we ate. For the menu we had mini sandwiches, fruit, veggies, chips & dip, popcorn, water bottles, pink lemonade and sweet tea. I made water bottle labels and set them in a baby tub filled with ice, added lemonade to the clear pitcher and tea to the blue pitcher.

But this is not why you came is it? You want to know who the baby is, don't you? Well, don't feel bad, all the guests had to wait 'til the end of the party too. Most people seem to cut a cake that's dyed pink or blue but I like cupcakes better, so I made those with a filling.

Guests bit into a cupcake, 1, 2, 3...

IT'S A BOY!!

Gettin' my craft on

So I've been super busy during nap and bed times this last week and a half! I've been working on some things for our gender reveal party coming this weekend, but I won't show those until after the event. I also worked on some kitchen counter storage and decor for the entertainment center.
While shopping for this weekend's party supplies, I found these great glass jars at Hobby Lobby for half off! Who can pass that up? Ever since I made a few jars for Christmas gifts, I've wanted my own. But not until the HL moment, did I find the perfect ones. Daniel, my dear sweet husband, likes to keep his junk supplies on the counter, in plain view. Kinda drives me crazy. His trip to Vegas gave me to perfect opportunity to clean up the countertop! (Afterall, when one's husband is gone for 7 days, one needs projects to keep oneself busy so one does not start talking to walls.) Anyway, here's how it turned out:

Before, his huge bag (from Sam's Club) of Dunkin' Donuts coffee just sat on the counter. Ugh. He also keeps out whey protein powder and some other workout/diet supplement stuff. Of the other stuff, only the whey would look pretty in a jar, so I put everything else in the pantry and added stevia to the final jar. I love all the colors! Here's our happy family of three on our newly-organized countertop:

Last Christmas I also fell in love with my entertainment center display and decided to keep decor up there year round. Sometime before the holiday I found two great glass cylinders at Home Goods for like $8! Initally I wanted to fill them with fresh fruit, but didn't want to change them out that often so I considered homemade potpourri, but just wasn't coming up with my 'thing'. Finally a few weeks ago I found some fake fruit at the dollar store. My main pops of color in the family room are purple, burnt orange and red, so that's what I wanted to fill in the jars. Well, they only had a couple oranges and nothing purple. So I grabbed lemons...it's a brighter color for this time of year anyway. I also found a couple bags of these little red decor balls and went for it. I still needed some purple and orange so I kept looking. A week or so ago, I thought: why not make some blocks? So I did just that and almost made them purple, red & orange, but decided that was too fall-y. Kept the purple and added some spring pops of color. I'm pleased with the turnout and already plan to switch out colors with the seasons.

first, Will's turtles needed a swim path

Around Easter, I had subway art displayed in place of the blocks and may make some of these for each season as well, not sure yet. If I add anything else to the ent. center, I'm gonna have to do something with that picture. Well...we've needed to move it higher on the wall since we got the entertainment stand anyway, so maybe that will give us motivation. :)



Daddy's home!

Yesterday afternoon Daniel flew back to B'ham! I planned to be at the airport baggage claim waiting for him but his flight landed right in the middle of Maggie's usual nap time. I tried to keep her awake, but she was fading fast so I layed her down anyway and planned to see him at the house instead. Well, little miss decided not to sleep after all, but rather play. Sooo, we loaded up and headed for the airport. Daniel was indeed surprised and it was a very happy reunion!

Crazy week

Daniel has been in Vegas all week for MMS so I've been outnumbered 2 to 1 these last several days. You wouldn't think it would make a huge difference since I'm almost always alone with the kids during the day, but it does. Plus, this was an extra long trip...early Monday morning to Friday afternoon is a typical trip when he goes to Houston for work...but this time, he left early Sunday morning and won't return until tomorrow afternoon (Saturday). So yeah. And wouldn't ya know, everything decided to happen this week while he was gone? Go figure. I burned my finger, the bathroom sink overflowed, each of the kids ended up going to the pediatrician (separate days) and I took Zoe to the vet, just to name a few. This incidents, of course, are on top of the typical pre-school and therapy schedules for the week. Each little thing on it's own is really no big deal, but things just kept piling on. BUT at the end of the day, everything was manageable and busy days pass quicker than slow ones. So here's a few of the things we did this week:

My parents surprised us with a visit Friday afternoon- they left Sunday as well.

Will & Grandma found walking sticks

 Maggie & Paga waiting outside while we look at

a house being built

Thursday Will's Zumba class held an 'open house' so the parents could check it out. Will, of course, did not dance. He's told me before he doesn't, so at least I expected it.

 Then he lined up with his class and Maggie & I headed home for therapy. I wonder why half the kids touching their heads?

We also spent some time outside- playing and coloring with sidewalk chalk

 I love that he writes his name every chance he gets, and is getting

so good at it! He's very proud of himself. :)

 And building/sleeping in forts

We're all excited daddy is coming home tomorrow!!  

Maggie- 19 months

Well little Miss Moosie is just turning into a big girl on us so fast! I've already blogged about her biggest successes this past month- transitioning into a sitting position and  pulling up in her bed. As I mentioned in those posts, these are HUGE accomplishments for her!! We're still always working on her motor skills, both fine and gross but she's definitely taken a big step in the right direction. The direction being independence, of course, which Maggie really wants. She wants to be just like the big kids- running all around, climbing, wrestling (you can see who her biggest 'big kid' role model is :)). She continues to work on strengthening activities, fine motor like using her pincer to pick up little food (cheerios, puffs) and speech. Everything is a work in progress but through it all Maggie is such a joy to work with and a smily, happy, bright light to us all. She's not a complainer and I have a feeling that even if she spoke in clear sentences and not just a word here and there, she still wouldn't complain. She's our very special gift from God.
I ran across this poem this week and thought it would be a great addition to this post, it's so very true about our little miss Maggie Moo.

Special Child
by Sharon Harris

You weren't like other children,
And God was well aware,
You'd need a caring family,
With love enough to share.
And so He sent you to us,
And much to our surprise,
You haven't been a challenge,
But a blessing in disguise.

Your winning smiles and laughter,
The pleasures you impart,
Far outweigh your special needs,
And melt the coldest heart.

We're proud that we've been chosen,
To help you learn and grow,
The joy that you have brought us,
Is more than you can know.

A precious gift from Heaven,
A treasure from above,
A child who's taught us many things,
But most of all - "Real Love"

Easter festivities

So this Easter was shaping up to be as busy/festive as last Halloween-- Will participated in 4 egg hunts this year. Seriously. One at school, one at a local church and two here at the house. He loved it! Maggie only participated in the two here at the house, but still, that's plenty.
Daniel and I have felt convicted to share the reasons behind Christian holidays. For Easter, we explained Good Friday and Sunday to the kids and the importance of these days in the Christian faith. They may not have a full understanding for awhile, but it's starting to sink in with Will. These lessons are first and foremost but I ('cause I don't think Daniel cares one way or the other) still enjoy the traditions-- egg hunts and Easter baskets. So here's what we did:
Thursday evening we dyed eggs, both the kids loved this! Maggie was in her highchair initially but Daniel held her and let her pick which colors to dye her eggs. She can't quite dip them in herself, so D helped with that part. And I helped Will with his.

Friday we were supposed to go to the rememberance service at church but I was sick and Maggie was super cranky...we may have both had a little bug. Will was very disappointed. We hung out at the house and talked about Good Friday instead.
Saturday was originally going to be spent at Veterans Park for a helicopter egg drop and family event day-- inflatables, prizes, etc. But I found out a local church was offering the same thing, so we chose to stay in town instead. And we had a great time watching the kids have fun- there was more to do for Will because he could climb and run inside the inflatables but Maggie still enjoyed the day. The head pastor of the church even took the opportunity to discuss the meaning of Easter while we all sat in the sanctuary waiting for eggs to be hidden. I do believe a few people came to know Christ!

 Easter morning. Ah, it was a beautiful day here, sun shining, moderate temperature, light breeze, just the kind of day you can feel God's love shining down on you. And what a great day indeed, Jesus is risen! I promised Will he could hunt the dyed eggs before church if we got up early enough. Well, I woke up early to read scripture and write my blog and to get lunch started. Will did indeed wake up early so he and Maggie hunted the dyed eggs after getting their baskets. They weren't as interested in these eggs as the plastic ones later on....I think mainly because they got toys in their baskets this year and they were ready to play!

 We had to set up the Dora book to encourage Maggie

to crawl to the egg, ha!

 This is Maggie dancing. I suppose because she's

so excited about her Dora book.

 Then it was off to church for the Belchers. Daniel and I missed Sunday School because we had nursery duty and I really wanted to hear the sermon, especially after missing Good Friday. I was nervous about nursery because I've heard Easter is one of the worst days of the year in terms of volume, but we had a really tame class, praise God. In fact, before our time was up three kids were in swings, two of them asleep! It was a great day. After church came lunch, of course, because we were all starving. This was my first year to make Easter dinner by myself- we're usually with extended family. I wasn't happy with how the potato salad came out, but otherwise was reasonably pleased with my first solo attempt!

pretty girl waiting for lunch

Lastly, we had a plastic egg hunt in the front yard- after nap time. Both kids really got into this one and were happy with the treasures inside the eggs.

 We had a great Easter! Amidst all the eggs, candy and activities the most important lesson of the day is the good news-- He is risen! He is risen indeed!